Scribblings From the Desert

I am a published author and produced screenwriter living in Rancho Mirage, California with my wife, Beth, and two dogs, Crystal and Misty. I have spent most of my life in and around the Hollywood Motion Picture Business.

Name:
Location: Rancho Mirage, California, United States

Monday, August 30, 2010

In deep conversation with the late Barry Morse

On way home from meeting, stop and Hi to Nader. Check e-mail and news sites when I finally get home. Snacks with girls. Surf for a bit. Drive to shoe repair and leave old dress shoes. Home and work on Whiskey Tears for awhile. Move to living room - make a sandwich and eat while watching Lawman; followed by an Eddie Dean, Roscoe Ates, Al LaRue PRC Western. Look for and find suspenders. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail; feed girls; open mail for Beth. Back to office and work some more on Whiskey. Clean up side yard. Beth home early. Do a swish and a swirl with dust mop then help her bring in her stuff from car. We talk then I cook dinner. We eat and talk. To office and work there - go over some more Whiskey Tears. Take out trash. We get ready. Later ~

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Pizza Sunday

Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall to meet Brenda. I up 5:45 - shower, dress, breakfast and paper. Trim beard. Beth home and we talk. She work with her plants outside before it gets hot. I work at computer. She in and does some work. I meet her in kitchen close to 10:30 and she does my pills. I make some sandwiches and we eat. Ice cream for dessert. Then we both down for nap with girls. Girls wake us up at 2:00. I up and write here. Feed the girls. Beth and I off to Hall for a Celebration of Life for Jack Lindsay. Call in pizza order from Hall - then drive to Papa Dan's to pick it up. Home and eat pizza with girls getting the pizza bones. I into office to check w-mails and other things. Both work in office for awhile - then get ready for bed. Later ~

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Reflexology Foot Chart

Grocery shopping after meeting. Home and unload, put all away. Meet Beth at nail place and get pedicure. She gets manicure too so I across street to Footloose reflexology and get full massage - body and feet. Beth has one too. Then we both go to Yellow Basket for fish tacos. Drive to Office Depot as this was their last day. They were already closed - so we across street to Macy's and I get new suit, shirt, tie shoes, etc - making her happy as a clam. Home and feed girls. She TV golf. I down for nap with girls. Up and into office; check e-mail. Beth working at her computer. I write here. She in to watch more TV. I join her at dinner table. I make us salads for dinner and we eat. Then we watch Never Say Never Again, and old James Bond movie: Sean Connery's last as Bond. Later ~

Friday, August 27, 2010


Drive to Hall and do my chores; talk with others; then leave and drive home. Check e-mail and news sites with pretzels and girls. Randy an his co-worker here to repair tile grout in kitchen, screwed up when new micro-wave was installed. I work at computer. He finishes up and leaves. More on computer. Brenda here just before Randy leaves. She starts cleaning. I watch Lawman at regular time. Back to computer and work. Move into living room around 10:45. Watch Strawberry Roan - one of Gene Autry's two color movies. Brenda leaves. I eat; then it's down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail; feed girls; open mail for Beth. Call Beth. Drive to Bermuda Dunes airport to meet her after she drops off pilot's car. Drop her at work then home. Work at computer. Beth home and we talk. Fix dinner and we eat. After dessert we into office to work. I set up TV in bedroom and we watch Huell Howser's California Gold. Later ~

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Scene from an old John Wayne Lone Star Western

Home from meeting - check e-mail and news sites with girls and cookies (medication for Crystal). On way to Beth's place of employment and pick up her mini-computer; then droop it off to Mark at COD. To CVS and buy mouthwash and nose clippers. Home and listen to Rush for awhile. Move to living room and watch recorded episode of Lawman while I eat; then finish the Robert Evans documentary. Jimmy George calls and we talk for a minute. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail; feed girls; open mail for Beth. Scan People Magazine - start working on putting trash out (We've been cleaning out desk drawers all week). Clean up side yard. Sweep inside tile a swish and a swirl.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Robert Evans - The Kid Stays in the Picture - 2002

