B11
COMICS
Friday, October 20, 2023
Harrisonburg, Va.
GARFIELD
BY JIM DAVIS
BLONDIE
BY DEAN YOUNG
Had It With Office’s Lack Dear of Hiring Annie Dear Annie: I’ve dated a man for five years. He used to work, prior to the pandemic, but he hasn’t really actively applied to jobs. My biggest issue is the fact that I’m paying all the expenses for the household we share together, and he doesn’t need to do anything to assist me. At the same time, he’s starting to treat me like a servant in my own house. He controls the TV. Foods that I like, he throws away, since he doesn’t eat them. He has outbursts and tantrums when I tell him to get a job. I’m fed up with supporting a grown man. What should I do? -- Frustrated Dear Frustrated: He can complain all he wants, but numbers don’t lie. Sit down with your boyfriend and a financial planner so you can review all your finances together. He will be forced to confront the fact that he is not contributing to the household. Then, make a plan. A good couples counselor can help you two communicate. If that doesn’t work, be prepared to kick him out.
Horoscopes By Holiday Holiday Mathis ARIES (March 21-April 19). Try and see the beauty and poetry in your immediate environment to whatever extent you can. The more you appreciate, the more you’ll find to appreciate. The magic you seek is also desperate to find you. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). While it’s nice to be treated like someone special, you also don’t want people to think you’re showing off or feeling superior in any way. So, order up special treatment for everyone -problem solved. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). A critical voice may chime in your head, but you can quiet it easily by taking hold of your thoughts. Internally saying “shhh” may be enough. It’s like stopping a ringing bell. With one swift gesture the resonance ends. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your impact is real. After you’ve left, people consider and discuss what you’ve presented. Don’t worry about their impressions, as you have no control over it. What matters is that you’re being taken seriously and you’re making a difference. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’re amongst smart, capable individuals. You don’t set out to flatter, but it’s what happens because you’re fascinated by what you learn about people. The quality of attention you give is a compliment in and of itself. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The ego lives by the energy of its own requirements and demands. It generally thinks more things are necessary than really are. To keep the ego from running things, ask your higher self frequently, “Is this necessary?” LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’re well-liked. Today that translates into invitations, conversations and interesting developments. You can be counted on to pick up the social slack and keep the good vibes circulating. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your confidence comes from a wellspring of integrity. You know what you’ve done, what you have, and who you are. You don’t require constant reminders of your greatness or tons of reinforcement to feel good. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Native American wisdom states, “The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.” You’ll deeply appreciate the colors that arch through your world today because you’ve weathered a dark night of the soul. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your imagination is aglow. Keep track of as many of these ideas as you possibly can. While there are too many to possibly follow through on them all, there will be one or two obvious standouts worth acting on now. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). No one is born knowing. Ignorance is acceptable when it is naive, but you’re feeling too sophisticated to go on without knowledge of certain topics. You’ll pursue them now with an open heart and mind. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ll truly feel the equality of all people and you’ve an affinity for everyone. That’s why your choice will be a real dilemma. Someone has to stay, and someone has to go. Don’t vacillate. Choose fast.
Dear Annie Lane Annie Annie Lane Dear Annie: I have a job where I work for a doctor. He has two offices. He has four people working at one office, and I work alone at the other. On clinic days, which is when the doctor sees patients, I am supposed to have help. The other staff that come from the other office either take the day off or, when they are there, they don’t help me. They just sit in the break room and talk, and I run the show by myself. I have gone to the manager, and even the manager above her, and they are hiring someone but are not sure when she is starting. I went to the doctor recently and told him that I was tired of working by myself and that his staff should come help with the clinic. He called me inappropriate for say-
ing that and said I need to just continue to do my job. I asked him, “So it’s OK for me to be alone then?” He said nothing. I am not sure what to do. -- Losing Patience Dear Losing: You’re in a frustrating predicament. While the doctor’s reply was less than helpful, I can’t blame him: You’re more likely to have luck speaking with the manager again or another supervisor who assists with staffing and personnel decisions. Arrange a meeting with one of your higher-ups to calmly and rationally explain your side. Ultimately, without proper staffing, the patients are the ones who suffer the most. If your managers are not serious about hiring extra hands, it’d be prudent to start looking for other job opportunities, where you feel not only set up for success but like your needs are heard and valued.
