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HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL “COUNT OUT LOUD” by Tracey Snyder ~ p [1 p ■■£ p p p p~BHTo 1 11 1 12 I u " r * g|<TTi ” "Blii 21 22 ■■■■■■■ 23 -Hggr “ 25 26 27 28 29 30 "■■3 l 32 ' 35 18836 “ *’ t 2 43 ' ' “ ~™ _ Hi ■■■47 48 49~■ |sl 52 53 M 55 57 58 59 “ ■■SO ' ■■6 l 62 Ip" i? ~~~~ ~ ” ” . " Scott'Li'ilfcMjrnTSlstrttutedby Omver'sai'Press Syndicate . * • | H ovi TroPiC/Vl DePreSsioNs ARe CoReD | tjfv The ARGYLE SWEATER Elderberries r » You remind me of 3 fine Wine, Ludmilla,,, X c\ f n r -'li Afc i l ® JB _ Us Stone soup HOW m W- INVENT' I'M A W(3W(^ ((tnort. ~m<H mviairn go, m'u. A mm TIOHT PI2INW NOG HOUPAV Gt/frON. J f wuw m- Pooch Case H£Y< MY MA6ITR ANP t &0f I PtINNo7YOU'RE PRpwN IN A Fl&t+T ABOUT &NIN& ME MUPPY. MY MASTER I 6 ABAIK CAN 1 6fAY WITH &0IN& TO WANT TO CrIVE ] Pickles ITS OO&RP To THINK V WOT, lT<? \ THAT VOU U6EP To C TRUE. I LVY3. ) 6EAUTTIEWP t-> Vl . LIKE ME, \\ Horoscope ■ ARIES (March 21-April 19): Make wise choices. If you don’t feel like celebrating, stay home and enjoy the peace and quiet. Someone may try to intimidate you into doing something you don’t want to do - be firm and say no. 4 stars ■TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Rethink your strategy if you are having problems with someone you thought you were going to move forward with profes sionally or personally. Don’t be afraid - pass on a partnership and move on. 2 stars ■GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Handpicked from j K ., J fiMtant *-\q‘ 1 > ANOTHPP. (d/ > POUtP-- stone soup* jnoe ian plot / dkt by uMversai press synobate Stretch yourself as thin as pos sible if it means being able to spend time with people who can influence your future. Being organized will be the key. Plan some fun for late in the day. 5 stars ■CANCER (June 21-July 22): You may fear change but that’s exactly what you need. There are many choices and even more decisions to be made before year’s end. Make sure you are sitting in a good position financially before you leap into the upcoming year. 3 stars ■LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): ACROSS 1 Shore scavengers 5 Deep-voiced anger 10 Smooch 14 Ballet move 15 Tolerate 16 Better clues? 17 Himalayan legend 18 Fluff, as bangs 19 Intrusively curious 20 One... 23 Hot temper 24 Christian of film 28 Spiteful 31 Boxing stats 34 Marching band drum 35 Willa Cather’s “One of * 36 Two... 38 Eastern title of respect 39 Participate on a debate team 40 “How was know?” 41 Three... 44 Cookbook direction 45 Jumped to one’s feet 46 At-cost connection 47 One way to lay it on 48 Third . generation Japanese- American 50 As well 51 Ending after ■y- ■■■' -'■■ / \ Mr. Jerr'j Dh.„lmeanf, And aqedfo [Ti3\j want like a fine l perfection'. I tp rethink VM'ioe.,'fou have ' v ——jr- —•—' comDlimenf. qreat leas!- f y—l— —'i W.Ho...Uh- I V ZZZr MWN.feMIIU.OM MY MONEYS IN TEANB; 'm-m&w r -- . bW-tPWr' / 3TOM.- SOUP C 200 e JAN ELIOT / CIS' 8V <JNVE fKAL P«*5S SVNOICAK Will hip \( it^not ) V THAT BAP// . v — y—~ WWWSTO'feEOUPCAOTOON&COM ■ GOCOMCS COM weit, mm am t suppose? to eo? i can't eo BACK NOME YET I'M iTOOOePauiGt'Hgan □ :-v try Umversa' Press SynHicarr IN6OAAEU)AMS tSTILL TEEL LIKE -7 A UffLE KIP. ,— * — —^^ Money issues are likely to arise. Overspending on your part or the part of someone dependent on you must be questioned and dealt with. Trying to buy some one’s favor will only put you in the poorhouse. 