June 16, 2005
Really got into deadline mode today. Wrestled five spreads to the ground, writing cutlines and sidebars on the fly, and passed them off to Gus, who put them in place, tweaked them and got them over to Robert Ray for final design and output. Really cranking.
Went home for lunch and finished three pieces of art, including a portrait of Bob Paul, Bob "Dutch" Martin, and The Gambler (based on an alleged photo of Wyatt Earp in front of the Tombstone Fire Station). I brought those, plus a couple portraits I had previously finished of Louisa Earp, Morgan Earp, Doc Holliday and Frank Stilwell into the office and Robert Ray and Abby shot digital photos of them in our new photo studio which they have set up in the old store area (As of last week we closed the store. We just weren’t getting the traffic).
Britney called from Sky Harbor this morning. She said that she spotted True West in Terminal Four on the newsstand. She said she saw it right away—and it was in a good location. This made my day.
Earlier this week, Bob Brink shared with us "Maurer’s Ten Cardinal Rules" for surviving in the magazine business. Maurer and Bob worked together for many years at Hearst. With gems like "Art directors love to award each other Golden Tee-Squares. Magazines are not designed to hang on the wall," I knew this was something we needed to read. And, "The reader always comes first. The reader is your boss. The reader is a demanding boss. Never forget who you work for. It’s a good way to get fired," we certainly got a lot of value out of the list. But the one that really got me is "Learn the trigger words." Research has shown that some words just work on the cover no matter what. And "they work in Chicago. They work in Bangkok. They work in Moscow, Athens and Madrid." Here are the words that work on covers every single time:
• How
• Why
• Secrets
• Confessions
• Doctors
• Fat
• Sex
• Fast
• Now
• Easy
• Thin
• Win
So I challenged our creative writers and contributors to come up with True West cover lines for 2006, and here are a few choice ones I’ve gotten back:
• How to have secret fast sex with fat doctors now and remain thin and easy.
—Carole Glenn
• Doc Holiday's Easy, Winning Diet Secret: Fast Sex with Fat Chicks
and a Large Box of Wheat Thins!
—The Unknown Contributor
• A Friend With Weed Is A Friend Indeed
—Mike Melrose (evidently trying to get a title off of "Drugs In The Old West" but utilizing none of the words on the list)
• Fast Times at Tombstone High
—Mike Melrose, who else?
• Six Easy Pieces: Guns You Never Heard Of Nor Want To (think of weird combinations-what did Miss kitty carry? And where? Could you doctor that up?)
—Corrine Brown
• Plying the Frontier Sex Trade: What really separated the women from the girls (Larry Brown-where are you when we need you?)
—Corrine Brown
• On the fast track to Paradise – Opium and drug dens in the Gold camps (hey-they had to do something before television)
—Corrine Brown
• Finding Fat City-The best poker saloons from Deadwood to Dodge City (then and now) (Is this pandering?)
—Corrine Brown
• How Range Cowboys Stayed Thin: (or did they?) a True Maniacs guide to carbs, before it even mattered.
—Corrine Brown
• True Confessions of a Fallen Woman—Mattie Silks Sets the Record Straight
—Corrine Brown
• Bear Grease and Buffalo Fat : A Day at the Bent’s Fort Spa
—Corrine Brown
• Sex and the City: True West’s Top Picks for A Night Out on the (Frontier) Town
—Corrine Brown
• Easy on the Sweet Talk—Cowboy Courtship 1800’s style.(Trades, deals and pregnancy-was their any other way?)
—Corrine Brown
• The Fat Man and the Thin Woman, plus a two headed cow -----traveling sideshows and the con men who ran them
—Corrine Brown (who also wants dessert!)
• True West Confessions: How I Made My Fat Wife Thin! (By Dr. Johnny
Forker Faster)
—Mark Boardman (Nasty boy! shame on you!)
How and Why, through Fast, Easy, Sex they are Now Thin
—Mad Coyote Joe
That's not all. But that's all for today. You too can contribute if you'd like. Hey, free lunch if we use one.
"The world is proof that God is a committee."
—Bob Stokes
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
June 15, 2005
Today is a wake-up call. The CGII book is supposed to go to the printer in a month. We’ve got 30 days to finish and we are hanging out all over the place. Had a meeting yesterday with Meghan, Robert Ray and Gus to plan an attack, cut our losses and get it done.
Having read the book and watched the movie of Sergio Leone’s Once Upon A Time In The West, I came into work on Monday and commented to my production staff: "The lesson I got from watching the movie is that sometimes artists like Leone need to be reined in. If you give them too much running room, they’ll keep going and going and never finish until the whole thing collapses from overproducing and changes and changes upon changes."
To which Robert Ray said, "I’ve known this for some time, but unfortunately, in our case the artist owns the company."
Ha. Too true. Anyway, here we are in a place where I’m not a stranger, in fact, I’m a regular. Every single book I’ve produced (18, includes four comic books and the Razz) has had this problem. The only saving grace is I did voluntarily lock myself into a 128 page book. Not that I didn’t want to break out of this and add pages. Instead, I drove Gus crazy, adding and subtracting from one gunfight to another until I ran out of running room. But now, that phase is over and we need to get serious. Dan Harshberger is coming out at ten to discuss design issues. I always enjoy that.
And speaking of Once Upon a Time in the West, Jeff Hidlebrandt reminded me of his interview with Jack Elam for the Encore Westerns channel on Elam’s involvement in the making of the film. From the interview, via Jeff, here’s Jack’s take on the opening sequence:
"I get a call from Henry Fonda who I knew personally. He said, 'I'm down in Granada, Spain and we're doing a picture with Sergio Leone and there's a cameo, and they'll pay you a lot of money if you come down and do a cameo.' I'm supposed to catch the fly. Sergeio Leone says, 'there's not many flies around,' and so he went and put some honey on my face to draw flies, and it didn't work. So now it's 120 in shade at least and they break about 3:00 in the afternoon for watermelon for the crew. The crew is about 100 people and they got these several tubs of watermelons in ice, big hunks of ice and they start cutting them open over the table and there's nine hundred billion flies come right to that tent. Leone said, 'That's it! We go back to work no watermelon.' He grabs a piece of watermelon and he comes over and rubs watermelon all over my face and all over the bench beside me. I got news for you, I had six flies to choose from and within a half hour I caught that fly in my gun barrel and we did the scene."
Jeff also told me Elam related a not too pleasant story about the third actor in that opening scene. The actor was distraught that he didn't have a bigger part and ended up killing himself (I think it’s the same actor who opens The Good, The Bad And the Ugly). Elam said they still had some of the opening scenes to shoot but couldn't find any actor to wear the dead man's costume. Finally a script boy said he'd do it and they finished the sequence.
"By the way, I'm working on the next round of True West Moments. They should be on the air soon."
—Jeff Hildebrandt, Managing Producer, Encore Westerns
"I’ve learned what is reality, and what is make-believe, and that it isn’t smart to wear one’s heart upon one’s sleeve."
—Grace Easley
Today is a wake-up call. The CGII book is supposed to go to the printer in a month. We’ve got 30 days to finish and we are hanging out all over the place. Had a meeting yesterday with Meghan, Robert Ray and Gus to plan an attack, cut our losses and get it done.
Having read the book and watched the movie of Sergio Leone’s Once Upon A Time In The West, I came into work on Monday and commented to my production staff: "The lesson I got from watching the movie is that sometimes artists like Leone need to be reined in. If you give them too much running room, they’ll keep going and going and never finish until the whole thing collapses from overproducing and changes and changes upon changes."
To which Robert Ray said, "I’ve known this for some time, but unfortunately, in our case the artist owns the company."
Ha. Too true. Anyway, here we are in a place where I’m not a stranger, in fact, I’m a regular. Every single book I’ve produced (18, includes four comic books and the Razz) has had this problem. The only saving grace is I did voluntarily lock myself into a 128 page book. Not that I didn’t want to break out of this and add pages. Instead, I drove Gus crazy, adding and subtracting from one gunfight to another until I ran out of running room. But now, that phase is over and we need to get serious. Dan Harshberger is coming out at ten to discuss design issues. I always enjoy that.
And speaking of Once Upon a Time in the West, Jeff Hidlebrandt reminded me of his interview with Jack Elam for the Encore Westerns channel on Elam’s involvement in the making of the film. From the interview, via Jeff, here’s Jack’s take on the opening sequence:
"I get a call from Henry Fonda who I knew personally. He said, 'I'm down in Granada, Spain and we're doing a picture with Sergio Leone and there's a cameo, and they'll pay you a lot of money if you come down and do a cameo.' I'm supposed to catch the fly. Sergeio Leone says, 'there's not many flies around,' and so he went and put some honey on my face to draw flies, and it didn't work. So now it's 120 in shade at least and they break about 3:00 in the afternoon for watermelon for the crew. The crew is about 100 people and they got these several tubs of watermelons in ice, big hunks of ice and they start cutting them open over the table and there's nine hundred billion flies come right to that tent. Leone said, 'That's it! We go back to work no watermelon.' He grabs a piece of watermelon and he comes over and rubs watermelon all over my face and all over the bench beside me. I got news for you, I had six flies to choose from and within a half hour I caught that fly in my gun barrel and we did the scene."
Jeff also told me Elam related a not too pleasant story about the third actor in that opening scene. The actor was distraught that he didn't have a bigger part and ended up killing himself (I think it’s the same actor who opens The Good, The Bad And the Ugly). Elam said they still had some of the opening scenes to shoot but couldn't find any actor to wear the dead man's costume. Finally a script boy said he'd do it and they finished the sequence.
"By the way, I'm working on the next round of True West Moments. They should be on the air soon."
—Jeff Hildebrandt, Managing Producer, Encore Westerns
"I’ve learned what is reality, and what is make-believe, and that it isn’t smart to wear one’s heart upon one’s sleeve."
—Grace Easley
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
June 14, 2005
I got some decent feedback on Into the West at this morning’s staff meeting. Sue Lambert said she is really enjoying the series and I should give it a shot. Here’s a couple of Emails from here:
"BBB: Ok..I took the plunge last night and watched the first episode of Into The West....my initial reactions:...hate the damn commercials...even with my Tiv...predictable...looks good, but not great (cinematography wise)...a few interesting characters..but they are usually killed or out or story soon...lotta buffalo shots..like em'...furious bouncing back and forth between white and red storylines...can be dizzying....overall I can only give it 2 stars..and a mild thumbs up...nothing to love or hate so far. But we must support the genre so on we go.”
—Jim Ed, Chicago,IL
"It's hard to say what it is after just one episode but parts were enjoyable. Will Patton is good in a short role and the Buffalo Hunt is accurate if I can believe things I've read. It does come close to the old theme "white men are evil indians are great". It also is so long (6 parts) no real name actors have main roles so the acting quality is limited.
"BUT, it's a western and like Victor Mclaglen said when tasting the whisky in the bible box after Henry Fonda asked him if he was a judge of whisky. ‘it's better than no whisky atoll’ It's similar to Centennial."
—Hugh Howard, Maniac# 9
The Best Michael Jackson Headline from the NY Daily News and the NY Post:
Boy, oh, boy!
Thanks Charles.
Meghan, Bob and Trish Brink and I met Jana Bommersbach down at Rockfish for lunch today to talk about the editorial calendar for 2006. Got some great ideas from everyone (had the salmon salad, $56 includes tip, I bought). I especially liked the idea of doing a feature on the guy who is a Maniac and who lusts after ghost towns (I met him in Cody last year and he was the first guy I saw who was wearing a Maniac t-shirt in the wild). We want to feature him in a piece called, “Ghost Town Maniac!” If you are him, please Email me right now at Bozebell@twmag.com.
"If there’s another way to skin a cat, I don’t want to know about it."
—Steve Kravitz
I got some decent feedback on Into the West at this morning’s staff meeting. Sue Lambert said she is really enjoying the series and I should give it a shot. Here’s a couple of Emails from here:
"BBB: Ok..I took the plunge last night and watched the first episode of Into The West....my initial reactions:...hate the damn commercials...even with my Tiv...predictable...looks good, but not great (cinematography wise)...a few interesting characters..but they are usually killed or out or story soon...lotta buffalo shots..like em'...furious bouncing back and forth between white and red storylines...can be dizzying....overall I can only give it 2 stars..and a mild thumbs up...nothing to love or hate so far. But we must support the genre so on we go.”
—Jim Ed, Chicago,IL
"It's hard to say what it is after just one episode but parts were enjoyable. Will Patton is good in a short role and the Buffalo Hunt is accurate if I can believe things I've read. It does come close to the old theme "white men are evil indians are great". It also is so long (6 parts) no real name actors have main roles so the acting quality is limited.
"BUT, it's a western and like Victor Mclaglen said when tasting the whisky in the bible box after Henry Fonda asked him if he was a judge of whisky. ‘it's better than no whisky atoll’ It's similar to Centennial."
—Hugh Howard, Maniac# 9
The Best Michael Jackson Headline from the NY Daily News and the NY Post:
Boy, oh, boy!
