AGONY and ECSTASY By Mark Sconce   O Writers, O you chosen ones!  And Poetasters on the run, As I describe your agony And then perhaps your ecstasy. Come closer now, sit next to me.   You agonize, as is your wont. You wonder why your face is gaunt. You question why your soul lies […]

Wordwise With Pithy Wit By Tom Clarkson   This morning, my pal F.T. – who shared the Iraq experience with me during my third trek there – forwarded some James Thurber quotes. They gave me pause to relish the deep and sometimes droll mentality of this great man who “set the standard for sophisticated humor

“Go Stick It In Your Ear” By Peter E. Gibbons   Those of us who have been married, or had a partner for more than a month or two, know that we experience periods of silence; sometimes welcome! As the years pass by, a kind of metamorphosis transpires. The silence is replaced by whispering, or

Mother Mexico By Bill Frayer   She is a beautiful dama. Her dark tragic eyes call to us. Her dark smooth hair flows Over her face, down her back, Reminding me of every mother’s love. Her red lips sing The songs of the Indio, Songs of hope, songs of loss. She lulls me with her

FRONT ROW CENTER By Michael Warren Lend Me a TenorBy Ken LudwigDirected by Roger Tredway   If you like a traditional farce, chock full of mistaken identities, double entendres and doors slamming as characters rush in and out, this is the show for you. Roger Tredway has upped the pace to breakneck speed and his

CHILD of the month By Rich Petersen Dana Michelle Sambón Barajas   This adorable 4-year-old is Dana Michelle Sambón Barajas. At approximately one year of age, Michelle’s family noted that she could not hear. A pediatrician in Guadalajara said this might have been due to a very high fever she had months before, and he

Focus on Art By Rob Mohr What is Great Art? You be the Judge.   Have you ever said, “I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like.”? If appreciation of great art is an acquired taste (consider public rejection of Van Gogh’s paintings) like good wine or great music, is this

Viva la Vida LocaBy Sergio Drumond SERGIO DRUMOND is an artist, theologian and writer. Born in Brazil, he worked in Europe and Asia as a book illustrator, cartoonist, painter and animator. He also lived in the Philippines, Japan, and Thailand, teaching art as well as helping NGOs with social and relief work. He and his

THE ANIMAL SHELTER REPORT By Thetis Reeves   Geoffrey Kaye, born and raised in England, has lived in Monte Carlo and the U.S before moving  to Ajijic in 1998. He’s best known in our community for establishing the Animal Shelter, but also for contributions to the Technical School, Love In Action, an orphanage, and other worthy causes.

Welcome to Mexico By Victoria Schmidt Making a Difference   While sitting at the Legion one morning enjoying breakfast with my husband, I gazed outside and saw the patio filling with Mexicans. This was quite unusual. I watched perhaps 30 individuals come into the Legion and talk to an ex-pat and then watched while he