November 3, 2005
Meghan caught a major boo-boo in the spots we cut down at Canyon Records yesterday. In the 60 second spot, I spouted off about the origins of rodeo in the U.S. (culled from the September, 2004 True West on the Roots of Rodeo). I cited the Pecos, Texas rodeo as having been founded in 1883, the Payson rodeo started in 1884 and the Prescott rodeo in 1888, but that Prescott claimed to have the longest continuous rodeo. Meghan heard the spots, went online and discovered that, no, Payson claims the longest continuous rodeo and Prescott claims the oldest “formal” rodeo contest (evidently the Payson and Pecos rodeos were not black tie). Obviously they are splitting hairs, especially since Santa Fe and a couple other towns claim to have had rodeos as early as the 1840s. Still, it looks like Prescott wins, since the Pecos and Payson events were just informal events with cowboys getting together to compete and mostly rope. Ironically none of them, including Prescott, called it a "rodeo" until the 1920s. Prescott called theirs a "Cowboy Tournament." Anyway, we still need to rewrite the spot to avoid the obvious land mines inherent in a spot that will run on ProRodeo Radio. Ha. At least it gives me a chance to work with Jack Miller again and maybe talk him into letting me tell you the Stones stories. George Laibe is booking a "No-Time-Reride" session for next week.

Had an Executive Committee Session at ten with Dave Daiss, Bob Brink and Carole Glenn. Went over some pretty encouraging numbers. We are finally getting some traction in the marketplace and this makes me very happy.

This morning I was contacted by a writer named Coty Miranda who is doing a piece on Marshall Trimble for Southwest Magazine. One of her questions to me was, "Marshall Trimble is a handsome man. Why is his column photo [in True West] SO small?"

My answer: "Because a little bit of the Marshall goes a long ways."

Went home for lunch and tried to finish the Jesse Evans vs. the Texas Rangers artwork, but got nowhere fast. Basically ruined two boards. Very discouraged. Wanted to finish today. Came back to work and talked to Robert Ray about getting an extension on deadline until tomorrow. He agreed. Fortunately, he’s ahead on his work. I’m going to go home early and try to get something good in the can. My problem is basically shifting gears. I get rusty so quickly and it takes me a day or two to get back in gear.

A local legend, Grace Voss Frederick is 100 years old today. She gives tours of her museum in Cave Creek. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never been there. It’s only about a mile from my house. You know how that goes. Anyway, when the Arizona Republic asked her the secret to living so long, she said, "French fries and melted butter." Too funny.

Carole offered to send a reply to the person who was angry about our "anti-Christmas" guide. Here’s her diplomatic Email:

"Thank you for your email. I am sorry that you interpreted our Holiday Gift
Guide as something other than was intended. This particular issue goes on
newsstands November 1—Dec 12, 2005. Since it is on stands during
Thanksgiving Holidays to the beginning of Christmas Holidays, we have called
it a ‘Holiday Gift Guide’—it is really that simple.

"We appreciate your Merry Christmas wishes to us and wish you a great
Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"

"Common sense is as rare as genius."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson