THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2017
FEATURES
Facing down rejection
Dear Annie: I am in my 20s kids, and I want to get back to help-
and working multiple jobs. A few ing them do their best. But after
years ago, I began substitute teach- this series of rejections, seeing the
ing at the elementary school in the dark side of working with chil-
town I grew up in. For about two dren and being away for so long,
years, I filled in for many teach- I find myself afraid to go back. A
ers and even worked long term a place I once enjoyed now makes
my stomach turn when I
few times, but I was never
DEAR
think of going there. How
a permanent employee
do I conquer this fear and
at the school. It was fun
ANNIE
get over these disappoint-
connecting with the kids,
ments? — Feeling Like a
and I even ate lunch with
Failure
one student regularly after
Dear Feeling Like a
being his aide for a few
Failure: You applied to
weeks. Additionally, I
one teaching job, and you
worked as a supervisor for
made it to the final round
the school’s summer day
Annie Lane
of the interview process.
care program.
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
In my view, that’s a win.
I aspired to work there
Ask the folks who inter-
full time but was not
hired, despite interviewing multi- viewed you whether they would
ple times. I decided I just needed a be willing to provide some feed-
break from substitute teaching, so back. I’m not sure what your edu-
I did not go back until late in the cation level is, but it’s possible that
year, and when I did, the classes I you need to complete additional
had were anything but fun. I tried schooling to be a viable candidate.
Today’s job market is highly
to reconnect with the student I had
lunch with, but his teacher would competitive, and hardly anyone
not permit me to do that again, gets the first job he or she applies
despite thanking me for doing it to. You’re probably going to have
to apply to lots more, and that’s
previously.
I was so hurt after all of this OK. If teaching is what you really
that I decided to give up on teach- want to do — it sure seems as if
ing. Now I find myself missing the it is — then you won’t be happy
until you’ve given it everything
you’ve got.
Dear Annie: My dear neigh-
bor “Susie” and I attend the same
exercise class twice a week. She
wants to alternate who drives to
the class, but neither she nor her
husband is a good driver. He has
vision problems and had an acci-
dent, and she is a nervous driver,
as well as a nervous passenger,
calling out whether it is OK to
proceed at an intersection. I really
don’t want her to be the driver.
How do I diplomatically tell her
that I would prefer to drive or
meet her at exercise classes with-
out hurting our relationship? —
Perturbed Passenger
Dear Perturbed Passenger:
People tend to get defensive about
their driving skills, so you’ll need
to sugarcoat this bitter pill as heav-
ily as you can. Bring it up at a calm
time, not when you’re in the car
together, and present the issue as
being more about you (e.g., “I get
carsick easily if I’m not driving”)
than her. Tell her you’d prefer
driving to the classes. If she reacts
poorly, give her time to cool off,
and start driving on your own. You
cannot continue riding with unsafe
drivers simply out of guilt.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re a person
who’s not afraid of being wrong because
you really want to know what’s right, and so
you’ll meet even your own perception with
some measure of doubt. This takes a secure
person.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Familiar emo-
tions, even negative ones, get comfortable.
To feel a certain way might be nothing more
than a habit. The more times you conjure up a
feeling, the easier it will be to do so.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You may find
yourself replaying a drama over and over, and
it’s certainly getting old. But don’t worry: The
addition of even one new friend is enough to
shake up the whole dynamic.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). The miners
weren’t the only ones to get rich in the gold
rush. Those in the business of selling shovels
did mighty fine as well. There’s some kind of
shovel-equivalent in your realm. Do you know
what it is yet?
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It’s easier to be
yourself when you’re comfortable. Getting
comfortable is the tricky part, especially in
situations and around people very foreign to
you. Settling in will take time and repeated
exposure.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you knew you
were going to get criticized for it, would you
still do it? Better question: What if you knew
that no matter what choice you made, it would
get criticized? What would you do then?
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). If you try too hard
to forget something you’ll remember it well,
and if you try too hard to remember some-
thing you’ll forget it. The answer is to write
things down. Somehow this will magically
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
help with both remembering and forgetting.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Anticipate
boredom, and decide that you’re going to
do something about it beyond your phone.
For instance, paying attention to something
different in the scene will open the way to new
insights.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). When
others behave badly, it makes you want to do
better. The misbehavior of others will cause
you to check yourself to make sure you are
not committing a similar offense.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your origi-
nality will shine through today. You’ll be in the
same situation as the others and take some-
thing totally different from it. For this reason,
they need you and you need them.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Occasionally,
the social aspect of your work can go against
your mood. But once you adjust and get into
the flow, your mood will change for the better.
There’s a prize at the end of the interaction.
This one is not to be missed.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ll be
drawn to neutral places and underwhelming
experiences, because environments that lack
excitement encourage imagination. In the
quiet, you’ll solve a problem.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Nov. 8). You’ll
wield great powers of magnetism this solar
return, some of which come from knowing
what you want and being confident in your
plan. You’ll get a number of joiners before
the end of the year. A special person will
come back into your life. An out-of-balance
exchange will become equal and just. Aries
and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 8, 40, 16, 20 and 1.