6A
FEATURES
Siblings are not much help
Dear Annie: I am 63, and I taking. To properly take care of
help daily with my 94-year-old anyone, you first need to take care
mother, who lives by herself. I run of yourself. If your batteries are
errands, and I keep her yard nice. constantly drained, they’ll eventu-
I have a brother and sister who ally be past the point of recharg-
live out of state. They come back ing. Look into hiring some pro-
to visit from time to time. When fessional help to supplement your
they do visit, they expect
own care of your mother.
DEAR
me to entertain them. I
Many insurances, includ-
feel that because they are
ing Medicare and Med-
ANNIE
staying with her, it is my
icaid, include some form
time to take a break. They
of hospice coverage. Visit
don’t seem to realize the
https://hospicefoundation.
pressures I go through
org.
every day, when I wonder
As for your sib-
whether she will answer
lings, how they want to
the door or I will find her
treat your mother is their
Annie Lane
on the floor.
choice. Though you can’t
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
force them to spend more
Am I being unreason-
time with her, you can
able in wanting to be able
to “escape” mentally and physi- stick up for yourself and ask them
cally for a couple of days when- to stop shifting blame onto you.
ever it is convenient for them to You are a wonderful daughter.
“escape” their out-of-state lives Don’t let them make you think oth-
and visit? I’d like to be able to erwise because of their own selfish
visit my children and maybe travel motives.
Dear Annie: I can no longer
a little bit. They not only try to
make me feel guilty but also put take this digital world.
I cannot program my new
my mom up to calling me on their
behalf. — Needing a Break in dishwasher to a one-hour setting
instead of letting it run for two
Pensacola
Dear Needing a Break: It is hours; my old dishwasher ran with
absolutely reasonable — and smart nothing but a push of the start but-
— that you want some time alone ton. I cannot get an ice cube from
and away from the stresses of care- my new refrigerator. It’s like an
algebra problem. I used to get ice
cubes from my old refrigerator by
opening the freezer door and grab-
bing the ice cube tray. New refrig-
erators do not come equipped with
ice cube trays.
My old TV set used to turn on
with the click of a single button on
the remote. My new TV requires
three or four clicks before the pic-
ture turns on. I used to play a tape
by simply pushing “play” and
turned it off by pushing “off.” I am
still trying to learn the steps that
one has to go through to turn off
a DVR. This is the reason mental
problems are on the rise for people
over 80. — Digital Victim
Dear Digital Victim: I feel
your pain. I hate having to use
two remotes and a considerable
amount of brainpower just to turn
on the nightly news. But look at it
this way: These technological chal-
lenges, although frustrating, are
working your brain. Cognitive psy-
chologists have found that learning
new skills helps to ward off demen-
tia by strengthening connections
between different areas of the brain.
That said, you don’t have
to drive yourself crazy figuring
things out on your own. Ask a
store associate for help next time
you’re buying such a product.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Stop over-
thinking. Make a move. Whether a move
is wrong or right, it tells you what the next
move should be. This will stop you from
going in circles in your head and will get
you going on a straight line instead.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re being
marketed to all of the time by those who
would like you to choose their products
or services. Market to yourself. It works.
Surround yourself with symbols and
messages about what you want yourself
to choose.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Fear is energy
that can be directed in a positive way, but
that’s not how it’s used very often. To direct
your fear well, keep reminding yourself of
what it is you want to achieve, and breathe
toward that aim.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Long blocks
of focused, uninterrupted concentration
are necessary to accomplish anything
worthwhile. There is something (or more
likely someone) preventing you from hav-
ing time to focus — a situation that must
be remedied.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Risking rejection
is no fun (even for extroverts) but it must
be faced in the name of progress. Go
where the opportunities are and make
friends. If you don’t know where they are,
go where you think they are.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). As the
mountain cradles the lake, your earth-sign
nature will hold a water-sign individual very
dear. These are the Pisces, Scorpio and
Cancer people, and they could really use
someone with your reliability.
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
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Sometimes
you wonder if you’re too brave for your
own good. You’ve been known to jump into
the spotlight unprepared, but that’s better
than missing out. After all, opportunities
usually don’t wait around until you’re ready
for them.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The people
who have the best perspective about the
job will be the ones who have done it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). As it is
with anything, what you pay attention to
loves you back. When you give attention to
your deeper feelings and the subconscious
layers of yourself, too, you start feeling
more resoundingly fulfilled.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The tools
used to create will be a focus, but don’t be
fooled; the tools do not make the creation.
Creativity is in the head and heart. Fancy,
expensive tools can actually work against
the art.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Customs
matter — but not really. Following the right
movements in the correct order will show
respect when you don’t yet have the other
person’s.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You sense
you’re being flattered. That doesn’t mean
the compliments aren’t true; it just means
your flatterer is smart enough to grease
the gears.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (June 23).
You’ll thrive in many kinds of relationships
this year. You’ll have an easy give-and-
take with some. For others it’s a give and
give, and this will teach you and grow your
heart, too. You’ll be repaid in July.