THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2016
FEATURES
She has terrible taste in music
Dear Annie: I’ve been see-
Dear Not a Movie: Oppo-
ing this woman, “Becky,” for six sites attract for good reason. Sure,
months or so. We met through a you might drive each other a lit-
mentorship program for under- tle nuts — but would you really
privileged teens. She’s a lawyer want to date someone exactly like
and incredibly smart. I write for a you? Taste is fleeting. The import-
music magazine. We have a great ant thing is that you hold simi-
lar values. It sounds as if
time together.
DEAR
you two share common
But — and I know
ground there, where it
this is going to make me
ANNIE
counts.
sound like a jerk — I can’t
Keep an open mind
get over her terrible taste
(no snobbery), and
in movies, music and TV
encourage her to do the
shows. I don’t own a tele-
same. Who knows? You
vision, and I only dedicate
might find something
precious free time to crit-
profoundly
liberating
ically acclaimed shows.
Lane
about
shaking
it off to
She watches, you guessed Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
some Taylor Swift, and
it, reality TV.
your girlfriend might love
We have tried taking
turns picking out movies to watch, crying her heart out to a Sundance
but I’m miserable watching rom- selection. You can learn from each
coms, and she’s miserable watch- other. And a bonus: You’ll never
ing the heavy films I pick out. It have to worry about her stealing
doesn’t seem like a good time for your records.
Dear Annie: I just wanted to
either of us.
I collect vinyl and enjoy dis- reply to “Still Crying,” whose
covering new music from inde- nephew adopted his wife’s son
pendent artists (which is part of and then had the child taken from
my job, after all). She listens to him by the wife when she left him
pop stuff that might as well be for another man: Never give up.
If the nephew wants to have time
nails on a chalkboard to me.
Annie, what do you think? Can with his son, he should fight for it.
Kids do have rights. He should
we ever make this work? — Din-
not listen when people tell him
ner and Definitely Not a Movie
that he has no chance. Trust me;
I know from firsthand experience.
When I married my husband,
I became stepmother to his two
children. My stepson was 12 1/2
months old, and my daughter was
almost 3. Their father and I were
together for five years. When we
got divorced, he took off with the
kids.
I went to a lawyer, who told
me that he would take the case
but I would most likely lose. But
I did not. I got my visitations that
I wanted. Then I filed for custody.
My lawyer asked for a family case
study, which was granted, and the
kids were given a lawyer of their
own. The kids’ lawyer spoke with
them alone. And to everyone’s
shock, including mine, I won full
custody.
What that mother “Still Cry-
ing” described is doing to her
child is a rotten thing to do. So
if the nephew loves that child, he
should try again. He should tell
the court he adopted his son in
good faith and fell in love with
him. — Judy R.
Dear Judy: Thank you for
sharing your story. I think it will
provide hope to many parents who
are in the same sad situation you
were once in.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re becom-
ing more intentional in these last days of the
year. You’ll measure the things that matter to
you. Time is your greatest resource. A little
self-discipline is all that’s needed to work the
clock in your favor.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Come from
a place of curiosity. You can afford it. Relax
and think of a different question you could be
asking. If nothing comes to you, escape to
new environs and see if that doesn’t inspire a
new mindset.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). What was a chore
to learn is becoming increasingly exciting to
know, now that you understand it better. Keep
seeking knowledge. You’ll soon meet people
who share your enthusiasm for the subject.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You can’t control
other people, so you focus on you. This will
be positive as long as you realize that there’s
really nothing to fix about yourself, just some-
thing to accept.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll have some fun
as you take on a challenge with a small team.
New people in the group will highlight different
characteristics of your loved ones, giving you
a new angle to appreciate them from.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Whatever hap-
pened before, leave it in the land of before.
Future-you is still to be determined. You’re
the determiner. You will be what you make of
yourself.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Everyone has felt
the sting of exclusion and rejection — hard
but a kind of rite of passage for humans. If you
can soften it for someone you will. Laughing
about the past, or holding hands in the pres-
ent — that’s you now.
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). Do you ever
go on social media and find yourself being
quite mean about it? You wouldn’t leave bad
comments, but you might think them. There’s
something cathartic in the thought process,
and as long as you don’t act on it, you’re
golden.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). How well
should they understand you? This is the
question of the day. You have surprises and
mysteries inside you. How much do you really
want to communicate now?
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Is this
person difficult to get to know? You’ll have to
work harder to crack the code, that’s all. Only
you can determine if it’s really worthwhile,
although the challenge in and of itself will
probably be enough for you.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Because you
are such a fantastic listener you will under-
stand even those who have difficulty commu-
nicating. You will find a way to help them and
perhaps make an accidental profit, too.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Your affection
toward those you love cannot be masked.
Others are secretly envious of the attention
you lavish on your nearest and dearest, and
today they may make a play for your interest.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 28). Your
cosmic gift is confidence. Your voice gets
stronger, your movements sharper; you know
yourself better than ever. Your self-assurance
will make others certain about you, too. You’ll
seal a deal through an educational or familial
network. April and September will be your
best financial months. Scorpio and Taurus
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 20, 8,
45 and 12.