Stopped at post office after morning meeting to get her some stamps, then home. Paper and snack. Computer and check e-mail. Out and take picture of downed tree across street - it crushed a street sign - and uploaded it to the newspaper. They were asking for photos of the wind storm damage. Back to computer. Lunch with Gene Autry and Smiley. Nap. Up and feed girls. Talk to Ron next door when I was sweeping back porch. He gave us a present from their India trip. Back to computer and try to write but have computer trouble and never got the chance. Now Beth is on her way home. I'm cooking. She's got an H&I meeting tonight. Later ~

Bad wind storm this afternoon and our power just came back on. Dropped off some Xeroxing after meeting then to Ramona Tire to pick up Beth who had dropped off one of her employers' cars for an oil change. Home and check e-mail then paper. Back to computer and write a little. Lunch with my friend, Joel Peters at Ruby's. Then to pick up Beth and take her to pick up the car she dropped off this morning. Home and nap. Up and feed girls. Talk to Tom Snow, and never get back to writing because power went out. Beth is probably on her way home, then we're off to a Republican Woman's Meeting. Supposed to be over at eight. Later ~

This morning I met Beth and she followed me to Del Webb's Sun City in Palm Desert where a club called Boomers and Friends was having their 6th anniversary by putting on a Western-themed breakfast with me as their guest speaker. We dined at a table with Diane Davidson, the president of the club, her husband, plus her sister who is also a writer, her husband, and another couple. A Western-style breakfast was served. I would say fifty or more were in attendance. I talked about my life in and around Hollywood, my produced scripts and the movies made from them, plus I sold some of my books. We had a very nice time.
I came home and checked e-mail then wrote a little. Read the paper while I had lunch; then turned on an old Charles Starrett "Durango Kid" Western which I'd seen before. Back to my computer, then down for nap. Up and feed girls, and my daily talk to Tom Snow. Settle down and write a few more pages on my new project. Beth will be home soon, so I'm going to fix dinner. Later ~

The Academy Awards are on right now and I ain't watching. The whole thing's become so politically one-sided it makes me want to puke.
Beth arrived home after I had breakfast and she read the paper. I to computer and work some. She to office and start on our taxes. We have lunch together, then I down for nap. Up and feed girls. Type up list of my credits so I won't forget tomorrow when I'm speaking. That took all afternoon. Fix dinner and we eat. She wants to watch the Academy Award pre-show interviews. I to office when they are over. Now I'm writing here. Beth will be packing up for her week away from home nights. Earlier, I packed all my easels, books and posters into the Ford for my talk tomorrow morning. Later ~

Came home after the meeting and shopping and checked e-mail. To Ramona Tire to pick up refund check from Continental Tire for the replacement tire we bought after our blowout in December. Worked at computer for a while then she home. I fix lunch (peanut butter and jelly for me, peanut butter, mayonnaise and pickles for her - no, she's not expecting). Mail, then I nap while she putzes around house. I up and feed girls. Computer for a bit, then she off to pick up our friend, Robin. I start fixing some salads and she returns with Robin who, by the way, is recovering from surgery. Nice dinner, nice conversation. I excuse myself and come in here to the office so they can have some girl talk. Beth is still staying at her employers' home while they are away. I reckon I'll be here alone with the girls for a few more nights. Later ~

Today our neighbors got back from their trip to India. Beth and I picked them up from the airport and brought them home. They were exhausted and wanted to sleep. I took my nap and all I could hear were the hammers and saws behind us where they're building a new house. I suspect our travel-weary neighbors didn't get their sleep. I did. I can fall asleep in a gunfight. Worked some on my new project and now it's time to stop. She'll be here in moments and I need to start dinner. Later ~

Usual routine today. Spent all morning at computer. Got a rejection from an agent I'd queried for Whiskey Tears. Lunch with the Durango Kid. Nap with the girls, then feed them. Work on new opening for latest project, and how it's 4:30. She'll be home soon and the evening should go along as usual. Exciting life, isn't it? Later ~

