Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/777963
DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman THEDUPLEX GlennMcCoy ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARAMY»I'maman living in a diverse liberal neighborhood. I frequent a great organic market in our town center, staffed by an eclectic group of friendly young folks, including a person in the early stages of transition (male to female). I am in there several times a day. This morning, the person in transition rang up my purchases. As she handed me my change I said, "Thank you, sir." I'd like to chalk this up as a senior mo- ment, although she is 6 feet tall, so it may have been subconscious. I was mortified, but my snap decision was to let it go rather than apol- ogize. I didn't want to add insult to injury. I could see she looked upset. Am I overthinking this encounter? Part of me wants to say something the next time we inter- act, but I don't want to embarrass her. I would never have deliberately hurt her. What should I do? —FeelingGuilty DEAR GUILTY » I don't think you should call at- tention to this faux pas. I do think you should learn her name, and use it. If you are a frequent patron of the shop, know- ing the names of some of the staff will ease all of your encounters. The next time you hap- pen to interact with her, you can say, "By the way, I'm in here all the time; I'm 'Charles.' What's your name?" Tell her, "It's nice to finally meet you," and greet her by name. DEAR AMY » My friend, "Dave," has been dat- ing his girl frien d "Pol ly" for a year. When I was visiting, I asked her why there was half-eaten food everywhere, and she said, "Oh, I'll just leave that for Dave to clean up." Dave was working 35 hours a week, plus college, while she, fresh out of high school, had no job. When I talked to Dave, he said that things would change when they moved in together. Guess what — nothing has changed. She works part time and Dave is working nonstop. I told him he needs a helpful partner, and now is the time for Polly to grow up. He said he's afraid to have that conversation because he doesn't want her to get mad. I think she's suffering from Princess Syndrome. He's killing himself trying to provide for her and she will not lift a finger. I'm worried for my friend, Amy. He used to be so adventurous, but now he's just over- whelmed. I've tried to talk to him, but the boy is too love-struck to see sense. Is there anything I can do for him at this point? — Worried Pal DEAR WORRIED » You have spoken to your friend. He has told you that essen- tially his girlfriend holds sway over him. Either he is afraid of her anger, or he is afraid that she will leave him. That is the es- sence of being "love sick." Love should not make a person sick. Love should make a person soar. Stay close to your friend. Don't harp on this issue. But do continue to demonstrate what healthy relationships look like. Regular customer thanks a transgender woman with 'sir' You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson. 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 Aquarius(Jan.20-Feb.19) — Disciplined actions will be rewarded. Put your energy into setting goals and reaching your destination. A personal change will do you good. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — A romantic gesture will be met with an interesting re- sponse. Don't feel pressured to spend too much. You can have fun doing something simple. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Handle important partnerships with care. Listen to complaints and suggestions, and look for a way to compromise. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Share your thoughts and collaborate with people heading in a similar direction. A chance to travel will be enlightening. Romance is highlighted. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Learn from watching what others do, not by opposing those who will never do or see things your way. If you want change, it's up to you to make it happen. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Partners and children will be de- manding. Before you think about giving in, set down some ground rules. Don't overspend just be- cause someone makes you feel guilty. Offer love, consideration and understanding. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Changes at home will come as a surprise if you haven't been paying attention. Don't neglect the little things. Pay close attention to detail, especially where personal relationships are concerned. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Don't sign any contracts until you negotiate the deal you want. Your ability to persuade others to see and do things your way must not be wasted. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — It will be difficult to choose between an emotional and an intelligent response. Don't let anyone goad you into an argu- ment you aren't prepared for. Gather facts. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Plan to have some fun or find a creative outlet that will give you the platform you need to display your talents, skills and foresight. Engage in romance to celebrate your achievements. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Added responsibilities can work for or against you, depending on how you handle matters. Dig in and get the work out of the way fast to garner praise and avoid criticism. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — You'll discover a unique way to use your knowledge, expertise and skills to bring in extra cash. Don't reveal your plans until you have every detail in place. Horoscope By Eugenia Last THURSDAY, JAN. 26 THURSDAY,JANUARY26,2017 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |YOURDAILYBREAK | 3 B