Thanks Charles.
Meghan, Bob and Trish Brink and I met Jana Bommersbach down at Rockfish for lunch today to talk about the editorial calendar for 2006. Got some great ideas from everyone (had the salmon salad, $56 includes tip, I bought). I especially liked the idea of doing a feature on the guy who is a Maniac and who lusts after ghost towns (I met him in Cody last year and he was the first guy I saw who was wearing a Maniac t-shirt in the wild). We want to feature him in a piece called, “Ghost Town Maniac!” If you are him, please Email me right now at Bozebell@twmag.com.
"If there’s another way to skin a cat, I don’t want to know about it."
—Steve Kravitz
Monday, June 13, 2005
June 13, 2005
Well, the word just came in the office (2:21 PM) that Michael Jackson is innocent of all charges. It kind of makes you feel good as an American to know that today, virtually all races can buy their way out of trouble.
The name of the book I’m reading is “The Art of Sergio Leone’s Once Upon A Time in the West: A Critical Appreciation,” by John Fawell. And here’s a gem from the Master, Leone, on why “The Culpepper Cattle Company” failed: “Because they did not find in it what they were looking for: the fable.”
With that said, I must say it was both a joy and a chore to watch the movie. The opening with the errant fly (and Jack Elam’s errant eye) and the creaking windmill and the water dripping on Woody Strode’s head and the thousand railroad ties roughly lined up (evidently leftover lumber from Orson Welle’s failed Falstaff production at the Almeria, Spain film location), the outlaws framed in the doorways (stolen, or borrowed if you prefer, from John Ford) were magnificent, as was the crane shot of Claudia Cardinale walking out the door of the train station and the sweeping panorama of Flagstone (obviously lifted from Flagstaff, Arizona, don’t forget Winona), but by the time of the killing of the McBane family (Leone panicked and called in his screenwriter to help him cut scenes because he realized his pace and style were beyond languid), it really, really drags. And while there are some classic lines here and there, for my money “The Good, The Bad And the Ugly” is twice the film for one reason: it had humor. Eli Wallach’s Tuco is magnificent and damn funny. None of that here. Just heavy plotting and talking in mathematics.
My original take on the movie still stands: Charles Bronson playing the harmonica is silly and that his name is Harmonica is even sillier. I have to agree with Clint Eastwood who once said, “Serge Leone knows nothing about the real American West.” So there. I still enjoyed it however. And I’m not done watching it yet (I’m just up to the auction).
The August issue is going out the door, on time as ever time. Robert Ray is the employee of the month, and this is why.
”The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you’re hungry again.”
—George Miller
Well, the word just came in the office (2:21 PM) that Michael Jackson is innocent of all charges. It kind of makes you feel good as an American to know that today, virtually all races can buy their way out of trouble.
The name of the book I’m reading is “The Art of Sergio Leone’s Once Upon A Time in the West: A Critical Appreciation,” by John Fawell. And here’s a gem from the Master, Leone, on why “The Culpepper Cattle Company” failed: “Because they did not find in it what they were looking for: the fable.”
With that said, I must say it was both a joy and a chore to watch the movie. The opening with the errant fly (and Jack Elam’s errant eye) and the creaking windmill and the water dripping on Woody Strode’s head and the thousand railroad ties roughly lined up (evidently leftover lumber from Orson Welle’s failed Falstaff production at the Almeria, Spain film location), the outlaws framed in the doorways (stolen, or borrowed if you prefer, from John Ford) were magnificent, as was the crane shot of Claudia Cardinale walking out the door of the train station and the sweeping panorama of Flagstone (obviously lifted from Flagstaff, Arizona, don’t forget Winona), but by the time of the killing of the McBane family (Leone panicked and called in his screenwriter to help him cut scenes because he realized his pace and style were beyond languid), it really, really drags. And while there are some classic lines here and there, for my money “The Good, The Bad And the Ugly” is twice the film for one reason: it had humor. Eli Wallach’s Tuco is magnificent and damn funny. None of that here. Just heavy plotting and talking in mathematics.
My original take on the movie still stands: Charles Bronson playing the harmonica is silly and that his name is Harmonica is even sillier. I have to agree with Clint Eastwood who once said, “Serge Leone knows nothing about the real American West.” So there. I still enjoyed it however. And I’m not done watching it yet (I’m just up to the auction).
The August issue is going out the door, on time as ever time. Robert Ray is the employee of the month, and this is why.
”The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you’re hungry again.”
—George Miller
June 12, 2005
Well, Kathy taped Into The West for me, but I can’t get up enough energy, or interest, to watch it. Credit a so-so review from Jim Hatzell and a scathing review in US Today last Friday: "Despite claims to the contrary, Into the West isn't really a history at all. Instead, it’s a ponderous effort to correct the often malicious myths of older films, with their brave pioneers and ignorant savages, by recasting a new myth out of modern guilt." Which leads to this conclusion: "Yes, it was pernicious of old movies to imply that Native American culture was worthy of extinction, but it’s equally ridiculous to elevate it above all others." Ouch!
So, I haven’t been able to find the energy to sit down and watch the damn thing. I guess I need to hear from someone who has seen it, and thinks it’s worth the investment.
On a related note, a couple weeks ago we got a new book in the office that makes the case for Once Upon A Time In The West as being the greatest Western, and to some degree, the greatest movie, ever made. The scholarly writer (the book's at home, I’ll give you his name tomorrow) goes on and on about the genius of Sergio Leone and how the movie works on so many levels. For example, water is a huge theme, from the name of the proposed train station Sweetwater, to the baths Claudia Cardinale takes to wash away her sins, to the water she carries at the end, to the evil railroad baron’s painting of the Pacific Ocean, to a bartender who snarls, "Around here, water is poison!" Every scene, every piece of dialogue, every set direction, every frame of film is taken apart and discussed at length.
Some interesting bits I learned from the book: Sergio Leone was offered The Godfather movie but turned it down because he said he wasn’t interested in gangsters once they "got behind a desk." Allegedly, Sergio wanted Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach to be the three gunfighters at the beginning of the movie waiting for the train, but Eastwood declined. Also, the title is not quite correct. The actual Italian title when translated correctly is, Once Upon A Time There Was A West, which gives the movie a more cynical spin and evidently the Hollywood bosses didn’t want that (the movie still bombed anyway).
My memory of seeing the movie when it came out was that it was overwrought, silly (Charles Bronson playing a harmonica and his name is Harmonica?!) and a rip-off of every Western ever made, especially John Ford (a foreigner using Monument Valley! Oh, the horror!). The book makes a clever case for all of that being true, but maintains it is a masterpiece none the less. My son Thomas got me the DVD for an early Father’s Day gift and I watched the documentaries on Saturday night, and I intend to watch the movie tonight. I’ll post my reactions now that I am steeped in every frame.
”Days off.”
—Spencer Tracy, when asked what he looks for in a script
Well, Kathy taped Into The West for me, but I can’t get up enough energy, or interest, to watch it. Credit a so-so review from Jim Hatzell and a scathing review in US Today last Friday: "Despite claims to the contrary, Into the West isn't really a history at all. Instead, it’s a ponderous effort to correct the often malicious myths of older films, with their brave pioneers and ignorant savages, by recasting a new myth out of modern guilt." Which leads to this conclusion: "Yes, it was pernicious of old movies to imply that Native American culture was worthy of extinction, but it’s equally ridiculous to elevate it above all others." Ouch!
So, I haven’t been able to find the energy to sit down and watch the damn thing. I guess I need to hear from someone who has seen it, and thinks it’s worth the investment.
On a related note, a couple weeks ago we got a new book in the office that makes the case for Once Upon A Time In The West as being the greatest Western, and to some degree, the greatest movie, ever made. The scholarly writer (the book's at home, I’ll give you his name tomorrow) goes on and on about the genius of Sergio Leone and how the movie works on so many levels. For example, water is a huge theme, from the name of the proposed train station Sweetwater, to the baths Claudia Cardinale takes to wash away her sins, to the water she carries at the end, to the evil railroad baron’s painting of the Pacific Ocean, to a bartender who snarls, "Around here, water is poison!" Every scene, every piece of dialogue, every set direction, every frame of film is taken apart and discussed at length.
Some interesting bits I learned from the book: Sergio Leone was offered The Godfather movie but turned it down because he said he wasn’t interested in gangsters once they "got behind a desk." Allegedly, Sergio wanted Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach to be the three gunfighters at the beginning of the movie waiting for the train, but Eastwood declined. Also, the title is not quite correct. The actual Italian title when translated correctly is, Once Upon A Time There Was A West, which gives the movie a more cynical spin and evidently the Hollywood bosses didn’t want that (the movie still bombed anyway).
My memory of seeing the movie when it came out was that it was overwrought, silly (Charles Bronson playing a harmonica and his name is Harmonica?!) and a rip-off of every Western ever made, especially John Ford (a foreigner using Monument Valley! Oh, the horror!). The book makes a clever case for all of that being true, but maintains it is a masterpiece none the less. My son Thomas got me the DVD for an early Father’s Day gift and I watched the documentaries on Saturday night, and I intend to watch the movie tonight. I’ll post my reactions now that I am steeped in every frame.
”Days off.”
—Spencer Tracy, when asked what he looks for in a script
Sunday, June 12, 2005
June 11, 2005
Yesterday afternoon at about five, Carole and I got down to Armstrong-Prior for the White Hat series signing. I had been told by the state public relations person that they weren’t interested in putting out a press release because of potential financing questions. This was understandable since Zonies are infamous for screaming to high heaven over "public art." I could just imagine the letters to the Arizona Republic: "My tax dollars paid for this blasphemous load of crap that so obviously denigrates my Lord and Savior!"
So imagine my surprise when three TV camera crews scrambled into the building and began setting up their equipment. Two very attractive reporters (is it a law now that every female TV reporter has to be Playmate material?) began questioning Terry Goddard, our State Attorney General, at length.
But instead of talking about the merits of my White Hat etchings, the questions were all about the Mohave County County grand jury indictment against Warren Jeffs, the Colorado City polygamist who was indicted this very morning for sex crimes involving an arranged marriage between a 16-year-old girl and a 28-year-old married man.
As Terry’s staff and my family and friends stood quietly on the sidelines drinking wine and eating cheese, Terry fielded the tough questions like the media pro he is.
Finally, Terry must have realized I was from Mohave County because he motioned for me to come over and stand with him. Once on camera, he pointed at me and said, "As for the evils of polygamy, this is Bob Boze Bell, who is from the same county where these polygamists practice. Notice the blatant and sad results from inbreeding, especially the slack-jawed mouth."
Not really. But Terry and I had a good laugh about this "what if?" when the TV crews left.
After I signed sixty prints and a few "artist proofs" we drove up to Taco Villa on west Camelback for Kathy's birthday. As Tomcat and I drove past my old neighborhood (Dan Harshberger and I had an apartment at 15th Ave. just below Camelback in the early seventies) I was shocked at the implosion and decay of the entire area. Once thriving video stores and fast-food restaurants (Taco Bell!) were boarded up and abandoned. Entire strip malls closed and fenced off. It looked like a war zone, or worse, it looked like Kingman.
Most of the Radinas met us at Taco Villa, along with Deena and her friend Ursula. Ran up quite a bill ($165, includes tip). Lots of laughs and good food
"The woman who puts the right number of candles on her birthday cake is playing with fire."
—Old Vaquero Saying
o
Yesterday afternoon at about five, Carole and I got down to Armstrong-Prior for the White Hat series signing. I had been told by the state public relations person that they weren’t interested in putting out a press release because of potential financing questions. This was understandable since Zonies are infamous for screaming to high heaven over "public art." I could just imagine the letters to the Arizona Republic: "My tax dollars paid for this blasphemous load of crap that so obviously denigrates my Lord and Savior!"
So imagine my surprise when three TV camera crews scrambled into the building and began setting up their equipment. Two very attractive reporters (is it a law now that every female TV reporter has to be Playmate material?) began questioning Terry Goddard, our State Attorney General, at length.
But instead of talking about the merits of my White Hat etchings, the questions were all about the Mohave County County grand jury indictment against Warren Jeffs, the Colorado City polygamist who was indicted this very morning for sex crimes involving an arranged marriage between a 16-year-old girl and a 28-year-old married man.
As Terry’s staff and my family and friends stood quietly on the sidelines drinking wine and eating cheese, Terry fielded the tough questions like the media pro he is.
Finally, Terry must have realized I was from Mohave County because he motioned for me to come over and stand with him. Once on camera, he pointed at me and said, "As for the evils of polygamy, this is Bob Boze Bell, who is from the same county where these polygamists practice. Notice the blatant and sad results from inbreeding, especially the slack-jawed mouth."
Not really. But Terry and I had a good laugh about this "what if?" when the TV crews left.
After I signed sixty prints and a few "artist proofs" we drove up to Taco Villa on west Camelback for Kathy's birthday. As Tomcat and I drove past my old neighborhood (Dan Harshberger and I had an apartment at 15th Ave. just below Camelback in the early seventies) I was shocked at the implosion and decay of the entire area. Once thriving video stores and fast-food restaurants (Taco Bell!) were boarded up and abandoned. Entire strip malls closed and fenced off. It looked like a war zone, or worse, it looked like Kingman.
