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6A
Tomorrow’s horoscope
Bullying husband irks sis
Dear Annie: What is the
best way to deal with someone
who is a bully and verbally abu-
sive? My brother-in-law is very
demeaning to my sister. He makes
cruel remarks about her physical
appearance, calls her names and
criticizes everything she does if it
isn’t exactly what he likes.
My sister has been married to
this bully for 30 years. I really don’t
know how she has put up with him
for so long. I try not to spend a lot
of time around my brother-in-law,
but when I’m with the two of them,
I want to defend my sister. I’m just
not sure how to go about it.
Is it best to ignore a bully’s
comments or is there a way to
put him in his place? — A Bully’s
Sister-in-Law
Dear Sister-in-Law: Please
talk to your sister. This is not a
bully on the playground, who
should be held accountable. This
is your sister’s husband and while
you want to protect her, you also
must respect her wishes.
How does this abusive behav-
ior affect her? She could be afraid
or she may be ignoring him. After
30 years, she may not be bothered
by it. Does she want your help?
Would she prefer that you not
intervene?
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy
Mitchell and
Marcy Sugar
Encourage your sister to speak
up for herself or ask whether you
can counteract her husband’s neg-
ative remarks with more positive
ones. You can suggest she speak to
someone at the National Domes-
tic Abuse Hotline (thehotline.org).
But ultimately, this is her marriage
and she gets to decide how to han-
dle it. You cannot force her to want
something better. You can only be
a source of love and support.
Dear Annie: I read the let-
ter from “Missing Her,” the
woman who was looking for a
way to lessen her guilt over ir-
ing “Maria,” the nanny who had
worked for her family for 20
years. Maria’s services are no lon-
ger required, now that her young-
est child is old enough to drive
herself around.
Certainly, this employer has
paid into Maria’s Social Secu-
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
rity taxes over the years, hasn’t
she? And also contributed to their
state’s unemployment insurance
program for her employee?
If “Missing Her” can’t “justify
the cost” of keeping the woman
who dedicated so much of her life
tending Missing’s children, she
should at least help Maria apply for
programs to which she is entitled.
This will beneit her ex-employee
far more than a farewell gift. — M.
Dear M.: You are not the only
one to bring this up. Several read-
ers asked whether “Missing Her”
had been paying federal and state
taxes as Maria’s employer. We
suspect not. A great many people
who hire nannies (and housekeep-
ers, etc.), pay them in cash, espe-
cially if they are not U.S. citizens.
It also is not uncommon for these
same employees to prefer cash
payments because they, too, do not
want to pay taxes.
But avoiding taxes on these
employees is not only against the
law, it does them a grave disservice
when they are no longer in your
employ and have no beneits. It’s
too late to do this retroactively for
Maria, but it’s not too late for oth-
ers who are hiring good people to
help them in their homes and who
will become part of their families.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You want
important things, but you want frivolous
things, too, and those are the things that
may take precedence, because you’re fun
like that. As you indulge in the lighter side
of life, big issues are being resolved.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). People
around you have money to spend, and
you’re just the one to tell them where to
spend it. You have ideas that will create a
win-win for everyone. And your ability to
sell those ideas is particularly strong now.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Theoretical
information excites your intellect, but how
can you actually apply it to your life? You
want change, you want improvement and
you want hands-on training. Bottom line:
You need a teacher who’s done this be-
fore.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll do
more because you know there’s more that
needs doing. Also, you’ll hold out for the
best, and when you finally get to taste the
thing you want, it will be wonderful.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). If all you had to
do was amuse yourself, how would you get
that done today? Something will happen
to change the game and make you think
about your life a little differently.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’re will-
ing to push things a little further than you
were, because you sense that a relation-
ship won’t grow until after the shake-up.
Ten percent more honesty will bring the
healing.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It’s time you
claimed what you’re good at, because the
others are not going to do you any favors
in this regard. You’re going to have to point
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
the way. Maybe it’s arrogance, or maybe
just marketing.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your heart
sends warm wishes and welcoming affec-
tion. Your head is going to need a little lon-
ger to get around to all these changes. Go
gentle. It will all happen in good time.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Those
who follow the crowd will end up in crowd-
ed places. You’re a leader in this regard,
so mostly you’ll have the crowd rallying
behind you.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Cherish
the people in your life who make you more
courageous because they feed you hope,
paint you a pretty picture of the future and
help you feel good about all that you’re
bringing into the battle.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Perhaps
you feel slightly reckless, but paradoxical-
ly, this is just the kind of swagger that lets
you take hold of what’s really yours in this
world and use it to the full advantage.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Losses
can be blessings, pains can be sourc-
es of great strength and the opposition
is, of course, the best reason to improve
and become masterful. You’ll find yourself
grateful.
SATURDAY’S BIRTHDAY (June 18).
Do you have the feeling that destiny is on
your side? She is. Next month brings a lift
and a bump to the right career track. Your
personal life is exciting in August because
new friends keep things fresh. September
shows you lifestyle improvements. Novem-
ber settles a legal issue. Sagittarius and
Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 3, 28, 14, 33 and 19.