THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017
FEATURES
Ruffling some feathers
Dear Annie: I was at my broth- cage a third time. She began teas-
er’s home for my sister-in-law’s ing the bird. At this point, my
birthday a few weeks ago. My sis- brother politely told Emily to stop
ter-in-law, “Jess,” had a stroke because she was upsetting the bird,
some years ago and can only say a and she did.
At that point, Becky got upset.
few single-syllable words at a time.
She has an 18-year-old bird that she She told my brother, “She’s only
playing with the bird.” She
loves and takes care of.
DEAR
My nephew’s fiance,
and Emily left the birthday
party early because of this.
“Becky,” and her daugh-
ANNIE
My brother and I
ter, “Emily,” came over
would like you opin-
during the party, and
ion on whether or not
Emily started to tease the
it was inappropriate for
bird. Jess looked at me and
him to tell Emily to stop.
said, “Cover bird.” I went
— Birdy-guard
over and very politely put
Dear Birdy-guard:
the cover on the birdcage
Lane
Of
course it was appro-
and said, “I think it’s time Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
priate of your brother
for the bird to go to sleep.
When there are a lot of
to speak up. If that ruf-
people in the house, the bird gets fled Becky’s feathers, she should
stressed out. The cover helps him have stepped in before he had to.
calm down.”
The next time you’re all together,
Everything was fine for about set some ground rules right from
10 minutes. But then Emily went the start, and make them clear to
over, flipped part of the cover off Emily, Becky and your nephew: no
the cage and started to tease the ifs, ands or squawks about it.
Dear Annie: I couldn’t agree
bird again. Becky was sitting right
there and did not say a word to more with your reply to “Wonder-
her daughter. I looked on silently ing Why at the Y,” who complained
because I felt it was not my place to about the odor of his fitness class-
say anything, and Emily sat down mate. But this isn’t just a problem
at the gym.
after a few minutes anyway.
In today’s offices, people are
But then she went over to the
often crammed into small areas
to save money. If one inconsid-
erate man or woman puts on too
much fragrance, it can give head-
aches to everyone around them. It’s
unfortunate when the person caus-
ing this problem is a supervisor.
You don’t tell the HR manager she
stinks if you want to keep your job
for very long! Once, my manager
approached a corporate vice pres-
ident about her perfume, because
the noxious smell was making his
employees ill whenever she vis-
ited. She replied that she paid big
money for her French perfume and
anyone who didn’t like it could hit
the road!
Long ago, I was given a piece of
advice that I feel should be stressed
in employee training and at work-
out centers: If you wear scents on
a daily basis, you must be very
careful. Over time, you become
immune to the smell. Bottom line,
if you put on enough that you
can smell it, it’s probably terribly
strong for everyone else! — Glad
I’m Retired
Dear Glad I’m Retired: Let
this be a public service announce-
ment: The perfumes and colognes
you wear could ruin a co-worker’s
day. Spritz responsibly.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Many situations
are ambiguous. It’s the way we interpret them
that gives them context and meaning. To take
a neutral situation and turn it into something
negative is to needlessly drain a little joy from
your life. Let in the light.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). When working
harder doesn’t solve it, stop. You don’t want to
exhaust your energy in the wrong direction.
Also, there’s no need to prove you’re the hard-
est worker. Anyway, you’re more into getting
results. So ask for advice.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Contraction is
the natural reaction to the cold or hardness of
either external or internal circumstances — a
narrowing of focus and life. Now what will you
do to counter it?
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You know a
lot on the subject at hand and will be asked
for your opinion. You’ll be slow to weigh in,
though, ever aware that there are always new
insights. Peers will respect your humility.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). When you’re really
“on” (as you’ll find you will frequently be over
the next three weeks) your stories will be
like theme park rides that take people out of
the atmosphere and into a new world before
returning them safely back to the car park.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Some things are
beautiful because they fit so perfectly into a
well-defined niche. Other things are beautiful
because they are so difficult to explain or
define. The latter kind brings today’s wonder-
ment.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The human fight-
or-flight response only works with outside
stimuli. No human can run fast enough to get
away from his or her inner life. Fighting with it
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
is futile, too. An accepting, gentle conversation
will do much good, though.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Nothing is
interesting until someone is interested in it.
When you pay attention and hook into what
fascinates you, you’ll make the subject more
appealing to others. Your curiosity is, in es-
sence, a public service.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Relax.
Let the stressful thoughts float by without
grabbing hold of them. There’s a lot running
through your head that you can safely dis-
miss, if only because you’ve already thought
it before. What’s new and important will stand
out.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). People
show appreciation in the way they know
how. Often, it’s not in the timeliest or politest
way, but we’re not all coming from the same
teaching in that regard. Let it go and accept
kindness however it comes.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). They’re seek-
ing the same thing that you are: love, peace
and connection. Of course, a fair exchange of
goods, services and money would be nice,
too. You just might get it all.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). When you get
a whiff of something that reminds you of the
past, this can trigger an incommensurable
emotional response in you that’s not an accu-
rate representation of what’s actually going on.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 1). The
love coming into your life will grow and grow.
In November, choices that seem monumen-
tal are actually as silly as worrying about
choosing which side of the bread to butter.
Sagittarius and Pisces adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 9, 40, 33, 27 and 17.