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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 2017)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2017 FEATURES The other grandmother Dear Annie: I know this is over, he never talks unless we short notice, seeing as my ques- talk first, and even then he only tion is about Christmas, but I’m has one- or two-word answers. hoping that you can publish an Jill has always let him sit in on answer. I’m quite sure there are adult conversations, something others in my shoes. I totally disagree with. If she I have a 9-year-old grand- starts talking about how this or son, “Bradley.” He has that is going wrong in DEAR been in and out of our her life, he jumps in lives, mainly because of and makes sure to give ANNIE the fact that his mother, his input, but it’s adult “Jill,” and my son, stuff he doesn’t need to “Andrew,” are not mar- know about. We real- ize he forms his opin- ried and my son is not to ions based on what his have custody of Bradley mother says. at all. Jill and Bradley Jill generally only have mainly lived with Annie Lane brings him around Jill’s parents. Creators Syndicate Inc. We have never been during holidays, when as grandparents and gifts are in order. We grandson should be, but my hus- can tell he really doesn’t want to band, my daughters and I have be here but his mother is forcing tried. I knew this, but his mother him to come to get a present. My finally admitted that one of the dilemma: Do I continue buy- reasons she never left him at my ing gifts for him in the amount house while she ran errands or that I do for my other grandchil- let him spend the night was that dren, the ones I see often? Am I her dad didn’t want him around supposed to overlook what Jill us. She said her dad (Bradley’s is doing and pretend that he is grandpa) was always worried doing nothing wrong? I don’t that we’d let Andrew come over want to be the grandma who is and kidnap him — which we trying to gift a grandson into coming more, because that has would never do. Anyway, for about a year no effect on him anyway. — now, when Bradley does come Christmas in Kentucky 5A TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. Dear Christmas in Ken- tucky: This little boy is only 9, and based on your letter, he’s probably getting a lot of mixed signals from the adults in his life about how to behave and whom he can trust. It’s no wonder he’s a little reserved. You’re under no obligation to buy him gifts of a certain value, but I would continue to show him the same love and attention you show your other grandchil- dren. If his home life is chaotic, your reliable support could mean more than you know. Dear Annie: We just want to thank you for the answer to the letter from the victim of a scam. The column appeared in our paper yesterday. It came at a time when we were help- ing our son decide whether he should get involved in a simi- lar-sounding job offer he found on the internet. We contacted the Federal Trade Commission and received confirmation that it was indeed a scam! We will be for- ever grateful. — Don and Glo- ria in Connecticut Dear Don and Gloria: How serendipitous. Thank you for sharing that. You’ve made my day. ARIES (March 21-April 19). It’s all temporary — the mood, the circumstance, the things you want out of this ... and yet, it matters. You’ll feel as though you’re defining yourself with the action you take. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll be looking for ways to do more and need less and you’ll find them. There’s magic in this pursuit. It will also be quite addicting, especially in the case of doing things for others. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ve often had the impression that the game is rigged. Today that suspicion comes sneaking around again, although this time it seems to be rigged in your favor ... so is that going to be a problem? CANCER (June 22-July 22). Whether it’s emo- tional or actual baggage, you’ll be less effective trying to dead lift it on your own. You can handle much more weight with a little strategy. Can it be leveraged? Can it be rolled? LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). An ordeal can be an adventure and an adventure can be an ordeal, and today they’ll be one and the same, depending on how you look at this. It’s easier to approach it brightly when there’s someone to impress. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Trial and error is the only way to learn this complex thing you’ve taken on. Sure, the theoretical knowledge will help, but it can only take you so far. You’ll advance through your mistakes. Mastery will be eventual and inevitable. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’re great at slipping into the mindset that will serve the moment best. This is a talent in and of itself — a sign of emotional genius really — and you’ll be able to trade on it for some nice dividends today. 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 SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It’s not important that they know everything you mean. In fact, it’s better that they don’t. As people fill in the blanks with their own story, they connect with you. Mysteries are opportunities. Voids are invitations. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). What stands alone? Nothing and no one. Life here is about groups. Organisms, tribes, cultures ... from bacteria to trees to animals and people, it’s all working together. As much as you’d like that not to be true today, it still is. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There’s not one bad thing on your to-do list today. You could potentially take pleasure in every single activity. The thing is, there are so many of them, and most of them rather pressing. You can do this! AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your day-to-day is slowly morphing into a different pattern. Your style is changing, too. But your values will stay the same. Like a developing child, you will fulfill the potential of what you always were. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Kindness and self-respect are at the center of your decision to step up and own your actions when they’re great and when they’re not. We’re all just learn- ing and in need of both encouragement and correction. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 19). In the next 10 weeks, luck, attitude and ability inter- sect in the perfect convergence to bring you money. Your excitement over an idea will be the defining factor — your idea of another person, or of the future, or of humanity in general. What/whom you take care of will reward you enormously in the spring. Aquarius and Leo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 15, 5, 22, 28 and 31.