FOR BETTER OR WORSE
BY LYNN JOHNSTON
CLASSIC PEANUTS
BY CHARLES SCHULZ
Puzzles
DAILY CRYPTOQUOTES Here’s how to work it:
PICKLES
SHOE
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE
© 2018 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
BY BRIAN CRANE
BY CASSAT AND BROOKINS
BY STEPHAN PASTIS
NON SEQUITUR
BY WILEY
BEETLE BAILEY
BY GREG, BRIAN AND NEAL WALKER
SNUFFY SMITH
BY JOHN ROSE
SATURDAY COMICS
Harrisonburg, Va.
Missing My Family More and More Dear Annie: I have a problem and am earnestly seeking your help. I am a widow and I have three children. Our family has always been a close one. However, I have encountered a dilemma I never thought I would experience. My daughter is a divorced mother of four grown children. In the past, she always made sure she visited. This has changed in the last few years. Now she seldom visits. I have seen her once this year. She only lives two hours from me. I have asked if I have done anything to offend her in any way, and she assures me I have not. I have helped her financially and have always been there for her. When she was giving birth, I was there to help her. When she had surgery, I was there with her. She is seeing someone, and I know they spend a great deal of time with each other, especially on the weekends. She has brought him twice when we’ve had a get-together, etc. As a result, I am no longer seeing my grandchildren -- her children -- nor am I hearing from them. In the past, she made it a
Horoscopes By Holiday Holiday Holiday Mathis Mathis ARIES ARIES (March (March 21-April 21-April 19). 19). There forfor your atTherewill willbebecompetition competition your tention. It helps your status when the attention. It helps your status when one being the you onewant you sees wantyou sees youwanted being by others. thingsLet play out natuwanted byLet others. things play rally. Relationships will be calibrated out naturally. Relationships will be today. calibrated today. TAURUS (April 20-May TAURUS (April 20-May 20).20). You You never young,too tooold oldor or too are are never tootoo young, too broke difference in broke to to make make aa difference in somesomeone’s one’s life. life. Start Start with with you. you. Whatever Whatever your your state, state, you’ll you’ll be be inspired inspired to to imimprove prove it. it.All Allitittakes takesisisone onemove. move. GEMINI GEMINI (May (May 21-June 21-June 21). 21). Question Love Oracle of the Question71 71ininthe the Love Oracle of famous French fortuneteller Madam the famous French fortuneteller Le Marchand read, “What is my prinMadam Le Marchand read, “What cipal You’llfault?” boldly ask theboldly same is myfault?” principal You’ll today with a desire correct, teach ask the same today to with a desire to and attune yourself to receive more correct, teach and attune yourself to of the good stuff. receive more of the good stuff. CANCER 22). If CANCER (June (June 22-July 22-July 22). If you’re you’re useful useful all all the the time, time, you’ll you’ll only only get get used. used. To To keep keep yourself yourself from from being being used used up, up, be be sure sure to to do do lots lots of of things things that that are are useless useless to to anyone, anyone, including including yourself. yourself. Take Take breaks, breaks, vacations vacations and and lazy lazy days. days.When Whenisisthe thenext nextone? one? LEO 23-Aug. 22). 22). People People LEO (July (July 23-Aug. whose whose work work you you admire admire will will have have worthy worthy advice advice and and they they will will not not be be the the only only ones ones trying trying to to advise advise you. you. It It will will be be more more information information than than is is smart smart to to process. process. Rule Rule out out the the advice advice of of anyone anyone who’s who’s not not in in an an enviable enviable situation. situation. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Love Love doesn’t in idedoesn’t often often spool spool out inout idealized alized rain of flower scenesscenes underunder a raina of flower petpetals. while wouldn’t call als. AndAnd while you you wouldn’t call your your a romance, yourevel stillin revel life a life romance, you still the in the sweetly romantic moments sweetly romantic moments when when they happen. This weekend, they happen. This weekend, your your is a blossom. heartheart is a blossom. LIBRA 23). In LIBRA (Sept. (Sept. 23-Oct. 23-Oct. 23). In less-than-ideal less-than-ideal situations, situations, you you acactively the benefits, benefits, opporopportively search search for for the tunities tunities and and fun. fun. You’ll You’ll be be giving giving rerespect spect before before you’re you’re receiving receiving it, it, but but you you don’t don’t mind. mind. Ultimately, Ultimately, what what you you pay pay attention attentionto towill willlove loveyou youback. back. SCORPIO SCORPIO (Oct. (Oct. 24-Nov. 24-Nov. 21). 