If the year ahead appears to be a bit topsy-turvy, it will be because endeavors that you think would be big winners aren't apt to pan out, while the notions that you deem duds will produce some impressive rewards. Take what you can get and run with it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Your inability to properly evaluate information that is essential to your plans could be due to not having all the necessary information at your disposal. Don't try to make a call without all the facts.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Disappointment is likely if you build your expectations upon questionable premises. It's good to be optimistic, but only if you're also in touch with reality.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- If you want others to accept you and treat you nicely, you must first reach out to them. Keep being warm and friendly, even when you get the cold shoulder. Eventually they'll come around.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- The only person you have to genuinely please is you. If you think you've done your best to be warm and giving, you don't need any additional applause.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Be careful not to commit any selfish acts or act indifferently to someone who is nice to you. If you do so, it will be quite a while before you can look at yourself in the mirror again.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Be observant, because someone you recently met might not be everything that he or she pretends to be. When this person has to perform under pressure, this will become apparent to you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Should a friend come to you for advice, instead of telling your pal what you think she or he wants to hear, tell the truth. Be kind about it, and you'll do a world of good.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Your ability to recognize a real bargain might not be operating very well. If something is expensive, sleep on it for a while before committing a sizable chunk of change.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Something might arise that could force you to choose between feathering your own nest or helping out a friend, partner or loved one. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Be extremely selective of your choice of companions, because what they do will reflect on you for either good or ill. Don't gain a bad reputation based on your friends.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- You could find yourself involved in a social event where everybody but you knows one another, leaving you feeling like an outsider. If you can, take a friend along.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Your personal ambitions and your abilities might not complement one another. It's OK to want certain things but only if you have the ability to get what you desire.

Trying to patch up a broken romance? The Astro-Graph Matchmaker can help you understand what to do to make the relationship work. Send for your Matchmaker set by mailing $3 to Astro-Graph, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167.

** ** **

COPYRIGHT 2012 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

DISTRIBUTED BY UNIVERSAL UCLICK FOR UFS