With Keith Coffin - Paladin lookalike - at Corriganville 1959

Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall. I up 5:50. Shower, breakfast and paper. Start sweeping floor and Beth back before I'm done. We talk and both to office; then before I realize it she's finished the sweeping and is starting to mop. I trim my beard and back to office. Fix some lunch and we eat and talk.Call Tommy Snow. I open pill packages while she does my pill boxes for the next two weeks. Down for nap with girls. Up and she's fed girls. I flip channels - nothing on but sports. Join her in office where I work a little. She off to a Maad Dog Daze committee meeting. Post a response on the True West blog - no way to post a photo so I'll post it here (above). Call in for Pizza. Work on script. Beth home with pizza and we eat. After she washes her hair and we both work in office. Later ~

James Jenkins from Florida


Grocery shopping after meeting; then home. unload and put away stuff. Check e-mail and news sites with girls and no snack. Beth home and we talk. Eat lunch early. Work in office then down for nap with girls while she cleans and dusts. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Go through mail. Office - try call Tom. Talk to James Jenkins in Florida. Work in office. Beth joins me, Watch some Huckabee. Have some chips, salsa and cheese dip for dinner. Then we watch pay-for-view of Marley and Me. Lotta' tears for dog lovers.
Later ~

Jimmy George

Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with girls and peanuts. Jimmy George calls - he will be sending me his SOE scene breakdown. Talk to Beth. Take off ad 10:45 and pick up my new slacks at Tony the Tailor's. Meet Beth and she loads my car with pottery she bought. I on to Yellow Basket where I meed Tom Snow, Norman Foster and David Bradshaw for lunch. I have a fish taco and order two to go for Beth. We talk and eat; then it's by Beth's place of employment where I drop off tacos and say hi. Home and have dessert with girls watching. Down for nap with girls. Up and feed girls. Open mail for Beth. I get discs of photos from James Jenkins in Florida. View them on Beth's computer as mine won't open them. E-mail from Jimmy George with his SOE breakdown attached. View it then call Jimmy. Clean up side yard; sweep floors and talk to Tom Snow. Beth home as I finish sweepipng. We talk. Then I cook dinner and we eat. Then we watch a CSI: Vegas re-run. Later ~

Bob Hoy


Here Come the Brides Cast and Crew - Betsy Cox and me are in there somewhere

Home after meeting to e-mail and popcorn with girls. Work all morning on la Quinta pilot script. Talk to Beth. Make some lunch and watch a John Wayne Lone Star Western. Down for nap with girls. Up and open mail. Beth's plates came in mail. Talk to Tom Snow; Bobby Hoy and Betsy Cox. Clean up side yard and sweep floors. Beth home and we talk. I fix enchilada dinner and we eat. Then we watch recording of The Unusuals. I doubt we'll watch the show again. Later ~

Our Friend Eric

Home after meeting then check e-mail and news sites with girls and chips. Drive to Sam's Club and meet Eric to do shopping for Hall and some things for us. Have hot-dogs with Eric then he to Hall to unload and I home for dessert and some TV. Talk to Beth. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Open mail and call Beth. Return call to Jimmy George in Mississippi. He's going to be away for a week. Work in office. Start on agreement. Beth home and we talk. She office; I make dinner. We eat; then she off to H&I Meeting. I work on agreement. She home and we both to office and work. No TV. Later ~

Our Girls: Misty and Crystal

Record a bunch of John Wayne Lone Star westerns off the Western Channel for later viewing. Leave meeting early and to blood draw - then drop by house - and on to Sherry's for a haircut. Stop by hearing aid place and Jason dries my right hearing aid out and gives me a drying jar. On to Kohl's where I return shirt and buy a new p air of dress pants. Meet Beth in parking lot as she's exercising her employers' car. I by Tony the tailor and drop off pants for alterations; then home. Lunch while I watch two episodes of Entourage recorded last Sunday. Talk Beth. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed the girls and open mail. Work in office for awhile. Talk to Tom Snow - he had dialysis early today. Clean up side yard and sweep floors. Work at computer. Beth home and we talk. Cook and we eat. Both to office for a few minutes. Then we watch CSI: Miami. She makes a few phone calls. Later ~

Found out today that our good friend, Stan Locke, who went by the name of Ormly Gumfudgen, passed away on May 15. Stan was the man who invited me to join Western Writers of America 12-years ago. Stan was also Beth's boss when she worked at JPL in Pasadena many years ago. God Bless You, Stan ~

