THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015
FEATURES
5A
Daughters ruining relationship Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Dear Annie: I have been in a re-
lationship with “Ted” for the past
eight years. We each have adult
children from previous marriages.
Ted has always put his daughters
ahead of me and our relationship.
When they were younger, I com-
pletely understood, but they are
adults now, and he still does it.
Ted has to get their permis-
sion to spend any time with me.
Vacations are completely out of
the question. I see him, at best,
four times a month, and the girls
call and text constantly the entire
time we’re together, always about
nothing. He has broken our dates
and left in the middle of dinner to
help them find an earring or a pair
of shoes. The oldest recently mar-
ried, and she and her husband are
living in Ted’s basement.
Annie, he put these girls
through college. They have de-
grees and good jobs, and yet they
refuse to leave the nest. Ted says
he doesn’t know how to fix it. We
fight about this often, and he al-
ways takes their side. I am frus-
trated. When we first began dat-
ing, Ted asked me to wait until the
kids were out of high school and
said then we’d get married. Then
he asked me to wait until they
were finished with college. Now
Annie’s
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Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
it’s when both are married and on
their own. I don’t see them ever
letting that happen.
Ted bought me a ring, which
I am not allowed to wear around
the girls because it upsets them.
He can’t have pictures of us in his
house because they wouldn’t like
it. I once posted pictures of us on
my Facebook page, and Ted total-
ly lost it because he was afraid his
daughters would see.
I suggested we attend coun-
seling, but he refused. He is
stressed and unhappy, and being
around him is difficult because
he takes it out on me. I know
this relationship is toxic and I
should move on, but it is hard to
do when you love someone. We
get along great when they leave
us alone, but that rarely happens,
and I am constantly depressed
about it. What should I do? —
Lost and Alone in Kentucky
Dear Lost: Please understand
that Ted is never going to put you
first. He is not going to marry you
unless his daughters give their
permission, and they aren’t going
to do it. So what are you willing
to put up with in order to remain
with him? If you are OK playing
third fiddle to those girls and will
take marriage off the table perma-
nently, you could have a nice, lim-
ited, semi-frustrating relationship
with Ted. But if that’s not good
enough, leave before you waste
any more time.
Dear Annie: I laughed when
I read the letter from “Confused
Husband,” who expects more sex
for doing chores around the house.
I do laundry, wash dishes, vac-
uum and grocery shop. I don’t
do it to get paid back with sex. I
love my wife so much, I consider
it a privilege to do things for her,
even after 25 years together. She
gave birth to our two wonderful
children. That is all I could ask
for. Appreciate her now because
tomorrow is promised to no one.
— Love Her
Dear Love Her: We hope ev-
ery man in our reading audience
will see your letter and agree with
you. You ought to bottle that.
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). After you
make the magic happen, own it. You don’t
have to talk about it. You just have to know
that this was your doing and stop yourself
from giving anyone else the credit.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Set aside
some money to be used in an unconven-
tional, creative or risky way. Even a small
amount will make a big difference in getting
you on a track toward your dreams.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). People have
their reasons for acting the way they do, but
reasons are not excuses. If you want better
behavior out of them (or out of yourself, for
that matter), create and uphold a system of
accountability.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). With Venus
visiting your part of the sky, your heart-light
is shining like a lighthouse beacon. The
souls that are like lost ships in the night will
find guidance in your love.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You like having
conversations with people whose interests
are wide and different from yours. However,
that bossy person who insists that you try
things is one to resist, if not totally avoid, now.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll entertain
with style. An important part of this is show-
manship. You’ll be like the ringleader of a cir-
cus calling attention to the special acts and
wonders around you.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Ideally, you
can get enthusiastic about the day’s activ-
ities, but if not, don’t let that stop you. Just
showing up will be enough. The skills you’ve
acquired through the years will carry you
through.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). When you’re
interested in someone, you want to know
the whole person, not just the small part
shown to you within the confines of a partic-
ular role. Ask good questions, and you’ll get
the bigger picture.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The
menial tasks have to get done, or you’ll
set yourself up for unnecessary problems
over the weekend. Make it fun. Add music
or comedy. The chores go by quickly when
you’re listening to a headset.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Bottom
line: People are always more important than
“stuff.” Anyone whose behavior regarding
material possessions suggests the oppo-
site belief has issues. The best thing to do
is steer clear.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ll play
the game of life with verve. Why saunter to
the next spot when you can leap ahead?
Your energetic approach will attract the at-
tention of someone who will be good for you
to know.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Though
you prefer to stay on purpose, a certain tol-
erance for those who dillydally, lollygag and
loiter will serve you well. You’ll learn informa-
tion in those easygoing moments that you
would have otherwise missed.
FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (May 8). Work
hard but not too hard, because it’s this year’s
pleasant distractions that often serve to
take you closer to your goals and purposes.
Over the next seven weeks, your work will
become more visible, and this will increase
your influence, as well as your means.
Someone will invest in you in June. Singles
commit in August. Gemini and Sagittarius
people adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
40, 1, 28, 12 and 30.