6A
FEATURES
Friend won’t help himself
Dear Annie: I’m at my wits’ supportive thing at first — build-
end dealing with my friend’s ing up his self-esteem, encour-
glum, woe-is-me attitude. I’ve aging him to try therapy, helping
known “Max” since we worked him research schools, offering to
together at a restaurant when I help get him a restaurant job in
was in college. He was in his New York, etc.
After a couple of years, I real-
early 20s and had grown up in the
ized he wouldn’t act on
town. He said he regret-
DEAR
ted not getting a bach-
any of this, so I stopped
elor’s degree. As we
offering solutions and
ANNIE
became better friends
have just shown tough
and he saw the projects I
love. For example, when
was doing for my classes
he complains about how
(I was an art major), he
none of his friends calls
became inspired and
to hang out, I tell him
started making plans to
that he can’t expect peo-
ple to always be think-
go to community college
Lane
ing of him. But nothing
and then transfer. A year Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
seems to get through to
passed; then two. That
him.
never happened. (Not a
Max never asks about what’s
big deal in itself, but I mention it
up in my life, and when I try to tell
as part of a pattern.)
Six years ago, I graduated and him, somehow he finds a way of
got a job in New York. Max and I bringing the conversation back to
have stayed in touch, and he vis- him. I’m starting to feel used and
its about once a year. He’s still in a little resentful, if you couldn’t
the same town, working at a dif- tell. I care about Max and think
ferent restaurant. I don’t say that he’s a good guy. But how can you
judgmentally. I don’t think there’s help someone who doesn’t really
anything wrong with it. The prob- want to help himself? — Eeyore’s
lem is that Max does. He’s been Friend
talking about wanting to change
Dear Eeyore’s Friend: You
his life for years now, but he takes can’t. At this point, the kindest
no steps to do so. I’ve tried every thing you can do for Max is to
approach I can think of. I did the refuse to be his dumping ground
any longer. Only after he’s got
nowhere to unload will he be
forced to confront the weight of
his problem. A therapist could
most likely help him a great deal,
and you can encourage him to
seek counseling one more time
— but disengage and take space
after that. Your friendship with
Max can only be healthy after
he’s purged that toxic mindset.
Dear Annie: I enjoy your col-
umn, and you have great advice.
In the case of the “bad” milk,
though, not so much. Spoiled
milk tastes bad but doesn’t make
you sick. Sour cream, yogurt,
cheese and other dairy products
are made from spoiled milk.
I have never thrown away
milk. “Bad” milk makes the best
pancakes, biscuits, banana bread,
coffee cake, muffins and more.
If I’m not able to use the spoiled
milk right away, I freeze it in small
containers for later use. I use it
whenever a baking recipe calls
for buttermilk. I couldn’t bake
without it! — Never Wasteful
Dear Never Wasteful: You
make a great point that I failed
to bring up. Milk can be used in
baked goods after it’s no longer
good to drink. Waste not, want
not.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Q: Who tries
things a thousand unsuccessful ways before
getting one winner? A: Winners. You’re attempt-
ing something that’s not guaranteed, and easy
results are not a part of this endeavor, but
keep going anyway.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The aim is to
make decisions based on your vision for your
life, not the moment-to-moment minutiae of
moods. This is made much easier when it’s a
strong, juicy vision. You’ll work on that today.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Some will be very
aware of rank and order and who’s coming in
first place and last place, etc., but you can be
assured that your gut feeling on the matter is
100 percent correct: It’s not about all that. It’s
about the work.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Though you’ll be
tempted to take on a task that is as challenging
as it is ridiculous, consider this wise saying
first: Don’t teach a pig to sing; it frustrates you
and annoys the pig.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Even though you’re
the cat of the zodiac — i.e., the top predator
and, it follows, king of the jungle — you have
a merciful side. That’s what will come into play
today as you walk out of your house more the
shepherd than the lion.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Everyone has a
secret — something to remember when you’re
bored with social interactions. Persist. Guar-
anteed, there is something interesting to know
here if you hang in and pay attention.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Though it’s not wise
to measure your progress by someone else’s
standards, it’s also the way the world works,
more or less, in the practical order of things.
Think about what they’ll be judging, and gear
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
up for it.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Are you getting
the feeling that the perfectly right moment
you’re waiting for is never going to happen?
Well, you’re right about that. It’s information
that could also be your golden ticket to move
forward regardless.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Since you
have baggage around being socially accepted
today, you can act out (without trying, because
it’s just who you are), and you can enjoy the
way it pushes everyone’s boundaries, including
your own.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). To notice
then react — this is how an awake world oper-
ates. To notice and not react — well, that’s the
usual. You’re different. Prove it today. There’s a
lot at stake, actually.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re not so
worried about becoming something these
days. It’s more about un-becoming those
things that were imposed on you. Things that
served other people’s interests, not yours.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ve mined
the gold in your mistakes before, but this vein
is deeper than you imagined. It’s a good time
to look back and consider how you might have
done it differently, and how you’ll do it next
time.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 8). You
don’t shy away from goals just because they
push you into uncomfortable territory. You know
what’s worth doing, and that will be the guiding
principle of this solar return. There’s a favorable
change in February bonding you with another.
You’ll continue along a path of beautiful vistas
and beatific scenery. Cancer and Virgo adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 3, 8, 38 and 4.