Home from meeting. Check e-mail and news sites with girls and cookies. Work at computer for awhile more. Then I'm off to Beth's place of employment to deliver the paper which came late. Beth and I talk. Stop by Carl's Jr. on way home for a Western Bacon Burger to go. Home and eat while watching episode of Lawman; followed by a bio on Robert Evans. Check e-mail and down for nap. Oversleep and up to phone call from Beth. I bring in mail; feed girls; open what mail there is for Beth. She by and pick me up. We to La Quinta (111) to Smart & Final. Stop at Rubio's for dinner; then an ice cream cone at Rite Aid. Home just before 7:00 p.m. - I write here. Check out more e-mail and work at computer. Watch Huell Howser. Later ~

Tuesday, August 24, 2010


By Albertson's to kill time - then to Sherry's for a haircut. Move on to Beth's place of employment and exchange cars; on to Toyota and have new parts put on. By Beth's work place to get my car - then home to girls. TV: Entourage and Lawman, while I eat lunch. Check e-mail then down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail; feed girls; open mail for Beth. To office and work at computer for awhile. Clean up side yard. Work some more on computer. Beth home; bring her stuff in. We talk at table. I cook and we eat enchiladas. To office and empty more drawers. We putz with our computers - then into bedroom to watch Huell Howser's California Gold. Later ~

Monday, August 23, 2010

Dave O'Brien, Tex Ritter, and Guy Wilkerson - PRC Trio - in Flaming Bullets - 1945

Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with girls. Then it's off to Beth's place of employment where I pick up her car and drive to Toyota. After i finally got a service rep, I ordered new strips for the top of the car as one had blown away and the other is being held down by grip tape. Back to Beth's workplace to exchange cars and spend some time talking with Beth. To Carl's Jr. and pick up burger - home ands eat while watching recording of Lawman on TV. After I follow up with an old Tex Ritter, Dave O'Brien PRC western, Flaming Bullets. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Into office for awhile. Waiting for Elaine Henderson to pick up her ironing. lean up side yard. Sweep inside tile. Work at computer. Beth home - help her bring her stuff inside. We talk and I make dinner. We eat and talk. To offive and work on cleaning out my desk drawers. She helps me put out trash. Later ~

Sunday, August 22, 2010


Sleep in day for me. Beth up early and off to Hall to work with Brenda. I up 5:30 - shower, dress, breakfast with paper. Check e-mail and news sites with girls and no snack. Beth home while I'm trimming beard. We talk for awhile. Work at computer while she talks on phone. I fis us some lunch and we eat. I down for nap with girls while she reads paper. I up and join her at table. Put away dishes. Work at computer while she works in kitchen. We clean out tip drawer of four-drawer filing cabinet by my desk - throw a lot out. I watch some 49ers vs. Vikings football. She fixes salmon and spinach souffle (which exploded in microwave). We eat; then we into office to continue working until bed time. Later ~

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Roger Moore (center) in For Your Eyes Only (1981)

Record movie for tonight. Grocery shopping after meeting. Home and unload - put away. Check e-mail and news sites with girls. Do some work on computer. Beth home and we talk. Eventually we off to Dogo's for the huge hot-dog they serve. Home and she starts reading paper. I down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. She's fed girls. She opens mail. Read a magazine. To office while she continues to read. When it's time for dinner I make baked potato with cream sauce. After we have strawberries and whipped cream for dessert. She washes her hair. I set up movie and we watch For Your Eyes Only with Roger Moore as James Bond. Later ~

Friday, August 20, 2010

Brooks and Dunn

Stop by copy shop to get copies of Jack Lindsay's flyer printed - saw Rebecca who helped me. Then by Nader's to talk. Home and Brenda is cleaning. Check e-mail and news sites with girls. Move to another room until Brenda finishes office. Bug guy here to spray; Gardeners here to mow lawns. Move to living room as all leave - Brenda, too. Watch recording of Lawman; then the ending of Red River Valley with Gene and Smiley while I have lunch. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail; feed girls; Open mail for Beth. Jimmy George calls - he back from trip and feeling OK. Clean up side yard. Work at computer. Beth drops some ironing. Back to computer. Beth finally home for good. We talk at table. I fix chips and salsa for dinner. After dessert we watch tribute to Brooks and Dunn recorded last winter. I write here. Later ~