3 stars ■VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): If you haven’t made plans for this evening, join in the end of year festivities. This is a night to start building your momentum for the upcoming year. You will be in demand if you are a participant. 3 stars ■LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): It’s party time and you will be a JUST FOR FUN Universal Crossword 41-Across 57 Fix, in a way 60 Contempt ible one 61 Bit of filming 63 Have no love lost for 64 Relieves 65 Zealous style 66 Gave the once-over 67 Flexible Flyers 68 They may be cosmic DOWN 1 Tarzan portrayer Ron 2 Place for scuba diving 3 Alliance that includes the U.S. 4 Gin and rum 5 Get in a lather? 6 On the safe side, at sea 7 Criticize severely 8 Fair-to middling 9 1936 Olympics hero Jesse 10 Some marathoners 11 Bachelor’s last words 12 A sib 13 Farm area 21 “Don’t give up!” 22 “If all _ fails...” 25 Island near Bora Bora oo you lon’t payahtntion 70THR FOfZ-M£ to BT WWW KTONEaXIPCAPTOONS COM yXOWfCS COM ' -4 _<Ti Poocft Cate Bog wwv. ooocTcate com ~ / 1G0696. H’OO'RE KINP „ OP LIKE AN AtffiQOE. KIR 1 *=* ' ~ *=» ‘ ' © 2006 Brian Crane, dte». Of WWwigton Post Writer; Group 26 Likely to get an R 27 Try a new approach to 28 Sports announcer Bob 29 First light of day 30 Three-sided figure 31 Land on the Yellow Sea 32 Bach instrument 33 Clue room 36 Away’s partner 37 “Get your hands off me!” 42 Gave it the old college try? 43 Freshman, probably 44 Person with the dice, in craps 47 “Sesame Street” .watcher 49 Puts out of work 50 tt may be in a bun 52 Ranch newborn 53 North Yorkshire river 54 How the duped feel 55 Black-tie blowout 56 Word of approval 57 “Thar blows!” 58 Working capital? 59 Downed a sub, say 62 Annapolis graduate’s rank, briefly PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER i R n HRT~n Tt Ti f 3 SPURHCAN A P E| S ! S _p i j IJU _l ij. jfl _£ _o F_!_E_D J) Ale _K J) J) lJ L_B_o _Y E ETA l||’e|S~pl|"a u r a ■ Ka_s _e _aBM_U_M nB ;- ; ’ W”e ”lU H T M”o Y C n L ”l ”p ’A P Y*Ts a N oß's E E S A S H E I K» N I NEI T R_A J__T 'n O N C e|l“d O A"sppi”s T E 4 T R A I L **h[a N G E*R "t|h ! N ■■vr ■BBir ■NhI c p ipH e r e IHR - 50 A W O lB C M aH V A N C E| 62 |B2 M 85 T I G El R C U T T E R_M _l_ A mßg jl j. _t _e r»a j ie _y _yE_s _£ J! _2 _ißJi _1 _L © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate www.upuzzles.com Ink pen WHo Do you LIKE To FIGHT THE MOST? THUGS? ALIENS? SCIENTISTS? '~ rrL '-;L TT 7r^ ! T^n,. r y-rr r T Prickly City Senator Harry Reid Senate Majority Leader 528 Hart Senate Office , Bldg Washington, DC 20510 j Dear Senator Reid, We hear you are offended < by our stinkiness. j Our apologies. .Jfci if loving OBAMA 1$ \ WRONG, I PONT WANT TO »/ BE RIGHT... Cleats f JACK ANP MONPcTX n i / WAVE REWRITTEN A \ * j I POPULAR POR OUR I ~ ! \ CHRISTMAS CAROLING. J WHAT VO YOU WANT COME ON, I HAVE ) FOR CHRISTMAS, j- ToGETMoO j~—~ —' , great addition to any guest list. Be prepared to be inviting, infor mative and unafraid. The future looks bright. 