Peter Lebeck Chapter #1866

Greetings and blessings from Castel Gandolfo West, on the central coast.

We had a fine Spring Doin's at Ft. Tejon, and thank you to all for your support. Your attendance is key to filling the chapter coffers, your rub funds the erection of our monuments to history around Kern County. While admission to our doin's is pretty cheap for a weekend of camping and the fine grub, you were also very generous by making a LOT of purchases at our store. Thank you!

As far as fun… we had some… and some more. Our Hangman and crew continued the tradition of creativity. There are pictures, but someone bribed Mikee not to make them public. I sent a counter-bribe; let's see if it was enough.

After the doin's Gene Dunker provided me transport to the Rankin Ranch and back to present our monument to the ranch in time for its 150th anniversary. Our Clampatriarch, Mikee; Vice Humbug, Charles Topping; and two fairly new redshirts, Bob Nolen and Jim Filkins; also made the trip to Rankin Ranch. There was speechifying, history was told, and some got verklempt as Gene told our history and why we do what we do. All were impressed and thankful for our dedication and work on this project, and we were honored to be a part of marking this milestone for the ranch. One of the Rankins' latest generation, a little girl about 5 years old, placed a horse shoe in the monument during its erection and will have something to share with her grandkids.

And if we continue our dedication to keeping this chapter alive for the next 50 years, that Rankin girl will be able to share her story of the horseshoe buried deep in the monument with the next generation of PXL brothers when they erect our 200th anniversary monument to the Rankin Ranch.

Hole der 1st
PXL XNGH #52

 

 

 

Congratulations to Humbug Russ "Hole" Chapman and his officers, and thanks to all who made it to our Spring Doin's at Fort Tejon. It was a most satisfactory weekend, starting with our dedication at Sue's Tavern in nearby Frazier Park, to our dedication of our new monument at Rakin Ranch in Walker Basin. In between the weather was great and we filled the parking area at Fort Tejon, so you no longer have to imagine a sold out PXL Doin's. We finally done it. Cookie would have been proud.

Give me a few days to put together a more thorough report and to get the pictures together. I've got way more stinkers than usual because I'm actually trying to learn how to use my camera the good ol' fashioned way, plus I've got a 'hole lot more ugliness to deal with. Not sure I can do much about that, but in the meantime, please drop by Peter's Board and leave your comments about our event. It will be very much appreciated.

--MGM

Last minute flash update! As of Thursday morning Dickhead Weather Central is predicting great weather for this weekend's doin's. Sunny all weekend, with 0% chance of precipitation. (That's fancy talk for no snow, sleet, hail, fog or rain.) So take Friday off and come on up and join us for the weekend! Friday's high is expected to be 75, with a nighttime low of 55. Saturday's high is expected to be 81, with a nighttime low of 57. Sunday's weather will be similar. Winds should be negligible all weekend.

Here are the thumbnail directions to the Clampsite.

Take Interstate 5 to Fort Tejon Exit 210. From the north, the exit will put you near the service road at the south end of the public parking lot. From the south, continue down the street, over the bridge and then accross the public parking lot. At the south end of the parking lot turn up the service road. It will take you behind the historic buildings. The campground will be on your left. To protect the sprinkler system please do not park on the lawns. See you there!

Just a few last minute notes for Tuesday before the Doin's. If you are coming up to Fort Tejon and haven't prepaid, you should RSVP to Vaquero, our Gold Dust Receiver at GDR@EVC1866.org, so he can add you to the count. Or call him at (626) 358-3380. You'll still pay $60, but you'll get priority on food ahead of anyone who just drops in at the gate.

If you can make it up early on Friday, please join Flintstone, Boulder and the rest of Petey's Flying Circus and help the chapter set up camp. It's always good to have multiple hands when we're unloading the trailer and putting up the awnings. We're shooting for 10:00 a.m., but we'll accept your help anytime, especially when we break Clamp on Sunday. Brotherhood is a group effort, and we know we can count on you.

As is our custom, PBCs will not begin their ordeal until Saturday Morning but all PBCs will be expected to pitch-in as needed from the time they arrive until the time they leave. PBCs will be permitted to fraternize with the Brothers on Friday, but must be turned over to the Hangman when they first arrive. There will be absolutely NO PBC harassment on Friday, and a PBC must be sober and report promptly for his initiation -- no exceptions.

Friday's festivities begin at 4:03 p.m. with our Watering Hole dedication at Sue's Tavern, 3440 Mount Pinos Way, Frazier Park, CA 93225. Take the Frazier Park off ramp and go west on Frazier Mountain Park RD, or from Fort Tejon, go south on I-5 and take the Lebec off ramp. Follow the road until it intersects with Frazier Mountain Park Rd and turn right (west). The entrance to the town of Frazier Park will be on about 3.7 miles west of the freeway. Turn right up the hill, the street will become Mount Pinos Way. Sue's will be on your left.

