6A
FEATURES
Seeking solutions for snoring
Dear Annie: I used to get by hear dozens: Take a hot shower
on six hours of sleep a night, but before bedtime; use a saline rinse
as I’ve gotten older, I really like to to clear the nasal passages; don’t
sleep for a full eight or nine hours drink alcohol; lose weight; tape
every night. But the problem is that tennis balls to your back so you
it is not always easy to sleep that sleep on your side, etc.
All of those are worth trying,
long, especially if I am snoring a
but the best thing for you
lot.
DEAR
to do is visit your doc-
I snore so loudly that
tor. He or she can review
my wife sometimes asks
ANNIE
your symptoms and refer
me to sleep on the couch,
you to a sleep special-
or she will sleep there her-
ist for evaluation, as it’s
self. But even if I am alone,
possible you’re suffering
my snoring is so bad that
from sleep apnea. Sleep
sometimes it wakes me up.
apnea not only deprives
I know that sounds funny,
you of those wonderful
but it’s true.
Lane
full-slumber nights but
I am really looking for Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
also is incredibly danger-
any suggestions you have
ous if left untreated. For
for more restful sleep. I
do know that when I try to get by your health and the health of your
on less than eight hours of sleep, I marriage, it’s important to put this
am much more susceptible to colds problem to bed as soon as possible.
Dear Annie: After reading the
and the flu. When I manage to
sleep eight or nine hours a night, I letter from “Confused Young Life
always feel much better and almost in California,” the young man
who is incarcerated, I am begging
never get sick.
My wife would also appreci- you to please stop telling millen-
ate your help with this. She knows nials, “You can still be whoever
I can’t control the snoring, but her you want.” This is how we parents
patience is wearing thin. — Snor- have messed up our children. We
have told them all their lives that
ing in Slumberland
Dear Snoring: Everyone has they can do whatever they want to
a favorite “stop snoring” remedy. do in life if they simply work hard
Ask around and you’re likely to enough. It is just not true, and intel-
lectually, you know that. We all do.
This is particularly true for
someone coming out of prison.
Such a person has the deck stacked
against him because he is a former
criminal. Period.
This young man needs to hear
the unvarnished truth. He can still
become a contributing member of
society. But because of his actions,
he most likely will not be able to be
whoever he wants to be.
Words of encouragement are
powerful, but they need to be
used in a realistic way. Before this
young man can achieve a meaning-
ful life, he needs to have an arsenal
of truth. — DBS
Dear DBS: Notice that I said
this young man can be “whoever,”
not “whatever,” he wants — a mat-
ter of heart, not aptitude.
Every morning, we open our
eyes and get to decide what type
of person we want to be that day.
What I want is for this young man
to see that there’s a light within him
just waiting to shine.
But to your point: Yes, it’s
important to have realistic goals.
But it’s just as important to have
improbable, idealistic, get-laughed-
out-of-the-room goals. Planning
for the worst doesn’t mean you
have to stop hoping for the best.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Once you strip
away the chaff of familiarity and look at your
daily life the way an outsider might, there’s
a real potential to do interesting work and
maybe even to elevate the ordinary to the
level of art.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You know the
right thing to say. You could tell people what
they wanted to hear, no sweat. But it’s too
easy, and it creates such a mild, forgettable
impression. That’s why you’ll dare to add a
dash more honesty.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When you know
you’re being accepted you can let go, have
fun and be happy. It’s the same with every-
one, and it’s why your tolerant, accepting
attitude is actually helping the world to be a
happier place.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). In this boat of
humanity on the rough seas of life, everyone
must row with the oar he has. Drop your
oar? Paddle with your hand. All efforts are
needed now, yours especially. LEO (July
23-Aug. 22). One thing you don’t need to
worry about is what to say. Say little and do
much and you’ll be a wonderful surprise to
someone, you’ll earn the trust of many, you’ll
make an excellent impression on all.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The gamblers
know that even when you trust the other
players, you cut the cards. You’re safe here.
The precautions of protection may be merely
ritualistic at this point, and that makes them
more important, not less.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It’s always pru-
dent to know about procedures, standards
and guidelines before going into a situation,
but if you don’t know them, seek a young
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
teacher to show you the rules, or an old one
to show you the exceptions.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re a
person of principle, which is way better than
being an impulsive slave to immediate grati-
fication. However, before you go to battle for
an idea, make sure you’re absolutely clear
on what the idea really is.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Jealousy
is information your subconscious mind gives
to clue you into what you really want. Envy is
rocket fuel. Don’t waste it by pointing it in any
direction away from you. Put it back in your
own tank and aim yourself well.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). As for
stirring up controversy — anyone can
accidentally flub and say something silly or
unintentionally offensive. It takes a pro to do
this deliberately.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Unfortunate-
ly, a lot of people are more concerned with
who gets the credit than they are with getting
things done. So, let them have the credit.
It’s worth it if they get out of the way of your
progress.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The rag that
gets the floor clean becomes quite dirty, and
so it goes. Perhaps you can’t really make the
mess go away, but you can organize it in a
manner that makes it much more pleasing to
experience.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 6). The
goal is more vivid than it’s ever been for you,
and you have the sense that this year the
universe is on your side. While working in
collaboration with powerful forces, the less
you do the better. Leo and Aries adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 15, 42, 26, 7 and 9.