Last Stand Ridge Before And After The Fire Plus Vetting Locals

July 15, 2025

   We had a bad fire in our neighborhood about five years ago and it took out virtually all the underbrush. Somehow, this stand of saguaros survived, some barely—and they have the scars to prove it. Not sure how long they will last but I admire their tenacity. 

Last Stand of Saguaros 

Here's how it looked before the fire.

Ratcliff Ridge in 2019

Last Stand Ridge Today

Tombstone Anonymous?

   My nephew does jeep tours out of Scottsdale and he told me he had a couple from New Jersey on a recent tour who told him that "Tombstone" is their favorite movie. When he asked them if they had visited the town, they were surprised to learn that Tombstone was in Arizona? Yikes! I swear, if you live long enough, everything is mangled and, or, forgotten.

   Amen. Repeat!

A New Way of Vetting Locals

Daily Whip Out:

"You're Not From Around Here Are You?"

Whatever gave you that idea?

Daily Whip Out:

"Black Mountain Morning"

 "The truth is simple. If it was complicated, everyone would understand it."

—Walt Whitman

Words to Die By

 July 14, 2025

   It was one hundred and forty four years ago tonight that a certain fugitive backed into a darkened bedroom. . .

Daily Whip Outs: "Quien es?"

Worst Billy Bonney Joke Ever?

Garrett: "Knock, knock. . ."

Bonney: "Quien es?"

Garrett: "Sam."

Bonney: "Sam who?"

Garrett: "Samuel Colt. Bye bye!"

—submitted by Paul Hutton who swears he got it from someone else

"I don't know who said 'pictures don't lie.' It couldn't have been a photographer."

—Linda Palmer

Watching the Eulogoy at my own Funeral!

 July 13, 2025

   Deena gifted me the book "Meditations for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman and I just finished it today and wanted to thank her profusely for turning me on to it. And, I also want to give you all my biggest takeaways. For starters the book allowed me to let go of so many "shoulds" and guilt over my lack of accomplishments (when a kid from Kingman announces to the world at age 16 that he will make movies and he wakes up at 78 and hasn't made any, unless you count "V-2 Rocket Farm," it can be a tad discouraging).

Daily Whip Out:

"First Light On New River Mesa, Sketch # 27"

   So, based on the book, here are my main takeaways:

   "Accept who you are, where you are. . .and actually do one thing today that truly matters." You know, like tell your family how much you appreciate them and what they mean to you. Which I just did.

"You are here. This is it. You don't much matter—yet you matter as much as you ever did."

Lighten up. "There will always be too much to do, and the future will always be out of our control."

"Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on."

—Samuel Butler

"Everyone is screwed up. broken, clingy, and scared, even the people who seem to have it more or less together. They are much more like you than you would believe. So try not to compare your insides to their outsides."

—Anne Lamott

   And, so, while Lamott writes off the whole of humanity as a bunch of losers, it is liberating to accept this because, "what sounds insulting is actually liberating."

 

   In the end this loser finally got it. Ha. Here is my great grandfather's gravestone at Steins Pass, New Mexico:

  This morning, a friend of mine sent me a link to a new tune. Check it out:

The Ballad of Bob Boze Bell

  I had mixed feelings watching this. For one thing I laughed and laughed because it seemed so ridiculous that a "ballad" would be written about the things I have done, but on another level it was absolutely enjoyable, like listening to a song—a eulogy—played at my own funeral!

   And, since we're going with the eulogy metaphor, since so many people counted me out, over and over, growing up, here is what I currently want on my gravestone in Mountain View Cemetery in Kingman, Arizona:

BOB BOZE BELL

Proving people wrong since 1946

For 50 years I Have Sought The Truth About Old West History And Here's What I Actually Found

 July 12, 2025

   I've been having fun in my studio. Because of the heat, I have been getting out on my morning walks as early as 5:30 to avoid the furnace blast at sunrise. This has given me a sweet peek at a very cool (literally!) early morning phenom.

Daily Whip Out:

"First Light On New River Mesa"

   Love that thin lighting at predawn and you can expect to see more of these until late October when it finally cools down.

So, What Exactly Has History Taught Me?

   On a recent visit my grandkids asked me why I love history so much and I told them I enjoy seeking the truth about what really happened. And you know how kids are, I got an obvious follow up question: "Well grandpa, how much truth did you find?"

   Ha. Good question grasshopper!

   The longer I do this the more doubts creep in about what is true and what is manufactured BS.

   Add to that, half the stuff we were taught when I was growing up turned out to be wrong, or seriously misguided, plus some of our heroes turned into villains—Custer and Carson for example—and some of the villains turned into freedom fighters—Geronimo and Sitting Bull to name just a few—and many of the conclusions tended to wander off point a bit as well: Justice at the O.K. Corral, anyone?

