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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 2017)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017 FEATURES Assistance or manipulation? Dear Annie: I have a family situation: She was grieving and dilemma. My mother is 95 years my sister took advantage. My sis- old and still living in her own home. ter explained her actions as an effort My wife and I see her five or more to help my mother write checks times a week and help her with and balance her checking account, household chores and getting to although my mother writes her own doctors appointments. My brother checks and balances her checking account without assistance. and sister also help but to DEAR My mother’s will states a lesser extent. My father that she wants her estate passed away last February, ANNIE to go equally to her three and my mother misses him, children after she gives her as you might expect. nine grandchildren $1,000 The problem is that a piece. since Dad passed away, my I don’t really want to younger sister has involved think ill of my sister, and I herself quite heavily in my keep looking for the silver mother’s financial mat- Lane lining in this matter. Maybe ters. She got her name put Annie Creators Syndicate Inc. you can make some sug- on my mother’s checking gestions as to what I should and savings accounts. She also got her name put on my moth- do, if anything. — Concerned for er’s investments as a trader. These Mom Dear Concerned for Mom: investment accounts each contain Start with Mom. The next time thousands of dollars. My mother also has a will that you’re one-on-one with her, ask her names me, the oldest, as executor of open-ended questions to see how that will. Right now it appears that she feels about her finances. Then I I am executor of not much, as my would talk to your brother to see if younger sister has positioned her- he shares any concerns about your self as the recipient of these var- sister’s management of her funds. If ious accounts. This positioning she is siphoning money from your took place within a few days of my mothers’ accounts as you say she is, consider consulting an attorney father’s passing. My wife and I believe my about your options. It’s good you’re mother was manipulated into this looking for the best in your sister, but it’s also wise to plan for the worst and do what you can to pro- tect your mom from it. Dear Annie: I have a 6-year-old son. We recently acquired 14 chicks to help take care of the tick popula- tion in our yard, and my son loves them. But our old coop is rundown and too small for all of these soon- to-be hens! I’m a longtime reader of advice columns, and I seem to remember that years ago, a young man wrote in and asked for readers to send him a penny to help pay for college. I was wondering if my son, Tobin, could experience the far-reaching kindness of strangers to help with this problem. He loves getting the mail every day. Could folks perhaps take a moment and send a penny to a boy and his special pets? — Cooped in Connecticut Dear Cooped in Connecticut: That young man was ahead of his time: He was crowdsourcing before online platforms such as Kick- starter, GoFundMe and Indiegogo existed. I’d highly recommend starting a fundraiser through one of those websites. You can get your son involved in the process in many creative ways. He could create art- work about the chickens, or write a few sentences about his hopes. 5A TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). With great charisma comes great responsibility. Be careful how you wield that today. You want friends and fans, but you don’t want people to expect attention from you that you’re not willing to give. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Fraternizing with the enemy is obviously a breach in ethics, a disloyal move, a dangerous risk — unless, in doing so, you make the enemy an ally. And just maybe the enemy was never really an enemy at all. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re highly motivated, but don’t make yourself too busy: It will only be counterproductive. You need to be able to assimilate what you’re experienc- ing. Dive in where it’s deep enough, within limits — the pool, not the ocean. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Perfec- tion doesn’t win hearts. Sure, people re- spect the hard work it takes to be masterful. However, it’s that intangible something that counts much more. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When you don’t happen to stumble on happiness, fear not. You can still create it like you’re using a favorite recipe: Put in the right ingredients in the right order and you will be happy. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It would be so much easier if life would fall into sim- ple categories, but it never does completely. Anyway, you have too many varied interests for narrow-mindedness. Your principles are strong, but your mind is open. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Though your manners are impeccable, a challenging sit- uation puts them to the test. You’ll use your quick reflexes to save someone (or yourself) from imminent embarrassment. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You were right to put off a task until you felt compelled to take it on. But enough is enough. There’s a fine line between inaction and procrasti- nation. Get in there and get it over with. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Getting into love is easy: You just fall. For love to continue, though, efforts must be made. You have to be willing to keep taking risks. Falling hap- pens, mostly, in uncertain territory. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The difference between a loan and a gift is that one should be repaid literally, while the other should be repaid in a more creative way. Of the two, the loan will be the easier one to manage. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It has been said that there is no love, only acts of love. This is the perfect moment to show someone you love that you’ve been listening. Do the exact thing that is most needed or wanted. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 30). Once upon a time you gazed longingly into the wide and distant possibilities. This solar return you’ll connect with them. A vibrant relationship will give you wings. There’s a financial investment in November — risky and worth it. You’re most decisive and per- suasive at the close of the year. A healing happens in June. Libra and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 40, 33, 38 and 12. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll be an equalizing force in the lives of others — a safe place for someone to confide in, a neutral party in the war, the fair hand that deals the spoils. Everyone is counting on your justice... no pressure! 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