Halloweening with the Buds............

We did a great job playing last night at the Halloween Carnival! With the help of Kevin our fire dancer of course. He twirled the fire while we hurled the grooves in front of a big crowd. Thanks for all who helped. I'm headed to drumming and I'll let you know what happens tonight, or hey, come on up!

Early Halloween for You...................

We’re moving through the middle of October. Halloween is on our minds and I’m hoping that you will join us all THIS Saturday . We’re playing at the Halloween Carnival in Three Rivers. Its across the street from the Gallery at the school. Its attended very well by all the town folks, kids, adults and all. There’s booths and several of the local bands are playing. We’re on from 6 till 7. We are hoping for a good show of dancers, and drummers. You can dress up and wear a mask and then be who you really want to be and nobody will know. This is a pretty cool chance to perform for a crowd and be in-cognitoo. The more of you all the merrier.
Getting out some lately. Went to a great Belly Dance show at the Cellar Door last Friday night. There’s a lot of groups from Visalia! And their good! So many groups came that the show was packed with people. I love seeing culture grow in this town. As they say there’s more culture than agriculture. Myshelly and I and Gary and the Gallery Valerie. walked down main street from Brewbakers, the local pub and eatery to the show and saw several drum circle dudes and dudettes hanging out and its nice to see the seeds of the drum spread out over the town!!
So, Join us this Saturday for an early Halloween…………………..

Important News to keep you in the Loop...........

Its chilly! That would be one description of the weather here right now. The mountains have a nice white coating too....snow in the Sierra already. I guess that makes sense since it was only 9 degrees above 8000' yesterday. So, all that said, we had a nice warm fire at the Drum Circle last night. It felt good to have the warmth and ambience that the fire brings. We'll be asking for donations of wood now too....No paint please. We do burn about everything though and even furniture is not to crazy.
Nadine is doing us all a great service by starting a calender of events.I was hoping to do more of that on this blog but Thanks for your help Nadine! This will put you all in the know and let me tell you, there is alot going on!
Here's the link....

http://www.my.calendars.net/vis_event/

We're going to the David Lindley concert at the Orange Blossom tonite.....Hope to see you there!

Into the Week.................

Good Morning, Well it sure didn't rain that much but it did rain. The air is fresh and the skies are clear again! You were wondering if we were still riding and doing all that stuff that keeps us ready for drumming?? Yes is the answer, but I've been feeling pretty soft. Haven't been doing the big 50 milers lately but we've been getting out some. Climbing, Skating, and yes Biking. I felt good at drumming sunday because of all that. We drum hard and my drumskin is floppy so I have to beat that goat skin hard to get it to sing. I enjoy jamming with George and Jon and Paul and Maharupa and Gary and well just know that it fills my heart with beats to be with you at the drumcircle you all...........................

The Rainy Day Feeling...........

Hey, Thought you'd like some pics from the field for your weekend enjoyment.I took these yesterday up in the park where its just changing scenes from the end of summer to the begining of fall. Its raining and it hasn't rained since February! The air smells fresh and its a fall kinda feeling that I'm getting this morning. Got the hot cup of coffee going with a dash of chocolate to make it seem weekendish. Its cloudy and I'm still in a wake up mode. Fall is good and I'm glad the hot weather is over. I don't mind it so much but its just always there. I love going up to the high country where is always cool and fresh. I went yesterday for work to check on things at the fire line and its pretty quiet. We had to fly out our observers so they wouldn't get snowed in as its snow coming this weekend to that part of the wilderness. The Park.....Seqouia and Kings Canyon is 80% wilderness. Thats almost like being next to the ocean, the vastness of space with creatures and living forms of life beyond what we know........I'm here on the edge of that wilderness and feel it calling, I just have to remember to come back........................

Hello my Friends of the Drum............

Hey, How’s it going? Yea, its been awhile, but I’m back. Lots of stuff to keep you up on and I’ll start by telling you about what’s been going on just real recently. Been working lots like I was saying. Coming home late, after dark, smelling like smoke and dirty and sweaty too. Ton’s of overtime and no regrets. Its been mainly working the big fire you’ve been seeing and smelling the smoke from up in the Sierra there. But, have also stayed busy with other things we do. Went to a motor home wreck where the vehicle lost his brakes and they went off the cliff full speed ahead. Yea, it was gruesome!! Looked at a dead guy who was really blue. Luckily his wife survived, but I sure don’t know how. Then, did some radio hook ups for the fire. Traveled to the big tower lookouts and installed solar radio repeaters. Doing different things is what I love my friends, and yes, seeing the views makes it nice too…..except for dead people of course!
Well, that was work, we decided to take a few days for some much needed R and R and went to a family reunion in Las Vegas, and we flew out too. Haven’t flown in a Dogs life so that was fun, and Vegas was a blast too. I was missing my drum buds here as we watched all the people spending all their money in hopes of striking it rich…..good luck with that we said and headed to the buffet! We ate good and I got a belly going for awhile! Went out on the town late Saturday and well, you know the rest………
Drumming has been great too. Grooves and more grooves. Myshelly , myself , Gary and the Gallery Valarie went out to eat this last Saturday nite and that was sure sweet. It was good to spend some time away from it all with known friends and catch up. I totally heard everything and since I missed just one drumming being in Vegas, I needed to find out. You know, the gossip thing and all. Wow, you should have heard what we heard…………….well, you’ll just have to come up to drumming and find out now…….Have been missing you my friends and know that I’ll be drumming hard and sweating bullets in your honor this coming Sunday night, so join us if you will……………….Love and energy to you all…….

