Kelly's Beach Friday....

Every year for I dont know how long, my brother and about 50 or so of them go to Kelly's Beach. This is about a 3-4 hour drive up north and a part of Kings River. They drive up Fri, float on Sat and come home Sun. This was the 1st year I could join in the fun and my fellow adventurer T-mow came along for the ride.
We were to meet at the bro’s at 4am. Yes. 4 Am. For those of you who don’t know, this is way before the sun rises and its an ungodly hour any normal person to be anywhere. Of course this meant I had to get up at 3. After some grumbles and stumbles and clumsy packing, T and I headed over to Shane/D's. There was 7 other half asleep friends attempting to load up, and we finally all rolled out. After ALOT of coffee and the sun rising, I started to feel somewhat human again. After 31/2 hours or so, and a couple of missed exits we rolled into Kelly's Beach. Now this is a ghetto campground pretty much made for partying. The campsites are enormous, they line the river, there's a general store with a sign says "We open at 9 or 10, sometimes as early as 7, sometimes as late as 10". A bar/restaurant, nasty bathrooms, and a staff that’s...well...interesting.
After an extremely long check in, we get bracelets attached that we have to wear the whole weekend (Are we on spring break?) and are assigned our campsite. One of our peeps has a trailer, so Mr. angry man who works there has to back it in. In the meantime the rest of us are setting up our tents and the rest of camp. We also notice we’re breaking out in a sweat in the early morning hours…oh lord. Most of us are set up by 9am. It feels like 2, so we start to drink. Hmmmm why am I getting a buzz already. Someone says its only 10am. Wow. Hair of the dog right? Throughout the day, our party grows bigger, eventually totaling up to about 50 or so of us. It’s a trip. Friday consists of drinking before 10am as prior mentioned, and then the rest of the day, playing games, eating, chatting, drinking, etc...Did I mention drinking?
I mosey down to the river to test the water and realize it’s about as cold as something...oh maybe in Antarctica...um we're floating in this shit tomorrow??!! It was a little odd...hotter then Satan's living room outside, yet too cold for Miss Jami to get in the water. There were alot of angry flies, so between the "Repell" bug spray, sunblock, and sweat you had a nice layer of grime on your body the entire time. Lets just say no one was "dressed to impress" in these parts. Our friend with the trailer had air conditioner and a bathroom so that was a nice bonus to the trip. Highlights of Friday:
Getting a whole day. At noon it seemed like 5pm.
Drinking before 10am - who does that!?
Nat/Court's 3am giggle fest – would normally piss everyone off, but T-mow and I found ourselves giggling along with them. I’ve never heard 2 girls laugh so damn hard for so damn long….
The bean bag game
Shaun bbq'ing T & my sweat kabobs
Seeing my bro in rare form
Visiting with friends and falling into a haze of vacationI'm sure there's more...but I'm surprised I'm even blogging now... Saturday was a little more interesting...

Kellys Beach Saturday...

