Think about this...............

This picture above was taken just Monday, and I actually had to leave soon after, so I wouldn’t get snowed in. Yesterday, it was 70 degrees and the snow was already all gone! The cabin project is moving along, and almost done. The first big project that I have done almost all myself. This is a form of my Art……Creation.
Drumming is art. I believe we all should be working on some kind of art to enliven our inner soul. Art is lots more than just painting. Art is how you do what you do. You know exactly what I’m talking about. Art is seeing things as Art. The inner connection of our lives to the things around us. Making the thoughts happen in this way creates Art. What kind of Art are you currently working on??

The Sweat.....Friday Night

Yes, we are doing a sweat Friday Night. Show up around dark. We will be at the Slickee site, which is next to the Chevron. The gate will be open and you can park inside. If you want to park at the gallery, that’s fine, just walk the river path on over. We’ve got a line on some wood, Thanks to Wil. I usually bring 2 towels, one to sit on inside, and one to dry off with outside. Its dark, so you might want to bring a lite. Bring plenty of water to drink, inside and out. And, you are welcome to bring some food to share afterwards, such as……Sweets, doughnuts, cookies, etc….or anything else that’s good to eat after. Also, Juices are great, like apple juice or orange juice. No alcohol though.
I’m getting there early to get the fire going, as it takes a couple of hours to get the dense granite rocks glowing orange. Your welcome to bring drums or instruments and come early. The lodge holds 10 people, so if you are bringing friends, please keep this in mind. Call me if you have any questions. It should be a great and moon filled night and I’m looking forward to seeing you there.

The Drum Circle in the Flood of 2002

It Cold and was pretty stormy.......

Real nice storm here, with winds blowing hard. I had to keep going outside to get in it and make sure the trees didn’t fall on things. Now its COLD and it will stay that way for a couple of days. The River is way up and going higher. It will be interesting to watch it now. I remember when the river came all the way up to the stage behind the Drum Circle in 1997,that was a flood!
We talking about doing a sweat this coming Friday night. I’ve got to get some wood together for it .If anyone has some wood to offer for this, let us know. I’ve got several who are interested and the moon will be a nice kinda full around then so its seems perfect. I’ll let you know how things go as we move through the week.
Right now, this morning, we are headed to BrewBakers tonite for some socializing. Come on over………………..

Drum Circle history made last night !!!!

Yes, we did our ride, but it wasn’t the Springville loop as planned, we did the Woodlake loop. From Lemon Cove up to Badger, Mountain House bar, down to Woodlake and back to Lemon Cove. Around 50 miles and the weather was cool, the scenery was the best and my whole body feels like I did something extra. We had a good visit with the entire 30 or so grizzly Harley Bikers up at the Mountain House bar, all standing out front. It all started when we rode up and they all looked at us like we were something exotic. My friend, riding up behind me, yelled in his usual style…..”Bikers are P..sys….with a big smile, and this lead to a loud and big laugh from all the bikers and we were friends for life after that, though it sure could have had another outcome!

Drum Circle history was made last night!! We had the biggest crowd we’ve probably ever had, and all were drumming or playing some kind of instrument to the knarly pulsing grooves we put out! Kevin gave us a great fire spinning show, and did his video skills to film what turned out to be one we will be talking about for a long time! They came in droves, some old friends from the past, lots of new people from lands far! A like minded crowd who gave raving applause with every groove finished and came and danced like it was theirs to give. If it gets much bigger we may have to move to the Convention Center! Everybody behaved too, and no mess was left, a tidy crowd is a welcome crowd! Thanks to all of our great friends, we’re glad you came!!!!

The Latest plans ............

Well, the weekends here! I’m hoping to do a big ride on Sunday….maybe the Springville loop, which goes from the beginning of Yokohl road, all the way over Blue Ridge and down into Springville, then out across Frazier Valley and through orange groves around Lindsay, back over Rocky Hill to the cars at Yokohl. That’s around 60 miles and my butt should be hurting good by then! I’m not really training for anything other than life. Now a days folks, you never know when you might have to run like hell.
We did a really nice long sauna at Garys the other nite. Several of us showed and sweated and dunked in the cold water tank and sweated again. I debuted my new drink……fresh squeezed orange juice and peppermint schnapps. We had some of this after of course.
Gary and myself and others are going to the bar tonite for some socializing I think. You should come on up and check it out……………If not tonite, tomorrow at Sunday Nite Drumming for sure right!

Another after hours from Sunday night

A Picture captures your soul.....

