Opinion

As I complete two terms as the 28th Land Commissioner for the Great State of Texas, my heart is filled with immense pride as I reflect upon our accomplishments. I am thankful to our great team of professionals at the General Land Office for their efforts in doing “more with less,” their flexibility during the most devastating storm in Texas history and the COVID pandemic, and their altruistic sense for serving higher causes.

I appreciate the support of Texas communities across the state in advocating for more transparency and clearer communication from our federal partners on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) map and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding allocation process.

Anew year is coming, and I am focusing on the small stuff. It is popular to make big, sweeping statements in a new year about the things that will change and be accomplished.

Idon’t consider myself a person bound by tradition. Usually, I’m all about change, encouraging people to change and looking for ways to change myself. I generally think that new experiences make life both more memorable and meaningful.

Somehow the snow is a little like Christmas. We can expect it. We can listen to the television weather and expect it. But still, when it comes it’s like a gift - a wonderful, unwrapped gift - because it is the wrapping.

It’s the holidays and because of our readers, we are feeling more blessed than ever this year! We appreciate you taking time to connect and sharing your knowledge. You are our inspiration, and we hope it shows in our specialty products such as Salute to Veterans and First Responders, our Graduation, Sports, Non-Profit and Austin County Fair.

Iput my feet on the floor, first thing in the morning, and take a look at them. They are not the most attractive feet, that’s just a fact.

The fruit lady has my number. One of the things I like in Mexico—and other countries we have visited in the past— is buying fruits and vegetables from a stand, run by a family. I love wandering through the market, looking at all the unfamiliar things and asking questions.