The O'Colly, Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

3 takeaways

It was a funky evening in Stillwater.

On Saturday, OSU defeated Central Arkansas 27-13 in its season opener. Here are three takeaways from the game.

Stribling could be top target

In his OSU debut, Washington State transfer receiver De’Zhaun Stribling showed potential to be a top option in the Cowboy passing game.

He caught four passes and led OSU with 73 yards. As uncertainty surrounded the Cowboys’ revamped receiver room, Stribling showed early signs of being a key contributor and a potential go-to guy.

Cowboys rushing attack still subpar

All offseason, OSU said it wanted to improve its run game in 2023. Well, one game in and it still needs some work.

The Cowboys did little to nothing on the ground in the first half, as they averaged 3.2 yards per carry with quarterback Garret Rangel leading the way with a miniscule 18 yards. The OSU running backs received a split of carries, and Ollie Gordon finished as the leading rusher with 44 yards, alongside Elijah Collins’ 41 yards and Jaden Nixon’s 27 yards.

The offensive line struggled, and it wasn’t until late when the Cowboys’ backs broke off consecutive big plays.

Gundy gives OSU a spark

After both Rangel and Bowman played a set of snaps, Mike Gundy decided to throw his son, Gunnar, into the mix at a critical point in the contest. OSU led 13-7 late in the third quarter before Gunnar led two drives that resulted in touchdowns to put the game away. With an ongoing quarterback battle, OSU looked to the guy who many viewed as third amongst the group to put the game away, and he did just that.

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Grading OSU’s quarterbacks performances from the Cowboys’ win vs UCA

Gabriel Trevino Columnist

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy wasn’t any closer to deciding which of his three quarterbacks will take the starting job after Saturday’s season opener. For all us spectators know, there’ll be multiple quarterbacks ‘til Bedlam.

Each Garret Rangel, Alan Bowman and Gunnar

Gundy led four drives. A look at the stat sheet tells one story, but watching the tape helps add more context.

After rewatching OSU’s 2713 win vs Central Arkansas, I ranked the performances of the three.

Garret Rangel: B+ Rangel was the best of the three. With an injured offensive line that was still figuring out how to work together, and a struggling run game, Rangel executed OSU’s offense better than the others. What stood out was his ability to influence linebackers with his eyes. He also went through his progressions much faster than he

did last year. His overall ball placement wasn’t perfect, but he was able to lead receivers to a position to catch the ball and run after the catch. He only took one deep shot, but he also navigated the pocket well and extended plays with his legs.

Yes, he was the only one to throw an interception, but the circumstances were OK with me. On fourth down as he was being sacked, he said a prayer and tossed the ball hoping an orange jersey would corral it. Later in the game, I would recommend taking the sack, but in theory, an interception gives the other team worse field position then a sack.

See Quarterbacks on 5

Stillwater farmer’s market offers alternative

Addie Wagner Staff Reporter

There’s a solution for the pathetic display of produce customers sometimes encounter in local stores.

The Stillwater Farmers’ Market is bringing better, fresher options for grocery shopping.

One of the produce booths, owned by Connie Whitmore, displayed beautiful, vibrant and organic fruits and vegetables with reasonable prices.

Whitmore has owned her business for 30 years and assures consumers that not only is her produce fresh, it is grown with “organic type practices” that provide the best quality and flavor. But, why should

consumers choose to spend their Saturday at a market instead of the grocery store?

Whitmore only has to say two words to get consumers’ attention: the flavor.

“The flavor is astounding because it hasn’t had to travel, or sit on a shelf for a long time,” Whitmore said.

“It doesn’t sit in a produce room with a lot of other produce, so it doesn’t absorb the flavor or smells of other products. It’s extremely fresh.”

Whitmore also said grocery stores are more concerned about harvesting produce when it is convenient for the shelf life of a crop, not necessarily when the crop is ready to be harvested and when it is at peak ripeness. This takes away from the product’s flavor and

freshness.

Whitmore’s stand produce is high quality, and the prices are a reflection of that. For instance, cantaloupe is $5, and she charges $4 for a pound of home-grown tomatoes.

One of the most unique fruits Whitmore sells is a green, watermelon-shaped melon called a “christmas melon.” Whitmore said the melon tastes like a cross between a cantaloupe and a honeydew melon.

