October 23, 2003
Slept real good last night. Got up and took a short walk up the road with Kathy and the dogs (they went on farther and I hobbled home). My doctor told Kathy (actually he told me, but I was on Versed-sp?-and don’t remember) that I should stay flat today and not go to work. He mentioned that I was an “over-achiever” and should lay low. How would he know that? And how would he know that I’m going into work, at least for a while?

I want to treat the team that put out the CG book to lunch today. That would be Abby (Happy Birthday girl!), Meghan, R.G., Gus and Robert Ray. They’ve done a great job. The pre-orders for the book are pouring in and it’s not even on press yet.

Got excited about two upcoming covers. One is on fakes, and the other is on “Armed & Dangerous.” Both have big potential. Got the funny photo from the Mohave Museum on Tuesday. It’s a hoot. I’ll post it here in a few days.

Deena came home last night and we had a nice visit. She’s trying to find an intern job. Wants to do Macy’s or some fashion buying deal. One of my Kingman classmates did that for twenty years and warned us that it’s a cutthroat, meager-paying biz, but when you’re 23 you don’t want to believe that. You have to find out for yourself. And Mom and Dad have to allow it to happen. Or at least try.

Although my “near death experience” doesn’t seem quite so dramatic in the rear view mirror, I must say, when I was on the operating table, all of my anger towards my critics and enemies evaporated. It underlines one of my favorite sayings: “No man is against you, he is merely for himself.” Or, how ‘bout this one from Josh. . .

"There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness."
 —Josh Billings