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Our Living Room

Stop by Nader's station to talk with Nader. Home ands check e-mail and news sites with girls and popcorn. Work at computer for awhile. Listen to Rush. Drive over to Beth's place of employment to help her get her computer working. We talk. Load up some ironing and sheets. Stop at Carl's Jr. on way back and pick up a burger. Home and TV: Lawman recording first; then some Red River Valley with Gene Autry while I eat lunch. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Clean up side yard. Sweep inside tiles. Jack Lindsay photos arrive by e-mail; do a flyer for celebration of life. Beth home and we eat. To office and both work. Later ~

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Joel Peters in front of Leather Plus

Stop at Nader's on way home after meeting to talk. We didn't have much chance yesterday. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls and cookies. Work on computer an hour or so, then off to Indio to meet Joel for lunch. We eat BBQ at new restaurant around corner from Leather Plus. Talk and bring each other up to date. Home and down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Work in office. Clean up side yard. Sweep inside tiles. Work some more at my computer. Beth home. Help her bring her stuff into house. We talk for awhile; then I make dinner and we eat. After we both into office and work - look at photos on an e-mail attachment. Later ~

Tuesday, August 17, 2010



Stop by Nader's station for gas. Hi to Nader. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls and cinnamon roll with butter. Check all my usual sites, etc. Talk Beth. Watch TV: Entourage recording from last night - missed it on Sunday. Beth calls. While I eat I watch recording of Lawman. Work at computer. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Read through new True West. Clean up side yard; sweep inside tiles. Watch O'Reilly. Beth home from hair dresser at 6:00. Start meal cooking. We talk. She calls Brenda. We eat and talk. Dessert - mini-cones. Both to office and work. I help her with some online sign up. Later ~

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Ed Mohler and either me or Sleepy in fight routine - 1959 Corriganville

Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall. I up 5:15, in time to see Beth off. I shower, dress, bring in paper, cook and eat breakfast while reading paper. Trim beard. Then I'm off to Albertson's on Deep Canyon for grocery shopping. Home - unpack and put away. Work at computer. Beth home and we talk and do a few things until it's time to leave for Sam's. Brenda meets us there and we all shop in different directions; then meet for hot dog and pizza. They off for Hall; I head home. Check e-mail then down for nap with girls. Up, comb and dress. Beth reading paper in kitchen watching golf. My pills are done so I close 'em up and put 'em in cupboard. Call in pizza order to Papa Dan's. Screw around on Facdebook for a few minutes then to Pappa Dan's to pick up pizza (115-degrees out). Home and we eat with girls watching and waiting. After dinner we both to office and work. Later ~

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Bruce and Sharon Rogers - Bruce's 70th

Beth and me

Kelly and Steve Newcomer and Steve's mother

Beth and Kelly

Home after meeting and check e-mail with snack and girls. Off for 9:00 am appointment for nails. Meet Beth and we sit by on another. I done first so go home and wait for her. She home - get ready and off to Sam Bernardino to have a Bruce/Beth birthday dinner at The Olive Garden. Besides us, Kelly, Steve, Steve's mom. Sharon and Bruce (now 70). Good food and friendship. Home by 3:00 pm. Feed girls and check e-mail. I down for nap with girls. Up at 5:15. Beth reading paper. Both of us are still full from lunch so no eat. She washes her hair. I find rental movie on Movie's on Demand. Richard Geere, Don Chedle, and Ethan Hawke in Brooklyn's Finest. After I write here while Beth showers. Later ~

Friday, August 13, 2010


Home after meeting and meet Brenda who is there to clean. I watch some TV while she does the office. When she's done I move into office where I check e-mail and news sites with girls and crackers. Work for awhile at computer. Move into living room to watch episode of Lawman. Brenda leaves as I start viewing The Old Barn Dance, with Gene and Smiley. Beth calls and we talk for a short while. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Skim through her People magazine. Clean up side yard. Back to computer in office. Beth home =- help her unload her stuff. We talk at kitchen table. I make dinner and we eat. Into office after dinner. Later ~

