6A
FEATURES
Does mother know best?
Dear Annie: A few months choice. They dry quickly and are
ago, my mom came to visit from easy to clean. So you’re right. But
out of state. We’ve always had a that’s beside the point.
strained relationship and never
Your mother will always think
seen eye to eye. While she was she knows best. I could tell you
here, she made a big deal about to talk to her and explain why the
the fact that I wash my dishes gesture seemed patronizing and
with bristled brushes and
hurt your feelings, but
DEAR
not dishcloths. I explained
realistically, she’s proba-
bly going to keep “send-
that dishcloths harbor
ANNIE
ing you dishcloths” in
bacteria and that bristled
one form or another for
brushes are more envi-
ronmentally friendly than
the rest of her life. All
cloths and sponges (in my
you can change is how
own opinion). She offered
you receive them. Rather
to go to the store to buy
than wring every pas-
sive-aggressive meaning
me some dishcloths. I
Lane
from the gift, accept it at
explained that my limited Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
face value and say thank
supply was because of my
you.
personal wishes and not
Dear Annie: I’m writing about
monetary reasons and that I would
not use them if she bought them. a situation in the medical field. It’s
about the long hours expected of
So she didn’t.
Fast-forward five months and nurses.
my Christmas present in the mail
It’s a fact that when a nurs-
includes dishcloths. I am very ing replacement doesn’t report
annoyed, as I feel she couldn’t to work, the person who has just
care less about my feelings and worked an eight-hour shift is
thinks she is right no matter what. required to stay. Additionally, a
It also feels like a jab. Should I nurse must request a vacation well
let her know my feelings on the in advance, and even though it is
subject or let it slide? — Mother supposedly guaranteed, the vaca-
tion can be canceled at the last
Doesn’t Always Know Best
Dear MDAKB: Bristled minute. There is no concern that
brushes are the most hygienic the employee must cancel reser-
vations, cancel flights and lose
deposit money.
I am concerned for the well-be-
ing of dedicated nurses and for
the future of nursing. Who would
want to work where these condi-
tions seem to be the norm? I’m
concerned for patients. Nurses
who would normally be friendly,
compassionate and caring can
become tired and grouchy. Every-
one needs some down time, espe-
cially people who work at such
an important job. — Worried in
Wisconsin
Dear Worried: I agree.
Nurses work hard, long hours, in
a role that is physically and emo-
tionally draining. Countless stud-
ies have shown the adverse effects
that fatigue has on nurses’ health
and job performance. In pursuit of
better hours and conditions, many
nurses have chosen to union-
ize. Though this might not be for
everyone, it’s worth considering.
A Nurse.org article titled “Should
I Join A Nurses Union? Pros And
Cons” is a good primer, though I
encourage everyone to do inde-
pendent research.
Additionally, the American
Nurses Association (http://nurs-
ingworld.org) offers fact sheets
about staying healthy as a nurse.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your social life
is a series of concentric circles. The rules are
different depending on which strata you’re
dealing in. To act intimately with the outer
ring or respectfully distant with the inner ring
is a breach of unspoken contract.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You like people,
but you don’t cling. You’re confident that you
can find kinship with any number of people
in the world. You’ll wait for a love that’s
intriguing. For you, curiosity is a key compo-
nent in attraction.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re a naturally
hospitable person, so you can’t fully enjoy
yourself unless you know that everyone is
having a good time. Your generosity in this
regard won’t drain you; instead it will actually
renew your energy.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Account for
what is going right for you: So much is that
this will be a very long list. Your focus on the
positive will reduce your worries. Your lighter,
more joyful heart will attract the same.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Two people make
the same mistake. One agonizes over it for
ages; the other ponders what happened just
long enough to decide what the takeaway is
then moves on to new mistakes. Be like the
second person.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You have the
chance to work behind the scenes. Is that re-
ally where you can do the most good? What
if you put yourself front and center instead?
You’re in fine form and have something
unique to contribute.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It’s inside you
now — that impish urge to upset the apple-
cart. You know better, and you won’t make
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
a move, but someone will find the daring
gleam in your eye very intriguing.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You don’t
preserve your self-esteem by doing things
perfectly. Self-esteem is built through real-
izing that even when you make mistakes
you’re still awesome and worthy of your own
love and the love of others.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Everyone
needs help from time to time, but even if
you don’t really need it, you should ask for it
anyway. Because people need to give you
help. And the help they give makes them like
and understand you better.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). How much
do you want to accomplish? With little on
your plate, you’ll work slowly, take detours
and just barely meet your deadline. With lots
on your plate you’ll work quickly, take short-
cuts and just barely meet your deadline.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). What stops
people from having fun together is an entire
story in their heads about how it should go
— a story based on their assumptions about
each other and not based on getting to know
who is really there.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There’s an art
to making mistakes well. The weak way is to
pass the blame. The strong way is to think in
terms of cause and effect instead and then
just figure out how to fix things.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 11).
You’ve much to share and the right people to
share it with, too. But you have to vet them to
make sure. People should prove themselves
over time before you let them get close to
you. Libra and Virgo adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 9, 40, 22, 12 and 36.