February 11, 2005
Rained all night and all day today (still raining steady at 4:35). Really unusual weather for Arizona. I can't remember this much constant rain. We're used to sporadic thunderstorms where it gets black, blows like crazy, rains for ten minutes and fifteen seconds later the sun is out. This all day stuff is way too Seattle.

In spite of the drizzle I took the dogs on a run at about 6:30 this morning. I rode the bike. Yes, to them it was Christmas Day. Watched them lope along, oblivious to the mud and sog, just having a great time.

Got into the office at 8:30 and whipped out a scratchboard of an 1860s steam engine coming right off the page. It's almost going airborne. Utilized the great reference I got from McCormick Railroad Park the other day. Also redid the conductor "All aboard!" illustration. Seems a bit more authentic and dynamic on the second try. I’ll post some of these bad boys this weekend.

A well-known researcher dropped in this afternoon and we had a nice chat. He's got an interesting book he's working on. I asked him if he wanted us to do something on it and he sort of begged off saying, "Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those guys who think you ruined True West." The inference being that there is a large contingency who does. And there probably is (I mean besides Timothy Fattig).

Buckey Blake called me from Texas (his new home) and said we should do "The Wit & Wisdom of Billy the Kid" as a regular feature, utilizing one of his clever quotes in each issue, like, "Advise persons never to engage in killing." I asked him if he's put a down payment on that artist's studio out by Castle Hot Springs and he said he hasn't, but he's thinking about it. Of course, he just bought the place in Texas and needs to finish that, but he thinks like an artist.

Took Carole to lunch at the Bad Donkey. Had two small Greek salads and ice teas (I bought, $12 cash, includes tip). Don't tell her but she is the heart and soul of the magazine and I would have given up many times if it was just up to me.

Got an Email from Phyllis Eaton that we are going to have our 40th Mucous High School Reunion in August (it's actually MCUHS, as in Mohave County Union High School, but so many people would ask us, "Do you go to Mucous High? that we started using it). Can't wait to see all those Kingman babes wearing the Empire cut dresses, with the angora laced class rings. I'm like totally stoked. Gonna be bitchin'.

"In high school, I was the class comedian as opposed to the class clown. The difference is, the class clown is the guy who drops his pants at the football game, the class comedian is the guy who talked him into it."
—Billy Crystal