TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 | WEST HAWAII TODAY
3C
Dear Annie:
I am
the youngest of three
girls and have always
been the black sheep of
the family. I have two
sisters who don’t have
kids, yet they constantly
tell me I’m not a good
mother or daughter.
I have always tried
to be a good daughter,
especially after Dad
passed away. My sisters
don’t do much for our
mom. One lives out
of state, so I guess she
thinks she doesn’t have
to do anything. The
other sister calls Mom
often, but doesn’t bother
to stop by and see her.
Mom is on a limited
income. We all work full
time and have husbands,
but I’m the only one who
buys her groceries and
takes her places. I recent-
ly told my mother how I
was feeling about my sis-
ters, and she told me they
will never change. And
why should they? Mom
refuses to ask for any help
from the other two. She
never asks me to take her
shopping, but I know she
needs food in her house. I
also enjoy spending time
with my mom. She’s an
awesome woman who
worked hard and pro-
vided for her children.
I had once before dis-
appeared from Mom’s
life because I was tired
of putting up with this
nonsense. I didn’t speak
to anyone for a year. But
I realized my mother
won’t be here forever,
and we’ve been attached
at the hip ever since.
Now I’m tired of the
nonsense again. What
am I supposed to do?
My sisters are perfectly
aware of Mom’s needs. I
believe they are selfish.
What’s it going to take
for them to wake up? I
can’t talk to either one
of them because it just
upsets me. But I can’t
go back and keep tak-
ing care of Mom all by
myself. It gets expensive
to do this every week
with no help whatsoev-
er. — The Black Sheep
Dear Sheep:
You
sound like a caring
daughter, but you cannot
force your sisters to be the
same. If you were an only
child, would you continue
helping Mom? It might
be less frustrating for you
to think of yourself that
way. However, you may
be able to get your sisters
to contribute financially
if it lets them off the hook
otherwise. Calmly explain
that Mom’s income limits
what she can buy at the
grocery, and though you
are happy to take her
shopping and supplement
her supplies, it is becom-
ing too difficult. Ask how
much they can contribute
for these expenses. We
hope they come through.
Dear Annie:
I felt the
need to respond to the
letter from “Gary,” won-
dering about appropriate
dress for a funeral. I
have attended more
wakes and funerals
than I can count, and I
know what is considered
“appropriate” attire.
My husband passed
away suddenly six
months ago. We are a
quiet family and the
attendance at his funer-
al was astounding and
unexpected. We did not
notice what color clothes
people wore, their neck-
lines, collars, hemlines,
sneakers or boots. What
I can say, unequivocal-
ly, is that I, along with
our 14-year-old son and
12-year-old daughter
couldn’t have cared less
what anyone had on. It
only mattered that they
came. — Heartbroken
in Connecticut
Dear Heartbroken:
Thank you for making
it clear what is import-
ant. Our condolences.
Annie’s Mailbox
is written by Kathy
Mitchell and Marcy
Sugar, longtime editors
of the Ann Landers col-
umn. Email questions
to anniesmailbox@
creators.com, or write
to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o
Creators Syndicate, 737
3rd St., Hermosa Beach,
CA 90254. Find Annie
at facebook.com/askan-
nies. To find out more
about Annie’s Mailbox
and read features by
other Creators Syndicate
writers and cartoonists,
visit creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CREATORS.COM
ACROSS
1
Thpeak like thith
5
Word before cow
or crop
9
Mental mistake
14
Dog food brand
15
European capital
on a fjord
16
Lady friend in
Italy
17
Sound of a high-
five
18
No longer worth
discussing
19
Laughs heartily
20
Bracketed word
in a quote
21
Fashionable
shopping area in
New York City
23
“Just a moment”
25
Big shot
26
Goal of one
doing crunches
30
Lee with the
2011 #1 album
“Mission Bell”
32
Symphony
that premiered
4/7/1805
33
Battery type
34
Barbecue side
dish
37
From 15-Across
39
Pitch-black
40
Family
41
Moist towelette
43
Believers: Suffix
45
“End of
discussion”
49
New York county
bordering
Pennsylvania
51
First-aid kit
supply
52
Where to
purchase the
starts of 21-, 26-
and 45-Across
56
Dawson who
played in Super
Bowl I
57
45-Down from
Japan
58
___ Blair, George
Orwell’s real
name
59
Work hard for
60
Ugly weather
61
What indicates
everything that’s
left?
62
Like French toast
63
Does a
sheepdog’s job
64
Missing part of
the Great Sphinx
of Giza
65
Florida ___
DOWN
1
Gets in the loop?
2
“Fighting” Big
Ten team
3
Private-sector
rocket launcher
4
Champagne
opening sound
5
Yearly gathering
for superhero
fans
6
Beginning on
7
Opening for a
coin
8
Ice planet in
“The Empire
Strikes Back”
9
Grub vis-à-vis a
beetle
10
Blob that divides
11
1974 hit that
begins “It’s nine
o’clock on a
Saturday”
12
Low-growing tree
often in dense
thickets
13
Simplicity
21
Phobia
22
Ques.
counterpart
24
Expel, as lava
27
Great Plains tribe
28
There are about
14,500 in
Manhattan
29
Moisten, as meat
31
Second word
of “The Star-
Spangled
Banner”
34
Go for a run?
35
“21 Pictures
That Will Restore
Your Faith in
Humanity,” e.g.
36
One shopping for
old curios
38
Surround
39
Device that can
be linked to an
auto stereo
42
Ingredient in
some shaving
creams
44
Went bad, as
milk
45
See 57-Across
46
Livestock feed
47
Part of E = mc 2
48
IHOP competitor
50
Their hair makes
cashmere
52
Respond angrily,
with “out”
53
Hanging on by a
thread?
54
“Jeopardy!”
contestants,
e.g.
55
Lubricates
59
Exclamation
while jumping on
a chair, say
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M A D A M G A P M A C A W
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H E R C U L E P O I R O T
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For Release Tuesday, September 8, 2015
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No. 0804
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rossword
ASTROLOGY
E u g e n i a L a s t
GOREN BRIDGE
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
WITH BOB JONES
©2015 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
EITHER WAY
North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
♠
A 10 7 5
♥
Q
♦
A 9 7 5 4
♣
K 7 4
WEST
EAST
♠
K J 9 8 6 4
♠
Q 3
♥
8 7 5
♥
9 6 2
♦
J 8 2
♦
K 10 3
♣
5
♣
A J 10 9 3
SOUTH
♠
2
♥
A K J 10 4 3
♦
Q 6
♣
Q 8 6 2
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1
♥
Pass 2
♦
*
Pass
2
♥
Pass 2
♠
Pass
3
♥
Pass 4
♥
All pass
*Game forcing
Opening lead: Five of
♣
South’s decision to bid three
hearts, rather than two no trump,
would not meet with universal
approval. Indeed, nine tricks at no
trump would have been easy on this
deal. South was a world class player,
however, so system might have
dictated his choice.
The opening club lead went to
East’s nine and South’s queen. There
were nine top tricks. The clubs
looked to be with East, so the only
chance for a tenth trick was the queen
of diamonds. Should South cross to
dummy with the queen of hearts and
lead toward the diamond queen, East
could rise with the king and shift to
spades, killing the entry to the
diamond ace.
Declarer decided that his best
chance was an end-play against East,
so he set about eliminating spades
from the East hand. He led a spade to
the ace and ruffed a spade, followed
by a low heart to the queen and
another spade. East ruffed with the
nine, hoping to promote something in
West’s hand, but South over-ruffed
and drew trumps. East had to find a
discard on the third round of hearts,
and he chose a low club. Declarer
simply exited with a club. East could
take three club tricks, but then had to
lead away from his king of diamonds
and South had his contract.
