THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018
FEATURES
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
You get no reference from me
Dear Annie: A couple of years comfortable serving as a reference.
ago, when I was starting a busi- I’d hate for anyone else to be put in
ness, a friend put me in touch with the same situation I was in. How do
her friend “Margaret,” who had just I handle this? — Not Impressed
started her own boutique marketing
Dear Not Impressed: You’re
and public relations firm. I ended already doing her a kindness by not
up hiring Margaret to help promote saying yes and telling her would-be
my new business. She
client the truth. So don’t
was going to pitch articles
worry about being rude.
DEAR
about it to a few local pub-
Tell Margaret that you
ANNIE
lications (she was a part-
don’t feel comfortable
time freelance writer), as
serving as a reference, and
well as some blogs, and she
leave it at that. She may
agreed to write copy for my
ask you what she could
website. All in all, I ended
have done differently to
up paying her a few thou-
better serve your needs. Be
sand dollars yet really had
honest. If she ever wants
nothing to show for it. She Annie Lane to succeed in marketing,
Creators
never got any press for the
she should value customer
Syndicate Inc.
business. She wrote a few
feedback.
hundred words of copy for my site.
Dear Annie: I have never writ-
And she posted about the business ten to a column such as yours, but
on her own blog. I was disappointed the letter from “Tormented and Dis-
but didn’t want to bother confront- tressed” — a high school senior
ing her about it. My business was who wrote in about past sexual
doing well enough. I just decided I abuse and her fear of male medi-
cal professionals — changed every-
wouldn’t work with her anymore.
Well, recently I got an email thing. I am a retired critical care
from Margaret. She wants to know nurse, and what she describes about
whether she can use me as a ref- alleged male nurses is both horrify-
erence for a potential client. I was ing and not typical of the wonderful
pretty incredulous that she’d ask me professionals I know.
I am so sorry about what hap-
for a reference after doing such a
half-baked job for me. I don’t want pened to her at the hands of her
to be rude, but I really don’t feel mother’s boyfriend. “Tormented
and Distressed” needs to address
her fears about male medical pro-
fessionals, because her own life
may depend on it. We never know
when a medical emergency will
occur involving us. It may be a car
crash. It may be an unexpected ill-
ness or allergic reaction. It may be
nothing but a fall that results in an
injury requiring emergency care.
But the last thing one needs in any
medical emergency is paranoia
about the sex of the person or peo-
ple caring for you. If you refuse care
from a male doctor or nurse, he has
to honor this, but your life may be in
danger while waiting for a woman
to care for you.
I empathize with “Tormented
and Distressed.” I was also terrified
about having a male medical pro-
fessional touching me — with my
first breast exam, my first pelvic
exam, etc. — but she will get past
this. Most importantly, she needs to
get past it before putting her own
life in danger. — Been There, Too
Dear Been There, Too: You
make a great point. This is yet
another reason it’s important for
“Tormented and Distressed” to
seek help in processing her past
abuse. Thank you for sharing your
professional insight and personal
empathy.
5A
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Someone who
has come to your emotional rescue in the past
is now in need of a little attention. This won’t
be a “rescue” per se; rather, it will be the sort
of nice acknowledgment that keeps a rescue
situation at bay.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You can’t exactly
control everything you think. Your mind is like a
great dragon, far more powerful than you, but
you can ride on its back and steer it. It’s likely
to go where you tell it to.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ll be attracted
to the people who can do little things right,
correctly assuming that this is a sign that they
might do their best to get the big things right,
too.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll be in the
support position today, and the role will come
as a nice break to you. “We can’t all be heroes,
because somebody has to sit on the curb and
clap when they go by.” — Will Rogers
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Look at the facts,
references and all the evidence you can find,
but don’t base your decision solely on these
things. Let your gut feeling weigh in. Evidence
can be falsified. Your gut is less likely to be
fooled than your mind.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You hear yourself
differently depending on whom you talk to.
That’s why it’s important to talk to many
different types of people. People with different
status levels, skills and cultures will help you
understand.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). A core of self-ap-
preciation will help you improve quickly. When
you know, at a very basic level, that you’re OK,
you won’t be defensive in the face of feedback.
You’ll take every note and build from it.
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). Brilliant interac-
tions are often less interactive. More contact
means more tangles. Believe in people’s abili-
ties to solve their own problems, and let them
know you’re there to back them up if needed.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). All results
will be the results of action. The one who
takes action gets to change the landscape,
define the story — indeed, to be the star of
it. Even passivity can be active, with the right
level of awareness.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Small things
matter, but petty things don’t. It’s not the size
that makes things trivial; it’s the significance.
Pay attention and you will understand the
difference and avoid mixing into anything that
would reduce you.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re inclined
toward the big questions today, although this
will be displayed in a very down-to-earth way.
The big questions can be answered with
simple acts of cleanliness, organization and
kindness.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You may make
an innocuous and breezy comment, but
others won’t hear it that way. Some consider
you the official word from above. Your position
gives your words weight.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 30). There
is something inside you that’s as luminous as
anything on the planet has ever been. Clear
away anything that shades this secret. Go
where people see you, and use your talents.
The respect you’ve shown the authority
figures in your life will pave the way for many
lucrative opportunities in 2019. Pisces and
Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
2, 33, 38, 4 and 18.