THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2017
FEATURES
Argument on front burner
Dear Annie: I would like by the expression on her face that
your opinion on a recent inci- she was. He then said I should
dent that happened to me. I went not have turned the burner off,
to my son’s house to go out to that “it was her stove.” I told him
dinner with him and his family I was concerned the house might
to celebrate his birthday. When catch on fire, and he said that the
I arrived, the only person there house is her house and that if it had
caught on fire, it would
was my granddaughter.
DEAR
have been her concern. I
My son was meeting us
do not like family discord,
at the restaurant, and my
ANNIE
and I don’t usually insert
daughter-in-law, “Jean,”
myself into their affairs,
had been called into work
but I think that was a fool-
but intended to be back
ish thing to do and I acted
at the house shortly. She
appropriately by turning
still hadn’t returned by
the stove off. What say
the time my granddaugh-
you? — Safety First
ter and I had to head to the
Lane
Dear Safety First: It’s
restaurant, and I noticed a Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
unsafe to leave a stove
pot of soup boiling on the
burning unattended. But if
stove. I thought Jean had
forgotten to turn the burner off, so you keep treating this as an argu-
ment, things will get unnecessar-
I turned it off.
Well, I was wrong. We all hap- ily heated. Wait for things to sim-
pened to return later at about the mer down before letting your son
same time, and when Jean noticed know about the fire safety issue,
the burner was off, she asked, and erase all traces of “I told you
“Who turned the stove off?” I told so” from your tone. When the hol-
her I had. She looked very upset idays roll around, consider buying
and said, “The soup was supposed them a slow cooker — much safer
to cook for 12 hours.” I said, “Well, to leave on for hours at a time.
Dear Annie: I love, love, love
it is better to be safe than sorry.”
Later, I asked my son whether your column. I especially love that
Jean was still upset with me, and you listen to your readers and are
he said she had not been upset willing to add to your answers
with me. I told him I could tell and even alter your advice when
given new information. My com-
ment is about your response to
“Missing Life and Happiness,”
who has been married for over
25 years to a man who turns his
back on her in every way possible,
basically treating her as a disgust-
ing part of his life. I agree that she
should focus on herself, enrich her
life and improve her self-esteem.
However, I believe she needs to
do more than discuss issues with
her husband. She has put up with
this for too long. I don’t believe
she should waste even one more
second allowing that evil person
in her life. From her description, it
doesn’t sound possible for him to
change how he treats her. It’s time
to remove him and move on! —
Jane G.
Dear Jane: You’re not the
only reader who thought I should
have told “Missing Life and Hap-
piness” that enough was enough.
I wanted to let her reach her own
decision about her marriage, and I
was trying to encourage her to get
into a good headspace for eval-
uating things. Perhaps I should
have worded my response more
strongly, as I agree with you: The
way her husband has been treating
her is unacceptable. Thank you for
writing.
3C
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). One solid person
who is on your side is better than a dozen
wishy-washy ones. Character matters more
than numbers. Do not underestimate the differ-
ence that one person can make, especially if
that person is you.
anything else.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). If you define your-
self by your ability to cope with the thorny bits
of life, you are likely to feel personally defeated
when things go unresolved for too long. It’s just
a situation. If you can’t unravel it, eventually it
will work itself out.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There was
a time in the evolution of the tribes of humanity
when strangers were more likely to be killed
than welcomed. Approaching strangers is
still scary today, but relax: You’ll be warmly
received.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re friendly, and
so people let their guards down around you.
For this reason, you’ll learn more than you want
to know. But some of this will be useful later.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The cosmic
call is for quick reflexes. It will help if you stay
aware as you walk through your life. As the
saying goes, if you stay ready then you won’t
have to get ready.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). People think
that they’d like a wider range of choices, but
in fact more options will suck the joy out of
decision-making today. To go easy on your
audience, present them with between three
and five options.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You will fear boredom
more than usual today, which is why you are
loath to do certain very mundane tasks without
something good to listen to or someone inter-
esting to join you.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Logically you know
that you don’t need to impress anyone, and
yet there are some people who, as soon as
you get around them, seem to make you act
in ways you weren’t counting on. Weird — but
human.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You gain your
own respect when you follow through on the
project that’s been on your mind. Your chances
of finishing before the end of the month are
strong, as long as you do it before you start
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
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). In regards to
the current project, chances are you just don’t
have time to learn the hard way. Flatten out
that learning curve with key tips and tricks from
someone who knows the ropes.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). If you’re won-
dering whether you might have some latent
talents that could be put to use, it’s pretty much
guaranteed. If you’re wondering if their applica-
tions might also be lucrative for you, the answer
is yes — if you put in the time.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Because our
world is round, we can never arrive at the
horizon. We declare and travel toward a distant
landmark, but once we come to the marker the
horizon will be farther still, unreachable. There’s
a strange peace in this today.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 23). As you
focus on creating fun scenarios and joyful rela-
tionships, everything falls into place. Go on and
promote yourself. It will pay off in unexpected
ways at the end of 2017. Your friend circle grows
and this will energize you. Less stress, more
harmony and much healing will take place in
2018. Virgo and Sagittarius adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 9, 40, 22, 28 and 13.