I have come to realize I’m just not much of a camper anymore. Sleeping on the ground/eggshell or not hurts my back. You can hear everything in a tent and it’s really fucking dirty. But its cool - I can rally. I got up Sat morning only wanting to take a shower....as I stood in the doorless shower, naked, with other ladies waiting and watching (some watching very intently I may add…) - I stood trying to wait for the scalding hot water to not burn off a layer of skin...this did not happen. Now - side note - when I am over exhausted I tend to get a bit over emotional. All I wanted was a fucking shower...I gave up, shouted at T I was leaving and stormed out. I ran into the bro who asked the wrong ques, I went into my tent and proceeded to cry. After composing myself I had a thought...I threw on a bathing suit took my shower stuff went back and stood next to some hungover fellow in the 2 outside showers and took a "sort of" shower. At least I rinsed off. I headed back to the site - apologized to my bro and headed to the coffee bus where T had already ordered my coffee knowing me all too well. The funny thing was - the coffee was AMAZING. Who knew a white trash coffee bus could make such good coffee. I sat down at the site and Shawn and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the rest of the party wake up and stumble out of their tents. (Note to self...if I make it next year I'm videoing the waking up after a nite like that series) The rest of the morning consisted of everyone making lunches, travel booze drinks, blowing up rafts and getting ready for the big float. Did I mention it was about 105 again? Our noon bus was late...but finally arrived and we boarded the white school bus lookin thing that towed a giant rickety trailer for the floats and was probably about 100 years old. Our driver was Wayne - a large man with a confederate bandana and very sweaty. Oh and it was his birthday. I sat in the seat behind him scrunched between the wall and Ronnie and D on Ronnie’s lap. This gave Wayne ample view of D’s chest. I think Wayne got quite the b-day gift with the amount of times I counted him looking in the rearview mirror. The bus was filled to the brim, some others on laps and we headed out. Happy Birthday was sung to our buddy Todd and our driver Wayne. We were dropped off and we carried our rafts and all our crap down this dirt road (The kind of dirt when you walk it puffs up into giant dirt clouds) in the very very hot sun. Now.. I wasn’t sure what to expect on this float. We arrive and there's other folks there...a very large group of people trying to walk through trees to hop in the river. When I can actually see where we're going...I watch as our fellow party slides down an embankment, throws their stuff in the raft, leap in and disappear in the current. Um...where's the beach...I thought we'd wade out and this be an easier task. NO. Shane warns me this is the hardest part then its smooth sailin. Um...what?...and he disappears. The water was going so fucking fast!!!!! Ok. I can do this. I have an oblong raft, our lunch bag, my ziploc back of cigs, sunblock, etc, an oar and my bubba keg of Madres. I slide down the embankment, onto my ass of course, maneuver my stuff in, toss in the raft and jump in. I was told to stay to the right. I'm instantly flying to the left. I'm on my knees in my raft trying not to topple and also trying to row to the right. I hear friends screaming "to the right! to the right!!" For some reason rowing seems to be spinning me in a circle and I can’t seem to get it right. 'Then I hear screams and 2 girls in inner tubes - also out of control grab onto my raft. I can’t pull these women, but they don’t let go. "Help us!" they shout. I panic. Yup. I haven’t felt like this..well…I don’t think in my whole life. I have no control. I glance up to see the rock beach ahead I'm supposed to stop at, and Shane yelling at me "TO THE RIGHT!" Fuck this. I throw my oar into the raft, flop half way into the water and pray to God my upper body strength is as good as I think and start to paddle for my dear life. I manage to fight the current and get to rock beach before slamming into the left side with all the trees and shit that would have punctured my raft and sent me flying. They pull me and the other girls in; I stumble out, heart racing and turn to Shane - "FUCK THIS!!!!!! " He laughs - "That’s the worse part". The girls I “saved” hug me and move on. Bitches. I realize I don’t know how T did...she's on an inner tubey sitting float, I spin around and there she is. Fine. Big ol’ smile on her face. She sailed right to the damn beach. I look around and watch fellow rafters crashing into the rock beach, some laughing, some a bit pale like me. After a bit, a cig and some swigs I calm down. We head out. Now I can latch on to people, you can’t when you first get in - obviously! So I latch onto Shane/D's army like raft and figure they can do the work. Shane does - god love him. I help paddle and kick when needed, but the rest of the day I'm staying with them. The 1st part was just us; poor T was on her own but handled it like a champ. We all met up at beach 2. This was another embankment but an open space to stop and chill sort of. It was so damn hot. We took the Kelly's Beach group photo here, ate our lunches, drank, laughed and kept reapplying sunscreen. Then I saw a rope swing. Most people were too scared to do it. Hell, I can handle anything now! "I'll fucking do it!!!" Some folks ahead of me did not fare well, but one fellow back flipped. Ok...I can do this. I grab the bottom of the rope and swing out over the river and launch in. I rule. I got cheered by so many people. Yup..little rush. SO I did it again. 2nd time...not so graceful...swung into the tree branches a bit, but still pulled it off. I think I made Shane proud. We head out again. Now there are about 4 or 5 of us attached to Shane. Heading down the river was fun, it was relaxing in parts, but there were parts that needed work. You have to constantly be aware and row or paddle away from the current sometimes. Beach 3 was some dudes house. Ya – huge beautiful house right on the lake with an abnormally large front grassy area. Some other partier was telling us the dude sometimes grills for the river rats. We all hang there for a while, waiting for our party to get together again. Some think it’ll be fun to have a “roll down the hill race”. People are dancing, drunk, eating, laughing. I’m in an out of the water it’s so damn hot. We head off again. This time our group all attached to each other is probably about 10 people. We float down the rest of the trip. One of our buddies is passed out and richcochets off a wall – that made for comedy. About this time I have to admit – I was over it. 6 hours floating down the river was about 45 min too long. I was starting to shiver at this point; my alcohol level must have worn down. We roll right up to our site, climb out and pull the rafts onto shore as I go sprinting for a towel and some warmth. We all get ourselves together, rinse off make some grub and start drinkin some more. Most crash out early this night. I stay up for a while listening to “campfire” stories then call it a night. Right as I doze off, I’m awaken by about 15 people surrounding my tent with flashlights – some not even our people. “Look at it! It’s so cute! What’s it doing?” For the next 10 minutes or so I listen to people ogling over a baby raccoon apparently. I want to get out of the tent but its right outside my door! I then hear its musical noise followed by “Its raping that shoe!!!!!!!!!!”. Sigh. That’s my shoe. Those are my river shoes. Apparently getting violated by a baby raccoon. The little bastard then moves on I guess raping other shoes. Lord. A couple of hours go by and I cant sleep, so I get up again hoping to not come across this little creature and everyone else is out. I’m alone. So I wander around the whole campground, then by the river, then sit for a while contemplating life. It’s so quiet, so serene. I finally attempt to sleep again to no avail. Sunday we’re up, packin and out. We’re all tired, dirty, and happy. It certainly was an interesting trip

