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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (July 25, 2017)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2017 FEATURES Husband’s friend is a gossip Dear Annie: I need advice on sips about anyone not in the room, how to deal with my husband’s you know whom he’ll be talking friend. This person is a gossip who about just as soon as you’re out the delves into the details of other peo- door. Let’s hope your husband will ple’s personal lives. He entertains put that together in time and cut ties groups with these unflattering sto- with this man. ries and makes himself important by Below is a poem called offering his analyses, judg- “Nobody’s Friend” (author DEAR ing their life choices, mis- unknown), which several deeds and daily activities. readers have shared with ANNIE Family, friends, acquain- me since I started writ- tances and anyone in the ing this column and which public eye are subject to his I think is worth sharing scrutiny. He can be quite here: charming while he’s being “My name is Gossip. friendly with you during “I have no respect for his “information gather- justice. Lane “I maim without ing” stage, but he has hurt Annie Creators Syndicate Inc. killing. many people and tarnished “I break hearts and ruin their reputations. He is a lives. bully and a poor role model. “I am cunning and malicious He claims to be religious and caring, but I find his behavior intru- and gather strength with age. “The more I am quoted the more sive and offensive. He questions my husband about our family activ- I am believed. “I flourish at every level of ities on a daily basis. I have told my husband and this person that this society. “My victims are helpless. is unacceptable. I try hard to avoid “They cannot protect them- him. Why are some people such gossip-mongers? — Fed Up by selves against me because I have no name and no face. This Octopus “To track me down is impossible. Dear Fed Up: You’re smart “The harder you try, the more to stay out of his toxic tentacles’ reach. I’m surprised this man still elusive I become. “I am nobody’s friend. has friends at all. If someone gos- “Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same. “I topple governments and ruin marriages. “I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartache and indigestion. “I spawn suspicion and gener- ate grief. “I make innocent people cry in their pillows. “Even my name hisses. “I am called Gossip.” Dear Annie: As someone who’s been a recovered alcoholic for nearly 10 years, I agree with your advice to “Margaret,” who was con- templating staying with the alco- holic who recently tried assaulting her daughter. (You told her to “run, not walk, away from this man.”) If he is serious about getting help, he will make new friends in recovery. Alcoholics Anonymous will accept him with open arms. If, however, he is not commit- ted to changing, it is much better to be nowhere near him because he is likely to commit even worse offenses. — SL Dear SL: Thanks for speaking to the situation from personal expe- rience. I hope Margaret, as well as anyone else in her shoes, takes it to heart. 5A TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. terrific about it instead. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your most useful tool of the day will be an easy social demean- or and a genuine desire to help people. It bears mentioning that helping people can be tricky. Sometimes you help them best by not helping. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). An ambitious mood can be the enemy of realistic goals, but go with how you’re feeling anyway. You’re ma- ture enough to the find equilibrium between big dreams and real life. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Logic dictates that the best choice is an educated one made after careful examination of the options. Life will prove to you otherwise. Dumb luck can prove brilliant. A whim or inkling can lead you somewhere astounding. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). One way to maximize your contacts is to serve them as well as you can and use them only to the extent that you can very easily repay. People who lean too hard on their network may find it is not as robust as they thought. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You know what it’s like to land right in the sweet, gooey center of your joy. You also know what it’s like to drift out from that, which isn’t all bad. There’s clarity in the drift. Today, you’ll appreciate all sides of it. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It is your quest to constantly grow and improve. But growing things do not always appear to be getting taller or larger. Rest and recovery is an essential part of the growth process and not to be skipped. CANCER (June 22-July 22). You were not meant for a zombie mindset — you’re far too alive for that. It’s better to do absolutely nothing than to fill your hours with hollow distraction. Meaningless things cause you to forget who you are. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Good infor- mation will lead you to make arrangements that benefit all. The best tips will initially seem frivolous or even useless. That’s your genius. You think playfully. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Infatuation is an exhilarating, addicting drug that produces an often lovely and very temporary false reality. To minimize the side effects, depend on a grounded and unaffected friend as a guide. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You are modest and accommodating, but it won’t fool the wise. Smart people sense your gravitas and will think of you as an equal partner and a like mind. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Genuine compli- ments will have you buzzing with the delicious charge that often accompanies social accep- tance. Phony compliments will do the same. The only difference between the two is the intent of the one making the compliment. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (July 26). You’ll cultivate beautiful surroundings, starting with the people you hang out with. You’ll grow your internal resources through education and personal development and your external resources multiply, too. August brings exciting possibilities to your love life. Increased comfort and security will be the hallmarks of 2018. Scorpio and Aries adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 11, 19, 40 and 30 LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Trying to do too much today will lead to stressful feelings of inadequacy. Cut your list in half. You’ll get the same amount accomplished but you’ll feel 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
