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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- in-law is a hard-working, no-nonsense, retired ex-engineer who carried a lot of responsibility at the company where he used to work. Now he's over 90 years old. On occasion, usually around the dinner table with his wife and family present, he will pub- licly belittle, insult and vilify his wife of over 50 years. He can be incredibly cruel. Some- times he insults my wife and her siblings. Usu- ally my wife and I try to change the subject. One night, after an outburst that sent my wife crying from the dinner table, I lashed out at him. I told him I was disgusted by his behavior and told him to stop. I decided I do not want this abusive man in my life or my wife's life. I want to support my wife and tell her to do the same, but it's her father. For the sake of my wife and her mother, should I cut him some slack? —HaditwithDad DEAR HAD IT » You don't provide details about your father-in-law's tempera- ment or behavior prior to old age, but extreme mood changes and anger can be a sign of bad health. Alcohol can also be a factor. Is he drinking when he does this? But let's say your father-in-law has always behaved this way to some extent. You were right to con- front him. When he behaves this way in your presence, you should always intervene. You should also convey that if you become aware of him being violent toward his wife, you will call the police — and in- struct everyone else in the family to do the same. He will likely be insulted and decide to cut you off. You and your wife should direct your con- cern to her mother. DEAR AMY » Many years ago, my first wife's father died suddenly. My wife totally changed and this led to a divorce. In my marriages that followed (and there were several), something unex- pected arose, unraveling the relationships. I ask myself, "Was it just bad luck or poor judgm ent?" I have been married to a wonderful woman for the last 32 years. I have been a great husband and she is happy. Yet in discussions about relationships with- in her family, people have had the nerve to say, "And how many times have you been married?" Although most of my marriages were at an early age, I am still held accountable for those failures. How do I rid myself of the stigma I carry? — Tired of Taking It DEAR TIRED » I wonder if you are stigmatized so much as the punch line of a family joke. The way to make it go away is to own it. Reply, "Each of my 12 marriages was unique. I may be a slow learner, but I saved the best for last. Right, sweetheart?" That last part is called a "toss." Your wife can pick up her cue and say, "What? You were married before? I never knew!" Elderly father-in-law is verbally abusive toward wife 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 Pisces(Feb.20-March20) — Make the most of what you have to work with. Advance- ment looks promising. Schedule an interview, apply for a new position or speak to a superior. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Love is in the air. Offer your loved ones affection and devo- tion. Think about a way to im- prove your living arrangements. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Take some time to organize your thoughts. Younger or older fam- ily members will make demands of you if you let them. Put your needs first for a change. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Property deals are worth looking into. Make your home a place of comfort and relaxation. Any alterations that ease your stress should be considered. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — The people around you will be difficult to handle. Don't waste time trying to get others to contribute. You will make more progress if you deal with things on your own. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Let your imagination soar. Work on a creative project that you have been reluctant to start. Your passion and enthusiasm will bring a momentous and satisfy- ing outcome. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — You shouldn't slack off just because things are going nicely. Be prepared to take whatever steps are necessary to build a bright future. The gains you make now will ensure security. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Be bold. If there is something you desire, go after it. Your confidence and charm will lead to a promising future as well as a chance to develop new skills. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — It will feel as if you are taking one step forward and two steps back. If you don't give in to frustration or anger, you will accomplish everything on your agenda. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Don't get stuck in a rut. Plan an evening of entertain- ment or romance for someone special. A pleasurable indul- gence or break from routine will boost your morale. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — If you are constantly being drained by others, it's time to stop and reassess your rela- tionships. You deserve to be treated the way you treat those around you. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Weed out anything that is no longer useful or necessary. Pos- sessions, ideas or relationships that are holding you back should be dealt with quickly. It's time to focus on what you want. Horoscope By Eugenia Last TUESDAY, MARCH 3 TUESDAY,MARCH3,2015 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |YOURDAILYBREAK | 3 B