Bubbles...

I admit - I'm one of those people who refuses to let go of my childhood innocence. I mean - of course - I'm an adult now, and there aint much innocence left in these old bones, but I'll always hold on to a small portion. A little piece, a little hope, a little...well fun. That is also one of the things I love most about my mother - she has always held on to that as well. I think it makes for happier people if you just keep a little. Reality blows, growing up is hard, life is strange but as long as you never forget what it was like to be a child, a little one, no responsibility, everything was new and exciting then it cant be all that bad.
I love when little things remind me of this. They may be silly to some, but that doesnt stop me from enjoying them in the least bit! Tonite I was outside for an evening cig, the reminants of our beach themed tea party still spread about. I was watching the girls peer out at me thru the screen door like they love to do when I'm outside and noticed the giant bottle of bubbles my mom had got for the party. I thought it would be entertaining to see how they would react to a few bubbles floating in the air. Of course it fascinated them, but I found myself enjoying it just as much. I was concentrating on trying to make a really big bubble, I was swirling it around to see how many I could get in one swing, I was inhaling and exhaling to see if I could make the bubbles breathe. I ended up giggling and completly enjoying myself out there all alone blowing bubbles.
Its that. That childhood enjoyment. Dont ever let it go. I dont care how ridiculous you may look - its priceless. It happens in moments. Walking in a park and you find yourself skipping. Stopping to smell a pretty flower. Laughing until your sides hurt, seeing something that excites you and squealing at a pitch only dogs can hear, or finding yourself blowing bubbles. We cant ever let that go.

She breaks again...