No Harry and no Tom Snow today at meeting. Harry is in Vegas with Bob Feldhake and Tom rolled over. After, I drove home to the usual paper and snack. At computer all morning. Got a response from yahoo which, like before, did not address my problem. Wrote them another note and sent a CC to Rusty, my helpful yahoo person. He wrote back that Yahoo e-mailed him and they are now going to really try and help with the problem (Ha!). Lunch with Gene and Smiley, but it was one I'd seen before. Back to computer, then down for nap. Up and feed girls. Call Tom Snow, then write again on my new project. Swept floors, as she'll be home soon. Projecting a nice dinner together and a recorded TV show (it was CSI Miami last night). Then she'll be off to her place of employment and I'll hit the hay with the girls. Later ~

I have been having one hell of a time sending e-mail to anyone with a yahoo.com address. My friend, Rusty, in Texas tried several times go contact yahoo and always get the runaround. I wrote to them today on their feedback for problems site and got an answer that in no way solves my problem. I just sent them (yahoo) another e-mail re-describing my problem and am now waiting for another answer.
After the meeting and the paper at home, I did some shopping at Sam's Club. Dropped something off to Beth at her place of employment, then home and lunch with Buck Jones. Nap and up. Fed the girls, then received the wrong answer to my Yahoo problem and just finished writing them back. Should be same as usual tonight. Eat with her, TV, then sleep. Later ~

Beth and I meet at meeting since she's staying at her employers right now. After, I home and paper and snack. My letter to the editor in paper.

Fight to Win

Pete Bruni sums up his anti-Iraq war letter (Feb. 14, "Enough is enough") by writing "Hopefully, one day we will band together and say, 'We can't take it anymore.'"
The day we band together and say that will be followed very shortly by the day this wonderful country of ours crumbles to the forces of Islam - a day when the good citizens of America who refuse to bow to Allah will die by the sword.

Instead, let us band together saying, "We must fight this battle and win" because if we don't win, the United States will cease to exist. It's as simple as that.

Stephen Lodge
Rancho Mirage

Then to office and work on "Thank you for my Dreams." Talk to Ross and Beth. She by for a sec then leaves. I eat lunch with Buster Crabbe and Fuzzy Q. Jones; then down for nap. Up and feed the girls. Back to writing for the rest of the afternoon. She'll be here shortly and we'll dine together. TV recording after, then she'll take off and I'll hit the hay. Later ~

Beth is staying at her employers' home again to watch the animals. I up at 5:30 with Misty climbing all over me. Made some breakfast after calling her, then she home for some breakfast herself. I worked on the Behind the Scenes manuscript while she cleaned around me. She to meet her friend, Georgia, for lunch. I make a sandwich and eat watching Gene Autry on TV. Nap. She is already back when I wake up. Feed girls, then back to computer and more work on BTS manuscript. We'll have some dinner later, then a recorded TV show. After that, she'll be off to work and I'll hit the hay with the girls. Later ~

Left the meeting early with Beth - she to off work - taking her employers to airport along with pilot. I off to shop. Home and unpack groceries. Snack and read paper. To office and start cleaning up Behind the Scenes Manuscript. Lunch and TV, then she stops by then off to her nail appointment. I nap. Up and she's home. Feed girls, then back to computer and continue working on manuscript. She at her computer, plus, she makes phone calls. Talk Tom Snow, then start water boiling for pasta tonight. After dinner, we'll probably watch a recorded TV show, or a DVD movie. Later ~

Home after meeting for snack and paper. Tell gardener to let oleanders grow in back to shield us from new house being built on the vacant lot behind us. Our beautiful view is now almost gone. Bug guy here and spray; then Dan the TV man here to hook up our new TV (the one Beth won a few weeks ago). I work on "Whiskey Tears" getting it in perfect shape, just in case I need to send it out. Lunch with Don "Red" Barry on the western Channel. Nap, then up and feed girls. Back to computer and finish cleaning up "Whiskey Tears". Sweep house. She calls and is on way home. I"d better start dinner. Later, we'll probably watch "CSI Vegas," then hit the hay. Later ~

