FEATURES
8A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015
Does more housework lead to sex? Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Dear Annie: I recently saw
the results of a survey that said
the more work men do around the
house the less sex they get. I have
seen many comments in your col-
umn from women who stated the
opposite — that if a man did more
around the house, he might “get
more” in the bedroom.
I have always helped out with
cooking, mopping floors, doing
laundry, cleaning the bathroom,
etc., and never once did I consid-
er that the point was more sex. But
this information confused me. I
mentioned it to my wife, who said,
“Sorry.”
So, I asked another woman her
thoughts on this subject, and she
said men would get more sex, but
she had a little smile on her face
that told me different. Anoth-
er woman’s answer was “maybe,
maybe not.” So what’s up with the
conflicting statements? Should I
not help out as much? — Confused
Husband
Dear Confused: Cute. No.
Like it or not, the amount you help
around the house should not be
tied to how much sex you get. You
should help because it’s the right
thing to do, and, as a partner in a
relationship, you should do your
share. If it also makes your partner
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
feel appreciative and less exhaust-
ed, that often translates to more
sex. But there are so many factors
that go into the desire for intimacy
that you’d have to discuss it more
thoroughly with your wife to find
out what she needs and wants from
you that will make her feel desir-
able and interested.
We can guarantee you, though,
that if you watch TV while she
does all the housework, there is
likely to be no sex at all.
Dear Annie: “Tired and Dis-
gusted Other Half” wrote an open
letter to her husband, who thought
it was funny to criticize her in front
of their children and friends. I was
married to a man who became in-
creasingly verbally abusive over
the years. The last eight years of
our marriage were horrible. He put
me down in front of our employees
and demeaned me about everything
from my minor weight gain to my
housekeeping and cooking. Then
he said his abuse was my fault. I
became totally uninterested in him
physically, which made him even
angrier.
Two therapists told him this was
verbal abuse, but he would not lis-
ten. We were together for 41 years.
He never thought I would have the
courage to leave. But two years
ago, at age 60, I decided that the
thought of spending another 20
years being treated this way was
more terrifying than the idea of liv-
ing on my own.
I left my home and business and
lost my financial security. But two
years later, I am doing well. It has
not been easy, but I get up every
morning and am able to look in the
mirror with self-respect. — Life Is
Good
Dear Life: It sounds as though
you did everything you could to
save your marriage, and unfortu-
nately, your husband wasn’t will-
ing to do the same. You needed
to save yourself, and we are glad
your decision to leave worked out
so well. If any of our readers feel
they are being verbally abused,
please call the National Domestic
Violence Hotline (thehotline.org)
at 1-800-799-SAFE.
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
STONE SOUP
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Because
you’re in your own head all day every day,
it can be difficult to see yourself objective-
ly. You are the hero of your story. With the
right attitude, your challenges will only
make you better.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You enjoy
educating yourself, but more information
isn’t want you need now. If you can’t apply
what you learn, it’s worthless. Seek a prac-
tical and effective strategy you can use to
make your life better today.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When peo-
ple are silent or reserved, it’s only natural
to try to fill in the blanks with what you be-
lieve they might be thinking and feeling. Be
careful not to invent a personality for peo-
ple that they don’t actually have.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). What un-
folds will be simple, elegant and satisfying:
You’ll express your will, and someone else
will execute it. It’s good to be powerful, al-
though don’t forget that it also makes you
responsible for what happens.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). When it comes
to your loved ones, past experience and
feelings give you a strong bias. Let that
bias be positive today because it will be
better to give your loved ones the benefit
of the doubt.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). An organization
effort will be necessary. It will feel like you’re
dumping the contents of a mystery drawer
out onto the floor. As you restructure things,
avoid formal logic and embrace impulse.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Don’t let the
petty hardships wear you down. Today it
won’t be such a bad thing to be cocooned
in your beautiful dreams. You can deal in
reality again tomorrow.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You will
follow your gut into situations that are for
your best and highest good. These situa-
tions may not be comfortable, aesthetically
pleasing or financially prudent, but they
are, nonetheless, right for you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You
are developing a new awareness of your
purpose, and you are also beginning to
recognize which actions are aligned with it
and which are not. There’s a fellow fire sign
who can illuminate your path.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). People
who know you well will tend to see what
they have always seen in you. Break out
of your group and meet new people who
can better experience the you of today (as
opposed to the you of yesterday).
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You
know what you want to communicate, but
because you can’t see yourself in action,
you’re not sure what you (SET ITAL) are
(END ITAL) communicating. The opinions
of those you trust will be invaluable.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re not
a person who lives for your next vacation.
In fact, the work you engage in today will
bring far more enjoyment and satisfaction
than a beach getaway.
WEDNESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (April 8).
Your love life will be a source of sweetness,
comfort and excitement this year. Loyalty is
one of your best qualities. This month your
contribution to a group will be substantial
and important, and you should be paid for
this! Through May, keep building a case
for the move or promotion you want. It will
happen in mid-June. Gemini and Scorpio
people adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
13, 2, 22, 39 and 18.