THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016
FEATURES
Problematic grown sons
Dear Annie: As I understood was for him to blow his nose (rather
it, your primary job as a spouse is loudly, I might add) in the same
to respect, protect and support your room as his mother while she was on
spouse in all things, to always be the phone with a client.
His response? “That was where
truthful and never ask the other to
do anything that you yourself would the tissues were.”
This same son, a
not do. However, all of the
self-proclaimed mama’s
aforementioned becomes
DEAR
boy, has recently decided to
moot, it seems, when it
ANNIE
call me expletives and tell
comes to getting married
me I’m worthless.
later in life to a spouse with
Because I now refuse
grown children.
to be at “her home’’ during
Before we married, we
any family gatherings, it’s
decided my wife’s domicile
assumed that I hate her
would be where we would
children, when in fact I
live. I’ve been here as her
Lane
just don’t like being disre-
husband since Decem- Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
spected any more than any-
ber 2004. I feel as though
one else does. I find myself
within these walls, we’re
equal (even if she does have a larger angry with my wife for not stand-
income), and I think I do my best to ing with me on the right side. At this
be my best, most of the time. I do, point, I don’t want to spend holidays
however, resent the fact that her sons in a compromising situation, even
are able to do as they wish without though that would mean not spend-
ing them with her. — Married My
regard for us.
Recently, without any recourse, Wife, Not Their Mother and Them
Dear Married: Actually, you
her eldest son began to yell at me.
He told me to shut up and not even did marry them, too, in a way. When
look at him. I somehow ended committing to a life with someone
up being the one at fault. I feel as who has children from a previous
though he should have been shown marriage, you have to embrace the
family as your own.
the sidewalk.
That said, I agree with you that
On another occasion, I “forgot
my place” and told another of my your stepsons have said and done
wife’s sons how rude I thought it reprehensible things. Your wife
shouldn’t have allowed them to
speak to you that way. She needs to
step up and mediate.
You have to do your part, too. Set
aside your pride and let go of past
resentments. If you want a happy
marriage, you have no choice but to
reconcile with them. No matter how
foul their mouths, they will always
be your wife’s baby boys. She will
never choose you over them — and
it wouldn’t be fair to ask her to.
Dear Annie: This is in response
to “Disappointed Dude,” who didn’t
like his dates “snooping.”
Reading his email? Not OK. But
Googling him and his friends? Abso-
lutely! That’s fair game.
I’m a retired child protective
social worker, and I would encour-
age all the girls I worked with to do
this. It’s a safety issue.
Not everyone is who he says he
is. Too many girls and women are
not cautious enough about whom
they are dating. They could end up
used, abused and even worse.
Maybe “Dude” could consider
discussing this issue with the woman
he is seeing. Together, they could
look up his online profile, and she
could learn about friends and rela-
tives from his past. If he had a daugh-
ter, I bet he would look up every man
she dated! — Seen More Than I Want
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You are entitled
to project your own sense of order on this
beautiful chaos. Why accept other views as
the way it’s supposed to be done? That’s their
way, and this is yours.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Do you believe
in psychic gunk? Because sometimes when
you go out in the world, you actually feel like
there’s a film of bad energy getting transferred
to you. Look for tools to help you brush off the
accumulated residue of karma.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). To be thoughtful
and kind is the most important goal. This one
goal, in the front of your mind, will organize
the rest of your thoughts. It will make the com-
plications align into simple problems to be
systematically solved.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). When you’re
in your fan mode, you are dazzled by what’s
popular, selling and being supported and ac-
claimed. When you’re in competition mode,
you know that these things only signal: “It’s
on!”
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). People will
gather in tight circles to gab about what’s
wrong. Seldom do they assemble in such a
way to express what’s wonderful. Be the one
to bring people together to celebrate all that’s
going right.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Cook food.
Walk the earth. Put your hands in dirt. Get
grounded. Otherwise, this sense of lightness
you’re experiencing can cause you to float up
emotionally and disconnect from people who
need your attention.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The focus
will go to a relationship in its early stages.
Whether the relationship is oriented toward
business or pleasure, the heart connection is
what will matter. It needs to feel right — forget
what it looks like on paper.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Character
development often happens through hard-
ship, though it’s harder to be strong in good
times. You’ll manage such a remarkable feat
of grace.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Are you feeling
what’s outside you or what’s inside you? This
can be confusing for one as empathetic as
you are, and that goes double when there are
people close to you feeling intense emotions.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You connect to
others, raising their spirits and your own in the
process. If it’s all you accomplish today, count
yourself among the most accomplished peo-
ple there are.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ve come to
consider synchronicity as more than some-
thing that happens to you on a regular basis;
it’s an aspect of who you are. You’ll experi-
ence a most favorable coincidence today.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Nov. 29). Your
self-assurance is your ticket to a fun ride be-
fore the year is up. The bonds of love will be
strengthened in 2017 through many enjoy-
able times with those who share your humor
and taste. Your family will have new reason to
celebrate, and you’ll be proud of the devel-
opments in your family tree. Pisces and Leo
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 10, 4, 39,
22 and 15.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Figure out what
you need, and ask for it. Don’t wait on this one.
You may find yourself lacking certain resourc-
es and this, if left unchecked, will take a physi-
cal and emotional toll. Get what you need.
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