Newspaper Page Text
Page 6B, The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, July 9, 2008
PRESENTED BY
VolunteerMatch.org
Where volunteering begins.
Inc.
MORNING ROUTINES
ACROSS
1. At or on the sea
5. Through-the-lense
8. Tau cross with loop at top
12. Wing motion
13. *You put each on after
your pants
14. It revolutionized the way
we vacation
15. Tear down
16. *Morning observation
17. Later
18. Defeats
20. Christmas decoration
21. Someone who coos
22. " Hard"
23. Snoopy creator
26. *Farmer's alarm
30. Definite article
31. To drug excessively
34. Female "Iron Chef" Cat
35. Coached Shaq's last title
37. Goon
38. Follow dings
39. "Jeopardy!" host
40. *No ordinary Joe
42. John McCain's party
43. Sonoma hot spot
45. T in NATO
47. Highest alert
48. Unhealthy facial tone
50. Plural of cecum
52. *First of three square?
56. Acid known for its abun
dance in green leaves
57. Julia Roberts' Oscar-win
ning role
58. Stare amorously
59. " with greatness"
60. Ranger who rode Silver
61. Bruce and Spike, e.g.
62. Opposite of busy
63. Feeling of veneration
64. *Grass does this in the
morning
DOWN
1. '70s hairdo
2. Slavonic speaker
3. "Ill at "
4. Short synopsis
5. Recurrent element
6. The one in London is
known as royal palace and
fortress
7. " is more?"
8. *Breakfast outside, e.g.
9. "Tiny" Archibald
10. Location of ACL and
MCL
11. H in HMS
© 2008, StatePoint Media,
13. *Many hit this button
each day
14. Outside the house
19. Popular cheese
22. *You walk it in the
morning
23. Scarecrow makeup
24. Some like it hot
25. She was reason for Tro
jan War
26. High tight collar
27. Polynesian kingdom
28. Cereal plant fungus and
source of alkaloids
29. Rough, as in voice
32. Don't let it hit you on
your way out
33. Great Britain's airforce
36. *Morning exertion
38. He played with domi
nos?
40. Architect's software
41. Colorless, odorless gas
used as fuel
44. R&R hangout
46. Enclose completely
48. Cupid's ammo
49. It runs through Paris
50. Cut at birth
51. Twelfth month of civil
year
52. Lugosi or Bartok
53. "A Death in the Family"
author James
54. A bunch, often followed
by "of"
55. " of the
d'Urbervilles"
56. Investigative unit
On NASCAR: Interdependence Day
Special to the Ledger
By Cathy Elliott
One of the cooler cur
rent television commercials
starring NASCAR driver
features Tony Stewart gaz
ing lovingly at his car
- a Corvette, in this case
- seemingly oblivious to the
rest of the world even as it
continues to revolve around
him.
Fans use him as a photo
op, sort of a living cardboard
cutout, unblinking as guys
drape their arms across his
shoulders and lovely young
women ruffle his hair and
plant shiny pink Barbie-lip
stick kisses on his cheek.
Stewart, though, is
unaware of any of these
goings-on. He can’t take his
eyes off that car.
For one suspended moment
in TV time, nothing exists
in his world other than man
and machine.
This adoring one-on-one
relationship disintegrates,
of course, once they hit the
race track. Stewart’s bright
orange Toyota may be one of
the more distinctive cars and
he is surely one of the most
popular and recognizable
drivers in all of racing, but
if they choose to maintain
their attitude of exclusiv
ity, neither of them is going
anywhere.
Some of the most frus
trating NASCAR-related
conversations I’ve had over
the past several years have
resulted from comments
- not mine - offering up the
opinion that stock car racing
simply isn’t a team sport, but
rather just one guy riding
around in a car for four or
five hundred miles.
LTh-oh. Now they’ve gone
and done it. This attitude
is my kryptonite, my hot
button and my Bat signal all
rolled into one. Say this to
me and you’re guaranteed
to get my attention, ready
or not.
I totally understand that
a boy’s first love is his car,
because I’ve been there.
The occasion was my 16th
birthday. The object of my
affection was a Chevy Vega,
complete with hatchback
and metallic finish, the ex
tremely bright blue apple of
my eye, I thought it was just
the most beautiful thing I
had ever seen. It represented
my freedom.
With driver’s license in
hand, so new it was still
warm from the DMV lami
nating machine, I rounded
up some willing friends and
made plans to celebrate my
newfound adulthood the
old-fashioned way, by cram
ming eight or ten teenagers
into my glorious new-to-me
rolling palace and going to
see a movie.
I was confident that all
of the pieces were in place.
The Mighty Vega was spit-
shined, the crew was ready
to roll, and we were halfway
down the driveway when I
realized that my confidence
had been misplaced ... along
with my cash.
