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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 2018)
6A FEATURES Pleas go unheeded Dear Annie: I have a friend not stand it anymore and this bad who talks very loudly. It’s quite habit is hurting our friendship. — annoying and irritating. She’s so Loudness Sufferer loud that it sounds as though she’s Dear Loudness Sufferer: angry or upset. Friends and family Perhaps she was born with large members have asked me numer- vocal cords or is suffering a sub- ous times why she talks tler form of hearing loss DEAR so loudly. I have asked not detected in basic her nicely a million times tests. (You might encour- ANNIE age her to see a special- to lower her voice. Soon ist to rule that out.) What- after telling her, the vol- ume goes back up, even ever the reason for her when she is sitting right loud talking, her worse next to me. What is sur- habit is refusing to hear prising is that she does her friends. Before it not realize how loudly totally ruins the friend- Lane ship, let her know how it she talks. This person Annie Creators Syndicate Inc. hurts your feelings when had her hearing tested she disregards your pleas. about a year ago as part Dear Annie: I bet you haven’t of a routine medical checkup, and her hearing was considered nor- heard this one before. My hus- mal for her age. She tells me that band has narcolepsy. His assess- she has been talking loudly all ment at the sleep clinic indicated her life and gets annoyed when that he goes into REM sleep asked to lower the volume. Why instantly. He usually stays up until is it that she cannot lower her voice even when she’s been asked almost 2 in the morning and often politely? Can such a nasty habit gets up at 6. Unfortunately, I am be changed? Would a speech ther- unable to fall into a deep sleep apist help? Do breathing exercises until he comes to bed, because I exist that could help her lower her know his getting in bed will cause voice? Could it be that she has a stir and wake me up. The prob- some unknown medical problem? lem is I am barely functioning — It’s come to the point that I can- and it causes fights when I try to THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2018 TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. get him to come to bed at a rea- sonable time. I adapted when I was younger, but as I’ve gotten older, it’s been much more diffi- cult. I realize that this is my prob- lem — even though if he slept more, it would probably have a beneficial effect for him, too. (He has a lot of health issues.) I don’t know how to cope anymore. — Sleepless in Spokane Dear Sleepless in Spokane: These days, many couples sleep in separate bedrooms, and I’m not talking about unhappy cou- ples. In fact, these are very happy couples — because both partners are able to get a good night’s rest, even if they have different sleep- ing habits. If you don’t have a spare bed- room, consider getting two twin beds. I’ve heard from many read- ers who have solved sleeping dif- ferences with spouses this way. One can get into bed without wor- rying that the rustling of covers and shifting of the mattress will wake the sleeping partner. Though sleeping in separate beds might not be how you always pictured a happy marriage, what’s really important is that you cher- ish your waking hours together. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Someone who is out of touch with his or her own business will be overly involved with yours. This is beneficial to no one. Life will work better when the everyone takes responsibility for what is rightly theirs, nothing more, nothing less. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Honor the unsung helpers in your life. Anyone who makes you look good deserves your lavish praise and maybe a treat, too. Bonus: Your self-esteem gets a turbo charge. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Though you happen to be in a driven mood, you’ll stay the course even if you know you will never achieve the glorious goal. The true reward is in who you become for having dared to dream. The prize is but a bonus. CANCER (June 22-July 22). You love to be around creative people like you, and ones who aren’t like you, too. Sometimes very creative people say and do the wrong thing, but you offer a measure of leeway for this because they give you so much. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It’s not that you want people to go out of their way to serve you, but a little well-deserved special care would be nice. The human touch is a kindness you appreciate in whatever form it comes, metaphorically or physically. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There’s something you could do better if you had formal instruc- tion in it. The training will not be as difficult, time-consuming or costly as you think it will be. Look into it! LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Because you’re so alive to the possibilities of life, staying on course will be a challenge. Your interactions may feel unfocused, yet there’s a whimsy in your mood 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 that will add an interesting creative element to your work. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Different places grow different plants. Environments matter. Try to see the entire context of the issue. Maybe the people involved in a problem are not the ones who are to blame for it. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Chanc- es are, “I’ve tried everything,” really means, “I’ve tried a few things.” Failing is hard, but it gets easier as you keep going. If nothing has worked, that doesn’t mean nothing will. Keep trying new things. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Everyone has holes in their education. These missed lessons are like potholes that can cause an accidental trip-up, but at least that will help you to identify where you need to fill in the blanks. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). To remember well is a gift. To forget well is also a gift. If neither is within your grasp today, then it’s only because your brain is busy with a third talent — to project well. You’ll recognize potential and imagine the best of what’s possible. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Ralph Waldo Emerson said that common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. You’ll have such an outfit of genius on today as you solve com- plex problems with practical finesse. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 4). Your moral fiber gets stronger even as it gets more flexible. Your philosophy will shift — a sign of maturity and a function of the adjustments you employ to make your life work better. New relationships blossom. April brings a big deal. Improved finances will have to do with this shift of mind and lifestyle. Scorpio and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 2, 44, 47, 12 and 6.