6A
FEATURES
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
Friend seems too controlling
Dear Annie: I have a problem pointment with her facial expres-
with my neighbor. I don’t know sion or voice. What should I do? —
whether it’s her or me. She is a great Needing to Be Heard
neighbor, has become a friend, is
Dear Needing to Be Heard:
always helpful and is kindhearted. Her facial expressions and voice
But the thing is that she seems too are mechanisms she is using to
controlling. She pressures me to do make you feel guilty. It sounds as if
it’s working. Caring about
things with her. Sometimes
DEAR
another’s feelings is a good
it works out well and I’m
thing, of course, but not at
glad she pressured me to do
ANNIE
the expense of your fami-
an activity that I found out
ly’s happiness. You might
later I enjoyed. However,
try to go on the offensive
when my husband and I
rather than play defense.
do join in, we find that we
Have fun with your friend,
are expected to spend far
but only on your terms. If
too much time socializ-
ing — for example, when
she insists on guilting you,
Lane
we go on camping trips. Annie
better to cut ties.
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Other times, we are forced
Dear Annie: I have a
to abide by her schedule,
problem I can’t solve. My
participate in tightly controlled pot- husband works in a small auto repair
lucks and shop for and take specific shop. He is one of two mechanics.
gifts to holiday gatherings.
Obviously, because there are only
When I speak up, it seems she two of them, they have to alternate
does not hear me — as if she only vacations. We have school-aged
hears what she wants to hear. I’ve children, and the other worker’s
told her several times I do not want children are preschool-aged. Every
to join her and her family members year, the other guy gets the man-
in Las Vegas for a specific conven- ager to put up the vacation calen-
tion. I don’t tell her my specific rea- dar when my husband is not there
sons for not wanting to participate, and takes all the school breaks. My
because I might hurt her feelings. I husband has the highest seniority in
simply say, “Thank you, but I’m not our state. Yet the manager lets the
interested.” When she finally does other guy take all the vacations first.
hear me, she conveys bitter disap- We have not had a family vaca-
tion in almost two years because
of this. The crowning glory is that
this guy signs up for all these vaca-
tions and then, at the last moment,
decides not to take them. Usually,
he decides the week before or just
shows up at work. By then, it’s too
late for us to make travel plans.
I’m so frustrated because my
husband doesn’t want to make “a
big deal” out of it. He is close to
retirement and doesn’t want to make
waves. His boss is too lazy to care.
I’m so angry that I want to march
down to his shop and tell both the
guy and the manager what I think of
them, which probably wouldn’t be
allowed in your column. There has
to be some sort of law that prohibits
this. Any ideas? I’m tired of seeing
my children’s disappointed faces.
— Frustrated and Angry
Dear Frustrated and Angry:
Simmer down, little teapot. Before
you blow your lid on your hus-
band’s partner, you might want to
have a conversation with your hus-
band about being a little more pro-
active with his vacation requests. It
sounds as if your husband’s partner
takes the initiative to get to his boss
first, and it’s time for your husband
to beat him to the schedule. Try
planning a vacation way in advance
so he can get the time off approved.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2018
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Whatever world
you’d like to join, you can do so in some small
way from wherever you are. The internet and
the library will be your ticket to connections
that only a few decades ago would have been
nearly impossible to reach.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Loneliness
is often worse for those who have people
around whom they cannot or do not relate to.
It’s caused by a lack of communication and
understanding. Loneliness is alleviated through
listening, not talking.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Life builds and
breaks everyone in different ways. Assume
nothing about the process. It could be that
building makes us weak and breaking makes
us strong or the other way around. Roll with it,
and do your best with what comes.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Unmet expec-
tations are inevitable in a complex existence.
Sensitive, intelligent creatures are bound to be
disappointed by life from time to time. It’s your
resilience that will define you.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). A lot of what people
need recognized by one another is information
that’s hard to share, perhaps because it goes
against the rules of society or is just not com-
monly talked about. Regardless, those who
open up will be comforted.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your complexity of
mind comes with benefits and drawbacks. On
the one hand, you’re creative and can solve
problems that others can’t. But you’re often met
with incomprehension. Don’t let that bother
you. You’re doing great.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Don’t you miss
you? You’re overdue for an uninterrupted,
distraction-free stint — long enough for you to
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
get into a meaningful conversation with your
own psyche.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). No, you’re not
imagining the signals: You’re catching exactly
what’s being thrown out there. Someone finds
you elegant, mysterious and alluring. The next
move is yours.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). To ponder
why things are the way they are is to go down
a rabbit hole. There will be treasures to pick up
along the way, but ultimately this is not prog-
ress. More helpful questions include “What’s
the best next move?”
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Hold on to a
sincere and ambitious view of what life could
be. You’re in a good club. You’re in great compa-
ny. You’re part of a long and grand tradition.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When you think
odd or contrary thoughts, you might be the
only one around thinking them at that moment,
but you’re not the only one on earth ever to go
down that road.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Send out mes-
sages from your heart, and then don’t expect
anyone to understand right away. Someone
will, eventually. But for now it’s important to
honor your feelings sincerely without bending
them toward validation.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (July 18).
Attitude is everything this year, and yours will
be predominantly optimistic and tenacious.
August shows you taming wilder instincts and
buckling down to get a big project finished. The
later part of 2018 shows you handling things
for your family. Past debts will be settled in Jan-
uary; you’ll be paid in many forms, including
money. Capricorn and Aries adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 1, 11, 4, 30 and 15.