Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/802119
DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman THEDUPLEX GlennMcCoy ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARAMY»"Don"has been my best friend since junior high school. He moved to the opposite end of the country over a decade ago, but we've stayed close for decades. Don h as alw ays been what I would call a "big talker." He embellishes every story and makes his life seem much bigger than it is. I have always accepted this about him and take his sto- ries with a grain of salt. Ever since he moved away, he has talked to me about "bringing me there" to work for him. After going through a divorce and once my kids finished school, he invited me to his time-share — all expenses paid. While visiting him, he said that any time I wanted a job with the company he worked for, that I should let him know. I was laid off right be- fore the holidays last year. I was shocked. I reached out to Don and mentioned his offer. Well, along came the excuses: "No one is in the office around the holidays." "It's slow right now." "Things will pick up later." I ended up getting a job with a different com- pany months later. I felt incredibly slighted by Don. I thought — despite his "big talk" — that this offer was legitimate. Since then, I have dragged my feet answer- ing texts, not taking his calls, etc. I would like to have my friend back, but feel quite betrayed by his lies. Should I just let this friendship of 35-plus years die? —Sad DEAR SAD » Ghosting a friend is not an effective or satisfying way to con- duct a friendship, even if your intention is to end it. You had ample ad- vance notice that your friend "Don" is a blow- hard. People like Don talk a big game in order to artificially inflate others' opinions of them. This tendency is most impact- ful when the stakes are high, and you're relying on him to make good on his word. I don't blame you for ignoring a lifetime of consistent behavior and red flags in order to try to take Don up on his go ld - pl at ed j ob o ff er , bu t surely you knew on some level that he would not come through. Tell him, "I've got an- other job now, so I'm OK, but I'm still very disap- pointed that you dangled job opportunities that never materialized." He'll blow a lot of hot air in your direction. And then you can decide if his charms and your history together make it worth- while for you to maintain contact. DEAR AMY » I liked your advice to "Not a Fan," the woman whose quiet neighborhood was shat- tered when a professional athlete moved in next door. However, her first call should be to the PR per- son or GM of the sports team that employs the athlete. They would want to know. — Sports Fan DEAR FAN » I agree. Never depend on a grandiose friend to materialize his claims You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson. com and follow her on Twitter @askingamy. Amy Dickinson Ask Amy Sudoku Instructions:Theobjectistoplacethe numbers1to9intheemptysquaresso thateachrow,eachcolumnandeach 3x3boxcontainsthenumberonlyonce. AnswertoPreviousPuzzle CelebrityCipher ByLuisCampos Instructions:CelebrityCiphercryptogramsarecreatedfromquotationsbyfamouspeople, pastandpresent.Eachletterinthecipherstandsforanother. NEACrossword Aries(March21-April19) — Don't complicate matters by trying to fit too much into your day. Keep your life simple and your facts straight. Stick to your plan and do things for yourself. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Taking an active role in events or activities that matter to you will encourage you to use your imagination and rely on your instincts. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Listen, observe and learn as you go. Don't feel you have to be first or take a risk to impress someone. Protect your health and your financial situation. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Don't make an impulsive move or decision. Money matters are best handled with care and an emphasis on frugality. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Observe what's going on around you at work or among your peers, but don't interfere. Meddling will lead to blame. Put your trust and time into getting ahead. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Taking an energetic approach to life and interacting with people you find stimulating and inspiring will spur you to take on interesting projects or learn something new. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Impulsive behavior will be difficult to curtail. Try to think before you do or say something you will live to regret. Overdoing it in any fashion will be costly and emotionally draining. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — You'll face problems when dealing with friends, relatives and peers. Keep your promises and be willing to work alongside others to bring about positive change. Don't rock the boat. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Making a move or chang- ing your surroundings will give you a boost. You don't have to overspend if you are willing to do the work yourself. Physical improvements will pay off. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Set a steady pace. A disciplined approach when dealing with deadlines, superi- ors or institutions will help you divert someone who is trying to dismantle your plans. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Something or someone from your past will cause problems if you haven't cleaned up unfin- ished business. Make a point to put things in place quickly so that you can move on. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — You'll face some opposition if you aren't readily available when needed. Don't overschedule or crowd your agenda with matters that someone else can take care of for you. Horoscope By Eugenia Last WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22 | YOURDAILYBREAK | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 2 B