Reader, wife want to end friendship with couple
Aries (March 21-April 19) You often respond to your inner voice, which takes you into new and sometimes unpredictable situations. You could surprise yourself with your choices. Taurus (April 20-May 20) You might decide to be more active. You will get a great response from others as a result. Follow what you feel is the best path. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Listen to your inner voice with a particular issue that arises. This matter could involve a friend, which is likely to catch you off guard. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Focus on the long term and walk away from instability, especially if it does not benefit you directly. You will be a lot happier if you do. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Be willing to move in a new direction. A discussion will help, but in general, people seem to be in an either/or type of mood. This year you seem to connect with others naturally. You experience some tension when dealing with those in charge. You might find others’ lifestyles to be quite different from yours. Be intrigued and open rather than judgmental. If you are single, you could meet someone special when traveling. You might not decide that it is a forever relationship, but you certainly will grow because of this interaction. If you are attached, you will not complain of boredom. You and your sweetie often go out together. TAURUS believes that he or she knows more than you do.
What the stars Mean Dynamic Positive Average So-so Difficult
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Your fine-tuned ability to detach will take you far right now. You know how to tell someone that you have had enough. Your sense of humor and depth allow you to communicate what you are seeing. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
One-on-one relating is highlighted. Others seem to be much more responsive than usual, and you like what you are hearing. Still, a close friend or associate could shock you with his or her actions and ideas. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You could be too tired to continue at your present pace, especially as others seem to demand more and more. You might decide to throw in the towel. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Throw yourself into work or whatever responsibilities demand your attention. A new friend is quirky, and he or she might decide to do the unexpected. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You have a twinkle in your eye that lets others know that you might not be as serious as you seem. A matter in your domestic life pops up that you must handle. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Try as you might to stay calm, you still could be overwhelmed by what falls into your lap. Tension builds, as you feel you must handle a situation that seems to be going south. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Reach out to a friend who has been lying low as of late. Catch up on each other’s news. Recognize how much this person appreciates your time. Jacqueline Bigar is at www.jacquelinebigar.com. Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Dear Annie: My wife and I met this new couple at a function, and they seemed really nice, so we exchanged information in hopes of meeting up again.
We like meeting new couples and thought we’d see whether we have more in common. We have hung out with them a handful of times now but don’t see any connection or really have much in common. They are always bringing up politics and their strong beliefs in a particular party, followed by negative comments about what the state of our country would be if the other party were to win the presidential election and all the doom and gloom we would be in for.
My wife and I have never been very political and don’t find much interest in discussing it.
We have a decently fun time with them, but my wife and I often talk about what else we could’ve done that evening or that day. The woman of the other couple texts my wife almost every Friday now to invite us out.
We’ve said no a few times, but now we don’t wish to meet up with them anymore because these political conversations are such a drag.
It feels as if we are trying to break up with this couple but they don’t know it yet. We don’t know what to do. — Politics-Free
Household
Dear Politics-Free: Although these days it seems to be more of a faux pas to discuss “Game of Thrones” spoilers at the dinner table than politics and religion, there’s a reason that those loaded topics have traditionally been off-limits.
They’re deeply personal, and talking about them tends to create hostile territory where friendship might have grown.
Politely tell the couple you respect that they are passionate about their beliefs but you don’t feel comfortable talking politics.
If they can’t respect that, move on to new friends. You’re under no obligation to spend time with this couple. After all, “doomed” or not, it’s still a free country.