A Cave Full Of Ghosts!

Today has been great. Right now it is raining hard outside and since last Saturday night, we've now gotten over four and a half inches of precious rain! I am writing this early this evening, because of tonight's predicted heavy thunderstorms, in the Texas Hill Country. "Come on RAIN!"

This morning, while Tony was outside doing our chores, all by himself, because he didn't want me to get myself all wet, from the heavy down pour, I decided to take a bubble bath, to help soothe my aching joints, because yesterday Tony and I did a lot of mowing.

While I was soaking and relaxing in my beautiful plastic garden tub, which now has to be at least thirty-years old or half of my age, I was thinking about how lucky and grateful I was to have so many wonderful friends, my job that I love doing, for Tony and our fabulous fur-family, and all of the other great things in my life—a gigantic, black spider suddenly jumped from a flower pot onto the tub faucet, so I screamed, "Tony!"

The dogs came running into the bathroom, but Tone didn't, because he was still outside, getting soaking wet, because he was doing our chores.

As I quickly pulled the drain plug in the tub and jumped out to put on my bi-focals so I could get a better look at him/her, I was praying that this scary-looking creature, who was probably on the verge of committing spider suicide—wouldn't off himself in my presence, because I was standing naked—drying myself off, with all of our dogs curiously watching me.

While I quickly dressed into my clothes my eyes never strayed from spider man/woman.

Once I was dressed I decided to remain in the bathroom, in hopes that I could show it to T. So, to help pass the time away, I talked to spider man/woman and begged the confused spider "not-to-do-it."

A few minutes later, I heard the front door open and close, because it needs for me to put some more WD-40 on it, to oil its squeaking hinges. "Tony! There's a spider in here!" I half-hollered.

Then I heard Tony walking, not rushing, to come check out our intruder. "It's just a water spider. They're harmless," Tony said. "It's won't hurt you."

Before I finish writing this, I have some exciting news to tell about me getting to read an advanced copy of Billy Bob Thornton's & Kinky's soon to be released book, The Billy Bob Tapes: A Cave Full of Ghosts, with the introduction by Angelina Jolie!

It is a must read and I loved reading it. "It is a narrative based on late-night conversations with Kinky Friedman and other friends who gathered 'round to hear Billy mine a cave of ghosts."

P.S. We're now up to five and a half inches of rain!

 Y'all have a great evening!

Shoot!

I have some great news! Sunday morning, Catherine and David Berry drove down from Buchanan Dam, Texas and temporarily adopted seven of our dogs that we had recently rescued from the Kerrville pound. The reason their adoptions are temporary is because they plan to adopt our dogs out at their newly established rescue shelter—Happy Dog Adoptions!

For months we have been talking back and forth to Catherine on how to do and what not to do and they did it! They arrived at 10:30 and they were excited and couldn’t wait to meet the seven lucky dogs! After meeting Catherine Zeta Jones, Kawliga, Antonio Banderas, Angelina Jolie, George Strait, Little Richard, and Ms. Toto—they fell in love with them!

Kinky was anxious and could not wait to meet Catherine and David, so following the canine introductions we went over to Kinky’s Lodge. Kinky greeted us at the gate, offered to make some coffee, then he made the coffee and then Kinky gave David and Catherine the “Grand Tour” of the Lodge. I could tell that he was greatly impressed with them as we were, because he gave David five or six of his new cigars from his new line of Kinky Friedman Cigars and he nearly talked Catherine’s head off.

Following the meet and greet, Kinky challenged David to a game of pool. Now that was funny. After he had explained to them that we call him “The Hummingbird Man,” he asked me to please hum everytime that it was his turn and so I did. After a lot of humming—David sank the eight ball, the game was over—Kinky had lost. I told David, “Around here we say, ‘”Beat Kinky once—Never play Kinky, again.” It brought a laugh and then they put up their sticks and we returned to the rescue ranch.

We invited them in for some coffee, which we forgot to drink at Kinky’s, and then Catherine signed the seven adoption forms. When it was time for them to leave, we went outside and loaded up seven happy dogs! As Catherine and David drove away I said to Tony, “This is so perfect! They are good people and Kinky likes them.”

Later in the day, Edward, an extremely polite photographer from England who was putting together a documentary, came out and shot me several times and then when Kinky arrived at the rescue ranch—he shot him, too! When the shooting was over Kinky’s friend, Jerome, Kinky and the shootist left the rescue ranch, but Kinky’s sister Marcie, and our friend Copper Love stayed so they could take a tour and visit with the dogs.

A couple of hours later, Marcie called and then Kinky called while I was in the process of taking a nap with my dogs. When I called Kinky, he told me that Copper wanted to adopt our giant Great Pyrenees / Catahoula mix—Macy! They were coming over now!

Tony and I went outside and climbed into “Kermit” our little green four-wheeler and drove down to Macy’s and Bob Dylan’s pen so Tony could put a new blue collar on Macy, along with her dog tags.

A few minutes later, our friend Dylan Ferrero arrived in his red pickup explaining that he had offered to deliver Macy to Copper’s house because Macy wouldn’t fit in “Ruby Tuesday”—Copper’s car. Then Kinky and Marcie arrived in “The Navigator”—Kinky’s car. Then Copper arrived in her little red Miata convertible! Adoption Time!

Without reading the form, Copper quickly signed it and then handed it to me so she could take Macy’s leash. I said, “Congratulations Copper! You just signed over your house and “Ruby Tuesday” to the rescue ranch!”

Following the handshaking ceremony, Copper loaded up Macy into the front seat of Dylan’s Truck and then Dylan and Macy left with Copper following right behind in hot pursuit!

Tony and I visited with Kinky and Marcie for a few minutes and there was a lot of laughing about getting a guest book and then they left for the Lodge.

Catherine called later that evening to report that all had gone well and the dogs were doing great!

And, as I finish writing Sunday’s story, on this Monday, Ben just called from Austin and left this message on the answering machine, “I’m sorry folks, but I am not going to be driving down to the ranch this evening as planned. I'm not feeling to good because I just got my ass whipped!”