THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017
FEATURES
Roommates are ruining coffee table
Dear Annie: Help! My cof- defense is a good offense. Call a
fee table is slowly being ruined, local custom glass-cutting busi-
and I don’t know how to prevent ness and have a protective top
it without seeming like a control made to the dimensions of your
freak.
table. This should be relatively
This table was my first big inexpensive (between $40 and
furniture purchase, after years of $60) — well worth the peace of
Ikea bargain pieces and Craig- mind.
slist freebies. I got some
Dear Annie: Thank
DEAR
really cute coasters right
you for publishing a
away, hoping to protect
recent letter from a per-
ANNIE
the table. But no mat-
son in need of a kidney
transplant. Kidney dis-
ter how many times I’ve
asked my roommates,
ease does not get the
they keep forgetting to
attention it deserves.
Thirty-one million peo-
use the coasters. They’ll
place a cold drink right
ple — babies, young
next to a coaster but not
children,
teenagers,
Lane
adults
and
senior
citizens
on it. It drives me crazy! Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
I’ve asked at least 10
— are dealing with this
times now. They are start-
illness. Some aren’t even
ing to get a bit better about it and aware they have kidney disease
are remembering sometimes, but until symptoms appear. There is
no cure for kidney failure.
their friends are not.
On Jan. 3, my sister died from
I feel awkward going in there
when they have guests over and complications of kidney failure.
placing their drinks on the coast- Her last two years were not quality
ers. I don’t want to make anyone years. Even dialysis has devastat-
uncomfortable, and I’d love to be ing side effects. She was in and out
more relaxed about this, but I’m of the hospital too many times. She
already noticing rings on the table fought long and hard. She leaves
and some warping. How can I behind a young teenage daughter
get my roommates to listen to me and a husband, who stood by her
without blowing up at them? — side every step of the way.
As her sister, I could not sit by
Coaster Crazy
Dear Coaster: The best and watch her suffer. I tried every-
thing to find her a living donor. I
purchased a billboard where she
lived. I posted on Facebook. I put
my request on the back window
of my car. I did radio, newspaper
and TV interviews on her behalf
because my sister and her fam-
ily were financially, mentally and
physically exhausted.
The transplant hospitals do not
look for living donors for those
in need. This is the responsibility
of the family. I will always won-
der what else I could have done.
Like my sister, some become too
sick or die before getting a second
chance at life. My beautiful sister
is just a statistic now.
There are currently 98,000
people on the kidney transplant
waiting list. I know many people
who are registered organ donors.
This is not enough. Take it one
step further and be tested as a liv-
ing kidney donor. Call your local
hospital and ask for the procure-
ment center it works with. — A
Grieving Sister in Kansas
Dear Grieving: I am so sorry
for the loss of your beloved sister.
Thank you for raising awareness
about the importance of living
kidney donors. Readers inter-
ested in becoming donors, visit
https://www.kidney.org for more
information.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). When they say,
“the strong one” or “the one you can always
count on,” who pops into your mind? This
person needs more attention and love than you
might have guessed. It’s worth a call today.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It’s said that living
well is the best revenge, but why wait until you’re
retaliating to start living well? Begin now for no
reason at all except that you deserve excellent
self-care and it benefits everyone.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Maybe your hopes
for the situation are a bit unreasonable, but don’t
give them up yet. In archery and other pursuits,
you have to aim above the target to hit the goal.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your friends
will say nice things to you. And your good
friends will also say harsh things to you if such
things will benefit you in the long run — or, at
the very least, they’ll tell you when you have
spinach in your teeth.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The emotional
terrain that stretches before you is uncharted.
You’ve the toughness of an explorer, though,
and that’s what’s needed to brave these wild
hills, dark but full of diamonds.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Set down the
remote. The entertainment in your personal life
will render other forms of drama superfluous.
Bonus: Tonight brings even more spontaneous
excitement.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The old-school wisdom
that you should not trouble another person for
what you can do yourself flies in the face of
effective management. Bottom line: You will not
advance to your full potential while taking on
every task yourself.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ve an important
moment coming up. Practice to the point where
the desired result is automatic. If this doesn’t
seem to calm your nerves, don’t worry too
much. The best training for getting over nerves
is being nervous.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). No one is untouched
by her community and environment. Even if you
decide not to converse, volunteer or join your
efforts in any way with those around you, you’ll
feel the good thoughts and intentions of those
present.
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
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Is there some
higher morality than the one that feeds social
stability, justice and peace? It’s a subject of
debate today, and yet it’s pretty obvious what
people need. “The people’s good is the highest
law.” — Cicero
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Some will keep
score, but it’s a waste of time. And don’t be over-
ly concerned about who gets the last laugh, ei-
ther. As long as everyone laughs at some point,
the comedy of life is playing out as it should.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There are many
privileges to be enjoyed. Luxuries are nothing
to be embarrassed about, as long as they are
paid for. Some say that even being in the world
is a luxury. What responsibility do you assume
for the trade?
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (April 19). The
worries go away. All that was blocking your
signal will move out. In May, the love you feel
for someone will make you bold. Follow through
with spontaneous ideas: Go big. What you do
to make another person remember you will be
how you remember yourself. A fine mess turns
into an opportunity of a lifetime in July. Cancer
and Leo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 5,
20, 16, 21 and 33.