Thank you, Peter Roget.Buried thereOn Threadneedle StreetUnder words complete,Undone and hyphened;Deciphering a garble With meticulous devotion—A laundering and folding,A putting away neatlyOf well-worn pronounsTucked in discreetlyBetween verbs fleetingAnd mating withRespectable nouns!The gowns of phrases(Quotations by sagesWorld-renowned)Are interjectedFor inspection,Re-direction, inflection—Positive selectionShall be made.I imagine your headWide of crown,Filled to rattling,Coul ...

Until triteness wore it down to a nub, the expression “keeping up with the Joneses” was a guaranteed grin-getter, or at least a “been there/done that” nod of the head.Then, some wiseacre suggests that when he thinks he’s finally caught up, the Joneses re-finance.Think that one through. Molly’s “Taint funny, McGee” response to her hubby’s pratfalls on the long-ago radio show fits our current wobbly world to a “T”….* * * ...

Statistics indicate that foodborne illness continues to be a health issue in the United States. Each year, 1 in 6 Americans will become sick, 128,000 will become hospitalized, and 3,000 will die due to a foodborne illness. Under these new rules, each food establishment permitted by the Texas Department of State Health Services must have one certified food manager.

Not too long ago when a storm was coming, I would say that The Eckert James River Bat Cave was closed because of bad weather. Thursday and Friday night I did not even think of “bad” weather, even though we did have to close. The thunder and lightning that signaled rain was on its way, brought a huge smile to my face.

X is for detox. Detoxification is a basic principle of natural health. Any program of restoring the health and balance of the body includes getting toxins out of the body.You may wonder why detoxification is so important. A few toxins here and there are not the issue. It is the accumulation of them over time because they tend to store in our fatty tissue because the body cannot eliminate them without some help.

Did you know that if you have Internet, you can renew your books, put items on hold, check due dates, and access the card catalog from your home? Go to our website at http://bcls.tsl.state.tx.us/mason and select “My Account.” Your log-in is your last name and library card number (all in lower case with no spaces.

Many Thanks, Tad for handling the “Bits” while I went to San Diego for a bit of playtime, birthdays, and above all else a wonderful time with family! We went to the beach several times and that is an experience. Every time I got in the water I was amazed at how frigid the water is on the skin.

School will start in a week and Camp MeMaw is now closed. I still think that school should start after Labor Day. Of course, I think that the paddle and Praying should be a big part of school, too! I, also think that teachers and bus drivers should get combat pay!However, what I think doesn’t count.

There have been a few changes around the City in the past couple of months, and you may very well see things happening differently because of them. One of the first changes we have implemented was the hiring of additional Animal Control personnel so that we could have patrolling during the evenings and weekends.

The Mason Lions Club met Tuesday, August 9th, for its regular weekly luncheon meeting. There were 40 members and four visitors in attendance. Lion Lawrence Spell was responsible for the program, and also gave the presentation. He told the story of the VFW "Buddy" poppy. The poppy has become recognized as the true symbol of all those who have given their lives in our nations' wars.

If you, like many Americans, breathe, you have no doubt heard about the gun running debacle held recently by the premier U.S. gun control organization, the BATF&E, which is government lingo for Idiots Who Can’t Find Their Ammo With Both Hands. In case you’re wondering why the letters don’t correspond, so is everyone else, but nobody has had the guts to ask yet.My editor at Texas Fish & Game magazine, Don Zaidle, asked me to do a news story about this fiasco when it ...

I love food. I enjoy Italian, Chinese, Mexican and French. I love burgers, pizza, brisket and broccoli. When I sit down at the table, I savor every bite, every delicious morsel, every last drop.Over the years, I've made numerous attempts to rein in my eating habits. I tried to switch to healthier foods.

I am very pleased to report that the delibrate attempt to sow malicious seeds of discord in the minds of the Mason County Citizens and sabotage the meeting aforehand didn't work. Terms like fear mongering and ysteria are foreign to us here in Mason. Stuff like this is usually from Washington, D.C.

Gerry:Having read last week’s letter and having attended the Sharia Law/Muslim Brotherhood lecture, I felt compelled to add my two cents. I don’t believe any of last weeks letter writers did attend.I have been trying for years now to educate myself on Islam and Sharia, which is the political arm of Islam.

Dear Editors Some of Representative Mike Conaway’s comments at recent town hall meetings in our area do not have anything to do with reality.He keeps repeating that the government needs to get out of the way of the private sector and let it do what it does best, which is to create jobs and wealth.

Dear Editor, In the spirit of your editorial about reasoned discourse and exchanging ideas may I say that the three letter writers of last week didn’t exactly portray that sentiment. Re: Ms. Armstrong. Since when is educating yourself on a subject a witch hunt? Had Ms. Armstrong attended the function I doubt she would say hard facts produce paranoia.

In last Wednesday’s paper there were three letters written concerning the presentation prepared by Ms. Dorrie O’Brien on the topic of Sharia Law and the Muslim Brotherhood. These letters were published prior to the event and not one of these authors was in attendance during the presentation. Shouldn’t they have heard what was to be said before being so accusatory? Mary Carlman

Rain! How sweet it is. Just a drop in the drought bucket but hey, we have to start some were. Just thought I would start out on a positive note. On the weekend I finally found the time to read the MCN cover to cover. This week the letters to the editor kinda caught me off guard.

