FEATURES
6A
Worried about relationship
Dear Annie: I have a wonderful
group of friends. We all met work-
ing together at a restaurant just out of
college. We’ve really grown up with
one another. Two of them are a cou-
ple, “Ryan” and “Christine.” I love
both of them to death, but in all hon-
esty, Christine behaves ridiculously
sometimes and is just not nice.
For example: We recently rented
a beach house for the weekend, in
part to celebrate Christine’s birth-
day. On our irst night, we had a
barbecue. As we were eating, Ryan
reached over and forked a couple of
pieces of chicken. Christine scoffed
and said, “Are you kidding? It’s my
birthday, and you’re just going to
take food off my plate without ask-
ing?!” We were embarrassed for
Ryan and blown away at how stupid
the situation had become.
We’re all used to these Chris-
tine-isms. We’re all able to just not
pay attention to those moments if
she’s downright mean. But we know
they have been talking about getting
engaged. He is truly in love with her,
but it seems as if he’s exhausted. My
question is: Should one of us say
something to him about it? — Hold-
ing Our Breath
Dear Holding: Keep holding
your breath, because you’d probably
be better off passing out than getting
Dear Annie
By
Annie
Lane
Creators
Syndicate
Inc.
in the middle of relationship prob-
lems. Your heart is in the right place,
and it’s great Ryan and Christine
have friends who care about their
well-being. This kind of support will
help them have a successful mar-
riage if they decide to take that step.
Whoever is closest with Ryan
can open up a general, judg-
ment-free dialogue (e.g., “So, how
is everything going with you and
Christine?”) so he feels comfortable
talking about any concerns. Chris-
tine’s closest friends might encour-
age her to work on her temper. But
stop short of telling them what to do,
lest you end up taking the heat.
Dear Annie: I have been seeing
this guy for a little over a year now.
We met at a friend’s party while I
was visiting New York. We had an
instant connection. We found that
we have a lot in common — the
same sense of humor, same philos-
ophies on life, same love of travel.
It was immediately bittersweet,
though, because he lives in New
York City and I live in Los Angeles.
We both felt long-distance relation-
ships never work, so we left it as just
friends.
I travel to New York quite a bit
and stay with him whenever I’m
there. I always have a great time
with him. . Recently, I’ve been giv-
ing a lot of thought to getting serious
with him, but there are things hold-
ing me back. He doesn’t have a job
even though he’s been out of col-
lege for a few months. I worry he’s
unambitious. But I feel that if I don’t
give this a shot, I will always regret
it. — Confused
Dear Confused: Contrary to
popular cynical belief, long-dis-
tance relationships can work.
About 10 percent of marriages in
the U.S. started out as long-dis-
tance relationships. The key is to
have a light at the end of the tun-
nel. Doing the bicoastal thing with
no end in sight makes it harder to
cope
His unemployment is actually
a plus here. There’s no job tying
him to New York. Your chemistry
sounds right, and now is the perfect
time to test it out.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). By taking only
one or two actions a day toward a goal, you
will land in a significantly different future from
the future you’d have were you to take no
action at all. Go back to the plan you aban-
doned and rework it into smaller chunks.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your loved
one’s happiness needn’t come at the ex-
pense of your own. Keep looking for a mu-
tually satisfying arrangement. This can be
struck without either party feeling at all com-
promised.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Though you’re
not trying to be and don’t want to be, you
can’t help it: You’re charming, and they are
under your spell. The attention is not to be
squandered. You’ve a responsibility to use
your distracting qualities for good.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your sense
of connection extends joyfully to all you
touch and even what you don’t touch. You
can feel the energy of the people who paved
the roads you drive on, the man out walking
his dog and the bird soaring above it all.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’re not shallow
or small-minded; nor are you the least bit
petty. It is therefore hard for you to imagine
the mindset that some are coming from, but
try. Otherwise, they will surely catch you off-
guard.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Sometimes
you feel like an extra sipping coffee in the
background, and you’re good with the ambi-
ent role. However, don’t too get comfortable
there. This is just a break before your next
scene.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There are peo-
ple around you who are underrated and un-
der-appreciated time and again. You’re the
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
one who sees how brilliant and special they
are, and you’ll help them see it, too.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). To appease
the powers that rule tomorrow, a sacrifice
must be made today — not just any sacri-
fice though. It doesn’t matter if it’s something
hard or easy to give, it only matters that it’s
the right thing to give.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Like a
homing pigeon, you’ll explore vast distanc-
es, traveling far and wide to complete your
mission, which, at the end of the day, always
wraps up in the same place.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You ex-
pect much of yourself and often deliver on
these expectations. Frustration is natural,
but immature. As for self-directed anger...
who has time for the drama? Quietly pull it
together and try again.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Money is a
motivator, but not a big one. Your true desire
is for knowledge, experience and wisdom.
More than money, this what will ultimately
help you move beyond your limitations.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There is no
greater thrill for you today than the excited
buzz that comes with putting something in
the world that wasn’t there before. Bonus:
Your creativity will delight all around you.
THURSDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 8). You
wouldn’t guess who will become enamored
by joie de vivre this year. Take a chance on
love and see where it leads. This month will
bring a financial breakthrough. There will be
a family expansion in January. Going above
and beyond the call of duty will earn you
an honored position. Capricorn and Taurus
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 5, 7, 14,
20 and 19.