December 9, 2005
A very stressful but successful day. Lots of negotiating shark infested waters but I made it through with all limbs intact. Well, let me take a look. Yep, it’s all here, what’s left of it.

I feel more like a long distance runner than I ever have in my life. I used to dash here and there, panicking at upsets, fretting about blow-ups, fleeing from angst, staying up at night, weeping about finance, blaming people I loved, you know, the usual male boss syndrome stuff. Today, I only do half of that, and even that half, I can sleep through. As Dr. Weil (that Tucson Hippie doctor guy) puts it, "One of the advantages of getting older is you can recognize patterns better. "Oh, the ties are going out wider—again. Interesting." Or, "You say, the Mods are hip—again? What is this? The eighteenth time?" So, when I now see the glistening of rifle barrels on the horizon, I realize there’ll probably be plenty of time for a nap before the shooting starts and many times the battle is called off before it starts, or someone fires a poop gun and, someone laughs, and then it’s over, or, both sides run and hide. Rarely, does it break out into full scale war, and by that time, it’s too late to do anything anyway.

It’s a tired cliche but don’t fret the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff. Yadda yadda. Except for the big stuff, which I don’t have time for because I’m handling all the small stuff. And it’s a full time job. And I’m the last person in the office at six P.M. but I’m okay. And, dog gone-it, people like me! Yes, I'm a tad buggy.

Anyway, we had a good day at True West magazine. Had very productive talks with George Laibe, Robert Ray, Trish Brink, Bob Brink, Carole Glenn, Meghan Saar, Joel Klasky and Mark Boardman. I’ll let you figure out who made me a better long distance runner.

"Champions have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill."
—Muhammad Ali