Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/279973
DILBERT Scott Adams PEARLS BEFORE SWINE Stephan Pastis PICKLES Brian Crane BABY BLUES Jerry Scott & Rick Kirkman GET FUZZY Darby Conley ZITS Jerry Scott & Jim Borgman SHERMAN'S LAGOON Jim Toomey ARGYLE SWEATER Scott Hilburn BIZARRO Dan Piraro DEAR CAROLYN » I love my mother-in-law dearly. She's in her mid-90s and has congestive heart failure, is blind and has fallen and broken bones several times in recent years. She's now on oxy- gen and gets sick way too often. She lives 1,200 miles from us and we haven't seen her in two years. I really want to go visit, but my husband keeps saying he can't get off work and the trip is too expensive. Well, he gets off work for four or five days to do other things with no problem, and we have plenty of air miles and money. He has been putting me off: "Maybe I can get off in October" ... "October's too busy" ... "Maybe we can go in March" ... "March is too cold, maybe April." He also says doctors don't know everything; maybe she'll live for many more years. (Really?) He does phone Grand- ma every night, which is great, but that doesn't take the place of an actual visit. I could go on my own, but Grandma might feel awful if her daughter-in- law comes to visit and son doesn't bother. I can't very well ask her: "Gee, Grandma, would you like to see me even if your son can't/won't come?" — To Visit or Not to Visit? DEAR TO VISIT » Plan a trip and make it very clear to your husband that he's welcome to come with you, and that you otherwise won't cover for him when Grandma asks why he isn't there. "He is afraid," you will explain to his mother. "He is in denial, and won't accept that none of us has unlimited time." You can't make him stop being willfully dense or negligent, but you can decline to allow his cow- ardice to govern you both; you have your own bond with her, after all. You also can decline to let this two-year absence from her home stand as the last word from her son's branch of the family. You're all running out of days to make this right. DEAR CAROLYN » My ex- husband is divorcing his second wife and moving on to his new girlfriend. This year, our son gradu- ates from high school and a graduation party will be held at my house. I planned to invite my son's stepmom, who is really the one who took care of my son during the court- ordered time he was away from home. However, my son has asked to only invite his father, as the divorce is pretty nasty. I plan to do what my son requests, as this is his graduation. She and my son keep in touch and she wants to be at the graduation. What should I do, not send an invitation or call her to discuss? — Graduation Clash DEAR GRADUATION » Your son needs to talk to his stepmom. He's an adult. Snub- bing his stepmother is the injury; letting Mommy do the excluding for him is the insult. He needs to call his stepmother himself. Wife is fed up with husband who avoids his ailing mother Carolyn Hax Ask Carolyn Email Carolyn Hax at tellme@washpost.com, follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ carolyn.hax or chat with her online at noon Eastern time each Friday at www.washingtonpost.com. Sudoku Instructions: The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the number only once. Answer to Previous Puzzle Celebrity Cipher By Luis Campos Instructions: Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another. NEA Crossword Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — You'll face discord at home if you aren't mindful of others. Now is not the time to make changes to your living space. An old debt will be settled. Aries (March 21-April 19) — You may be feeling emotionally down. If you take part in a cause you believe in, you will make new friends and infuse some life into your current situation. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Stay in touch with people who have something to offer you. Refuse to become involved in questionable activities. Some- one may be trying to take ad- vantage of your trusting nature. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Don't be lured into sharing your personal information. You will be sorry if you reveal too much to someone unreliable. Surround yourself with positive people who value your worth. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Don't let worry and self-doubt get to you. Connecting with friends or becoming involved with a public-spirited organiza- tion will provide you with some positive energy. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Consider making a lifestyle change. Base your actions on the way you feel and the goals you have set. Trying to impress others will backfire. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — You may be drawn into a troublesome situation. Pay at- tention to your gut feelings, and put an end to a questionable partnership. Your reputation could be at stake. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Dealing with your peers or fam- ily members will be problematic today. Stay away from trivial disagreements. Your time will be better spent participating in worthwhile pursuits. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — New opportunities will allow you to use your talents and skills more diversely. Make decisions based on your needs, not on what someone else wants. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — A personal situation needs to be resolved before you can move ahead. Do a detailed analysis of your financial status and consider what options will be most lucrative. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Be aware of the opportunities that surround you. An unusual offer has the potential to turn into a profitable endeavor. Keep an open mind and share. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Your money matters need a critical evaluation. Get together with your financial adviser and determine how you can increase your savings. It may be neces- sary to make changes. Horoscope By Bernice Bede Osol WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 Wednesday, March 19, 2014 redBLUFFdaILyneWs.cOM | YOUR DAILY BREAK | 5 B