March 1, 2006
Our founder's beautiful wife, Elizabeth Small passed away on February 10th. She was 89. I had called her to ask about her health and one of our salespeople got asked the question, "When did Joe Small pass away?" So I wanted to find out that also (Joe died in 1994). Sad. She was very sweet and supportive of all our efforts to keep her husband's dream alive.

I have been talking with the people I’m closest to about discontinuing this blog. Mixed advice and feedback (and I'd like to hear what you think). Some, like George Laibe, are adamant that I’m wasting valuable time and we have too many other projects and goals that are getting short shrift because of my daily postings (I estimate that it takes me at least 40 hours a month, and that may be low). Meanwhile, Kathy, Carole and Trish are supportive of either option and have told me to do whatever I think best.

Darcy came by at ten to look at my mess and decide if she can help me (darcyvp@cox.net). She charges $50 an hour and much to my surprise she said my studio wasn’t as bad as she had feared. She is coming out Monday for the first crack at reclaiming my studio.

Meanwhile, I got my first look at the Let’s Go! feature written by Linda McThrall. Alan Fossenkemper is right, she really nailed me. Here’s a taste:

“The magazine has been near bankruptcy and has experienced every imaginable set back.

“But Bell makes it sound fun, and if you didn’t have a lick of sense, you might run out and try to do the same thing.

“Bell’s approach to life is one of undivided inattention.”

See? The rest is quite astute and I must admit Linda has captured something that many other journalists have missed or glossed over.

Gallery Films came by at eleven this morning to tape an interview with me. It was a three-man crew headed by Director Robert Conway, soundman Justin Anderson and Producer Tony Casanova of Cas-Mor Productions (Anthonycasanova.com and Casmorproductions.com). This is for the Arizona Gunfighters DVD, who will have video of various gunfights and their movie Redemption, which will be available at Festival of the West. Also check out their film website at:

Redemptionfilm.com

Hmmmmmmmmm
“Keeping a personal journal significantly increases self-awareness and enhances all the endowments and the synergy among them. If you are not sure why you still do some things that you know are harmful or self-defeating, analyze them, process them, write them down. It builds awareness of your habits. It helps you to make wise choices.”
—Stephen R. Covey, "First Things First"

I’m busy finishing the Apache Kid escape for Classic Gunfights. Need to do one illustration of the lawman walking up the slippery grade beyond Ripsey Wash, just before the daring attack by the Apache prisoners. The issue goes out the door tomorrow.

Robert McElroy stuck his head in my office at noon and told me he bought Barro's Pizza for everyone. I joined Rob (the new guy), Robert Ray, Abby Pearson, Meghan Saar and Sue Lambert in the conference room and we yucked it up. Barro's makes great pizza and we talked at length about it. Mike Barro, the founder's son and a store owner, lives up the road from me (where Peaches does the turn, at the fence corner).

Favorite Onion Headline de Jour
Fox News Covers Spring Break Pretty Well

“You have reached the pinnacle of success as soon as you become uninterested in money, compliments or publicity.”
—Thomas Wolfe