THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2017
FEATURES
Always tardy to the party
Dear Annie: I have a friend ing it a very hard habit to break.
who is always late. Lunch, din- So your friend’s chronic tardi-
ner, concerts, movies — I don’t ness is likely as deeply embed-
think I’ve ever gone to an out- ded in her as the things you love
ing with her when she hasn’t about her. Keeping all that in mind
shown up 10 or 15 minutes late. might make it easier not to take it
She’s a lovely, caring person oth- personally when she’s late — but
erwise and a thoughtful
she can’t expect everyone
DEAR
friend, but I can’t help but
to be so understanding.
be put off by this seem-
DeLonzor’s book, “Never
ANNIE
ing lack of consideration
Be Late Again,” might
for other people’s time,
make a good holiday gift
again and again. It’s hard
for your friend, seeing as
not to take it personally.
she admits it’s a problem.
She knows it’s a prob-
Dear Annie: This may
lem and has vowed to be
seem like a strange prob-
lem, but it is frustrating
more punctual. It was her
Lane
me to no end.
New Year’s resolution last Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
I have beautiful candy
year, and it probably will
dishes for everyday use
be again this year, but I’m
not holding my breath for change. and for all the holidays. I love to
I just want to know: What gives? fill them with expensive candy for
Why are some people always late? looks. I don’t have them all over
the house. They’re just in the liv-
— Waiting Games
Dear
Waiting
Games: ing room and dining room.
According to time management
I don’t keep them out all the
expert Diana DeLonzor, people time, but when I do put them out
who are chronically tardy tend to and fill them, I want the candy to
be optimists. They have unrealis- stay. However, my husband just
tic expectations of what they can can’t get it. I have treats in the
get done in a set amount of time. cupboards and freezer for him, so
Jeff Conte, an associate professor he isn’t ignored. He can have all
of psychology at San Diego State, he wants when I decide to change
says lateness is connected to deep- candy or put away the dishes, but
seated personality factors, mak- he is always in the candy dishes.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Another problem is that I have
to hide goodies from him, or he
will eat it all in no time. I will put
candy, cookies and snacks in the
freezer for our grandsons or com-
pany. When I go to get the good-
ies, they are gone. I can’t keep
potato chips on hand for when
I might want a few with a sand-
wich. He eats a can of nuts before
I know it. He is not overweight,
and I cook good, healthful meals
for us.
I am like a chipmunk, stashing
food all over the house. It irritates
me so much! — Weird, Stupid or
Selfish?
Dear Weird, Stupid or Self-
ish?: You are none of the three.
You are simply frustrated that
your husband eats any junk food
that you buy. Picture your hus-
band like a squirrel who eats or
hoards all the nuts he can find.
That is just the way he is, and he’s
not going to change. As you say,
you are like a chipmunk and you
just need to find more creative
hiding places. As for filling the
nice dishes, check local gift shops
or craft stores for beautiful hand-
blown glass “candies.” These
would look even prettier than real
candy and be less appealing to
your husband.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Arguably, half of
belonging is just acting like you belong. Feeling
like you belong is obviously huge, too. But if you
do a little of both and still feel like a bit of a misfit,
just know the others who “belong” feel about the
same.
now, you’ll want to remember.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You may get a late
start because there are certain things you’ll do to
get your head in the game; they take time. The
rituals help! It’s more than just coffee. It’s ways
you motivate yourself. Keep reinforcing what
works.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Curiosity may
have killed the cat, but it’s what keeps humans
evolving. As for you, you’ll prove your superior in-
tellect by listening to many sides of a story before
forming an opinion, if it even comes to that.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It doesn’t feel
true, but there really is a guidance system in you
that never shuts down. In those directionless
moments you think that your soul lacks a GPS,
but it’s been in your pocket the whole time.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ve felt at times
that you were fundamentally different from
those you were brought up around, so it’s pretty
refreshing when today you recognize some nice
ways in which you are alike.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There’s some-
thing you want to know, and it will be revealed
to you indirectly — through small talk, intonation
and body language. So there’s really no need for
probing questions, deep discussions or heated
arguments.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). The water drops
seem to reach for each other. The stream is
suddenly the river, and as the river connects
with ocean, the river is the ocean. Today your
water-sign nature will echo this tendency to join
completely.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Simplification is
part of the brain’s job. It’s why the first time you
travel somewhere the journey seems longer
and more detailed; then later trips are short and
blurry. It’s also why you should go a different
route today.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’re changed by
every circumstance, and that’s a good thing.
It means you’re open to letting life in. It means
you’re listening and learning. It’s true that you
have to protect yourself at times by making
yourself hard, but not now.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Snap decisions
will be necessary — mostly in matters of taste
and style. Your decisiveness in this regard will
make a project hum along at a pace that every-
one can appreciate.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It is often the case
that one broken bulb renders the whole line of
holiday lights useless. Let the metaphor remind
us to check on one another so we can all be
bright together.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Choose a memento
representing the mundane aspects of your life. A
picture would be enough, but it’s not the same as
something you can hold in your hand. Years from
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
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 13). You’re
afraid of something, and you want it at the same
time. Over the next seven weeks, desire takes
over and fear lessens just enough for you to
dive in. This exhilaration will benefit many areas
— your health, your love life and more — and
the best part is that this will be true whether or
not you get what you want. Capricorn and Libra
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 40, 3, 33, 38
and 50.