6A
FEATURES
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
Problematic relationship
Dear Annie: Last fall, my friend ting less frequently. Last week, she
“Olive” and her boyfriend of five texted me that she and John were
years, “John,” broke up. Of course, I back together. She’d moved back in
wasn’t happy to see her going through to his place already and everything.
the tough emotions that come with any
Annie, I’m so frustrated by this
breakup, but man, I sure was happy news, but I’m not sure what to do. I’m
to see that guy out of the picture. He supposed to see Olive next weekend
was a jerk. He cheated on her
(provided she doesn’t flake).
DEAR
multiple times and hardly let
I don’t want to give her a
her see her friends. The rare
hard time, but I also don’t
ANNIE
times she got to see any of
want to pretend I think it’s
her friends, John would text
fine she’s back with John.
Whenever he cheated on her
her after an hour (some-
times less), saying it was
in the past, she would tell me
things such as, “All men
getting late and she should
cheat. They can’t help it.” It
come home. He would even
seems obvious she’s just try-
come pick her up sometimes
Lane
ing to rationalize his behav-
if she didn’t respond. Any- Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
way, I was practically doing
ior. I don’t want to nod along
when she says that stuff, but
Snoopy dances when they
ended things in November, and our I don’t want to get into an argument
with her about it, either. How can I
mutual friends felt the same way.
For about six months afterward, help her see things clearly? — Want-
Olive was way more social than she ing to Be a Good Friend
had been. She spent more time with
Dear Wanting to Be a Good
friends and started taking a class at the Friend: Olive and John’s relationship
local community college. In short, she sounds unhealthy at best and abu-
seemed to be living her best life. She sive at worst. I completely understand
even started seeing another guy about your frustration, but try your best to
three months ago. He was incredibly be patient. If this is an abusive rela-
tionship, then it’s important for her to
sweet and head over heels for her.
I think you can guess by now know she’s got a friend standing by to
where this letter is headed. About a offer support when she finally is ready
month ago, Olive started flaking on to leave. You might try inviting her to
our plans at the last minute and tex- more group outings instead of making
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
one-on-one plans. That way, you won’t
be too put out if she cancels, and she’ll
know she’s still part of the group.
For more information on helping
friends in abusive relationships, visit
http://www.thehotline.org. Click the
“Get Help” tab, and view the page
“Help for Friends and Family.”
Dear Annie: You recently pub-
lished two letters from office workers
who asked for assistance in approach-
ing a co-worker with objectionable
body odors. Your suggestions were
valid, and the admonition to shower
before work was good, but that may
not be enough. Body odor isn’t always
caused by a lack of hygiene. Some
medications, some medical conditions,
cigarette smoking and what a person
eats can contribute. In college, I had a
roommate who exuded very objection-
able smells almost immediately after
a shower and deodorant application.
He was a smoker, but the stale smell
of cigarettes was not the odor emit-
ted. So your advice should have sug-
gested looking for some internal con-
dition that could be the root cause of
the problem. — G.S.
Dear G.S.: You make a great point.
Diabetes, kidney and liver dysfunc-
tion, and rare genetic disorders can
also cause body odor. If good hygiene
practices aren’t getting at the source,
it’s best to talk with your doctor.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). It’s minor things
that happen today — subtle, even. Your inter-
pretation of events will influence your destiny
(and mood!) more than the events themselves.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Certain people
have proven to be so much trouble for you that
you know to avoid them completely. As for the
unknown trouble sources — it’s just a sense
you get, and today an extremely accurate one.
Heed your own warning.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You have an
excellent rapport with a lot of different kinds of
people. But what you have with one person is
much more. It’s a deep and lasting connection,
made possible by your intimate understanding
of this person’s pain and joy.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You may be
in line for a certain product, but it’s not the
product you’re after, not really. You want the
experience — the dance of this. You want the
story this quest is sure to give you.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You wonder if the right
sort of partnership could lift your life to a new
place. What would the relationship have to
be? What would you ask of the other person?
There may be a way to embody these things
yourself.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The saying goes:
“You get out what you put in.” That’s not entirely
true. If you wanted the same thing you put
in, you’d just keep it. As for the trades you’re
currently making, some no longer seem fair or
worth it. Change it up.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). If a tourist came
into your life right now, that person would see
some parts of it as romantic, fascinating and
fun and other parts as uncomfortable and
in need of a lift. What do you see with your
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
“tourist” eyes?
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Most people wait
for holidays and breaks to spend time with the
ones they love, but you don’t have to. You can
create the moments; steal them. You’ll be in-
spired to make up your own meaningful events.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Believing is
a funny thing. You sometimes believe in things
you know aren’t real because it’s more inter-
esting that way, or because everyone is doing
it, or because what the belief encompasses is
more real than reality.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There are a
number of things that are far more contagious
than head colds: manners of thought, emotion-
al expressions, luck, attitudes, sayings, skills,
abilities, viewpoints. ... You’ll be in the mix and
picking up plenty.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You want
clarity, productivity, high energy and success.
Well, you want at least three of those things
anyway, and there’s one you’re not so sure of.
If you can convince yourself, the impediments
will fall away.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). For a discipline
to make a difference in your life it must be
constant in nature. Repetition is the only way
a practice can become ingrained as second
nature and adopted as character.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (May 25). You are
learning to use your emotions (both positive and
negative) for what they can give the world. Joy
is a contagion. Anger is motivation. What you
used to envy others for, you now embody. This
new relationship to your feelings will translate
into improved relationships and very successful
projects. Libra and Scorpio adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 4, 9, 20, 33 and 14.