“It comes from Spain,” Whitmore said. “It’s a thicker-skinned melon with white flesh. It’s very sweet and has a thicker rind, so its shelf life is longer.”

Discovering unique fruits and exploring new tastes are just another reason to visit the farmers market.

See Alternative on 8

Ethan Scott

Gunnar Gundy (above) stole the show in OSU’s win on Saturday, leading the offense to touchdowns on two of three drives.

Stribling could be top weapon

Parker Gerl Staff Reporter

Column

sports

Was the under-center, offensive changes all talk from OSU? Sure seems like it

Ashton Slaughter Assistant Sports Editor Column

Mike Gundy told the media the Monday prior to OSU’s season opener that the offense wasn’t going to go under center “a lot.”

In a way, he told the truth. The Cowboys did go under center twice.

But it was due to two Gunnar Gundy victory kneels to run out the clock and get to postgame handshakes following OSU’s 27-13 victory. Better than nothing, though.

The other 80 offensive snaps came from the shotgun: Garret Rangel took 27; Alan Bowman took 30; Gunnar Gundy took 23.

Over the offseason, the thought process behind adding some under-center concepts to the Cowboy offense was to improve the running game, a unit that was downright horrid toward the end of last season. Now, blame that on injuries, poor play calling or whatever other reasoning, but OSU finished 94th in the country in rushing yards per game, 122.1.

“We ended up averaging almost five yards a carry,” Mike Gundy said. “But we still need to run the ball better.”

He’s right; the Cowboys finished the game with a solid 4.8 yards per carry on 31 carries for 149 yards. So the running game is fixed, yeah? Problem solved? OSU fans throwing Kasey Dunn a thankyou party? Not so fast.

Sure, the ending totals are solid, but at the half, the Cowboys were averaging 3.21 yards per carry, totaling only 45 yards on the ground. However, they weren’t shy about airing the ball out, attempting 35 passes between Rangel and Bowman.

In the second quarter, during Bowman’s two drives, he threw the ball 22 times, completing nine passes and missing on 13; only three runs occurred. Two of which were by Bowman and wide receiver Brennan Presley.

Jaden Nixon was the only Cowboy running back to run the ball in the last nine and a half minutes of the second quarter.

“It’s going to be difficult as the season goes on if we’re rushing for three yards a carry, because then we can become one-dimensional,” Mike Gundy said.

Coach Gundy’s right. They can become one-dimensional. In fact, we saw it Saturday night in that second quarter stretch.

In the third, the Cowboys averaged 2.3 yards per carry on three attempts. Still not great. In the fourth quarter, though,

they averaged 6.9 yards per carry, totaling 97 yards. Dunn credited this to the offensive line for creating a push. Which, sure, they did, but one would hope they would against a team of the caliber of UCA. Not to mention when it’s the fourth quarter and their

players are tired. As to why OSU didn’t take any snaps under center, Dunn said they wanted to run an up-tempo offense Saturday.

“It’s hard to tempo from under center,” he said, “...We just never got a situation where we wanted to do it.”

Despite the ideal situation not coming, this means that when Gundy and Co. implement under-center packages in games, it’ll be the first time the Cowboy offense has done it this season. Rangel said there were “a lot of balls on the ground” in the offseason when under cen-

ter. As a backup at Michigan, Bowman got some reps under center, but is that worth banking on? Probably not. Aside from a standalone quarter against a tired, talentdisadvantaged UCA team, the Cowboys’ running woes continued. Maybe some reps under-

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Ethan Scott

Alan Bowman taking a snap from Joe Michalski under center in pregame warmups. The OSU offense failed to go under center until the game-ending kneel downs, taking 80 snaps from the shotgun.

Justin Wright update, Arizona State preview and more

Mike Gundy said. “And then I was told early this morning that it’s not as severe.”

Martin, already responsible for three tackles, a sack and several quarterback hurries, complemented senior linebacker Xavier Benson well, aiding the Cowboy defense in pivotal stops in Saturday’s win.

else.

Amid the constant shifting, enhancement of NIL and the transfer portal, forgotten is the fact that the Pac12 conference could be no more.

schools). It’s a tough deal.”

Gundy calls Arizona State QB Jaden Rashada ‘dynamic’

On Sunday evening, unanticipated news surfaced on social media.