21). What What doesn’t doesn’t work work out out now now could could be be fruitful fruitful later. later. Do Do what what feels feels right right and and natural, natural, and and don’t don’t try try and and push push the the action action along along --- it it won’t won’t yield yield to to your your influence influence anyway. anyway. Sit Sit back, back, rerelax lax and and watch watch everything everything develop develop in in its its own own time. time. SAGITTARIUS SAGITTARIUS(Nov. (Nov. 22-Dec. 22-Dec. 21). Procrastination only 21). Procrastination only makes makes life life more more stressful. stressful. Good Good time time managemanagement ment is is aa kindness kindness you you provide provide youryourself self to to avoid avoid the the pressures pressures that that will will set set in in in in the the final final hours hours of of a a deadline. deadline. Start Start now. now.You Youwon’t won’tbe besorry. sorry. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). 19). There situations landed There are are situations youyou landed in in accidentally,but butyou youstay stay for for your your accidentally, own own reasons. reasons. You’re You’re getting getting better better at at identifying identifying them. them. The The stronger stronger your your internal internal world, world, the the less less you you need need valvalidation idation from from the theexternal externalone. one. AQUARIUS AQUARIUS (Jan. (Jan. 20-Feb. 20-Feb. 18). 18). You You know know aa precious precious moment moment when when you’re you’re in in it it and and you’ll you’ll stick stick with with it, it, bringing bringing your your attention attention back back again again and and again. again. Because Because of of this, this, you you can’t can’t help help but but get get it it right. right. Relax Relax and and reremain everything goodgood will mainaware, aware,and and everything flow to and you. you. will flow to from and from PISCES PISCES (Feb. (Feb. 19-March 19-March 20). 20). You’ve You’ve done done everything everything you you could could to to make make your your play, play, and and now now it’s it’s the the other Petty sang, sang, other person’s person’s turn. turn. Tom Tom Petty “The “The waiting waiting is is the the hardest hardest part...” part...” But But it it can can also also be be an an exciting exciting time time that a vivid picture of your thatshows showsyou you a vivid picture of hopes. your hopes.
Dear Annie Annie Annie Lane Lane point to visit. The children have families, and two of the granddaughters have children. I try not to dwell on it. My daughter does call often. I mentioned to her that I never hear from the grandchildren. She asked me not to fuss at her because they no longer keep in touch. I have five great-grandchildren. I have only seen the two oldest. I have always remembered their birthdays and Christmas. I paid for cheerleading camps, clothes, pageant dresses, etc. I am no longer driving due to back problems as a result of arthritis. I am disappointed, and I am hurt. It is not where I can visit them due to my not driving. Is there anything you can think of I could do to remedy the noncommunication? This daughter and I have always been extremely close.
The grandchildren have all been invited over. I asked my daughter when she thought she would be coming for a visit. Her reply was that she has been busy at work. She gets off on Fridays at noon. I don’t think her work is the reason for her not visiting. I think she doesn’t want to visit and, as a result, the grandchildren don’t want to visit either. What is your advice on how I cope with this? Thank you. -- No Visits for Nana Dear No Visits: If you’ve asked your daughter if everything is OK between you two and she assures you it is, perhaps her lack of visiting really does stem from not wanting to drive the two hours each way to and from your house. While it may not be feasible with her work schedule to visit all the time, even once every six weeks or every other month would be a welcome start. Tell your daughter how much it would mean to you to see each other in person. Even if it’s not for a little while, put a date on the calendar for her to come for a weekend.
Friday, October 13, 20, 2023
B11 B12
GARFIELD
BY JIM DAVIS
BLONDIE
BY DEAN YOUNG
FOR BETTER OR WORSE
BY LYNN JOHNSTON
CLASSIC PEANUTS
BY CHARLES SCHULZ
Puzzles Puzzles
DAILY DAILY CRYPTOQUOTES CRYPTOQUOTES Here’s Here’s how how to to work work it: it:
PICKLES
SHOE
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE
© 2018 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
BY BRIAN CRANE
BY CASSAT AND BROOKINS
BY STEPHAN PASTIS
NON SEQUITUR
BY WILEY
BEETLE BAILEY
BY GREG, BRIAN AND NEAL WALKER
SNUFFY SMITH
BY JOHN ROSE