Have you ever tried to
wring gas money out of
a Vegaload of teenagers?
Winged pigs come to mind.
Chastened and reduced to
the level of literal begging, I
went back into the house and
explained my situation to my
father. He just looked at me,
then took out his wallet and
handed me a twenty.
I tried to make a clean and
dignified getaway, but alas,
it was not to be. As I opened
the door to leave, he said,
“Happy birthday ... Miss
Independent.’’
Dad wasn’t out there put
ting on four tires and adjust
ing the wedge, but it didn’t
matter. The world loomed
limitless and large, but with
out his help, I couldn’t move
an inch.
It is all too easy for race
fans to fall into the trap of
believing that Carl Edwards,
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the
other top names of the NAS
CAR Sprint Cup Series are,
collectively speaking, “The
Man’’, and in large part this
is true. Each of these guys
represents the highest and
most visible point in their
individual orbit, like Seattle’s
Space Needle or the top floor
of Macy’s, where they stash
all the designer outfits.
After all, how many Super
Bowl-winning touchdowns
could Eli Manning have
thrown without the offensive
line out there supporting
him? Mr. Manning can tell
you that while having control
of the football is great, one
loose lug nut can cause you
to lose it all.
In NASCAR, this is
never more apparent than at
Daytona, where a bold foray
into the groove not taken can
literally hang a driver out to
dry.
NASCAR offers us a prime
example of the principle of
interconnectedness. The
drivers may indeed be The
Man, but without The Men
(and WoMen) who back them
up through ownerships and
sponsorships, in the shop and
in the pits, they may as well
be sitting in the driveway,
behind the wheel of an old
Vega. Every time their visage
grins down at you from a
billboard, it is propped up
not only by foundations and
Cathy Elliott
framework, but also by the
catch-can guy and the rear-
tire changer.
Throughout our lives and
careers we strive to break
free of strictures. These in
clude things like our parents,
our bosses and the posted
speed limit.
But at this time of the year
when we spend so much time
in consideration and discus
sion of things like indepen
dence and freedom, it is
important to remember that
neither wars nor races are
won by a single man. Rather,
the efforts of many focused
in a single direction achieve
the ultimate goal.
Freedom rings loudest
when it has plenty of backup.
s
M
3
a
s
3
3
i
3
1
O
0
1
S
V
3
N
A
1
V
3
d
0
3
■
S
0
N
0
V
a
O
3
d
3
1
s
3
3
3
d
a
3
1
3
3
N
V
1
H
d
N
V
3
1
a
i
H
S
n
d
a
0
1
i
0
3
V
0
3
0
N_J_M
3 1V
a 3 i i a
n h
3 H 1
d
3
A
O
3
S
V
d
d
V
1
3
V
3
S
V
Tackling Money
Concerns in
Remarriage
Special to the Ledger
Roughly 75% of those who
have been divorced will
ultimately remarry, accord
ing to government statistics.
Money can be a source of
tension in any relationship,
but the Georgia Society of
CPAs advises that there
are steps that couples who
are remarrying can take to
preserve harmony.
TAKE A NEW
APPROACH
Old habits die hard, but
you may have to change
some of your spending,
saving and planning habits
in a new marriage. While
many newlyweds are just
beginning their adult lives
together, those who are
getting remarried already
have experience in sharing
a household with another
person and making financial
decisions together. Their
approaches to money may
be completely different. One
person may have spent a
lifetime being a meticulous
planner, while the other
may never have reconciled
their checking account
statements. It’s a good idea
to understand these differ
ences now and to develop a
financial approach that will
suit your new family. Decide
how you will make decisions
and monitor your finances.
This is also a good time
to discuss your near- and
long-term financial goals to
be sure you are on the same
page. Discuss, too, the terms
of any previous divorce
decrees if they include pay
ments to a former spouse or
children that will affect your
financial future together.
YOURS, MINE
AND OURS
As part of your discus
sion about your financial
philosophies, decide what
kinds of accounts you will
share or keep separate. Some
remarried couples pool all
of their money in newly
opened checking and sav
ings accounts, while others
retain their own individual
accounts as well as a joint
account. There’s no one right
way to do it, but how you
handle your money is a deci
sion that should be discussed
before you are married.
Decide, also, whether you
will be adding each other’s
names as beneficiaries on
insurance policies, 401(k)
plans, individual retirement
accounts, investment and
savings account or any other
assets.
CONSIDER A PRENUP
Prenuptial agreements are
not only for the very rich.
They can help any couple
establish guidelines about
assets in case of divorce.
Many people believe they
are unromantic, but they
can be very useful tools,
particularly if one or both
spouses have children from
a previous marriage or if
one spouse will be quitting
a job to stay home with the
couple’s extended family.