   So, last night I was telling those grandchildren's grandmother—that would be the Kathy Sue—about two quotes that pretty much sum up my half century search for the absolute truth about Old West history, and here they are:

"Whenever the poetry of myth is interpreted as biography, history, or science, it is killed."

—Joseph Campbell, "The Hero With A Thousand Faces" 

“There is no doubt fiction makes a better job of the truth. Because the truth is never just one thing is it? Life is layered, contradictory, always in flux. To try and pin it down is like trying to catch wind in your hands. But through story, through emotion, we get close to something that feels real.”

—Doris Lessing, “The Golden Notebook” (1962)

Doc Holliday at Doc Hollidaze In Prescott

 July 11, 2025

     Stuart Rosebrook and Brad Courtney are cooking up a big Doc Holliday weekend next month up in Prescott.

    They have asked me and artist Thom Ross to give them the makings of an art show on Doc and his friends. Here are a couple I revised this morning for the show.

Daily Whip Out: "Deadly Friends"

Daily Whip Out: "Doc Before The Storm"

Daily Whip Out: "Doc's Deathly Pallor"

   Some of my history friends think they see glasses on Doc's Prescott photo. . .

Daily Whip Out: "Doc With Glasses?"

   And, here is how you can get tickets to this great event:

Doc Hollidaze

   When it comes to finding out the absolute truth about Doc's stay in the mile-high-city, well, I tend to agree with Doris.

“There is no doubt fiction makes a better job of the truth. Because the truth is never just on thing is it? Life is layered, contradictory, always in flux. To try and pin it down is like trying to catch wind in your hands. But through story, through emotion, we get close to something that feels real.”

—Doris Lessing, “The Golden Notebook” (1962)

Victor Higgins of The Taos Seven Meets The Motor City Madman

 July 10, 2025

   When I was in the art studio with Ed Mell we often chatted about the painters we admired. Of course, Maynard Dixon was the big dog in that conversation and we constantly compared notes and jawed about him. But another cat, who was even more eccentric and "modern" was this guy:

Victor Higgins Plein Air Trunk Painting

(1940s)

      Yes, he was one of the Taos Seven and Victor had a very unique eye. . .

"Apaches" 1915, by Victor Higgins

   I especially admire his Taos adobes. . .

"The Sentinel" by Victor Higgins

   And, late in life he developed this modern approach to composition, perhaps enhanced from painting out of the trunk of his car, which he called "Little Gems."

"Taos In Winter" by Victor Higgins

"Indian Hunter" by Victor Higgens

   Meanwhile, in Cat-Scratch-Fever-land. . .

The Nuge!

   Thanks to my old radio partner Jeff Dean, who sent me this photo of The Nuge—Ted Nugent—with KSLX 100.7 FM on-air "talent". L-R: Jeff Dean, Nugent, BBB and the late, great Gordon Smith. We had some fun, and I must say, he was armed the entire time!

The Motor City Madman-Ted Nugent

“God gave us the gift of life. It is the most precious gift ever. To be unarmed is to be helpless to protect that gift; that is outright irresponsible.”

—Ted Nugent

All Around Good Guy Allen Tapija Passes

 July 9, 2025

   Time to bail into some local landscapes.

Daily Whip Out:

"The Back Way to New River"

   Got some decent reference material out my front door. Also, I sometimes draw straight from my aging memory banks. . .

Daily Whip Out: "My Hometown at Dusk"

And, speaking of my hometown, one of the greatest second basemen I ever played with, just passed today. Allen Tapija was an all around wonderful guy and a proud Hualapai, first and foremost. He is the one who dubbed me "Bak Chuk" which he told me means—in Hualapai—"the boy who made us laugh," a moniker I am very proud of.

Allen Tapija

(1947-2025)

      Back out on the outlaw trail.

The John Kinney Gang

(that's allegedly John, standing)

John Kinney's grave in Prescott

(Found this time by Craig Schepp)

   One positive thing about history lovers is that, unlike most of your relatives, we actually visit graveyards.

"I always remember an epitaph which is in the cemetery at Tombstone, Arizona. It says: 'Here lies Jack Williams. He done his damnedest.' I think that is the greatest epitaph a man can have —When he gives everything that is in him to do the job he has before him. That is all you can ask of him and that is what I have tried to do."

—Harry S. Truman

True Old West Love Stories Are Due for A Reinvention

 July 8, 2025

   In my humble opinion, one thing that never gets enough attention in my Old West crowd is love stories. Yes, plenty of bullet holes and the whores who caused them, but rarely do we debate the mysteries of long lasting love. Perhaps there's a moral here (bullets not betrothal!) or, maybe it's just pure, unadulterated immaturity.

   As my mother might say, "Ya think?!"

