Right Lads, Breakfast Time!

Up and at 'em gang!


The Kid.


The club house is packed, no tables, but they sneak us in.


Eggs made to Gustin's specifications.


What is she doing back there? During breakfast?!


The gang, pumped for La Quinta.

A Nature Walk, a Tender Talk

And so, the night passed. The mountains still cradling the ranch whilst Chronos heaved his mighty sunrod from the east.


Andrew and I were early to rise and, on a trek though harsh desert, we discovered flora and fauna known only to colonists of the desert regions.


Gerbils with tiny wings afixed to the tops of their heads appeared in droves, and lingered, refraining from flight.


A suncooked and petrified stump tells a tale of ancient majesties, resounding with choruses from distant mountains. The desert is a cruel and timeles place, where forgotten lives decay and will be dust...


Love is Tender
And knows no gender.

An Evening at the Tree

Dusk at Smoke Tree.


A time to reflect on a long day of travel, and to await the balance of our team.


As the latecomers made their approach...


...conversation would soon turn to far graver matters.


A storm was coming.


A golden shower from which there would be no escaping. Mild concern escalated to fear.


Though some remained complacant, one thing became certain...


...it was 'every man for himself'.

...stay tuned for tennis court touch and go a la the pedo shack...

Send in More Troops!

We picked up Gustin.


O'Boyle and Crum had returned from golf and were illing poolside.


Crumpacker and Dick played full contact pong.


Dick got injured.





Crum showed no mercy.

Pool Time

We fired up some chicken on the grill as we waited for Andy to join the fray. Remember that, guys?

Smoke Tree At Last

Will O'Boyle's Bachelor Party - Palm Springs

And they're off... 4/20/07 arrival in Palm Springs. O'Boyle, Bleiman, and our gracious host Jim Crumpacker arrived 4/19 and beds are already a hot commodity. Threats of a golden shower loom overhead.




Our vehicle, a vintage Cadillac, displays the legendary Smoke Tree insignia on its windshield. I can smell the ranch from here.


Along the route to Crum's, the mildly retarded, but ever faithful Nunzio "G" greets us at Ralph's and demands I snap this portrait. We would later consider bringing G back to the ranch for late night.