Sue's has a distinctive rock facade, and was a speak easy and road house during prohibition. It features tunnels that were often used to hide hooch from the revenuers and which provided patrons easy access to what was once a neighboring (and neighborly) house of ill-fame. An interesting history, indeed.

Just a reminder to those not familiar with our Doin's and with the Grapevine area. The chapter does not provide a big or little slippery, so you are responsible for your own adult libations. The chapter's "hospitality central" has complimentary sodas and snacks. There is also a CHP headquarters directly across I-5 from Fort Tejon, so you'll want to keep that in mind when traveling to and from Frazier Park. We do want to see you make it back from Sue's in time for Hole's Full Moon VooDoo Chili and the rest of the evening's entertainment. So seemly (and inconspicuous) decorum are advised.

Lastly the weather is continuing to look even better as the weekend approaches, so I know this one's going to be great. We're talking high 70's during the day and low 60's at night. For more information about our Spring Doin's continue reading down the CLOG. See you at the Fort.

-- MGM

Thanks to all who signed up for this weekend's Spring Doin's at Fort Tejon. If you didn't postmark by Sunday or prepay by Paypal before the price went up, we still have room for you but we would appreciate at least an email to let us know you are coming. Of course you'll have to pay ten dollars more at the gate, but we'll still be glad to see you.

If you want to know why we are not fond of people just thinking that they can pay at the door, well it's because at PXL we want to be known for our great food, and that extra $10 really doesn't cover our grief, especially when we are far away from a butcher or supermarket. For instance those juicy "Timeye" steaks are hand dressed, and each center-cut slab of prime rib costs us over $120 at wholesale prices. So if we suddenly find ourselves short of steaks because someone didn't preregister, you know who is going to go without, and you don't want it to be you. That may cause hard feelings, but you'll only have yourself to blame. FYI.

Weather for our outing remains in flux, but this is shaping up to be an unusually warm spring so you can definitely leave your mummy bag at home. The elevation at Fort Tejon is about 4,000 feet, but as of a few days ago daytime highs were projected to be in the low 90's -- which would have been record highs for the Grapevine Pass at the end of April. As of now, Dickhead Weather Central is predicting daytime highs in the low 70's and nighttime lows in the high 40's, with negligible winds. So keep an eye on the weather but expect pleasant Clamping with no rain.

We plan to start assembling our kit at 10 am. Friday morning. So if you can join us then, you can join the circus - Petey's Flying Circus, that is. We'll have a small memento of the day for everyone who comes early and helps out, or stays at the end and helps us pack-up. Once again, Fred "Flintstone" Fenski and Dave "Mr. Boulder" Staley will rock our world.

Our Humbug also reports that the Rankin Ranch Monument is now complete and ready for it's dedication Sunday, April 28, 2013, at 1 p.m. All are encouraged to head up to Walker Basin after the Spring Doin's to participate in the celebration. Allow an hour and a half for the ride to Walker Basin from Fort Tejon. Thanks to all who helped our NGH Russ Chapman with his erection. A real Hole in One this one is, and there's nothing like a group effort. So thanks again, Bob Nolen, Schnappsy Moen, VNGH Charles "Al VII" Topping, and PXL X's, Bob Clemmenson, Gene Duncker, and Joe Szot. Y'all dun gud. (I mostly just got to take pictures and drink beer).

If you can recall the Widders' Ball back in January, we offered a first time "Grand Clamper Prize" to anyone who would buy into this special but spectacular raffle. For a measly saw-buck, some lucky Clamper would earn admission to all of our Doin's for the year, including a pass for two to our 2014 Widders' Ball. That could be worth over $200 depending on whether or not we have a summer event.

Well both I and the Clampcrier were busy at the time and neither of us took names. For months I had no idea who had walked away with the prize. Out of necessity I actually left a blank slot on the CLOG for the name of the winner hoping to find out which redshirt needed to be congratulated.

As it turns out, on the night of the Widders' Ball, I had surrendered my camera to GDR Luis Bouza, who snapped a photo of Pati Nolen with incoming Grand Noble Recorder, Kevin "The Yeti" Oviatt. When I posted the pic I thought it was just an elegant photo of Pati in period dress which made a nice illustration for the CLOG. And it was double kudos to her, because her husband Bob Nolen was in the Midwest on business and Pati had come staggette.

Then I found out that what I had was a picture of Patti after she had just won the Grand Clamper Prize…won the Grand Clamper Prize…won the Grand Clamper Prize. Doesn't a Clamper have to have…um...yeah, and not…um…um, you know, those? So what's a Chapter to do? Well as outgoing Salmon it was left to me to send the following condolence letter:

See you Friday. And if you get there early, we'll let you join the Flying Circus...whether or not our Brother Bob has taken out the garbage.

