THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017
FEATURES
Shops should turn it down
Dear Annie: On a recent and play quiet background
out-of-town excursion to do music or none at all? Most
some shopping and planning people have things on their
for a new bathroom installa- minds when shopping. Maybe
tion, we found ourselves in a someone reading this letter
will “get” it. Noise pollution is
very annoying predicament.
We stopped for lunch at a not healthy indoors, for sure.
— Nancy
very nice restaurant,
DEAR
Dear Nancy: I
only to be assaulted
hear you loud and
by loud music the
ANNIE
clear. When I walk
second we walked
into a store or restau-
in. Thankfully, the
rant and the music is
waitress honored our
blasting, I tend to turn
request and did turn
right back around.
it down so we could
And we’re not alone.
enjoy a nice leisurely
In a study by con-
lunch.
Lane
sumer marketing blog
Then it was on Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Triggerpulling, loud
to the big-box store
music shortened the
for a major pur-
chase — only to be assaulted average consumer’s shopping
once again by extremely loud time. Though I have no prac-
music the minute we stepped tical advice to give (short of
inside. Needless to say, the perhaps keeping some ear-
measurements and planning plugs handy in your purse),
were extremely difficult, as it I’m printing this as a plea to
was hard to think because of retailers and restaurateurs
the noise. An employee there alike: Please, keep it down.
Dear Annie: I am a faithful
said it was beyond his con-
trol and that there was nothing reader of the column and felt
that could be done. We walked compelled to write in because
out. That store lost a nice sale I can really relate to “Deep
in Dishes,” whose roommate
because of this.
This never used to be a isn’t cleaning up after herself
problem. Can’t retailers think in the kitchen.
I shared an apartment with
two dear friends during col-
lege. Two of us were “clean
freaks” and did our dishes
daily. Our third, just like the
roommate “Deep in Dishes”
wrote about, left hers for days,
forgot they were hers and then
refused to do them. Plates, fry-
ing pans with stuck-on food,
etc. — they’d sit in the sink
for days.
Please tell “Deep in Dishes”
to put anything left unwashed
overnight by “Wendy” in a
small plastic tub and leave it
on her bed. The kitchen will
be clean, and Wendy won’t be
able to deny they are hers. And
if she leaves them in the sink
again without washing them,
they should reappear on her
bed the next day. Worked like
a charm for us.
By the way, 30 years later,
we are still close friends and
laugh about this! — Debbie H.
Dear Debbie: I hear so
many stories about how liv-
ing together has caused fall-
ing-outs and ruined friend-
ships. It’s refreshing to hear
from someone who didn’t let
roommate problems sink a
great friendship.
3C
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). The difference
is you. You are the one who can change the
negative into a positive, find the opportunity in
limitation and make the most of each win.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). There’s no hurry.
There’s nowhere you have to be that is not
where you are. Embody this, and the syn-
chronicity you feel with your surroundings
will make you most attractive to all kinds of
opportunities.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Although it’s true
that household chores go faster when done by
others and financial details seem more afford-
able when someone else is paying, you’re still
determined to take charge and do it all on your
own today. Go figure!
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Sooner or later,
community concerns will wind up being your
concern. You may as well get involved now
while opportunities to take on more responsi-
bility will be super-lucky for you.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your love is like
sunshine. People will come out of their comfort
zones to feel your warmth. The sun doesn’t
worry about giving equally to everyone; it
shines for all. You should do the same.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). How do you
make someone want what you have? Make
sure they know this thing of yours is in limited
supply, so rare that it’s most likely unavailable
to them or at least certainly very difficult to
obtain.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Gather information,
but don’t react to it yet. There’s more to come
tomorrow. And even when you learn all the rel-
evant details, be slow to make your next move.
Play your cards close to the vest.
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
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your aim is rath-
er complex. Practice and repeat all the little
parts. This is doable, but it does require a new
neurological wiring in your head. Keep going
over it until you can produce automatically and
effortlessly.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You may
find yourself in an awkward position, but you
shouldn’t let this worry you too much. So much
of life is awkward — that is, if you’re doing it
right. Anyway, getting out of this is simple. Just
tell the truth.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Half-hearted
intensity won’t produce half-hearted results;
rather, it will produce nothing at all. You’ll get
what you want by committing fully to it. If you
can’t commit fully, you may as well find some-
thing else to want.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Take the
calculated risk. It will improve your lot. And on
a related note: Instead of making excuses as
to why you should get together with that attrac-
tive someone, just confess your admiration!
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There’s power
in knowing what people want, especially if
you’re in a position to offer it. There’s no one-
size-fits-all answer here. Your talent for careful
observation comes into play.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (May 6). When
you love someone, you tend to put up with
a lot more from them than you would from
anyone else. This applies to beloved endeav-
ors as well, and both will work in your favor in
a big way this solar return, as your labors of
love will produce astounding results. Windfall
months: May, August and December. Scorpio
and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 8, 30, 22, 29 and 17.