June 30, 2004
Here is a photo of my new girlfriend. That’s right, I’m dropping Kathy. While it’s true we’ve been together for 25 years I’ve got a major beef: I can’t even get my wife to watch a Custer movie, much less go to the battlefield. My new honey (I didn’t catch her name) has gone every year for the last quarter century and has a tattoo of The Boy General on her left arm to prove it. Is that commitment? Or what?

She told me her Custer tattoo has faded quite a bit in the last 15 years, but I told her it merely makes it look more like an old photograph. It’s so refreshing to see women acting as nuts as the males I am friends with.

Three reps from Banta Printing in Kansas City came in this morning to go over our new contract. Good, solid midwestern guys. Afterwards, Bob Brink, Robert Ray and I took Wade Bailey, Dave Sanders and Bart Etzenhouser to Tonto Bar & Grill for lunch

Our staff photographer, John Beckett came in this afternoon and told me he’s gotten at least five inquiries from soldiers in Iraq regarding his Painted Ladies pinups which are advertised in True West. John is pretty sure they are not insurgents, but are on our side. Here’s a clue: “I would buy all 15 no questions asked just from what I’ve seen.” Now that’s a red-blooded American boy writing, don’t you think. You can check out John’s Painted Ladies at www.jbeckettphoto.com

Found out yesterday one of our ex-employees is in jail, without bail. I guess the only thing I can say is it’s a testament to his tremendous talent that he stayed out as long as he did.

”There will be a time when loud-mouthed, incompetent people seem to be getting the best of you. When that happens, you only have to be patient and wait for them to self destruct. It never fails.”
—Richard Rybolt