MGM, XNGH -- "Recording No Cyber Before Its Time."

 

 

NO. Dickhead has not been turned into a Zombie, at least not yet, but you won't get to find out how this one ends if you don't attend the Peter Lebeck Spring Doin's at Fort Tejon, April 26-28. But hurry, because our Doin's is less than ten days away and time is running out! The prepay deadline is this Friday, April 19th, but we'll even extend this special rate if you post mark or Paypal your dust by Sunday night. After that you'll be suffering the consequences. It's $10 more at the door, and that's assuming that we'll let you in without begging, pinkie swearing, wearing your widder's chonies and offering us a bribe.

So don't miss out, because at PXL we're known for our hospitality; and if you're not one of us, you'll likely become one of our own by the end of the weekend, especially once you've partaken of Hole's secret recipe: Friday Night's "FULL MOON VOODOO CHILI." Now I'm not about to tell you what's in it (eye of Newt, horn of Barack, shreds from a certain Kenyan birth certificate?), but I've heard tell that if eaten when the moon is full, this unique concoction will spur hair to migrate from chest to pate, and cause the male anatomy to broaden, elongate and tergify with startling and lasting effects!

Spend the entire weekend with us and we guarantee your widder will thank us.

Plus you'll continue to partake of the legendary Peter Lebeck cuisine which resumes Saturday morning with our Graybeards' Potluck Breakfast. Bring us your meat and tortillas, and we'll provide the eggs and beverages. Then come back later for lunch, then twice again for a one pound Ribeye Dinner with Super Beans and all the fixxin's and a continental breakfast on Sunday. Stuff a whole lot of camaraderie in between, including our hilarious group activities, and it's the best $50 you'll spend this side of the Vatican - just make sure you prepay and tell our Damn Fool Doorkeeper that, "Francis sent me."

By the way we did invite a certain high level prelate to our Doin's, but ever since the College of Cardinals took away his red shirt, he's had some pretty busy weekends - something about not being able to come because he promised the Swiss Guard he'd be teaching them the finer points of Argentine grilling.

So Francis may have to send his regrets, but you don't have to. Just pop on over to our sign-up page to read all about Fort Tejon, and to get the flyer and directions. You'll even find a Paypal portal worthy of Mr. Scott. And if you're bringing a PBC, scroll down the Doin's Page to find our "Do's and Donuts" and a handy link to the PBC Handbook, which will provide you with all the resources you'll need to get your candidate into shape for his ordeal. But whatever you do, don't put this off! Or you'll find yourself on the wrong end of our Hawker's "Marie Laveau Commemorative Pin" collection.

One final reminder. We'll be celebrating THREE dedications on our Spring Doin's weekend. The first will be at Sue's Place in Frazier Park on Friday afternoon, to designate this historic tavern as an official ECV Watering Hole. The second will be on Saturday in the Fort Tejon parking lot to rededicate our plaque commemorating Peter Lebeck; and the third will be on Sunday afternoon up in Walker Basin to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Rankin Ranch. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend all three events, just keep in mind that civilians will be present and seemly decorum is required. All three plaquings are important to the future of our chapter, and Rankin Ranch in particular is key to our future ability to Clamp the breadth of our territory, so we encourage you to stick around and attend.

And for those of you who missed the Rankin Ranch Monument work party on April 6th, I've put together a Youtube slideshow to commemorate what we did and how we did it. I've posted it on the Clampdown Page. If it doesn't come up hit the refresh button on your web browser. The show is eleven minutes long, and you could regard it as an instructional video but for the very beautiful images of Walker Basin and its surroundings. It's definitely worth your time especially if you didn't even consider getting out of your comfort zone and joining us for this most satisfying event.

I have to agree with Dickhead. If all our EXEs lived in Texas, we'd be screwed. Clamping isn't just about drinking beer. The younger guys -- especially the officers and would be officers -- need to get their hands dirty and learn how real Clampers commemorate history. This is the first rock and mortar pedestal monument PXL has built since 1980, and if you didn't come-up, you missed out.

Lastly we will be having an after Friday Dinner "Hole-joke-a-thon," so think of something funny, and in the best Clamper tradition, the Humbug -- especially any "HOLE" Humbug -- is fair game. So think of your best Hole Joke, and then, "Let the sucker have it!" We also want to remind you that we will be having the traditional raffle on Saturday Night, so if you have something you'd like to add to the cache of goodies your donation will be appreciated. I know some guys brought contributions to the Widders' Ball, but we limited ourselves that night to just a few special items in order to quickly get the Widders to the dance floor. If you donated something to the chapter back in January, we will be including it in the Spring Sortéo. We just wanted to let you know that we haven't forgotten your generosity, and thanks again.

