THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2018
FEATURES
Just too many expectations
Dear Annie: After working with him during the day. Surely,
my whole life, I am retiring in a you and your husband can come
couple of weeks. I’ve been look- up with a plan that doesn’t
ing forward to some downtime, require you to serve as 24/7
sleeping in, time for myself and nurse and chef. The same goes
time to do the things I want to do, for your son and his wife. They
but a problem has appeared.
should not rely entirely on you
My husband wants
for child care. Baby-sit-
DEAR
ting should be a favor,
me to take care of his
not a duty.
97-year-old
semi-in-
ANNIE
valid
father,
who
Though
setting
expects a full cooked
boundaries may lead to
breakfast every morn-
some conflict with fam-
ily members in the short
ing at 7 o’clock. On top
term, it will make for
of that, my son and his
healthier, less resent-
wife, who work differ-
ful relations in the long
ent shifts, expect me to
Lane
term. Congrats on your
care for their screaming Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
retirement.
2-year-old toddler and
Dear Annie: I am a
their new baby, who is
gay man in my late 20s, and I’ve
due in a few weeks.
I hate to say “no” to my fam- found myself in a very confus-
ily, but what about me? What ing situation. I could use some
should I do? — Distressed in advice. My best friend, a woman
Utah
I’ve known for almost 15 years,
Dear Distressed: Don’t think and I are so close we’re almost
of it as saying “no” to your fam- like siblings. I spend holidays
ily. Think of it as finally saying with her family and take vaca-
tions with them. Her parents
“yes” to yourself.
Someone was taking care of consider me one of their chil-
your father-in-law up until this dren. She has three elder sib-
point. Can that person continue lings, a sister and two broth-
to do so, at least in some capac- ers. I am incredibly close to all
ity? Perhaps you could hire a of them, especially one of her
part-time caregiver who could be brothers, “Bryan.”
Bryan is like a brother to me.
We tell each other we love each
other. If he were gay, I would
most likely be in a relationship
with him. So compatible are we
that his parents often joke that we
would make the perfect couple.
However, my fraternal rela-
tionship with Bryan has always
sort of had an undertone of his
appreciating the fact that I find
him attractive. It’s not uncom-
mon for him to take his shirt off
and ask me whether I think his
workouts are paying off. I know
that this is quite common with
other people, too; straight men
often relish the idea that they are
the object of desire for gay men.
But recently, it’s come to a weird
apex.
Now, I should probably men-
tion that he has a girlfriend whom
he loves and is about to move in
with. But I still have these com-
plicated feelings. Is he just teas-
ing me? Is he just joking?
I love him like a brother, but I
would definitely be intimate with
him if he wanted. I’m so con-
fused. — Confused
Dear Confused: I take it
Bryan is confused, too. But
that’s no excuse for his selfish
behavior.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). The social scien-
tists suggest that the most important (and telling)
part of a conversation is the start of it. As the
sign of beginnings, you get this intuitively and
lead with the intention of making something
positive happen.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). On the surface
there’s not a lot of difference between going with
the flow and conforming like a chameleon. The
difference is on the inside. Don’t fool yourself.
Make strategic compromises — external, not
internal.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The less you own,
the less you are owned. There was a time when
these symbols meant much more to you; but
now that they don’t, the thing to do is to take the
cash value.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re a help-
er. Also, you’ve the experience to easily solve
many problems. However, refrain from giving
advice or solutions until and unless you are
asked. No one likes to be told what they should
be doing.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ll be somewhat
impervious to what others are reacting to. It’s not
that you’re unfeeling; rather, you are protected by
your broader point of view. Seeing the big picture
minimizes the impact of circumstantial pettiness.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). One would think
that extremely valuable things would be con-
stantly guarded against theft, loss or damage,
and yet it’s not always so. People lose valuables
all of the time. This is no time to take for granted
what you hold dear.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Today’s success secret
is a no-brainer. You’ll seek out and study those
who live the way you want to live. Furthermore,
though it won’t happen overnight, eventually you
will become one of them.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll focus on
what’s good and ask the same of others. This
will not be accomplished overtly, which would
only be annoying. The positivity is an extension
of how you are, your general personality and
approach.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Deep down, you
know what you want. Press yourself! It’s a good
thing to figure out early in the day, because you
could waste a lot of time with vague actions.
Have the confidence to be specific and direct.
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
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Should you
avoid or embrace conflict? Much depends on
motive. If you’re avoiding conflict to be liked,
the plan will backfire. If you’re avoiding it to be
peaceful, the moral high ground will be your
paradise.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Many believers
in angels and spirit guides suggest that these
ethereal entities communicate with us through
feelings. Today it will seem that your intuition, or
some extrasensory stimulus, is trying to tell you
something.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Whether it seems
to be going very right, or very wrong, you’ll be
cool with it. These things have a way of stabi-
lizing. The midpoint is called that for a reason.
Everything settles there eventually.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (MARCH 15).
You’re not required to answer every call, show
up to every invite or react to every situation. Over
the next three months you’ll reinforce your power
position and nudge out those who want to con-
trol your scene. Then everything starts coming
together in June — financially, romantically and
domestically. Aries and Virgo adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 9, 30, 2, 19 and 44.