Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19): On a gut level, you know the investments of energy, time or money that are right for you. Honor you limits and also your instincts toward outrageous generosity. Taurus (April 20-May 20): Stop struggling. No one will gain from extraneous effort. There’s someone close with the power to help or maybe even make the whole dilemma go away. Reach out. Gemini (May 21-June 21): The pressure is off — except for, of course, the pressure you’re putting on yourself, which is more or less a constant. Is this really necessary? Ease up a little and then, if you feel OK about that, maybe a little more. Cancer (June 22-July 22): Your instincts are honed. Believe it. You’ll automatically make the right risk to save what’s important. With that knowledge, you can go about your day worry-free. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Success is linked to your creativity. Before you make any actual efforts, put your imagination to the task. Daydream your way into solutions. Think of 10 different ways you might solve the problem. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Are you in love with a person or with the story you have created about the person? Certainly, your projections affect the situation. Love and objectivity don’t mix. The deeper the love the lesser the objectivity. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): You’re not proud of every single thing you’ve done, but that’s part of being human. Mistakes can’t be helped. Anyway, doing nothing wrong is a mistake, too — the mistake of being boring and scared to grow. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): Someone who is truly on your wavelength — well, it’s a pretty rare find. Don’t let that stop you from reaching out, though. Finish your thoughts before communicating them. Join the dots. Make it easy for people to understand you. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): It hasn’t been easy to figure out what you really want, because the answer keeps changing. That’s fine. All the more reason not to make a move yet. Wait until you’re more certain. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Thinking energizes you. It doesn’t have to be your own thinking, either; you’ll be energized by what you read, hear and see, as long as there’s a robust thought process behind it. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Not all plans are conscious. When your subconscious plans come together today, the result will be a mixture of surprise and satisfaction. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): You’re not going to win alone, and neither will the other person. Join forces in a game that’s big enough for two. Become partners in seeking a solution with prizes for all.

To write to Holiday Mathis, visit www.creators. com/author/holiday-mathis and click “Contact.” DEAR ABBY » I’m not a dog person. I’m not even an animal person. I am, however, surrounded by dog owners — my family, my husband’s family, my neighbors. Back in middle school, I was bitten several times by dogs while delivering my paper route. My husband has been without a dog for five years (since the beginning of our relationship). Over the last six months, he has begun to ask when he can get “us” a dog. I absolutely do not want one. They’re not clean, they make “messes,” and we will constantly have to find someone to care for it when we travel. I have told him this, yet he continues asking. We can’t even agree on a hypothetical breed of dog.

I suppose I could say, “Go ahead,” with the condition that my husband will have to shoulder all pet-related responsibilities. But we both know how well that will work out. What do you think?

— Wary in Wisconsin

DEAR WARY » There’s a saying, “Once bitten, twice shy.” Because you have been bitten more than once, your reason for not wanting a dog seems logical. Frankly, I think it would be unfair to the animal to bring it into a household in which it wasn’t unanimously welcomed. And if you think your husband would lay the responsibility for caring for the dog on you, you should not agree.

DEAR ABBY » My 62-year-old father has recently started to streak his hair with fluorescent colors. He does it when he goes to his job and coordinates his hair color with his outfits. As far as I know, his employer has not said anything as of yet.

Also, Dad has difficulty with social cues. My mother and I aren’t happy with his “fashion” choices and we plead with him to stop doing this. It’s embarrassing because it looks stupid and ridiculous. He claims he doesn’t care what others think and that he has flair.

Are my mother and I wrong to criticize his “flair”? Isn’t this behavior really inappropriate for a man his age? How can we convince him that he’s making a fool of himself and should stop? Your help is appreciated.

— No fool like an old fool

DEAR N.F.L.A.O.F. » Repeat after me: We cannot change other people; we can only change the way we react to them. Understand that how your father presents himself reflects only on him — not you. Because you and your mother have tried reasoning with him and he refuses to listen, you all might be happier if you stop making HIS fashion choices YOUR problem.

DEAR ABBY » My wife seems to only want to have sex with me when I’m supposed to be at work. It’s really flattering, but I am at risk of losing my job. We don’t have enough savings to last more than a couple of months if I’m out of work. She wanted me to call in sick today, but I didn’t know how to say no without offending her. Help!

— John in Canada

DEAR JOHN » Try this. Ask your wife, “Which is more important to you — me in your bed or food on the table and a roof over our heads? I’ll be home by 6 o’clock. Be ready!”

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www. DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.