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.