I've been out of town for the last few weeks and I haven't been able to get out to many estate sales this year like I usually do in the early part of summer. This morning I woke up at 6 A.M. and split for an estate sale I read about in the newspaper. It was supposed to open at 8 and I wanted to make sure I got there early....I did...try 6:45. The good thing was that they were already open. So I didn't have to mill around, listen to my ipod, read the paper or anything like that. The guys running the sale were major collectors and had some very unique items. I found some really great things and the prices were very reasonable. I picked up some old railroad paper stuff - schedules, maps, letters, and magazines. I'm going to be using some of these in my new paintings as backgrounds. I also picked up about 50-60 old postcards from New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado. One of the coolest things that I got was a bag of hundreds of old black and white photographs...some of these are from the early 1900's.....very, very cool. Finally, I snagged some old beer coasters, old travel guides, and a few Arizona Highway magazines from the 50's. Total cash money spent for the day $35. Not too shabby. This trip today has got me fired up to do some more junkin' in the upcoming weeks. The pic above is the booty from today.

The cave, or as we found out...the overhang.

$7.00, are you kidding me?

1960 issueMid June means one thing to Texans.....well maybe two. The beginning of stifling heat and the arrival of Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine. This the bible to everything Texas football. It has a write up on every high school, college, and pro team in the state of Texas. I look forward to it every year. I even collect the issues. The first issue came out in 1960. I have this issue proudly displayed in my office. I have 46 of the 49 issues. I'm missing 1961, '62, '63. Here is a run down of the coverboys. I can find them on EBAY or here but I'm not quite ready to drop $300-$500 per issue. I'll keep looking for them at estate sales and see what happens. In the mean time go pick up you copy today and get schooled on your Texas football so you are ready to go in the fall.

When you go to Chicago, you've got to get ya some deep dish pizza. We settled on Giordano's over a couple of other recommended pizza places. It was an hour and a half wait, but well worth it! After 45 minutes of waiting you place your order. We went with the supreme of course. When you are seated, the pizza is ready. It seemed a little confusing to me, but hey had this system down. The pizza was outstanding. I could only eat two pieces.....what seemed to be about 5lbs. worth. It was even better warmed up in the hotel microwave the next morning for a pre-breakfast snack.

On a side note, check out Veronica Funk's blog. She's gonna give away a great painting to some lucky person...maybe even you.

Cub fan and a Bud man!

View at the end of the Rio Grande Reservoir

I'll be in the mountains of Colorado for the next 10 days. So don't expect much from JT in the next week or so. I may share some small blurbs here and there from my mobile phone. Above is a pic of my home for the next week. It sits about 100 yards from the Rio Grande.

I put some more detail work into the "El" painting. I haven't decided on a title for this piece yet, but it will come to me soon I'm sure. I still have some wear and tear work to put on the sign....I need to make it look a little rusty and beat up. Well, tomorrow is my last day of school....so I'll be able to get some more artwork created when I'm in town this summer. Summer vacation is definitely a huge perk of the job! I must say I'm very excited about the "Summer of Jeb" Part 13 that is upon me.