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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2017)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017 FEATURES Not gonna return the honor Dear Annie: I was at a din- is even engaged yet. No need ner party with my girlfriends last to start sweating her wedding week, and we got on the subject plans. Whenever that time actu- of weddings. Someone we know ally comes, the two of you may had posted wedding photos on be much closer and you’ll be Facebook, and it got us talking happy to play an important role in about all the details — dress, her special day. And don’t worry; you don’t have to make location, etc. When the DEAR someone a bridesmaid wedding party was men- purely because you were tioned, my friend “Jes- ANNIE one of hers. There are so sica” said, “Well, of many other factors — course, I’ll let you girls the size of your wedding all pick your dresses party, whether you have when I get married.” sisters, sisters-in-law I looked around and or longtime childhood thought, “Me? I would friends to include, etc. A be one of her brides- Lane true friend wouldn’t hold maids?” I was pretty Annie Creators Syndicate Inc. it against you. stunned. Jessica and I Dear Annie: I like to have known each other for years, but we only just started read advice columns, but I usu- getting to know each other one- ally skip the response to the prob- on-one a few months ago. She’s lem. Invariably, the answer will a lovely girl, and I am glad we are be “seek therapy,” as if that were better friends now, but truthfully, some kind of magic solution. Let I’d feel a little out of place in her me tell you what “seeking ther- wedding party. More impor- apy” means for me and others. I live in a small town; resources tantly, I know I won’t ask her to be a bridesmaid at my wedding. for therapy are scarce. My insur- I’m dreading that situation. Any ance does not cover counseling. I thoughts on this? — Not! Always could, conceivably, drive an hour to the nearest large city for quality a Bridesmaid Dear NAAB: Hold your therapy. I would have then spent high heels. From your letter, an hour driving there and back, an it doesn’t sound as if Jessica hour in the appointment — three 5A TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. hours in which I lost potential wages, shelled out money I can’t spare and used gas I was counting on for work. This doesn’t even address the issue of getting my employer to OK my missing work on a reg- ular basis and the fallout that comes from being known as an employee with issues. Turn to my religious adviser? Don’t have one. Talk to my physi- cian — during the 10 minutes he spares me to write a prescription I can’t afford? Combine all these issues for two people seeking couples coun- seling and look at the likelihood of success. If you detect a touch of bit- terness in my letter, it is because it is there. Telling me to seek ther- apy is akin to saying, “Let them eat cake.” — Frustrated Dear Frustrated: Thank you for this reminder of how diffi- cult it can be to find mental health care. Have you tried remote counseling? Services such as Bet- terHelp and Talkspace connect patients with health care profes- sionals via video chats, text mes- sages and phone calls. This might be a more convenient and afford- able option for you. Be well. ARIES (March 21-April 19). If a person seems always either up or down and never balanced, it’s a sign that you are in for a roller coaster ride should you choose to get close. People line up for such rides, which are usually expensive and brief. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Team efforts don’t always have to be equal so much as mutual- ly satisfactory. Sometimes you have to take yourself out of the equation in order to make sure that the other person is pulling his or her weight. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Choose team- mates who want to win. They’ll help you to vic- tory. But more importantly, choose teammates who want to play, who love the game and who have the will to prepare. Just being around these types is a win. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ve paid your dues, and maybe you think others should pay theirs, too, before they get to enter the “cool club.” Then again, things have changed so much since you started. Consider creating a new policy. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There was a time when you were intimidated by the prospect of calling someone you don’t know. Today you’ll look forward to the surprise and education that always comes from a fresh contact. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You can accomplish more. The limitations are in your mind. Look at the one who is doing it differently. Study the competition. What do the gurus have to say? This is an information-gathering period. CANCER (June 22-July 22). In business, the bottom line is ROI: return on investment. Why not make ROI the bottom line in everything you do today? When you’re clear what you’re getting out of each action, you’ll choose most efficiently. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You are chasing an object of affection that is chasing another object of affection, and this is how love makes the world go around. Hopefully you won’t lose heart. Did you notice that you’re also being chased? LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Make no promises. Give no quick answers. This especially applies to feedback. Receive the tips, acknowledge the tipper and then take time to reflect and assimi- late the implications. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Today’s cosmic gift is talent for storytelling. Creative people will be drawn to your tales. This is could be the start of a community. Listen as well as you present and you’re golden. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). No one is fully formed. You see the potential in others, and you will also have excellent ideas about how to direct it. Those are best shared exclusively with those who ask for help. 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 PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Which approach is best? Should you push and drive your team, or should you lift and support them? Both ways are valid and needed at different times. Test the waters. Get a better reading of the situation and the group. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 2). Your excitement surges as a gleaming goal appears within reach. The final 10 percent of the journey is the hardest stretch. New challenges at work in March invite you to experiment and play. Sin- gles meet someone special in June. September brings physical strength and the willpower to become quite fit. Taurus and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 5, 20, 44, 19 and 28.
