FEATURES
6A
Friend is becoming a liability
Dear Annie: For 10 years, I
have had an unwritten business
partnership with a woman 26
years my senior. It has mostly
worked well, until “Doris”
crashed her car into a tree two
years ago and had her license
suspended. Though no one was
hurt, and the tree survived, the
car was totaled, and Doris isn’t
allowed to drive anymore.
Since then, her many friends
have provided transportation for
her. Her children, two of whom
are within an hour’s drive, have
helped shuttle her around, but
not as much as the rest of us.
Worse, they don’t acknowl-
edge their mother’s shortcom-
ings. They don’t know what her
schedule is like, and how much
her schedule impacts those of
us who deal with it on a regular
basis.
Lately, Doris has become a
liability regarding our real estate
business. She forgets details
about contracts, inspections and
disclosure. I end up doing all of
the work and still splitting the
commission with her. My bro-
ker, who is Doris’ partner of 40
years, won’t intervene. Doris
comes to the of¿ce four days a
week, and I know she needs that
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy
Mitchell and
Marcy Sugar
structure. How do I keep her
from wrecking the business and
still preserve her dignity? — Not
Her Daughter
Dear Not: We commend you
for being kind to Doris, but you
aren’t running a charity. More
importantly, you aren’t doing
Doris any favors by ignoring
her problems. Please talk to her
children and her partner directly.
Explain that Doris is having dif-
¿culty with her memory, and
that there may be other medical
issues. It may even be that the
car crash caused some of this, or
vice versa. Suggest that she get
a check-up and ask her doctor to
test for executive functioning.
Then consider giving Doris a
new title so that she still has a
job, but is no longer in a posi-
tion to mess up the contracts.
Perhaps you can pay her a sal-
ary that is more commensurate
with her current contribution to
the business.
Dear Annie: We have friends
whom we’ve hosted for din-
ner at least a half-dozen times
in the past few years. But they
have never invited us to their
home. They once invited us to
dine with them at a restaurant,
but they did not offer to pay for
our meal.
We are reluctant to keep invit-
ing them to dinner at our house,
as they make no effort to recip-
rocate. However, we do enjoy
seeing them. What do you sug-
gest? — Feeling Used
Dear Used: Had they treated
you at a restaurant, that would
have been a ¿ne way to recip-
rocate, because not everyone is
comfortable entertaining in their
home. But since they expect you
to pay your own way, we suggest
you continue with that method.
Invite them to join you at a
restaurant and split the bill. That
way, you can continue to enjoy
their company, and no one feels
taken advantage of. And it’s per-
fectly OK to periodically enter-
tain them in your home, should
you wish to do so, as long as you
expect nothing in return.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Warming up
isn’t just for exercise or hard work. Every-
thing you do today will be better when you
honor some kind of ramp up to the main ac-
tion. Breathe, stretch, ease your way gently
from one thing to the next.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). A simpler
life appeals to you. You see the elegance
in having less stress, clutter and confusion.
Furthermore, you’re in a mood to make the
hard choices about what to cut. Watch out,
world!
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Not only do
you have a genuine love and excitement for
the day’s subject matter, you have a specif-
ic map for getting from point A to point B.
Avoid kinks by working it through on your
own once more before sharing.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Stay frugal
even after you get the means to buy the fan-
cier version. Living on less than you make
is wise, but living on much less than you
make is true freedom.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). How well are your
experiences building on one another these
days? When you’re living well, each experi-
ence transforms from or expands upon the
last. When you’re not living well, each expe-
rience repeats the last.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). People show
you, through their attention, how they think
and feel about you. Are you satisfied with
the quality of attention you are receiving? If
the answer is “no,” then today is a fine day
to do something about it.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Youth has its
own kind of reality. You’ll be an objective wit-
ness to this today with just the level of de-
tachment necessary to enjoy the situation
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
without completely buying into it.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll come
upon your opposite again and be at once
fascinated, frustrated and intrigued by this
person. Should you take things further? It
may benefit you, but it won’t get any easier.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re
not seeking dramatic change, but a few
key refinements could up your entire game.
That you’re able to note subtle delineators
is a mark of your good taste.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). They’ll
bring you complexities and intricacies. You
bring the practicality and quick solutions.
This may very well be the most productive
day you will have all month. You’re a life
whiz!
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). What you
once thought was a natural progression
now seems like an overly ambitious plan.
That’s because you’re listening to skeptics.
This is still within the realm of possibility;
you’ll need more help is all.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Privilege
is costly. Whether or not the experience is
really worth the cost is up to you. Chances
are it’s going to take you a good while to de-
termine this. In the meantime, you’re better
off saving your money.
WEDNESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 17).
You’ll put ideas into action this year, which
is why, over the next six weeks, it is so im-
portant to test out those ideas and pull out
the best ones. Let friends help you. Ask for
public opinion. Take a vote. April and July
are stellar opportunities to travel and gain
influence. Music and love will fill your sum-
mer. Cancer and Taurus adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 5, 30, 2, 33 and 16.