My heart breaks for Iran. My heart breaks for the friends and family of Neda, whose horrific death was caught and spread across the world via the internet. I watched. I shouldn’t have watched, or I should have. I’ve been reading and following and crying. I saw that and felt sick to my stomach. It turned over and knotted as tears rolled down my face as I watched this girl die. My heart breaks for all the people who are in the midst of everything, dealing with death and violence and poverty every day. I tried to escape last night through my weekly kickballin followed by drinking probably more then I should have afterwards. I was trying to dull the pain. My brother and I began talking, discussing, my eyes started to well up again. At the bar, in front of everyone. “I wish I could fix the world”, I said my lip quivering, trying to fight back the tears. He moved from the talk of Iran, to the talk of war. I know he was trying to shift my focus, but forgetting my feelings on war as he watched the tears start to roll he shifted the conversation to include some of those around us, taking the focus off me. I don’t believe anyone saw except him. He playfully batted my cheek as I composed myself and turned around with a grin, pretending nothing was wrong and performed one of my best acting moments yet. Smiled, laughed, smoked talked about anything but. Sadly tho the truth is I have these moments. These times in my life when the world seems to be crashing around in turmoil. I wish I could fix it. I wish I could stop the hatred. The violence. The arrogance, ignorance, the anger. It tears at my soul. I feel so helpless and useless. I struggle with my own issues, yet they seem so f-ing pathetic in comparison to what’s going on in the world around me. It consumes me. As I parted ways last night he said “Don’t think too much on it kid, you know you”. I do. A Dr. told me that once. “Jami, you can’t take the world on your shoulders, you need to concentrate on you”. I’m trying. I’m doing better, but a piece of me is screaming out for the violence to stop. R.I.P. Neda. My heart goes out to those in peril across the world…

Patience and humor...

Patience.
One of my least favorite words. I am not a patient person. At all.
I have learned to control my hair trigger temper I used to posses. I’m actually quite mellow these days aside from the fact that my life is a circus. But I’m not patient. I get antsy. One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone doesn’t get back to me. Via email/phone/whatever. I can seriously get annoyed if I email you a question, and you don’t write back immediately. I am realistic of course, but I can’t help that little impatient demon that lives in my soul jumping up into my brain and dancing around. Again – I control these things much better then when I was younger. Work tests my patience hourly. NO ONE gets back to you around here. Whatever. I do have a point. Which is this. I’m seriously having my patience tested. So f-ing much right now it’s ridiculous. I’m living at home now, yes I have a job but it pays crap – not allowing me to survive living on my own right now. I’m single. There are some fellas that seem to peak interest every now and again – but I tell ya – If I don’t see some sort of action on their part within oh…a minute, I assume its nothing. BUT, if I was patient – I could accept the fact that I’m home finally paying off the ex-bastards debt. I will be debt free before I move out again. By the time I pay of said debt I’m hoping the economy will have turned around somewhat and I can get a better paying job, or move up financially here. Then move back out. Debt free. That will be AMAZING. I’m also meeting new people, joining different circles of friends, which means I’ll meet more boys – maybe actually “date” more. But again – this all requires PATIENCE. Fuck me. So I’m being tested. I’m also being teased. Who says the universe doesn’t have a sense of humor – I’m driving home from somewhere that should have been a fun satisfying time, but wasn’t and now I’m annoyed. When I get annoyed I tend to bitch at myself in my car whilst driving. Yup – I’m the crazy lady talking to herself in the car. (Altho now-adays people think I’m on a Bluetooth – but now you all know I’m actually just insane). So I’m driving along bitching out load to myself, “My life sucks!”. “I’m 33 and living at home”. “I have no real relationship with a man!” “I have no money!” “I hate my job!”….these sorts of bitchings, but of course more humorous because apparently my little tirades can be entertaining. Anywho, I then sigh…It’ll all work out RIGHT!!??? I stop at a light and look to my right and there on a bustop is a giant sign with the title PATIENCE. It’s yellow, with blue writing. I don’t even know what it was advertising or what else was on it, but I saw that and burst out laughing. “Ah ha you son of bitch! Very funny!” I then shout at the universe, pointing my finger at the sign. (Of course the woman at the bustop thought I was pointing at her and I think I miffed her, but that was just one of those moments.)
So yes. I’m trying so very hard to be patient and to be positive. I’m doing it. But I’m not going to say I’m liking it. I’m taking it with a grain of salt, and most of the time things get so ridiculous it gets funny…but ah such is the life of Jami right? I hope you can find joy and laughter in my circus.

