L awrence J ournal -W orld
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Dear Annie: I have relatives coming to visit later this month. A week ago, I received a list of necessities for their visit. Some seem reasonable for young children: cribs, high chairs and childproof cabinets. But some seem rude: a grocery list of 20 organic items (including peeled shrimp and smoked salmon) and individual bedrooms for the children. Of course, I will adhere to requests that keep children safe, but I don’t feel I need to accommodate their food preferences. There are no allergies here. They just prefer organic everything. I do not plan on purchasing the things they have asked for and would like to give them an earful on their lack of graciousness. They are, after all, guests. But I know that is not a good idea. Please give me some advice on how to re-
Annie’s Mailbox
Marcy Sugar and Kathy Mitchell
anniesmailbox@comcast.net
spond when they find their demands are not met. — Anonymous Dear Anonymous: Notify them in advance that you have childproofed your home but cannot accommodate their more exotic requests. Let them know where they can purchase their organic food and say you’ll make room in your fridge and cabinets for them. If you are feeling particularly peevish, you could also send them a list of local hotels and motels, saying you’re doing the best you
A salute to those we lost in 2014 As the hours of 2014 dwindle, let’s remember those we’ve lost this year. Here, roughly in order of their emergence on our television screens, is a brief rundown of those familiar faces. James Garner remained a star for half a century, but he gained fame in the 1957 Western “Maverick.” Not an original “Honeymooner,” Sheila MacRae re-created the character of Alice Kramden on Jackie Gleason’s later variety hours. If you were young in the 1960s, you’d be forgiven if you thought J. Edgar Hoover had ceded control of “The FBI” to Efrem Zimbalist Jr. Among the stars of ’60s escapist sitcoms we lost this year were Russell Johnson (the Professor) from “Gilligan’s Island,” Bob Hastings from “McHale’s Navy” and Pugsley himself, Ken Weatherwax from “The Addams Family.” Joan Rivers, who remained in showbiz for five decades, got her start on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Tonight Show.” Newsman Garrick Utley will be forever linked to the tumult of the Vietnam era, just as “The Dating Game” host Jim Lange represented the era’s appetite for distraction. The voice of Don Pardo starred on both “The Price Is Right” and “Saturday Night Live.” Radio personality Casey Kasem will always be the voice of Shaggy from “Scooby-Doo.” Most discussions of Robin Williams’ extraordinary talent begin with “Mork and Mindy.” David Brenner’s influential take on stand-up also found its moorings in the 1970s. Better known for movies, both Mary Ann Mobley and Richard Kiel made dozens of cameos in the 1970s and ‘80s. As we raise our toasts to 2015, let’s not forget these familiar faces, many gone far too soon.
New Year’s Eve specials include O Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb glance back on “A Toast to 2014!” (7 p.m., NBC). O Ryan Seacrest hosts “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” (7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., ABC). O “All American New Year” (8 p.m., Fox News Channel) puts an emphasis on safety and security concerns surrounding any festivities. O Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga headline “New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly” (9 p.m., NBC).
BIRTHDAYS Actor Sir Anthony Hopkins is 77. Actor Sir Ben Kingsley is 71. Rock musician Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith) is 63. Actor Val Kilmer is 55. Author Nicholas Sparks is 49. Rapper PSY (Park Jae-sang) is 37. Olympic gold medal gymnast Gabby Douglas is 19.
