The New Year is coming in just a few hours. I’ll be up at the drum circle in front of a nice warm fire with you right there too. I’ve decided to take a couple of steps back from all the bull going on around us. I rode my bicycle way up Yokohl Valley today and had lots of time to think. The big question in my mind was…….what do I have to do with all this………..turns out, really nothing. I’m into starting the New Year in a very Positive way. Its time to get it all going in my favor for a change. I don’t need all that baggage to slow me down. I think you’ll all agree t o this, lets make this the best year of our lives..2007. Lots of change is already happening, so lets make it all positive. Thanks for all your support friends, have a Happy New Year…………and do come by tonite! Rene’

I’m back from the land where the Magpie lives. Those birds between a Blue Jay and a Crow that roam the North Country and start somewhere around Modesto, where I was.
Catching up with very old friends who live the Native American life. My friend and his son from Alberta, Canada, who just flew in from Edmonton to Seattle to Sacramento for 400 bucks, and several others from the old days. The days I used to dance at pow wows as a grass dancer and travel throughout the west. We all assembled, some 30 of us and just caught up with old times while sitting around a fire outside and inside on that ranch, way out in the cool country. I got nostalgic and we made plans to hit some powwows where other friends of ours would be like the Arlee Dance, up in northern Montana. I was raised with these people and learned about this stuff along time ago. Ever since its left me as a free range chicken, with goals and values much different than ordinary man……….but parallel.

I’m getting ready to face day 365 and drum into the New Year, I’ll let you know what the plans will be tomorrow………….Love to you………..

How’s it going over there? I’ve talked with Gary, who is very antsy to get his truck back. I don’t know if I’m going to be the one to deliver it now, due to me having to go to Sacramento today. Gary sounds pretty good after being in the hospital again, this time in San Fran where he has met all new doctors who did all the checks and ran all the x-rays. He’s looking pretty good all in all, oxygen bottle by his side.
The Gallery meanwhile is being held hostage by the two headed monster “D”. One the polite, coffee making, personable intelligent person, the other the drunken sailor, fire breathing rascal who has kept all art buyers at bay. An attempt was made by Jaylene, Scott and baby Finn to enter Garys residence, only to be rebuked with only a crack opening of the door and a sharp reply of resistance. I’m glad the Drumcircle hole is our spiritual ground where we can drum New Years eve with no problem……..
I’m heading up north, keep it running till I get back . ……………..to be continued….

I’ve heard that if you take a cooking spaghetti noodle and throw it up to the ceiling and it sticks the noodles are ready. Its kind of like that with the information I’m gathering about Gary. He called me on Christmas night to see how I was doing and we had a short nice little talk. The next several days nobody has heard from him. Then last nite I come home from our big drum fest at Wil’s and theres a message from Gary, He’s putting me in charge of getting his truck up to him and right now he’s in the hospital………then the phone message cut off, and in the meantime I’ve heard he’s back in San Diego, and his nurse said no way can he go to San Fran and so on and so forth. Well, I drilled down for the REAL info today and here it is.

Gary was in the hospital again last night in San Francisco. He was having trouble breathing, but he’s okay now and they were just going to pick him up when I called. He is at his son Pauls and in good hands with all the family.. So there it is……

Now the dilemma for me is I’ve got to get his truck up there this weekend and already I have to go to Sacramento tomorrow (Friday) Can anybody give me a ride back from San Fran before Sunday out there????????????? Let me know if you can please and I’m working the phones here.

A big wet rain is falling on a dark day. But, its Wednesday and we’ll be getting together for music tonight at Wil’s house. I’ve heard that Jaylene and family will be coming to stay at the gallery for a week. I wish I could be invisible and be there for their arrival! That would be interesting now wouldn’t it!

