December 4, 2002
Yesterday I finished six black and white gunfighters on scratchboard (worked from about four until 8:45 am) and hurried up to office at nine. Staff meeting went well. We are adding 1,600 new outlets for the magazine and that will help everything and everybody. Now to pay for it. Need to go over numbers with Carole and Bob Brink this morning.

Added another page to Classic Gunfights (that makes it 9 pages, the largest ever). I certainly have the art to fill the holes. Need to finish. Daniel came around 11:30, went over cover ideas and elements. I’m counting on him to hit a home run with this one.

Went to lunch at El Encanto with Gus, Abby, Meghan, Robert, Carole, Jana and Daniel ($10 cash). Sat outside. It was kind of cool, so they brought us a heater, but it was fun to sit and chat about everything. Went back and Daniel critiqued the issue (Jan.) and had high praise for the design, etc.

Jana has scored a coup with a new Mountain Meadows Massacre article that claims Brigham Young did it. She is in touch with the Mormon Church about a rebuttal (they are writing a counter book). Very controversial, and I want True West to be part of that conversation.

Ran out of gas at about 4:30 and came home to take a nap. Got a disturbing call from one of Deena’s ex-boyfriends at 5:30. Kathy and I drove down to Tempe. Deena’s house is a total pit. Roommate passed out on couch. bare walls, Subway cups all over table, tv on floor. Exactly as my college apartments always looked. Took her out for dinner at the Vine ($35 cash). Good talk with her. She’s very honest and a good kid. I wouldn’t go back to that part of my life for a million dollars. Okay, maybe $1.5 mil. No, not really, because even if I had the money I would blow it because I was too naive and stupid. Better make that $16 mil.

Got home at 10:30 and went right to bed. Everyone is sick, and I’m trying not to get it. Still need to finish about seven more pieces of art for this issue. Want it to be good.

"You couldn't get a clue during the clue mating season in a field full of horny clues if you smeared your body with clue musk and did the clue mating dance."
—Edward Flaherty