Had East discarded a diamond,
instead, South could play the ace and
another diamond. East would then be
forced to give dummy the king of
clubs. Well played!
(Bob Jones welcomes readers’
responses sent in care of this
newspaper or to Tribune Content
Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove
Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001.
E-mail responses may be sent to
)
Sudoku
By The Mepham Group
Solution to Monday’s puzzle
Complete the grid so each row, column and
3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit
1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku,
visit
© 2015The Mepham Group. Distributed byTribune ContentAgency.All rights reserved.
9/8/15
Level:
1
2 3 4
ANNIE’S MAILBOX |
ADVICE
Sister frustrated by siblings who don’t help mom
TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 2015
CELEBRITIES BORN ON
THIS DAY:
Pink, 36; David
Arquette, 44; Brooke Burke
Charvet, 44; Neko Case, 45.
Happy Birthday:
Keep your
life simple and your overhead
reasonable. You don’t have to
impress anyone this year. Just be
yourself and enjoy what life has
to offer. Your ability to get things
done using your skills and com-
mon sense will help you counter
any negative influences. Focus on
financial improvements and per-
fecting your image and talents.
Your numbers are 6, 11, 23, 29,
38, 40, 46.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
You will gain more by being
nice than by being stern. Keep
in mind that not everyone is as
quick as you are. Patience will
be required if you want help.
Discuss your plans with your
partner or business associate. 2
stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
Look at the big picture, but don’t
exceed your budget. You’ll face
opposition if you try to make
physical changes. Focus on get-
ting along with the people you
live with. Compromise and tak-
ing care of your responsibilities
will ease tension. 4 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Don’t take on too much or
indulge in something that will
make you look or feel bad. Put
more into home, family and
affection toward the people you
enjoy being with most. A change
of location will do you good. 4
stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Uncertainty will take over if you
allow someone to put you in a
vulnerable position. Don’t put
up with pushy behavior. Take a
course or research something
that interests you. Avoid anyone
who is trying to bait you into a
disagreement. 3 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
Money matters will take an
unusual twist. Don’t leave cash
or valuables out in the open.
Kindness and generosity will lead
to loss. Put your skills to work
in a progressive fashion and you
will advance. 3 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Use old ideas and skills in an
interesting manner. Take on less
responsibility and make sure
that whatever you do, you do
it superbly. A sudden change in
financial, legal or health matters
will lead to an important deci-
sion. 4 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Don’t let minor setbacks put you
at a disadvantage. Set reason-
able goals and don’t worry about
what anyone else thinks. Stay on
track and avoid any emotional
disputes. Only offer help to those
you know will reciprocate. 2 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov.
21): Business trips will give you
reason to celebrate. A positive
change at home and to your rep-
utation is within reach. A pro-
posal you cannot turn down is
heading your way. Prepare to
negotiate and get what you want
in writing. 5 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21): Precision, coupled with facts
and figures, will be the only way
to operate today. Know exact-
ly what you will get before you
make any offers. Risky joint ven-
tures are best avoided. Invest in
yourself. 3 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19): Don’t overanalyze. Focus on
what you know and do well and
make deals that are precise and
non-negotiable. A partnership
can bring you good fortune if
it’s set up fairly. Don’t make any
impulsive decisions or travel to
unsafe territory. 3 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Make love, romance and social
activities a priority. Share your
thoughts and flesh out how oth-
ers feel about you and your plans.
A personal change can be made,
but hold off if you are thinking
about a vocational move. 3 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Take action with confidence
and the outcome will be stel-
lar. Use your unique qualities to
draw reactions and responses
from those you want to interact
with. You will be pleasantly sur-
prised by the input and offers you
receive. 5 stars
Birthday Baby:
You are
adaptable, compassionate and
just. You are courageous and
captivating.
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City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500