Went to Cathedral City Sav-On to pick up meds after meeting and they open an hour later than the Sav-On in Rancho Mirage. Bought a paper and stopped in at a little cafe for coffee and a muffin while I waited. Finally picked up my meds and drove home. Out to Big Five and buy some dumbbells. Decided to get them and use them whenever I can. Getting old and getting out of shape go hand in hand and I want to correct the latter. Putzed on computer then lunch with Rex Allen and Buddy Ebsen on the Western Channel. Nap and up. Fed the girls. Wrote some on present project then pulled old computers out of shed and put them in the Expedition. I'll drop them at the electronic dump when I'm in the neighborhood. Back to computer. Some Bill O'Reily then write here. She's on her way home so I need to get dinner started. Later ~

We exchanged Valentine's Day cards first thing. Yesterday Beth asked me how long it had been since I had a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich. I couldn't remember. But the idea wouldn't leave my mind. So, today, on the way home from the morning meeting, I picked up some peanut-butter and jelly and when I got home, I made myself a P&J sandwich. Bet you thought I forgot the potato chips? No way. I bought a little bag of those crunchy critters, too. Well, I enjoyed 'em so much, I had another one at lunch while watching Gene and Smiley in "Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm" on the Western Channel. Did some writing and editing in between snacks, plus my nap. I fed the girls, talked to my friend, Tom, and am now here writing this. Then it'll be back to writing, fixing a Valentine's Day dinner for the two of us, and some TV afterwards. Later ~

Haircut after meeting, to Sav-On then home. Paper and snack and on to computer. Check out e-mail and other stuff. Lunch with The Three Mesquiteers: Bob Steele, Tom Tyler and Jimmy Dodds. Nap. Up feed girls and call Tom. Computer all afternoon. She's on her way home so it's off to fix dinner. I recorded a Dog Whisperer today and she's been dying to see an episode. Later ~

Home after meeting for usual paper and snack - then to bank and on to Best Buy where I purchased a new scanner - one with a film adapter so I can scan slides. Stop at Office Depot - my second home - then to my real home and set up the scanner. Still more to figure out. Lunch with Rocky Lane, then quick nap in living room so I could get up in an hour for a doctor's appointment concerning my constant back pain. Fed girls before I went out. Home and check e-mail and call Tom Snow. I reckon I'll clean up the house a bit before she gets home. Cook some dinner for her, then we'll catch up on recorded TV show. Later ~

Slept in until 5:00. Shower and dress. Fix breakfast and she up. We read paper and she irons for a while. Snack at 10:00 - office and putz. To an open house party at our friend Dallas Erwood's new home. Nice get together. Our dog sitter Karen was there. Home and Beth changes to go to Maad Dog Daze meeting at Hospital. I stay here to relax and write here. She'll be back in an hour then we're off to Southwest Community Church for a going away dinner for Pastor Dan Perkins and his wife Joy and their family. He's been hired as a head pastor up in San Jose and they'll be moving soon. After that we'll come home to an early good night. Later ~

Posting this early so I don't get caught with no time to write later on like happened yesterday. Meeting this morning, the shopping for groceries. She went to work. Home and unpack groceries, then to beauty supply for her and home again. Snack and paper. A little TV and computer. Ross called and we talked. Beth called several times to talk and Harry called. Nothing accomplished in a.m. - Lunch then nap. Up and feed girls,then into office where I'm now stationed working on my project and writing here. Beth said she would be home early so I expect we'll do something for dinner - maybe special. The it'll be a recorded TV show and bed. Real exciting life, huh? Later ~

