THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017
FEATURES
Dish washing debate
Dear Annie: This is a con- much as I hate to be wishy-
stant debate in my house, and I washy, I have to say it depends.
am sure it is in others. I would Filling up the sink, as your son
like to know your opinion on does, is more environmentally
this.
friendly because it uses a lot
I say that if you clean less water. So if you’re con-
cerned with saving
dishes under running
DEAR
the planet or reducing
hot water (with soap,
your water bill, that’s
of course), you can
ANNIE
the optimal method.
get them cleaner. My
Personally, I prefer
son believes the best
using running water,
method is to fill the
for the reasons you
whole sink with soapy
mentioned. It’s faster,
water first and then
and it just feels cleaner.
wash all the dishes
Dear Annie: Your
in the same water. I
Lane
advice
to “Mother-
personally think this Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
less in the Midwest,”
wastes time, because in
whose mother has
the time it takes to wait
for the sink to fill, I could have inexplicably always been cruel
half the dishes done if I were to her, was spot on. I really liked
to clean them my way. Also, your line, “Your head must be
I think his way is unsanitary; a friend to your heart.” Hav-
even though you are using hot ing been raised by an unloving,
water and soap, the water still toxic mother, I can also offer a
collects residue and germs from line: “Live with no regrets.”
I was in my 40s (I’m now
what was on the plates previ-
ously. So I find filling the sink 64) before I finally realized that
not only a waste of time but there was nothing I could do to
also unsanitary. What is your change this unhappy woman,
opinion? Fill the sink or clean so I had to change how I let her
the dishes under running fresh get to me and had to keep a lov-
ing distance, for my sake and
hot water? — Washing Well
Dear Washing Well: As my family’s. (I often neglected
my family members over her
needs and wants.) After my
loving father died, I continued
to check on her and address any
needs she had that I could help
with from a distance. I knew
that if I repaid ugly with ugly,
I would regret it. That’s just not
me, and it’s just not right.
I realized I had to love my
mom even though her behav-
iors made it impossible to like
her. When she passed away, I
had a most unexpected reac-
tion: relief! How sad is that?
People say I am a kind, loving
and caring person. I still miss
my sweet dad, but to this day,
I do not miss her. On Moth-
er’s Day, when social media are
blowing up with emotion, I still
can’t work up an “I miss her.” I
know she had issues, and I did
love her. I joke with my sister
that I hope I can count on heav-
en’s having “many mansions”
— with mine being in a dif-
ferent neighborhood than our
mother’s. — Relieved in the
South
Dear Relieved: Life is too
short to live with regrets. Kudos
on your positive attitude, and
thanks for sharing.
3C
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re building a
fortress of love around you now. Love cannot
immunize you against all future sadness and
emotional pain, but it will definitely make it much
easier to bear.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ve plenty
around you who, like dogs, love you uncondition-
ally and are excited to see you. It’s the cat-like
people who are featured today, though. They
might ignore you until they’re suddenly in the
mood for attention.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). If you were a flower
you wouldn’t be a rose with protective thorns
to keep people from hastily plucking you up.
You’d be a wildflower that grows where it wants.
Being picked or not picked isn’t the point for a
wildflower.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). It’s hard to do
things just for your own self-improvement. There-
fore, you don’t call it “fun.” It certainly isn’t selfish,
as no one selfishly causes their own discomfort.
Do things just for you anyway, if only as an exer-
cise to prove that you can.
regardless of what happens next, you’ll be better
for it.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You so freely give
your love to everyone who needs it. What about
you? You need it, too, possibly more urgently
than anyone else around you today. Turn it
inward.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Do you
wonder why the cold people seem to gravitate
to you? It’s because you’re fire and they sense
they’ll be able to warm up around you. They’re
right about that today.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Any attempt
to control essentially uncontrollable forces will
fall somewhere between laughable and futile.
Disturbing elements are part of the landscape
of life. The trick is to go around them, paying as
little attention as possible.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The bleak even-
tually gives way to sparkling interests — or does
it create them? It will be your restlessness along
with your enthusiasm that give meaning and
color to your work and relationships.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). There’s no shame in
leaving the party at 9:30 p.m. Once you’ve done
what you set out to do, found what you were
looking for and gotten what you came for, there’s
no reason to stay.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The damage we
do over the course of a relationship or a job can’t
always be put right again, but when it’s beyond
repair we can still rebuild from scratch. The
important thing is to have a hopeful attitude.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Some endeavors
are like the carnival that comes to town to delight
you then takes its music and roller coasters to
the next location. So what? Play the games; lose
some money; ride the rides. It’s more fun than
staying home!
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 12). To
sum the world up in a word: magic. The spell
is in this bit of knowledge: Most problems are
caused inside the relationship with the self — a
relationship that will be healed, nurtured and
well-tended this solar return. With great daring
and caring, you’ll help yourself become the hero
of your own story. Capricorn and Aquarius adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 13, 22, 28, 1 and
18.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). To give your heart
to another when you feel the impulse to do so
is usually the right choice. That doesn’t mean it
will work out. No one is guaranteed the joy. But
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