6A
FEATURES
Invitation with a price
Dear Annie: My friend
Dear Annie: I read the
bought a condo in Florida. letter from “Family Mat-
She wants me to come stay for ters,” whose son and daugh-
a week while she is there but ter-in-law have not yet invited
thinks she needs to charge me her to their new home, and I
$350 to stay with her. Why related completely. You are
absolutely right; giv-
would a friend need
DEAR
ing the benefit of the
to charge you if she is
doubt is very import-
there, too? If I chip in
ANNIE
ant in this situa-
for some food, what
tion, and I love what
am I paying $350 for?
you had to say. But
Is this fair? — Feel-
ing Used
time may not change
Dear
Feeling
much, either. I have a
Used: It does not
similar situation. My
seem right to me to
son and daughter-in-
Lane
ask that of a friend. Annie
law spend virtually
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
If it were a vacation
every holiday with
rental and you were
her family.
splitting the cost, sure. But
I have also gotten very blue
this is a condo she owns, and over this and felt very slighted
she’s invited you to come and had my feelings hurt. But
visit. Perhaps the strain of I finally decided that is com-
the cost of the condo was pletely pointless. Dwelling on
more than she fully realized hurt and anger breeds more
it would be; that’s the only hurt and anger. My husband
plausible explanation I can and I have started our own
think of for her charging a fee. tradition of combining Christ-
Regardless, treating friends mas and Thanksgiving and
like customers is no way to having a family dinner at our
pay the mortgage. If she is home between those holidays.
looking to make $350 a week We try to plan it early and
off houseguests, she should give all of our family mem-
bers time to work it into their
open a bed-and-breakfast.
holiday schedules. I don’t
ever fix turkey and dressing,
because it’s a lot of work and
everyone’s had it recently. So
the meal is simpler, which
saves work and stress, leaving
time to enjoy the day. I invite
everyone to bring a dish, but
I let everyone know it’s not
necessary.
My
perspective
has
changed. I no longer focus
on being slighted or alone
with my husband during the
holidays. It’s our time to do
what we want and give to oth-
ers through charity or good-
will. Our dinner with the fam-
ily is all about stress-free fun
— enjoying the family, the
grandkids and the day, guilt-
free. I have a much better atti-
tude, I get to host in my own
home, and I get to make our
own tradition. And there’s a
lot less work. It’s fun, and I
am all about fun at this age.
Happy holidays! — Working
on Me
Dear Working on Me:
Your good spirit is conta-
gious. Thanks for serving
up some perspective with an
extra helping of holiday cheer.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). If you can manage
to delay the usual knee-jerk verdicts that
humans love to form in the first 10 seconds of
another’s presentation, you’ll set off a series of
sweet events, all made possible by your act of
listening.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Make sure you’re
on the same track with the other person; that
way, you’ll avoid the problems that come with
making assumptions. Tonight you’ll get the
chance to show the team that you play fair.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). With most things
you tackle today, the result will be better if you
delay the payoff for as long as possible. It will
work in everything from relaying information to
governing your own willpower.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). There’s so much
you could say on matters, but since you’re all
too aware of the short attention spans that most
people have, you’ll aim your words toward a
particular destination and leave out anything
that doesn’t fit the bill.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll come across
those who’ve yet to discover their own depths.
Maybe they are afraid or haven’t had any rea-
son to dig deep. Or maybe they’ve lacked role
models. Regardless, the relationship can only
go as deep as the shallowest person.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). To suspect that
you’re the underdog isn’t exactly an uplifting
feeling, although you can take heart in the fact
that everyone loves an underdog. Go forward in
full faith that you have a chance at victory.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Humans love to
assign reasons for things that happen, to bridge
the gaps of logic and close every case. The
trouble is that what follows is often praise or
blame. And sometimes there really is no defini-
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
tive “responsible party.”
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). No one ever
influenced the world by being the same as
everyone in it. But if you don’t seem at least
somewhat like the others, they’ll mistrust you.
Group acceptance will be required. Start with
what you all have in common.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It’s as if you
were designed for adventure. When the others
are afraid to go first, your trailblazing nature
takes over. March forward and the others will
follow.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It’s fun to be
in unfamiliar places when you have a guide. But
today there probably won’t be a clear model,
and you’ll have to make due by observing the
people around you who seem to know what
they’re doing.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Like a nice
neighborhood that wants to preserve the peace,
your life could use a few speed bumps — con-
structs you’ve put in place specifically to slow
yourself down, thus preventing accidents.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The scenario is
fresh, and you’re still deciding who you want
to be. Consider what each role requires. For
instance, winners take chances. Heroes take
risks to help others. VIP’s make others feel
important.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 5). Your
cosmic gift is one of determined and exclusive
focus on the things that are going to make your
life better. You’ll be freeing yourself of an anchor
of sorts over the next three months. In March,
family works together and all are lifted. In 2018
you’ll take pleasure in the sale of something
that helps people. Leo and Pisces adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 6, 10, 23, 40 and 11.