Late Entry for 2-9-07

Usual meeting then home to paper and snack. E-mail from Courtney Joyner and my reply keeps coming back to me. Work a little on project, then meet Harry, Tom, and George for lunch at Chinese joint. Home and nap. Up and feed girls. Send a submission for Charley Sunday's Texas Outfit! to a new company in Hollywood. Work on Whiskey Tears Novel correcting for typos, then put it on a CD and into an envelope for Courtney. Carry on an on-line chat with an AOL Tech Support guy about why I'm having trouble sending to Yahoo. Eat and TV. More with AOL Tech Support. She home around eight and we both get ready for bed. She's had a long day. Later ~

Tomorrow, more will be revealed

Started day off with my morning meeting. Beth and I left early so she could drop off her employers' van at the airport as they are flying in today. Dropped her then took her car home. To car wash to get it washed and read paper while I was there. Home and check e-mail - note from Cortney Joyner, a writer friend in LA. Then I took dogs to vet for a 10:30 appointment. Sniff - what's that smell? Oh, shit - Crystal crapped all over the sheet I was using to keep dog hair off the back seat. Upon arrival at the vet, I tied them up to a post and carefully folded up the messy sheet, putting it in the back of the car to be thrown out later. Continued with vet appointment and they rode home with the back seat unprotected from dog hair. I spent nearly an hour vacuuming, taping and washing down the back seat area of Beth's car. Then I returned it to her and picked up my car. She actually thought I did a pretty good job of cleaning it up. Home for lunch with Roy Rogers and Andy Devine on the Western channel. Nap, then up and feed girls. Tom Snow calls, then I start in on my present project. Marge Henderson, a old costumer friend of mine called and we chatted for a while. Then it was back to writing. Because her family is back in town, Beth has no idea when she'll get home. I now wait for her. Later ~

Started day off with my morning meeting. Beth and I left early so she could drop off her employers' van at the airport as they are flying in today. Dropped her then took her car home. To car wash to get it washed and read paper while I was there. Home and check e-mail - note from Cortney Joyner, a writer friend in LA. Then I took dogs to vet for a 10:30 appointment. Sniff - what's that smell? Oh, shit - Crystal crapped all over the sheet I was using to keep dog hair off the back seat. Upon arrival at the vet, I tied them up to a post and carefully folded up the messy sheet, putting it in the back of the car to be thrown out later. Continued with vet appointment and they rode home with the back seat unprotected from dog hair. I spent nearly an hour vacuuming, taping and washing down the back seat area of Beth's car. Then I returned it to her and picked up my car. She actually thought I did a pretty good job of cleaning it up. Home for lunch with Roy Rogers and Andy Devine on the Western channel. Nap, then up and feed girls. Tom Snow calls, then I start in on my present project. Marge Henderson, a old costumer friend of mine called and we chatted for a while. Then it was back to writing. Because her family is back in town, Beth has no idea when she'll get home. I now wait for her. Later ~

Today I was able to go to the meeting but had to leave early because I had an appointment with Pain Management for the last injection of my three-shot series for my back. The only thing that has happened with regard to the series of shots, is my legs seem to be geeting stronger - I even tried running the other day and found I could run, though not on the balls of my feet. My back is almost that same as before. After, to the Credit Union, where I stood in line for nearly a half an hour while some broad chatted continuiously with the one teller on duty. To bank then home where I sit down with the paper before heading to the computer. Work a bit on my current project, then have lunch with Gene Autry and Smiley Burnett on the Western Channel. Nap, then up and feed girls. Talked to Tom Snow. Back to writing. Stop to start dinner. She should be home soon. Later ~