I’ve got a James Brown story to tell…….When I was a kid in the sixties, we went to a place called Travel Town, which featured old railroad locomotives. It was in Los Angeles, where I was raised. It just so happened that they were doing a TV show there called “Where the Action is” and asked me along with others if we would get up on a locomotive and be background for James Brown, who was going to sing his signature song I Feel Good…….while being filmed. It was a pretty hot day and James was sweating hard, reading his que cards and lip singing I Feel Good to a big stereo they had playing. He was dancing around with all the Soul that he had at the time (I don’t know when he became the King of Soul) and swung by where I was. On his way off stage, or around the Locomotive, he gave me a side ways kinda hug and my shirt got pretty wet from it. That’s my story, and man, I could have sold that shirt on ebay for big bucks you think?

Hey Gary, I’m glad your back in San Francisco with the family. How was the Chinese food? And, I’m glad you can finally read all about yourself here on our drumcircle blog. Its supposed to rain real hard here for a few days, the last of the year. We’re already making plans for New Years eve. Another Sunday night. We’ll for sure drum till ten as always, then…….maybe the Riverview where the crowd will be. Anyone else have any ideas for the New Years eve night??

Merry Christmas to you!! You are all in my thoughts today Christmas 2006. It’s actually 65 plus degrees out and sunny. The mountains are covered in white and we had a great drumming last night! Lots of goodies were brought by everybody and we were happily satisfied with the groove. A nice big warm fire and good friends make a happy drum circle.

Gary got released from the hospital TODAY and he is heading to San Francisco by car on highway 5 right now. It was very last minute Elizabeth told me when I called up in San Fran. Paul flew down this morning when Gary called and said he needed someone to sign him out. He picked Gary up and off they went driving. That should be a nice trip for Gary who’s been in the Hospital since the Friday after Thanksgiving. I’ll get a call tonight and post when I do. Happy Christmas Friends

Heck yea we’re drumming tonite…….Christmas Eve. I’ve had several people contact me about wanting to drum and we’ll be there with a nice warm fire. As always, bring your Christmas goodies and treats and we’ll see you there…………..Drive Safe!

Good Morning friends, I recieved mail from Keio, who , with Wadaba are currently in West Africa. I am posting this message to Gary from her. She gave me permission to post......................... Rene I can't even tell you how relieved I am that gary is doing better. Please please call him and read to him this email.This is the first day since we flew away last Mon that I could check email and find out how you are doing. I have been praying with all my heart and soul for your recovery. Monday morning before I woke I dreamed that you were getting out of the hospital and we were all taking you home. It didn't look like the gallery but it was indeed your home. I personally picked you up, like a baby, and carried you in my arms to your door. I had to go down some difficult steps and duck under some overgrown bushes, while everyone cappered alongside, holding the branches apart. Rene was there right beside me and others as well I don't remember, but Tom was also there smiling, walking beside us, and talking a mile a minute. We entered the house and I asked you where you would like to lay down. You were light as a feather and I was worried about hurting your bones. You said not the bed, the recliner, and Jon jumped in trying to figure out how to make it recline. It was just about open, and me ready to set you gently down when my roommate here at the workshop for Mamady Keita inGuinea, West Africa, woke me softly, asking if I needed to get up in time for the first class of the month long workshops.I woke up, slowly realizing it was a dream and meditated on what the dream meant. I knew that sometimes dreams can happen when someone important in one's life moves on, and I was afraid, and burts into tears in front of my baffled roommates, who quickly left me to prepare for the class. As I sat alone, the fear passed, and I got a sense of duty, and of thanks, and prayed and prayed out loud to all the gods and goddesses that the dream meant that I had helped you to come home to all of us, that I had carried you home. And I called out to you, "You better be coming home, Gary, we all need you with us. And not just to San Francisco either. All the way home. Come home to us. Come home to me."Last time I knew, you could not breathe without the help of a respirator,and now I read on Rene's blog that you will soon come out of the hospital! A step in the right direction, but your work has just begun. It is not your time. You belong here with us. Your work and gifts to this world are not finished and we are all helping and will continue to help you stay here with us. I will carry you to your comfy recliner when you are ready to come home.My dream happened around 12:30 am California time, Monday morning Dec 18. I know I don't tell you enough how much you have helped me, both in your kind acts, and in just your very existence, as an example of a truly good person, how you are, and I regret that. With all my love,Keio

