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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 2016)
8A FEATURES Butterflies over new boyfriend Dear Annie: I have been dating Dear Kriss: Sounds as if your “Connor” for about three months. stomach is more a bowl full of but- With the holidays approaching, I’m terflies than jelly. It’s OK to feel getting anxious for a couple of rea- nervous — that giddy feeling is a sons. One, I’m thinking of what to fun part of any new relationship — get him for Christmas. We really but don’t let nerves stop you from like each other, and I see this as showing your enthusiasm. having the potential to be Why not buy him a DEAR a very serious relationship, cooking lesson or a gift but it’s still fairly new. He certificate to a nice restau- ANNIE enjoys hiking and surfing rant he’s been meaning and loves food and wine. to try? Experience-based What’s a gift that says gifts are thoughtful and “you mean something to fun, and sites such as me” but doesn’t go over- Groupon and Living Social have good deals. board? Is there some sort As for his office hol- of chart for gifts for dat- Lane iday party, go. Don’t fret ing milestones as there is Annie Creators Syndicate Inc. too much about the big- for wedding anniversaries wig colleagues. Remem- (e.g., paper the first year, ber no one can make you feel infe- cotton the second year)? The other reason I’m anxious rior without your consent. They’re is that he invited me to his office probably not so bad as he says they holiday party. He is an attorney at are. (If they are, you’ll be able to a successful law firm, and I’m a commiserate all the better when he hairstylist. I didn’t even go to col- vents about work in the future.) Dear Annie: There is a com- lege. So I’m a little intimidated. I’ve never met his boss or any of mon theme to many of the people his colleagues, but from what he writing you: “I didn’t get mine.” says, most of them are very serious, People talk about not getting pres- rude and unpleasant to be around. ents or cards. Some say, “A friend I’m quite the opposite of all that. didn’t give me what he should Still, I’d love to support him. Is have.” I checked the definition of there a particular reason I should or “friend,” and the only mention of giving was that of support. shouldn’t go? — Krissy Kringle What do we have friends for? Is it to enrich our lives or our proper- ties? If your answer is to increase your properties, then you are actu- ally looking for donors. Perhaps a better question is, “What do we have etiquette for?” Etiquette seems to discard the idea that having friends who love us is enough to be grateful for. I think any tradition that does not bring us to kinder and less selfish behavior should be scrapped. I have not checked to see who has given me a present since I was a kid. I don’t expect a thank-you card for anything that I’ve done because I care about a person. If the person thanks me in person, that is enough. I don’t do favors to bene- fit myself (other than the obvi- ous benefit of having friends), and I don’t invite people to be around me because I want something more than friendship. — Disappointed in Accepted Values Dear Disappointed: You make a great point. Perhaps we should be less concerned with keeping score. But I do have to add, to those of you who might read this and think you’ve found an excuse not to send a thank-you card to Grandma: Just mail the darn thing. Please. It will make her smile. THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016 TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Avoid personal- izing other people’s behaviors by assuming that they are reacting to you. Many factors affect behavior. You may only be a small part of it, but you’ll be a positive part. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). An issue you deal with is not who you are. The less you identify with it the better. Separate yourself from the circumstances. Remind yourself of your good qualities and reinforce what you’re all about. promoted. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The way to tell a great question is by the answers you’re getting. You’ll create an environment of warmth and people will open up to you, giving you exactly what you want. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The magic question of the day: How do you envision this process working? Ask yourself; ask others. It will get everyone thinking of the practical steps necessary to realize the goal. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You probably wouldn’t guess what someone finds attrac- tive about you, but you don’t have to. The more you focus on your strengths, curiosities and interests the bigger your light becomes. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You may not wake up filled with a sunshiny spirit. This can still be a happy day. What’s dragging your thoughts into the shadows? Identify the main issue. Confront and conquer. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Love and com- mitment fuse together today. You won’t be sure if you’re doing something because you love it or if you love it because you’re doing it. Either way, it’s a slice of heaven. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Sometimes everything feels like a top priority, but of course that’s not how priorities work. Get real about it. What’s the one thing you could do to make the rest fall in line? LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Emotional courage is the key to getting the results you want. When you’re willing to deal with uncertainty and embrace the pain that goes along with growing and changing, this is when the transformation you wish for begins. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Most people listen to one another with a cursory level of attention. Listening is a muscle. It takes practice to get this muscle in shape. Listen better than others do (not hard), and seize the opportunities they miss. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Some feelings you want to build up, and others you want to feel a lot less of. Suppressing an emotion will only make it stronger. If you want to feel less of a thing, express it. Get it out, and let it diffuse. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 16). Things will go exceptionally well in the mon- ey department over the next three weeks, and this helps other things, too. Riding that line between being responsible to others and doing your own thing — that will be your growing edge in the early parts of the year. You’ll always win when you bring your most professional self to the moment. Taurus and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 50, 2, 22 and 15. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The less reactive you are, the better you’ll handle things. The better you handle things, the more someone will admire and like you. The more someone admires and likes you, the higher you’ll be 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