can but will understand if they think they’ll be more comfortable elsewhere. Be nice about it, but stick to your guns. Dear Annie: I read your response to “Disgusted with My Sister in Texas,” whose mother and sister had an argument that resulted in Sis taking away the car that Mom had been making payments on. I agree with you that legal action should be a last resort in this issue, and I’m glad you suggested that someone impartial mediate. Mediation is an informal process where a neutral and impartial mediator facilitates two or more disputing parties in coming to a mutually agreed-upon resolution. The beauty of mediation is that the two parties are the decision makers and the trained and certified mediator helps them dig below the surface to identify their true
JACQUELINE BIGAR’S STARS
For Wednesday, Dec. 31: This year you open up to many new ideas. You also become quite adventurous. If you are single, you will have the opportunity to change your status. If you are attached, you and your partner create an even more intimate bond, as you seem to be less defensive. The stars show the kind of day you’ll have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult Aries (March 21-April 19) ++++ Rather than eye a situation with remorse, make your resolutions. Make time for a friend. Tonight: Stay in the moment. Taurus (April 20-May 20) +++++ Everyone will be unusually aware of your choices. Someone might express some jealousy toward you. Tonight: Cheer in the new year! Gemini (May 21-June 20) +++ You might not be in the mood to be around others. Instead, you might opt to invite a friend over. Tonight: Let go of any hassles. Cancer (June 21-July 22) +++++ You could be in a new situation and not realize what is happening. Don’t lose sight of your priorities. Tonight: Don’t hesitate. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) +++ You might be in the middle of a lively situation. You could make changes swiftly. Tonight: A major force in ringing in 2015. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ++++ Take a leap of faith and christen 2015 in a new way. Others
interests: “why” they have taken their opposing positions on an issue. More often than not, the two parties find that their interests are not that far apart and, with the help of the mediator, arrive at a resolution. I highly recommend mediation because it is less expensive and less time consuming, and the individuals make the decision rather than a judge who will rule by statute. Of course, if they cannot resolve the issue through mediation, they still have litigation as the last resort. — W. Dear W.: Thank you for suggesting professional mediation as a way of working through these disagreements without resorting to a lawsuit. People are too quick to sue when simply talking it out and reaching a compromise often creates a solution without additional ill will. jacquelinebigar.com
will be responsive to your ideas. Tonight: Nap, then decide. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ++++ Honor changing times, despite a loved one’s resistance. You might feel as if you can’t do much more. Tonight: Someone wants to kiss and make up. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) ++++ Defer to a friend, as he or she will be up for calling the shots. This person will be able to carry out the responsibility. Tonight: The only answer is “yes.” Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) ++++ You’ll want to move forward with a project. Listen to your sixth sense when dealing with an angry person. Tonight: You could go way overboard. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ++++ You are all personality right now. Be aware of how much you are spending. Tonight: Your treat. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) ++++ You might be stopped by a situation that isn’t as dramatic as you think it is. Your sense of direction will point you to a new path. Tonight: At home. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) +++++ Return calls, and understand that everyone around you is feeling festive. Greet 2015 with a big smile. Tonight: Where you are, the party is. — The astrological forecast should be read for entertainment only.
UNIVERSAL CROSSWORD Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker December 31, 2014
ACROSS 1 Small and elegant 6 Star-to-be 11 Popular cured meat 14 Alaska resident 15 Be crazy about 16 Liftoff preceder? 17 Easily infuriated 19 Dynamite’s kin 20 Canadian native 21 Fox alternative 22 Cultivating tool 23 Angora fleece 26 Fringed carriages 28 Grand-scale poetry 29 Bratty kid 32 Tofu source, in London 33 Rectangular paving stone 34 Well-ordered 36 Exodus commemoration feast 39 Is after you? 40 Jacuzzis 42 Chapter of history 43 Medicinal ointment 45 Japanese aborigine 46 1944 Normandy event 47 Young goats 49 Washout on the dance floor
12/31
50 “If all ___ fails ...” 51 Retribution seeker 54 Pared or skinned 56 Be less than candid 57 Opposite of WSW 58 “In the headlights” animal 59 Republican Party 60 Difficult and controversial issues 65 It has a wet head and hops 66 Fragrant root used in perfumes 67 Lewis the puppeteer 68 Musical discernment 69 Money receiver 70 “Poly” add-on DOWN 1 Scrooge’s utterance 2 Nobelwinning UN agcy. 3 “Private” transportation 4 Rejected one 5 Multiple wombs 6 Batman’s garment 7 Fancy poem of tribute 8 Dawns, in poetry 9 Volcano on Antarctica
10 Humanitarian symbol 11 Like one in a rage 12 Be a pain in the neck 13 Parcels (with “out”) 18 Sheep type 23 Arizona features 24 Type of house or glasses 25 Inn owner, sometimes 27 Bread type 30 Kind of physics 31 Place for some durable furniture 35 Bluefin, e.g. 37 Delete 38 Emitted sunbeams 40 Fly close to the ground 41 “Help yourself” offering
44 Diesel of films 46 Famines or shortages 48 Married woman, in Madrid 51 Pond scum, e.g. 52 String quartet part 53 Go for it again 55 Tenement arrangement 58 Amount of medication 61 Rhubarb or Boston cream 62 The “O” of Cheerios 63 Before, to a poet 64 Address for many officers
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
12/30
© 2014 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com
NO BLANKET REQUIRED By Bill Bobb
THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME
by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek
Unscramble these four Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.
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NOPUD RAZDIL HOABIP
Check out the new, free JUST JUMBLE app
Relatives demand organic groceries for visit
| 7B
Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.
THE Yesterday’s
(Answers tomorrow) Jumbles: MOUTH OFFER IMPACT BOTANY Answer: He proposed a submarine to reach the bottom of the ocean, but his boss couldn’t — FATHOM IT
BECKER ON BRIDGE