February 6, 2006
Watched the Super Bowl for the ads. Did my sketches (Mickey Free and Nympho Rodeo) during the game. Whenever there was a good play, I had the luxury of stopping and then watching the five replays. Interesting way to watch, mainly considering I didn’t miss anything. Kathy recorded the game, so we could go back and review the best ads. We agreed that the Fed-Ex ad was funny (8), and the Dove ad was poignant (8), you know the one where the little girls had sayings next them like, "She hates her freckles," "she thinks she's fat," but the Budweiser “Streaker” made us laugh out loud (9). And our own homegrown company, GoDaddy.Com went to a lot of trouble for a yawner (3), but I’ve heard the final version was their 16th run at it, the rest being rejected by the NFL and, or ABC.

By the way, if you’re into numerology, I read somewhere that the average age of an NFL player is 26 and the average age of the Rolling Stones is 62. On the last song of their three-song set, Mick said, “This is a song we could have played at the first Super Bowl. Everything comes to one who is patient.” Or, something like that. The song was Satisfaction, and I have to say the Stones do the worst version of that song than anybody. Worse than the worse garage band I've ever been in. The Exits did a better version. It needs fuzz, Man. Keith plays it like it’s Jumpin’ Jack Flash, which when you think about it, is about a half step away, musically, but, as they say, the devil’s in the details. Sympathy not included.

News From The Front Lines
“Erich Highet from Haines, OR called to subscribe today. He is a Civil War buff and his wife picked TW up in the grocery store because she thought he would like it. He really enjoyed it and called to subscribe.

“Then, Graves Smith from Briarwood Queens, NY called and, if you want to feel good, you should call him. He and his wife love True West and they love you. He called to subscribe because he could no longer find TW in Borders or Barnes & Noble. He was excited to find us (was afraid TW had gone out of business because he couldn't find it).

“His favorite magazines are an Opera Magazine, Cowboys & Indians and True West. He said there is no magazine like TW - it has the best articles. Graves said that he likes Cowboys & Indians for the clothes and that TW has great articles and clothes.

“He asked me to tell you how much he enjoys it and that his wife is nuts
about you—‘there is no one like this man.’”
—Carole Glenn

News From The Mapinator In Alabama
“I went to a great bookstore called Books A Million here in Decatur yesterday. As good as Barnes & Noble or Borders. HUGE magazine section! and there it was, the March issue of True West, so I snatched up a copy. It was displayed in the history section with Civil War Times, etc, not anywhere near American Cowboy or Cowboys and Indians. It was displayed well tho, not hidden behind any other mags. Felt very good to see my work in there and my name still in the masthead. Great issue. I must say I think I was even more impressed with it viewing it as an ex-employee. I don’t know exactly how to express it, but it seems like being a step back from it gave me a chance to examine it more objectively and it sure passed the test!”
—Gus Walker, still part of the True West family

Favorite Onion Headline de Jour
Guy Just Totally Smoking Weed On Street

“Where can I find all of the Old Vaquero Sayings.”
—Caz, in Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Sorry Caz, you can't. I haven't finished writing and poaching them all yet. But there will be a book someday, and if you've read this blog for a while you know exactly how I came up with the concept in 1992.

“It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.”
—Old Vaquero Saying