November 28, 2003
Had a nice Thanksgiving at Betty Radina’s. Nice talking to everyone (except for one person who irritates the hell out of me, but such is family and the holidays and being petty. Besides, it makes me appreciate all the others).

Worked on several art pieces for the Old Man Clanton piece. Got a decent image called “The Midnite Visitor.” This led to questions (as I’m painting the scene, I’m thinking, “Wait a minute, if he’s coming in from over there?”), which I may include in the article.

Got this from one of my blogger pals:
Six Phases Of A Project.
1. Enthusiasm
2. Disillusionment
3. Panic
4. Search For The Guilty
5. Punishment Of The Innocent
6. Praise And Honors For The Non-Participants

I’m always trying to figure out how to get to the good stuff and so I’m constantly searching for people who may have the answers. Here’s what Tommy Lee Jones has to say about acting (he is out promoting The Missing): “It there is such a thing as talent, maybe it’s maintaining objectivity and subjectivity at the same time, both at a very intense level. But hell’s bell’s, there is no established vocabulary to deal with these issues.” What a guy. A Westerner (he owns two ranches) with a Harvard degree.

And here come the MMMurphey fans: “What the devil?! Where is this merciless Michael Martin Murphey bashing coming from? References to 78 RPM's & Fountain Hills tell me everything I need to know. I'm reminded of an exchange on a prominent Western E-board recently. Two old codgers were bitching about Opie remaking John Wayne's epic "The Alamo," vowing they'd never see this vile assault on their antiquated honor. "How dare that sniveling Hollywood brat think he can sully the Duke's masterwork!" Never mind that it isn't Ron Howard anymore at the helm. Never mind that it isn't a remake in any sense. Never mind that John Wayne was just as "Hollywood" as Opie Cuningham. By Gobs, it tweren't what they were raised on! I nearly worship John Wayne as the deified Western role model. I adore Gene Autry's music. The crackpot coot mentality expressed in your recent correspondence with Grandpa Simpson does not represent all your readers. I'm a mere kiddo of 38 who appreciates that some folks are trying to preserve and supplement the Western arts and myths that are about to erode to dust right before our eyes if someone doesn't perpetuate our passion for the American West. So, I say, thank you Michael Martin Murphy!” C. Neil Williams

”If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.”
—Old Vaquero Saying