Most of the Radinas met us at Taco Villa, along with Deena and her friend Ursula. Ran up quite a bill ($165, includes tip). Lots of laughs and good food
"The woman who puts the right number of candles on her birthday cake is playing with fire."
—Old Vaquero Saying
o
Friday, June 10, 2005
June 10, 2005
Tweaked the August cover with Dan Harshberger. Added a ‘73 Winchester and the tophead, Also added the copy "The Mysterious Death of Johnny Ringo". Looks quite good. Tom Mix is the cover boy. Quite handsome in a Desperado kind of way.
Finished the Johnny Ringo vs. Himself gunfight artwork today. Whipped out two sepia-toned illustrations of the King of the Cowboys, one in death and the other just prior. Shot everything and ran it up to Foothills Photo at 9:30. Reworked copy to deal with the so-called "mysteries" surrounding Johnny Ringo’s death. Steve Gatto’s new book Johnny Ringo (2002) has the best take on everything and I gave him credit. Gus is laying out the opus, Meghan is editing it even as I type this up (3:27 PM). Need to wrap up everything this afternoon.
Hey, if you’re a True West Maniac, we need your address (email, too) so we can send you smokin’ deals on new product (remember that was part of the deal that we’d give you the inside skinny). Well we just got in these wonderful note cards with great photos from the Bob McCubbin collection and we want to give you first shot at them. Click here to give us this information. Do it now!
Carole is driving me down to Armstrong-Prior for the signing party for the White Hat series at five. We are going from there to Taco Villa for a belated Birthday dinner for Kathy. Both Deena and Thomas are coming.
Allen Barra left me a message and told me to check out his Angelina Jolie piece at Salon.com. I asked him if it’s true that she and Brad Pitt are having an affair and I got this reply:
"look, let's get something straight: Jennifer Anniston filed for divorce on March 25. So anything after that date is legal. I don't know what happened since that, but she told me she didn't [make love to] him while he was married -- and by God I believe her.”
"Nature has given us two ears but only one mouth."
—Benjamin Disraeli
Tweaked the August cover with Dan Harshberger. Added a ‘73 Winchester and the tophead, Also added the copy "The Mysterious Death of Johnny Ringo". Looks quite good. Tom Mix is the cover boy. Quite handsome in a Desperado kind of way.
Finished the Johnny Ringo vs. Himself gunfight artwork today. Whipped out two sepia-toned illustrations of the King of the Cowboys, one in death and the other just prior. Shot everything and ran it up to Foothills Photo at 9:30. Reworked copy to deal with the so-called "mysteries" surrounding Johnny Ringo’s death. Steve Gatto’s new book Johnny Ringo (2002) has the best take on everything and I gave him credit. Gus is laying out the opus, Meghan is editing it even as I type this up (3:27 PM). Need to wrap up everything this afternoon.
Hey, if you’re a True West Maniac, we need your address (email, too) so we can send you smokin’ deals on new product (remember that was part of the deal that we’d give you the inside skinny). Well we just got in these wonderful note cards with great photos from the Bob McCubbin collection and we want to give you first shot at them. Click here to give us this information. Do it now!
Carole is driving me down to Armstrong-Prior for the signing party for the White Hat series at five. We are going from there to Taco Villa for a belated Birthday dinner for Kathy. Both Deena and Thomas are coming.
Allen Barra left me a message and told me to check out his Angelina Jolie piece at Salon.com. I asked him if it’s true that she and Brad Pitt are having an affair and I got this reply:
"look, let's get something straight: Jennifer Anniston filed for divorce on March 25. So anything after that date is legal. I don't know what happened since that, but she told me she didn't [make love to] him while he was married -- and by God I believe her.”
"Nature has given us two ears but only one mouth."
—Benjamin Disraeli
Thursday, June 09, 2005
June 9, 2005
Well, it’s funny what catches people’s attention. Here’s more feedback on the Desperado discussion:
"I'm giving this serious, serious contemplation, and here are my nominees:
"Man In The Long Black Coat," Bob Dylan
"The Road Goes On Forever," Joe Ely
"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," Gene Pitney (he was the greatest man of all.)
—Bonny Holder
"I do like the song ‘Desperado’ very much, but my favorite
OUTLAW SONG is "Friend of the Devil" by the Grateful Dead."
—Jim Hatzell
"It may not be outlaw rock 'n roll, but my favorite gunfighter ballads are by Marty Robbins .... El Paso, Big Iron and Streets of Laredo. Johnny Cash's song Johnny Yuma .... and Ghost Rider's in the Sky."
—J.Rae
"Y'know, it's great that folks with rock 'n' roll names like Charlie Waters and
Emma Bull (fabulous moniker for a blues belter, I think) agree that I Fought
the Law is a superior rock/outlaw song.
"You, too, can join this Red State revolution, leaving behind the left coast
wussiness of the Henley/Frey crowd. Give up your tofu and quiche existence.
Bite down into the juicy red meat of real rock. Don't fight the Law--because
it's already won."
—Mark Boardman
I guess I never realized how much of an Eagles backlash there is. I know they are somewhere way beyond commercial, and it’s definitely true that they are played to death on several wimpy formats, but I still remember when the album Desperado came out (1974?) I was stunned. They were doing great songs about the Old West and I have always thought the imagery in the lyrics was, and is, absolutely, devastatingly, right on: "Take another shot of courage, wonder why the right words never come, you just get numb." Has there ever been better lyrics written about being in a bar and trying to meet women? Okay, maybe "Satisfaction," or AC/DC’s "Girl’s Got Rhythm" but still, I think good is good. Granted, the song "Glenn Frey Must Die" is quite zany and probably deserving, but the songs still stand, Man.
"He who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger."
—Old Vaquero Saying
Well, it’s funny what catches people’s attention. Here’s more feedback on the Desperado discussion:
"I'm giving this serious, serious contemplation, and here are my nominees:
"Man In The Long Black Coat," Bob Dylan
"The Road Goes On Forever," Joe Ely
"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," Gene Pitney (he was the greatest man of all.)
—Bonny Holder
"I do like the song ‘Desperado’ very much, but my favorite
OUTLAW SONG is "Friend of the Devil" by the Grateful Dead."
—Jim Hatzell
"It may not be outlaw rock 'n roll, but my favorite gunfighter ballads are by Marty Robbins .... El Paso, Big Iron and Streets of Laredo. Johnny Cash's song Johnny Yuma .... and Ghost Rider's in the Sky."
—J.Rae
"Y'know, it's great that folks with rock 'n' roll names like Charlie Waters and
Emma Bull (fabulous moniker for a blues belter, I think) agree that I Fought
the Law is a superior rock/outlaw song.
"You, too, can join this Red State revolution, leaving behind the left coast
wussiness of the Henley/Frey crowd. Give up your tofu and quiche existence.
Bite down into the juicy red meat of real rock. Don't fight the Law--because
it's already won."
—Mark Boardman
I guess I never realized how much of an Eagles backlash there is. I know they are somewhere way beyond commercial, and it’s definitely true that they are played to death on several wimpy formats, but I still remember when the album Desperado came out (1974?) I was stunned. They were doing great songs about the Old West and I have always thought the imagery in the lyrics was, and is, absolutely, devastatingly, right on: "Take another shot of courage, wonder why the right words never come, you just get numb." Has there ever been better lyrics written about being in a bar and trying to meet women? Okay, maybe "Satisfaction," or AC/DC’s "Girl’s Got Rhythm" but still, I think good is good. Granted, the song "Glenn Frey Must Die" is quite zany and probably deserving, but the songs still stand, Man.
"He who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger."
—Old Vaquero Saying
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
June 8, 2005
Worked more on the John Ringo Classic Gunfight with himself. It's quite amazing to me that someone who was a stumbling drunk and whose life was a complete failure could end up to be a celebrated Western icon. I guess, in some perverse way, it helps explain Glenn Ford.
Went to lunch with my two ex-roommates, Carole and Kathy at Saba's (Greek food) up in Carefree (Carole bought in honor of Kathy's birthday). I guess technically only one of those women could be classified as an Ex-roommate.
Had a meeting with our new Style Editor Jane Bishoff after lunch. She came in with Arizona's Official Balladeer Dolan Ellis. He said he is moving up to our neck of the woods. He had a folk reserve music ranch deal down by Sierra Vista. Although I never got down there, it always sounded like a sweet deal. He mentioned a divorce three years ago, so I didn’t go into it with him. Anyway, Jane is a dynamo with an eagle eye for style. Made big plans. And you know what they say about that: if you make big plans, expect big surprises along the way.
One of my oldest friends, who hates reading his name in here, agrees completely with Mark Boardman on the "Desperado" vs. "I Fought the Law" controversy. When I corrected Charlie, I mean, this person, that "Desperado" is not a cowboy song, it’s an outlaw song, this person gave me the following snippy reply:
"Outlaw, cowboy, whatever. The song still sucks, mi amigo."
And here's the preeminent Emma Bull weighing in. I’ll bet she has something positive and succinct to say about the controversy:
"Boardman's right, you know, about 'I Fought the Law.' And even in the category of Ultimate Ballad of Old Has-Been Outlaw, Townes Van Zandt's 'Pancho and Lefty' has 'Desperado' beat all to heck. (Outlaw Willy's flossy version can't disguise its utter perfection, and the fact that it is one of the greatest storytelling songs ever written, ever). But then, my favorite Mojo Nixon song was and always will be ‘Don Henley Must Die.’"
Bitch.
I got this parting shot from Johnny Boggs this morning:
"Man, did i see a bad western last night. MEAN AS HELL, a little indy shot around here a couple years back. inspired by wild bill hickok and sam peckinpah. gives b movies a bad name. off to wwa in spokane. back around june 21-22."
Johnny’s little diatribe inspired me to do a feature in the magazine on How to make Good Westerns. Thanks Johnny!
"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Worked more on the John Ringo Classic Gunfight with himself. It's quite amazing to me that someone who was a stumbling drunk and whose life was a complete failure could end up to be a celebrated Western icon. I guess, in some perverse way, it helps explain Glenn Ford.
Went to lunch with my two ex-roommates, Carole and Kathy at Saba's (Greek food) up in Carefree (Carole bought in honor of Kathy's birthday). I guess technically only one of those women could be classified as an Ex-roommate.
Had a meeting with our new Style Editor Jane Bishoff after lunch. She came in with Arizona's Official Balladeer Dolan Ellis. He said he is moving up to our neck of the woods. He had a folk reserve music ranch deal down by Sierra Vista. Although I never got down there, it always sounded like a sweet deal. He mentioned a divorce three years ago, so I didn’t go into it with him. Anyway, Jane is a dynamo with an eagle eye for style. Made big plans. And you know what they say about that: if you make big plans, expect big surprises along the way.
One of my oldest friends, who hates reading his name in here, agrees completely with Mark Boardman on the "Desperado" vs. "I Fought the Law" controversy. When I corrected Charlie, I mean, this person, that "Desperado" is not a cowboy song, it’s an outlaw song, this person gave me the following snippy reply:
"Outlaw, cowboy, whatever. The song still sucks, mi amigo."
And here's the preeminent Emma Bull weighing in. I’ll bet she has something positive and succinct to say about the controversy:
"Boardman's right, you know, about 'I Fought the Law.' And even in the category of Ultimate Ballad of Old Has-Been Outlaw, Townes Van Zandt's 'Pancho and Lefty' has 'Desperado' beat all to heck. (Outlaw Willy's flossy version can't disguise its utter perfection, and the fact that it is one of the greatest storytelling songs ever written, ever). But then, my favorite Mojo Nixon song was and always will be ‘Don Henley Must Die.’"
Bitch.
I got this parting shot from Johnny Boggs this morning:
"Man, did i see a bad western last night. MEAN AS HELL, a little indy shot around here a couple years back. inspired by wild bill hickok and sam peckinpah. gives b movies a bad name. off to wwa in spokane. back around june 21-22."
Johnny’s little diatribe inspired me to do a feature in the magazine on How to make Good Westerns. Thanks Johnny!
"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
June 7, 2005
Kathy's birthday. She's 55. Just a baby. Nice talking to her this morning. We're going for a birthday treat to Taco Villa on Friday. The kids are coming.
Got a new poll up. Do you believe the upcoming gay western Brokeback Mountain will be successful? Cast your vote here.
Worked on John Ringo copy all day. Had great reference from Steve Gatto's new book on Ringo. The evolution of this odd dude, John Ringo, who probably commited suicide, into one of the icons of the West is quite amazing. It was in the 1950s when his name morphed almost magically into Johnny Ringo (the historical Ringo was always John), culminating with the Lorne Greene hit “talking” song in 1964. Strange to say the least.
