THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017
FEATURES
Friend lacks follow-through
Dear Annie: After college, I time she flakes, my fond college
moved across the country to New memories become less fond.
Annie, I’ve accepted that
York City. Coming from a small
university, only a few friends Olivia isn’t reliable, but I don’t
moved to the big city with me, want to cut her out of my life com-
and we took very different career pletely. How should I deal with
paths. However, I felt OK about this? — Flake’s Friend
Dear Flake’s Friend:
the move because one of
DEAR
No matter which way you
my best friends from col-
slice it, flakiness is frus-
lege, “Olivia,” was com-
ANNIE
trating. Canceling plans
ing with me.
once or twice is under-
We used to hang out
standable. Life hap-
quite a bit, but as the years
pens; things come up.
have passed, we only
But Olivia seems to have
manage to see each other
made this into a monthly
once or twice a year. I get
ritual. And I’d guess
it. We developed our own
Lane
the purpose of this rit-
niches and friend groups. Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
ual, for her, is to allevi-
But what really grates
ate some guilt. “I’m not a
my cheese is when Olivia
messages me every month or so to bad friend,” she can tell herself. “I
generically say that she misses me reach out.”
But good friends hold each
or that we should really hang out.
We have fun when we see each other accountable. That’s what
other and reminisce, so usually you need to do here. The next time
I agree and offer up a few ideas she texts you, tell her you love
for a gathering — grabbing cof- her but she’s got to stop saying
fee, visiting a new workout studio, she wants to see you and then not
whatever I’m up to that week. No following through. After you’ve
response. The radio silence typi- called attention to her bad habit, it
cally lasts until the next monthly will be much harder for her to keep
message — “miss you!” When she doing it with a clean conscience.
does respond, it’s usually just to Instead, she’ll have to make plans
say how she’s busy but that she’ll only when she plans on following
try to make the next one. Each through, as adults are supposed to.
Dear Annie: I read your col-
umn from prison, where I’m serv-
ing an eight-year sentence for
attempted kidnapping and home
invasion, done while I was in a
state of cocaine psychosis. Next
week, I’ll have five years of total
sobriety. I’ve done a lot of work
on myself, including earning col-
lege credits and participating in
Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics
Anonymous and Victim Offender
Education Group.
I’m writing in response to the
recent letter you printed from
“Margaret,” who said her ex-part-
ner attempted to sexually assault
her daughter while he was intox-
icated. I was taken aback by your
calling her ex’s actions “unforgiv-
able.” You do know that when you
forgive someone, you do it more
for yourself than for the person
you’re forgiving, right? And what
of all the offenders in our nation
who are in need of forgiveness
to help them heal? Are they inca-
pable of changing, throwaway
people?
Maybe I read too much into
this. It’s just that this unforgiving
attitude is part of the grease that
enables the generational cycles of
violence and abuse to keep revolv-
ing. — Chris B.
3C
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). There’s a differ-
ence between voluntary distractions and in-
voluntary distractions. Television, refrigerator,
social media — these are voluntary. People
are involuntary ones. Go where people are
not, or you’ll get very little accomplished.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You know what
you want to do but have no idea how you’re
going to do it. The library and the internet are
excellent first stops. Also, start telling people.
Everyone will want to help you today.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re up to the
challenge and ready for the responsibilities
that go with it, but there’s only so much you
can do alone. As you reach out for help, use
your intuitive powers, but don’t forget to check
credentials as well.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your productiv-
ity will be impressive today as you follow this
single suggestion: High-energy times are for
creative and challenging work; low-energy
times are for busy work.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your good intentions
are there. Your goals are sound. And your
desire is strong. It’s still not going to work,
though, unless you can back it up with a sys-
tem. Your efforts are best put toward creating
and testing your system.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There’s quite a lot
you’re not maximizing. You could be cashing
in! You need to restructure. What makes it
hard is that you haven’t put the correct value
on what you have, what you know and who
you are. Get outsider help.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Some call it
passion, but that’s too mystical a term for the
simple cause and effect that’s really happen-
ing here. You find something to do that you
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
seem to be winning at, and your desire to do
it increases. Success is an energizer.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). If you want to
better yourself (and who doesn’t?), there’s
only about 7 billion hours’ worth of material
available to you on the topic. You’ve a super
talent for filtering the strategies that will work
from the noise of general life.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). A funny
dichotomy: On the one hand you’d like to feel
very attractive. On the other hand, you don’t
want people to actually be attracted to you,
as that comes with its own set of problems.
This is about self-love.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The world
is full of great ideas that aren’t worthy of your
time. Why? Because they aren’t viable for
you. It’s not about finding the best idea; it’s
about working on what you can execute well.
Focus all your energy on that.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Look for areas
in which you might have a natural advantage.
When you can apply your talent to a task or a
relationship, you’ll get the success bump that
leads to high energy and more winning.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Timing plays
the starring role. People tend to think of
timing as being related to luck, but it’s often
more of an experience and skill thing. Today
you’ll experiment, work and practice so that
you can get the timing right.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 19). A
lifestyle that allows you to do what you enjoy
when you want it will allow for all kinds of
good fortune. That’s why it’ll be wise for you
to make flexibility a vital factor in any life deci-
sion. Scorpio and Capricorn adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 4, 28, 13, 37 and 41.