Havasu 09

Sorry no photos as of yet....I did not take any but Tish and Keith did so hopefully I'll be getting those sooner rather than later.
I'm back from a weekend at the desert! The weekend started off with our attendance to Gogol Bordello on Thursday, but I shall wait for photos from T as I believe the photos will tell some faboo stories...Anywhoo -
Friday morning, driving home from Pomona after about 2 hours maybe of sleep I rush into the door and pack. I get the call that we're leaving later then planned...more like 2pm...I cringe...Memorial traffic...lord. And LORD was it! Tish and I drove, Wendy riding with Tish, Sonia riding with me. We hit the road and crawled to Havasu. We were supposed to meet at a mid point - this mid point being the last stop before a looooooooong ass desert drive with no services for 65 miles. We missed it. Yup. No one seemed to know the name, Tish saw it...we missed it. So the next hour or so I was eyeing my quarter of a tank praying to the gods above we didnt run out in the middle of f-ing nowhere. We barely made it. Sadly the google maps gave us wrong directions, so after filling up we went the wrong way on the 95 and knocked another half hour out of our way. We rolled into Black Meadow Landing 7 hours later after dark. Fuck me. We unpacked, got settled, tried to find some of the other crew that was there, gave up and crashed out about midnight. We rented a mobile home that "Sleeps 6". No - barely sleeps 4.
I get the trendle bed...uncomfortable, noisy, ugh. I knew I wasnt going to be sleeping.
Saturday morning us ladies had breakfast, then I started wandering around trying to find cellphone service to no avail. But did run into Robert/Pierre as they pulled in from driving thru the nite. We helped them set up and decided to take the boat out. The weather was around 100 or so, and I was quite excited that I could probably go on the boat this year and not get ill. Sure enuff, we all headed out, put putting around the lake and anytime the boat stopped I'd hop in the water and float/play until we moved again. Pierre was my water buddy. We shot water blasters at each other, laughed drank and enjoyed life. That night we all sat around the campsite drinking margarita's and fading fast from long drives and sunshine. Sunday morning the day started off the same, Anna/Sergio/Keith rolled in. Lots of waiting around trying to get the boats launched, in order, etc and we were off again - the 2 boats headed out to London Bridge. Grasping on the to boat as to not launch out, we laughed, took breaks to dip in the lake and drank. When we arrived Keith and I were dropped off at Naked Turtle since sicky little Jami here cant make it thru the canal without yarfing all over everyone. They headed out, and we stayed at the bar drinking and catching up, and making fun of the people around us. Sadly our plans for all of us meeting there for dinner later didnt pan out due to the fact that 2 of the youngsters on Anna's boat forgot to tell thier folks where they were...sigh...we headed back. More stopping in the coves, swimming around, laughing, drinking, etc. That nite we met up with all the rest of the peeps that were there...totaling maybe around 40-50 or so. This is when the massive drinking occurred. Lets just say we initiated one of our gals by getting her topless into the lake. I think I sold her when I said "Come on...I've jetskiied naked!" (Didnt know that about me did ya...) She did. She made us proud. Later that night Wendy and I popped a squat on the beach and bonded and watched the stars. The stars are so amazing out in the desert as I'm sure you all know, and I cannot go there and not see my stars. Such a beautiful night. The next morning a bit of drama ensued trying to roll out, but we got out of there at 11am and didnt get home till 6:30. The 10 fwy came to a complete crawl. Needless to say sitting in traffic in the middle of the desert SUCKS!
A somewhat uneventful trip, but a wonderful time. I do plan on doing my usual by staying a bit longer next time around. Love you Havasu!