Whenever anyone has a genuine desire to enlighten other people concerning any matter or sincerely desires to educate, expanding others circle of awareness, their perception should have wisdom enough to not resort to the use of such terms or phrases as “witch hunt.” Other such terms or phrases that merely stops the machinery of thinking are: “being absolutely right in our fear,” and “fear mongering” and “sewing seeds of hysteria.” One needs only ...

Mason, Texas…It’s a happening place. We have hunting, an annual donkey race & the national gem of Texas, the topaz. Now we offer something new. It’s called the Virtual Dementia Tour or VDT. Second Wind Dreams developed this tour & is committed to change the perception of aging. P.K. Beville is the creator of VDT & has stated that “the greatest form of respect we can give is to walk in someone else’s shoes”.

Due to the need to conserve power, The Wellness Exercise Class will meet 10-11 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday at the Fellowship Hall of St Paul Lutheran Church, instead of at 4 p.m.

Kung Fu Panda Tuesday, Aug. 23, 3:45 P.M. Stribling Room at the County Library Rated “PG” Run Time: 88 minutes

On Tuesday, August 23, the Mason County Historical Society will hold their annual membership meeting at 7:00 p.m. In the Mason I.S.D. school cafeteria. Speaker for the meeting will be Betty Dooley Awbrey, who, with her father, edited the book Why Stop? A Guide to Texas Historical Markers. Ironically, the book makes it possible to whiz on past those markers and still know what they say.Claude Dooley, Betty’s father, came up with the concept for the book more than 25 years ago.

Ages 4- 4th Grade Register at “Meet the Teachers” on Wednesday August 17th in the cafeteria, August 30 & 31, (Tues. & Wednesday) 2011, 4:00 pm to 5:15 at the band hall-snacks will be provided September 2, 2011, we will meet at the Puncher Dome at the beginning of second quarter to practice.

On Wednesday, August 10th, the First United Methodist Church sponsored a Back-to-School Drive for Mason students and their families. Close to 100 children will be able to put their best foot forward as a result of the FUMC drive.

Army Sgt. Jarrod D. Parson has arrived for duty at the Ann Arbor Recruiting Station, Mich.Parson, a recruiter with eight years of military service, is assigned to the U.S. Army Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion. He is the son of Laura Parson of Mason, Texas.His wife, Ruth, is the daughter of Young S.

Our 2011-2012 Mason County Queen’s Court is off to a good start receiving a red ribbon at the 76th Annual Hill Country Fair Association Summer Classic Rodeo Parade in Junction last Saturday. The topaz, our state gem, found only in Mason County is the theme of this year's float. Thanks to Chris Habecker, Cindy Morris, Ethan Hudson, and Myles Banner we have another amazing float.

Commemorate someone special and support the library. Have you noticed the sidewalk bricks in front of the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Library? It is time for The Friends of the Library to lay more of these commemorative paving bricks. Whose name would you like to see memorialized?This is a wonderful way to honor a loved one, a special occasion or a favorite pet.

The August quarterly meeting of district 13 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which Mason post 8554 is a member, was held in Fredericksburg on the 14 th of august. Guest speaker for the event was Tammy Elliot, Texas Veterans Commision service officer for Gillespie county. She gave a very informative talk on the new changes in Veterans benefits.

The Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library is looking for volunteers to “adopt” our flowerbeds as a community service project. Master Gardener trainees, Scouts, or members of any service organization are encouraged to contact the library if you are looking for a service project. You may call 347-5446 on Mondays-Fridays from 10:00 A.M.

Lindell L. and Pam Estes of Mason, Texas are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Nicole Marie Estes, to Joshua Mark Banks, son of Randy Banks of Eastland, Texas and Lynette Banks of Vernon, Texas. Nicole is the granddaughter of Lindell G. and Betty Estes of Mason, Texas and Joe and Marie Foyt of Houston, Texas.

This week several used furniture items were left behind the Community Thrift Store without consulting the store’s staff. Most of these items were not suitable for resale and needed to go to the dump. Additional clothing and other items were piled on the discarded furniture. Unfortunately loose items may be subjected to the whims of stray animals.

We are so excited about our next BIG Mason County event, the Wild Game Dinner. This year is going to be amazing, we have so much to offer the community, chances to win prizes, a live Auction, Gun Raffle, a celebrity appearance, family centered activities, great catered barbecue, wild game and so much more!

Milton Eckert, of Mason, passed away at Windcrest Nursing Home on Sunday, August 14, at the age of 86. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 18, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mason. Burial with military honors will follow in the Gooch Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.

Alfreda D. Castro, 90 a lifetime resident of Llano, Texas, passed away Monday August 8, 2011. She was born March 19, 1921, to Florence and Eddie Maple in Manchester, New Hampshire. Alfreda was married to F. Richard Castro, he preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death are her sons, Walter (Peanut) Castro and Robert Joe Castro and sister, Katherine Maple.Survivors include Son, Richard Castro and wife Jane of Llano, Texas; Daughter, Deanna Parisher and husband Rick of Cherokee, Texas; ...