March 28, 2006
Raining again this morning. Local newspapers whining that “It’s not enough.” Someone recently remarked that they read the Sports page first because it’s a list of people’s achievements and the front page last because it’s a list of our failures. Hmmmm.

Wendell Havatone's CD of "I've Been Wandering" is available to sample right here. The song, by the way, is a reworking of "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain."

It Pays to Know The Right Chaps
George from Scotland Emailed me this morning asking about a Billy the Kid book I had never heard about. I forwarded his odd request to Fred Nolan in Britain and got this reply back almost immediately:

“Willard Ballow's book is a large format (12" x 8" landscape) retelling of the Kid/Lincoln County War story, self-published in 1998 (Willard, who I met in NM in 1995, died in 1999). It's very reliable, full of photographs and fine graphic imaginings -- he was a very talented artist-draughtsman. Publisher is Owlhoot Trail Publishing Co of 1510 S. Main, Weatherford, TX 76086, price was $37.83 s/h $5.50 extra. They gave me this address for e-mail: _owlhoot@flash.net_ (mailto:owlhoot@flash.net)
—Frederick Nolan

I received another inquiry from a reader about being related to Jesse James and a request to help him verify their family stories as true. I sent this reply:

Like you. I love these family stories. However, one of the things I learned along the way is that most family stories are just that, stories. My family claims connection to Big Foot Wallace and John Wesley Hardin, but today I somewhat doubt these claims (I say "somewhat" because In my heart I still want them to be true!). There really is no way to prove, or disprove, your family's claims at this late date. My advice to you is to cherish the stories, embrace them, and tell your kids. That, my friend, is how legends begin, and we need them more than ever.

Favorite Onion Headline de Jour
Study Finds Sexism Rampant In Nature

“Happiness is good health and a bad memory.”
—Ingrid Bergman