Living the Good Life................

A wild and wholly weekend would work. But, it sure could have been more wild and wholly, it really depends on your goals and standards to which you live your life. We have drum circle standards……I know your saying “yea right” the unruly drummers have standards…..Ha!! Well we do damn it and we’ve been being pretty good considering the things that get brought in. The doors always open you know and who knows what the cat will drag in. We had a great, yes great drumming last night!! Long grooves with lots of dancers and Jose the facilitator in action in the middle of it all! Thanks Jose for getting us up and dancing and grooving. It was tribal last night, we chanted and got really sweaty. I got there early to water down the place and it took a long time for people to show up.You never know who will come, and after quite awhile they came…..in droves! From the river, from the street and all came to drum. A well behaved crowd I might add too, under that bright and full moon we did what we came to do in the fashion that the town is used to hearing echoing through the air of Three Rivers on every Sunday night of the year.


Renn surprised us with a welcome to her house boat around 10.30. This was kinda interesting because only 10 people could go and there were many more than that still left playing music. Somehow the natural selection kicked in and off we went for a really surreal adventure way out in the middle of Lake Kaweah with what turned out to be the core of the circle. We have all been friends for many many years and its great times that I’ve had with you all!! I’m glad you are ALL in my life……………………..

Sultry days and humid nites...............

Muggy and buggy here. There has been huge thunder heads over the mountains everyday lately and lighting, with some strikes hitting the ground, but mostly they have been cloud to cloud. We have a thing on the computer at work that shows where all the strikes struck, and when there is a concentration, we go fly by to check for fire. Its been fairly quiet still really.
Haven’t heard if there was any music on Wednesday. But, I did hear a rumor at drumming on Sunday night that just blew me away!! Something that was just really eye opening and really, really wowed me to the core!! You won’t believe it when I tell you and tell you I will………………………….Soon. Love You , Rene’

The weekend...............

Pretty good weekend we had. The Visalia Music Festival looked pretty packed, there were lots of people roaming the streets when I got to town late Saturday night and I could hear the bands playing from brewbakers, and never made it much farther. Had to get up early for a big 50 mile bike ride, and I did all the stuff wrong, stayed up late, drank some beer and ate some taylors chili dogs around 1 am, now that’s training!! Made it on the ride , but barely and kicked back the rest of Sunday.


Went to Cedar Grove on Saturday for work. It was hot and dry, though there was a real nice breeze going. When we got to the Cedar Grove fire station they had a bear inside in a trap. It had been a bad bear, having broke into some cabins. The bears are misbehaving lots this season. The Kings River is way down for this time of year………Man, I mean Wayyyyyy down!!


Drumming was great of course! Keio brought us all some good pie to eat early on, and we had a really nice none alcoholic time with all the kegger dudes absent. It proved that we can still do what we do and not get too crazy. Hope your day goes well, and I know it will looking as good as you always do!!!!

Fridays fun and frolic.................

Well, I know that there are no grizzly bears in the park. And, I know that you are not supposed to feed the bears either, but man, it doesn’t take much to please a hungry bear these days. That smile does do the trick I think, and keeps the bears in line and headed back into the woods for now.
How are your plans going for the weekend?? Let me know if you would, I already have a big ride planned for Sunday and need to psyche up for that one. I’m talking to some friends about going climbing too, so it’s starting to go wild here soon.
We’re getting some more fires at work and so, this could trump any plans though. Alittle backcountry fire here and alittle one there.
Well, have a great Friday beautiful and we’ll see you around…………..

Thursdays thinking for a weekend of fun..........

Motoring along like a big diesel as the week goes by pretty quickly. Its been cool too, which is a treat for this place usually feeling like a big pizza oven. Gary invited me to dinner last nite and it was really nice. Several old friends showed and we ate BBQ’ed salmon and spinach. Great full tummy for me, a treat these days!!
The Visalia music festival is this weekend, looks like lots going on in V town for your socializing pleasures. There’s also the drumming in Auberry on Friday night. I’m probably going to miss all the above due to work. I work all day Saturday, and then have Sunday Monday off, which works for a lot of other events, such as drumming and biking. I need to get out and ride, damn, I’m way over due! All my riding buddies have been outta town, so it’s a great excuse to not ride, but that’s not really good. I have been watching the Tour De France on TV though……….It counts mentally. And how are you doing there sweetheart??

Welcome back you all..................

Wednesday already and I owe you some thoughts about whats been happening up here at our drumming lives and more, yes. We had our friends from Austin, Texas arrive late Friday night at the Gallery. I was supposed to met them there but it was way too late when they arrived and I worked the next day, so I was kinda bummed to think I would miss them after all that positioning on the phone for several days before. Next day I heard they were staying another day to see everybody , so, I was elated! We ended up going to the bar that night and having a mighty good time and seeing all of our friends who we haven’t seen in quite a awhile, plus catching up with all the things we needed to catch up with. We almost closed the place down and I was feeling pretty good about showing our friends a good time just like the old good times we knew so well!
Drumming was really good and big. Things are changing in a good way since Gary put a fence up to keep all the people out of slickee that need to stay out. All the trashers and people from the valley who don’t respect the place. They don’t belong down there and can go and trash somewhere else. Its starting to be nice and quite again down by the river and this also has a lot to do with how the drummings go. Jon talking to the crowd mid way into our drumming about leaving litter at the drumming site and not drinking at our drummings. We aren’t against drinking but its not a kegger dudes and its not a big party either, its drumming and please participate with us and see why we have been doing it so long and why its really a pretty cool thing to play music in the most primitive way. We had many dancers and we are always thankful in a big way for that. Thank You all for coming and drumming with us.

Its Friday and its the 13th.........Good Luck to You!