See you at Fort Tejon.

MGM, XNGH -- "Recording No Cyber Before Its Time."

 

 

Just a quick post... You don't want to miss this Saturday's workparty at Rankin Ranch. We'll be buttering blocks and stacking rocks, and topping them off with a nice new shiny brass plaque in honor of Rankin's 150th Anniversary. If you don't like beer, still come; but if you do, bring some. We'll be getting started at 9:30 a.m., and we have all the tools and materials we'll need to get the job done -- though you may want to bring some gloves, a trowel, a towel and a bucket, plus a strong back.

Mrs. Rankin will be fixing lunch, but if you have thoughts of camping over you should email Hole at Humbug@ECV1866.org so we know to expect you for dinner. The weather on Saturday is predicted to be splendid, with a daytime high of 79, and a nighttime low of 49, but expect some wind. For details and additioal directions, read down into the CLOG.

Last, but hardly least, there's a new Hole Post! You'll find it on The Humbugs Page. Hole wants to encourage everyone to go Clamping, and not just at PXL. You'll also want to check out the Holey approved Vimeo video on Malloy's and the annual Norton Day celebration. And don' forget to listen to Radio ECV.

-- MGM

Happy Easter and Happy Passover to you and your families, dear Cloggites, and welcome back to the PXL CLOG! Ironically this is supposed to be the season for reflection, but no doubt you've had plenty to do to get ready to meet the demands of the holiday. In my case that comes down to spiffifying the place inside and out to get it ready for family headed our way for Easter Dinner -- which some time ago became Easter Brunch - which now features lox, bagels with a shmear, plus the traditional ham. I'm not sure how that happened or even why anyone would think that appropriate, but it seems to work around here. Besides no one goes away hungry, especially after dessert. So chocolate bunnies beware.

But enough about that. April is here and it's time to focus on our upcoming Clamping events, but first a little Easter History. The House of Fabregé remains famous for the bejeweled eggs it produced for the Royal Family of Russia prior to the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Recently the Hermitage, that famous St. Petersburg museum, which houses many of Russia's historic artifacts, uncovered this long lost Fabregé egg which bear the cryptic lettering "PXL."

The Russians are actually pretty gaga when it comes to Easter, so this discovery has caused quite a stir all across the country, and there has been much speculation in the Russian Press about what this might mean; especially since the lettering isn't in Cyrillic but in Roman script.

Well we here at the CLOG think we've solved the riddle of the PXL Frabregé Egg. Delving into our archives we recently uncovered this oil painting of Czar Nicholas II bearing the PXL emblem, and we are now free to confirm that he was in fact a member of Peter Lebeck.

Yes, it turn out that Nikki "Not My Yob" Romanov, was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, as were so many notables of that period. How he secretly made it out of Moscow to Bakersfield for his initiations is to this day a mystery. What we do know is that Czar Nicholas wore the PXL insignia prominently up until the time of the revolution, and then ditched it, most likely to prevent an international incident between the insurgent Soviet Government and the citizens of Bakersfield.

We'll always be grateful for that, Nikki, and it's even been said that when you faced that Bolshevik firing squad you flashed the sign of the well jackass. Satisfactory, Bro' … and so it goes.

Next up. If you haven't signed-up for our Spring Doin's, I just gotta ask you -WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Our Doin's is four weeks away and you don't want to miss out on this one. Fort Tejon in the spring is one of the most pleasant places to Clamp in all of California. The hillsides are green; the wild flowers are in bloom, and the deer come down to the canyon floor to check us out because they think Clampers are weirder than deer that think Clampers are strange for checking out the deer.

Plus no one who ever signs on to one of our doin's ever goes hungry. You get the benefit of Sunday's continental breakfast plus four full meals, including Friday Night's Bonus Super Supper of beef and pork ribs à la Mama Timbo, plus Saturday's famous one pound "Tim Eye" steaks with all the fixin's, including Timbo's multi award winning Super Beans.

And if that isn't enough, Friday and Saturday Nights will feature a full moon - so feel free to walk the parade grounds in the moonlight, chill on the porch of the historic officers' quarters, and savor the nighttime natural beauty of one of the most historic locations that central and southern California has to offer -- all for one low, low price.

And getting there is a cinch. Fort Tejon is right off Interstate 5, and the campground is yards behind the historic areas, and includes enough meadow to stake your tent, plus a parking lot with plenty of room to station your RV or bus. The Brothers of Branciforte, whose territory occupies one of the most scenic areas of northern California, were so impressed with Fort Tejon that they brought their annual Coyote Howling to the fort in 2010, and guys are still talking about it. So is it a special place? Yeah, it is. And we're sure that you won't be disappointed. Just go to our Spring Doin's Pages to start your adventure, and sign-up before April 19th to save $10 each for you and your PBC.

