Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/592671
DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman PHOEBEANDHERUNICORN DanaSimpson ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARAMY»Whenone of our daughters was attending college, my wife and I established an understanding with her t ha t we w ou ld p a y f or h er college expenses provided she simply produced good grades. As a result of her poor perfor- mance, we reduced our financial participation but offered to lend her the money for tuition with the promise that she repay us. During her final two years, unbeknownst to me, she was using our credit card to spend over $1,000 per month for a year on an extended shopping spree while at school. My wife suspected what was going on but was in denial. This had the effect of turning a molehill into a mountain. We confronted her, whereby she informed us that she was getting back at us for "making" her attend this public uni- versity versus the VERY expensive private school she wanted to go to. I was dumbfounded. After graduation, we allowed her to live at home to repay us. She paid back more than half of what she owed. She also persuaded us to co- sign a lease on a new car, forward her $2,000 on it and another $500 down for rent on a house, which she moved into. Now the mere mention of paying us back causes her to blow up. I know she can afford to repay us. It has affected my relationship with my wife (I feel she allowed this mess to turn into a major issue). It would be unfair to our daughter's siblings to forgive her debt. I can't comprehend this behavior. —FrustratedDad DEAR DAD » It seems there is a pattern in your family of messing up and then blaming someone else. You, for instance, take no ownership of this situa- tion. You attempted to control your daughter through money; when she committed fraud, instead of delivering consistent consequences, you blamed your wife and then doubled down by giving your daughter more money. You do realize that if you hadn't opened your wallet again, she could have paid you back by now? Yes, your daughter should pay her debt. You and your wife should see a counselor, to focus on exploring your own dynamic and behavior, so you won't make the same mistakes with your other children. Blaming each other only enables your daughter to take advan- tage of the breach in your relationship instead of dealing with her own (subs tan tial) problem s. DEAR AMY » "Worried Friends" wondered about the health and disposition of their friend "Stacy." I encourage everyone to tell people they love how they feel, to let friends know regularly how their friendship enriches lives. Warm their hearts with your affection while they live, because showing up at the funeral is too late. — Lonely DEAR LONELY » This is beautiful and timeless advice. Thank you. Father raises a fraudster daughter and blames wife You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@tribpub.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 Scorpio(Oct.24-Nov.22) — Stop worrying about what others think and make the most of your time by following creative pursuits and enjoying a relaxing evening with someone you love. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Don't be shy, focus on your strengths and keep exag- geration to a minimum to ensure you get the best results. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Interaction in a recre- ational environment will help break down barriers and lead to improved communication and understanding. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Making your surroundings more comfortable and inviting will add to your relaxation at the end of a busy day. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — Join forces with people who are heading in a similar direction. Group ventures look promising and will help you make positive changes to your workplace, your community or your personal life. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Pick up a pet as a companion or start a new hobby. You have lots of talent, and with a little initia- tive you could start a lucrative side business. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Stand up for yourself if some- one is being too demanding. You will disappoint yourself if you do too much for others and leave no time for your own pursuits. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — If you are feeling stressed, figure out what changes you can make to ease the pressure. Altering your lifestyle or where you live may be required to achieve peace of mind. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Become a leader. Your insight- ful ways of finding solutions will help you to make positive progress regardless of your goal. Help will be offered if you put in a request. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Don't neglect your responsi- bilities or someone will bring it to your attention. To avoid confrontations be diplomatic and patient when dealing with overly emotional friends. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Consider all your options. It's time to make a change. Consult with people in positions that interest you and find out what prerequisites are necessary to get moving in a new direction. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Temporary financial setbacks are apparent. Better times lie ahead if you set a budget that gives you better control over the money that comes in and goes out. Horoscope By Eugenia Last WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28 WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER28,2015 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |YOURDAILYBREAK | 3 B