Stan as Ormly Gumfudgen - with his Bazooka

Home after meeting on a pretty car-less Highway 111 (because of the holiday). Check e-mail and news sites with girls before Beth gets home. We off to La Quinta to return shirt to Kohl's and buy some more. Talk to Jimmy George for a while on cell phone from car while she shops. Stop at Goodies on way home for some fish tacos; then on home for some ice cream dessert. I down for nap with girls. I up and she's found out about Stan's passing. Work in office helping Beth make a purchase online. Drive to Chipotle's and pick up two burritos. Home and we eat while watching recording of You Only Live Twice - a 60s James Bond thriller. Later ~

My new jigged-bone grips

Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall. I up 6:55 - shower, dress and eat breakfast. Trim beard. Get an e-mail from Kit Prate - a Western writer who wanted to know about Cedar Lake. We exchange several e-mails during the day. Beth home. We talk and both work in office. Eric comes by to help her with storage shed and she helps him with several things. He uses my printer as his isn't working. Then he helps me put my new jigged bone grips on my Colt. He leaves and I make us some lunch. We eat and talk; then I down for nap with girls while she goes to Sam's to buy big BBQ to be used for AA Picnic. I up and she's fed girls. Fill their food can. She off to get dinner at Jenssen's BBQ. I work at computer. Sister Shannon calls and we talk. Beth home and we eat - she BBQ chicken and Tri-tip for me. After we watch a recording of Law & Order - SVU. To bed and watch Tribute to our Troops show. Later ~

NCIS Marathon Day on USA Channel

Grocery shopping after meeting then home to put things away with Beth's help. We talk and she eats something to help her to feel better. I to office and check e-mail and news sites with girls. Beth into office where she works on a letter. I to dining room and have some lunch. Watch NCIS Marathon on cable channel. Beth joins me and we watch another episode. I down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail - she had fed girls. Marathon still on and we watch some more NCIS episodes. Let girls out into back yard. Talk to Tom Snow - he had dialysis this morning. Beth cleans house while I work in office to clean up her letter. She boils fresh corn. We eat - great! All this while still watching episodes of NCIS until we turn in. ~

Norman Foster and David Bradshaw

Stop by Ace Hardware to pick up sandpaper. Drop Peter at COD. Home and check e-mail with pickle and olives and girls. Work on LaQuinta script awhile. Talk Beth several times. Make blood draw appointments for before trip and after. Drive to Chipotle's where I meet Tom Snow, Norman Foster, and David Bradshaw for lunch. Home for dessert. Call Beth; then down for nap with girls. Up and feed girls - open mail. Call Beth - then work at computer. Clean up side yard. Sweep floors. Beth home - more shirts for me - and we talk for awhile. I fix dinner and we eat. Then we watch Southland which we recorded last night. Later ~

Drop Peter at COD then home. Check e-mail and news sites with girls and chips. Talk Beth. Call Bob the doctor and make phone appointment for tonight at 7:00. Drive to ear place and get hearing aid fixed by Jason; then on to Beth's place of employment and check out flag pole (rope broken) - See Beth and pick up our air conditioner filters Jamie left off yesterday. Home and work at computer then watch Texas Terror with John Wayne, followed by a Roy Rogers 1939 western while eating lunch. Talk Beth then down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail; feed girls. Talk to Beth again and invite her to dinner tonight. Clean up back yard. Sweep floors. Beth home and we talk. Then we to Chipotle's where we meet Eric and his mother, Jan, for dinner. Home - I call Bob S. and we talk about LaQuita project. Beth and I watch Without a Trace - for the very last time, I understand. It's canceled. Later ~

Drop Peter at COD on way home from meeting; then home and check e-mail and news sites with popcorn and girls. Work a little then Beth calls and I drive to meet her at credit union where we change our pin numbers on CU cards. She back to work while I drive up to Sam's Club to get her some batteries. I stop at Khols and buy several shirts. Pick up some tacos and a malt then drive home. Watch an old John Wayne Lone Star western while I eat. Talk Beth. Down for nap with girls. Wake up an hour early and think it's an hour later. Bring in mail. Beth calls. Clean up side yard. Sweep floors. Tom Snow calls and we talk. Back to office for more work. Beth home and we talk. Cook and eat. She washes her hair. We watch NCIS from last night,and CSI: Miami from Monday. Later

With Dave Cass


Drop Peter at bus stop then home. Check e-mail and news sites - pickle and olives for snack - girls not interested. Talk to Beth then call Jimmy George in Mississippi and we talk for 45 mins. Beth here, picks me up and we to lunch at Mimi's. Talk and enjoy ourselves. Gas her up on way home and pick up ice cream for tonight. She back to work. I home and have dessert. Down for nap with girls. Up and feed girls. Call Dave Cass and we talk over everything for awhile.Clean up side yard. Start sweeping house. Bob Howell by to fix backyard faucet. Talk to Beth. Back to sweeping. Call Tom Snow - he's back from dialysis and feeling tired. Beth home and we eat. She off to Indio Jail to meet new sheriff contact for H&I. I putter; watch some TV; play at computer until she comes home. Too late for TV so to office; then bed. Later ~

Home to two newly hatched baby hummingbirds (they're in there - believe me)


Geese and their growing brood swimming


Trimming the palm trees - an annual event in the Coachella Valley


Cleaning up the mess

Leave meeting early and drop Peter at COD. He's moving to Palm Springs very soon and will get a ride with someone else (or the bus). To blood draw at the Monterey and Country Club location. Talk Beth. Home and check e-mail and news sites. Drive to Beth's place of employment where I take pictures of a hummingbird nest (babies wouldn't stick their heads out), the geese and their growing brood; and the gardeners trimming palm trees. Home to work at computer; then make some lunch and eat while watching recordings of Entourage from last night. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail (it's 104 degrees today). Feed the girls and open mail. To office and work some more. Call Tom Snow. Beth home early -she wants to sweep floors. I clean side yard. Office with her. I fix dinner and we eat and talk. Take out trash. No recordings to watch. To office and both work on own projects. Later ~

Map of the Big Bend in Texas as used in my book


Original building at Fort Russell in Marfa, Texas


Sleep in day. Beth up and to Hall to meet Eric and Brenda for work. I up at 5:50. Shower and dress. Eat breakfast with girls and Sunday paper. Trim beard. Make list then drive to market in Palm Desert. Shop for groceries. Home and unload, Beth is home and helps. To office and work at computer. She dusts house. We have lunch together then she does my pill boxes. I down for nap with girls. Up and she's fed girls. To office and work at computer - read some SOE script. Beth joins me in office. I to kitchen to prepare dinner. She in to cook it. We eat and talk. Watch Southland and Law & Order:SVU we recorded earlier. Later ~

Beth, Michele Rielly (sitting), Sue Welsh during garage sale

Eric and his mom




Put up Yard Sale signs on way to meeting. Straight home after meeting and yard sale in in full swing. Sue and Beth at their best. I check e-mail and news sites - then outside: Michelle Reilly, Eric an his mother are here - with donuts and coffee. I take some photos then back inside. Eric and his mother into office and we print out real estate flyers as he's looking to buy a house. They off to buy some lunch sandwiches. Sale goes on. I work at computer. Eric and mom back with lunch and all inside to eat and talk. Sale goes on a little longer then they load up everything and tear down tables, etc. They off to drop stuff at Southwest Church Thrift Store. Beth goes to her place of employment to switch out van for her car. I talk Tom Snow then down for nap. She home and she mops floor. I up and she's already fed girls. Office. Then we watch Preakness hose race. Work some more in office then make dinner and we eat. Watch Without a Trace recorded on Tuesday. Later ~

Sue Welsh prepping for tomorrow's Garage Sale


Drop Peter at COD after meeting then home. Check e-mail and news sites with peanuts and girls. Bug guy here and sprays. Talk to Beth. Drive to Sam's Club where I meet Eric (and his mom) and we shop for Hall; then have lunch there after. The off to unload at Hall; I home. Have a snack while watching the beginning of a movie I recorded earlier. Down for nap. Up and feed girls; bring in mail. Call Tony at Ramona and he picks me up and to Ramona - pay for tires then drive van home and park it across street. Sue is there waiting so I let her into garage so she can start preparing for tomorrow's garage sale. I to office and check e-mail, Talk to Tom Snow. Work at computer. Beth calls and I drive van to her place of employment. She drives me home in her car. She works with Sue for awhile then Sue leaves and we eat some dinner. Watch CSI:Vegas recorded last night. Later ~

Lone Star - 1933


John Wayne and Lane Chandler in Sagebrush Trail

Drop Peter at COD then home and check e-mail and news sites with peanuts and girls. Drive to La Quinta - stopping by Edie's on way for mail - and get AAA maps and hotel books for our upcoming trip to Oklahoma and Texas. Home and talk Beth. Call Tony and drive down to Ramona to leave Explorer for its 30,000 tuneup. Bring van home. Call Beth and she says take van back as her employers want two more new tires put on. Driven home by Sal. Computer. Talk to Jimmy George somewhere in all the above happenings and cut it short. Watch Sagebrush Trail, a Lone Star western with John Wayne while eating. Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Move tables in garage to Beth's side. They pick me up and back to Ramona to pay Tony for service. Home and feed girls; open mail; and start cleaning yard and sweeping. Sue Welsh by with hubby and her son to bring over stuff for Saturday's garage sale. Beth home and we talk after she takes care of some chores. I fix dinner then we eat. After a few minutes we watch final season episode of Lost we recorded last night. Later ~

Drop Peter at COD after meeting and home. Check e-mail and news sites with popcorn and begging girls. Beth calls and I drive over to her place of employment where we fill out passport forms; then go to postal place and have our passport photos shot; then to Rancho Mirage Post Office to turn in our forms and give them all info; we pay fee and they send everything off to wherever it goes. Back to her work then we down to thrift shop and drop some donations. Drop Beth back at he work and I home. Quick lunch of chips and salsa with some Gene Autry movie on TV. Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Bring in skimpy mail and open it for Beth. Talk Tom Snow. Work at computer. Beth home very early then we off to McCallum Theater for David Copperfield matinee. To Ruby's for dinner; then home and we watch NCIS from last night. Later ~

Drop Peter as COD so he can leave his books then drop him at bus stop. Once home, I check e-mail and news sites with peanuts and girls. Work a little bit on computer. Talk to Cruise Travel lady Syble about October cruise to Hawaii. To post office and pick up passport papers to fill out. Home and Beth calls. Fill her in. To living room and start watching finish of Rio Bravo with calls interrupting now and then. After that, watch an Eddie Dean western while I eat lunch, Beth home for a few minutes and drops ironing and leaves. I down for nap. Up and feed girls. Open mail Beth brought in earlier. Find my old passport. Tommy's in dialysis this PM so I'll talk to him later. Work for awhile getting thing put together for cruise. Tom Snow calls. He got his dialysis early. Beth home and I have a salad waiting; then she to meet Joel to talk something over. I work on more cruise stuff. Beth home and after she washes her hair, we watch recording of CSI:Miami from yesterday. Later ~

Corriganville shootout 1950s



With Brad Johnson and Gail Davis - Annie Oakley set - 1950s


Main Street: Apacheland, Apache Junction, AZ - 1967

Home after meeting to check on girls; then to blood draw. Stop by Beth's place of employment an pick up some things of hers; Home and check e-mail and news sites with popcorn and girls; Talk to Jimmy George. Watch two episodes of Entourage while eating lunch. Sister-in-law, Theresa calls - I relay message to Beth. Down for nap with girls. Up and feed girls. Bring in and open mail. Check e-mail and talk to Tom Snow. Pull some old books to get rid of. Beth home early. She's very busy. I fix dinner and we eat. She off to Indio Jail panel. Collect and put trash out. I watch most of Rio Bravo - stop before finale when she comes home. Ready for bed. Turn on Dancing with the Stars for her. Later ~

2009


1967



Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall. I up 6:00 then shower and dress. Breakfast with paper and girls. Trim beard. To market to do weekly grocery shopping because we were away yesterday. Home and Joel's here talking about business with Beth. Eric dropped off table earlier. Take both cars to car wash - one at a time. It's time for lunch by the time I'm done with that chore. Fix lunch and we eat. select books I'm want sent to Western Cowboy Hall of Fame for WWA book signing in June; box them and write a note to go with them. I down for nap with girls. Up and feed girls. Beth is reading paper. Call Tom Snow; then into office and check news sites and e-mail. Beth joins me in office for awhile. I go set up dinner - chips and salsa. She joins me and we eat. To living room and watch a re-run of CSI-Vegas. Later ~

