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.