The thing that worked best was the thing I hated the most, keeping a diary. I absolutely loathed it. I didn't want to report that I ate a donut, so I didn't eat the donut. It was a way to make me skip things I should have skipped anyway.

It's not easy keeping a diary. You have to be pretty committed.

Before, ranchers were taking more of their heifers to be slaughtered than they were keeping because the prices were so high that it was more beneficial to sell the animal. But, with the Japanese demand dropping off, ranchers have been able to keep those heifers for breeding, thus allowing them to rebuild their herds.

We absolutely expected that they would do this because it's in keeping with the charade they've been putting on.

Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.

I've been to the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, and we were delighted that things worked out so we could be here this weekend.