THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018
FEATURES
Seems like a roadblock
Dear Annie: I’m feel- my path? — Stuck in Santa Fe
ing stuck. Recently, my boy-
Dear Stuck: Though you
friend of two years and I have two might not be moving yet,
been looking at new places to you are progressing. Keep
move into together. It’s been focusing on the possibilities
an exciting time, and I keep and you’ll solidify the foun-
daydreaming of our future — dation for the life you’ll build
together. It’s also a
marriage, kids, nest-
DEAR
ing, chore charts, the
great time to study
whole thing. However,
up on couples com-
ANNIE
munication
skills,
a wrench has been
which will come in
thrown into our plans.
handy when shar-
An old co-worker
ing close quarters.
let him know about
Though I understand
a great job — 1,000
why you’d like to get
miles away. He’s
an apartment together
really interested in the
Lane
now, it’s not as if you
position, and he’s been Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
two are stalling for
looking for new work
no good reason. Hang
for a while now, but
an offer, if it were to happen, tight and wait to hear about
wouldn’t come in for a few the job (if you’re comfortable
months. In the meantime, it relocating — and that in itself
feels silly to keep looking for might be a whole other letter).
Dear Annie: We live full
new places to live, especially
because we would most likely time in a pretty pool home on
have a yearlong lease. But it a canal in Florida. Especially
also feels silly to stop. Neither in winter, everyone wants to
of us wants to put all our eggs stay at our home. Our family
in one basket (this new job). comes first, and we welcome
I know life’s not perfect, and family members to our home.
there will always be uncer- We have many friends who
tainty, but, Annie, how do I call and request a stay at our
keep moving forward when I home, as well, or intimate that
feel as if there’s a roadblock in they are in the area; they might
as well invite themselves.
Many of these people have
stayed at our home repeatedly.
I end up doing most of the
cooking, cleaning and serving.
My husband is not a big help
and only grills. As I’ve gotten
older, this has become a bur-
den upon me physically and
become mentally stressful.
Attending to others’ dietary
needs and pets can also be dif-
ficult. If we say that we are
busy, they try to talk us into a
visit or put a guilt trip on us.
How can I find a method to
say “no” while keeping my
friends? — Crowded Canal
Dear Crowded Canal:
People who stop talking to
you because they couldn’t
stay with you were never real
friends to begin with. Rest
assured that your true friends
will understand and respect
your boundaries. It’s perfectly
reasonable that you would like
the space to yourself, espe-
cially as company has begun
to feel like a mental and physi-
cal burden. So take the plunge.
Try out saying the word “no”
— and no apologies necessary.
I wager it will get easier with
time.
3C
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). It just doesn’t
seem fair that some people should be allowed
the freedom to do as they please and express
themselves openly and others have to work and
be appropriate all the time. That’s why you’ll
make a change.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re open-mind-
ed and flexible enough to use what you’ve
learned in many applications. However, what
you need now is very specific. Only take advice
from those who have done the thing you want
to do.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Among the arti-
facts that you possess is one that, while not
obviously valuable, is precious and irreplace-
able. Why not display it as the treasure it is to
you? Today will bring the inspiration and means
to do so.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There’s a
social pattern that occurs: You give more and
they take more; you withdraw and they give
more. If you’re conscious of it, it feels like a
game. Someone will come along to shake up
the dynamic.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Appreciate your
current status even as you wish for something
new. Change will happen soon enough. But of
course the life you wish for will come with its
own set of new problems.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The work itself
won’t get any easier, but you’ll get better at it,
and therefore it will be easier to you. This is
the preferred way. You’d rather grow in skill and
strength than have the rest of the world shrink.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Juicy informa-
tion is difficult to keep quiet. Much success
in restraint will be attributed to delaying your
response to things, holding off your decision,
waiting to send the email and the like.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Some things
need nurturing to grow, but what you’re dealing
with now is like a wildflower that pops up where
it pleases — the side of the freeway, through
the cracks of cement. ... It will thrive on its own
volition.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Centuries ago, new
shoes were a much bigger deal to acquire. And
today, even though you own several pairs of
them, the thrill is still real. Upgrades that hap-
pen below the knee will lift your whole mood.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). They won’t care
about all that goes into the result — not today
anyway. They want what they want when they
want it. Use this to your advantage. Don’t set
your price based on what things cost; set it
based on what people will pay.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). As far as you’re
concerned, laughter and love go together.
When they laugh, they show understanding and
demonstrate their alliance. The one who can
make you laugh will have your heart.
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
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Human eyes are
limited. We have but two, and they are not near-
ly as keen as the eyes of some other creatures.
But we can also try to see with our hearts,
which will make all of the difference.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (March 31). There
is little more satisfying than realizing your
potential. You guessed at what you could do,
and this solar return shows you surpassing
the guess. The hope and kindness you extend
through the summer will make a difference in
someone’s life. You’ll triple your money with
the financial opportunity in July. Aquarius and
Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 1,
11, 4 and 18.