Dear Annie: My fiance and I were best friends growing up, and our families were close, as well. When we were 16, his parents suddenly pulled “Paul” out of school and told me never to call their house again. My mother said Paul was no longer welcome in our home and I was not to mention his family again. I never knew what happened. Five years later, Paul and I reconnected at college and began dating. Neither set of parents was happy about it. We’ve been together for seven years and recently bought a house and started a veterinary practice together. When we became engaged, everyone in both families was nasty to us. We’ve tried to get the families together, but it’s always been a disaster. Nobody will tell us why our families don’t get along. When we ask, we
Annie’s Mailbox
Marcy Sugar and Kathy Mitchell anniesmailbox@comcast.net
get indignant and childish answers like, “They know what they did” or “What difference does it make?” We are planning a wedding, but at this point, we’re not inviting the relatives. We’re both fed up and decided to hold a small civil ceremony. His sister found out and blew a gasket, saying I’ve done enough to “ruin” their family and why can’t I leave them alone. We’d love to have a wedding where people behaved themselves, but that’s not in the cards. Is it wrong to insist they
‘Bachelor’ hides nothing According to the stuff the network feeds me, the women on tonight’s two-hour helping of “The Bachelor” (7 p.m., ABC) will “tell all”! As a less-than-regular “Bachelor” watcher, I’m a bit perplexed. How can folks who live under continual surveillance, whose every utterance and banal machination is documented and dissected, have anything more to divulge? And why would anybody besides the very bored and undiscerning want to listen to people who never shut up “tell all”? O On a similar note, “Love Broker” (9 p.m., Bravo) debuts. New Yorker Lori Zaslow brings a brash, near-pathological selfassurance to the world of matchmaking. As if to compensate for her intense, type-A personality, she takes her male clients out for casual strolls in the park, where they stare at female passers-by with the clinical scrutiny and dark intensity of a cat sizing up sparrows. O It’s mentoring time on “The Voice” (7 p.m., NBC), when the coaches recruit fellow talents to nurture their proteges. Hired hands include Lionel Richie, Jewel, Miranda Lambert and Kelly Clarkson, among others. O One thing struck me last week when I read about the death of Davy Jones, member of the Monkees and star of “The Monkees.” Buried in all of the personal tributes and fan nostalgia was the simple fact that “The Monkees” itself ran only for two seasons. Yet more than 40 years on, many remember it fondly. When people rhapsodize about television, music and pop culture of yore, they tend to forget the brevity of most old trends. Things were hot, then they were not and then they were over. Of late, pop culture phenomena tend to drag on forever and lose whatever resonance they once had. Madonna didn’t make a comeback at the Super Bowl; she never went away. Does anybody care that “Rules of Engagement” is now in its sixth season? Much like “The Monkees,” ‘‘iCarly” is a surreal, cartoon confection aimed at tweens. But it’s been on for five years now. Will we follow Carly to grad school? Yet 44 years after “The Monkees” went off the air, some of us are still humming “Daydream Believer.”
Tonight’s other highlights O Violent brothers behind bars resurface a generation later on a two-hour “Alcatraz” (7 p.m., Fox). O Karen entertains at a party on “Smash” (9 p.m., NBC). O “Bizarre Foods America” (8 p.m., Travel) visits Charleston, S.C.
BIRTHDAYS
Actor Dean Stockwell is 76. Actress Samantha Eggar is 73. Singer Eddy Grant is 64. Rock musician Alan Clark (Dire Straits) is 60. Actress-comedian Marsha Warfield is 58. Magician Penn Jillette is 57. Rock musician John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 42. Singer Rome is 42. Actor Kevin Connolly is 38. Actress Eva Mendes is 37. Model Niki Taylor is 37. Actor Sterling Knight is 23. Actor Jake Lloyd is 23.
tell us what the feud is about, or should we get over it? We’re so tired of this nonsense. — Not Romeo and Juliet Dear Juliet: We think it’s time to get to the bottom of this. Since it is affecting your future with Paul, you have a right to understand what is going on. You might also point out that when you and Paul marry, the families will need to put past hurts aside and be civil, or it will be difficult to include them in your life. We hope they can clear the air and get past this. Dear Annie: My lovely wife has told me I am not to comment to my stepdaughter about the raising of their children. So I quietly sit back and say nothing. Last night, the extended family dined at a local restaurant. I sat across from the two youngest granddaughters, ages 6 and 9. Both
JACQUELINE BIGAR’S STARS
For Monday, March 5: This year your creativity evolves in various areas of your life. You express yourself in a solid, appealing manner, and you make your interactions effective and clear. Deal with unexpected insights, which could be nearly perpetual. If you are single, your appeal reaches many people. If you are attached, express your caring more often, and a new bond will appear in the relationship. 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) ++++ You have the necessary resources to deal with a promising and dynamic idea. Share what you are hearing, and get as much feedback as possible. Tonight: Radiate your high energy. Taurus (April 20-May 20) +++ You might prefer to maintain a strong, near-silent presence rather than act or take a leadership role. You will opt for the conservative route. Tonight: Buy a treat. Gemini (May 21-June 20) ++++ You know what you think, but you cannot expect others to be mind-readers. Verbalize your feelings. Tonight: Be among friends. Cancer (June 21-July 22) ++++ Zero in on what feels important, and don’t allow someone to distract you. Be aware of this person in your environment. Tonight: Do some shopping. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) +++++ You can deal with nearly anything, even if it is Monday! Express your capacity to work under pressure and digest a lot of new information, then act appropriately. Tonight: Dream up plans. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
UNIVERSAL CROSSWORD
INTRODUCING THE SMITHS By Potter Stern
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were playing games on their iPhones the entire time. I attempted to converse with the older girl, but each time got a quick one-word reply. Is it too much to ask the younger generation to learn some manners? Maybe they could refrain from using their phones at the dinner table. If they were not family, that would’ve been the last dinner I attend with them. Since I am forbidden to speak, please print this. — California Dear California: Are the children rude? Yes, and their parents ought to tell them to put their phones away. However, it sounds as if your wife believes such criticism would be resented and might interfere with the relationship. So please ACROSS say nothing. — Send questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or Annie’s Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190 Chicago, IL 60611.
