I hate when people I work with over-explain the simplest of tasks to me. Just because they are inept, doesn't mean I am. The woman I am helping in the finance department has very little clue as to what she is doing, and she is the one training me. How the hell does that happen?? Why have I had to correct her repeatedly on invoicing and vouchering? I was feeling really snarky about it all until I was told by the Accounting Manager that they are using me to weed her out. Hee hee! I feel better now.

Enjoy your job while it lasts Chicken Head! :-P

My son was hanging out with his homies, chillin in the VIP section and such, and had a great time this weekend. I'm so glad he's hooked up with this bunch of kids at the p0ww0ws. They aren't hokey NDNs or, even worse, legit NDNs with big attitudes. They are real Native kids who have a solid understanding of their culture and they aren't stuck up (even though their families are well known and the kids themselves are da' bomb!!) - they are awesome.

Here is a pic that was online of Loren, she has a amazing voice!!

This is Loren's brother, who my son also hangs out with.

I had some pics of my boy with his other friends but I think Photobucket ate them. Go figure. :-(

The only crappy thing to happen was that one of the drum groups was going to have my son sing with them, recorded their competition songs so he could learn them and be ready, and then told him the next morning that they didn't want him to sing. They actually told his friend that they thought my son wasn't good enough and that is what really bummed him out. He handled it very maturely and I was proud of him. Maybe next time that drum group shouldn't be so stupid as to forget their own drum and have to borrow one from a kid. Hmm.. I wonder if they shared any of their winnings with my son's friend considering he was kind enough to let them use his drum for the entire weekend. I'll have to ask 'cuz I'm nosey like that!

Myself, I had a good weekend and really enjoyed being with all my extended family. The first night I stayed in my tent and nearly froze my ass off, but the rest of the weekend I stayed at the fancy-shmancy casino hotel. I got invited out to dinner twice but declined both times. First was my long-time friend Grant who has recently started doing some big time flirting and then the other was a guy named Charles who started talking to me last year and this year said "I want you to know, I really like you." Hehehehe. I appreciate the attention but I'm not interested in moving to North Carolina (Grant) or Wisconsin (Charles).

This is the drum that Charles sings on.

New admirer Charles

Another singer on the same drum as Charles. I have no idea what their group name is.

A couple women singing behind the drum. (Different drum group)

In this picture the drum, which is out of view on the left, has been whistled. What this means is that a dancer who has decided the song being sung is so good and so moving he honors the drum by blowing a whistle carved from eagle bone. Not just any dancer can do this, usually the dancer is a veteran or has gone through Sundance ceremony which gives him the right to possess the eagle whistle. Once the dancer whistles the drum the drum is now singing for him only and he is dancing for the drum only. It is so awesome and so powerful! Often times I cry when this happens. Anyway, others continue to dance in the main dance arena, but the dancer who whistled the drum dances right next to the drum giving it all he's got. He may invite other dancers to dance with him in the smaller circle that gathers around next to the drum but to enter that circle without invitation is a huge show of disrespect. Some of the women sing with their backs to the drum almost as if creating a barrier between the ceremony and the rest of the activities going on in the dance arena. While this is going on the Native people who wish to show their respect and honor the drum may throw money onto the drum. Pictures are not allowed at this time because what is happening is akin to ceremony, which is why I didn't photograph the dancer or the drum. I wish I could video the event because it is so incredible to see, but even if it was allowed, you would still never feel the tremendous power and energy that surrounds it. Like I said, I often times cry when a drum has been whistled.

My explanation of a drum being whistled is only partial, and there are surely tribal or regional variations, it should give you an idea of one of the beautiful things that can be experienced at one of these events.

(In most other cases when money is thrown onto the drum it means that the drum is either so bad or so disrespectful that they are being asked to leave the event. When a drum has been whistled putting money on the drum means exactly the opposite.)

Closeup of someone's roach spreader. Nice beadwork too!

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