6A
FEATURES
Chatterbox ruins the evening
Dear Annie: My wife and I just this woman interrupts you, you
visited good friends we’ve known must gently snag the conversa-
tional reins again. Let her speak
for over 40 years.
The hostess talked from “good for a minute before reminding
morning” to “good night.” What a her that you were in the middle
of speaking. Say something like,
performance!
At dinner, I was able to get a “You stopped the moose dead in
his tracks.” A little humor
word in and remark that we
DEAR
will keep the tone friendly
had seen a moose on the
and spare the hostess some
road to their house. As was
ANNIE
embarrassment.
typical for the hostess, she
Dear Annie: I’d like
butted in before I was done
to add something to your
talking, and in a minute,
response to “Tears and
she was talking about what
Fears for the Victims All
her aunt Sally Smith’s
Over,” who wondered
neighbor, Joan Nobody,
how to help when witness-
had for dinner at her
Lane
ing violent or unpleasant
daughter’s birthday party. Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
situations. I have been in
Why would any intelligent
such situations, too, and in
person have any interest
in this? These are people we don’t a couple of instances, I have gone
know, and there was nothing spe- over and asked whether there was
cial about the dinner. I would rather anything I could do to help. Obvi-
have kept talking about the moose. ously, one does not want to put one-
I now never want to visit them self in harm’s way, but for events
again. My wife tells me I am a such as the ones “Tears and Fears”
social misfit and am being unrea- described, I might suggest, seeing
sonable. I feel our hostess is out of as there were automobiles included
touch with polite behavior. Your in the scenarios, is for people who
thoughts? Please sign me — Tired see what is happening to take the
license plate down or take a brief
of Boring, Never-Ending Chatter
Dear Tired: The hostess is the video. Getting the license plate
real social misfit here, but every- would enable them to contact the
one is too polite to let her know police and possibly get some action
it. Do visit them again. But when taken. I was once being chased by
someone on the freeway in the Los
Angeles area. I took the license
plate down and called the police.
They told me that they would go
and talk to the person.
Sometimes there is more we can
do than we realize in situations such
as this. I once saw what appeared
to be an assault going on in a car
in the parking lot of a hospital, and
I went over to try to intervene. It
turned out that a young woman was
having a grand mal seizure in the
back seat, and her father was trying
to restrain her so she would not hurt
herself. I quickly ran to the hospital
and got somebody to bring a gur-
ney out so that the woman could be
taken immediately. Apparently, the
mother had gone into the hospital
earlier but was not forceful enough
at the intake desk to tell the people
that her daughter needed immediate
help. I said that someone was hav-
ing a really bad seizure in the park-
ing lot, and they acted immediately.
Thank you, concerned citizens,
for the good work that you do to
make the world a better place. —
Good Samaritan
Dear Good: Your story of the
family in the hospital parking lot
underscores how the kindness of
strangers can make all the differ-
ence. Thank you.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). There are
plenty of available options, but the ones that
meet the criteria of being the right thing at
the right time in the right way are few and far
between. Trust in life’s unfolding today. Relax,
align yourself, and wait for it.
should take it.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). This is a day
for acceptance. You’ll meet a wide range of
personalities and deal with more than a few
different behavioral styles. No one’s style is
better. You can learn from everyone.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). If you
try and study yourself, very few insights are
likely to emerge. However, in the process of
studying someone you admire or a subject of
fascination, you’ll learn much about yourself.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Just when you
were starting to relax into the current scene,
a diversion erupts. This is an exciting twist!
You may not change your course, but you’ll
sure approach with heightened attention.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Whether
the expenditure is emotional or financial, the
purchase price will be negotiable. Decide
what you can afford and then back down
from that to what you really want to pay. Be
bold. Name your price and go from there.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Low confi-
dence could actually be a good thing for you
today. Those who think they already have
it nailed won’t make the extra effort to be
remarkable. Where the overconfident fail,
you’ll succeed.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Once in a while you
look around you and wonder, “How did I get
here?” Even you couldn’t repeat the steps
if you had to. And the journey ahead will be
equally as whimsical.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Ben Franklin
suggested you get to bed early and wake
up early, but what did he know about your
life? Your internal clock has its own sort of
wisdom and efficiency. Try to be patient as it
adjusts today.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You are some-
times too proud and independent for your
own good. Let people give to you. Money,
gifts, help, attention — whatever it is, if it feels
sincere and unencumbered by strings, you
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). Just because
something is silly and mindless and fluffy-fun
doesn’t mean it’s stupid. If you’re attracted to
it, and it makes you smile and maybe ponder
or wonder or think — this is valid enough.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It takes a
strong person to ask for and take in honest
criticism, but it will be well worth your while,
because there is something just beyond
your usual awareness that will be incredibly
helpful for you to know.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). To get what
you need without wondering why you need it
or telling yourself that you shouldn’t need it:
that is to really trust in the universe and your
own intuition.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 3). Realiz-
ing that you can’t keep everything the way it
is and still get what you want, you’ll approach
this solar return with scrutiny. What can you
trade? What are you unwilling to compromise
about? Tough questions will lead to a plan
that nets you a superstar transformation by
the end of May. July brings a windfall. Leo
and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 5, 38, 14, 22 and 19.