Thursday, August 12, 2010

The guys on Entourage

Leave porch meeting early and drive to dentist. Have my bi-yearly teeth cleaning. Stop and get my car washed on way home. To Beth's place of employment and pick up her car - take it to get washed. Talk with Beth for a few minutes; then I leave and head for Palm Desert. Pick up a Western Bacon Burger then drive home. Fix a plate for my lunch. Watch recording of last Sunday's Entourage; followed by today's episode of The Lawman. Talk to Beth. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail; feed girls; open mail for Beth. Clean up side yard. Sweep inside tiles. Work at computer. Beth home and I help her in with her stuff. Sit and talk over soft drink and water. I cook dinner - and we eat. Clean up and both into office. Collect trash and put it in garage to take out tomorrow. Later ~

Wednesday, August 11, 2010


Drop QVC blood pressure gauge at PD post office for Beth then head up to Country Club and Savon for drug pickup. Home and give treats to girls - medicine to Crystal. Check e-mail and news sites with girls and pretzels. Beth calls. More computer. Move into living room at 10:15 - watch recorded episode of Lawman. Make some lunch and eat while I watch Gene Autry and the Mounties. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail; feed girls; open mail for Beth. Work at computer; then cut pills for Beth. Drive to meet Beth at credit union. Tacos after at Yellow Basket. Home for talk and ice cream mini-cones. Both to office. Later ~

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Gene Autry and Smiley (Frog) Burnette

Talk to a friend for awhile after meeting. Home and check e-mail with girls and cookies. Work at computer. Call Jimmy George at 9:00 as discussed yesterday. He'd like to talk this afternoon after 3:00 my time. I into living room to watch Lawman episode, recorded earlier. Then while eating, I watch Back in the Saddle with Gene and Smiley. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail; feed girls; open mail for Beth. Call Jimmy George at 3:00. We talk for awhile about the old days in the picture business; plus some friends of his. I clean up side yard. Sweep inside tile. Watch a little O'Reilly. Beth home. Help her inside with her stuff. We talk; Helping Brenda with her car troubles. Cook and eat. After: she washes her hair - I to office. Later ~

Monday, August 09, 2010

My brother, Bobby, and me with Lee Roberts - 1951 Iverson's

By Edie's to pick up mail after meeting; followed by some grocery shopping. Home and unload. Check e-mail with popcorn and girls. Listen to Rush - Karl Rove sitting in for Rush. Talk to Beth. Into living room and watch segment of Lawman - followed by Eddie Dean in Driftin' River, with Roscoe Ates and Lee Roberts. Eat lunch while viewing; then down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Into office and work awhile. Clean up side yard. Sweep inside tiles. Back to office. Beth calls. Work awhile longer. Beth home and has a lot of things to do before she can sit down and talk. She's been working on getting Brenda's car fixed. Make some large salads and we eat. Beth into office while I clean up; then I join her. Work on a few things; then I to bed. She showers and finally joins me. Later ~

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Sam Cropper at banquet last night

Both of us up early - shower and dress - to mini-meeting run by Steve Grippi. After, Steve and Theresa join us for breakfast at restaurant. Back to room and start packing - Beth to get the money boxes gathered. She back then we call for bell boy and load up - off to transfer stuff to car; then I drive home. Home and see girls. Unload what I can. Check e-mail. Call from Beth and I drive to Cathedral City to meet Beth and Brenda for committee luncheon. Brenda's battery gave oot so Beth drives her back to get her car. I home and down for nap with girls. Up later. Beth is here reading paper. We talk. I download pictures and send to others. Beth takes phone calls. Both to office. We have some ice cream mini-cones. Both get ready for bed. Later ~

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Theresa and Steve Grippi

Sunny and Bill White

Some of Our Tablemates with Beth

Beth up early and takes off to golf course to make sure it gets off ground. I up; shower and dress. Breakfast alone in hotel restaurant. Then I lead a mini-meeting on "Honesty. Steve and Theresa are there. Beth and Brenda drop in. After that, I hang around with Beth and Brenda; meet and greet old friends, etc. Lunch in restaurant with Grippis. I down for nap in early afternoon. Sleep two and a half hours. Up and join Beth and all. Finally both of us to room and get ready for banquet. Off to banquet. We sit with Grippis, the whites. Brenda, Robin Anderson, and Sam. All listen to speaker afterward. Then I to room and to bed. Beth has tome things to do and she to room by 10:00. Later ~

