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.