THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015
FEATURES
Where is the guy I dated?
Dear Annie: My husband and
I have been married for nine
years. When we were dating,
we had the best conversations.
He would remember events that
happened in my life and would
follow up with questions later.
He talked about things going on
in his life and would include me
in the conversation, asking my
opinion.
After we married, he has ei-
ther stopped listening to what I
say or doesn’t really care any-
more. He constantly asks me the
same questions over and over,
and can’t seem to remember the
answers I give him. Yet he can
quote you chapter and verse about
any celebrity — where they went
to school, who they married, who
their children are — as though
they are his best friends.
I’ve asked him how he can
remember all of that trivia, but
can’t remember things I tell him
that touch our lives. He said that
he found celebrities interesting. I
guess that means our lives are not
important enough to matter.
I don’t know what to make of
this and sometimes feel as though
I’ve been duped. Where is the guy
I dated? How do I not take this
personally? — What Happened?
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
Dear What: You are not alone.
This type of spouse-deafness hap-
pens in many marriages. While
you were dating, your husband
paid more attention to your con-
versation partly because he was
still trying to woo you, and part-
ly because your life was separate
from his. You were his “celebri-
ty.” Now the conversations like-
ly revolve around more mundane
matters.
Please don’t take this too per-
sonally. It’s irritating, but com-
mon, and isn’t worth getting
upset over. Discuss unimportant
things with your family or girl-
friends. Wait until your husband
expresses an interest before offer-
ing information. You cannot force
him to be more attentive, but do
ask him to set aside 15 minutes
a day for the two of you to look
into each other’s eyes and listen
to whatever the other person says.
(And if you have any celebrity
news, add it to your report on the
car repairs.)
Dear Annie: I read the letter
from “Sickened and Frustrated”
whose family member and her
spouse constantly blow their nos-
es and clear their throats at family
gatherings in restaurants.
I would like to know why the
majority of well-mannered peo-
ple are not entitled to tell the
nauseatingly stubborn and selfish
couple to please stay home? Why
are people so afraid of offending
the offenders who couldn’t care
less? They need to learn they are
not compatible with dining out.
Your suggestion to remake
the social occasion without food
sounds like political correctness.
— Not So Accommodating
Dear Not So: It has nothing to
do with “political correctness.”
Most people include family mem-
bers at family gatherings, so if
dining out with them is the prob-
lem, it is simple enough to rem-
edy. But if no one will tell them
that their behavior needs refine-
ment, or if they refuse to stop
nauseating everyone else, your
suggestion to not invite them is
one possible solution.
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
5A
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). The person
who’s supposed to be making your life eas-
ier may not seem like much help at first be-
cause he or she needs to be taught what
to do. With minimal instruction, things will
soon fall into a productive groove.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You don’t
see the point in following the same recipe
over and over. You know what you’re going
to get. You prefer the adventurous life that
comes from daring to experiment.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It’s an excel-
lent day for those working for tips or com-
mission. What can you do to enjoy your
commute more? The improved mood will
put you in super-productivity mode when
you arrive at work.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). What’s
happening around the globe matters to
you even if you don’t seem to be directly
affected. Eventually, we are all affected by
each other, no matter where we live.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). A money leak
will turn into a gusher if you don’t take mea-
sures now to stop it. Bad financial habits
die hard, but 21 times (in a row) doing the
new improved action will cement it into
your brain.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The differ-
ence between a pro and an expert is that
the pro has to make a mutually agreeable
product or the money won’t be exchanged.
Are you ready for that added demand?
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). No matter
how well you know your task, you can’t
practice the unpredictable. When strange
twists happen, you’ll twist along with them.
With your skills and flexibility, you’ll pull this
one off.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It’s easier to
like people and be nice to them when you
believe they are not infringing in any way on
what is yours or potentially yours. It requires
an abundance mentality. Is there really
enough to go around? That’s the question.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Evalu-
ate your progress over the past four weeks.
This review is crucial to figuring out what
you should do next. There will be weekend
distractions a-plenty, so it’s important to get
focused now.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The ex-
change of money represents so much more
than dollars and cents. It’s a trade of energy.
If you’re lifted by the deal (even if you’re not
financially richer), it’s a good deal.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There’s
comfort in routine, while being in a rut isn’t
comfortable at all. To keep your routine
from becoming a restriction, be creative,
plan surprises and leave room for chang-
ing your mind.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). If the myri-
ad choices available to you get overwhelm-
ing, remember that all you ever really have
to make is one decision. Decide who you
are, and the rest falls into place naturally.
FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (June 26). This
year it’s safer to make bold decisions, as
long as you make many of them. One is
bound to hit. July focuses on friendship. Au-
gust brings a mutually beneficial business
relationship. At the end of 2015, you’ll be
strongly influenced by family and the idea
of your legacy. Business travels happen
in February. Scorpio and Taurus people
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 45,
43, 11 and 16.