Next up is our spring work party this coming Saturday, April 6th, at 9:30 a.m. We'll be meeting up at Rankin Ranch in Walker Basin to complete the monument to be unveiled to the public on Sunday afternoon, April 29, 2013. We'll have the necessary tools and materials so all we should need are a few strong backs. Directions to the site can be had by reading down into the CLOG where you'll find a link to Google Maps that will get you to the intersection of the Caliente-Bodfish and Walker Basin Roads.

As things stand right now, the Rankins will be providing lunch. Camping is available, so if you'd like to spend the night please let NGH HOLE know so we can provide dinner. You'll find the Humbug's contact information below in the last post. Keep in mind that it gets cold up in Walker Basin in the spring so if you think you might stay over, pack accordingly.

Last but not least, I'd like to give a shoutout to Muleskinner of Grug Gulch for his most excellent ECV Radio Station. I've added a link to the column on the left which provides for easy access. Muley's "internet only" mix provides the best 70's Rock and old school Country music to be found anywhere but the radio. Enjoy.

See you at Fort Tejon.

MGM, XNGH -- "Recording No Cyber Before Its Time."

 

 

Spring is in the air, and it's time to start thinking about your Clamp-year. As we approach our Spring Doin's on April 26-28 at Fort Tejon, we will have a work party on April 6th to support our Fall Doin's. I know ... I know ... It looks like a typo but it's not. Our Fall Doin's will be at Rankin Ranch in Walker Basin, but we need to get our plaque mounted in time for the big celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Rankin Ranch, which happens the same weekend as our Spring Doin's. The Rankin Family wants to show off our monument and plaque to their peers in the ranching community, and that will provide us the exposure we need to plaque the other eight Kern County ranches which are over 100 years old.

Rankin's 150th celebration is expected to draw a couple hundred people and some will be camping there all weekend. After hearing how large this celebration will be, we decided that having our doin's at the ranch that weekend would overcrowd the area, and place us waayyy too close to the public. So the Hole Plan is we mount the plaque and unveil it at the ranch on April 28th at 1PM, and then clamp there in the fall when the weather is much nicer.

This project, and the timing, is very important to our chapter. If this plaque, our unveiling, and our doin's impress the other historic Kern County ranches, our work will pay off with new opportunities for plaques and Clampin' Grounds throughout Kern County for years to come.

On April 26th, the Friday of our Spring Doin's, we will be dedicating Sue's Tavern in Frazier Park as an official ECV Watering Hole. This Tavern was built in 1928, and was a grocery store for a while. It has hidden tunnels, had a history of being frequented by women of ill repute, and was a source of "the real stuff" during prohibition. What else could a clamper ask for in a historic watering Hole?

After we've had our way with Sue's, it's back to Fort Tejon to enjoy the culinary creations of Timbo, and to enjoy tall tales of the guy wearing a red shirt that shrunk a bit in the wash.

On Saturday, in addition to the usual chicanery at PBC University, Timbo will mount our original plaque to Peter Lebeck from 1972 (you can watch if you want, but no snickering), that Timbo repaired after it was damaged by vandals trying to steal it. Then in the afternoon we'll rededicate the plaque to Fort Tejon.

The head ranger at the Fort, Stephen Byers, is comp'ing PXL's use of the campground in appreciation for our work on the outhouse covers. We had one work party late last year which got us off to a good start. Then on February 23rd, Flintstone, Boulder, and a few helpers from Bedrock, uh-er… Frazier Park, held work party #2. They've been sneaking up there when they can and the three covers we started are almost complete. The guys say shingles and doors is all's that's left to do. But, we haven't even started on the 4th cover, which is an even larger rustic disguise to go around a handicap-sized outhouse. Remember, we committed to Fort Tejon that we would finish the project by June, so we'll be recruiting to see if we can squeeze out a few more volunteers at the Spring Doin's to get'er done!

Russ "Hole der 1st" Chapman, PXL NGH #52

Now a Few More Tidbits from Mikee...

OK, Guys. Mikee, here. So here's what's up between now and April 28, 2013.

April 6, 2013. NGH Hole der 1st has called for a work party to build the Rankin Ranch monument at the crossing of the Caliente-Bodfish and Walker Basin Roads. That's a Saturday, and while we don't need a lot of guys to do this, we want to encourage our Brothers from Kern County and especially our new members from the Bakersfield Area to participate, but all are welcome. Building monuments is the most important thing that we do as Clampers so you really need to get your hands dirty. Bring snacks, but the chapter will provide something to eat for both lunch and dinner, and overnight camping will be available. We discourage drinking and driving, but if you're staying over you are welcome to bring a warming libation. Keep in mind that spring evenings in the mountains can get pretty cold so if you plan to stay over pack accordingly and be prepared for some serious camaraderie.