By the way, I started the showdown painting of Doc Holliday facing off with John Ringo on Allen Street and as the painting developed I started to make mud. Not painting mud, which I'm very good at, but rain mud, as in a muddy street. For some reason this just seemed right. Then, being the history nut I am, I worried that this weather wouldn’t be accurate to the actual event and I wondered if it was cold. Well, I knew it was January, but other than that I didn't know. Anyway, I couldn’t help it and kept painting mud and of course the next thing you know it's a cloudy sky. This morning, I held my breath and looked up Parsons' diary entry for that day, and here it is:
January 17, 1882
Snow yesterday. Light fall. Much blood in the air this afternoon. Ringo and Doc Holliday came nearly having it with pistols and Ben Maynard and Rickabaugh later tried to kick each other’s lungs out. Bad time expected with the cowboy leader [Ringo] and [Doc Holliday]. I passed both not knowing blood was up. One with hand in breast pocket and the other probably ready. Earps just beyond. Crowded street and looked like another battle. Police vigilant for once and both disarmed.
Perfect. Snow yesterday, mud today.
Here’s a diatribe from Mark Boardman responding to my claim that "Desperado" by the Eagles is the best outlaw song, ever, bar none:
"You've been out in the AZ sun too long. Or riding with Sonny Barger into a
strong headwind. Or maybe a javelina attacked your brain.
"Desperado? The best Old West outlaw-rock 'n' roll song? You've gotta stop
smoking saguaro.
"Yes, I like the tune and the record it came from. It's pretty good for a wimpy-
assed, California pap band that hasn't come up with a new record in...how many
years? Cripe, in your old age you must be listening to the soft rock stations,
the middle of the road for our times, while gently rocking in that chair on the
front porch of True West.
"The best Old West outlaw-rock 'n' roll song is and was 'I Fought the Law' by the Bobby Fuller Four. That pounding drum beat kicks things off, followed by the furious guitar lines and the plaintive vocals. No virtuoso solos--the guitar break is hard chord strumming that most anybody can do. Simple, clean lyrics about 'robbin' people with a six-gun,' breakin' rocks in the hot sun,' and a guy who is missing his baby. Everything speaks of youthful rebellion, taking on The Man, and losing in a blaze of glory--and all in just over 2 minutes. This is a song you listen to in the car, that pushes you to hit the accelerator and speed down the highway with the wind in your face and the blood pumping hard through your veins.
"And unlike the Eagles, who totter on through their older years, playing all the hits to balding boomers who can't really remember the '70s, Bobby Fuller had the good sense to die young (and mysteriously). That's rock and roll.
"C'mon, brother. It's time to get real about this thing. Let your air guitar lead you. 'I Fought the Law' is pure rock for the outlaw heart, with a good beat that you can dance to and anybody who disagrees will have to meet me in the street for some leather slappin'."
—Mark "Outlaw" Boardman
I got a call from a dentist yesterday who told me he has an idea for a tv show. He said he wants to have a camera crew follow him on horseback on trails up into the mountains where most people have never been. He asked me if I knew who might buy a show like that and I said, "Nobody I know." He laughed and asked why and I said, "Well, what’s the story? Why are you riding?" He told me he looks good on his horse and the trails are pretty and wasn’t that enough? "Well," I told him, "you better have cancer and it’s your last ride, or you’re riding to find a lost treasure, or to kill the last remaining Graham Mountain squirrel. Something. You've got to have narrative." He seemed mildly shocked at this, like it had never occurred to him that millions wouldn’t tune in to watch him ride his horse. And it was at this moment that I realized what I must sound like sometimes at staff meetings.
"In every company, people are going to make fun of the boss; it’s just that in the good companies, it happens when the boss is around."
—Old Vaquero Saying
Kathy's birthday. She's 55. Just a baby. Nice talking to her this morning. We're going for a birthday treat to Taco Villa on Friday. The kids are coming.
Got a new poll up. Do you believe the upcoming gay western Brokeback Mountain will be successful? Cast your vote here.
Worked on John Ringo copy all day. Had great reference from Steve Gatto's new book on Ringo. The evolution of this odd dude, John Ringo, who probably commited suicide, into one of the icons of the West is quite amazing. It was in the 1950s when his name morphed almost magically into Johnny Ringo (the historical Ringo was always John), culminating with the Lorne Greene hit “talking” song in 1964. Strange to say the least.
By the way, I started the showdown painting of Doc Holliday facing off with John Ringo on Allen Street and as the painting developed I started to make mud. Not painting mud, which I'm very good at, but rain mud, as in a muddy street. For some reason this just seemed right. Then, being the history nut I am, I worried that this weather wouldn’t be accurate to the actual event and I wondered if it was cold. Well, I knew it was January, but other than that I didn't know. Anyway, I couldn’t help it and kept painting mud and of course the next thing you know it's a cloudy sky. This morning, I held my breath and looked up Parsons' diary entry for that day, and here it is:
January 17, 1882
Snow yesterday. Light fall. Much blood in the air this afternoon. Ringo and Doc Holliday came nearly having it with pistols and Ben Maynard and Rickabaugh later tried to kick each other’s lungs out. Bad time expected with the cowboy leader [Ringo] and [Doc Holliday]. I passed both not knowing blood was up. One with hand in breast pocket and the other probably ready. Earps just beyond. Crowded street and looked like another battle. Police vigilant for once and both disarmed.
Perfect. Snow yesterday, mud today.
Here’s a diatribe from Mark Boardman responding to my claim that "Desperado" by the Eagles is the best outlaw song, ever, bar none:
"You've been out in the AZ sun too long. Or riding with Sonny Barger into a
strong headwind. Or maybe a javelina attacked your brain.
"Desperado? The best Old West outlaw-rock 'n' roll song? You've gotta stop
smoking saguaro.
"Yes, I like the tune and the record it came from. It's pretty good for a wimpy-
assed, California pap band that hasn't come up with a new record in...how many
years? Cripe, in your old age you must be listening to the soft rock stations,
the middle of the road for our times, while gently rocking in that chair on the
front porch of True West.
"The best Old West outlaw-rock 'n' roll song is and was 'I Fought the Law' by the Bobby Fuller Four. That pounding drum beat kicks things off, followed by the furious guitar lines and the plaintive vocals. No virtuoso solos--the guitar break is hard chord strumming that most anybody can do. Simple, clean lyrics about 'robbin' people with a six-gun,' breakin' rocks in the hot sun,' and a guy who is missing his baby. Everything speaks of youthful rebellion, taking on The Man, and losing in a blaze of glory--and all in just over 2 minutes. This is a song you listen to in the car, that pushes you to hit the accelerator and speed down the highway with the wind in your face and the blood pumping hard through your veins.
"And unlike the Eagles, who totter on through their older years, playing all the hits to balding boomers who can't really remember the '70s, Bobby Fuller had the good sense to die young (and mysteriously). That's rock and roll.
"C'mon, brother. It's time to get real about this thing. Let your air guitar lead you. 'I Fought the Law' is pure rock for the outlaw heart, with a good beat that you can dance to and anybody who disagrees will have to meet me in the street for some leather slappin'."
—Mark "Outlaw" Boardman
I got a call from a dentist yesterday who told me he has an idea for a tv show. He said he wants to have a camera crew follow him on horseback on trails up into the mountains where most people have never been. He asked me if I knew who might buy a show like that and I said, "Nobody I know." He laughed and asked why and I said, "Well, what’s the story? Why are you riding?" He told me he looks good on his horse and the trails are pretty and wasn’t that enough? "Well," I told him, "you better have cancer and it’s your last ride, or you’re riding to find a lost treasure, or to kill the last remaining Graham Mountain squirrel. Something. You've got to have narrative." He seemed mildly shocked at this, like it had never occurred to him that millions wouldn’t tune in to watch him ride his horse. And it was at this moment that I realized what I must sound like sometimes at staff meetings.
"In every company, people are going to make fun of the boss; it’s just that in the good companies, it happens when the boss is around."
—Old Vaquero Saying
Monday, June 06, 2005
June 5, 2005
Took the dogs for a bike ride at about ten. Actually quite nice out. Maybe high eighties. Also swam ten passes, then worked on a big, ambitious showdown of Johnny Ringo and Doc Holliday on Allen Street. Had great reference. Worked on and off all morning on it. Haven't ruined it yet.
I got an Email heads up from my friend and fellow cartoonist, Jim Hatzell. Here's his sneak peek at Steven Spielberg’s first Western:
"Howdy Bob, I got a chance to see the first episode of the TNT Mini-Series ‘Into the
West’ yesterday in a Movie Theatre no less, here in Rapid City. I have to give it a mixed review, but the parts that are good are REALLY FANTASTIC!!! The Indian side of the story was very well researched. For years at the Little Big Horn Battlefield I would say in my Ranger talk how the iron kettle replaced the buffalo stomach as a cooking utensil. It was
shown in the episode. You could tell during an Indian attack that it was the Crows. They had an incredible scene of a Buffalo Jump, dozens of Bison going over a cliff (Really extra cool on the BIG screen ) and the look of the whole show was WAY above average for a TV Western (And I have worked on a bunch) The plot of the White Guy side of the story was OK, but I liked it better the first time I saw it on ‘Centennial’ during the Levi Zent story line. Lots of cliches, (gee...one brother is going to Texas...any chance he ends up at the Alamo or Goliad or San Jacinto?) I never could quite figure out what Jedediah Smith & his band of guys was up to, jobwise. It looked to me like early 19th Century ‘bikers’ groovin' on the pretty scenery. But I can't bitch about it too much because it looked so good. I especially enjoyed seeing my good friend Dave Bald Eagle in the show. (He plays a Grandfather of the Lakota Tribe that has a dramatic scene at the end of the show) I got the connection of the Lakota Medicine Wheel and the "wheel making" White guys, but I wish they had been more subtle after the 5th time of bringing it up (OK I get it. Get on with the story.) I was surprised to see guest star Gary Busey was in the show for about a minute and a half. The producer David Rosemont was there and I was hoping after the show that they would have a question and answer session, they did not. I would like to have asked him what South Dakota would have had to do to get the thing filmed here. (I'm sorry, but Canada looks like Canada) It did look good though. I read in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly that they froze their asses off filming the Battle of the Little Bighorn in New Mexico while we were having a heat wave. Oh well, I hope that part looks good. We shall see. I guess I'm going to watch and I have high hopes for it. By the way, the Indians speak in their Native Language and I said a dozen years ago that TNT should have done that. I hope it is a ratings success and that it leads to more ‘good westerns’ being made. A bunch of actors from the series Deadwood will be here next week for
Wild Bill Days. It should be quite a party.”
—JIM HATZELL
"Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more, and all good things will be yours."
—Old Vaquero Saying
Took the dogs for a bike ride at about ten. Actually quite nice out. Maybe high eighties. Also swam ten passes, then worked on a big, ambitious showdown of Johnny Ringo and Doc Holliday on Allen Street. Had great reference. Worked on and off all morning on it. Haven't ruined it yet.
I got an Email heads up from my friend and fellow cartoonist, Jim Hatzell. Here's his sneak peek at Steven Spielberg’s first Western:
"Howdy Bob, I got a chance to see the first episode of the TNT Mini-Series ‘Into the
West’ yesterday in a Movie Theatre no less, here in Rapid City. I have to give it a mixed review, but the parts that are good are REALLY FANTASTIC!!! The Indian side of the story was very well researched. For years at the Little Big Horn Battlefield I would say in my Ranger talk how the iron kettle replaced the buffalo stomach as a cooking utensil. It was
shown in the episode. You could tell during an Indian attack that it was the Crows. They had an incredible scene of a Buffalo Jump, dozens of Bison going over a cliff (Really extra cool on the BIG screen ) and the look of the whole show was WAY above average for a TV Western (And I have worked on a bunch) The plot of the White Guy side of the story was OK, but I liked it better the first time I saw it on ‘Centennial’ during the Levi Zent story line. Lots of cliches, (gee...one brother is going to Texas...any chance he ends up at the Alamo or Goliad or San Jacinto?) I never could quite figure out what Jedediah Smith & his band of guys was up to, jobwise. It looked to me like early 19th Century ‘bikers’ groovin' on the pretty scenery. But I can't bitch about it too much because it looked so good. I especially enjoyed seeing my good friend Dave Bald Eagle in the show. (He plays a Grandfather of the Lakota Tribe that has a dramatic scene at the end of the show) I got the connection of the Lakota Medicine Wheel and the "wheel making" White guys, but I wish they had been more subtle after the 5th time of bringing it up (OK I get it. Get on with the story.) I was surprised to see guest star Gary Busey was in the show for about a minute and a half. The producer David Rosemont was there and I was hoping after the show that they would have a question and answer session, they did not. I would like to have asked him what South Dakota would have had to do to get the thing filmed here. (I'm sorry, but Canada looks like Canada) It did look good though. I read in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly that they froze their asses off filming the Battle of the Little Bighorn in New Mexico while we were having a heat wave. Oh well, I hope that part looks good. We shall see. I guess I'm going to watch and I have high hopes for it. By the way, the Indians speak in their Native Language and I said a dozen years ago that TNT should have done that. I hope it is a ratings success and that it leads to more ‘good westerns’ being made. A bunch of actors from the series Deadwood will be here next week for
Wild Bill Days. It should be quite a party.”
