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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 5, 2016)
FEATURES 6A Tomorrow’s horoscope Ready to move mother out Dear Annie: My mother has always been a strong presence in my life. Growing up, I couldn’t do any- thing right. She took things away from me and redid them, or stood over me and directed. Three years ago, my husband sug- gested we move my parents in with us because their neighborhood had become drug and gang infested and we feared for their safety. Dad has Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, which have greatly slowed his movements, but he is still able to feed, bathe and dress himself. However, living with my mom is a nightmare. She pokes her head into our bedroom many times a day and stands over me in the kitchen, often getting between me and whatever I’m doing. I have tried talking to her about it, but it doesn’t help. We recently bought a house in another city. I would love to get my parents set up in their own place now, but Mom has repeatedly said she can’t take care of my father by herself. I feel so trapped and guilty. What do I do? — Wilting in the South Dear Wilting: There are ways to help your mother care for Dad with- out sacriicing your happiness and independence. Look into assisted-liv- ing facilities close enough for you to visit often. Check out home health Annie’s Mailbox Creators Syndicate Inc. Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar care options, including the Visiting Nurse Association (vnaa.org). Call the Eldercare Locator (eldercare.gov) at 1-800-677-1116 and ask for help. Mom may not like it, but you have to take care of your mental health. Dear Annie: I would be grateful if you pass along to your readers some helpful hints when leaving a voice- mail message, especially on a cell- phone. I’m a Realtor and receive sev- eral such messages every day. Many people leave long, rambling messages and then say their phone number so quickly I can’t get it the irst time. I then have to go back and listen to the whole message again. Please tell your readers when leaving a voicemail to keep it short, say your phone number slowly and then repeat the number. It would be greatly appreciated by those of us who rely on our cellphones for a living. — Realtor in Orange Park, Florida Dear Realtor: This goes for any voicemail, whether cellphone or land- line answering machine. Sometimes the connection is scratchy. Repeating the number slowly would help. Please, readers, keep this in mind. It could explain why some of your phone mes- sages haven’t been returned. Dear Annie: Thank you for the support you’ve shown in regard to organ, tissue and eye donation. The laws about organ donation vary from state to state, but in many states, a person’s documented dona- tion wish now takes priority over the family’s preference. It works sim- ilarly to a legal will — if your wish to become an organ and tissue donor is legally documented, your family cannot change it. However, it is still important to share your wishes with your family so they are not surprised. Their cooperation and support make the process go much more smoothly. To ind out how to sign up as an organ and tissue donor in your state, please visit Donate Life Amer- ica (www.donatelife.net). Readers in Canada should contact their local organ recovery organization to learn how to sign up in their province. On behalf of the more than 100,000 Americans awaiting a lifesaving organ transplant, thank you. — Jenni- fer Tislerics, Gift of Life Michigan THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2016 By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ll need one or two more assessments of the situ- ation before you can properly relax. So dive in, make your notes, surmise the outcome and then put the whole thing to rest so you can finally have some fun. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). “No help whatsoever,” “more trouble than it’s worth,” “diminishing returns”: These phrases being bandied about don’t reflect your feelings at all. You see potential where others see only risk and loss. You’ll prove them wrong. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You are fair-minded and interested in the opinions of others. You’ll go to extra lengths to make sure everyone who wants to chime in on a subject has the opportunity to be heard. Don’t forget to add your own voice to the mix. CANCER (June 22-July 22). The money that makes your life easier is the kind you earn fair and square, free and clear. Then there’s money that makes your life harder: It’s borrowed or given with strings attached. Avoid that kind now. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Don’t let things get boring. Reversals will delight you, espe- cially those pertaining to familial roles. You’ll find charm in the way children act like adults and adults play like children. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). What you once struggled with is now so effortlessly accomplished you hardly remember you’re doing it. Details you got hung up on don’t matter to you anymore — all signs that you’re on to bigger and better things. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). If you’re going someplace that no one has gone before, you’re going to have to clear your own road. 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 This is only worth it if the destination is a place your soul feels called to find. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You don’t have to know much about gravity to follow its rules. The compliance of everything around is a perk that comes with being a force of nature. Guess what? You’re a force of nature, too. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Try not to get too caught up in the long-term impli- cation of a decision. Focus on whether or not it feels, in this moment, like the highest and best for you and everyone involved. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). That little pot of trouble brewing on the back burner needs some attention. If you ignore it, it’s sure to boil over. If you stir it, you’ll only be stuck doing that the whole time it cooks. Turn off the heat. It’s the only way. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your “live and let live” policy usually serves you well, but not today. Bottom line: If you don’t speak up in today’s situation the other will assume you’re a passive bystander. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You may jump toward the sun, but you are not trying to land there or anything. It’s just that having brilliant goals makes getting off the ground a lot more fun. FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (May 6). You’ve been so kind to the people around you, and the warm social atmosphere you’ve built will be a source of pleasure and comfort this year. The next 10 weeks are for finishing a big project. The reward will come in August. September will bring a financial upturn. Trav- eling to see more beauty will be well worth the expense. Leo and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 10, 30, 16, 2 and 29.
