December 21, 2005
I have been seeing double for two days now. Finally called the doctor this morning and found out this is typical. Evidently, the anesthetics they jammed in my eyeball affect a nerve and it takes a while to wear off. I was worried. Quite disturbing to see two images about two feet apart. Never had that before and the worst part is worrying that I’ll have to go in for another round of eye clamps. It would almost be a toss-up between total blindness and going back. Ha.

The Eyes Have It Department:
The good news is that I’m drawing like John Bonham drums—with only one eye! I have a theory that behind every infirmity is a hidden strength (think Helen Keller, Ray Charles and David Hocking). So thanks for the gift Mr. Universe.

The Arizona Republic asked me to do one of those year-end wrap-up commentaries. Here’s a sneak preview of what I submitted:
One of the great things about illegal immigration is that our Mexican food has gotten ten times better in the past ten years. More regions of Mexico are represented and more sophistication abounds on almost every corner. When I was a kid, it had to be Mexican-American food on the sign or a cafe couldn’t survive. Not anymore. Thanks illegals!

Tina Fey on why she returned to work at Saturday Night Live six weeks after giving birth:
“NBC has me under contract; the baby and I have only a verbal agreement.”

Carole Glenn reports from the front lines:
Elizabeth Davis called and entered 3 subscriptions this afternoon. She had
seen an article in the AZ Rep and read that you had a newspaper or something
and ran across the magazine. She got one sub for her husband and two other
men - she said that they are all crazy about Tombstone and her husband has
some of your books. She was very excited to have found TW.

My spies in Lincoln, New Mexico tell me:
“We hear that the Wortley has sold to someone in San Antonio, TX, but that is
the sum total of info at present. Ellis Store is barely open.”

Lincoln (my fave Old West town), desperately needs another Billy the Kid movie.

Humans—despite their artistic pretensions, sophistication and many accomplishments—owe their existence to a 6" layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
—Epicurus