Daily Whip Out: "Sexy Sadie"

   So, instead of this. . .

The Real Mrs. Wyatt Earp

      We get this.

Daily Whip Out: "Lady In Red"

   A long disproved image of Sadie Marcus foisted on the public by Glenn Boyer who sold a ton of books because he used it on the cover of his "I Married Wyatt Earp" book. I would contend that cleavage sold a boatload more books than the word "Married."

   On the other hand, Old West romances have received plenty of coverage in another time, in another land, far, far away. . .

      Prickly, prickly, prickly. Just not for my crowd. And to be more specific, not for my gender! Too much kissing, not enough bullet holes.

       Plus, they are not very historically accurate, although, this one comes close. . .

Curly Bill & Doc Holliday find love!

   So, is there room for a feature on True Old West Love in True West? When I was younger, I would have said, "Not on my watch!" But I am too old and too savvy to dismiss this as pandering, or worse, grabbing at straws. Who, even in my crowd, could resist this headline?

Classic Bedroom Gunfights: Deadly Ricochets Between The Sheets!

"If you live long enough, everything old becomes new again."

—Old Vaquero Saying

Proceed With Caution When Digging Under The. . .

 July 7, 2025

   Back in the saddle after a long and very quiet weekend.

Daily Whip Out: "Proceed With Caution"

      Sketched out four projects I want to do.

Daily Whip Outs: "Four Assignments"

   Here's one of them. . .

Daily Whip Out: "Geezer Bulldog"

   Wait until you see what Dan The Man did with it. Ha. After the reunion (August 16).

Daily Whip Out: "O.K. Bros"

Daily Whip Out: "Divisadero #78"

Not a bad start. Now to get serious.

"Don't dig for water under the outhouse."

—Old Vaquero Saying

Mad Coyote Joe Day

 July 6, 2025

   On the last day of the Fourth weekend we decided to have a Mad Coyote Joe Day. That's the day we pull down Mad Coyote Joe's fabulous Gringo's Guide to Mexican Food cookbook and make a batch of homemade green chile.

Mad Joe Day Recipe

homemade green chile, Pacifico beer,

a flour tortilla and my current sketchbook.

   Doesn't get much better than this. Joe's recipe for homemade green chile is just the best.

My Current State of Mind

   Sorry, I'm late, I got caught up at home being happy.

   Crappy Diem is what happens when you sieze the wrong day.

   My ability to make life more difficult is unmatchable!

   I dreamed big, but I fell short, over and over. When in actuality I want to be extraordinarily bold and risky. Sometimes I think I achieved both!

   Great art is balancing and breaking symmetry at the same time. The same is true of drumming.

"His simplicity was complicated."

—Shiela E. referring to Ringo Starr's drumming which I believe was genius

Jesse Incommunicado, Bushwhacker's Hogleg & Revisiting BBB Hat Rules

 July 5, 2025

   It's fun to find old unfinished, rough sketches and give them a little wash, or two:

Daily Whip Out: "Jesse Incommunicado"

   And, in a related theme. . .

Daily Whip Out: "Bushwhacker's Hogleg"

   The following is a public service for greenhorns and touristas new to the Southwest.

BBB Cowboy Hat Etiquette

"Don't touch my hat!"

"A work of art that did not begin in emotion is not art."

—Paul Cezanne

 July 4, 2025

   Some say they are the toughest and roughest gang to ever stand still for a photo.

The dreaded Ha Ha Gang

"We make people laugh whether they want to,

or not."

   They rode hard, but only if their parents were going to the same destination. They talked back, but soft enough so they weren't actually heard. And, most importantly, they fed the dog under the table when no one was looking!

   Led by an ancient geezer who brags: "I may not be very smart, or well-educated, but I will tell you this: I'm not very fast on my feet either."

When Weston got his name

"Ride Hard, Ride Free And May The Fourth Be With You!"

—G-Paw Ha Ha

I'm Approaching My Prime, Baby!

 July 3, 2025

   Just a friendly reminder that most athletes peak in their twenties, rock stars in their thirties, divorcees in their forties, truck drivers in their fifties, pickleball players in the sixties and politicians in their seventies. But outperforming them all in terms of age—as in the longevity zone—historians peak in their eighties! 

"I'm in my prime!"

—Carl Sandburg, 85  

   Walk it off Peckerwood. Speaking of wood. . .

A Classic BBB Blog on Deadwood

   I grew up with them and they were definitely a thing.

Daily Whip Out: "A Bad Boy Mormon"

   I also have a better view of what it means to always be on the cutting edge, something I aspired to in my thirties and forties, especially.

“Nothing dulls faster than the cutting edge.”
—Andrew Weed

   On the other end of the spectrum. . .

“The owl is the wisest of all birds because the more it sees, the less it talks.”

—Old Vaquero Saying