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