OSU graduate linebacker Justin Wright announced on X that he would be sidelined until the Cowboys’ Friday, Oct. 6 matchup against reigning Big 12 champion Kansas State. due to an undisclosed injury.

Toward the midpoint of the second quarter of OSU’s 27-13 seasonopening win over Central Arkansas, Wright went to the locker room, and redshirt sophomore Nick Martin took over.

Initially, wrote Wright, the Cowboy football coaching staff had prematurely diagnosed it as a season-ending injury. But Sunday’s self-imposed update gave a timbale return for the sixth-year linebacker.

“I was told late Saturday that he had a pretty severe injury,” OSU coach

And while the upside with a duo of Benson and Martin is high in Gundy’s mind, Wright’s absence can’t be overlooked.

But Gundy remains bullish on Martin, noting an opportunity as such is something players to his caliber thrive in. In other words, Gundy doesn’t expect his defense – particularly the linebacker core – to miss a beat.

“He’s trying to become a leader early in his career which is really encouraging,” Gundy said. “We brought Nick here, your East Texas (kid), a little bit undersized, tough, would strike you old school player. You don’t see a lot of guys like that anymore.”

Gundy reminiscent over Pac-12 ‘glory days’

Not many coaches appear to be fans of the current landscape of college football. Not even Gundy.

And it’s not in their control. They’re just bystanders like everyone

Prior to the 2022 season, university officials of USC and UCLA formally announced their intentions to join the Big 10 conference starting in 2024. In late July, Colorado announced it was rejoining the Big 12 in 2024. Shortly after, Oregon and Washington joined the Big 10, and Arizona State, Arizona and Utah all bolted to the Big 12.

This past week, Stanford and California were approved membership into the ACC.

“It’s hard for me to not think that the Rose Bowl would come on at 4 o’clock and the Big 10 and the Pac-12 are gonna play in the game,” Gundy said. “It’s just hard for me to not feel that. I’m not a fan of anything that’s going on.”

And now, Oregon State and Washington State are all that’s left.

“It breaks my heart for them,” Gundy said. “Oregon State, (Jonathan Smith) has done a good job there. A few years ago (in 2019) when we played them, we could tell they were getting better.

“It’s just heartbreaking for (both

In his college debut against Southern Utah, Sun Devil freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada completed 18 of 31 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns.

And albeit a narrow 24-21 win over an FCS foe, Rashada made several clutch plays when it mattered.

Regardless of the opponent, Rashada made plays Gundy said highlighted his skillset.

“He just has that dynamic ability,” Gundy said. “Generally, what (young quarterbacks) do in high school, they’re going to transition that into college. He has video and a history of plays that I call dynamic for his position.”

Rashada, a former four-star, top 100 recruit (No. 44 nationally), according to 247Sports in the 2023 class, initially committed and signed his NLI to Florida. However, after a falling out with boosters and UF officials due to an NIL deal not to his liking, he flipped to ASU, following in the legacy of his father Harlen -- a former defensive back for the Sun Devils.

File Photo

OSU coach Mike Gundy was told late Saturday that linebacker Justin Wright could have a severe injury, but it is now thought to be not as severe. Wright posted on Twitter that he anticipates being back for OSU’s Week 5 game.

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

Mike Gundy Notebook

sports

Cowgirl defense chasing improvement after 5-2 win over UCA

Calif Poncy Staff Reporter

OSU extended its win streak to four games, but a troubling development arose. With the OSU offense dominating so far this season, the Cowgirl defense has flown under the radar and been just as good. Heading into OSU’s matchup with Central Arkansas, the defense had allowed only two goals all season.

The dominant OSU defense was tested for the first time since the opening week of the season, and it not only conceding two goals, but it also gave the Bears the ball in a dangerous spot on the field. Despite the rocky showing from the defense, OSU secured a 5-2 win at home Sunday afternoon.

OSU goalkeeper Grace Gordon made the first mistake when, while making a routine kick to a nearby teammate, Gordon sent the ball directly to the feet of CAU forward Maria Vanegas.

Vanegas made quick work of the goal, easily sneaking it past Gordon.

“Grace has been really solid for us all year, but she made a decision,” coach Colin Carmichael said. “She knows she should’ve gone long but she tried to play it out and she hit a bad ball and they capitalized.”

