A6 THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, FEbRuARY 6, 2019 Is wine every night OK? Dear Annie: I’m writing to erate alcohol consumption. you about something that I’m Though the science might not be not sure is a problem. Really, settled on that issue, one thing I think it’s just a habit. But my is for certain: You don’t need to husband told me I should ask be physically addicted to some- you for your thoughts thing to be mentally DEAR on this. Every night reliant on it. And that ANNIE when I get home from seems to be the case work, I have two glasses with you and your two of red wine. I drink one nightly drinks. Though with dinner and one you might not be an while I watch TV or alcoholic, if your rela- read a book. I never feel tionship with alcohol is drunk, just slightly more causing unease in both carefree. It helps me ANNIE LANE your husband and you, Creators wind down so I can fall it’s time to take a break. Syndicate Inc. asleep at night, some- Replace drinking with another de-stress- thing I’ve had trouble with all my life. ing ritual, such as a bath, medi- If I am driving home and tation, yoga or an evening stroll. know we are almost out of And try other methods for help- wine, I’ll stop at the store and ing to fall asleep at night, such get some. I can tell that my hus- as breathing exercises or herbal band is a little worried I’m being sleep aids. These will actually unhealthy, but there seem to be leave you feeling more rested reports coming out all the time the next day, as alcohol intake is saying that red wine is good for associated with decreased qual- you. ity of sleep. Dear Annie: “Really Not Is this something I should worry about? I definitely am not Conceited,” a highly edu- an alcoholic, but I do drink every cated 48-year-old homemaker and mother of two, asked you day. — Wine-ding Down Dear Wine-ding Down: whether she’s wasting her tal- Conflicting reports abound ents. Raising children is import- about the healthfulness of mod- ant, but when they are grown, TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. she should do something for herself. Case in point: I always loved dancing and would have liked to have been a dancer, but there weren’t many jobs of that type available in the Midwest in the 1950s. So I held a few general jobs, got married and raised two children. After my chil- dren were grown, my husband and I became involved in square dancing, which led to ballroom dancing and line dancing. I took more lessons and became a dance instructor in ballroom dancing, round dancing and line dancing. My husband, who had always been interested in music, became a square dance caller. We spent 25 years in our new avocation. After retiring from our day jobs, we were involved in dancing full time. Maybe making people happy wasn’t a big contribution to the world, but we had a wonderful time, and so did most of our dancers. We retired three years ago and no longer teach or dance, but “Really Not Conceited” should do something she wants to do. No matter what it is, she will be glad she moved on. — Dancing Grandma ARIES (March 21-April 19).You didn’t want it or plan it. You never thought it really fit you ... and yet here you are in this circumstance that seemed either to choose you or to land on you, depending on how you look at it. Make the most of it. This is a gift. another angle? TAURUS (April 20-May 20). When the end is not in sight, it’s good to keep it in mind. Maybe create a special vision or a symbol for it to use as motivation to keep going forward until you’ve completed the task. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Better organiza- tion will improve your relationships. How? It will allow you to carve out the right sort of time for the other person and to spend it doing the things that really matter to you both. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). That species of pride called “arrogance” invokes a particularly negative reaction from you today. Does it calm you to know the perpetrator is coming from a place of extreme insecurity? CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). One way your loved ones can make your life easier and better is by making the effort to show up strong and mix well with your other loved ones. Anyone who causes you problems in this regard is not being very loving. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Now you look back on some things that happened with a very differ- ent opinion than you had when it was all going down. This is proof that you’re always growing and evolving. You refuse to get stuck. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Some things are simply not worth doing. But which ones? You can’t learn which ones from a book or any other media, or even from your best friends. Only your heart can tell you what’s worth doing and what’s not. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). To prepare for today’s social demands, it will help if you decide before- hand what you want to talk about. Having good topics on the ready will allow you to relax, them to relax, and a productive communication to ensue. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You have to ask, “Am I going the wrong direction entirely?” Maybe there’s a better way. Toy around. Think creatively. Tease solutions out with good questions. What about leverage? What about approaching from 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 SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Maybe there is no a scenario in which you won’t be criticized for the choice you make. So you may as well do what your heart says is right so at least you can be on your own side. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). One of your projects seems to be dragging on forever and you may even fantasize about abandoning it, but this is no time to lose heart. You’re almost there — really! Rest if you have to, but don’t give up. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). While no one can ob- tain talents they don’t naturally possess, obtaining new skills is a different story entirely. You can do so much when you put your mind to it. What matters now is what’s worthy of your mind. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 7). You know many sides of love, yet you’ll get a new emotional vocabulary this year as love takes new forms and produces different kinds of joy. More features of this solar return: a family addition, a strange series of events that answers one of your oldest questions and a style upgrade that changes your daily routine. Capricorn and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 20, 24, 4 and 11.