6A
FEATURES
Adventures with social media
Dear Annie: In this day and social gathering.
age, it is very hard to ignore what
I am trying not to take this per-
people are doing in their private sonally, but I can’t help but feel
lives when it’s plastered all over slighted and disappointed that
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. our family has yet to be invited
Specifically, I am referring to pho- to their home. I “like” all the
tos of social gatherings that have pictures from all their parties,
me feeling left out.
but inside I’m bothered
DEAR
I have a grown child
that we aren’t import-
who is married. Recently,
ant enough to have been
ANNIE
the
married
couple
invited over as every-
one else has been. Sug-
moved. When they moved
gestions? Thoughts? —
in to their home, we were
Family Matters
there to physically help
Dear Family Mat-
them. The whole family
ters: I can tell your feel-
helped in their move —
ings are about to boil
all four parents, an uncle,
Lane
over, so turn down the
a sibling and a nephew. Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
flame or take off the lid.
We also gave them a
The former means
very generous check for a
housewarming gift so they could cooling off. They only moved in
buy a few extra things for their recently, as you said; maybe they
wanted to host an intimate dinner
new home.
It has been my great displea- with each side of the family sepa-
sure to learn, from their posts on rately and your daughter-in-law’s
Facebook, that my son and daugh- side just happened to be first. The
ter-in-law have hosted a few din- latter means expressing how you
ners in their new home. She’s had feel — but in a healthy, positive
a “girls’ night in,” and he’s had a way, free of guilt-tripping and
“guys’ night in.” They’ve hosted accusations. For example, you
a dinner party for my daughter- might tell your son, “We’d love to
in-law’s side of the family. How- come over sometime when you’re
ever, as parents of the other child settled in and it’s convenient for
in that marriage, we have yet to you.” The main point is not to
be invited to their new home for a blow up.
Dear Annie: Wow! I couldn’t
agree more with “Don’t Shoot,”
who hates having her picture
taken and posted online. I am a
very private person and do not
understand people’s crazy obses-
sion with living their lives on the
internet. I’ve no interest in telling
the world what I ate for breakfast.
When I ask folks not to include
my picture or my name in post-
ings, I get the same reaction as
“Don’t Shoot” — that I need to
get with the program. My husband
and I made a pact not to bring our
phones to the dinner table, includ-
ing when we are out to dinner.
It amazes me to see folks sitting
together with their heads down,
peering into their phones and hav-
ing conversations with everyone
except the person sitting across
from them. Where did we lose our
manners? — “Outta Touch” in
Virginia
Dear “Outta Touch”: It is sad
to see a couple looking at their
phones more than each other’s
face. Witnessing that makes me
worry we’ve lost not just man-
ners but a bit of our humanity.
Fortunately, since printing “Don’t
Shoot’s” letter, I’ve heard from
dozens of people echoing this sen-
timent, which means there’s hope.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You sense how
your loved ones are feeling and cater to that
emotional state. For people who have you in
their lives, that pretty much comes with the
package. Not everyone you know will be so
emotionally intelligent today.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It’s only natural
to want to be near the person who makes
you feel good about yourself. Those who
make it all about themselves, on the other
hand, are repellent to you.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The situation
may seem to call for a reaction, but there’s
a huge benefit to being slow to react, if any
reaction is necessary at all. This is one of
those times when you might do nothing at all
and the problem solves itself.
work to make things better, whether or not it’s
the popular choice.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). If you want to
say no, just say it and be quick about it and
all will be well. Saying maybe (when you
mean no) will hang both you and the other
person in an uncomfortable limbo.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There’s far
too much work to get it all done in a day, but
if you start early you’ll have a fighting chance.
The morning hours show you energetic, and
with a determined gleam in your eye.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Tidiness will
lead to happiness. The success key today
could be as simple as cleaning up some part
of your life that’s gotten out of hand. This kind
of effort may very well change everything.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). If anyone
can de-escalate the tension and purge the
atmosphere of negative vibes, it’s you. Mostly
this is done by changing the subject. It also
doesn’t hurt that you refuse to buy into other
people’s realities.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Although
you’re very likely to take other people’s needs
and wants into consideration before you
make your move, you are also aware that
ultimately they are not the ones who have to
live with the consequences.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Poke into your fears.
Whatever you do to face them, deal with
them or even avoid them — it will make your
life better. That’s as long as you’re not ignor-
ing fear (which is a strategy that sometimes
works, but not today).
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re confi-
dent in your knowledge, yet you’re also well
aware that there are many other truths and
ways. Your open mind will serve you well and
net you more friends and supporters than
one with a more rigid mindset.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). This is not a
good day to share the details of a relation-
ship, especially facts that could cast a bad
light. You may come to forgive some trans-
gressions that others won’t, and in that case
you’ll be glad you kept them to yourself.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Nov. 16). You’re
growing in power and will be surrounded by
people who can handle that instead of be
threatened by it. The next 10 weeks introduce
new plans and people to your life. A problem
that affects your family will finally be solved at
the start of 2018. A quest will begin in March.
Aquarius and Sagittarius adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 6, 40, 2, 20 and 18.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Just because
something is socially acceptable, that doesn’t
make it right. You’ll notice an injustice and
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