6A
FEATURES
Help for stinky co-worker
Dear Annie: I have a very sen-
If you don’t have an HR
sitive office environment problem. department, then try talking to
My office mate smells, and the your co-worker yourself. At the
smell permeates the entire office end of the day, ask your co-worker
and even gets stuck to my clothes. whether she has a minute before
And I’m not the only one who can she leaves. Go into a private
smell it. Other co-workers have space, and say something to the
noticed it, too. I think it’s
effect of: “It may just be
DEAR
a matter of not chang-
my sensitive nose, but
ing clothes enough or
I’ve noticed there’s some-
ANNIE
times a strong smell near
not bathing well or often
your desk. I just wanted
enough. She is such a nice
to make you aware of
lady that I really can’t
the issue, because I hope
mention it to her. It would
you would do the same
hurt her feelings. Because
for me.” It’s going to be
our office has only five
awkward no matter which
employees in it (we’re
Lane
way you slice it. But tell-
out in the boondocks), we Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
ing her is a noble act.
have very limited office
You’re bearing a minute
space. So there’s no pos-
sibility of moving desks and put- of discomfort to spare her further
ting more space between her and embarrassment and your co-work-
the rest of us. And no air fresh- ers further unpleasantness. Do be
ener or scent diffuser we’ve tried sure to have this talk at the end of
works. What can be done? Again, the day, as telling her earlier, when
she’s very nice and friendly, and I she can’t do anything about it,
don’t want to hurt her. — Stinky would be cruel.
Outside Seattle
Also, as this is the second let-
Dear Stinky Outside Seat- ter I’ve received this month about
tle: This is the sort of delicate per- a co-worker’s olfactory offenses, a
sonnel matter best handled by the public service announcement: To
human resources department. Talk anyone thinking of skipping that
to whoever is in charge of HR for prework shower, please don’t.
your company, even if that person
Dear Annie: I’m just a normal
isn’t located in the same office.
adult who is sick and tired of hear-
ing the F-word out in public. Why
is this word permitted at public
events, at the shopping mall and in
movie theaters? When my grand-
children were very young, we had
this happen at a baseball game.
The person behind us repeated the
word many times, until finally my
husband politely asked the person
to stop. Luckily for us, he wasn’t
attacked for the request — which
is always a concern these days.
Can we start a national cam-
paign to stop the use of the F-word
in public? Here’s an idea: If you
wouldn’t say a certain thing in
church, then don’t say it in pub-
lic. I hope others will agree with
this idea, and perhaps the security
guards at public events could help
out. — Grandma
Dear Grandma: I couldn’t
find any data to verify the claim,
but I also have noticed more peo-
ple using the F-word in recent
years. It may be because many
popular shows are on cable or
streaming platforms and therefore
not subject to the strict censor-
ship laws that govern network TV,
allowing the shows to have a free-
for-all with the cussword, which
may have trickled down into soci-
ety. But we can’t just blame TV. In
any case, let’s keep it clean, folks.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2018
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Curiosity is
among your most useful talents, as it will lead
you to experience wonder, triumph, satisfac-
tion and dissatisfaction. (Those last two will be
equally important to a fulfilling life.)
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re good at
uncovering the facts, hearing the facts through
the fiction and giving the facts in an unbiased
way. Today’s talent for truth will make you an
invaluable part of a quest for justice.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You have
developed some mental tricks to help you
get around obstacles, avoid conflict and rise
above trouble. You may not even be fully aware
of exactly how you do this, but someone will
notice and follow your lead today.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). None of the
saints were canonized for counting other peo-
ple’s sins. It just doesn’t work that way. Those
who focus on the sins of others are still making
sin their focus.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It is possible to train
your mind to be stronger than your emotions.
You’ll seek this kind of mastery. Clearly, emo-
tions run amok do not contribute in a positive
way to what you’re trying to build in your life.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The temptation to
share prematurely will be there. Exciting things
are coming together, for sure, but it’s still early.
Work quietly and later your success will speak
for you.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Some people
are easier to be around than others, but that
doesn’t make a relationship any more or less
correct. An uncomfortable relationship can be
the greatest teacher on earth, inspiring your
highest and quickest evolution.
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). From a dis-
tance, the rolling fog is mysterious, beautiful,
mystical ... but when you’re in the thick of it, it
can be maddeningly disorienting. Seek higher
mental ground. Avoid states of perplexity by
rising above them.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Seeing the
problems that really do exist isn’t pessimism —
far from it. This is actually a form of optimism.
If you didn’t think there might be something to
be done about it, you wouldn’t have the guts
to see it.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The creative
process is your joy. The products that come of
it can bring some fleeting satisfaction as well,
but it’s almost unmentionable in comparison
with the great feeling that comes from being in
the flow of your work.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You may not
have all the skills you need to make something
happen yet, but you’re getting them. Try again.
Also, keep a record of your efforts so you can
avoid making the same mistake twice.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). While joy feels
better, sadness can be beautiful, too. It can
wash over you like a wave in a moment of
connection that makes you appreciate and
value your life.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (April 24). It’s
been a while since you saw truly serene
circumstances, but this year brings several
moments of profound peace and beauty. You’ll
appreciate them, too, because of all the bustle
and hard work represented in other moments.
There will be five significant gatherings, mean-
ingful to your group and your legacy. Libra and
Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
14, 3, 39, 6 and 12.