A few more things about Sunday nites drumming……At one point I did count around 45 people. And, there were actually a couple from Three Rivers in attendance!!
The photo I posted was alittle blurry. Not usually my style, but I hate using a flash, and especially at night. I’m not interested in seeing the freckle on so and so’s nose. So, I use a setting on my camera that takes in as much lite as is present. I usually try to build up the fire, but if any one moves at all there is blur. Personally, I like the effect and see it as kind of a surrealistic painting. It does show what is happening. If there’s anything real important to catch I will use a flash of course.
One more thing is that I am the group historian and have taken pictures in all the years we’ve been drumming. I really don’t like when someone new comes up and starts firing their camera flashes at us……taking pictures without our permission! This is not cool and an invasion of our privacy. We usually try to dissuade the people. I can imagine that we look like an oddity to lots of people and they think they can just capture us and show all their friends at home. Anyone who see’s this should consider all that I’m saying, I’m sure you will agree.
Well, we’re getting out some…..Gary, Paul, Jimson and Linda went to Brewbakers last nite for a time on the town. We trying to mix with different areas and meet new friends. We’ll keep you in touch…..this was totally last minute. Enjoy your Life!!

Another big drumming with friends from far off lands

Its looking like rain finally here after many summer like days. Lets hope for the best this year!!
Another huge drumming happened Sunday night, with people from Hanford, Tulare, Visalia, Exeter, Badger, and Oakhurst in attendance. We had a grooving time by the river that nite with music going into the afterhours late. You’ll have to come by and check it all out now that the weather is warmer and the bears and snakes are out.

The Bar and more.................

Saturday night and I went up to visit Gary. We were hoping some would come by for music, but no one did, so we went to the Riverview bar. It was pretty empty when we got there, and we had a drink and pondered on the situation. It wasn’t long before many showed and a full on bar scene ensued. By then I was on my second beer (my limit) and feeling like socializing. Saw many old friends who came to congratulate Gary on his recovery, and I got many hugs from the beautiful women of Three Rivers! It turned out to be a happy time for us both and new surprises were abundant.
I’m headed to the bike race in Visalia today, and of course, Drumming tonight! See you there…………….

The Days and Nights of a Drummer

Beautiful warm days we’re having here, though it seems too early. The flowers are everywhere in the hills, carpets of every color imaginable and if you haven’t seen them yet, you better get up there! Its been in the 80’s and the snow we’ve gotten recently is coming down the hill fast. The Kaweah River has been running at around 600 cubic feet per second and there’s talk that the snow may all melt before the rafting season even starts. This will unemploy several we know and it’s not good. There is some possibility of weather coming in next Tuesday and we’ll be watching .
Wednesday night music…..well, since there has been no music in quite awhile, except for a night at Linda’s, the hole that it left got filled quickly with lifes needs. I’m sure we’ll get together again now that Gary’s back and in full force. He’s off of his anti-biotics and down to just a few pills left. Total recovery and a big life ahead. I’m meeting Paul at Brewbakers tonite for a beer around 8pm. Why don’t you join us………………………

Big Drumming last night...............

A dark and very starry night and the sound of the river was drowned out by the sound of drums. Well, if you weren’t there you missed out. We had a HUGE Drum Circle last night! One of the biggest in awhile. It was Gary’s homecoming, but it ended up being lots more than that, it was a tribal reunion! We had Kevin, just back from India, who gave us a great fire twirling show. Engleborg visiting from Germany, kicking it on the Dun Dun, Keio just in from Africa, grooving on her Djembe and everyone to help us celebrate our coming together. Many Thanks to all of our friends who came from Visalia and made it really great! Drumming lives on!
I’ve included images from our great time in Auberry Friday night, where we were hosted by Jim and Shelia. Also, Thanks to Petit for the image included. Enjoy!

Garys back in Three Rivers.....

In Memory of Manuel................

Just cruising down the curvy road from work today, listening to the crackly classic rock station barely coming in with all the steep green foothills around. I caught sound of a song, “The House of the Rising Sun” the original and it put me in memory lane of my old school buddy Manuel Alcala. We used to sing that song. He was our neighbor in that San Fernando Valley suburb of Los Angeles, all the way from grade school till high school, when we moved. He was my good buddy and I would hang out with him and his cousin “GoGo”.
Manuel was a big guy and when we graduated from elementary school, we had to go to a school different from all the others because we lived on the other side of the flood control ditch and in a new school district Manuel, myself and two other neighbor kids had to go to the rich kids middle school, in a different town on a bus. We would ride in the back and raise hell when we could. We were outcast at the school and Manuel protected me when others made fun of my name. We watched out for each other in many ways and I was remembering that as I cried. My feelings are usually in a tight steel box that only comes out when I have to be touchy feely, but this song sideswiped me. Manuel got killed in that Metro-link Train crash in LA a year or two ago, where some guy pulled his SUV in front of the train and it crashed into it killing 10 people and Manuel was one of them, sitting in front , going to work. I lost track of him after high school and never have seen him since. I finally grieved and wished we had reconnected.

