August 16, 2004
Deena got hit hard by hail on her way into town yesterday. We got some sprinkles out at the house, but mostly just wind. Another big fire north of our house. We went for a walk on Saturday night and we could see the flames jumping high into the red sky. I was wondering what they were going to call this new fire, and I opened this morning’s paper to see they named it the “New Fire.” Ha. That’s true. I’m not making it up.

Kathy bought me a Kit Carson original day-of-the-dead pin as a commemorative for our 25th wedding anniversary. Wore it to work today on a black shirt, Muy cool. And it’s silver. Get it?

Picked up Gus at Tobias this morning. He dropped off his truck to get an oil change. Got into office just after eight. Got going immediately on artwork.

Got real angry at a certain guy who came into my office today. More or less slighted my artwork and it really got me going. After he left I sat down and really bailed into three Tombstone head shots for the new book I’m working on. Got a real sweet wash on Ho Wa, 41, from China and nailed a cigar smoking Newton Babcock, 55, Virginia, deputy sheriff. And one who I think I’ll call Johnny Tyler. Sometimes I do well with anger. It’s like high octane dragster fuel.

Also got started this weekend on a 1950s comic book style series of scenes, also for the book. Aping those gaudy, goofy looking Indians in the fifties comic books. Remember when they all looked more like Italians from Brooklyn? With Charles Atlas bodies? That’s the look I want. Cheesy and sleazy, and so wrong-headed. Hard to parody really, because it was so unintentionally zany and believe it or not, some of those dudes could draw like a mama-makin' drawing machine

The October issue went out the door today on time, as usual. Robert Ray has never missed a deadline. Not even close. Knock wood. Worked until six.

“Until you value yourself, you will not value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.”
—M. Scott Peck