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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (July 19, 2016)
FEATURES THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016 Meat lover worries about love Dear Annie: I’m a self-proclaimed meatatarian. I suppose I eat vegetables from time to time, such as the lettuce and tomato on a hamburger. But for the most part, if it didn’t have a central ner- vous system, I’m not interested. You can’t fault me for it; I grew up in the Midwest, where we treated sau- sage like a food group. I feel manly when I eat chicken wings, ripping flesh off the carcass of an animal with my teeth. Beef, chicken, duck, lamb, rab- bit, bison, fish — love ‘em all. How- ever, I also love my new vegan (gasp) girlfriend. Vegan Girlfriend is the best, and I’ve never felt this way before. She seems to really accept and love all of my person- ality. She’s even fine with the meatatar- ian thing, never making any comments about it and saying it doesn’t bother her. My family really likes her, although it’s always a process trying to explain her diet to Grandma, God bless her. (“No steak for her, Grandma. ... No, ‘those people’ don’t eat chicken, either.”) I’m really starting to believe that Vegan Girlfriend is the one. But it keeps nagging at my mind that she’s a vegan for a reason. Part of me thinks that underneath all her I-don’t-minds, she is saying to herself, “How could you stuff another defenseless animal down your gullet when there is perfectly good kale in the fridge?” Dear Annie By Annie Lane Creators Syndicate Inc. I love this woman, but I also love meat. Am I doomed to a life of guilty animal consumption? — Meaty Mike Dear Meaty: What’s eating you? Your girlfriend doesn’t care that you’re an omnivore. She has said — and I quote — “I don’t mind.” You’re pro- jecting. On some level, you must feel bad about eating meat. Maybe that’s your conscience nagging at you, or maybe it’s just your cholesterol. Either way, figure it out and get right with it. And it wouldn’t kill you to eat some of that perfectly good kale in the fridge. Dear Annie: My younger sister is a 59-year-old woman who has never been married. She’s fun, creative and full of life, and she still has her looks. I also know she’s really lonely. After a string of bad boyfriends in her 20s and 30s, she gave up on dating and has since devoted almost all her energy to her work and her pets. 5A Tomorrow’s horoscope By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. She’s gone on a few dates here and there over the years, but she refuses to do any kind of online dating because she thinks that it’s “desperate” and that “only freaks are out online.” She refuses to hear me when I say otherwise. Every time I try to approach the subject of dat- ing, she tells me that I have no idea what I’m talking about and that we’re too dif- ferent to understand each other. And that’s true. We were never close growing up. She was the “wild child” who dropped out of high school, and I was the “good daughter” who got a col- lege degree. And there’s a 10-year age difference. Also, I have been married for more than 30 years and have two great kids. I feel guilty and like a brag- gart every time I talk about my family. And her resentment has only grown after the recent death of her pet. How do I help my sister find someone when she doesn’t want to hear it? Maybe she’ll listen to you. — Elder Sister in Omaha Dear Elder Sis: A white picket fence and 2 1/2 kids are not for every- one. Plenty of people live amazingly fulilled lives without getting married and having children. I don’t think your sister would be “full of life,” “creative” and attractive if she were lonely and miserable. Once you stop forcing your idea of happiness on her, that guilt you mentioned may magically disappear. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Business guru Raymond Aaron said, “If you don’t have an as- sistant, you are one.” You’ll certainly feel like an assistant as you run around tending to dozens of details today. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You needn’t worry about what you’re going to contribute to others that will mean something. It will all hap- pen in the moment. You’ll capture hearts by just being you — the courageous and selfless version. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Maybe you made some adjustments because you had to, not because you wanted to. Still, there’s strength in versatility. Those adjustments will work for you, and ultimately you’ll be glad you were strong enough to bend. CANCER (June 22-July 22). That person asking you annoying questions is just trying to get to know you. Hopefully, it’s flattering that someone wants to be closer to you, even if that person doesn’t have a clue how to go about it. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You can easily sense social tension, and when you do, your immediate response is to smooth things over with a joke or diversion. This is just one of your many charming habits. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You may be put- ting your all into a project, and yet the desired result still eludes you. If this makes you frus- trated, all the better. A touch of angry energy will push you to reach for and achieve some- thing better. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’re spiritually generous, and this is why you can be as en- thusiastic about the successes of others as you would be if the win were your own. You’ll rejoice in the chance to celebrate the people around you. 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 SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The astral in- fluences may have you feeling edgy. Among the many ways to work off this stress, the easiest way is to exercise. For bonus benefits, try a form of exercise you haven’t endeavored before. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ve very few regrets. Everything that’s happened, good and bad, has made you who you are to- day. You’ll find a way to profit from one of your past mistakes. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Today will offer opportunity to develop your inner world. Your experiences will mimic the scenes in your mind, so taking charge of your imagination is a powerful way to bring about the changes you desire. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ve a strong will, big goals and the freedom to pur- sue them. This is a magic combination. The current circumstances are more precious and rare than you think. Use them to your advan- tage — now! PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re used to leading in a certain arena but were you to back off and let another person help, your schedule would open up, your load would lighten and you would be quite impressed by what hap- pens next. WEDNESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 20). Your talent for rapport and knack for warming peo- ple up to you will help you reach a significant goal in August. You’ll be paid well for this, but more importantly, you’ll make a difference. September features you in a new role. You’ll love what you and a small group build in No- vember. February will test your skills. Pisces and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 10, 3, 33 and 12.