6A
FEATURES
Smoking around a baby
Dear Annie: I love reading Disease Control and Preven-
your column so much that I have tion, secondhand smoke causes
decided to ask your opinion on a “numerous health problems in
sensitive issue. I recently found infants and children, including
out that I am expecting, which more frequent and severe asthma
is exciting news! However, we attacks, respiratory infections,
have run into a situation with ear infections, and sudden infant
my mother-in-law, as
death syndrome.” Stud-
DEAR
she is a smoker. My hus-
ies have shown that
band has mentioned to
secondhand
smoke
ANNIE
her several times about
can linger in a house
quitting smoking and
for hours, and there’s
has gone as far as telling
a growing body of evi-
her she will not baby-
dence to suggest that
sit this child if she con-
even tobacco residue
on a smoker’s hair and
tinues to smoke. I do
clothes can be harm-
agree that I do not want
Lane
my child around sec- Annie
ful to children who are
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
in close contact. Have
ondhand smoke, as it is
your husband set some
dangerous to a baby’s
health, not to mention stinky. At ground rules with his mother that
this time, my mother-in-law has take these factors into account.
made no effort to quit the habit. For example, no holding the
My question is: Where do you baby for two hours after smok-
draw the line? I don’t want my ing. (This would most likely
child or mother-in-law to miss mean she couldn’t baby-sit.)
He should also let her know
out on any time or memories
that every cigarette takes about
together. — Fume-Free
Dear Fume-Free: The good 11 minutes off her life — which
news is that the pressure isn’t on could add up to hours, weeks
you here; it’s on your mother-in- and months she’d never see of
law. Her grandbaby or a cigarette her granddaughter’s life. Perhaps
— she has to decide which one the birth of your baby will be just
the impetus she needs to kick this
she’d like to hold more often.
According to the Centers for nasty habit once and for all.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Dear Annie: I am often both-
ered by what I perceive to be a
lack of consideration in others.
One recent example was
when several “friends” can-
celed plans made two months
in advance because something
better had come along, even
though I had carefully juggled
several family members’ medi-
cal appointments to accept their
invitation. Another was when a
medical provider canceled my
appointment at the last minute
to go golfing, even though I live
two hours away and had made
staff aware I was using my last
day of vacation to schedule
this date and confirmed in
advance.
Reading the responses you
received regarding the woman
who was criminally assaulted
really got to me. None of us, as
far as I can tell, has been the vic-
tim of such a harrowing and per-
sonal criminal sexual assault.
Why the criticism of this poor
woman for wanting to request a
female nurse?
— Leave People Alone
Dear Leave People Alone: It
is so frustrating when others are
inconsiderate of our time — but
we can only control ourselves.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You have
expressed your affinity through giving gifts,
and it’s about time to do that again. With new
relationships, be very careful not to set up a
precedent that will be difficult to uphold later.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll be over-
come with a desire to make things spotless and
orderly. It’s a sign that you’re about to change
again. This is a way of taking stock of (as well
as honoring and appreciating) what you have.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It starts with a
pang of envy, a lingering glance at a brochure
or a full-body response to the lure of an image
or idea ... and suddenly you’re in the very earli-
est planning stages of an adventure.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ve a
special charismatic energy with those in phys-
ical proximity. Whenever possible, go where
you can lock eyes. You’ll be even more effective
when you can see and read the situation in
person.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There’s a trade —
your energy for a feeling of acceptance, love
or validation. Just know that the feeling won’t
last. It will always have to be earned again and
again. So make sure your energy expenditure
is really worth it.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). The cycle is so
subtle, and yet it’s spoiling your plans. It goes
something like this: You have to do what you’d
rather not; then the thing you do to calm and
comfort yourself works against the larger goal.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Just like the plants,
you get energy from your ruling luminary, the
sun — the value of which should not be under-
estimated these days. Feeling sunshine rays on
your skin will help your mood and your soul.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It’s not a one-size-
fits-all kind of situation, and you won’t be able
to come up with a fix that pleases everyone,
but try anyway. Efforts that don’t land on any-
thing will still lead to something.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Talk is cheap, and
some will say anything to go to the next stage
in the relationships with you and/or your money.
Be careful now. Do your research. Check ref-
erences. Ask for proof that people can do what
they say they can do.
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
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). When you’ve
lost some control of your internal situation it will
help to take power over your external situation.
Your emotional changes are quickly reflected in
the world. It’s not at all surprising to you when
life defies the notions of cause and effect or
space and time.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re a quick
study these days, and you only have to do a
job once to get the gist and know if it is or isn’t
for you. The same goes for other interests,
studies, hobbies, dates and locations.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The moral of to-
day’s story is that real life isn’t a fable. You don’t
have to come up with a moral and probably
shouldn’t try, because everyone is going to take
something different from it anyway. Live without
judgment for a while.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 19). A rela-
tionship flourishes and love inspires you. The
way you express yourself is developing in mag-
ical and most effective ways. Amateur attempts
will be very lucky for you at the start of 2018.
The less you know, the more you’ll do with pure
intent and open mind. You’ll get places that
pros can’t. Scorpio and Sagittarius adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 14, 3, 38, 22 and 19.