The prenuptial agreement
can spell out what assets
each spouse is bringing
to the marriage and how
money will be distributed if
the marriage ends. Don’t try
to work out the details in the
prenups yourselves. Instead,
share your wishes with
your attorney and let them
negotiate with your spouse’s
lawyer. When everyone in
your blended family knows
where they stand financially,
it can mitigate unnecessary
future tension.
THINK LONG TERM
A will is an important
document that can ensure
your wishes are followed
after your death. Wills are
particularly valuable in
remarriage because, like a
prenuptial agreement, they
provide a legal basis for how
money will be distributed.
Your new marriage may also
prompt you to make changes
in the beneficiaries for your
life insurance policies or
retirement accounts, or to in
crease your life insurance to
cover new family members.
A new marriage clearly
raises many financial ques
tions. Your local CPA can
help you navigate through
these questions to help you
get off to the right start.
The GSCPA is the premier
professional organization for
CPAs in the state of Geor
gia.
For more information,
access our web site at
www.gscpa.org.
Produced in cooperation
with the AICPA. ©2008 The
American Institute of Certi
fied Public Accountants
Flowers and Happy Anniversary
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Albright
Compliments of
Leesburg Flower and Gift
Walnut Street Leesburg, Georgia
Phone 759-6917
Flowers may be picked up at Leesburg Flower and Gift
Wishes a Happy Birthday:
July 10: Amanda Kelley, Rebecca Hughes, Judy Mathis, Heidi
J. Summerlin, Selena Walker, Chedsey Hopewell, Sissy Hardee,
Paul Lowthian, Rebecca Powell, Traci Posey, Julian Carswell,
Jackie Somers, Keith Alderman; July 11: Brooke Cannon, Edna
Jones, Phillip Bridges, Shane White, Stephanie Pate, Payge
Carswell, Christy Harris, Cheryll Lamkin, April Walls; July 12:
Kadrian Blanton, Kamron Blanton, Mike Conn, Lynn Jensen,
Latonya Walton, Mark Thomas Taylor, Michelle Knight, Daniel
Van Oteghem, Lee Johnston, Donnie Worrell, Carolyn Smith,
Darrell Beasley, Jack Hall, James Parr, Debra Long, Norma
Lerrell, Larry Cooley, Matthew Gay, Kim Tompkins, Charlie
Chandler, Daniel Durden; July 13: John (J. J.) Rivers, Christo
pher Layfield, Sue Lreeman, Alicia Roos, J.R. Kench, Lreddy
Hendley, Margaret Denham, Nicky Bentley, Jamie Davenport,
David McCool, Phillip Spillers, Cindy Senn, Lisa Kearse,Wade
Willis, Nathan Arnold, Lindsay Cribb; July 14: Wayne Glore,
Dee Breeden, Larry Manley, Bailey Adams, Hilda Hunt, Derek
Tate, Mikell Benson, Shelly McBurnett, Charles Goolsby,
Aubrey Evans, Ronald Tebbetts, Julian A. Tye, Lil Gay, Melissa
Chapman, David Durden; July 15: Anna Edwards, Tony Knight,
Lori Runge, Lyvona Lrench, Brandon J. Lloyd, Betty Johnson,
Linda Lee, Charles Moore, Tonya Walton, Cathy Baxley, Robert
Bolton, Sr., Priscillia Childers Smith, Scott Satterfield, Juston
High; July 16: Greta Winters, Ralph McNeal, Travis Golden,
Jackie Sellars, Jeff Brinson, Audrey Dowis, Bud Williamson,
Laye West, Jane Godfrey, Donna Hall, Reames Clanton, Donald
Starnes, Jr., Christina Scogna, Sylivia Mosley, Bud Williamson;
Wishes a Happy Anniversary:
July 10: Mr. and Mrs. Peter M. Link, Mr. and Mrs. Roger
Woods, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Gardner, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond
Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Bo Godfree, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis
Parker, July 11: Mr. and Mrs. K Cooper, Mr. and Mrs. Gary
Lowler, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff O’Hearn, Mr. and Mrs. Lerrell Turner;
July 12: Mr. and Mrs. Rodger Wagoner, Mr. and Mrs. Robbie
Brogdon; July 13: Mr. and Mrs. Lin Bell, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis
Harrell, July 14: Mr. and Mrs. Mike Albright, Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Goodroe, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Chapman, Mr. and
Mrs. Michael Senn, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Gribbs, Mr. and Mrs.
Marcelious Willis, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Roy Barbee, Mr. and Mrs.
Vertis Marchant; July 15: Mr. and Mrs. Jim Slappey, Mr. and
Mrs. Gabe Barbosa; July 16: Mr. and Mrs. Scott Turner, Mr.
and Mr. Tim Mears, Mr. and Mrs. Darryl Roberts, Mr. and Mrs.
Dan Mims, Mr. and Mrs. William R. Dean, Mr. and Mrs. Willis
Griffin