5 stars ■SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Pick up the phone and wish the people on your mind a happy new year. The conversations you have today will be very important for your future. There is much to be accomplished, so surround yourself with intellec tual conversation. 2 stars ■SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Have plans in motion for the end-of-year celebrations. Whether big or small and inti- r[3n |l[2T [BT9] 65_ 1 5.±. _ 4|2 zsizzzzsi 2 [4~ 8 817 l IWSTT -- \4\" Slfr|S|9|S|6| I-U|B 9 L 8 l WS 6 C IS6 8 Z 9 17 9 5 iiiiiliil iiiiiilii 8 Z t? 6 9 L STIS W9.Z6SBZ I LVZ f 8 8 6|S 9 61SIS IS 11- [9iT|BTF / but THEY Pose no / ACTUALLY \ PHYSICAL THREAT// THEY l I PREFER \ JUST BREAk WHATEVER IWHrrE-CoLLAR L-" x. LAWS-THEY WANT AND \ CRIMINALS. / WHITE- \ THEN TRY TO BUY THEIR v. collar way out of— 3 2006 Urwwsal Press Svnacaie www.9ocomlcs.ccrn Thank goodness that the new Capitol Visitor J Center will serve as a ; buffer between us and j your sensitive ol factory nerve. ! $621 million well spent, indeed* 3bJI i*JB- 2008 BY SCOTT STPKWS AREN'T you AFRAIP THAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE SO ; HIGH you CAN'T HELP s BUT BE PISAPPOINTEP? sir '4 ■ -UK* U, i-rtUll” , / BUT S.INCE OUR GOAL I / IE, TO BRING MOLIPAY CHEER, \ [ / NOT UOLIPAY FEAR, I ! ; [ “UfXE COME* SAHTA aAvar / I V WILL NOT BE PEBUTING i V. HOLIPAY «AEON. / i (c) 2008 Bill Hinds, Dist. by Universal Press Syndicate mate, the company you keep today and tonight will mark the flavor of the upcoming year. Change is upon you and it’s you who makes the choices. 4 stars ■CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You may have left impor tant issues to the last minute but you can still talk your way to settling whatever has been left undone. Don’t be afraid to blow your horn and display your attributes for all to see. Your confidence will get you what you want. 3 stars ■AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Look back and judge your past WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2008 ♦ Sudoku DIFFICULTY RATING: icCrCrCrfa SOLUTION j * Best regards, ! &mMv 1 Carmen WST. 0V LMVeRSAI FKESS SYNDICATE, INC. YOU PEOPLE TELL THaTtO J . WOULPN'T THE SCAR jf»»rA uAQvftntogt- P>ee»» s-HJOtmie ,i»c ( BUT PUPE'C, ALREAPY ) 67T CTJ J comment at gocomics.com e-mail: Cleatsmall@aol.com WEIL, MAKE IrsoM£- THING U&EFOL. IF I CAN'T EAT ir,U)64Rli; WATCH If OR BORN If; E3NT lit IT/ nnt before you leap forward into the future. Someone you once knew will make a difference to a pressing decision you have to make. An offer to utilize your time and your knowledge for something important must be considered. 3 stars ■PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Close the year with a bang. Make sure you get out with peo ple who can make a difference to your year ahead. You have things to promote and partner ships to pursue, so make the year-end festivities work in your favor. 3 stars oH,I THINK I GET ha* WHERE YOU'RE you SEEN 601M6 WfTH KVNEW HER CEVtS? Dunlap 12-is-ar P.S. Please / accept my friends workout thong as a token of our feelings for you. WWVSIPRICmCtTY.COM H 6CrT rs. A SAG \ OF CHARCOAL l AN(?9OM£ pi t j | ® 2008 Bnan Crane, dst by Wasrtngton «ist Writers Group 5B