You were asking about how Wednesday nite music went, lets see, there was a bunch of us guys standing around the freshly lit stove. We had on our big jackets, had our pants pulled up high, and our wool beanies on, it was looking like a gathering of the Pat O Connel fan club. I’m glad Nadine was there to set us straight and represent the opposite gender. There was a time long ago when there were no women in the drumcircle. Its was just a few of us guys around the stove with our 5 gallon buckets turned upside down to drum on. We came up with the idea of “drumming for girls”. Not at all meant in a bad way, women bring the most powerful energy to our drumming. We’re not a complete circle without both sexes represented. That’s when it’s the most energetic, that’s when groovins, grooving! We LOVE all the women in our circle!! We still do drumming for girls once in awhile for fun, but it really works…………I think that’s how we met you.

Wils Winter Solstice party will feature Darrel, fresh from Bisby, Arizona. We will also be having our New…………Drama Free Zone. So, you won’t want to miss it tonite, See you there.

I just talked with Gary about his pending departure. Its probably not happening today. He is still getting water in his lung and that has to stop before he gets to leave. Lots of years smoking has made the lung walls soft and venerable. They couldn’t operate on his lungs due to this. He had his stitches from his operation removed this morning and sounded pretty upbeat really. Its looking like maybe Sunday is the day that he gets to be in the air above San Diego, headed for San Francisco with his seatbelt on and his 10 salted smoked almonds ready to go on the tray in front of him.

Wow, Your looking good today! Must be because its Thursday. This day is my power day. The get it done day, accomplish, finish and move forward. Ive been putting off the holidays till this weekend when I’m going to make a special trip to the mall……..any of you want to help me??

We’re having a Winter Solstice party at Wil’s Friday night………Tomorrow night! Everyone is welcome; bring goodies like cookies and munchies. And bring your instruments. Its celebrating the coming of the Winter with all our friends.

“If I had another Hand, I’d make Enchanted Lands”

I’m working up in Pinehurst, 4000 feet up. Snow is all around, and yesterday all day, it rained snow and branches from all the trees and it was Noisy! It’s a really sticky kinda snow, where you brush it off and there’s still lots left.

Gary was being “Garish” last night when I talked to him. He has plane tickets to fly out on Friday to San Francisco He said he still had 3 tubes in and it all hinges on how his lungs do by Friday. They won’t let him go until his body is ready. He won’t be coming through Three Rivers as he’s still pretty frail.. And, if you want to attend his Birthday Party, you’ll have to go to San Fran, to Pauls house where he will be staying till around April, when he comes back to Three Rivers. That’s a long ways off, but at least he’s back.

We’ll be playing music inside the Gallery with the stove on high tonite, avoiding any cat fights that might transpire. If you’re an easy going sort of person you could just glide on through………………………………

I would like to give a Big Thanks to all of you Drum Circle friends in Africa, India, Mexico and Maui who I’ve been hearing from. You are in our minds and Love goes out to you from us!!

I’ve talked to Todd, Garys son today and while we were talking, Gary escaped, looking for some sun. He didn’t go too far, but that shows how his recovery is going………great! His only hold back is the tube in his lungs still, which is slow to recover. They will be releasing him by the end of the week, maybe into the weekend. If its Thursday or Friday, I’ll be picking him up, and taking him to San Francisco.

I’m glad we got that truck load of wood cuz it was cold last night! The window on my truck was frozen solid when I left the Sunday Night Drumming. We had a huge fire, and everyone hunkered down in the lower circle, all 20 or so of us. There’s lots of electricity in the air around here and we’re trying to avoid it by playing our music and standing by.

Gary is out of ICU and has his own room with a toilet and spare bed for guest I guess. He’s getting out now around Wed. He still has a few issues that are taking their time recovering. His son from England, Todd is visiting him right now, but if you want to visit him now or within the next few days, I would say go.

It’s the holiday frazzle I guess, Stay tuned.