Working and Drumming.........

Busy, Busy here. Its fire season and this has been a very busy year. I'm sure all of you living around here see all the smoke! I've been working lots of hours and thats good. Its why we come. Adventure too having all the excitment of a fire going on.
Drumming too has been real good. Thanks to all of you for my birthday drumming!! Thats really cool to be sung happy birthday that many times! And good food and for sure all my good friends who came. Nice!! That felt good you all..............
There's more, but I'll have to update you as I'm off to work again. We'll talk sooner this time I promise..........

Drama at Drumming....................

Yea, you heard it right, we did have some drama at Sunday nights drumming. Some goon who was dancing way too close to the fire, kicked the bowl over and the fire juice spilled out as all the dancers were going round, and it caught one dancer and bam, fire all over her dress and going fast up her whole body!! My god how that fire did go!! She fell down instantly, over where we were and we jumped and went to put her out. We stamped and padded and rolled her in the dirt. It went out, finally and she got a second degree burn on her side. Yea it was a bummer and a shock and the guy was promptly reprimanded by all and made to apologize and well, he was a stranger anyways, and like I said, a goon. It didn’t take long for us to make this Safe. Thanks to Jon, who staked the bowl down hard on Monday. It won’t do that again my friends!
It was a large drumming with chaos the mood of the night. Lots of people and lots of dancers and drummers. We were rolling and controlling pretty much though, and it was a great and historic Labor day weekend drumming for sure. We handled the situation real well and don’t worry, we got your back baby. Come on up and see Sunday night if you would. And, yes, we did go swimming again after and well, it was kinda cold out! We layed flat on the big rocks that were all warm from the sun of the hot day and looked at the milky way stretched out over us from north to south and talked about all that happened....... it’s a good life!!

Labor Day Night.......Sunday Drumming

Billons of stars I'm telling you..........

So, how did it go Sunday night you ask? It was really hot out and I thought it was too hot too come and drum you say. Well, it was a great hot sweaty one! We had less folks show than normal, but that's still quite a few nowadays. We had drummers and plenty of dancers swinging around the alcohol fire. Though we only had one big bottle of the fire juice that we had to make last all nite, we did it. As the drums were going and the dancers showing the fire would go out and it would be just really dark. This was kinda nice actually with all swaying to the groove going on. We just kept going and even though you couldn't see you knew what was happening. Well lots of long sweaty grooves like I said and then at ten we headed to the river. Jon and Paul and Sage and Michelle and Myself slid in the river at grandma rock and stayed there till around midnite. The current gently nudging us with the ink black night and the milky way lighting up the night sky north to south. Billons of stars were above us and we were glad to be alive at that moment! This is what its all about on a Sunday night in the very center of Three Rivers. Have a good one..............

What you think of our Company is what you think of this Society

Happy Friday to you. You deserve a few days off after all the stuff from this week huh! Well, enjoy then, relax, eat sleep and be merry. Laugh as much as you can. Smile, it gets everyone else involved. Be nice to all of us for sure. We're having a good friday too. Get stuff done! Finish all the things on the list and get ready to say, "I got it together". Then, make plans to come up and join us for Sunday night drumming to get you ready for another week. And, one more thing, spread Love........

The Moonlit Night............

Nice cool weather here today. A welcome change after the grueling heat. Its been a nice full moon too with the drumming being lit by it just around 9. The groove was going on too with dancers and drummers merging in a flow that you could only get with the crew of the night of August 17th. And, I missed it, but they went on a moonlight criuse of the lake after drumming too! In a houseboat, just like we did last year. I'll bet it was nice out on the lake with the last of the sierra snow melt to float on, lit up by the full moon beams. Wow! Now thats living! Meanwhile, Kelly, Ella, Maharupa and myself kept the monsters away from the drum circle area by talking about what we needed to talk about. Hope your day goes well..............

Read this.................

Well Yea, Hows it going there bud?? Its been a crazy and busy couple of weeks, but now its almost back to normal. Almost! It can't be just regular and boring,I just wouldn't want it that way. The last few weeks have been filled with heck tic work loads and lots of Helicopters. A crew that has been working with us here are from Alaska. All Indians except two women and the pilot. They have some really cool stories and we've been all ears. I want to go to Alaska someday.
Drumming has been good too! Lots of grooves filling the dry hot air around here on Sunday Nites. And news too. Roger Jennings died. All of us old timers in the drumming know him real well for sure, though not necessarily all good thoughts. He had colon cancer and decided not to get treated for it. He died over in Bishop where he has been living. He claimed to have powers and tried real hard to influence our good things with those bad things. I think he put a spell on me one time. I got a rose thorn embedded in my finger deeply and it really put a crimp in my drumming style! I finally got it removed and got over it but man, it was a real bummer. Anyways, we don't want to think bad about anyone who has died and we all hope for peace and a new beginning ...........
Its been hot still. I know fall is coming, my favorite time and this year Halloween is on a Friday so wow! Well, I hope that your smiling that smile and living the life that's bringing good and Love to you!
Thanks for the personal comments sent! We're all missing and thinking about you over there in the far east Jill. I hope your happy and reading about us. Send some pics and I'll post them here. We're always interested in what our drum circle folks are up to in other lands. So, Much Love to you ALL.............