Doheny Blues 09...

I’ve blogged about this before, and I’ll re-blog when events like this kick ass as they usually do. Doheny Blues Festival 2009. Dad and I started going about 4 years ago and got hooked, now going every year. T joined up with us last year and has become a regular as well. This year my bro and his wife joined us. Its usually in May and it’s a 2 day event of killer blues music. We usually just attend 1 of the 2 days, this year being yesterday with BB King as the headliner.
We got there earlier then usual, hoping to get a closer parking spot and a closer spot in line. We did. Killer spot, and not far in line at all. Not many people are as insane as we are and got up at the butt crack of dawn to get down there. We sat our chairs down in line, drank our coffee, read the paper/books/magazines and chatted the 2-3 hours away. When the gates opened we headed for the mainstage to grab a prime spot. People did seem a little more psycho this year in the mad entrance rush – I almost lost my elbow to a very determined old fart. Anywhoo – we got a good spot – very close to our spot last year – in fact recognized 2 groups of people from last year (The crazy mom with zillions of kids, and the flag chair boys). Our neighbors seemed very cool and the day began.
First out was Porterhouse Bob and Down to the Bone. The singer wore a top hat, had a pimp cane with a skull on top and donned a shiny trench. Fab. They were fantastic. We were all thrilled to see the very 1st band kill it. Dad and I wandered down to the merchandise booth and had Mr. Bob himself sign a CD that dad decided to purchase he dug them so much. About this time T and I headed over and got ourselves some Italian sausage…yummmmmy, and a giant bag of kettle korn. Of course we have already begun our drinking as well. I’m stickin to the red wine booths. We stopped by the small stage to catch Keb Mo up close and personal. As we mowed down our snacks, chatted and laughed we listened to Coco Montoya in the background. Next up on the mainstage was Tommy Castro Band featuring Kenny Neal, Janiva Magness, Magic Dick and Ruthie Foster. Amazing. Tommy Castro can shred a guitar like no other. During Buckwheat Zydeco, T and I wandered the booths, purchasing some small goodies and then of course stocking up on more food (Did I mention I love festivals for the food too?). Next up was The Derek Trucks Band. Again – SICK guitarist. Derek Trucks is phenomenal. After this, T dad and I headed over to watch Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. Dad had never heard of them, and was blown away. T and I didn’t stop dancing for one second. The photos I’ve included are from the promo guy who shot us at one point – my other photos will come later. After shakin it, we headed back for the master – BB King. In between this dad bought me a 2nd cowboy hat so I’m now set for more festivals and river trips! BB of course was outstanding. He chatted up the audience as much as he played. Watching the King of Blues is always amazing. His smile, his laugh, his skills – I love him. 83 and still a fucking master.
After the show as the MC was thanking everyone and the crowd was packing up their stuff, I had a battle with my chair – I handed it off to D to try to close it and as she slammed it onto the ground the ground shook. Shane and I looked at each other – yup earthquake. That’s right – this festival was so amazing it shook the earth! Ha ha ha ha!
The fun didn’t stop there – on our way home tipsy, sun kissed and happy Dad blasted oldies on the radio and when “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” we all broke out into song. Yup – it was hysterical – Dad, Shane and I were the “Weem Aways” D singing the main and of course Miss T had the opera parts. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. I do believe my bro and sis-in-law are now hooked and will join us for future years.
This is one of my favorite events of the year. T went as far as to say best day of 09 yet. It was amazing. Great food, great company, ocean breezes, lots of booze and out-fucking-standing blues music! A huge thank you to my dad for always making this possible.