Snows down low today, and its going to be chilly on our ride up Dry Creek this morning. We’re going to be getting a truck load of wood for the Drum Circle tonite, so when you come, it’ll be nice and warm.
I’ve been hearing that Gary might be out of the hospital in a couple of days!! This is if he contiues to recover as he has been of course. Then he’ll head to San Francisco for a complete come back. I’ve also heard that he might swing by Three Rivers on his way up, so look for those details to emerge. Well, stay warm today, and get out there and breath that fresh air, and get ready for Drumming Tonight.

It has gotten very Chilly around here today, and its supposed to snow down to 2000 feet.
We did our sweat last night. The four of us in a ten person sweat. We made some changes to the covering before and man, it was hot! And yes, in the river we went in the end, how good that felt, how alive!
I’ve heard that the smudging of Sage will help you through these times, the sweet smelling smoke from Sage inside the abalone shell, rubbed on your body will purify and cleanse you. We have used, Sage, Sweetgrass, Cedar, Copal, California Bay, Mugwort, Yerba Santa for smudging before going into the sweat, each person taking their turn at the smudge before going inside. There’s health benefits for colds, and flu or congestive issues. They say that buying the bundles of Sage or any Herbs for smudging, is not exactly right. You should gather them yourself, in a reflect way, thinking about the connection to the plant and the offering it is giving. This is a great excuse to take a trip to do a gathering just for this purpose. A trip to the desert for the Sage there, or the Coast for the smokey White Sage. Lets go……………………..

Gary sends you all his love. I just got off the phone with him, and he sounded pretty chipper, all things considered. He’s still got a hose up his nose, and is still in ICU. But, that’s not because he’s doing bad. He’s on the big upswing. He told me he walked about 30 feet today, with the Physical Therapist, and “every step was a new world”. He thinks if all goes, he will be out of ICU by Saturday, and out of the hospital and headed for San Francisco in a couple of weeks. I could tell by his questions to me about the sweat tomorrow night, and who’s getting in and all that he’s got plans and he’s excited to get back to things. I also talked to his nurse and his son Paul, who first called me and told me to call him. Here’s the address of the Hospital………you should send him a card or something.

Scripps World of Healing
Attention: Gary Cort
10666 N. Torrey Pines Road
La Joya, Ca. 92037

Well, all GOOD news about Gary today! He’s off the ventilator, and talking and alittle moving around. Soon he’ll be walking again. He was able to have a bowel elimination twice on his own, with no bag. This is all such good news, no doubt due to all of you and your good thoughts. He’s even going to be eating applesauce tomorrow.

Jaylene and Scott will be going back to Phoenix tomorrow after Paul arrives, and I’ll bet Gary will be up for some phone calls soon. …….maybe by Saturday.

Well, I’m getting ready to go to my job in the hills where the high will be around 38 degrees, oh goodie! I’ll be talking to Jaylene tonite before I go up to the Gallery and will update you.
We’re talking about doing a sweat Friday Night. Anyone interested please let me know.
The sweat is a powerful thing, not to be associated with a jacuzzi or hot tub. It’s not for the weak of heart. Many of you have done this with us, and know that we will make sure you go through it all okay. If you decide to try it for the first time ever, lets talk. If you want to sweat with us Friday nite, start drinking water now. It would be nice to bring fruit and juice to drink, and something to eat after is nice too. Bring water to drink inside. I like to bring 2 towels, one to sit on, and one to dry off with after jumping in the ice cold river (not a requirement) Think about it and let me know my friends……….till later.

Just got off the phone with Jaylene in sunny San Diego. They arrived last night and she has been with Gary quite a bit since. They tried to take him off the ventilator, by reducing his air, so his body would respond, but his heartrate went up, so he was back on it along with more morphine.. Jaylene said he was looking around and was totally aware when they arrived. He could sqeeze her hand when asked questions and he sqeezed it hard when asked if he wanted to hear some “Big Kaweah” music, tapping his foot around. The Doctors did all tests to make sure he could move his legs and arms and understand things and he can. Jaylene and Scott will probably be there through the weekend, and Garys son Todd will be there Friday as will Paul again. Its 50-50, but his odds were a lot worse a few days ago. Your all welcome to Wednesday night music tomorrow if you like. We love when you bring homebaked cookies or Chocolate Eclairs you know.