—JIM HATZELL
"Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more, and all good things will be yours."
—Old Vaquero Saying
Sunday, June 05, 2005
June 4, 2005
This morning I started in on several art pieces for the Blaze Away poster, utilizing a yellow-sepia color scheme Struggling (what else is new?) Need more courage. Bolder, faster, more direct.
Joined Kathy at nine and took a truckload of glass, paper and plastic up to recycling. Also took along Buddy for a vet check and he put his big slobbery face on my shoulder and stuck his ample ass in Kathy’s face. Wouldn’t straighten out in the seat (the Ranger has a very small cab). Fortunately he didn’t pass any gas, although I was secretly hoping he would.
At three Kathy and I went over to Mother Radina's for an early dinner. We stopped at Safeway and got groceries (saw True West for the first time in there. Thanks Dick Glassman!) I made tacos and guacamole salsa and we drank beers and solved life. After dinner, the girls played cards and I looked at a 1963 Fall and Winter Sears catalogue that Betty picked up at a yard sale. Besides the hilarious B-52 hairdos and bizarre fashions (I can't believe we wore some of that stuff, or thought it was stoked), I was struck with the many items that were mainstays at the time but today are gone, with entire industries out of business. Granted, it has been forty years, but it was a sobering insight into the brutal nature of business trends. For example:
• The Tower Typewriter ( typical price, $164.95, two pages worth) History.
• The Adding Machine ($99.95, one page worth). History.
• The Tower Mimeograph machine ($149.95, one page worth). History
• Self-threading Automatic 8mm Home Projector Outfit ($159.88, eight pages worth!). History
• Robert’s Stereophonic Tape Recorder ($369.95). History
• Stereo Console Phonograph ($287.95). History
• Triple bunk beds ($67.95). History?
• Women’s Pheasant Cloched hats and Mink Pillbox hats. History
• Men’s hats (The Tapered Telescope and the New Swagger Style, $5.74) History (at least in Sears)
• Pocket watches. History.
• Bra Slips. History (and by the way, illustrations of products and models is also history)
• Full Cut Bloomers! History
• Slipper socks ($2.84 a pair) History
• Imported Capeskin Gloves (two pages). History
On the other hand, some merchandise still thrives and survives:
• Controlled massagers (vibrators, $7.50)
• Tot Guard Car Seats ($6.49).
• Nylon Tires ($16.85 each—I’m not making this up!)
• Mo-ped motorbike ($199.95)
• Allstate Scooter ($269.95)
• A V-8 Rebuilt engine ($299.00)
• U.S. Savings Bonds (one page)
Other things, like Stationary bikes, home intercom units, encyclopedia sets, table radios, towel poles, stretch pants, “fancy knee-high socks”, long-leg panties (front paneled for tummy control), cossack boots and panel dividers are on the bubble, still going strong or have morphed into entirely new industries. Amazing.
And, of course, it makes me think about what will disappear in forty years hence from our little world. My predictions:
• External hard drives
• 62” HD Ready DLP TVs
• Home phones
• Google type search engines (or the need for them)
• Wireless-G Broadband Routers
• Cordless phones
• iPods
• Cusinarts
• NBA tatttoos and couladts
Of course, I could be wrong, but that's my best guess.
"The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it’s unfamiliar territory."
—Paul Fix
o
This morning I started in on several art pieces for the Blaze Away poster, utilizing a yellow-sepia color scheme Struggling (what else is new?) Need more courage. Bolder, faster, more direct.
Joined Kathy at nine and took a truckload of glass, paper and plastic up to recycling. Also took along Buddy for a vet check and he put his big slobbery face on my shoulder and stuck his ample ass in Kathy’s face. Wouldn’t straighten out in the seat (the Ranger has a very small cab). Fortunately he didn’t pass any gas, although I was secretly hoping he would.
At three Kathy and I went over to Mother Radina's for an early dinner. We stopped at Safeway and got groceries (saw True West for the first time in there. Thanks Dick Glassman!) I made tacos and guacamole salsa and we drank beers and solved life. After dinner, the girls played cards and I looked at a 1963 Fall and Winter Sears catalogue that Betty picked up at a yard sale. Besides the hilarious B-52 hairdos and bizarre fashions (I can't believe we wore some of that stuff, or thought it was stoked), I was struck with the many items that were mainstays at the time but today are gone, with entire industries out of business. Granted, it has been forty years, but it was a sobering insight into the brutal nature of business trends. For example:
• The Tower Typewriter ( typical price, $164.95, two pages worth) History.
• The Adding Machine ($99.95, one page worth). History.
• The Tower Mimeograph machine ($149.95, one page worth). History
• Self-threading Automatic 8mm Home Projector Outfit ($159.88, eight pages worth!). History
• Robert’s Stereophonic Tape Recorder ($369.95). History
• Stereo Console Phonograph ($287.95). History
• Triple bunk beds ($67.95). History?
• Women’s Pheasant Cloched hats and Mink Pillbox hats. History
• Men’s hats (The Tapered Telescope and the New Swagger Style, $5.74) History (at least in Sears)
• Pocket watches. History.
• Bra Slips. History (and by the way, illustrations of products and models is also history)
• Full Cut Bloomers! History
• Slipper socks ($2.84 a pair) History
• Imported Capeskin Gloves (two pages). History
On the other hand, some merchandise still thrives and survives:
• Controlled massagers (vibrators, $7.50)
• Tot Guard Car Seats ($6.49).
• Nylon Tires ($16.85 each—I’m not making this up!)
• Mo-ped motorbike ($199.95)
• Allstate Scooter ($269.95)
• A V-8 Rebuilt engine ($299.00)
• U.S. Savings Bonds (one page)
Other things, like Stationary bikes, home intercom units, encyclopedia sets, table radios, towel poles, stretch pants, “fancy knee-high socks”, long-leg panties (front paneled for tummy control), cossack boots and panel dividers are on the bubble, still going strong or have morphed into entirely new industries. Amazing.
And, of course, it makes me think about what will disappear in forty years hence from our little world. My predictions:
• External hard drives
• 62” HD Ready DLP TVs
• Home phones
• Google type search engines (or the need for them)
• Wireless-G Broadband Routers
• Cordless phones
• iPods
• Cusinarts
• NBA tatttoos and couladts
Of course, I could be wrong, but that's my best guess.
"The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it’s unfamiliar territory."
—Paul Fix
o
Friday, June 03, 2005
June 3, 2005
Another successful day down at Armstrong-Prior. In the morning session I took a second pass at the fourth White Hat etching, running through the reduction process, adding aqua-tint as I went. Big guessing match, at least for me; ended up to be kind of an Indiana Jones coming out of an Inca ruins kind of a deal. Very murky and shadowy, with giant saguaros looming over a temple entrance (actually supposed to be an Arizona courthouse—ha.). Alexis told me this one is her least favorite of the series. And speaking of John's blunt, but capable assistant, she brought in several CDs including Kings of Leon. But the group that really got me grooving was Eagles of Death Metal and their CD "Peace, Love & Death Metal." These guys rock. I assume their name mocks The Eagles?
Kind of ironic because last night, while Kathy was at the high school graduation, I watched The Eagles in concert on TNT. I was intrigued on several levels. For one thing, I interviewed Glen Frey for a short-lived tv show we had at KSLX in the early nineties and I had several memories of it. For one, I was given strict orders by his handlers not to ask him about an Eagles reunion (now I think they’re on Farewell Tour II). Still, that was unnerving because when someone tells me I can't do something, every nerve in my body tells me to do it. I was actually good about it, but the other memory I have is that since we both started in bands at about the same period I compiled a list of songs I assumed he cut his teeth on and asked him, with much relish, how many times he had played "Louie Louie." He laughed and played along, but I took it too far and kept going. "What about Gloria? How many times did you play that? Inna Godda da Vida? How about Midnight Hour? Wipeout?" He finally got kind of irritated and said something like, "I don’t know about any of those. I've been doing original songs for a long time, Man." Which was a nice way of saying, "Does the term Loser mean anything to you cowboy?" Anyway, I cringed as I thought of this, but in spite of the negativo memories, I must admit those guys wrote enough stunning songs to fill a flatbed Ford. And for a guy like me who was writing surfing songs with Charlie Waters like "Pier 69" , the Ealges had some masterful lyrics to boot: "It seems to me some fine things have been laid upon your table, but you only want the things you can’t have.” That’s from Desperado, the best Old West outlaw song ever written, period.
Dan Harshberger joined us for lunch and we talked at length about how to attack the Blaze Away poster project. Jammed and argued over ways to do it. When it comes to design, I usually defer to the Dan Man. I was thinking vertical, he’s thinking horizontal. I saw tight, action shots, he wants a big, long Winchester rifle going along the bottom. I’m thinking straight up symmetrical, Dan hates symmetrical. Which is why I need him because I tend to slide into symmetry (i.e. design blandness) all too easy. In fact, the problem with the fourth White Hat etching was the fact that the main figure was almost dead center, and the two saguaros on either side were perfectly symmetrical, which is the musical equivalent of Louie Louie being performed by Up With People.
"Whenever I hear, 'It can't be done,' I know I'm close to success."
—Michael Flatley
Another successful day down at Armstrong-Prior. In the morning session I took a second pass at the fourth White Hat etching, running through the reduction process, adding aqua-tint as I went. Big guessing match, at least for me; ended up to be kind of an Indiana Jones coming out of an Inca ruins kind of a deal. Very murky and shadowy, with giant saguaros looming over a temple entrance (actually supposed to be an Arizona courthouse—ha.). Alexis told me this one is her least favorite of the series. And speaking of John's blunt, but capable assistant, she brought in several CDs including Kings of Leon. But the group that really got me grooving was Eagles of Death Metal and their CD "Peace, Love & Death Metal." These guys rock. I assume their name mocks The Eagles?
Kind of ironic because last night, while Kathy was at the high school graduation, I watched The Eagles in concert on TNT. I was intrigued on several levels. For one thing, I interviewed Glen Frey for a short-lived tv show we had at KSLX in the early nineties and I had several memories of it. For one, I was given strict orders by his handlers not to ask him about an Eagles reunion (now I think they’re on Farewell Tour II). Still, that was unnerving because when someone tells me I can't do something, every nerve in my body tells me to do it. I was actually good about it, but the other memory I have is that since we both started in bands at about the same period I compiled a list of songs I assumed he cut his teeth on and asked him, with much relish, how many times he had played "Louie Louie." He laughed and played along, but I took it too far and kept going. "What about Gloria? How many times did you play that? Inna Godda da Vida? How about Midnight Hour? Wipeout?" He finally got kind of irritated and said something like, "I don’t know about any of those. I've been doing original songs for a long time, Man." Which was a nice way of saying, "Does the term Loser mean anything to you cowboy?" Anyway, I cringed as I thought of this, but in spite of the negativo memories, I must admit those guys wrote enough stunning songs to fill a flatbed Ford. And for a guy like me who was writing surfing songs with Charlie Waters like "Pier 69" , the Ealges had some masterful lyrics to boot: "It seems to me some fine things have been laid upon your table, but you only want the things you can’t have.” That’s from Desperado, the best Old West outlaw song ever written, period.
Dan Harshberger joined us for lunch and we talked at length about how to attack the Blaze Away poster project. Jammed and argued over ways to do it. When it comes to design, I usually defer to the Dan Man. I was thinking vertical, he’s thinking horizontal. I saw tight, action shots, he wants a big, long Winchester rifle going along the bottom. I’m thinking straight up symmetrical, Dan hates symmetrical. Which is why I need him because I tend to slide into symmetry (i.e. design blandness) all too easy. In fact, the problem with the fourth White Hat etching was the fact that the main figure was almost dead center, and the two saguaros on either side were perfectly symmetrical, which is the musical equivalent of Louie Louie being performed by Up With People.
"Whenever I hear, 'It can't be done,' I know I'm close to success."
—Michael Flatley
Thursday, June 02, 2005
June 2, 2005
Left the house this morning at about 8:10 and cruised on the surface streets down into the Beast. Got to Armstrong-Prior at 9:05. Got right into it with four etching plates. I was nervous since I haven't done an etching since college (1968), but it's so much like scratchboard (same tools!) that I felt like I have been doing it all my life. They gave me a practice plate to ruin, and even that came out very nice. John has an assistant named Alexis who’s just out of ASU. Very cute, tattoos on one arm, of course. Didn’t check for others, but thought about it. By the way, is it a law now that every woman who waits tables or goes into a bar has to have a tattoo just above the butt crack? And wear something so we can all see it? Talk about ubiquitous. Or is that you-be-lukin-above-the-ass-icus?