Friday, August 6, 2010



Went to meeting and then I home and Beth to work. Usual morning routine for me. Snack with girls, etc. Work at computer. Watch Lawman while eating; then down for nap with girls. Then it's up and get ready - last minute packing; and I'm off for the Doral Hotel in Cathedral City to join Beth for Maad Dog Daze (Coachella Valley Annual Alcoholics Anonymous Convention). First day is spent setting up and registering a lot of people. I to dinner with Beth at hotel. More of same - see people I haven't seen in ages. Get everyone into the first speaker meeting then I go to room and to sleep. Beth in later and she sleep. Later ~

Wednesday, August 04, 2010


Home from meeting. Check e-mail and news sites real fast because I have to have girls at groomers by 9:00. Leash 'em and load then drop them at Marchelle's. Stop by Nader's to kill some time and bring each other up to date. On to Palm Desert for haircut with Sherry. Pick up cheeseburger at Carl's Jr. and home. Eat my lunch while watching segment of the Lawman; and a Gene Autry Columbia western, Loaded Pistols, with Barbra Britton and Chill Wills. Try call Marchell - leave message. Down for nap. Sleep on back hoping to relieve rib pain - no way. Up in an hour and dress. Try Marchelle, no luck again. Drive to Groomer and pick up our beautiful girls. Bring them home to run free. Feed them; out to bring in mail. Open mail for Beth. Clean side yard; Sweep inside tiles. Work in office. Put away washed dishes. Beth home. Help her bring her stuff inside. She starts getting ready for her MDD prep night. Girls start arriving so I into office and surf news sites. Beth brings me an enchilada. She made a batch for the women. Ice cream mini-cone for dessert. When everyone has gone, Beth and I talk then get ready for bed. Later ~

Tuesday, August 03, 2010


Home from meeting by 8:27. Check e-mail and news sites with girls, peanuts, and pretzels. Beth calls then meet her at Ramona Tire and turn over little car to Tony for lube and oil change. Beth drops me off and she off to work. I work on a few things then into living room - where I watch episode of Lawman. Then I make an early lunch and watch an Italian western Bullet for Sandoval, with Ernie Borgnine, for awhile. Into office where Beth calls and we decide to pick up car later in the day. I down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Call Beth. Feeed girls. Open mail for Beth. Work at computer. Clean up side yard. Beth finally picks me up and we to Ramona and she picks up her Scion. Both home and unload. We talk at table; then I cook dinner - enchiladas she made. After, both to office. Work for awhile. Later ~

Monday, August 02, 2010

The Guys from Entourage

First day construction at Hall - we start our meeting 10-minutes later. Still ends at 8:00.
Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with girls, peanuts, and peanuts. Beth calls. I work at computer for awhile. Around 10:00 I into living room and watch recording of last night's Entourage - followed by an episode of Lawman. Then I make lunch and eat while I watch an old Buster Crabbe, Fuzzy St. John PRC western. Down for nap with girls. Up in an hour and a half. Bring in mail; feed girls: Open mail for Beth. Into office and read some news stories on the web. Clean up side yard. Sweep inside tiles. More computer then Beth home. We have refreshments and talk. I cook dinner while she goes to office to work on MDD. We eat and talk - she gets phone calls. After cleaning up, I into office and write here. Collect trash and put it out. Write here. Later ~

Sunday, August 01, 2010

2007 MDD Team with Sherry Priess on left

Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall. I sleep in until 5:30; then it's up, make bed, shave, shower, dress and eat breakfast with girls and paper. Afterward, I trim beard. Beth home as I finish up. She's expecting Sherry Priess to come over by 10:00 to help with Madd Dog Daze stuff. I work at computer for awhile while she gets out MDD stuff. Sherry here and they dive in at kitchen table. I work at computer some more; then I down for nap with girls. Up at 3:00 - dress and feed girls. Beth and Sherry are still at it. I into office and work on a few things. Sherry leaves. Beth into office and we talk. I call to order a pizza. Pick it up in 20 mins. Home and we eat pizza. She washes her hair while I write here in office. Both to office. Later ~