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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 14, 2015)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 FEATURES 5A Free coupon causes friends to feud Tomorrow’s horoscope By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. Dear Annie: I have a problem with one of my best friends, and I hope you can help. “Monique” and I recently split the cost of a hotel room so we could enjoy a weekend of shopping and relaxation. We ex- perienced a few problems with the room, nothing major, but Monique complained to the manager and got a coupon for a free night on her next visit. I was excited until she told me she intended to use it with her husband because she’s always wanted to go there with him. I didn’t say anything to Mo- nique, but why does this refund belong only to her? We’ve talked about returning to the place in a few months, and I think the coupon should be used for the two of us. I will find it really difficult to come back here with Monique if I can’t get past this. Would you please explain why she feels this is hers when I paid for half of the room? I wouldn’t care quite as much except that we always use my car and Monique only pays for gas now and then. — Not Trying To Be Selfish Dear Not Trying: Monique may feel that the refund belongs to her because she was the one who complained. But both of you were inconvenienced by this room, and Annie’s Mailbox Creators Syndicate Inc. Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar the refund should be shared. Tell Monique you believe it would be fair to use the refund for your next shopping excursion together. If she refuses, you are under no obliga- tion to return there with her. She will know why. Dear Annie: I am a woman, 5-foot-10 and 240 pounds. I wear a size 12E men’s shoe. Why do retail stores discriminate against tall women? They have petites, plus-sizes and juniors, while I am lucky to find a pair of pants any- where, let alone something stylish. I’m stuck between ugly and uglier. Retailers assume all overweight women are short and round. I’m a size 14, but clothing in that size is never long enough. All I want is a plain T-shirt or a nice pair of jeans that I can try on in a store. I have to order ev- erything online and pay for ship- ping. When it arrives, I discover it doesn’t fit, and I have to return it and wait a week to get my money back. I’m sick of people telling me to buy men’s clothing. It’s degrading and depressing. Shoes are even worse. I had to make my own wed- ding shoes. I couldn’t even find them on sites for drag queens. Please let retailers and design- ers know that women come in all shapes and sizes, and once in a while, they should use a tall wom- an as a model. — Fed Up Dear Fed Up: Here’s the prob- lem with catering to every shape and size: Retailers need to make money. They stock what sells. They can sell a great many things for those of average height and aver- age size, and they have discovered a big market for plus-size women. But apparently, there isn’t enough demand for clothes in your size. That is why ordering things online has become such big business, and it’s a blessing for those who don’t fit into standard sizes and cannot afford to have their clothing or shoes custom made. Please don’t give up looking. One of these days you will find an online store where the sizing works for you, and you won’t need to return everything. 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). Second chances abound, and so do third and fourth chances. Tests can be retaken, mail can be resent, relationships can start fresh. So why not ease up on yourself? TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ve had enough attention through the years that you don’t long to be noticed. In fact, you often prefer to go under the radar. It’s the good that you do anonymously that will mean the most to you. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Choose your help carefully. The person who can’t be bothered with details is likely to get many things wrong, while the person who is too detail-oriented may never get around to the big picture. CANCER (June 22-July 22). If you think you can do it, you probably can. The real question to ask yourself is: Will it be worth the effort it takes? In other words, do you want it enough? LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). No one likes to be kept waiting around. The most import- ant virtue of the day will be promptness. It’s a way of paying respect and showing your organizational skills, too. You’ll score extra points by being early. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). What irritates you about another person is a window into your own psyche. Turn this irritation back on yourself, and you’ll come to a new un- derstanding. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). People go to great lengths to avoid boredom, when in fact boredom is an incredibly useful emo- tion. It’s what spurs people to learn new skills. Agree to go through the boredom, and let it lead you to improvement. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll cre- ate something out of the pieces you’ve collected along the way. The way you as- semble things is so fresh, it makes it seem like everything old is new again. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Like-minded friends are the cosmic gift of the day. Being able to speak your thoughts (and be understood) will feel so good that you’ll wonder how you were able to stay quiet for so long. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your experience puts you in a special category, and people will be very interested in what you think — but not in everything you think. Better to filter yourself too strictly than to say too much. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It will take a team effort to pull off today’s tasks, and your team will only be as strong as its weakest link. Use a forthright approach to find out whom you can count on. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You may set out on a solo mission, but you won’t be alone. Your politeness and consideration will win you the support of those around you. Each problem you solve will help you solve the next one. FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (May 15). Your success secret is simple: You find out what people want, and you sell it to them. Research is key. In June, your focus on making yourself happy will help you make others happy, too. Business changes, and you change with it, updating your skills in September. February brings a windfall. Aquarius and Taurus people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 43, 14, 2 and 45.