Friday the 13th, a good luck day for all. You didn’t want to hear bad luck did you? Why go that way with it, its all good you all. All good all day!! Lots of luck will come to you dressed that way………..wow!!
We have a drum circle lady that used to come long ago in town tonite. Sarah from Texas. All the way from Austin and she and friends will be going backpacking tomorrow for several days. We are going to show her and friends a good time this evening and hope you will join us. Probably the Riverview for dinner and drinks and I think they will be staying at the gallery tonight.
You have any big plans for the weekend?? I’m ready to get into something and give it my all, how bout you??

Hey, What the...............

Moving on through the week. Haven’t heard from anyone of the drumcircle bunch, but that’s not unusual. They never hardly call me, I have to call them to find out how the weeks going for them. What’s that all about anyways. I could use a call once in awhile too! I don’t mind being the glue, but sometimes I need to know I’m not bugging you……………………
I’m typing this out before they turn the power off on the street here for the day. I’m glad I’ll be at work and miss all the action. It’s already Thursday and the weekend once again is coming on. Any plans for you??
More interesting weather on que for the next few days. We’re keeping open for any events of lightning that are bound to happen and you know what’s next. There was a transformer that blew in Sequoia Lake yesterday, causing a fire that had to have planes and helicopters put out. So, yea, High alert and excitement. You better click this up on your favorites list on your desktop there cuz its gonna get good real soon………..Call me

Wednesday excitments

Wednesday already. The middle of the week into the second half of the year. The picture of the bike riders laying on the road……it’s not an accident, it’s us cooling off after a big uphill, laying on the cool pavement. Of course it won’t be cool much longer.
Drumming needs to be talked about more, yes. We had a visitor Sunday night, Frankie, aka “Jungle” who is the best didgeridoo player I’ve ever met! And we have had a lot of them come to our drummings. Frankie can make the instrument bark and roar all the while keeping it going with the circular breathing that requires arduous action. This was a real treat! He was on his way to San Fran and thought about swinging by since he hadn’t come in about 6 months ago. He thought it was Saturday night and much to his surprise we were drumming! We also had an interpative talk about the origin of the people by Lizzie, who does campfire talks in the park. This was really great and had us riveted to our rocks.
We had red flag fire warnings yesterday with this monsoonal flow overhead. Don’t know if it sparked anything yet, but I’m heading to work right now to find out………Come back later and we’ll talk.

I’m back after a good dose of life, some of which I’ll tell about. It has still been hot, yes, but not real scorching as last week. It’s around 102ish and bearable for now. I feel pretty good in the heat so far, drinking lots of water, and trying to keep a sweat on.
We headed up for a big bike ride yesterday. Another hit on the Woodlake triangle. We rode off towards Woodlake early Sunday, smelling the morning coming on and saying hi to all the walkers on the road, though they weren’t walking for exercise. Riding through the country you could feel the place, hear the areas sounds and become one. We rode up 13 miles to a nice little picnic table under a huge old oak to take a break before the big uphills. Right as Bruce and I came up his tire blew big time! It sounded like a gunshot and made the others duck. It blew a good 3 inches of that tire away. We fixed it as we could and I decided to stay with Bruce and go back, which ended up being the right decision. Even after being fixed he couldn’t go far. So, the other rider went on with the ride and we missed out on all the uphill………darn! I rode back alone to the truck, 13 miles away and came back to meet Bruce at the donut place in town for chocolate treats and coffee, so much for the weekly exercise.
Drumming………….ah yes! We had a huge one last night! One full of pirates wife’s, drinking the kids beer, bud lite. Girls in bikinis dancing and a groove so tight, deep and soulfull that you would have thought that it was made with a back hoe! We love all of our attendees and want you to know that you are always safe with us all around!!

Hotter than haites.........

It was very hot yesterday! We read the weather a lot where I work because its part of what we do to check for fires. It was 118 at the Ash Mountain station yesterday! It was 88 degrees in Grant Grove at 88 in the morning, that’s way up in the trees! Its supposed to be cooler today……….by 2 degrees…..whoopee!
The seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh year………Hey, that’s tomorrow, could the the luckiest day of the year for all you seven lovers.
Can you imagine not having a place to go drumming. Our famous place at the gallery is not ours forever and things are in flux. Stay tuned………….

Its Thursday to you............

Happy 5th of July. Man there was lots of banging and sulpher smoke in the air last night!
It got up to 108 in Ash Mountain yesterday, it didn’t feel too bad, I guess because it was a dry heat right? Our fire threat is extreme and things are just crunchy everywhere. Theres a big fire going on in the Santa Barbara area and I took some firefighters to meet with the hotshots last night. They all had just been home one night and off they went again.
I’ve been itching to do some music, or just getting together. Lets plan something eh?

Happy Holiday.................

Happy Fourth over there! I have to work as you might imagine with the fire threat at an all time high. We are positioned all over the Park waiting. Waiting for fire.
No big plans here, the Exeter fireworks are famous and free, though I can see them from the yard and I’ll be spending time keeping my dogs happy with all the banging going on around. You are welcome to come by and hang out………….Now that would be cool !!

Sundays memorial and beyond

Tom would have been proud of his one year memorial. In fact, we felt him Sunday night. We had a great little get together, just really close drumming friends, at 5 in the afternoon. We talked about him and us with him. Wadaba shared some treasured words that Keio translated about Tom. He did leave an impression that will forever be the history of the Drum Circle. We moved to the circle and did what we do, drum and lots of people came. Some didn’t know about the memorial but were caught up in the moment when they found out. We had fire dancing and lots of dancing too. I left around 1 am and felt good about the time had.
Now we have to move on, on to the thought of the fourth of July and beyond. Thoughts of the big heat we face this week. It’ll be alrite if you drink lots of water and keep a smile on. We’ll talk about that next.