Anyway, I scored points with Alexis because she asked me what kind of music I wanted to hear while I worked and I said, "Got any Kings of Leon?" She visibly brightened, like she couldn't believe this old cow-boy even knows who they are (thanks Tomcat!). We got along famously after that. She is very creative and applicated numerous little tricks to the plates to make them more "funky and Old West." Lots of ghosting, and reduction processes. I was quite thrilled with the results. I created four etching plates, variations on the White Hat theme. She and John printed about 15 versions and we'll do more tomorrow. We need 50 for Terry Goddard. Dan Harshberger is joining us after lunch to attack the Blaze Away poster project.
We knocked off at four and I got a bit of a jump on traffic. Got back to the office at 4:45. Got this Email from our zany writer Johnny Boggs”
"I'll be hitting the road on Thursday, June 9, for book-signings, research/magazine work, flyfishing, and the Western Writers of America convention (June 14-18, Mirabeau Park Hotel, Spokane Valley, Washington), winding through Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Will have the cellphone and laptop with me, checking in whenever I have a signal or hotel room. Should be back in the office June 22ish. Then will be gone July 6-8 for a library speaking engagement in Bowling Green, Kentucky."
—Johnny Boggs
I Emailed him back and said, "Hey, you are living the life I want. Wanna trade?"
Last Monday I had lunch at El Encanto with our New York book agent James Fitzgerald on the Crown book deal (actually, he's Bart Bull’s agent and speaking of Bart, someone please tell Bart he needs to call Jim and collect $2,000). James was in town visiting his other writers, like Sonny Barger, the ex-Hells Angels pres of the Oakland Chapter and today an author (he's written six books!). James also gave me the bad news on the book biz. According to James the book biz has constricted from $16.6 billion dollars in sales two years ago down to about $10 billion this year. Contrast this with the DVD biz, that didn’t exist seven years ago and now bills $100 billion a year and you can start to see the problem. James told me the book biz has almost become a junior-greeting card industry. We go into a book store and buy a book for a gift and the person we give it to puts it on their shelf and never reads it. The other bad news is that picture books are sinking (can’t compete with DVDs and all of the instant imagery on the web) and that Barnes & Noble has become the Wal-mart of the book biz. Greenlighting and killing book projects based on their instinct on the potential sales. Other than that, it was a positive meeting. He had several book ideas and proposals, and Jana gave him a proposal on our book on Women of the West. He thinks it could go all the way.
More to tell, but Kathys reading three poems at Foothills Academy graduation in forty-five minutes so I’ve got to run.
"A new problem is as good as a vacation."
—Golda Meir
Left the house this morning at about 8:10 and cruised on the surface streets down into the Beast. Got to Armstrong-Prior at 9:05. Got right into it with four etching plates. I was nervous since I haven't done an etching since college (1968), but it's so much like scratchboard (same tools!) that I felt like I have been doing it all my life. They gave me a practice plate to ruin, and even that came out very nice. John has an assistant named Alexis who’s just out of ASU. Very cute, tattoos on one arm, of course. Didn’t check for others, but thought about it. By the way, is it a law now that every woman who waits tables or goes into a bar has to have a tattoo just above the butt crack? And wear something so we can all see it? Talk about ubiquitous. Or is that you-be-lukin-above-the-ass-icus?
Anyway, I scored points with Alexis because she asked me what kind of music I wanted to hear while I worked and I said, "Got any Kings of Leon?" She visibly brightened, like she couldn't believe this old cow-boy even knows who they are (thanks Tomcat!). We got along famously after that. She is very creative and applicated numerous little tricks to the plates to make them more "funky and Old West." Lots of ghosting, and reduction processes. I was quite thrilled with the results. I created four etching plates, variations on the White Hat theme. She and John printed about 15 versions and we'll do more tomorrow. We need 50 for Terry Goddard. Dan Harshberger is joining us after lunch to attack the Blaze Away poster project.
We knocked off at four and I got a bit of a jump on traffic. Got back to the office at 4:45. Got this Email from our zany writer Johnny Boggs”
"I'll be hitting the road on Thursday, June 9, for book-signings, research/magazine work, flyfishing, and the Western Writers of America convention (June 14-18, Mirabeau Park Hotel, Spokane Valley, Washington), winding through Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Will have the cellphone and laptop with me, checking in whenever I have a signal or hotel room. Should be back in the office June 22ish. Then will be gone July 6-8 for a library speaking engagement in Bowling Green, Kentucky."
—Johnny Boggs
I Emailed him back and said, "Hey, you are living the life I want. Wanna trade?"
Last Monday I had lunch at El Encanto with our New York book agent James Fitzgerald on the Crown book deal (actually, he's Bart Bull’s agent and speaking of Bart, someone please tell Bart he needs to call Jim and collect $2,000). James was in town visiting his other writers, like Sonny Barger, the ex-Hells Angels pres of the Oakland Chapter and today an author (he's written six books!). James also gave me the bad news on the book biz. According to James the book biz has constricted from $16.6 billion dollars in sales two years ago down to about $10 billion this year. Contrast this with the DVD biz, that didn’t exist seven years ago and now bills $100 billion a year and you can start to see the problem. James told me the book biz has almost become a junior-greeting card industry. We go into a book store and buy a book for a gift and the person we give it to puts it on their shelf and never reads it. The other bad news is that picture books are sinking (can’t compete with DVDs and all of the instant imagery on the web) and that Barnes & Noble has become the Wal-mart of the book biz. Greenlighting and killing book projects based on their instinct on the potential sales. Other than that, it was a positive meeting. He had several book ideas and proposals, and Jana gave him a proposal on our book on Women of the West. He thinks it could go all the way.
More to tell, but Kathys reading three poems at Foothills Academy graduation in forty-five minutes so I’ve got to run.
"A new problem is as good as a vacation."
—Golda Meir
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
June 1, 2005
I spent most of the morning with my Irish buddies from the BBC. They met me at the True West offices at ten and we looked at one potential taping site in the back but the road noise was a turn-off for them, so I took them out to our house. We ended up in the crow's nest of my studio. A five man crew huddled in the tight space overlooking the Cave Creek basin with me sitting on the south wall expostulating about Western Myth ("Most of the truths about the Old West are myths. We just replace one myth for another. First Indians are savages and then they are stewards of the land. Both are myths. And by the way, Cuter being a psychopath is a myth too.").
Lots of planes going overhead. Had to stop for those several times. After the roof sequence of questions, they shot the host Jerry Anderson (a big radio and tv star in Dublin) and I walking up the path from the creek. Peaches hit her mark every time. Buddy hid behind the cameraman (what a Woose!).
Afterwards we went up to Tonto Bar & Grill for lunch (Moore, the producer bought). Sat outside on the covered patio. Nice breeze. We talked at length about their month of filming in the Southwest. They raved about Paul Hutton and how smooth and knowledgeable he is. I asked them what they thought was bizarre about the states and they said "snacks. We don’t have the term snacks." And they said the worst food they encountered was in Monument Valley at Gouldings and in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
They also waxed nostalgic about Ian McShane (Al Swearengin on Deadwood) and that he was a soccer star for Manchester when he was younger. Made a fortune in voiceovers, was angry that a tv series he had was cancelled by the BBC in the eighties (“Lovejoy” about an antiques dealer?). Funny to hear them talking about a “hometown boy.” They also said Deadwood ran a short time in England but didn't catch on over there.
Speaking of the collapse of the European Union constitution, here's a letter I got this morning from Germany:
"At a friend's home in England I saw one of your True West magazines—I was really inspired!—I cried out 'I must have this stuff!' I bought some books of Bob Boze Bell's in London. This is the best I ever saw about the Old West, in which I’m interested since my childhood 50 years ago! Watching your homepage I found out that it is possible to subscribe outside the U.S. and I want to do that.
— Greetings from Old Europe, Peter Hast, Krefeld—Traar, Germany
"P.S. If you contact Bob Boze Bell give my regards to him. I read his daily Big Bad Book every day for the past several weeks—first before I start my work as a teacher—I like it! Today sometimes it’s not bad to act like John Wayne if you want to stay alive at school!"
I need to go to the dentist this afternoon. Got a spur, or something, growing in the pulled tooth area and it hurts.
Trying to finish all of my White Hat prep drawings for the big printing tomorrow down at Armstrong-Prior. Of course, I'm way behind, don't know exactly if I can pull this off. Nervous, insecure, all of that artist crap you get tired of reading about and I get tired of writing.
Lots of laughing in the front office right now (2:43 PM). Must go out and stop this. Can't tolerate joy at work. Ha.
I just went out and checked. Sam and Brittany and Sue Lambert were comparing a certain dog's hair color to Joel's graying hair. I guess you had to be there. (they’re still howling about it).
"Derive happiness in oneself from a good day's work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us."
—Henri Matisse
I spent most of the morning with my Irish buddies from the BBC. They met me at the True West offices at ten and we looked at one potential taping site in the back but the road noise was a turn-off for them, so I took them out to our house. We ended up in the crow's nest of my studio. A five man crew huddled in the tight space overlooking the Cave Creek basin with me sitting on the south wall expostulating about Western Myth ("Most of the truths about the Old West are myths. We just replace one myth for another. First Indians are savages and then they are stewards of the land. Both are myths. And by the way, Cuter being a psychopath is a myth too.").
Lots of planes going overhead. Had to stop for those several times. After the roof sequence of questions, they shot the host Jerry Anderson (a big radio and tv star in Dublin) and I walking up the path from the creek. Peaches hit her mark every time. Buddy hid behind the cameraman (what a Woose!).
Afterwards we went up to Tonto Bar & Grill for lunch (Moore, the producer bought). Sat outside on the covered patio. Nice breeze. We talked at length about their month of filming in the Southwest. They raved about Paul Hutton and how smooth and knowledgeable he is. I asked them what they thought was bizarre about the states and they said "snacks. We don’t have the term snacks." And they said the worst food they encountered was in Monument Valley at Gouldings and in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
They also waxed nostalgic about Ian McShane (Al Swearengin on Deadwood) and that he was a soccer star for Manchester when he was younger. Made a fortune in voiceovers, was angry that a tv series he had was cancelled by the BBC in the eighties (“Lovejoy” about an antiques dealer?). Funny to hear them talking about a “hometown boy.” They also said Deadwood ran a short time in England but didn't catch on over there.
Speaking of the collapse of the European Union constitution, here's a letter I got this morning from Germany:
"At a friend's home in England I saw one of your True West magazines—I was really inspired!—I cried out 'I must have this stuff!' I bought some books of Bob Boze Bell's in London. This is the best I ever saw about the Old West, in which I’m interested since my childhood 50 years ago! Watching your homepage I found out that it is possible to subscribe outside the U.S. and I want to do that.
— Greetings from Old Europe, Peter Hast, Krefeld—Traar, Germany
"P.S. If you contact Bob Boze Bell give my regards to him. I read his daily Big Bad Book every day for the past several weeks—first before I start my work as a teacher—I like it! Today sometimes it’s not bad to act like John Wayne if you want to stay alive at school!"
I need to go to the dentist this afternoon. Got a spur, or something, growing in the pulled tooth area and it hurts.
Trying to finish all of my White Hat prep drawings for the big printing tomorrow down at Armstrong-Prior. Of course, I'm way behind, don't know exactly if I can pull this off. Nervous, insecure, all of that artist crap you get tired of reading about and I get tired of writing.
Lots of laughing in the front office right now (2:43 PM). Must go out and stop this. Can't tolerate joy at work. Ha.
I just went out and checked. Sam and Brittany and Sue Lambert were comparing a certain dog's hair color to Joel's graying hair. I guess you had to be there. (they’re still howling about it).
"Derive happiness in oneself from a good day's work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us."
—Henri Matisse
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
May 31, 2005
Big weekend. Tried to do nothing but didn't succeed. My former cartoonist neighbor, Jerry Scott (Baby Blues, Zits) recently turned fifty and his wife threw him a party down at the Scottsdale Princess Resort on Sunday afternoon. Gordon Smith was the entertainment so I brought my snare drum and high hat cymbals and we wailed on "Route 66." Finally got to meet Jim Borgman, who draws Zits (Jerry writes the strip). Jim is also a political cartoonist of some renown. Fun talking to him. Ed Mell was there (he's getting remarried next week), as were many syndicated cartoonists, including the guy who does Mutts.
After the Scott party, Kathy and I met Deena at Abuelo's for dinner ($28 Sue account) then took in a movie at Harkin's Cine Capri ($18 plus $6.50 for popcorn and water). Saw Crash and really enjoyed it. Quite original and brave. All about racism and redemption in LA. Matt Dillon, Don Cheadle and Sandra Bullock were especially good.
Worked on the White Hat project and CGII images for most of Sunday and Monday. Also swam and took naps. Went over to Mother Radina's for dinner last night. Cooked salmon and watched the Suns beat San Antonio. That was sweet.
I’ve got a full week coming up with the BBC coming in tomorrow for a taping redux, and then two days of printing on the White Hat project on Thursday and Friday.