On a lighter note, I hope to see some of you tonite in Auberry at Jim and Sheilas house for drumming! Call me if you need directions.

I better explain............

Thought I had better clear up some things about the “Fire around the Lake” picture below, after receiving so many emails with questions about it.
First and foremost, the women in the picture are NOT members of the Drum Circle and we are NOT a cult. I meet these Mennonite women when I pulled over to check out the fire in the summer. They were from Northern Minnesota and were on their first vacation to visit Sequoia National Park. They had barely ever seen mountains let alone the big trees. I became the instant tour guide, fielding all their questions about the park and the fire. They had baby eyes to their new surroundings and it was really fresh to talk to them and hear their stories. After we shared some skittles our lives separated and I was left with a really good feeling about those ladies.

Day 2 of my Mantra list and things are going on track, with a few glitches of course. Hope your week is going good as well.

Fire around the Lake

Drumming and my weeks Mantra

If drumming was really good on a Sunday night, you would wake up with a “Drum Hangover” Monday morning. We’ve always said this, and it isn’t from drinking, its from staying around the fire late and drumming really intensely for several hours. You get up tired and your hands are sore and its like a car with a low battery you know. Today I didn’t feel that way even though we had a great drumming last night under a cloudy, then choppy cloud sky. The moon finally made an appearance and it seemed late. Well, our drumming started real late. 8.30 saw Maharupa, Carol and me sitting in his car out in front of the Gallery. Nobody had showed yet and we were wondering about making a fire and all that. Finally everyone came at once! Off we went and made a big fire and got the bag of grooves out. It wasn’t in Spain, but it had a grooving name.

I meant to put my weeks mantra on yesterday, but got busy with things so here goes….

I’m going to have a very productive week, and do the best job I can..
Will try to ride my bike several times……I did 71 miles last week! t Read several chapters in a book
I’ll create peace and love where I can
Get ready for this weekend and Auberry Drumming………Yahooooooo!

Good Morning............

Nice big Full Moon we’re having! Too bad we’ll be missing the Total eclipse of it tonight here on the west coast. We’ll have to wait till August 27 of this year to enjoy our viewing of a total Eclipse. In the meantime, anyone interested in getting together for some music tonight (Saturday)?? I need to work on my moon tan some. Next week we change the clocks ahead one hour….March 11. I’ve been hesitant to talk about this because I was afraid you all wouldn’t believe me. I always joke about this to everyone, saying “Don’t forget to set your clocks back” a lot of times at the end of drummings. I am always amused at how many think I’m serious!!
Its still pretty darn chilly this morning, though its supposed to get warmer as the day goes on. I know some of you are reading this and are out of state or out of the country. Here’s a link to check out. Its ALL the webcams of the Sierra’s in real time to enjoy with your Saturday morning cup of tea. Check out the snow load we’ve gotten. Enjoy, and Thanks for reading.
Sierra Web Cams

Keio's Welcome Home get together....Sunday

Hey Y’all
It should be a really nice day up here in Three Rivers, Sunday, for a get together to welcome Keio home. 2pm would give us some nice sunshine for whatever and for however long. Frank will make some tri-tip, so bring whatever you want to go with that and your drums, of course. I live on the 2 ½ mile marker on the North Fork. That’s about ¼ mile before Keio’s on the right going up to her place. Angie, let the Fresno peeps know pls as I’m not sure I have everyone’s e-address.
See ya
Renn

Gary and the Earthquake...........

Its funny to me how life’s cycles work. That’s how we connect, and its almost telepathic. I was meaning to call Gary tonight and catch up with him on things of the week, like our great drumming at Linda’s in Visalia last night. I was watching TV and as soon as the show was over I would call. Well, about 5 minutes later Gary called! Its just that way with us. We talked about his coming back next week Thursday and all the little events that would happen before his arrival. As we were talking, a big earthquake happened in San Francisco. I started hearing Gary making funny noises and his roommate yelling about something. Gary said an earthquake was happening and it was strong. He said it felt like about 15 really good shakes. They are in a 5th floor room and could feel the swaying. Gary said it was the first quake he had felt in a long time. It reminded me of when I was young and just got my drivers license. I got to take my dad to work at the crack of dawn and as I was driving back home alone I noticed the Full Moon was sitting right on the horizon. As I pulled into our driveway it was still dark, and when I put my foot on the brake pedal to put it in park, the car started moving side to side. I thought someone was playing a trick, but it soon occurred to me that it was a huge earthquake as I watched the light posts radically moving from side to side. I’ve had nightmares of this and when I was talking to Gary tonight it all came back. They said on the San Francisco radio, KCBS 740 that it was a 4.3 and was centered in Lafayette, though many said it was bigger.