FEATURES
6A
Closed off robot husband
Dear Annie: I am a Care Bear, and
my husband is a cyborg. What I mean
is that I get emotional from almost
anything. I once cried during a com-
mercial for laundry detergent. I know
it sounds cliched, but I love happy
endings, puppies, babies, the color
pink and — of course — talking about
my feelings.
My husband, on the other hand, is
pretty much the exact opposite. I’ve
never seen him cry. He barely talks to
his siblings (although they’re a little
nutty, but that’s a different letter). He is
constantly on his phone either working
or playing solitaire. And getting him to
open up is like pulling teeth. Actually,
I think pulling teeth might be easier,
because he wouldn’t have to talk.
We have two kids, and he is great
with them. He is super engaged and
talks to them on their level. Maybe he
feels safe because they won’t judge
him.
He’s not mean or neglectful to me.
He says “I love you.” But I can’t help
feeling frustrated when I love talking
about feelings and emotions and he
doesn’t. How do I connect with a man
who is so closed off? — Funshine
Bear
Dear Funshine: Opposites attract
— and then drive each other nuts. But
with effort, you and your husband can
use your differences as a source of
Dear Annie
By
Annie
Lane
Creators
Syndicate
Inc.
strength and balance. The key is good
communication, even if your commu-
nication styles are totally different.
I would say your husband is more
Secret Bear than cyborg. He has feel-
ings. He just expresses them non-
verbally, through actions — such as
spending time with the kids or put-
ting his arm around you when a Tide
ad tugs at your heartstrings. Try to rec-
ognize these as legitimate expressions
of love.
When you’d really like him to talk
about something, let him know. Don’t
be judgmental or accuse him of never
opening up, as this would only make
him withdraw further. Instead, put
those Care-a-Lot skills to work and
articulate how you feel.
Dear Annie: A few weeks ago,
my boyfriend and I went to a beach
bonire for my cousin’s 15th birthday.
We enjoyed chatting and catching up
with the family. Everything was going
great until I had to use the bathroom
and, unfortunately, the only bathroom
in sight was a port-a-potty.
I hate port-a-potties. They’re dis-
gusting. I don’t even care if I ind a
freshly placed port-a-potty and I am
the irst person to use it. I still think
they’re full of germs, and I get incredi-
bly grossed out.
Anyway, after weighing my
options and realizing that I could not
hold it until I got home, my fate was
sealed. I was going to have to use the
port-a-potty.
I asked my boyfriend to walk over
with me, and he didn’t get what the big
deal was but agreed to walk with me.
I told him that because he — as a man
— doesn’t always have to get near
the seat, he will never understand the
trauma that is the portable toilet.
Why is this such an issue for me?
I’m not germophobic or obsessed
with cleanliness, but I can’t stand these
things. — Reluctant Reliever
Dear Reluctant: I’ve never seen
anyone heading into a port-a-potty
looking especially jazzed, but clearly
it bothers you more than most. Your
best bet is to be prepared. When you
know you’re going to be in a situation
where you might have to use a port-a-
potty, pack some hand sanitizer, toilet
paper and toilet seat liners in your bag.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). At its simplistic
essence, life is energy. The energy you invest in
a project is your life. Is this project worthy of the
attention you’re giving? How will its successful
completion make a difference for you and oth-
ers?
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Many disparate
elements converge and you’ll suddenly have a
cohesive plan in your head. Put it on paper now
while it’s fresh, because you’ll want to look back
at the thought process that started you on this
journey.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When people
can’t bear self-scrutiny they blame others. You
don’t see the point, though. You take full respon-
sibility for whatever part is yours, however small
it may be, and gain all the learning you can from
that.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). When you’re
working there are rules. And when you’re just
playing around there are even more rules, be-
cause the potential for getting hurt or hurting
others is even greater in a seemingly unstruc-
tured playground.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your first idea will be
pretty good, but it’s not until you reach idea 10
or 12 that you’ll get to the next level, which is
sheer gold. Are you willing to keep generating
new ideas until you break through?
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You weren’t ex-
pecting to be finished with a job early, and yet
you’ll hit a point today where it seems to be
dragging on beyond what is reasonable. This
warrants a thoughtful communication with the
others involved.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Remember that
bruise that mysteriously appeared? Emotional
bruises also can have vague origins, but that
doesn’t make them hurt any less or show up
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
fainter. If it’s sore, assume there’s a good rea-
son and baby it until it heals.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re joyfully
aware of the best that’s in you. That doesn’t
make you clueless or Pollyanna about the rest.
You know of your darker potentials. But why fo-
cus on the shadows, when there’s so much to
do in the light?
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). A figure
from your past will be a figure in your future.
There’s a reason you parted and a reason you
reconnected. Just be careful not to let nostalgia
cloud your vision.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You want
a broader repertoire, and you’re willing to put
in the practice time to get it. This isn’t going to
come together over night, but if you work on it
each day you’ll soon have something very im-
pressive.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Ask the others
how they’re doing and you’ll suddenly feel pretty
good about your own baggage. The mere new-
ness and novelty of another person’s problems
seems to subtract pounds from your own.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). One way to
stop a torturous temptation from having power
over you is to give into it. The other methods will
include you going far out of your way to avoid
even having to look at or think about the thing.
THURSDAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 28). Do-
mestic improvements will align your head and
heart. You’ll find new ways to relate to your loved
ones and build better relationships all year long.
A short trip at the end of the year will favorably
alter your destiny. The financial highs will come
with hard work and shrewd decisions in Octo-
ber, November and May. Capricorn and Pisces
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 5, 16, 20,
48 and 33.