We got this Email this morning from Down Under:
"I rarely correspond to magazines, happy to be entertained by other's comments and just more than happy to enjoy the contents, and comments. If I don't like the particular mag, I just don't purchase it any more. I have tried many ‘Western’, magazines but all have failed to contain me, until now. True West, you have it just right, I love it, after almost giving up my search for the Holy Grail. The reality is, I have rediscovered True West, having copies of Frontier Times back to 1968, Yes, I'm no youngster, Old West and True West from 1980. They all disappeared from the news stand many years ago, down here, but came upon a back issue from ‘03, loved it and signed up. I've found you again and this time I ain’t letting go. I would like to re-create a Hope Saddle, if any one can supply me with some working drawings I would sure appreciate it. "
—Graeme Young, Melbourne, Australia. youngk@optusnet.com.au
I just got the news from Sherry Monihan that Old West researcher Carl Chafin died on May 26th. He had been sick for some time.
"Our world hangs like a magnificent jewel in the vastness of space. Every one of us is a part of this jewel-and, in the perspective of infinity, our differences are infinitesimal. We are intimately related. May we never even pretend that we are not."
—Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood
Big weekend. Tried to do nothing but didn't succeed. My former cartoonist neighbor, Jerry Scott (Baby Blues, Zits) recently turned fifty and his wife threw him a party down at the Scottsdale Princess Resort on Sunday afternoon. Gordon Smith was the entertainment so I brought my snare drum and high hat cymbals and we wailed on "Route 66." Finally got to meet Jim Borgman, who draws Zits (Jerry writes the strip). Jim is also a political cartoonist of some renown. Fun talking to him. Ed Mell was there (he's getting remarried next week), as were many syndicated cartoonists, including the guy who does Mutts.
After the Scott party, Kathy and I met Deena at Abuelo's for dinner ($28 Sue account) then took in a movie at Harkin's Cine Capri ($18 plus $6.50 for popcorn and water). Saw Crash and really enjoyed it. Quite original and brave. All about racism and redemption in LA. Matt Dillon, Don Cheadle and Sandra Bullock were especially good.
Worked on the White Hat project and CGII images for most of Sunday and Monday. Also swam and took naps. Went over to Mother Radina's for dinner last night. Cooked salmon and watched the Suns beat San Antonio. That was sweet.
I’ve got a full week coming up with the BBC coming in tomorrow for a taping redux, and then two days of printing on the White Hat project on Thursday and Friday.
We got this Email this morning from Down Under:
"I rarely correspond to magazines, happy to be entertained by other's comments and just more than happy to enjoy the contents, and comments. If I don't like the particular mag, I just don't purchase it any more. I have tried many ‘Western’, magazines but all have failed to contain me, until now. True West, you have it just right, I love it, after almost giving up my search for the Holy Grail. The reality is, I have rediscovered True West, having copies of Frontier Times back to 1968, Yes, I'm no youngster, Old West and True West from 1980. They all disappeared from the news stand many years ago, down here, but came upon a back issue from ‘03, loved it and signed up. I've found you again and this time I ain’t letting go. I would like to re-create a Hope Saddle, if any one can supply me with some working drawings I would sure appreciate it. "
—Graeme Young, Melbourne, Australia. youngk@optusnet.com.au
I just got the news from Sherry Monihan that Old West researcher Carl Chafin died on May 26th. He had been sick for some time.
"Our world hangs like a magnificent jewel in the vastness of space. Every one of us is a part of this jewel-and, in the perspective of infinity, our differences are infinitesimal. We are intimately related. May we never even pretend that we are not."
—Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood
Saturday, May 28, 2005
May 28, 2005
Almost the entire population of the Valley is up north seeking cooler climes, but some of us just stayed home. Working on images from the air trip. Got the film back yesterday ($18 something, biz account). Much of it is washed out. Some is atmospheric conditions and some of it is shooting through a plexiglass window. Still, my goal is to mix the photo reference with what I saw with my eyes, especially at Redington Pass and Stein's Pass, two of the critical locations I wanted for CGII the book.
As a typical Boomer, I sometimes whine and complain about my lack of training, my lack of the right equipment, my lack of the right reference, but I must say I was very impacted by an artist we saw down at Armstrong-Prior on Thursday, Robert Crystal I belive is his name, and he was this deaf guy (he died in 1977 or so), who couldn't speak, lived on an isolated farm in Utah, drew with matchstick heads and spit, on cardboard and grocery sacks (I’m not making this up!) and his stuff sells for $75K today. He never had art training of any kind.
So just get to it, Pruit. Need to mock up some of that mind set. Look at the photo reference, study it, make working sketches, then put it away and call on my inner mind to make it happen (yes, I'm talking to myself!). That's the ticket. Go inside, trust my instincts, don't be hamstrung by Boomer shoulds. Okay, I feel better now.
At least until I read the feedback on my HBO vs. Fox analogy. Here's my two favorite responses:
"A little bit country a little bit rock and roll.....is more like it. Don't think the difference is that great between those media formats. Fox pretends to be a little conservative, but for a buck will sell their souls. And regarding the final Deadwood episode...I have shared the opinion with others of the similarity of this wedding scenario with the Godfather (2-3?) chapter when Michael's baby is being baptized, and a variety of heinous acts are being committed. Almost a great ending....but alas, wanted Seth Bullock to blow somebody up, but his smokewagon remained holstered."
—Jim Ed
Yes, I also felt that Deadwood ending was copped from The Godfather and I agree—it was a female ending. Not enough shooting and blowing stuff up. Here's the other response I liked:
"You shouldn't be comparing True West to other media products, in my opinion. There are a lot of differences. Yes, you should understand what media and shows the readers are attracted to--but that by itself does not define them. Yes, learn from some of the things those networks/programs do--the Deadwood website
is very impressive, and True West should adopt some similar approaches. But True West fans don't expect or want you to be faux HBO.
“We both know that your blog is ‘BBB lite.’ You should start taking it farther, making it a realistic expression of your likes, dislikes, insecurities, etc. That's what the truly successful bloggers do. Yeah, they piss people off, or embarrass folks, and spark controversy. But that's what blog fans want. If the greatest controversy you initiate is ‘Fox vs. HBO,’ or how much you paid for lunch, then you've got a problem--one that will only deepen as you try to
attract younger consumers.
"You should provide more ‘web only’ features--additional reviews, articles, commentaries, pictures, etc. People want ‘value added,’ and they're looking to the Internet presence to provide it. Put more sound on the site--whether it's music, comments from interview subjects, whatever. Use video to show some of your travels; that gives a clarity that still pictures can only hint at."
—Mark Boardman
It's seven in the evening and I'm still studying and wrestling with the airborne photos, trying to get a good angle on them. A great quote to end on this hot and breezy May day:
"Great ideas need landing gear as well as wings."
—C.D. Jackson
?
Almost the entire population of the Valley is up north seeking cooler climes, but some of us just stayed home. Working on images from the air trip. Got the film back yesterday ($18 something, biz account). Much of it is washed out. Some is atmospheric conditions and some of it is shooting through a plexiglass window. Still, my goal is to mix the photo reference with what I saw with my eyes, especially at Redington Pass and Stein's Pass, two of the critical locations I wanted for CGII the book.
As a typical Boomer, I sometimes whine and complain about my lack of training, my lack of the right equipment, my lack of the right reference, but I must say I was very impacted by an artist we saw down at Armstrong-Prior on Thursday, Robert Crystal I belive is his name, and he was this deaf guy (he died in 1977 or so), who couldn't speak, lived on an isolated farm in Utah, drew with matchstick heads and spit, on cardboard and grocery sacks (I’m not making this up!) and his stuff sells for $75K today. He never had art training of any kind.
So just get to it, Pruit. Need to mock up some of that mind set. Look at the photo reference, study it, make working sketches, then put it away and call on my inner mind to make it happen (yes, I'm talking to myself!). That's the ticket. Go inside, trust my instincts, don't be hamstrung by Boomer shoulds. Okay, I feel better now.
At least until I read the feedback on my HBO vs. Fox analogy. Here's my two favorite responses:
"A little bit country a little bit rock and roll.....is more like it. Don't think the difference is that great between those media formats. Fox pretends to be a little conservative, but for a buck will sell their souls. And regarding the final Deadwood episode...I have shared the opinion with others of the similarity of this wedding scenario with the Godfather (2-3?) chapter when Michael's baby is being baptized, and a variety of heinous acts are being committed. Almost a great ending....but alas, wanted Seth Bullock to blow somebody up, but his smokewagon remained holstered."
—Jim Ed
Yes, I also felt that Deadwood ending was copped from The Godfather and I agree—it was a female ending. Not enough shooting and blowing stuff up. Here's the other response I liked:
"You shouldn't be comparing True West to other media products, in my opinion. There are a lot of differences. Yes, you should understand what media and shows the readers are attracted to--but that by itself does not define them. Yes, learn from some of the things those networks/programs do--the Deadwood website
is very impressive, and True West should adopt some similar approaches. But True West fans don't expect or want you to be faux HBO.
“We both know that your blog is ‘BBB lite.’ You should start taking it farther, making it a realistic expression of your likes, dislikes, insecurities, etc. That's what the truly successful bloggers do. Yeah, they piss people off, or embarrass folks, and spark controversy. But that's what blog fans want. If the greatest controversy you initiate is ‘Fox vs. HBO,’ or how much you paid for lunch, then you've got a problem--one that will only deepen as you try to
attract younger consumers.
"You should provide more ‘web only’ features--additional reviews, articles, commentaries, pictures, etc. People want ‘value added,’ and they're looking to the Internet presence to provide it. Put more sound on the site--whether it's music, comments from interview subjects, whatever. Use video to show some of your travels; that gives a clarity that still pictures can only hint at."
—Mark Boardman
It's seven in the evening and I'm still studying and wrestling with the airborne photos, trying to get a good angle on them. A great quote to end on this hot and breezy May day:
"Great ideas need landing gear as well as wings."
—C.D. Jackson
?
Friday, May 27, 2005
May 27, 2005
I met Tom Chenal of the True West Airforce at 7:30 at the Cave Creek Coffee Company and after a cup of decaf and a blueberry muffin ($3.60 cash) I followed Tom down to the Scottsdale Airport and we climbed in his single engine airplane and took off for the Wyatt Earp Yonder.
Tom wanted to get an early start because, as he put it, "It gets kind of rough up there in the afternoon." Evidently, the summer heat creates big wedges of unsettled air and strong currents. The takeoff was fine but I was a tad nervous as we fought our way out of the Phoenix metro area (other planes in the sky showed up like mini-tadpoles on our dash radar screen and it was unnerving to try and find them out the window, and then see a plane go under us at 150 knots while a big 707 arced into Sky Harbor airspace up ahead). Finally we cleared Gold Canyon Ranch and skirted the Superstitions, and the ride became quite smooth and wonderful.
Up in the sky, all of those segmented areas I normally drive through, like Superior, Hayden, Pinal (where Mattie Earp is buried) meld together and you can see the Catalinas in the south and the Grahams in the east and Four Peaks and the White Mountains in the north. In topo terms it makes much more sense up there. One range segues into another and you can see the relationship between them so much clearer.
We got over the first target at ten. Redington on the San Pedro is where the Tombstone posse found Luther King, who allegedly squealed on his cohorts, Bill Leonard, Jim Crane and Harry 'the Kid' Head. I asked Tom to swing out wide to the east so I could get a nice shot of the rugged canyons and terrain leading up to Redington Pass, where the outlaws fled, followed by the Earp posse.
Continuing up the San Pedro (the river runs north out of Mexico and drains into the Gila) we sailed over Benson, where I took numerous shots of the Southern Pacific Railroad lines, especially where the Santa Fe lines (1881) broke off to the south (eventually reaching Guaymas, Mexico). This is the line that ran to Contention and Fairbanks, before turning towards Sonoita, Patagonia and Nogales and I was curious to see the current railroad tracks and if any of the previous right-of-ways stood out from the air. Just north of Saint David, they did, with the vegetation giving way to several clearings wide enough to be former train track beds. At my age and temperament this is as good as sex. Let’s just say I was real excited.
We couldn’t go all the way to Charleston because of the restricted airspace surrounding Fort Huachuca, but as we skirted the San Pedro eastward, I caught the conical hills, behind which sat the three mills operating 24/7 across the river from Charleston. I got good images of the road to Tombstone, gathering in Pick-em-up, and then we took a slow 360 around Goose Flats and I got all of the town too tough to die, with special interest devoted to all the mining holes pocking the hills south of town.
The next target was across the Sulpher Springs Valley in Guadalupe Canyon at the south end of the Pelloncillos and this was also a tough shot because we couldn’t go across the border into Mexico without coming back into U.S. airspace, landing, going through customs, etc. Not an enjoyable option. Plus, zig-zagging back and forth across the border at that border location would make a suspicious flight plan to say the least (there are several drug balloons tethered along this stretch). We still managed to get good angles at Cloverdale (just across the line in New Mexico) into Guadalupe Canyon, shooting from the north end towards the south. Then a dash up the Animas to Lordsburg (where my mama was born) and another 360 around to catch Shakespeare, the ghost town where Sandy King and Russian Bill were lynched (Curly Bill skated on a technicality the day before, just missing the noose). At this point I could see all the way from Shakespeare to Stein’s (pronounced Steen’s, not Stynes) Pass. Got the money shot and from there we cruised on to San Simon following I-10. Got a decent shot of the road to Galeyville but the clouds were building over the Chiricahuas and Tom didn’t want to chance it so we didn’t go up over them to Johnny Ringo’s grave site.
