The other day I was sitting in my extra wide recliner. My granddaughter, Ella, was sitting right beside me. We were bare footed and had our feet stretched out in front of us. “FloPa, how come your toe looks so funny?” she asked. So I cut the TV off and gave her this story: When I was in about the 3rd grade at Radhost School, we used to play a game at recess time we called “Kick the Can.” We made up this game because the only tool or piece of equipment we needed was an old empty peach can. We’d draw a 2 foot circle in the ground and place this can in the middle of it. This can acted as the “home base.” Then being similar to Hide & Seek, we would choose one person to be “it.” He then would count to 40 or 50 and then proceed to try and find anyone hiding behind the buildings, out houses, trees, etc. Every time he spotted a person he put them into a jail which was another large circle drawn in the ground. The object of the game was for anyone to race toward the can and kick it before the one being “it” got to it. If the runner did get there first and kicked the can, that would free all the kids in jail and they’d run and hide again.

T EXAS History In an El Paso hotel room on the seventh day of January 1914, Pancho Villa came to terms with a Hollywood studio to make a silent movie about the role of the bandit-turned-rebel in the Mexican Revolution. No one can say for sure whose idea it was to shoot the “Centaur of the North” and his peasant army in action or how much the “star” was paid.

Instead of new year’s resolutions, how about a list of pet peeves? 1) Mailings from politicians for my birthday, christmas, independence day, etc. Just whose money are they spending to send me these shameless self-promotional greetings? 2) Telemarketers trying to get me to buy more stuff I don’t need.

From The League of Women Voters of South Central Texas A s America approaches its 250th anniversary, it’s worth reflecting on the foundational principles that have shaped our nation. One that often goes unnoticed is our military justice system. From the beginning, it has reflected the civilian values of fairness, dignity, and respect for human rights that define what it means to be American.

For those of us with pets, we can’t imagine our life without them. But with that immense love we feel for them, also comes eventual loss and tremendous grief. I’ve had pet losses that happened decades and decades ago, but if I let myself think about any one of them specifically, I can be overcome with grief all over again and cry my eyes out. Yet we continue to have pets, even knowing they will eventually leave us and break our heart.

I don’t write about cattle breeds because every rancher has his or her favorite. Try to convince someone who thinks Angus are the best to sell off all their cattle and purchase Herefords? Futile. Why waste the time? I am not saying Herefords are the best, only using this as an example. I have set in on discussions about breeds that turned friend against friend (at least for a short time until they could agree to disagree).

To the editor: Living in Fayette County truly is a blessing. It’s remarkably evident when you slow down, step outside and enjoy the scenic woodlands, creek bottoms and rural architecture surrounding us.

Sharing can be a surprising and stressful sacrifice, especially when you live with four teenagers who have driver’s licenses but only three cars filling the driveway. Sometimes sharing means reluctantly handing over the keys to your personal vehicle so a newly licensed driver can shuttle a sibling to band practice, football workouts, or the grocery store for mushrooms needed in the stew bubbling on the stove.

To the editor: Over this holiday season I’ve had the opportunity to read various commentaries and books. Andrew McVeigh, President and CEO of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, wrote an excellent commentary called a “Christmas reflection.” As I read Daniel McCarthy’s article on America’s Creed and Heritage Right, I reflected on Mr.