THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2015
FEATURES
5A
Boss’s grief ruining company Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Dear Annie: I’ve been at
the same job for eight years,
but since the boss’ wife died,
it’s become almost impossible
to work for him. He has start-
ed drinking at work and making
inappropriate comments to cus-
tomers. I’m at a loss as to what
I should do.
This is a small business —
it’s just the two of us running
the place, so there is no one else
to turn to for help. His children
live in other states, and contact-
ing them about this could result
in them shutting the business
down, putting me out of a job.
He has some family here, but
they don’t see a problem with
his behavior. I feel like I’m
stuck between a rock and a hard
place.
Do I contact his children?
Do I let things continue, letting
him destroy what remains of his
reputation and mine in the pro-
cess?
I enjoy helping the custom-
ers. I was planning on starting
a similar business when he re-
tires, but it feels like he’s drag-
ging me down with the ship. —
Concerned Employee
Dear Employee: Your boss
is grieving and needs help.
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
First, try to speak to him and
suggest grief counseling. His
doctor, local hospital or hos-
pice can offer referrals. But you
should also contact his chil-
dren. They need to know that
Dad is in bad shape and spiral-
ing out of control. At the rate he
is going, there won’t be a busi-
ness left to close down, so you
have little to lose. Please help
him out.
Dear Annie: My husband
and I are in our mid-70s and
slowing down a bit. My prob-
lem is Thanksgiving. For most
of our married life, I provid-
ed elaborate holiday dinners.
When the kids grew up and left
home, the get-togethers took
place every other year, so they
could spend alternating years
with their in-laws and other
family.
This year it is our turn,
but frankly, I am tired of do-
ing this. I feel like it is time
for someone else to step up to
the task and invite us to his or
her home. The family will be
together Labor Day weekend,
and I am wondering if you
have any suggestions as to how
to approach this subject. —
Need Some Relief
Dear Need: Yes. Be direct.
Say to your children that you
no longer have the energy to
cook and host these big meals.
Ask whether one of them would
like to take over the hosting du-
ties, or perhaps they would do
the cooking and bring the food
to your place and help you set
up and clean up after. Or go to
a restaurant.
Even grown children can
continue to believe their par-
ents are indestructible, and un-
less you tell them that you are
tired, they don’t realize it. But
kids can also be tremendously
helpful when asked, and they
may have ideas of their own. In
fact, they may have wanted to
change the holiday setup for a
while, but thought you might be
offended. Give them the oppor-
tunity to step up.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). A fairytale
quality touches today’s situation. There is
no happily ever after, but the promise of a
series of days in varying degrees of happi-
ness makes a pretty good ending, too.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Just be-
cause they are talking about it doesn’t
mean they are really interested in it. To get
to know the people you’re with, you’ll have
to rise above the social constraints.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The thing
that gets you out of the house and talking
to people will be your luckiest activity to-
day, even if it happens to also be grueling
work. Casual conversations build relation-
ships. Relationships build your future.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). The light
of wisdom cannot get into a heart that has
never been broken. The cracks are what
make illumination possible. Wisdom may
not make you feel better now, but it will
help you make better choices later.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Get the feeling
that you’re being watched? It’s probably
your admirer, your boss, or it could just be
the dog. (With all dogs see, sometimes you
think it’s a good thing they don’t speak your
language.)
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). In order to
see, sometimes it’s best to open your eyes;
other times it’s best to close them. Every
sense you have will inform you today, but
none will be so keen as your sixth sense.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Money, pow-
er, government, relationships, responsibil-
ities — all of these things could affect your
freedom, but none of them has to. If you
can do what you want to do, you’re free.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The reason
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
STONE SOUP
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
they see you doing it and then immediate-
ly want to do it, too, is because you make
it look so easy. Making it look easy is the
definition of being good at it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Bot-
tom line: Nothing gets done unless you
put the hours in. Your willingness to put
the hours in is your success key. In fact,
nothing will contribute more to your ulti-
mate success than your adherence to a
schedule.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). One
crucial element to your work will be how
you incorporate or ignore feedback. Let
down your defenses and go into learning
mode. They don’t have to be totally right to
have a point.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You feel
like you’re in an arm wrestling match with
fate. This is a contest you don’t want to win.
If you win, you’ll never know the glories
that fate had in mind for you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). As you
quest for new experience, consider
spending a lot less energy on it. Maybe
new experience doesn’t have to be quest-
ed after. In fact, you’re having one right
now.
TUESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 8). Usu-
ally there’s quite a difference between
what you do for fun and what you do for
money, but not this year. The activity that
falls into both categories will expand your
fortunes. Don’t be afraid to ask, “What’s in
it for me?” Being realistic about this will
help you feel open enough to give of your-
self. This year Gemini and Leo people
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 45,
21, 24, 31 and 20.