July 7, 2003
Heard from Deena and Thomas yesterday. Deena got a job bartending on Long Island and made $425 on July 4th. Those New Yorkers are sure big tippers. Deena said it's really hard to understand them though. They would come up to the bar and say. "A-wad-ah Vaw-ka Caw-lins," and she would say, "I'm sorry, I don't understand a word you're saying. I'm from Arizona." And they would laugh and say it slower, "I want a Vodka Collins." Funny.

Tommy is working double shifts: 15 hours a day. He's basically a stewardess on a bus going into Manhattan twice a day. I told him if he can survive this job he will survive in any corporate board room in America. He has today off so he’s going into the city to go to the Natural History Museum (yes, I’m beaming) and then see a classic movie at the Gramercy Theatre (I’m beaming squared). He also told me Jack Nicholson and Amanda Peet are filming a movie out on Long Island. His ex-girlfriend got a bit part.

Worked all day yesterday on a big, ambitious Vera painting. She’s looming in an orange sky, with three vignette riders galloping across the bottom, representing her varied riding skills. She’s hanging down almost to the ground in the first, riding Roman (standing atop two galloping steeds) in the second, and doubling for Dorothy Gish while standing in the saddle in the third. Lost it, saved it, reworked the sky at least three times. Verdict still out. Ran out of gas around five. Swam laps. Kathy and I went up to El Encanto for an early dinner. Sat outside (probably 95 degrees out) and it was lovely. They have misters and being next to the water was absolutely delightful. Had two margaritas (no salt, on the rocks) and the Sonoran enchiladas ($42 cash).

Came home and watched Sex In The City and Project Greenlight, both on HBO. One of the directors picked for the contest is such an immature, prima dona, who acts like he knows everything and he’s just a snotty baby (Kathy says it’s projection on my part; I see myself in him).

“Old age is when you resent the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated because there are fewer articles to read.”
—Old Vaquero Saying