With this year’s Cowgirl team being forced to play so many young players, some struggles are to be expected, but after so many strong showings early in the season, these mistakes were surprising.

“Probably concentration more than anything, I think in some of these games we’ve had the ball in the other teams end quite a bit, so our backline and keeper haven’t been worked as much,” Carmichael said.

OSU’s offense generated several good looks, recording 15 shots on goal, but if the Cowgirls’ defensive mistakes bleed into other matches, it could be hard for OSU to outscore its opponents. With Big 12 play approaching, the Cowgirls want to fix any issues quickly.

‘We’re getting them out here,” defender Mollie Breiner said. “You gotta get them all out now before it comes because all those mistakes. It’s not going to be a 5-2 win, it’ll be a 3-2 loss.”

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File Photo

With this year’s Cowgirl team being forced to play so many young players, some struggles are to be expected, but after so many strong showings early in the season, these mistakes were surprising.

Quarterbacks...

Continued from 1

Alan Bowman: C+ Bowman — by a lot — thew the most passes of the three quarterbacks, but I was the least impressed with him. By the time he entered the game, OSU abandoned the run game, but the offensive line still wasn’t great. The sixth-year senior faced a fair amount of pressure but didn’t handle it well.

What Bowman did well was work through the offense while balancing patience and quickness. He found his check downs fast but also let routes develop when he had time to throw.

Bowman also only averaged 3.3 yards per throw, which is quite poor. If he wants to compete for the starting job later in the season, he should take more risks on deep passes. Of Bowman’s 24 passes, three were dropped. The receivers on all three could have caught them, but Bowman takes some blame with poor ball placement. My major complaint

with Bowman was his technique. He changed his arm angle and threw flat footed at times when it was unnecessary, which could lead to issues later.

Gunnar Gundy: B

Gunnar stole the show in the final quarter of a close game when some questioned why he entered. Of his three full drives that didn’t end in kneeling out the clock, OSU scored a touchdown on two.

With a more than competent run game and facing a gassed UCA defense, Gundy made some highlight plays. A 30-yard pass to Jaden Bray was thrown

with anticipation and good ball placement. He also found success from play calling, such as a designed run he took for 16-yards to the goal line.

It was a smaller sample size than Rangel and Bowman in terms of passing, though he read UCA’s defense well to find the soft spot of zones.

Final thoughts:

It’s quite clear the starter won’t fully take the job for a few games. If I had to pick just off four quarters into the season, I would take Rangel for his creative upside and comfort in the offense. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Ethan Scott

OSU coach Mike Gundy isn’t likely to name a starting quarterback soon, but based off Game 1, Rangel could be the best option.

News

Visualizing fentanyl’s swift, dangerous effects on the brain and body

Fentanyl’s effects are fast and dangerous.

The highly addictive opioid is the deadliest drug threat in American history. It’s linked to more fatalities under age 50 in the country than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer and suicide.

Here’s how it affects the brain and body:

— It only takes 5 minutes for fentanyl to enter the brain when taken orally, said Therese Kosten, director of the University of Houston’s Addiction Research Program. That’s about the time it takes to unload a dishwasher or take out the trash.

— Fentanyl takes 30 seconds to enter the brain when smoked, about the time it takes to make a bed.

— As little as 2 milligrams can be fatal, depending on a person’s weight and drug history. That’s about the weight of 10 to 15 grains of salt, and small enough to fit on a sharpened pencil tip, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It kills hundreds of Texans every year, and those numbers have increased steadily since 2019. Last year, 2,161 Texans died from fentanyl, almost enough to fill the seats in Dallas’ Winspear Opera House.

Because fentanyl is often mixed into cocaine, methamphetamines and counterfeit pills, people can take it without knowing. Six out of 10 of the fentanyl-laced fake pills analyzed by the DEA in 2022 contained a potentially lethal dose, the agency said, an increase from 4 out of 10 in 2021.

These pills often look and taste like pharmaceutical pills, making it difficult to identify a

fake.

Methamphetamine can also be disguised in fake pills, and the DEA warned in 2021 of a sharp increase in fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and meth. In March, the DEA also warned of an increase in fentanyl mixed with the tranquilizer xylazine.

How does fentanyl kill?

