Columns & Opinions

The Rat and other critters

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My last column was about mice and unwanted critters that can creep into old, country homes. People sometimes tell us the “Rat” in our Ranch Tails comic strips is their favorite cartoon character. Really a mouse, he materialized as if by magic years ago when I thought he’d be a good addition to our mental menagerie. Zack thinks he suggested it. I won’t split hairs.

Mouse in the house

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This column contains seemingly unrelated non-sequiturs that will hopefully come together in the end, despite my currently diminished mental state. Please bear with me. I’ve been writing in my head for the last few sleepless hours and have forgotten half my “great ideas” already--- mainly because I took an aspirin in hopes it would make me sleep. I’m such a lightweight that it should have worked. But not this morning. My rest has been rudely interrupted for three nights, and I’m feeling ragged. This will be reflected in a number of typos which I’ll hopefully be coherent enough to correct later. I usually sleep like a rock and wake refreshed. But not lately. We live in a little, 100-plusyear-old farmhouse made from two different old buildings slapped together decades ago. Not a right angle or plumb line here unless we made them. Nothing level unless we intervened. We love it anyway, like a patient parent with a difficult child. There have always been things people don’t like to disclose, although these days, many “come out” on social media and create Go Fund Me pages to help overcome all sorts of situations that might previously have been considered abnormal or taboo. But you know me. I’m all about transparency.

One simple truth

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Promptly upon agreeing to a visit later that week, Mr. K took a red planner from his shirt pocket, quickly reached the corresponding date with the help of the tear-off corner tab, and literally penciled me in for Friday at 11 a.m. As he later explained to me, this tinniest of books had accompanied Mr. K daily through peace and war carrying his notations for, as he put it, appointments, obligations, bible verses and miscellaneous for at least the last 50 years stoically, though efficiently, resisting the advent of technology.

Newspaper credibility - Who do you trust?

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The grapevine tells me there are some who are under the impression that the only way to get coverage of a story or event is to purchase advertising in either The Clifton Record or Meridian Tribune. I’m not quite sure where this is coming from, but I wanted to clarify some things.

Unfriend me

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I’ve finally had enough. Hating controversy, I normally don’t make waves or become drawn into political, ethical or even religious arguments. I respect the right of every person to safely voice an opinion. Things have become nasty, rude and mean in the social media world, if you haven’t noticed. Maybe folks are monetizing their videos and posts. Money talks. Before I likely exit stage right from that ephemeral and now so strange venue, perhaps I needed a parting shot, and I took it. Not sure if I’m ashamed of myself or proud--- for finally letting loose, albeit tactfully--- without being rude, mean, preachy or judgmental.

Breast Cancer Awareness stories

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this year The Clifton Record is planning to put out a special publication to celebrate those who have overcome breast cancer, stand with those who are still battling, honor those who have stood by the side of their loved ones, and of course remember those who lost the fight.

Disaster declaration follows Nicholas

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Seventeen Southeast Texas counties have been declared disaster areas after Hurricane Nicholas came ashore, dumping more than a foot of rain and cutting off power to a half-million customers in Texas, according to poweroutage.us. That number had been reduced to about 4,200 as of Sunday.

Perceptions of passing time

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How many of you are saying that you can’t believe it’s already the middle of September? Despite my love/hate relationship with Facebook and Google--- mostly hate lately--- I do sometimes appreciate the pictures that pop up on my phone or computer showing me what happened a year ago. Or five years ago. Or ten or whenever. About a week ago we noticed that the annual fall hummingbird migration must surely be in full force. We’ve had to refill our five nectar feeders every two days for the last couple of weeks. Zack even did it while I was away. Sure enough, a year-old video popped up on Zack’s phone showing about a dozen hummers at our backyard feeders. Who can count hummingbirds, as fast as they move? I know this wasn’t from Facebook, because Zack got himself banned from that some time ago. Let me point out that this was part of a very scientific experiment to see exactly how terrible he had to be to get kicked off. It took several weeks, but now I think he’s permanently gone. He never liked it anyway.

Breast Cancer Awareness stories

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this year The Clifton Record is planning to put out a special publication to celebrate those who have overcome breast cancer, stand with those who are still battling, honor those who have stood by the side of their loved ones, and of course remember those who lost the fight.