I covered the Surf & Turf Saturday in Matagorda.
Like everyone this time of year, I checked the weather and noted the forecast for an overcast day in the 40s – cold for us down here.
Nonetheless, it’s easy to put on another layer of clothing and that was sufficient for me.
A decent turnout – most folks felt the same way about the weather – although people tended to gather in Fireman’s Hall to eat the steak and fried shrimp and to browse and bid on silent auction items.
The Lost Shaker Band provided the early afternoon music – a blend of Jimmy Buffett melodies and other tropical music from around the world.
While I enjoyed the sound, it did seem a bit of a contrast with the weather.
Interesting, I suppose because of cold temperatures, was just one man performing a distinctive xylophone sound of the tropical Caribbean music Buffett is known for.
But it wasn’t a xylophone – it was remarkable music from gleaming set of used steel barrels with a concave metallic surface that produced xylophone-like sounds typical of tropical songs.
By the time this column is in print spring will be here, so break out Jimmy Buffett.
Shifting gears, it’s always interesting how people will revere some politician in principle, yet condemn behavior from that politician.
Take Gov. Greg Abbott, he is beloved by the business and industrial sectors of the state economy because he protects t and trumpets that support.
OK, I get that.
What I don’t get is our governor’s massive energy toward getting a school voucher plan passed by the sympathetic Texas legislature.
That will take money that taxpayers provide for public school education and move that for private schools.
Meanwhile, Abbott and the Texas Education Agency are about to take control of Houston Independent School District.
Houston ISD is certainly in bad shape and in need of reform, but the same people who revere our governor and legislature would be the first to oppose the state taking over local government.
Just for the record, there are plenty of elected officials in Austin who have favored taking power from local governments and centralizing it at the state capitol for several years.
There’s not much effort to find some other way to save Houston ISD, and the governor is more than happy to continue consolidating state control.
I don’t see any reversal of this trend, but I know I’ll continue to hear occasional remarks about state control of local governments, while praising Abbott at every juncture.