Well, a rainy day indeed! Thought I would update you on the Blog.
I’ve added some new stuff such as a counter, and our drum circle logo at the bottom of the page. As you may know, I have tons of pictures that are of the drum circle, and plan to post as many as I can here. Some of the images I really don’t want someone to plagiarize, and those I’ve added my signature too, but all the others are for you to take out and enjoy for your own folders. I will also be putting some other pics of interest in as time goes on, and I do hope you like that! I will try to put a couple of pics on every other day or so, so stay tuned, and again Thank you ALL!!

Well, this storm system wasn’t supposed to come this far south, but its raining outside.

An update waiting for an update. Jaylene called last night . They had not got there yet, but were due pretty soon. Paul went back to San Francisco, and this is a sign to me that things are stabilized with Gary for awhile. He might be getting off his ventilator Wednesday if things look good, and my guess is that he will probably be awake and checking it all out. Since its raining and I’m here drinking coffee and not knowing if I will work today I’ll post at some point when Jaylene calls. Go have some hot chocolate, and I’ll be back.

The Hills are covered in snow! What a change from last week when it was still in the 70’s
We all drummed inside last night…..the boom room…and it was alright! We talked alot about Gary of course, and there’s lots of information out there to pick from. Some of what was said was mis-information, like the Colon isn’t really 11 miles long! Actually its around 6 feet long, and Gary had several inches cut out. He might have to wear a bag for awhile, but that could change. Today, Jaylene and Scott and baby Finn will be visiting. They are driving their camper van, and plan to stay in the parking lot of the hospital. The Baby won’t be able to go up, so they will take turns. This is a fairly expensive part of town and the hotels ain’t cheap!

So, what I’m hearing is that a couple of the problems Gary has were caused by the hospital, like his punctured lung, which happened when they were putting a tube in. And, of course the bleeding and the second operation to fix it. I’m really glad that Garys son Paul is there to now over see all this. He’s sharp and will get things done right. Garys other son Todd will be arriving from England later in the week.

The talk is that after Gary gets through this, he will go with Paul back to San Francisco to recover. This makes lots of sense since the hospitals are close by and he’ll be with Paul, his wife and Garys new grandbaby.

Meanwhile, back at the Hospital, Gary is in ICU, on a ventilator zonked out on morphine, and hopefully thinking about the warrior in him. I’ll be calling a bunch today so stay tuned, and Thank You all for the support!!!! .

Well, sounds like Gary had a rough night. After doing well from his surgery, he had internal bleeding and they had to go back again this morning at 5am. I talked to the Doctor that is with him……..he’s in ICU and on a ventilator. The Doctor said Gary is very sick, but strong. He will be under for a few days. Paul is with him, and Jaylene and Scott are coming there on Monday, when Paul leaves. I’ll let you know as I find out more.

Its Saturday morning, sunny and warm, hey wait……..isn’t it supposed to rain??

I just talked to Lorissa, who is headed back to the Hospital. Paul has been there through the surgery. She told me that Gary came through his surgery well, and looked and felt real good. But, during the night there were some bleeding complications and now he is on a respirator. She thought that he would only be on it till noon though, and at noon she will call me with an update, and I’ll post it. Thanks to all of you who are looking, and care!

Its Friday,(happy day) and man it got windy coming home from up in the hills! Tumbleweeds blowing across the freeway, looking like the wizard of oz.
Todays the big day, Garys first surgery. It seemed like a roll of the dice, but they are doing the Colon surgery first. He went in at 3 pm today and will be in surgery till 8 tonite, a 2 to 5 hour ordeal. I got a call from Paul at the hospital today and also from Lorrissa, who had just made it back to LA. Paul said he would stay with his dad till he could get up and walk. So……………we’re waiting once again. I’ll let you know, maybe tonite, how its going

I headed up to the gallery last night for Wednesday music and an update on Gary. I had my heater on in my truck, hot tea going, and as I rounded the curve on the horsecreek bridge, I looked over at the surreal light of the moon on the lake bottom as my 2 pieces of toast with my favorite pomegranate jelly slid off the plate and went facedown onto the floormat……….Damn!

