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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 26, 2015)
FEATURES 6A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2015 Nose-blowers nauseate friends Tomorrow’s horoscope By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. Dear Annie: My husband and I meet up with a group of family and close friends every week for lunch. One couple in this group (a close family member and her spouse) constantly blow their nos- es during our get-togethers. They use cloth handkerchiefs, which are then reused multiple times, and her husband picks his nose, as well. It is nauseating to all of us, not to mention to other diners nearby. A few of the couples have told us they will not attend any more lunches unless absolutely necessary. We do not want a family feud, but I think we need to do some- thing before our social gatherings fall apart. The one with the most appalling manners is a college graduate with an excellent job. You would think he would know better, but it’s difficult to tell him anything. How do we fix this with- out alienating them altogether? — Sickened and Frustrated Dear Sickened: People who believe they are entitled to nause- ate others because they have sinus issues are not likely to listen to anyone. Some friends and family tolerate these unpleasant encoun- ters because they value the person enough to put up with the constant Annie’s Mailbox Creators Syndicate Inc. Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar nose blowing, no matter how un- appetizing. Yet these tolerated friends do not seem to give the same value to their companions’ sensitivities. (There is no excuse for picking one’s nose.) While we understand and sym- pathize with folks who have ter- rible allergies and need to dab at their noses frequently, that is not the same as major nose and throat clearing where mucus exits the system. For those moments, a trip to the restroom is called for, even if that means absenting yourself from the table more often than you’d like. The other alternative, of course, is to meet at a place where you will not be eating. It’s the combination of food and snot that makes this so unpleasant. Dear Annie: This is for “Hope- less,” who likes a boy who asked for her phone number, and now she is waiting for him to call, which he hasn’t. I could have written that letter. I, too, liked a guy, and after six months, he asked a mutual friend for my phone number. But he never called. Another six months went by while I waited. Finally, I asked him out. It turns out, he was so shy he couldn’t make the call. Even af- ter we began dating, it took him three years to ask me to marry him because he was so afraid I’d turn him down — even though we were only seeing each other and I loved him. So, I’d like to tell her to hang in there. Her guy may be terribly shy and inexperienced, so be pa- tient and take it slow. If he’s any- thing like my guy, he’ll be worth the wait. We’ve been married for 30 years now and are still going strong. — Been There Dear Been: A lot of young women don’t realize that guys can be shy, no matter how sure of themselves they may seem on the surface. It takes courage to ask a girl out, and rejection can be hard to take. Women have lived with this for centuries, but we don’t al- ways consider that guys may have the same insecurities. 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). You have a strong constitution, but taking on more just to prove you can is silly. Let things happen naturally. Give where it’s needed. Pace yourself. The others already know your might. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). When you’re stressed out, it goes straight to your throat and affects your voice. Thinking about relaxing that part of your body will produce a feeling of ease. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ll move further away from your personal ambition and into a realm of spiritual understanding. By losing yourself, if only temporarily, you contribute something greater to the whole. CANCER (June 22-July 22). It’s like you can’t learn enough these days. Your mental abilities are ever unfolding. What inspires you at this time has to do with your cultural identity. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). As you seek employment, advancement or recognition, don’t forget to ask for it. There are people around you (especially fellow fire signs Ari- es and Sagittarius) who will gladly give you what you need. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Being around some people makes you feel smaller than you really are. The right influences for you are the ones who make you feel sociable, beneficent and drawn toward higher ideals. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Look for what you can do, and do all you can. And if there’s nothing to be done, stand by hope- fully. When things break down, it makes way for something new to emerge. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). As you get older, you realize that the opportunities that are wildly hyped are often the best ones to ignore. You’ve learned to walk on by, and you’ll teach this to someone you know, who will thank you for it later. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ll build the goodwill by freely helping a neigh- bor or an associate. You’re not expecting any return on your efforts, but you’ll get a substantial one in time. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re a self-directed person. You may get inspired and influenced by the people you admire, but when it comes down to it, the goals you set for yourself are the ones you’ll stick with. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your main challenge will be how to appropriately ex- press yourself — too rational, and they’ll think you don’t care; irrational, and they’ll think you’re crazed by passion. Moments of preparation will help you hit the right tone. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ve al- ways been able to wrap your head around how others must be feeling, even those whose circumstances are entirely different from yours. That empathy is a talent you’ll use to untangle today’s knot. WEDNESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (May 27). As each year passes, you care less and less about what people think of you. With- out the distraction of having to please, you’ll make fiscal, personal and creative breakthroughs in the next three months. September will bring a family addition. No- vember will focus you on a special relation- ship and maybe a move. Pisces and Can- cer people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 30, 27, 3, 18 and 49.