Got back to Scottsdale Airport at about 12:30 (flying time 3 hours, forty-five minutes). Once again the hairiest part of the trip was dodging all of the airplanes in the Phoenix corridor, but we landed safely and I dashed up to Foothills Photo to drop off four roles of film.
Got into the office at about 2:30, got a nasty phone message from Pete The Miner. I was quoted in this morning’s Arizona Republic bemoaning the demise of The Mistress Mine and Pete is PO’d because he built the place, and thinks the guy who is running it now is a pervert (not that there’s anything wrong with that). More on this later.
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening at once."
—Old Vaquero Saying
I met Tom Chenal of the True West Airforce at 7:30 at the Cave Creek Coffee Company and after a cup of decaf and a blueberry muffin ($3.60 cash) I followed Tom down to the Scottsdale Airport and we climbed in his single engine airplane and took off for the Wyatt Earp Yonder.
Tom wanted to get an early start because, as he put it, "It gets kind of rough up there in the afternoon." Evidently, the summer heat creates big wedges of unsettled air and strong currents. The takeoff was fine but I was a tad nervous as we fought our way out of the Phoenix metro area (other planes in the sky showed up like mini-tadpoles on our dash radar screen and it was unnerving to try and find them out the window, and then see a plane go under us at 150 knots while a big 707 arced into Sky Harbor airspace up ahead). Finally we cleared Gold Canyon Ranch and skirted the Superstitions, and the ride became quite smooth and wonderful.
Up in the sky, all of those segmented areas I normally drive through, like Superior, Hayden, Pinal (where Mattie Earp is buried) meld together and you can see the Catalinas in the south and the Grahams in the east and Four Peaks and the White Mountains in the north. In topo terms it makes much more sense up there. One range segues into another and you can see the relationship between them so much clearer.
We got over the first target at ten. Redington on the San Pedro is where the Tombstone posse found Luther King, who allegedly squealed on his cohorts, Bill Leonard, Jim Crane and Harry 'the Kid' Head. I asked Tom to swing out wide to the east so I could get a nice shot of the rugged canyons and terrain leading up to Redington Pass, where the outlaws fled, followed by the Earp posse.
Continuing up the San Pedro (the river runs north out of Mexico and drains into the Gila) we sailed over Benson, where I took numerous shots of the Southern Pacific Railroad lines, especially where the Santa Fe lines (1881) broke off to the south (eventually reaching Guaymas, Mexico). This is the line that ran to Contention and Fairbanks, before turning towards Sonoita, Patagonia and Nogales and I was curious to see the current railroad tracks and if any of the previous right-of-ways stood out from the air. Just north of Saint David, they did, with the vegetation giving way to several clearings wide enough to be former train track beds. At my age and temperament this is as good as sex. Let’s just say I was real excited.
We couldn’t go all the way to Charleston because of the restricted airspace surrounding Fort Huachuca, but as we skirted the San Pedro eastward, I caught the conical hills, behind which sat the three mills operating 24/7 across the river from Charleston. I got good images of the road to Tombstone, gathering in Pick-em-up, and then we took a slow 360 around Goose Flats and I got all of the town too tough to die, with special interest devoted to all the mining holes pocking the hills south of town.
The next target was across the Sulpher Springs Valley in Guadalupe Canyon at the south end of the Pelloncillos and this was also a tough shot because we couldn’t go across the border into Mexico without coming back into U.S. airspace, landing, going through customs, etc. Not an enjoyable option. Plus, zig-zagging back and forth across the border at that border location would make a suspicious flight plan to say the least (there are several drug balloons tethered along this stretch). We still managed to get good angles at Cloverdale (just across the line in New Mexico) into Guadalupe Canyon, shooting from the north end towards the south. Then a dash up the Animas to Lordsburg (where my mama was born) and another 360 around to catch Shakespeare, the ghost town where Sandy King and Russian Bill were lynched (Curly Bill skated on a technicality the day before, just missing the noose). At this point I could see all the way from Shakespeare to Stein’s (pronounced Steen’s, not Stynes) Pass. Got the money shot and from there we cruised on to San Simon following I-10. Got a decent shot of the road to Galeyville but the clouds were building over the Chiricahuas and Tom didn’t want to chance it so we didn’t go up over them to Johnny Ringo’s grave site.
Got back to Scottsdale Airport at about 12:30 (flying time 3 hours, forty-five minutes). Once again the hairiest part of the trip was dodging all of the airplanes in the Phoenix corridor, but we landed safely and I dashed up to Foothills Photo to drop off four roles of film.
Got into the office at about 2:30, got a nasty phone message from Pete The Miner. I was quoted in this morning’s Arizona Republic bemoaning the demise of The Mistress Mine and Pete is PO’d because he built the place, and thinks the guy who is running it now is a pervert (not that there’s anything wrong with that). More on this later.
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening at once."
—Old Vaquero Saying
Thursday, May 26, 2005
May 26, 2005
It's Carole Glenn's birthday today and I asked her to join me for my meeting with The Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard down in Phoenix today. We met at the Armstrong-Prior Art Studio at 18th St. and McDowell to discuss the printing of the BBB commissioned artwork "The White Hat." After a tasty lunch in their studio kitchen, we looked at the various printmaking techniques and decided on a combination of etching, serigraph-chine collet and monograph. We pencilled in two days in June to do the work and I'm very excited and honored and nervous. I want to do a good job for Terry and do him proud.
Carole and I also stopped at Dan Harshbeger's studio off Seventh Ave. below Dunlap and talked at length about our problems with the August cover package layouts. I looked at his opening spread with some concern. I had initially initiated a layout sketch that was too in-your-face, and even Dan balked at it. Ultimately, I have faith he will pull it off. This morning Kathy came up with an analogy that applies to this as we discussed the love and hate polarity regarding the show Deadwood (we watched the final episode of the season last night). She commented that Fox is the number one network now and on shows like The House (I’ve never seen it) they had a plotline where a 12-year-old girl needed to get an abortion but she couldn't tell her parents. The conservative plot point angle made Kathy somewhat irritated (she once proudly worked for Planned Parenthood). She didn’t like their politics. On the other hand, she said, "The cussing on HBO doesn’t bother me at all." From there she made the leap that sometimes I want to go a little bit too HBO when my readers are more Fox. Interesting analogy. Do you buy it?
"A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lesson from the past, but he also is prematurely disappointed in the future."
—Sydney Harrise
It's Carole Glenn's birthday today and I asked her to join me for my meeting with The Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard down in Phoenix today. We met at the Armstrong-Prior Art Studio at 18th St. and McDowell to discuss the printing of the BBB commissioned artwork "The White Hat." After a tasty lunch in their studio kitchen, we looked at the various printmaking techniques and decided on a combination of etching, serigraph-chine collet and monograph. We pencilled in two days in June to do the work and I'm very excited and honored and nervous. I want to do a good job for Terry and do him proud.
Carole and I also stopped at Dan Harshbeger's studio off Seventh Ave. below Dunlap and talked at length about our problems with the August cover package layouts. I looked at his opening spread with some concern. I had initially initiated a layout sketch that was too in-your-face, and even Dan balked at it. Ultimately, I have faith he will pull it off. This morning Kathy came up with an analogy that applies to this as we discussed the love and hate polarity regarding the show Deadwood (we watched the final episode of the season last night). She commented that Fox is the number one network now and on shows like The House (I’ve never seen it) they had a plotline where a 12-year-old girl needed to get an abortion but she couldn't tell her parents. The conservative plot point angle made Kathy somewhat irritated (she once proudly worked for Planned Parenthood). She didn’t like their politics. On the other hand, she said, "The cussing on HBO doesn’t bother me at all." From there she made the leap that sometimes I want to go a little bit too HBO when my readers are more Fox. Interesting analogy. Do you buy it?
"A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lesson from the past, but he also is prematurely disappointed in the future."
—Sydney Harrise
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
May 25, 2005
I woke up with an idea on how to massage the August cover story package. Got into the office and went over the idea with Robert Ray, Meghan and Trish. Jane Bishoff came in at 10 and we worked on making it fly. Got some very good stuff going.
Gus designed six postcard ideas for CGII and they will go up on the website next week. And speaking of Blaze Away! The 25 Gunfights Behind the O.K. Corral, I got this request from yesterday's journal entry:
"If you get a chance to do the aerial photos of the J Ringo burial site I would like to get a copy of the photo. My wife's great great grandfather was "Coyote" Smith and the tree was just across the creek from his ranch. It would be really great to have an aerial view of the area."
—Jim kooistra
My pleasure. Now the pressure is on to the get the right location. I’ve only been up there once and I hope I can recognize it from the air.
Javelinas attacked us last night. The dogs were fenced in, but the three big, overgrown rats just came right up to the gate and snorted around with their big, fat snouts. Of course, Peaches and Buddy were going crazy, shrill barking and doing backflips. Man, those javes are obnoxious, plus they smell foul.
This report from the Tom Bomb up in Flag
So last Friday I went to a five keg forest party with special guest Phil Bunkman (I Hate You When You're Pregnant). The party kind of sucked because it was mostly high schoolers but there were hundreds of people there and a bon fire. They brought a generator out so bands could set up and play. The first group was some [poopy] punk band and then Phil played. It was pretty cold so I didn't think he would do his usual routine of wearing a speedo but boy was I wrong. The first thing he said was, "I'm about to get really cold" and just stripped off his clothes. It was a great Phil show as expected but the craziest thing was that besides us 20 or so older people who were Phil fans, everyone was the frat boy type. So you have Phil in his speedo screaming, "I'm sleeveless! I'm f------ raw! I look just like a f------- god! I'm sleeveless and I'm number one, what would Jesus do if he could see these guns!" and one car over you have these future frat boys blasting ghetto rap. At one point one of the Phil fans got on the mike and said it was ridiculous that they were listening to music because we had live music right there. They screamed back, "Your music f------- sucks!". It was quite the culture clash.
I love it that he refers to himself and his friends as “older people.” And I can totally relate to the frat-boy put down. Been there, many times. Here you are, putting it all on the line and some boorish idiots not only miss the point but are ready to kill you. For some reason, in my mind, this all applies to the war in Iraq, although I haven’t seen any gator lines over there, yet.
"If your project doesn't work, look for the part that you didn't think was important."
—Arthur Bloch
I woke up with an idea on how to massage the August cover story package. Got into the office and went over the idea with Robert Ray, Meghan and Trish. Jane Bishoff came in at 10 and we worked on making it fly. Got some very good stuff going.
Gus designed six postcard ideas for CGII and they will go up on the website next week. And speaking of Blaze Away! The 25 Gunfights Behind the O.K. Corral, I got this request from yesterday's journal entry:
"If you get a chance to do the aerial photos of the J Ringo burial site I would like to get a copy of the photo. My wife's great great grandfather was "Coyote" Smith and the tree was just across the creek from his ranch. It would be really great to have an aerial view of the area."
—Jim kooistra
My pleasure. Now the pressure is on to the get the right location. I’ve only been up there once and I hope I can recognize it from the air.
Javelinas attacked us last night. The dogs were fenced in, but the three big, overgrown rats just came right up to the gate and snorted around with their big, fat snouts. Of course, Peaches and Buddy were going crazy, shrill barking and doing backflips. Man, those javes are obnoxious, plus they smell foul.
This report from the Tom Bomb up in Flag
So last Friday I went to a five keg forest party with special guest Phil Bunkman (I Hate You When You're Pregnant). The party kind of sucked because it was mostly high schoolers but there were hundreds of people there and a bon fire. They brought a generator out so bands could set up and play. The first group was some [poopy] punk band and then Phil played. It was pretty cold so I didn't think he would do his usual routine of wearing a speedo but boy was I wrong. The first thing he said was, "I'm about to get really cold" and just stripped off his clothes. It was a great Phil show as expected but the craziest thing was that besides us 20 or so older people who were Phil fans, everyone was the frat boy type. So you have Phil in his speedo screaming, "I'm sleeveless! I'm f------ raw! I look just like a f------- god! I'm sleeveless and I'm number one, what would Jesus do if he could see these guns!" and one car over you have these future frat boys blasting ghetto rap. At one point one of the Phil fans got on the mike and said it was ridiculous that they were listening to music because we had live music right there. They screamed back, "Your music f------- sucks!". It was quite the culture clash.
I love it that he refers to himself and his friends as “older people.” And I can totally relate to the frat-boy put down. Been there, many times. Here you are, putting it all on the line and some boorish idiots not only miss the point but are ready to kill you. For some reason, in my mind, this all applies to the war in Iraq, although I haven’t seen any gator lines over there, yet.
"If your project doesn't work, look for the part that you didn't think was important."
—Arthur Bloch
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