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Musings by Marilou: A Trip Down Memory Lane

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On Saturday I had the privilege of visiting a vineyard outside of Seminole that reminded me somewhat of my childhood.  Never had I appreciated my dad’s muscadine vines, persimmon trees, or mulberry bushes until I sat down with someone whose philosophy was very similar to my father’s.  This Gaines County resident, too, believed in living off the land.

Leo’s Lance: 9/11 -- Our Nation was Under Attack

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I had just come home for lunch and as I stepped into the living room the TV was on and the picture being shown was surreal. It featured an overview of New York City, showing the twin World Trade Center Towers, with a large airliner headed straight toward one of those towers.

Thinking Out Loud: ‘Spartacus,’ ‘ Drama Queens’ and Kavanaugh

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It’s been a little bit amusing and a lot embarrassing to watch the orchestrated mayhem leading up to Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, replete with Cory Booker’s “I am Spartacus” moment on Thursday and noisy paid activists interrupting Tuesday’s preliminary stuff, all decked out in Handmaid’s Tale garb and expecting to be taken seriously.  

Sometimes life truly is a circus. I have to remind myself at times that these are adults.

But we stodgy traditionalist types could learn a thing or two from the left about staging a show. 

Wright's Words: Kaepernick and Nike

On Monday, the Nike Corp. made waves across the globe in announcing that NFL quarterback-in-purgatory Collin Kaepernick would be among several athletes who will campaign the company’s 30th anniversary of their famous “Just Do It” slogan. According to global news agencies, the Beaverton, Oregon-based athletic shoe and apparel giant fell more than 2-percent after Kaepernick posted a black-and-white close-up of himself on Instagram Monday featuring the Nike logo and “Just do it” slogan, along with the quote: “Believe in something.

Musings By Marilou: ‘Grandma’

Even though it may be tiring and constantly demanding, being a mother is a great experience. Even better, however, is having the opportunity to be called “Grandma.” Going to Louisiana for the funeral was rough last week, but it did give me the opportunity to spend time with the four little ones who are nearest and dearest to my heart. Haley, who is now a freshman in high school, would despise being called a “little one” but she was my first grandchild and I have had a difficult time allowing her to grow up.

Arrington: West Texas has Influence on Farm Bill Development

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Now that the House and Senate have passed their respective versions of the Farm Bill, a bipartisan “conference committee” made up of both House and Senate members has been established to work out the differences between the two and send a final version to the president’s desk.

Thinking Out Loud: NAFTA and Our Border Security

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Old NAFTA. New NAFTA. You can go into national and global trade policy until your eyes glaze over. 

But while I've still got some vision left after getting out into the weeds on the Trump administration's plans for trade with Mexico and Canada, I'm reminded of something I mentioned some time ago in these pages about trade as it affects national security, and acts as a buffer against foreign intrigue. 

Leo's Lance: Adjusting to the Lay of the Land

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When I use the word "Flatlander" I'm not talking about a country music band from Lubbock. Nor am I speaking of a book by Larry Nivens. And, I am certainly not using the expression as a derogatory comment about country folks. 

I'm talking about folks who live on the prairie, or the flatlands.

I grew up in mountainous country, though the mountains near my home were desert mountains with bare rock, dirt, and desert plants.  Despite that, if you took a short drive of 75 miles or so, you could find yourself in the tall timber and high mountains of Arizona. 

Musings By Marilou: Going Home; Coming Home

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Ihave always heard that home is where your heart is. If that is true, my heart now has two dwellings. As we were driving to South Louisiana yesterday for a

Leo’s Lance: Shoes are Optional

Do you like to go barefoot? I used to. In fact, I should have been an expert in the art of going without shoes. When I was a kid, the