On February 6, 1943 - 64 years ago - this old fart entered this world. That's right, it's my birthday today. Whoopie! Now here's how the day's gone so far:
Had my blood drawn at 7:00 a.m. - home and read paper. Start in on my writing and end up with a few paragraphs then Beth called. Her brother Bruce was on his way into town with a double-rig load of cement and she asked me to meet him in Cathedral City behind a tile company where he would be unloading. I drove into Palm Desert for a little shopping then headed on over to CC to meet Bruce. I found him exactly where Beth said he'd be - behind the tile company. I had never seen how they unloaded things like sand, cement, etc, from those tanker-style double-rig trucks before. It's all done with air pressure and the load is moved through a large hose then deposited into a huge silo inside the receiving company's yard. I followed Bruce out and never will be able to get a grip on how those Teamsters can thread a set of doubles through a passageway that I have trouble manuvering my SUV. Picked up a pizza and dropped by Beth's place of employment for lunch with her. Home and a fudgecicle with Sunset Carson on the western Channel. Nap. Awakened by the phone - my brother Bob calling to wish me Happy BD. Back to the computer and continued writing. Beth called and told me that Chad, her employers' pilot, was buying us all dinner tonight and would be bringing it by after she comes home from work. Swept the house, typed a little on my project and wrote here. Later ~

Home after the meeting and right into my new project. Write all morning, then break for lunch. Eat with John Wayne in an old Republic movie. To office, then nap. Girls waiting for me on the bed - they know the routine. Up and feed them. Talk Tom Snow then back to writing. Beth home and we eat. She's on the phone with a friend right now as I write here. Later ~

Thought I'd better post here before the Super Bowl begins. Monthly breakfast today at the ABC Recovery Center with Beth and our friends, Bill and Sunny White. Had a nice drive home with Beth talking about everything. Once home, I to computer and send off some e-mails, while she cleans up the mess I made during the week. She also put my pill boxes together for me - two weeks supply. I take a lot of anti-rejection medication because of my kidney transplant, plus antibiotics to ward off any Nocardia bugs that may be lurking around out there looking for me (I had Nocarda attack me two years ago and almost died). No lunch, no nap (I'll probably fall asleep during the game). Only an hour left to go now. Later ~

Woke up about 12:30 last night with some wonderful ideas flow through me. I decided to write my next book as a non-fiction and base it on my life and the many bumps in the road I've gone though (alcoholism, stroke, end stage renal failure, nocardia), relating it all to how I got through the challenges with the help of my faith in God.
Out of bed at 3:00, shower, eat, dress and off to meeting. Saw Bob Hall (newcomer) and said hi. After to shop for groceries, then home. She working half a day then she'll get her nails done and come home. I start writing, basically an autobiography, but with emphasis on my illnesses and recoveries. Beth home and we talk while she does her petty cash. I to office and write some more. We'll have dinner later. Some TV, then she'll be off to her employers' for the night, Later ~

Today marks my 25th year without a drink. Took a cake at the Morning meeting and was the leader. Home for paper and snack. Came across a company that is asking for stories about medical experiences (of which I am very familiar), so began writing an essay on my stroke 22 years ago. Lunch with Harry Baddely, Tom Snow, and Norman Foster at Mimi's. Tom bought for my birthday. Home and nap. Up and feed girls. To Bermuda Dunes with car for pilot, take Beth back to work. Home and continue on essay. Finish and send just as Beth gets home. We have dinner and talk. Then I re-send essay with proper heading, font, etc. - which I didn't do because I was moving too fast. Later ~

After the meeting I spent most of the morning wrapping up my Republic piece. Lunch with my once a month Consertive Round Table Group in Indio. Nap in afternoon; then after I fed girls. Up and finish Republic essay - send it to George Coan and others. Beth home and we eat. Now we're both in the office catching up on things. Later ~

Jan 31st - a day late and a dollar short

Spent most of yesterday jockyiing cars and working on my Republic Pictures Studios piece. Same ol', same ol' in the morning, then home to paper and computer. Beth called to tell me her rear tire was almost flat so I want over, took it to a nearby gas station for some air (75-cents for air, geese!), then drop it at our local tire store. Home and write. Lunch and nap. Feed girls. Then the car jockeying starts again because Beth had her employers' car in the same shop and we had to get cars in the proper garages and Beth and myself to our proper houses. She finally comes home and we eat and talk. She out to a meeting. I write. Later ~