by Kathy Trenfield-Raines Each one of the full-fledged adults in my family goes to the gym, once a week, a few times a week, or even twice a day. My sister-in-law regularly attends a 5:30 aerobics session at the gym, comes home, showers and starts her day, a pure amazement to me, my ritual being [...]

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This evening from the back porch of the South Padre Island Convention Center. Click the image to enlarge.

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By Kathy Raines For me, Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ being arrested for disorderly conduct brings to mind the “gotcha” nature of this offense, one in which police officers enjoy broad discretion. I don’t know which party has the correct story– Sgt. James Crowley, who claims Gates spoke loudly and defiantly to him (telling him, “I’ll [...]

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By Jack Moffitt Once again Big Brother (formerly known as the US Government) is injecting itself into private affairs. The Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 (HR 2749) passed the House of Representatives on July 30th at 6pm. Only 20 Democrat congressmen dared buck the party line. That fact alone tells you that the Party [...]

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By Kathy Raines Ruff! Ruff! Ruff! Molly’s coughing bark smashed its way into a lush thicket of whorling dreams. Rather engrossed, I thought, I‘ll stay cozied up here, with the barking, mere white noise, a soundtrack. Then she stopped. Ah, blessed silence. Two-thirty a.m., read the clock. Let’s just ease on back into the dream. [...]

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By Kathy Raines “Thou shalt not suffer a roach to live.” (Exodus 22:18). All right, King James says witch, or evil sorceress. Different translation. At summer’s incipience, as per two-year tradition, I, like one of those rigid old Puritans, stamp out the crusty, scampering evil, my own private Inquisition. I am judge, jury and executioner. [...]

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An essay by Mary Katherine (Kathy) Raines Sunshine sifting through the faded greens and reds in our yard inspired Stan and me to take off for the beach, a long overdue trip, to see soft pastels dappling the sand-tinged ocean during the early December “golden hour,” a joy to behold. After a snack at Subway, [...]

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An essay by Mary Katherine (Kathy) Raines Ah, Christmas gifts! One says, “She doesn’t know me at all! All these intimate chats we’ve had, and she thinks I want this?!” which was my reaction to my best friend’s giving me Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil when my spirit was coughing and smothering from the dust [...]

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A meditative response from Kathy Raines In The Dark Knight, the newest Batman movie, Batman takes the fall so that an abused and disillusioned but fallible district attorney near and dear to the people’s hearts can die blameless. He and Spiderman live without love and, presumably, sex, so they can devote themselves to their mission [...]

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