Fentanyl activates brain pathways that release dopamine, a chemical that can cause pleasure and euphoria, said University of Houston’s Colin Haile, who led a team that developed a fentanyl vaccine last year. Other addictive drugs like heroin and cocaine also trigger the release of dopamine.

CheckouttheOriginalHideaway!

Fentanyl inhibits neurons in our brain that help stimulate breathing, said Kosten. Unlike other opioids, fentanyl can cause muscle rigidity, tightening chest muscles and making it difficult to breathe.

One of the most dangerous and potentially lethal side effects of fentanyl is respiratory depression: slow, shallow breathing that causes low oxygen levels. An overdose from fentanyl can happen in 15 minutes when smoked or in 20 minutes when taken orally, according to Kosten.

Symptoms of fentanyl consumption include euphoria, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion and nausea, according

to the CDC. Signs of fentanyl overdose include choking or gurgling sounds, falling asleep or losing consciousness and cold or clammy skin. Other signs include pinpoint pupils, weak breathing and blue skin, lips and nails. How do I use Narcan?

It can be hard to tell whether a person is overdosing, the CDC says, but if you aren’t sure, call 911 immediately and if available, administer naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. Narcan, one brand of naloxone nasal spray, will soon be sold over the counter at drugstores and grocery chains like CVS, Walgreens and

Walmart.

In addition, the CDC recommends keeping the person awake and breathing, laying them on their side to avoid choking and remaining with them until emergency assistance arrives.

Administering the nasal spray takes three steps: Peel, place and press.

— Peel back the packaging and remove the device. Each unit is one dose.

— Place the tip of the nozzle as far as possible in either nostril.

— Press down on the plunger.

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Courtesy of Tribune News Service

Adithi Ramakrishnan

The Dallas Morning News

Suicide prevention month highlights mental health

Lauren King Staff Reporter

September is national suicide prevention month, and OSU is emphasizing the importance of mental health for students.

Suicide prevention month is about organizations and individuals raising awareness of suicide prevention and teaching others the signs of suicide and how to help combat suicide.

On the Stillwater campus, there are many organizations dedicated

to mental health and wellbeing. The department of university counseling services and the wellness department are two organizations that delve into the importance of mental health and bring mental health and wellbeing to the forefront of students’ minds.

Within the department of university counseling services, students can take a break and reset their minds in the Reboot Center, listen to the UCS Podcast – which features counselors and interns that discuss mental health – and students can visit the Student Counseling Center for therapy sessions.

OSU also offers many training sessions to help individuals learn the warning signs of an unhealthy mental state, and students can learn how to combat these and provide help. Some training opportunities include Suicide Prevention (QPR), Kognito, Mental Health First Aid and Talk Saves Lives.

OSU has many plans for suicide prevention month.

In the student union, there will be a motivational talk with Amy Morin, “99 Coping Skills” tabling activity and a mental health series discussing emotional awareness, distress tolerance and

cognitive appraisal.

The McKnight Center plans to do an event titled “Walks with Wellness.” The Edmon Low Library will host several “Talk Saves Lives” events during September. The Wellness Center will host a Wellness Wednesday, where ways to live a happy and health life will be discussed.

For more information on university counseling services, visit https:// ucs.okstate.edu/.

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Courtesy of Creative Commons

September is suicide prevention month, and OSU has many events planned to highlight the importance of mental health.

Lifestyle

Alternative...

Another booth, “Jacqui’s Herbs Naturally,” caught shoppers’ attention. Each table was filled with a different variety of spices, plants and colorful wildflowers. Owner Jacqui Savage said her spices are original recipes and are a better alternative to the store bought counterparts.

“Most of the time one of the first ingredients in Walmart seasonings is salt,” Savage said. “This affects the flavor.”

She said the added amount of salt makes the spices taste less fresh and less flavorful all together. Another question that came up was how her business managed during the heatwave in Oklahoma.

Savage also said the recent heat has affected her business.

Savage, along with her colleagues, said it has not been easy to grow good-quality products in the extreme heat. But in comparison to last year, they appreciate the weather.

Last July, which saw large amounts of rain, affected their crops in an even worse way. The constant downpours flooded their crops and they became over-watered.

Now, although it is very hot outside, they can manage the water intake of each of their plants more effectively.

Shopper Lilia Louis said it was her first time at the market.

