Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/552518
DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman PHOEBEANDHERUNICORN DanaSimpson ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARAMY»Myson— who lives in the same town as I — is married to a very bright, strong, controlling young woman with a child from a previ- ous marriage. I treat the child as I do all my grandchildren, as if she has always been ours (as does my son). Holidays are always spent with her family (I am divorced) and al- though they invite me to go with them, I am not really "included" if I go, so I now choose not to attend. I spend most holidays with friends. There are no alternating holidays between her mom and me. My son allows this, so that tells me it's just fine with him. There are pictures of her family, their friends and his father (and his wife) all over their house, but not one single family picture of all of us. They roll out the red carpet for "dad" when he comes to town, but they never come to see me — just down the road. They rarely invite me to their place unless they want me to do something for them. I stay out of their business, offer help when needed, send cooked meals because they all work (as do I), make few demands and ask for little. I am not going to sever the relationship, but all signs tell me it is a poor emotional investment for me and I should work on emotionally withdraw- ing from it. What do you think? —SadtoSay DEAR SAD » You don't need to work on emo- tionally withdrawing — because it seems you've already pre-emptively done this. You present a narra- tive of being ignored or overlooked by your son and his wife, but you don't mention any efforts you might be making to include them. Emotional investment and involvement runs both ways. Your daughter-in-law's family has invited you to spend holidays with them, but you say you didn't feel included. Do you invite them (and your son's family) to your home? Do you spend any one-on- one time with your grandchild? This situation is challenging. You might need to work a little harder and be more assertive to get a little more of what you want — for instance, give your son and wife a framed photo of all of you. You should also deter- mine not to be quite so sensitive. DEAR AMY » The letter from "Just a Girl Doing My Job" made me crazy. She wanted lessons on how to be "politely rude" to her co-workers when she ran into them outside of work. She should go to work for the DMV — or somewhere where her rudenes s wou ld be an asset. — Jane DEAR JANE » Ouch. Parent doesn't feel like a part of her son's extended family 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)—Be sensitive to the needs of those around you. What you consider harmless flirtation will be easily misinterpreted. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Shake up your routine a little. The change of scenery will be inspiring, and it's likely that you will meet new and interesting people along the way. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Charity begins at home. An older relative is in need of your assistance. Your generosity will be rewarded and your sense of pride and satisfaction will grow. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Physical activity will help get you up and out of a slump. Stewing about past disappoint- ments will lead to depression and a lack of productivity. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Eating healthy and main- taining an exercise regimen will help you face your day-to-day trials. Fast food and an indul- gent lifestyle will not get you closer to a higher standard of living. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Look for ways to incorporate an enjoyable activity into your life. It's possible to turn a fun hobby into a moneymaker. Fol- low through with your plans. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Being too demanding or pushy will not help you gain ground with friends or relatives. Compromise and a willingness to step aside once in a while will help everything run smoothly. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — If you are unsure of the future, look into the past. Fasci- nating tidbits of information can be gained through discussions with older family members or close friends. Aries (March 21-April 19) — If you have been careless with your spending habits, now is the time to rectify the situation. Keep meticulous records of your expenditures in order to find a way to cut corners. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Accept social invitations. Meet- ing people who can contribute to your life won't happen if you don't take part in the world. Get out, mingle and learn from experience. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Reach out to someone you love. Making plans for the future or discovering what your per- sonal options might be will help you improve your state of mind. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — If you feel strongly about some- thing, don't be afraid to share your thoughts. It is possible to bring about significant changes and make a difference if you are determined. Horoscope By Eugenia Last FRIDAY, AUG. 7 | YOURDAILYBREAK | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015 4 B