before I realized that final confrontation in the kitchen was staged for me and my brothers. Papa wanted us to know what kind of woman Mama was, and he succeeded. But the lesson I learned was not the one he intended. Something else happened that spring, however, something that gave me reason to watch and wait, imagining flashes of summer colors out of the corner of my eye. ...more

January 25, 2009

Shelby Martin, 14, of Dade City said she feels at home on the stage, which is why it is her dream to be on Broadway. ...more

December 10, 2008

You look at his age and can't help but shake your head - mostly in wonder. Jeff Garcia, the bios all say, is 38. But there's nothing 38 about Garcia's play on the field. ...more

November 30, 2008

Today marks the beginning of a very good early-morning bite, which results from the last-quarter lunar influences that started Tuesday at 11:55 a.m. ...more

October 22, 2008

Wasn't our country founded on Christian beliefs? Yes, it was. Our forefathers wanted to get away from England and be free to worship God. There must have been much enthusiasm in the beginning, even though there were hardships in this new land. However, as the centuries came and went, Christians became so accustomed to routine and common rituals of life that even now, we the people have lost our love for God. ...more

October 11, 2008

This thing about every day we get another day older is getting to be a bit bothersome. Aches and weaknesses in our bodies are really a nuisance especially when we try to do what we used to do 20-30 years ago so easily. ...more

October 2, 2008

Today at 8:12 a.m., we're one day before the new moon, which means today through Thursday fishing should be good to excellent at the very least. ...more

September 28, 2008

intimidating enough that scientists dubbed it Beelzebufo, or Devil Toad. Researchers discovered the beast's bones in Madagascar, yet it seems to be a close relative of normal-sized frogs in South America today. The discovery was published Monday by the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ...more

February 19, 2008

All due respect to Kermit the Frog, it's easier to be green these days. Whether they're saving the earth from global warming, or trying to shave a few bucks off their Progress Energy bill, people are buying energy-saving appliances, solar panels, hybrid cars, even water-free urinals in the men's room. ...more

November 14, 2007

Lately, I've been up close and personal with an inordinate number of Florida wildlife. Some of those encounters have been pleasant, some not. And that got me to thinking about why we react as we do to "all creatures great and small," including people. I've spent many mornings admiring the beautiful sandhill cranes, storks, and ibis that are tame as pets around here. I've watched a bald eagle swoop low overhead then soar to its nest atop a dead tree. ...more

October 21, 2007