We don't go to meeting today because: we drive to Victorvile to meet Bruce, Beth's brother) and his daughter Kelly and her husband, Steve, for breakfast at Victorville Mimi's. Then follow them to the tortoise place where they dedicate the compound in Judy Rogers' name. Beth and I head home and arrive around 1:30 PM. I down for nap with girls; she starts cleaning. Up and feed girls. Download pictures I took of dedication. She to office. I call in fish taco order to Ruby's, Then it's to Von's to pic up a muffin for Beth's Sunday breakfast, and on to Ruby's to pick up tacos. Home and we eat early. Then we watch segment of Lost; followed by a CSI: Vegas. She showers then we bed early. Later ~

Old friend, George Kee Chueng

Drop Peter at bus stop (it was his one year AA birthday today); then on home to check e-mail and news sites with girls - no snacks. Talk Beth. Talk Jimmy George in Mississippi. Put off drive to AAA in Indio until next week. Work on La Quinta script for awhile. Then to Mimi's to meet Tom Snow and Norman Foster for lunch. Home after and dessert. Down for nap with girls. Up and feed girls. Open mail. Work on LQ script. Call LQ doctor. Talk Beth. Try travel agent. Clean up side yard; sweep floors. Beth home and we talk. Then we eat dinner. LQ doctor does not call back. After some time in office, we watch Without a Trace recording from last Tuesday: Guest starring my old friend, George Cheung. Later ~

The Round Table

Drop Peter at COD after meeting then home. Check e-mail and news sites with girls and peanuts. Work on letter to the editor for Beth about the play we saw on Sunday and how it's never been reviewed and how good it was. Talk Beth. Drive down to Indio and meet Joel at his store. Bill and Sunny there, as well as Helen Leahy. On to Chinese place for monthly conservative round table meeting. Lee absent as well as male Sandy - who's on a cruise. Talk Beth and drive home. Feed girls and bring in mail. Down for nap with girls. Up and check e-mail. Message from Tom Snow. Work at computer. Clean up side yard. Sweep floors. Beth late and I check on her via video system. She finally home. Cook and eat - then we watch CSI: Miami. Later ~

Gene Autry shooting his TV series - 1951


Brother Bobby and me with Gene

Stop bt Nader's station on way home to say Hi. Once home, check e-mail and news sites with girls and popcorn. Re-do La Quinta synopsis outline. Beth calls - she's had a flat on Van. Calls again and I pick her up at Ramona tire where she leaves van. Drop her at her place of employment and home. Watch Gene Autry's Boots and Saddles while I eat lunch. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls; and open mail. Clean yard and sweep. Work in office. Beth home early and we talk. She takes off for dinner with girlfriends. Work on printing out SOE for Jimmy. Have some trouble so I e-mail it to him as .pdf. I start watching recording od Southland but stop when she returns. We watch last night's NCIS until 8:30. She showers. Later ~

My Here Come the Brides boss, Pat McGrath and me walking past the park and Boston Street at the Columbia Ranch (1968)

To grocery store after meeting to pick up some things. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls and corn nuts. Talk to Beth. Jimmy George calls with some questions and we end up talking about our old studio days. Lunch with a recorded episode of Entourage. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail; then feed girls. Open mail for Beth. To office and work on La Quinta project - finally get a plot outline. Clean up side yard. Find I forgot to save plot outline - shit! Beth home early so I stop work. We talk then I cook and we eat. After we watch recording of CSI: Miami we missed two weeks ago. She to office then shower. Later ~

Jimmy George in his home in Mississippi breaking down SOE

Leave Hall before meeting and head to Delores Hope Building at Eisenhower Hospital for all three standing order blood draws. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls and popcorn. Talk to Beth. Then Jimmy George calls and we talk about old times and about SOE. Work at computer. To TV and watch segment of Entourage while I eat lunch. Down for nap with girls. Up and VJ calls for Beth and I give her Beth's cell phone #. Bring in mail and open it. Feed girls. Talk to Ron next door and ask if he can look in on girls next Saturday while we're in Victorville. Make standing order dates for next two weeks. Beth brings guy home to cut doors on cupboards over refrigerator. He leaves and Beth back to her place of employment shortly after. I clean up side yard. Sweep floors. Some O'Reilly. Jimmy George calls from Mississippi and we end up talking about script and old times. Beth home. We talk. She to office while I cook dinner. We eat. Then we watch a Without a Trace episode we recorded a few weeks ago. Later ~