Rankin Ranch is about an hour from Bakersfield, and about 15 miles north of Highway 58 by way of the Caliente-Bodfish Road, so if you live in or near Bakersfield it's easy for you to come on up and spend the day helping out. If you click on the graphic on your right it will take you to Google Maps. I've also included a link to the Youtube slideshow of our work party at Walker Pass from the Spring 2012, to give you an idea of what we are talking about. Just click here.

If you are coming, or are even thinking about it, please don't hesitate. Email Hole right away at Humbug@ECV1866.org, or call him on his cell at (805) 423-1276. This type of thing takes planning. You can also join the conversation on Peter's Board or Facebook. If you are having problems accessing either page please give me a call at (818) 517-8781.

April 12-14, 2013, is the weekend of the Sierra Valley Tri-Chapter put on by the mountain chapters just north of Kern County. This is the 15th Year for the Tri-Chapter, and while we are not one of its sponsors, we consider PXL to be an important supporter because it brings major camaraderie and hijinx close to home. Clampcrier Gene Dunker has established a Tri-Chapter Link on Peter's Board so if you are going, or are interested in going, please make sure to check in so we can plan to hang together. Attending events like the Tri-Chapter is a big deal, and that's especially true if you'd like to advance in Clamperdom because you really need to get around and savor other chapters. Click on the red graphic on your left to go the Tri-Chapter Homepage for sign-up information. While you're there you may also want to check out the Grub Gulch Homepage maintained by our good friend, Brother Muleskinner. He does a great job.

April 26-28, 2013, is the weekend of our own Spring Doin's at Fort Tejon. What I really like about Fort Tejon is that it is one of the most convenient, as well as historic, Clamping locations in all of Clamperdom. It sits on the edge of Interstate 5, and has its own off ramp. The campground is situated behind the parade grounds of a restored 19th Century Army Base in an oak studded canyon, and the Clamping Area can accommodate everything from tents to RVs, and even a bus or two -- and even the deer wandering through the canyon agree that it's a great place to hang out with your dear relations. The Spring Doin's pages includes a write-up on Fort Tejon and a slide show, so you'll want to check that out.

If you haven't been to one of our Clampouts before, or if you haven't been in a long time, I think you are going to be really impressed. Aside from the fact that no one else in Clamperdom has Timbo Gillespie and Joe "Smalls" Rivera to cook for them, this is going to be a "three-fer" for us.

On Friday afternoon, April 26th, his HOLE-EE-NESS, Hole der 1st, has decreed that Sue's Tavern be designated an official ECV Watering HOLE. It has a neat-o history, but the real clincher is that it has that warm pub-like quality that says "Clampers Welcome Anytime." It will be an event to remember.

On Saturday afternoon, April 27th, we'll be meeting in the Fort Tejon visitors' parking lot to rededicate our 1972 plaque commemorating our Clampatriarch, Peter Lebeck. Last year, thieves made off with one of the other brass plaques in the parking lot and nearly made off with Pete's before they gave up and drove away. All I can say is, "Pete, we're not about to let you down, Bro', so here we come!"

On Sunday afternoon, April 28th, after we break Clamp at Fort Tejon, all are invited to join us up at Rankin Ranch for the dedication of our monument to 150 years of ranching by the Rankin Family in Walker Basin. This will be a historically significant event with press and civilians present so all are invited to attend. Seemly decorum requested...but you knew that already.

And that's it for now. I hope you can make it out to our Spring Doin's. Keep your eye on this page for more shameless self-promotion and plenty of unself-conscious whining. In the meantime, make sure to check out the Spring Doin's page. I've tried to make it as convenient as possible, but whatever you do, make sure to sign-up soon to save yourself a few bucks and to keep us from taking your name in vain. You can use any combination of methods to register and pre-pay, and remember, we're guys. We'll take it any way we can get it.

Just mail your rub and registration to "Peter Lebeck -- E Clampus Vitus, Box 384, Bakersfield, CA 93302." Having problems with the downloadable form and you don't want to use the mail? You can send it back to us by email at Spring13registration@ECV1866.org, and we'll even accept a fax at (818) 366-9484. So don't wait. We want you to join us for some serious male bonding at Fort Tejon.

MGM, XNGH -- "Recording No Cyber Before Its Time."

 

 

Thanks to Ringmasters Fred and Dave, and their PBC Mike Thorson for their help at Fort Tejon last weekend. For those of you who couldn't make it, stay tuned because there is more to do and more to come. Aside from finishing up at Fort Tejon, your help may be needed at Walker Basin to do some monument related work at the Rankin Ranch before our Spring Doin's, so stay 'tooned.

