Colby Free Press Thursday, July 20, 2006 Page 9 For Better or Worse • Lynn Johnston Couple unhappy with gag gifts DEAR ABBY: A few weeks ago, As it stands, Grandma seems to my partner and I received an invita- have chosen to live with her tion to a friend’s 50th birthday party. Abigail daughter and agreed to the terms. The invitation stated, “No gag Van Buren Some mothers feel closer to their gifts.” daughters than to their sons. It’s a girl thing. A few hours before the party, my • Dear Abby partner came home with a bag full of gag gifts, including Preparation DEAR ABBY: Until recently, I H, Depends, etc. That’s when the put in; Grandma paid $1,200 for the lived happily in my apartment com- argument started. I told him I would use of them. They also had a fence plex. All that changed when some For Better or Worse • Lynn Johnston not go to the party if he brought those installed and charged Grandma 25 neighbors moved in. “Greg” and his gifts. I feel they are insulting, and percent of the cost. girlfriend, “Suzy,” smoke what I those kinds of gifts are not funny I think my aunt is very material- believe is marijuana. I let the land- anymore — especially when the in- istic. She uses Grandma and her lord know, and she had a talk with vitation specifies no gag gifts. I have money to get what she wants. them. Of course they denied every- seen those kinds of gifts a hundred Grandma isn’t rich, but she has thing and swore that they do not times. As a result, we did not attend enough to live on her own if she smoke anything in their room. The the party. How do you feel about gag wanted to. landlord then spoke to me and said gifts? Who’s right and who’s It’s also interesting that their there is not much he can do about the wrong? daughter, who is 27, lives with them problem. — TOO SENSITIVE IN RENO and pays no rent at all. Why should Abby, the smell is terrible. My DEAR TOO SENSITIVE: my grandma have to pay so much closet abuts the area in which they While I do not condone mention- and my cousin nothing? smoke, and my clothing is perme- ing gifts — gag gifts or otherwise My parents would love for Grand- ated. People have asked me if I — on an invitation, the host, and ma to come and live here in our smoke dope. I tell them I don’t, and Garfield • Jim Davis presumably the honoree, had guestroom for free, but we live leave it at that. made their wishes known. You are 1,200 miles away. Dad doesn’t want My concern is that I will be work- not “too sensitive”; you were so- to create a rift in the family, but ing for a school district soon and I’m cially appropriate. For your part- shouldn’t he draw the line some- afraid my colleagues may think the ner to have ignored the invitation where? same thing, and it will put me in a would have been rude and insen- My aunt and uncle call them- bad light with the school administra- sitive. selves Christians, but taking advan- tion. My neighbors smoke 24/7, and I have nothing against gag gifts tage of an elderly woman doesn’t I don’t know what other options I if they are original, funny and seem very Christian to me. How have. My landlord says they have to tasteful. Frankly, I think in this should something like this be dealt be caught in the act. Have you any case, by not attending, you spared with? How should Dad handle it? advice? Please keep this strictly yourself embarrassment and did — PERTURBED IN NORTH anonymous because I’m afraid of the honoree a favor. CAROLINA retribution. DEAR PERTURBED: I don’t — SMOKED OUT IN TEXAS know what kind of conversations DEAR SMOKED OUT: Your Chris Browne DEAR ABBY: My grandmother Hagar the Horrible • is 88 and in good health. She has are going on in your house about landlord copped out. Because lived with my dad’s sister (“Aunt Grandma, but they are not some- your neighbors are smoking “24/ Joy”) and her family since Grandpa thing you should be involved with. 7,” they could be using something died nine years ago. If your father feels his mother is stronger than marijuana. Pick up Grandma doesn’t have a mother- being taken advantage of, he the phone and notify the police in-law suite or anything like that — should talk to her about it and tell about your problem. Because the just her own bedroom and bath — her — if he hasn’t already — that stench has traveled through the but she pays them between $600 and he and your mother would love to walls (or vents), it’s time the mat- $700 in rent every month. have her live with you rent-free. ter was properly investigated and Furthermore, Aunt Joy charges After that, the decision about a stop is put to it. Grandma a percentage of every- where she wants to live and how Editor’s note: Write Dear Abby at thing they do to improve the house. she wants to conduct her life www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box Aunt Joy had granite countertops should be up to her. 69440, Los Angeles, Calif. 90069. • Chic Young Bridge Family Circus • Bil Keane

Beetle Bailey • Mort Walker

From the Mailbox Dear Mr. Becker: I been reading your col- umn lately, and I figure you play pretty Crossword • Jim Borgman & Jerry Scott good. I wanted to ask your opinion about a hand we played at the club yesterday. The way I look at it, my partner shouldn’t have bid seven. This don’t make no sense to me because here we got a 700-point rubber stashed away and 750 for a small slam, and he takes a shot at losing the whole bundle to try and make a big slam. This don’t seem like a good percentage bet to me. But there I am, and I gotta do the best I can. I look the dummy over and I see I have to lose a heart because I can’t eat it, unless Sally Forth • Greg Howard maybe I can con these guys out of it. The fellow sitting East, his name is Charlie Four Cents, can’t beat his way out of a paper bag. If I can give him the busi- ness, I got a chance, because he really don’t know from nothing. So I win the spade lead and start pulling trumps, and I keep on playing them till I don’t have any more left, hoping Charlie will get mixed up. Next I play the A-K-Q of clubs, and when I cash the queen, Four Cents starts to look worried. You see, dummy by this time has the K-3 of spades and nine of hearts, and I Cryptoquip have the four of spades and the A-10 of THANK YOU FOR hearts. Charlie don’t know what to throw, READING THE because he’s got the Q-J of spades and K- Q of hearts. Would you believe it, Mr. Becker, he threw the queen of hearts and made my A- 10 good, and we wrapped up the grand slam? I tell you this fellow Charlie don’t know what time of day it is. Should my partner have bid seven? Yours truly, Butch O’Doul. Dear Butch: I don’t think so, but I wouldn’t squawk if I were you. Just keep playing your cards the way you played YOUR LOCAL SOURCE FOR: them here, and Four Cents will have no NEWS • WEATHER cents in no time. SB. SPORTS Tomorrow: Bidding quiz. 155 W. 5th • 785-462-3963 (c)2006 Inc.