Lone Star Weird

As a kid I read lots of weird books about Texas--full of ghost stories, roadside oddities and the like. My favorite was probably the story of Ol' Rip--the horny toad entombed in the cornerstone of the Eastland County Courthouse in 1897--who was found, alive, when they renovated the building 31 years later. Let's see Jenny the Elephant pull that one off. Author T. Jensen Lacey will no doubt have some similarly amazing tales to tell when she signs Amazing Texas: Fascinating Facts, Entertaining Tales, Bizarre Happenings, and Historical Oddities About the Lone Star State 7 p.m. Monday at Barnes & Noble, 1430 Plaza Place in Southlake. It is important to note, however, that Governor Rick "Good Hair" Perry enjoyed the book so much that he wrote something for the back cover—which means our governor reads the kind of stuff I read when I was 9. Just sayin'. Call 817-442-0207.
Mon., Aug. 4, 7 p.m., 2008