Gary is not doing very well at all today. He’s been having problems with all the tubes he’s got in him and effects of all the testing. He’s on heavy morphine right now. He’s getting a fluid buildup in his lungs that’s causing him not to breathe well. The hope is for his first operation to start, maybe tomorrow. The colon cancer is very minor compared to all the other stuff they are finding. His lungs have some real issues, as we all know he smoked the bugler for many years.

I’ve heard from Lorrissa, who is very stressed out. She is staying by his side, because he doesn’t want anyone else to be there!! I know lots of you want to go see him and all, but this is NOT the time. Also, please don’t call Lorrissa for updates if you have her # today, as she needs to rest and not talk on the phone. Garys son Paul will be with him today and that will be good. He has family, his step brother, and now Paul, so that should be good. Its just not a time to be with Gary right now for any of us. He wants and needs to get strong.

I’ll update tonite, after I talk to his son………..Please stay tuned.

Its Tuesday December 5, 2006 and a pretty nice day here. There are red-flag warnings for low humidity’s because we’ve had no rain.

I called the Gallery tonite and talked to “D”. She has been taking calls and running the gallery while Gary is gone. She has heard from Gary’s son Paul that he will probably have some of his colon removed, like 1 ½”. He had this same cancer 20 years ago and they removed something like 6”. I don’t know how long the colon is but hopefully he won’t be wearing a bag after the operation.

The operation is the big question. Gary has like 4 specialists working on him. Lungs, Heart, and Colon cancer doctors and they are trying to decide which operation will come first. We’re hearing Friday, maybe.

Gary is supposed come up with a list tonite on who he wants to see. He’s got tubes in his mouth so he can’t really talk or have visitors yet. His son’s are in touch and we’re all talking around here.
We’ll be up at the gallery for Wednesday Nite Music tomorrow, and the talk will be about how Garys doing, so come by if you want. Read me tomorrow, Rene’

It’s a full moon tonight and chilly. We drummed with a heavy heart at Sunday nights drumming, (last night) Just having found out that Gary has colon cancer, and a leaky heart valve. He had been seemingly going downhill the last few days, always more tired and always napping.

We are glad its finally coming to this news, though not good news, its moving forward and getting it taken care off. Gary had not been the same since he got back from 2 months in Paris, France in September. We always thought it would work its way out, but that feeling he had never went too far away.

The drummings have been great! We are really feeling locked into the groove these last few times together. We took a sweat just a week ago in our new “ten person sweat” and had Gary come in on the last round. We all gave him our energies and spiritual prayers. He didn’t jump in the river with us at that Friday night at 11.30, but I don’t blame him, it was fricken chilly!

So, it came to this, I thought I would start a Blog about what we’re doing, how Gary is doing and all things that matter to us. We have lots to talk about, and YOU will probably see your name and or photo here at some point. But, only in the most striking pose, warrior fashion, so don’t worry, its all good. I will not put your last names in though, cuz we know who we are and some of you don’t, so you’ll just have to do your homework to find out! I can finally post those pics you’ve been asking about too. This Blog will help all of you in the outer orbits, who are always saying to me “hey, keep me in the loop will you” Enjoy, and please tell all and read often!!

I’ll be updating this EVERY day for awhile till we see how Gary does.

The Latest update………..I talked to Paul (Gary’s son) Jaylene , and Lorissa to get this info:

Gary is at the Scripps Hospital in San Diego. He’s not taking phone calls right now, but that may change later. He has the colon cancer, which seems to be just in one area, but
t hey found a leaky heart valve also, and this is what has become the priority. They will operate on this first, when he gets healthy enough to handle the surgery, which should happen this week. He arrived at the hospital pretty anemic, and had to be given 5 pints of blood right off. He’s in pretty good spirits, but didn’t receive the news about his heart yesterday very well. Keep him in your prayers. I’ll update tonite again after I make some calls. Rene’