Today's is a short post, but check out our Clampdown page. There's a new, short (3 minute) welcome video featuring our own Gene "D*ckhead" Duncker. Gene, who is also our Clampcrier, agreed to do this one for our "History of ECV" page, but I've also included it temporarily on the Clampdown, so all can marvel at Gene's acting chops. This video replaces the previous welcome video that featured XSNGH Tom Tompkins. Don't miss the tag at the end of the new vid shilling for our Spring Doin's.

-- MGM

Greetings faithful Cloggites, and welcome back to the PXL CLOG! We have several things to jaw about, but first up is this Saurtday's second installment of our Fort Tejon Porta-Potty Project. Some tasteless wags might even refer to it as installment "Number 2"-- though I certainly won't squat so low as to go there.

Anyway Dave Staley and Fred Fenski, who live close-by in Frazier Park, have offered to ramrod the project for us. Dave and Fred really are a couple of very nice, easy going guys, so I know you'll enjoy their camaraderie, plus we'll be doing our bit for the Fort. So please join them, starting next Saturday, February 23rd, at 8:00 a.m. Our objective is to finish the two sheds we began back in December, and what's left to do is mostly roofing and decorating the exterior sheathing with furring strips, then we'll build and attach a couple of doors, and that should do it.

So bring your screw gun, charger, hand tools and a short ladder if you have one. The park rangers can provide the big stuff. And even if construction isn't your thing, come on down anyway. The chapter will be providing lunch to everyone who comes out to help, and we'll need kitchen buddies to cook and get the guys fed. Widders are welcome, but we want to keep little ones out of the work area for safety reasons.

If you'd like a better idea of what is left to do Porta-Potty-wise, check out the photos from out last foray, you'll find them on Peter's Picture Pages. With ten guys we should easily be able to crank this out in a few hours. NGH Russ Chapman has set up a special message thread on Peter Board under "All Things Peter Lebeck" called "Support the Fort," so sign-in to the board and check out this thread for the most current details. If you have problems getting in or getting on, email or call me and I'll help you through it.

As for the continuing usefulness of Peter's Board, that brings up a broader topic that deserves some cybertime, but I'll leave that for last because we need to talk about our Spring Doin's first.

Our upcoming weekend Clampout at Fort Tejon is set for April 26-28. Everything that you will need to sign-up for our event is available on-line, right here, right now, on the PXL Website. Just use the '2013 Spring Doin's' link in the links box, or click on the flashing purple announcement at the top of this page to get started. You can download the flyer, the doin's application and even sacrifice your best plastic friend at the altar of Paypal. I've also added some new purdy blue links at the top of the page that will take you to other important pages about our chapter and our doin's. All of those pages are up with the exception of the erections page which should be up in a few days.

What I can tell you now is that Brother Hole is planning for a real doozy of a Clampout, with erections set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting with Friday afternoon's dedication of an official PXL Watering Hole in Frazier Park. Then Saturday we'll be resetting our 1972 vandalized plaque to Peter Lebeck, and Sunday afternoon we'll be headed up to Rankin Ranch to present a plaque to Bob and Glenda Rankin, whose historic families have been ranching Walker Basin for 150 years. Anyone interested in getting a sneaky peak at where we'll be Clamping in the fall is welcome to join us for a trek into the mountains. In the meantime, don't miss the page dedicated to Fort Tejon. I've posted an old video, which hopefully will make you laugh. It should give you an idea of what will be in store for you if you join us in April. We'd love to have your company, and don't forget to bring a friend.

Lastly, I'd like to address a few issues concerning what you see -- and what you can't see -- on this website. 2013 marks the eighth year for the PXL website. If websites were put together with spit and baling wire then this would be one of them. I've coded the site three times, and the first major rewrite took me over a month as I sat at home recovering from surgery. So it is a work of love - or stupidity - I'll leave it to you to decide which one. If you check out our source code you'll see a lot of amateurish mistakes, but with little time and expertise I've just force myself to live with much of the detritus because there are so many other things I want to get done and much of that work has yet to be completed.

Early on I settled on several very important but very different purposes for our site. Most people just see it as a fat glossy advertisement and recruitment tool for our doin's, which truly are the site's most obvious functions. But if you dig a little deeper, you'll see that part of what we do here is advocate for a particular vision of what a Clamper Chapter should be and do: Brotherhood, sharing concern for our members and their families, community service, and preservation of local history.

Those are all worthy goals, but when I picked-up this "little project" it slowly dawned on me that I had become an advocate for an historical organization that had let its own history fade into memory. PXL has never had a brick and mortar office, no filing cabinets, none of that stuff; so there was no one place that I could turn to find our plaques, our past officers, or information about our past doin's. Much of it was lost and will always remain lost. That was pretty sad, so the last major goal for this site became and remains, documenting our own story.

