THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017
FEATURES
Diet changes relationship
Dear Annie: Last week- the decision itself; I’ve done
end, I got a text from my dad every juice cleanse and 30-day
that said: “I’m going vegan challenge under the sun —
LOL.” (Yes, he says “LOL.” and I love some seaweed. I
He’s hip like that.) I laughed actually find the choice quite
and brushed it aside, but admirable.
during dinner last night, he
What I realized is that the
and my stepmom told
child in me is afraid
DEAR
me they are serious
that a piece of our
about it. It definitely
relationship will be
ANNIE
lost. Through my par-
took me by surprise,
ents’ (nasty) divorce,
but I was supportive
no matter how things
and excited about the
were between them or
idea, so much so that
between us — no mat-
I even went with him
ter when new people
to Barnes & Noble to
came into the picture
pick out an awesome
Lane
and old people left —
vegan cookbook. But Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
whenever we sat down
since then, I’ve been
at the table, all of the
having a strangely
emotional reaction to his yuckiness melted away. This
feels like one more thread of
decision.
We love to eat. That’s our consistency and connection
“thing.” We go out to dinner, being cut.
try new, unusual cuisines and
Are there any actions you
eat our way through new cit- suggest I take to move for-
ies when traveling. He even ward? — Herbivore Dilemma
Dear
Herbivore
seriously considered taking
a leave from work to audi- Dilemma: You are clearly
tion for a Food Network show. a thoughtful person to have
Some of my best memories such insight into your emo-
involve meals we’ve shared. tions and their roots. Perhaps
And now what? I’ll order this is the opportunity you’ve
sashimi, and he’ll have ... sea- needed to express some long-
weed? I have no issue with held feelings. Talking through
these concerns will bring you
closer than ever. And with
time, you’ll find out that it was
never about the food; it was
about sitting down together.
Dear Annie: I have a weird
question for you. I live in a
Midwestern community that
has expensive water and sewer
costs. I also exercise every
day, and as a result, I drink a
lot of water — and I mean a lot
of water. So when my wife is
not home, I urinate in the bath-
room sink. Then I wash my
hands, which rinses the sink
basin at the same time. This
uses a fraction of the water
that flushing the toilet would
use. Multiply that by dozens
of times a day and the savings
are significant. Urine is sterile;
the sink gets washed out after-
ward; and my hands are clean.
What are your thoughts on my
actions? — Sink Secret
Dear Sink Secret: I think
you ought to knock it off. For
one, urine isn’t sterile; that’s
just a myth. For another, if
you’re really bent on saving
water, there are plenty of ways
to do so — such as installing
a low-flush toilet — that don’t
require lying to your wife.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Good fortune
sometimes steals the credit that should really
have gone to good planning. With this in mind,
what can you start today that might pay you
10 years from now? Do it.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). If you could see
everyone’s thoughts, half the people wouldn’t
look nearly as confident. Self-doubt is really
irrelevant to the success equation. Keep going
through the motions necessary to make some-
thing happen.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). People talk about
problems. It could help, although it could also
be an addiction to the release and attention
that come with complaining. As for speaking of
your joys, make sure you’re talking to support-
ers who won’t be jealous.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). When your day
is touched by nature, it’s also touched by
wonder. Your connection to nature makes you
bigger and smaller all at once. It gives you a
sense of belonging to life.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Knowledge is a gift
that’s light as air, bright as sunbeams and
tricky to deliver. How it’s packaged will matter.
Put time and thought into how you’re going to
organize and pass on your knowledge. Your
immortality depends on it.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). To prefer people
to be a certain way so that we may easily
relate — this is only natural, and yet incred-
ibly selfish. Also, it keeps our hearts small.
Practice loving people as they are, perfectly
themselves.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Just before the
bend, you’ve no clue as to the shape of
the road ahead. There are others who have
walked this road a thousand times. Ask, or just
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
follow and enjoy your uncertainty; you only get
to be new once.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You know the
secret of good service: To be well-served, you
first serve others well. And though you may
not be acknowledged quickly for this today,
the reward for getting the job done is that it’s
done.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). When you
think about it and apply yourself, you are
creating your life. When you don’t think about
it and do whatever, you are creating your life.
Either way will work well today, actually.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You have
new feelings about your role, or possibly
you’re just bored of it. So, you agreed to
something. It doesn’t mean you have to keep
agreeing to it.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You may feel
alone in your ambitions, but it doesn’t have
to be this way. You’ll have a greater sense of
purpose (and accountability) if you include
more people in this. A Taurus or Virgo would
be ideal.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You don’t feel
the need to prove that you’re unique. You’ve
no big need to stand out either, as you’d much
rather connect with others as equal co-cre-
ators in a shared experience.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 22). Reach
out to important people who can help you
move toward your dream. Boldness will be
rewarded many times in 2018. Though you
don’t require people to be anything other than
how they are, family will make you very proud.
You’ll work for the sheer enjoyment of it and
make a killing. Gemini and Pisces adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 19, 40, 23, 38 and 15.