How are you doing??

Still busy with work. Gotta get the hay when its there for the getting. Lots of OT hours and I guess that's good eh?? Haven't seen my drum circle cronies lately either. Well, some of them at least. We have folks everywhere and I can always get updated on the latest by just asking so and so, or what's his face huh! I try to protect the Innocent of course. The drumming Sunday wasn't soo big and that happens now and again. A small drumming is sometimes the best. You can hear everybody playing and you can get intimate with it all. Its defiantly got its place.
The river is way down.... I mean it ain't no river really, its a stream these days. The dog days of summer.... August. Not been too hot though and really, we've had it pretty good with the temps and all. Now we have this monsoonal moisture thing coming it and it'll be fun to watch. Maybe some lightning later this week. I hope you day goes well and Thanks for checking in on my life and the life of others around me. I'll try to be faster................

Keep on Looking.................

Busy, busy with work. We've got a big fire in Tehipite dome area and its way out there. Everyone gets flown in and its a logisitcal challenge for us for sure! I love it though, big adventure of the kind that's called work around here.
Drumming, yea well it was great last night!! Lots of people and lots of dancers drummers and lookie lou"s too. I'll have to update you more as I get time.... gotta go, but as always Thanks for your looks. LOve to you...........

Happy Wednesday to You....

Made it by the big cast party event last night at the Imagine You center. Everyone was there celebrating last Friday nites performance by the African Ensemble at the Fox. We talked, we drummed and we ate really good food. It was nice enjoying all of our friends so early in the week and just seeing smiles too!
We're forging along this path of deadlines and daily too doo lists. The month is almost over and it did go quick. I'm just trying to remember all the good because there's alot. Hope your Wednesday goes well my friends. Remember to smell the flowers.

Wadaba Rocked the House...........

Just really Fantastic would be a good description of the show at the Fox Theatre where it was packed and people were standing in the aisles! A great performance was done by our friends of the West African Ensemble for sure. We were proud of them folks and it was good to finally see them getting the attention of the community. They are a mighty talent and Wadaba rocked the house! It was a performance of all and I was glad I went and glad that you all showed too!
I'm waking up here to clouds and coolness, which is very welcome! It should be a great drumming tonight so please make plans to come on up! Enjoy you day of rest.....

Middle of the Weak....

Yesterday they were talking snow at 8000'. Thats crazy huh!! And, Monday night around midnite the river went from 200cfs to 800 in about a half an hour. There was alot of rain coming down in the mountains and it came down.All the backcountry rangers were talking about all the rain when they called in and the river is all brown and muddy compared to the clear emerald color it usually is. Well, at least its been kinda cloudy and cool. And hot too!
Wadaba is playing at the Fox this friday and we're all going to support our local talent and friends who play. These are drum circle folks who study african rhythmns and they're really good! Featuring Wadaba who was born a drummer of all drummers. Come and check it out my friends, and have a great Wednesday!

Wadaba is playing at the Fox this Friday Night.......

Wadaba and his group will be playiny at the Fox this Friday night. Its the big time and we all plan on being there to support him. He puts on a fabulous show and if you have ever seen him play you know what I mean! Come on out and join us.
Its still hot and muggy and even with that we had a great drumming time last night. Everyone was sweaty and smiling when I got there, and I could hear the pulse from out in the street out front. Lots of people came and dancers and drummers and lookers were all into what was going on. The Big Groove in downtown Three Rivers, between the river and the road.
I've got a real good connection again so plan on checking on me and seeing what life's adventures have brought.All for you my friends...........

We've been missing you.....

Life's been very good, with alls thats going on around us. Drumming was real special sunday night because it is. Works been going good with new adventures and great surroundings. And, we have really been enjoying the fact that we have this close knit community of drum folks here that are much more than just drummers. Special people you are my friends and I'm glad to be with you all....

Some if you have asked whats been going on with the lads from Iowa. Well, they got all trained up in the life of a small town with a drum circle and now are headed out into the big world out there. I know for a fact that we left an imppresion on those lads and perhaps put more good vibes out in the world their headed to. We'll see them again, because we all know the drum circle creedo....You'll always come back!!



Well, I know you've been wondering if we made it through all the hot and muggy weather?? We did, barely. Its still hot and muggy, but alittle less of all of that. We took a nice dip in the river on Thursday night, late, around 11. We went to grandma rock and just slid on the rock in the dark night, right in the river. The current was not too bad and the water was ink black and warmish. The sky was all stars.