Opinion

The late Charles Uxer, longtime school superintendent and for several years director of the El Paso Educational Service Center, enjoyed visiting elementary classrooms. That’s where he heard the most far-out questions.

I want to take a moment on Christmas Eve to wish all of our readers a blessed and happy Christmas. Sometimes life comes at us fast.

The air was crisp and cold with just wind enough to go straight through you and the mist that fell kept me feeling wet and chilled. Dawn was another forty minutes away, but my horses were hungry and restless. As I moved through the shed row tossing hay into mangers and pouring feed into bins the cattle milled and bawled and the horses whinnied and blew through their noses. The goats made their presence known and reared up on the stall gate to make sure I didn't forget their munchies.

Here we are, Christmas is in 4 days, the greatest time of the year; at least in my book. We laugh and joke with family at Thanksgiving as the excitement builds while we prepare to do some Christmas shopping.

The Great Horned Owl sat very dignified on the windmill tower. He wasn’t hunting as there was nothing around the house for him to stalk. The guineas and chickens were penned, and everything was in a safe place, so he had to like his choice of perch. He was some eighty feet in the air, so he had a lofty view of his surroundings. He taunted the dogs and as he viewed the world from his haughty perch it wasn’t exactly a hidden spot. There was no sound when he flew. Despite his size he moved with stealth and agility. He was a bird to be admired. They hunt at night, and it is a rare thing to see them once the sun rises. Perhaps him being out in daylight was indicative of a weather change.

*The intent* of this piece is to provide comfort to folks who are hearing more than they want to hear. There is much noise in the world, some of it pushing Christmas carols-- and other worthwhile sounds-to the side of the road.

It doesn’t seem like it’s a mere 10 days until Christmas, but here we are, December 15, and counting down. We’ll start single digits tomorrow.

*The intent* of this piece is to provide comfort to folks who are hearing more than they want to hear. There is much noise in the world, some of it pushing Christmas carols-and other worthwhile sounds--to the side of the road.

For years, an autumn trip to the northeast has been on my bucket list. The vibrant gold, red and purple leaves I see in pictures look like something pulled from an artist’s imagination.

And then there were none. TCU and Angelo State football teams lost this past weekend. No more undefeated teams in Texas. My schedule just opened up a bunch. I have been watching local sports teams on the television. This new cable choice called NFHS is the best deal anywhere. I watched several Miles games and parts of the Wall game. Too cool for words. Watching local youth play live ball on the tube is the best.