News - Friday, June 3, 2011

Attorney Mark Ramsey of Spears, Moore, Rebman & Williams isn’t a litigator, so he doesn’t have much trial experience. And as a lawyer whose practice primarily involves estate planning, estate administration, conservatorships, guardianships, and elder planning, he rarely finds himself in an adversarial situation with another attorney.

Attorney Johnny Houston, Jr., thinks certain things are cool, like paintings by Mr. Hooper, the music of Stevie Ray Vaughan, and political memorabilia. But as much as he enjoys those things, and has made them a part of his life, none of them exceed the coolness of his Yamaha FZ6. Or his FJR1300 by the same manufacturer.

Saturday, June 3

General Services Administration has canceled indefinitely the plans to convert the lawns at the Post Office building into parking strips, it was officially announced Friday following a conference between federal and city officials. Mayor Olgiati announced that all of the space on the East Tenth Street beside the Post Office would be yielded to the U.S. Government.

A few years ago, my mailbox was regularly filled to the brim with CLE offers. In fact, the only type of mail that I received with more regularity were invitations to bridal showers and weddings. Whether it was due to geothermal tides or something in the water, my peers were all getting married at the same time, and my summer weekends were dominated with wedding-related functions to attend (as visions of CLEs danced in my head). Lately, the trend has changed. Although I still receive mass quantities of CLE offers (because some things never change), those missives are now accompanied by baby announcements and invitations to baby showers.

Growing up on a farm allowed me the advantage of experiencing life in somewhat of a simpler manner than those who have spent their days living out life’s early adventures in a somewhat more complex arena.

We only made trips to the city of Murfreesboro on Saturdays, every now and then, which was to purchase tractor parts and groceries we could not produce on our own land.  The peddler stopped by every week in his old bus converted into a rolling store, which also saved us the fifteen miles “into town” on Saturdays.

“Life is like a B movie. You don’t want to leave in the middle of it, but you don’t want to see it again either.” – Ted Turner

That quote may or may not have anything to do with this column; but it’s funny, and I pretty much agree with it, so there it is. I saw it in my last issue of “The Week,” that magazine I touted to you a few months back. If you haven’t subscribed to it yet then all I can say is you’re still missing out.

NEW ORLEANS – How can I not write about the Haiku Society of America’s South Region annual meeting in New Orleans?

How can I not?!

This event, largely planned by the New Orleans Haiku Society, and its leader, Xavier University English Professor David Lanoue, was the focus of a recent road trip.

Perhaps mini-golf is not my sport. Getting overzealous with the putter seems to be my weakness, even when I visualize where I want that multicolored golf ball to go. But even so, mini-golf is always a fun time no matter what skill level you lay claim to.

If it’s true that everyone gets his or her 15 minutes of fame, I was recently ripped off. Someone out there still owes me about 14 minutes and 50 seconds.

Parish and I went to the Greek Food Fest last weekend, and while I was inhaling my gyro, a nice cameraman from Fox 16 asked if he could interview me. I was ecstatic! My husband, who understands that I live for attention, scooted to the side and said, “She will do it; ask her the questions.”

Pictures don’t lie – at least not the ones taken of you as a child.

As you look through old albums, you have so many memories. There you are in your crib with a kitten, both of you curled up asleep. There you are, a toddler on horseback, smiling wide as the saddle. Then there you are with your first puppy, a neighbor’s gerbil, you at the zoo, each proving that animals have always had a place in your heart.

Attorney Scott LeRoy of LeRoy, Hurst and Bickerstaff, and unintentional “Moc,” will start his term as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga alumni association president June 6.

LeRoy grew up in Chatta-nooga, and attended East Ridge High School. When he graduated in 1976, he says he picked UTC because that was the only place he could afford. At the time, UTC was more of a commuter type campus and hadn’t been a part of the UTC system very long. LeRoy graduated with an accounting degree from UTC, and he says he always thought he wanted to go to law school.

The grand opening of the Chattanooga Volkswagen plant was May 24, but there’s a little bit of Germany in Chattanooga away from the plant as well.  For those with German ancestry or just an interest in German culture, the German-American Club of Chattanooga exists as an opportunity for fellowship with those of similar interests, a way to be involved in German cultural celebrations, and to taste the cuisine the culture offers.

The Robinson Group Realty office on Fort Wood Street is about as charming a place to discuss real estate options, financing, listings, and anything else for that matter. Located within a historic Fort Wood home, the outside of the property rises high amongst the old trees surrounding it, a swing floats gently in midair beside a relic cannon, and the serene silence of the property on a summer day makes it an ideal working environment.

The American Dream is belief in the idea that with freedom comes the possibility of prosperity and success. In the 1931 book, “The Epic of America,” historian James Truslow Adams describes the American Dream as “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.”

If you want to take advantage of the affordability of homes today, but anticipate major life changes in the next couple of years, you have to consider the implications of selling so soon.  Keep the following factors in mind when making your decision.

I just love Cajun cooking! I love the hot and spicy flavors cooked into the vegetables and meats, then most of the time – thick, brown gravy for everything. Of course, these recipes have been around long before Dr. Atkins ever made the scene!

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” is the fourth installment in the popular movie franchise based on Disney’s amusement park ride. The first film was enjoyable, but needlessly complex scripts wrought with double and triple crosses weighed down parts two and three and sucked most of the joy out of the series. The movies were still worth seeing, though, thanks to spirited performances by Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush and impressive special effects.

When we give up commission, we end up working harder for less money. Your clients and prospects respect you less. They feel in greater control of the relationship and the transaction. They will usually start to take greater advantage of that control and extract more from you. It’s like the old saying: “Give them an inch, and they take a mile.”