She is starting her own authentic Mexican food restaurant, and wants to make sure the produce she will use is the best she can find in town. She purchased squash and other assorted veggies from another produce stand.

The restaurant, “Wuelita’s Kitchen,” has Louis is the chef and operator.

“I look for nothing but the most precious and authentic ingredients,” she said.

Monday - Wednesday: 10:00am - 10:00pm

Thursday - Saturday: 10:00am - 11:00pm

128 N Main St. Stillwater, OK 74075

Courtesy of Stillwater Farmers’ Market Stillwater Farmers’ Market sells locally grown produce year-round. In the summer, the market is on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. From November to March, the market is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The market is 100% locally grown and guarantees better tasting fruits and vegetables.

In the summer, the market is on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is open

during the winter months, when fruits and vegetables seem to disappear from grocery shelves.

Continued from 1 entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

November through March, the market operates on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

Come check out the wide variety of elegant clothing at Formal Fantasy!

Located on 121 E. 9th Ave, Downtown Stillwater

The best selection of beer, wine and liquor that Stillwater has to offer! Perfect for all your game day needs, come to Brown’s Bottle Shop located on 128 N. Main

“The Original Hideaway, located on the corner of Knoblock and University. Serving quality pizza and more since 1957.”

Murphy’s Department Store

815 S Main, Downtown Open 10-6 Monday thru Saturday

Houses for rent

Spacious 1100 sq. ft 2 bedroom home. Recently remodeled, CH/A, wood floors, nice yard. 2214 E. 6th Ave., Scarlett Bus Route. 405-372-7107.

Cowboy Calendar

Tuesday 9/05/2023

Pet Portraits with colored pencil Prairie Arts Center @ 6 - 8 p.m. $45.00 members, $60.00 non-members https://artscenter.okstate.edu/adult-classes/drawing-and-painting/1241-pet-portraits-with-colored-pencil”

Wednesday 9/06/2023

Louie Kids’ Night

Louie’s Grill & Bar @ 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Live Trivia

Iron Monk Brewing Company @ 7 - 9 p.m. Bingo Night

Louie’s Grill & Bar @ 8 p.m.

Small Batch Trivia From Geeks Who Drink

Iron Monk Brewing Company @ 7 - 9 p.m.

Thursday 9/07/2023

Intro to Glass Fusing

Prairie arts Center @ 6 p.m. $125.00 members, $150.00 non-membershttps:// artscenter.okstate.edu/adult-classes/ glass/1248-introduction-to-glass-fusing-2

Kid’s Night

Eskimoe Joe’s @ 5 - 9 p.m. w/ $1 Buffy meal

Let’s Talk About Oklahoma

Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar

Aug. 17th - Sept. 14th @ 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Line Dancing

Outlaws @ 7 - 8 p.m. $10

Friday 9/08/2023

Classic Cinema

Stillwater Community Center @ 7 p.m.

Saturday 9/09/2023

Brewery Tours

Iron Monk Brewing Company @ 3

rewards.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 6 — Nurture sensitivities with peaceful privacy. Look back for insight on the road ahead. A personal dream advances. Imagine and create what’s next. Consider possibilities.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — One good friend leads to another. Collective actions can provide long-term benefits. Connect, network and participate around a common passion. Support team efforts.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Work has your attention. Chaos can invite invention. Connect with the part of your job that you love. Check conditions from another perspective.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — It’s adventure time. Expand your research. Enjoy a journey with someone who sparks your creativity. Discover beauty, hiding in your own backyard or afar.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Collaboration can get lucrative, if you can avoid arguments or distractions. Seek and find financial opportunities. Love empowers your actions.

Determination and dedication win.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Collaboration flowers. A creative spark ignites. Imagine and envision. Discuss dreams. Invent possibilities together. Support each other to reach farther than either could solo.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Get moving. Score extra points for connection with nature. Practice makes perfect. Physical efforts get satisfying results. Nurture yourself with good food and rest.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7 — Beauty inspires your spirit. Creativity can blossom after navigating distractions or blockages. Focus on basics, like love, family and sunshine. Make time for fun.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Visions of domestic renewal inspire action. Apply your talents and creativity to home improvement. Upgrade your spaces. Fill them with delicious flavors and fragrances.

Susan Gelfand