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DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman GETFUZZY DarbyConley ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARAMY»Myfather has been living with my fiance and me for almost two years. The idea was that he would find his own place as soon as he could. We never asked him for anything except to tinker around and fix things around our place. My fiance is currently starting a business and money has become tight. I don't make much myself. My father works full time and makes the same money as I do. It's a year and a half later, and my dad has half-finished projects around our property. He lent a "friend" over $15,000 and never got it back, and is now in a worse financial position than before. We have been asking him to help out by paying a small rent to help with bills, but he doesn't. He says he has so much debt it will take him years to pay it off and that if he wasn't living with us, he would be sleeping in his truck. He currently has a car payment and a phone bill, besides whatever he pays toward the mountain of debt he's accumulated. My dad was always a good provider and it makes me queasy to even ask him to contribute, but I wonder where his mistakes leave us. What would be the best thing to do? —TroubledDaughter DEAR TROUBLED » Your father is a good provider. He provided a friend with $15,000, for instance, instead of paying for his housing. It is possible that your father didn't loan this friend money, but was repaying a debt — regard- less, it is obvious that his finances are a mess. He should see a credit counselor immediately to try to get on track. Your father might be advised to declare bankruptcy in order to give himself something of a fresh start. It might be best for him to at least temporar- ily turn his paycheck over to you (or another respon- sible party) so you can pay yourself the rent he owes, negotiate his debts down and do triage with his other bills, and give him an allowance. DEAR AMY » I started driving this summer. My parents returned from a trip, furious to find a scratch on my car. I am an extremely cau- tious driver, and I would have no tifi ed my p arent s immediately if I had hit another vehicle. Addition- ally, both my parents still drive this car, so it easily could've been their fault. My parents are expect- ing a huge confession. I have nothing to confess. I feel stuck because I don't want to confess to some- thing I didn't do. How do I solve this? — Wrongly Accused DEAR ACCUSED » Don't confess to something you didn't do, but you should definitely "confess" to something — this will en- able everyone to move on to the next phase of the parent freakout. You can truthfully say, "I do not know what hap- pened here, but I know it happened while I had the car, and I know the car is my responsibility when I'm driving it." Daughter troubled by father's poor financial decisions You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@tribune.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 Leo(July23-Aug.22)— This is a good time for collabo- rations. You will get a helping hand from an unexpected source, and will move closer to achieving a long-term goal. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — If your domestic affairs are dominating your thoughts, your productivity will suffer and ca- reer woes are likely to develop. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Make a move toward greater independence. A business of your own, no matter how small in the beginning, will give you an outlet for your creative talent. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Don't let your head rule your heart. Remember to share your feelings with those you care about. The response you get will put you at ease. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Your fight for what is right will continue. If you see someone treated unfairly, take a stand. You will gain respect, support and an invitation to work toward a worthy cause. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — A business acquaintance will need a helping hand. The assistance you offer will be appreciated and rewarded, but make sure you take time out to nurture your own needs, as well. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Getting out of the house to attend an inspirational or stimu- lating event will allow you to meet new people and form last- ing friendships. A joint venture looks promising. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — You may feel laden with re- sponsibilities. Strive for balance between your work and personal duties. Find a calm place where you can relax and let your imagi- nation entertain you. Aries (March 21-April 19) — You have a remarkable capacity for knowledge. Keep well-informed. By expanding your expertise, you can make great strides toward your future goals. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Don't be nonchalant about your achievements. Speak up and make sure that your ac- complishments are noticed. Self-promotion is necessary to let others know what you have. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — It's best to deal with personal matters on your own. Don't let misunderstandings fester. Be the first to offer a compromise. Professionalism will speak vol- umes about your ability to lead. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You can get a lot accomplished if you tackle your tasks head-on. Find a quiet place conducive to finishing what you start. Col- laborative efforts will not be in your best interest. Horoscope By Eugenia Last TUESDAY, AUG. 19 TUESDAY,AUGUST19,2014 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |YOURDAILYBREAK | 3 B