May 31, 2005
Big weekend. Tried to do nothing but didn't succeed. My former cartoonist neighbor, Jerry Scott (Baby Blues, Zits) recently turned fifty and his wife threw him a party down at the Scottsdale Princess Resort on Sunday afternoon. Gordon Smith was the entertainment so I brought my snare drum and high hat cymbals and we wailed on "Route 66." Finally got to meet Jim Borgman, who draws Zits (Jerry writes the strip). Jim is also a political cartoonist of some renown. Fun talking to him. Ed Mell was there (he's getting remarried next week), as were many syndicated cartoonists, including the guy who does Mutts.

After the Scott party, Kathy and I met Deena at Abuelo's for dinner ($28 Sue account) then took in a movie at Harkin's Cine Capri ($18 plus $6.50 for popcorn and water). Saw Crash and really enjoyed it. Quite original and brave. All about racism and redemption in LA. Matt Dillon, Don Cheadle and Sandra Bullock were especially good.

Worked on the White Hat project and CGII images for most of Sunday and Monday. Also swam and took naps. Went over to Mother Radina's for dinner last night. Cooked salmon and watched the Suns beat San Antonio. That was sweet.

I’ve got a full week coming up with the BBC coming in tomorrow for a taping redux, and then two days of printing on the White Hat project on Thursday and Friday.

We got this Email this morning from Down Under:

"I rarely correspond to magazines, happy to be entertained by other's comments and just more than happy to enjoy the contents, and comments. If I don't like the particular mag, I just don't purchase it any more. I have tried many ‘Western’, magazines but all have failed to contain me, until now. True West, you have it just right, I love it, after almost giving up my search for the Holy Grail. The reality is, I have rediscovered True West, having copies of Frontier Times back to 1968, Yes, I'm no youngster, Old West and True West from 1980. They all disappeared from the news stand many years ago, down here, but came upon a back issue from ‘03, loved it and signed up. I've found you again and this time I ain’t letting go. I would like to re-create a Hope Saddle, if any one can supply me with some working drawings I would sure appreciate it. "  
—Graeme Young,  Melbourne,  Australia. youngk@optusnet.com.au

I just got the news from Sherry Monihan that Old West researcher Carl Chafin died on May 26th. He had been sick for some time.

"Our world hangs like a magnificent jewel in the vastness of space. Every one of us is a part of this jewel-and, in the perspective of infinity, our differences are infinitesimal. We are intimately related. May we never even pretend that we are not."
—Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood