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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 2018)
A6 THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THuRSDAY, DEcEmbER 27, 2018 Big cash demands Dear Annie: My the kids about our financial ex-wife, “Daisy,” has cus- arrangement, which we’d tody of our two children. agreed she wouldn’t do. She makes several times She wants to throw our my salary, lives in a home daughter a lavish bat mitz- vah for her 13th where the mort- DEAR gage and taxes are birthday. The ANNIE sky-high, and has an total cost would expensive lifestyle. I be five figures. live frugally, always I’ve refused to pay child support and pay it because she have visitation rights. doesn’t need it and Often, my children it would be a finan- cial hardship for stand me up when I show up to get them. ANNIE LANE me. Also, given Creators her lack of effort at I’ll get to a birthday Syndicate Inc. school and refusal party or wedding to attend fam- with just my son and have to tell everyone, “My ily functions, I don’t think daughter has a migraine.” her behavior merits a huge The real answer is, “she reward. Should I do what my is lazy and doesn’t want to miss movie night with wife wants and cough up her friend.” Her mother is the cash, or should I go to spineless. My son also has a the party and get tossed out fluctuating weight problem the door? I’m saving money because he eats too much religiously, because given junk food. At a recent lun- Daisy’s lack of control over cheon, he refused to eat but my daughter, I’m afraid my then demanded a piece of daughter will get in trouble. chocolate cake and shoved If I have to pay for a lawyer, it down his throat. I’d better be ready finan- Daisy isn’t happy about cially. — Stingy Dad and my not paying that much Proud of It support and has spoken to Dear Stingy Dad: You should do what is in the best interest of your children, and you and your ex-wife should make every effort to be as amicable to each other as possible. Yes, you should pay a customary and reason- able amount for your only daughter’s bat mitzvah. It is not her fault that her parents are fighting over money and parenting philosophies. Whoever’s right or wrong is beside the point. Now is the time to wave the white flag and make peace. Your daughter will never turn 13 again. Make it spe- cial for her and leave your baggage and negative feel- ings at the door. As for the constant headaches from your daughter and her blow- ing you off, remember that you are the parent and she is the child. Ask yourself why she doesn’t want to see you. It may have something to do with the fact that you are so critical about your son’s weight. Being embarrassed by your son’s behavior might propel you to seek help for him. Let’s hope. TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). This issue you’re deal- ing with will be solved with a new frame of mind. Finding the frame of mind can be as easy as finding a picture frame. You simply experiment. What looks good to you? What works for the space you have? SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You could do the job without help, but it would take longer and be harder, and not half as fun. Make sure the others know how much you appreciate being part of an excellent team. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You can tell that some- one is dangling a carrot to get you to move forward in the direction of their choosing. But as long as they actually give you the carrot, and it’s a direction that’s OK with you, all will be well. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re compas- sionate and you see beyond your own situation into the heart of the world. And yet, some compartmen- talization is appropriate. Knowing what is and is not your problem will help you live well today. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). As a leader, your role will be to make sure everyone else has a role. You’ll be in a position to check in with each person, in- forming and course, correcting where necessary. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Most people think to ask for spiritual guidance when things aren’t going well. But why not seek spiritual guidance when things are going just fine? It will make a good time even better. CANCER (June 22-July 22). The mental exercise that will help you make a decision will include posing hypothetical questions, for instance, “What would someone who’s madly in love with you sug- gest you do in this scenario?” LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You know yourself and so it’s not necessary to ruminate over which way to go. There will be no hesitation, no waiting. It’s like you look forward to a straight road of green lights as far as the eye can see. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). As cool as it would be to wake up one morning with the capability of observ- ing, understanding and experiencing the world on a whole different level, these things happen gradual- ly. Awareness takes practice. You’ll get plenty today. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). While some claim free speech as their right, others regard it as a continual obligation. As for you, talking takes more energy than you think it should today, so you’ll process silently and chime in only when necessary. 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 AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Achieving more suc- cess is never the answer. Before long, expectations and desires will rise in tandem. Do what it takes to be happy now. An attitude shift might be all that’s necessary. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). We organize our lives around the meaning of things, and yet what a thing means isn’t a fixed fact. Rather, it’s either an agree- ment you make with yourself or one you come to with others. Just know that meanings can change. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 28). You know what you want, but what do you do to get there? Simple. Do what it takes. Through determination and tenacity, your life moves in the direction of your vision. Highlights of the solar return include: a beau- tiful love letter, a trip by boat and the receipt of a check of which you’ll want to take a picture. Cancer and Taurus adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 30, 33, 31 and 16.