6A
FEATURES
Neighbor breaks chair twice
Dear Annie: I wrote to you damage. And she states all the
earlier this year about my lovely, time that she is a good Christian
charming neighbor and friend woman, which I wholly think is
named “Tara,” who is quite over- true. I’m out a lot of money, and
weight and broke my living room I’d like her to pay for it. I just do
chair. I was so embarrassed for her not know how to bring it up while
that I did not say anything, and preserving the friendship. — Bro-
neither did she. I’ve never
ken Living Room
DEAR
mentioned it since. That
Dear Broken: If you
repair was over $90 — a
remain silent, resentment
ANNIE
lot of money to me.
will pile on until you
Well, Tara came over
reach your own breaking
recently, and before I
point. To preserve your
could suggest going out
friendship and your furni-
for coffee, she sat in my
ture, you need to tell Tara
beautiful living room
the truth.
chair again. Immediately,
Put your discomfort
Annie Lane
there was a loud pop.
aside
and give her a call.
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Keep it short and sweet.
Ugh! The spring is
Tara’s weight is really not
completely out of the bot-
tom of the chair again. And the your concern here, so don’t focus
upholsterer says it will cost at on that or feel guilty because of it.
The simple fact is that she broke
least another $90 to repair it.
What is the etiquette for tell- your chair and you would really
ing a neighbor with whom you’re appreciate it if she would help you
friends that she has obviously to repair it. It’s nothing personal.
broken an item of yours? How If she’s the good friend and neigh-
should I bring it up? She will have bor you think, she’ll ask you to
cost me about $200 in furniture send her the bill.
Dear Annie: A recent letter
repairs. I have to think she knows
she breaks furniture when she in your column from “A Little
sits in it, because after each inci- Space, Please” reminded me of a
dent, she immediately said, “Did similar incident that happened to
me. I was at the pharmacy counter
I break it?”
Tara can afford to pay for the talking to the assistant pharma-
cist and completing my trans-
action, when suddenly, a huge
angry-looking man appeared and
leaned right past me, putting his
elbow on the counter and looking
over my shoulder.
Needless to say, I was startled,
and I knew immediately he was
trying to intimidate. So I politely
asked him to wait back a little and
said that I was nearly finished.
He became enraged and started
screaming horrible insults! The
assistant pharmacist said nothing
as I proceeded to tell this Nean-
derthal what I thought of him. I
then told her that she should direct
customers to wait behind the line
and take control of the situation.
It was a most unpleasant expe-
rience that I will never forget.
That guy probably didn’t think
I would stand up to him and his
rude behavior. I could still hear
his ranting while I was leaving the
store. — Carol in Florida
Dear Carol: Way to stick up
for yourself. My only caveat:
Don’t put yourself in danger;
always make sure you are in a safe
environment, surrounded by oth-
ers, and don’t resort to violence.
Often the best defense is a good
exit plan. But kudos to you none-
theless, courageous Carol.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Sharing the
same sensibility isn’t necessary to a produc-
tive relationship. Align yourself with people
who are very different from you, because
you’ll work great together now and mesh in
interesting ways.
something that will happen naturally.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Put serious at-
tention into what you’ll wear, who you might
see, what you’ll talk about. Forethought will
lead you to make a wonderful impression.
Your upbeat and confident mood will make
all of the difference.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You
warmly try to include everyone, make intro-
ductions and promote togetherness. You can
feel good about the efforts you make in this
regard, and you’re likely to have extremely
successful results.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). If you go seek-
ing inspiration, you may come up dry. Seek
connection instead. This aim will prompt you
to bring more of yourself to interactions, and
you’ll be met in kind.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). An unex-
pected twist — your act of humility acciden-
tally draws attention to you. So much for the
spotlight you were trying to avoid. The more
you run, the more it shines on you.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). If you try
and calm yourself by making life a little
more predictable, you will achieve a level of
predictability somewhere between delight-
ful spontaneity and mild chaos. Save your
energy; embrace the unknown.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The beautiful
and elusive Marlene Dietrich suggested,
“It’s the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that
matter.” You have so many friends like this,
and it will be good to be around them now.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It may feel like a
game of limbo in which you’re being asked
to bend backward to the furthest extent you
can without falling down. You’re emotionally
and practically flexible, but should they really
be asking this of you?
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Happiness
depends on your ability to reduce the
self-critical voice inside your head. The
praiseful voice is equally unnecessary. Focus
on tasks; eliminate the commentary.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Relationships
reach new comfort levels. This might change
the whole game, inspiring you to go for
a deeper commitment, or maybe it’s just
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). You know the
social secret: People who feel accepted are
way more fun. That’s why you strive to be
easygoing, project tolerance and eschew
pretentiousness.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). If you even
half-believe in spirit guides, and you call
yours up, you might just get an intuitive mes-
sage about how you can fix things. You’ll still
have to do all the work, though. Spirit guides
are advisers, not employees.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 23). The
big life questions can only be answered
by you. You’ll research, gather ideas, get
advice — bottom line, your heart already
knows. Execute with confidence. February
will bring something interesting to take care
of. Responsibilities only make your life richer.
March and June offer business advances.
Libra and Pisces adore you. Your lucky num-
bers are: 5, 41, 28, 3 and 9.