The Best Is Yet To Come!

Yesterday afternoon, Ringo was adopted to a great home! Talk about making my day great! He had been adopted out in October, but unfortunately was returned to us, because he enjoyed visiting neighbors more than he liked sitting in the backyard. Ringo was so excited about getting adopted, that he forgot to kiss us good bye. As soon as his adoption papers were signed, he jumped into the couples Suburban to begin his new life on a ranch!

I have been hearing from several, well informed friends, that 2008 is supposed to be one great year for all of us! And,I have been paying close attention, and am really starting to believe these predictions!

On New Year’s Eve day, Kinky’s car was in the shop, and he had asked me if I could please drive him to Kerrville, so he could take care of some business—so I did.

When I drove over to the Lodge, Kinky was ready to go to Kerrville. When he jumped into the passenger side of the pickkup—I could tell that he was not a happy camper. The reason for this temporary mood swing, was because I had the bench seat pulled up as close to the dashboard as it could get—because I am tall challenged, and my feet can’t reach the pedals.

We took off on the caliche road, and we had just crossed over the Echo Hill cattle guard, when Kinky says to me, “Nance, would you like for me to drive us to town?”

Not wanting to cramp his style, I said, “Sure Kink, if you’ll promise to drive under the speed limit. Your driving sorta scares me.” I then stopped the truck in the middle of the dirt road, and we jumped out of the cab to switch sides. It reminded me of the many times as a teenager, when me and my friends would pull up to a four-way stop sign, and then jump out of the car, and switch sides! Why I thought that was fun is beyond me.

Anyway, after we had changed seats in the pickup, Kinky scooted the truck seat as far back as it would go, and then we buckled up, and took off for Kerrville, again. “Kinky the truck’s name is Trigger.”

“Okay, Nance,” Kinky said, as he cranked down the window on his side. “Trigger.”

About halfway there, I opened up my purse and pulled out my trusty, 80 gig, iPod. I plugged it in, and turned up the volume. The Kingston Trio were singing, ‘Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley.’ I could barely hear it because of the wind noise, coming from Kinky’s side, so I cranked it up some more. Then Phoebe Snow began singing, ‘Poetry Man.’ “ I just love that song,” I said. “This is perfect music for a New Year’s Eve.”

Kinky puffed away on his cigar. He didn’t hear me because of the wind, and he was driving six miles over the speed limit.

“The speed limit is fifty-five miles, Kinky,” I said loudly, as the iPod played, ‘They say don’t go, to Wolverton...’

Kinky slowed down. “Wolverton Mountain’ is a great song.”

By the time we had reached Wolfmuellers, we had listened to Carlos Santana, the Rolling Stones, Buffalo Springfield, Sting, Air Supply, and the Beatles. We had a fun visit with Sandy and Jon, and then we went our separate ways. Kinky walked over to the bank and I drove over to HEB to buy some groceries. The parking lot was so full, I gave up trying to find a place to park, so I went back to Wolfmuellers. Kinky showed up a few minutes later. We invited them to go to lunch with us, but they were so busy selling books—they declined the invite.

Kinky wanted to go to that orange restaurant for mexican food, but I refused. I reminded him that it was my turn to pick, so he and I drove over to The Save Inn Restaurant. The parking lot was full, as it always is. Kinky found a space and parked Trigger, after he had bumped into a cement barrier, that neither one of us had seen. The only damage done to Trigger, was he broke off one side of the license plate, which is now dangling from one screw.

Kinky ordered their delicious grilled hamburger steak, and I ordered chicken fried steak, one of my favorites. Our meals were delicious, but because my chicken fried steak was so huge—Kinky took half, and finished it off for me. When we walked out of The Save Inn Restaurant, Kinky told me that he really liked the place and would definitely be coming back for more.

On our way back to ranch, on top of the pass, I said, “Kinky, I am thinking that I am going to try to start writing for some newspapers, and magazines to bring in more income for Tony and me. I’m tired of being poor. And, did you know this is supposed to be a great year for you and me? I saw Cindy at Albertsons, the other day, and she told me that. And I think she’s right.”

We chatted the rest of the way home, and he offered me some very helpful tips, to help me get some writing gigs.

Two days later, Kinky called to ask me to come over to the Lodge for an early morning meeting. Over some Kona coffee, Kinky suggested that he and I partner up, to write a book together! Wow! Talk about some great news, and what a way to start out the New Year!

The following morning, Kinky called to ask me to come over to the Lodge for an early morning meeting, again. After that meeting was over—Kinky and I are now going to co-write two books, and we also decided to self-publish, and the name of our publishing company is, ‘South Flat Press!’

So now, I am on cloud nine, my dreams of writing with Kinky are coming true! I love it!

This morning Kinky called me from Austin, to tell me about last Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s bonefits, that he and his friends Steven Fromholz and Little Jewford, did to raise money for the rescue ranch. His news was great! They had done much better than they had expected!

He also told me that Burl Taylor, his friend, and one great auctioneer, from Denton, had played a huge part in raising the money for us! “Nance, Burl has nine dogs, and he told me that he wants to help us, because Oliver, his old blind dog told him to. He’s like us!”

“Please thank Burl Taylor for me,” I said.

Kinky laughed. “Nance, you are getting hard of hearing. His name isn’t Burl Taylor. His name is Carl—C, A, R, L—Carl Naylor—not Taylor—N, A, Y, L, O, R—Naylor—Carl Naylor!”

We both laughed. “Okay, please thank Carl Naylor for me.”

“Carl is going to do the rest of the bonefits with us this month!” Kinky stated. “I can’t wait for you to meet him.”

“Well, John, Tony and me, and hopefully Carol, are planning to go to the bonefit at Casbeers Friday.”

“That would be great if y’all could come. I should be back at the ranch in a few hours. Give the Friedmans my love.”

“I will. Bye.”

And, that is why I believe the predictions!

Well, John just took off with Lana and Snowflake, to get them spayed and given all shots and Tony and I are fixin’ to head to Kerrville for supplies.

Here is the Bonefit information for the next three:

Friday, January 11th....Casbeers in San Antonio...starts at 8:30 pm

Saturday, January 12th...McGonigel’s Mucky Duck in Houston...starts at 7:00 pm

Sunday, January 13th...The Bugle Boy in La Grange...starts at 4:00 pm