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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