Mickey Free at 9,000

May 24, 2011

Went home for lunch yesterday and whipped out a little study called "Updraft In The Land of The Tilted Mesas."

This would be near Coyote Pass in Mohave County, Arizona. Where it's always windy and dust devils are on the prowl almost every day in the summertime.

Speaking of Kingman, broke out in hives last night. Woke up at about two in the morning itching like crazy. Haven't had a bout in several years. Either stress or bad food, or both. Celebrated a neighbor's birthday last night. Perhaps I got a touch of tad-in-die-tis. Or, maybe it was the wine.

Return with us now to those thrilling concepts of yesteryear:
When he was just a boy he started a war. The longest in the history of the United States. The red-headed captivo with the bad eye and the scarred face. The one the soldiers called Mickey Free.

A poignant view of Felix Ward, before he became Mickey Free. Also note, this was my 9,000th sketch on the road to 10,000 bad boys. Amazing.

Spent the afternoon yesterday working on new scripts for our next Westerns Channel video shoot. Did three with two more in the can from last Friday. Need 14. Going to film in Lincoln, New Mexico, one of my favorite destinations on the planet. Sometimes I feel guilty about spending my time on stuff that seems like fun. Gee, I wonder what ol' Annie has to say about this?

"Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you."
—Annie Dillard