THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016
FEATURES
Tired of the vegan questions
Dear Annie: It’s almost the handle it. (Of course, they always
holidays, and I’m excited to spend seem to forget by the following
time and enjoy great meals with year, because they end up asking
extended family. But there’s one me all the same stuff again.)
Is there anything I can politely
thing I’m never sure how to deal
with. I’m vegan, and the rest of say to prevent a game of 20 ques-
my family is not. That wouldn’t tions this year, or do I just need to
suck it up? — Tired of
be a problem, except
DEAR
Talking About This
every time I have din-
Dear Vegan: They’re
ner with them, my aunts,
ANNIE
asking, so you shouldn’t
uncles and elder cous-
feel guilty for giving
ins have a laundry list of
them answers. Perhaps
questions for me: “Why
spare them the gory
are you vegan?” “What’s
details, but do be hon-
wrong with dairy?” “How
est. I think these con-
do you get protein?”
versations will feel less
The only question that
Lane
tiresome once you let
really gives me pause is Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
go of the fear of offend-
the “why” one. I’m per-
ing them. They’re sim-
fectly fine with the fact
that my family members eat meat, ply curious. Give thanks for the
and I wouldn’t question them opportunity to share something
about it or pressure them. Yet they you’re passionate about with
put me in an uncomfortable posi- receptive relatives.
Dear Annie: My closest
tion, as I feel awkward talking
about why I find it cruel to eat friend has decided to have a des-
meat while they’re in the middle tination wedding, which is caus-
of enjoying their meal. It makes ing me some degree of anguish.
me feel bad and guilty. I don’t Not being a fan of this type of
want to ruin their appetites or wedding, I am troubled about
seem in any way as if I’m judging my expenses and, more so, by
them. I’ve told them, “I’d rather the lack of respect for guests. We
not talk about it right now. It will have to spend $3,500 for a week-
gross everyone out.” And they end to share this moment, and this
insist they want to know and can is expected from me because of
our close relationship. I would
like not to attend, but I am sure
that this would mean a signifi-
cant change in, if not the end of,
my relationship with my friend.
For the record, I am a man, and
my friend is a woman. Does this
gender difference have anything
to do with our differing views of
financial practicality? — Debt-sti-
nation Wedding
Dear Debt: No, this isn’t
a gender thing. No reasonable
person, male or female, should
expect loved ones to shell out that
much cash to attend a wedding.
According to the most recent
American Express survey data,
the average guest will spend $673
on a wedding — a hefty enough
chunk of change. That your friend
is asking you to spend over five
times that is absurd.
Talk to her about your con-
cerns. Tell her that you consider
her one of your closest friends and
want to be there for her big day
but that you just can’t afford it. It’s
unfortunate, but she should expect
that some people won’t be able
to make such an expensive trip.
That was her (and her partner’s)
choice. If she stops being friends
with you over that, she wasn’t too
good of a friend to begin with.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Life is not a real-
ity TV show where you’re either “in” or you’re
“out.” Relationships often go along indefinitely,
a little up-in-the-air, with various degrees of
involvement. Don’t be in a rush to categorize
where you’re at with people.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Keeping your-
self safe from harm includes controlling the
distance between you and people you love or
could possibly love. It might help to think of
yourself as a scientist, collecting data.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re willing to
fall in love with an idea, and you’re just as
willing to step back and say, “This is not the
right choice for me.” From this position you’ll
make stellar decisions that favor your long-
term happiness.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). To make an
emotional investment today will be riskier than
other kinds of investing. It will also be more
difficult to recover from if it doesn’t go right.
That’s why what you’re doing is mighty brave.
Give yourself more credit for taking the risk.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You may not like the
notions being brought to the table, but let
them air anyway to discover how strong they
really are. The censor will lose in the end be-
cause strong ideas find the fuel to keep the
fire alive.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’re not here
to close the deal at all costs. You’re here to
make the deal that’s right for you. This should
include the higher good, but don’t get over-
ly wrapped up in the other person’s side of
it today.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It would be fun to
have certain people for friends, but alas, there
are appropriate friendships and inappropriate
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
friendships, and those who can’t figure out the
difference are asking for trouble.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There’s no time
for critique or complaint today. If you’re walk-
ing around lamenting all that’s wrong with so-
ciety, you’ll be distracted from the fact that you
get to choose how to make this world better.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Someone
will make you proud to be a leader and men-
tor. You don’t ask anyone to be perfect; you
just ask them to show up and try. When they
knock it out of the park, you’ll beam.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Nothing you
experience will go to waste. Your mind will be
keen to pick up on the kind of details you can
use to solve a problem. You’ll be a regular
Sherlock Holmes!
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You haven’t al-
ways been able to say that you like your life,
but now you can, and this will be reflected in
your activities of the day. You’ll agree to propo-
sitions that look, sound and feel “so you.”
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There’s more
being asked of you, so some of your usual
self-care activities might slip through the
cracks now, but the sacrifices you make will
be worthwhile. Besides, you can catch up to-
morrow.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Nov. 30). You’re
thoughtful, smart and willing to go the extra
mile for people who need you. Because you’re
such a good friend, you’ll gain access to ex-
clusive opportunities. Take advantage of the
chance to see new places, even though this
will come at a cost. The plot twist in March
will eventually favor you: Hold on. Aries and
Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 30,
2, 22, 14 and 41.