jacquelinebigar.com
++ You have dealt with a lot of frustration from a partner and loved ones in the past year. Express your fatigue at this behavior and your willingness to walk away. Tonight: Head home quickly. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ++++ Follow your knee-jerk response with a friend who often surprises you with his or her behavior. Others will start expressing feelings like yours soon enough. Tonight: Where the fun is. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) +++ Be willing to state your case. Others will envy your thoughts and courage. Tonight: Take the lead. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) +++++ Understand where a child or loved one is coming from. Walk in his or her shoes, and see what it feels like to be this person. Tonight: Detach from your day, then decide. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ++++ Deal directly with others. Your individual focus and attention could make all the difference in the final outcome. You could be surprised by a real estate matter or domestic issue. Tonight: Spend quality time with a special person. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) ++++ Honor a difference and respond accordingly. Someone in your immediate circle might have made a decision without considering ramifications. Tonight: Off doing errands. Try to get a walk in. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) ++++ You know what you want, and you choose your direction accordingly. Be careful with your finances. Talk with a neighbor about an ongoing issue. Tonight: Catch up on emails and calls. — The astrological forecast should be read for entertainment only.
© 2012 Universal Uclick
MONDAY , MARCH 5, 2012 9B www.upuzzles.com
Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker March 5, 2012
57 Boater’s paddle 58 “’Tain’t” rebuttal 59 Changing places 64 1,000,000,000 years 65 A hole near the sole 66 Kind of tide 67 Modern courtroom evidence 68 Fishing boots 69 A bit pretentious DOWN 1 Draw away from shore 2 D.C. wheelerdealer 3 “Apple cider” gal 4 Bikes 5 Airport curb queue 6 Atty.’s org. 7 “Happy Days” role 8 Faith with Five Pillars 9 Maiden name indicators 10 Affixes 11 Certain cosmetics 12 Insincere 13 Hangmen’s loops 18 Bit of Scottish attire 22 “Farewell” from France 23 12:15 at J.F.K.,
1 Like some proportions 5 Constellation formerly part of Argo 11 Pantyhose woe 14 Crime scene discovery 15 Belittled 16 Beatle bride of 1969 17 Ostracized 19 Mysterious radar blip 20 Fleur-de-___ (Quebec symbol) 21 Segments of books 23 Painter’s support 26 Unit of resistance 27 “Drop this,” editorially 28 A ballroom dance 30 Bank jobs 32 End of the Three Musketeers’ motto 33 Take air in and out 36 Eloquent 41 Rotted 42 Try to win the hand of 44 “Little Women” novelist 47 Make good 50 Horn honk 51 Square on a calendar 53 “Giddyap!” obeyer 54 Hit maker?
perhaps 24 Belt hole makers 25 Concerto highlights 26 An aria is part of it 29 Correct way to stand 30 Believer in sacred cows 31 Bit of a joule 34 Barnyard abode 35 Art of verse 37 Drug for Parkinson’s patients 38 Boxer’s doc 39 Bedside pitcher 40 Accomplishes 43 Elevated poetic piece 44 Became less intense 45 Small wound
46 Big name in private planes 48 Blacken with fire 49 Blunt-ended cigar 51 Chopped finely 52 Common place for a sprain 55 Bumped off, biblically 56 Bean used in Asian sauces (Var.) 57 Dinner scraps 60 All eternity, poetically 61 Above, poetically 62 You can wipe your feet on it 63 “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, ___”
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
3/4
© 2012 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com
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.
ENKTL ©2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
NSURP CUTALA CRENTH
Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jumble
Mystery needs to be solved before marriage
3/4
23 12:15 at J.F.K.,
obeyer 54 Hit maker?
Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.
Answer: Saturday’s
(Answers tomorrow) Jumbles: UPPER ICING FORGOT ASTRAY Answer: Putting the spire on the building was this — TOP PRIORITY
BECKER ON BRIDGE