All these things have to be done in the face of changing technology. When we started, 640 by 480 pixels, was the most common display size, and most people used a 15 inch cathode ray tube. Today my cell phone's resolution is bigger than that, and my home screen is 1920 by 1080 and flat. Fortunately, by dumb luck, I picked an oddball web design that displays pretty nicely on most new devices, but that hardly addresses the other major headaches, some of which are here now and others that are looming just off the horizon. For instance, Adobe Flash, which powers many of our graphics, such as the PXL Roudel at the top of our pages, our mast, most of our picture galleries and even our music, doesn't work on Macs, iPhones, iPads and the newest Android tablets and phones. Supposedly the workaround is the new HTML 5, but the technology is not yet ready for primetime, so now I find myself scrambling to go back to older technologies that I thought were obsolete, and rebuilding many pages that I thought were rock solid. And in case you were wondering, this site has about 240 active webpages at any given time.

And that brings us back to Peter's Board. You may be asking, "Now that PXL has a Facebook page why even bother?" Well, I couldn't disagree more, at least for now. No doubt web bulletin boards are old fashioned, but they still do things that Facebook won't do. Web boards are very good at creating distinct message lists that don't get buried in the flood of stuff that comes from dozens of "friends." For instance Hole's thread about Saturday's work party at Fort Tejon has a distinct title and its own page, and brothers will read it or add to it only if they are interested. Another example is Brother Muleskinner's Clamperwide carpooling site. It's a bulletin board about carpooling to ECV functions, but its advantage is that you can create a distinct thread about a particular doin's, and to beg or offer a ride you don't have to wade through news about 50 other doin's.

So please continue to make use of our trusty, dusty Peter's Board. It remains an important resource. For the management here at PXL it gives us a way to go back and look at what we did right and where we were lacking. If you don't know how to log on, call me and I'll walk you through it.

MGM, XNGH -- "Recording No Cyber Before Its Time."

 

 

Greetings fellow PXL Brothers, I'm Russ "Hole der 1st" Chapman, the PXL Brother selected & elected to be our chapters Noble Grand Humbug for 2013 (that's 6018 in Clamper time). I've been a member of ECV now for over 13 years and originally came in at De la Guerra y Pacheco, ECV Chapter 1.5, over on the coast. I soon took to traveling around the state to attend as many chapters' doin's as I could to see for myself what each chapter is like.

It was at the 2010 Tri-Chapter that PXL's XNGH Joe Szot recruited me to bring my Queen Califa Cl'Ampitheater and Sinerama (my outdoor theater) to the PXL Fall Doin's at Tehachapi. Faster'n than you can say "Bob's your uncle," I was branded with a PXL Roundel and ended up working like a borrowed mule loading and unloading the trailer. It's not like PXL had to bulldog me to the ground or anything,… I fell in with the guys and it felt like home.

In the Clamp Year 6016 (2011) I was serving PXL as Hangman when PXL suffered the resignation of the Humbug, and the resignation of the Hawker and Treasurer. This left the chapter in a lurch, and caused the Graybeards to reconsider how we got there. The system of "going through the chairs" had failed them, so they looked around for PXL Brothers who could get things done.

Doc Charter stepped up to be our Hawker, Gene "DH" Dunker reluctantly stepped up to be our Treasurer, and the Board selected XNGH Timbo Gillespie to finish 6016 as Noble Grand Humbug. Timbo asked me to finish the year as his Hangman and to keep on maintaining the PXL kit trailer.

The chapter pulled things together in time to have a wonderful doin's at Camp Okihi in the fall to celebrate the restoration of our monument at Walker Pass. Apparently, Mikee liked my work as Hangman, my leading the work party at Walker Pass, and my keeping of the kit, because he asked me to be his Vice for 2012 (6017).

In April 2012, PXL got a second kick in the teeth when our Hawker, Doc Charter, suddenly passed on to the Golden Hills. Apart from the sadness of losing a good Brother like Doc, losing income from the store is no small matter. As Vice Humbug it fell to me to ensure that the chapter had a Hawker to pick up where Doc had left off. This kinda meant "either find another Brother, or do yourself." My efforts to find another Brother bore no fruit, so I took-up the torch and I've been Hawking for the chapter ever since. Having never been a sales-type person, I was surprised that I've enjoyed the experience.

I must've impressed the chapter Greybeards over these few years because here I am today, your Humbug for 2013 (6018). But… enough about me.

I'm happy to report that the Greybeards also elected my selection of officers and functionaries who will see to the needs of our chapter. So let me introduce them:

To my right is my Vice NGH, Charles "Al VII" Topping, who is a man of experience and respect throughout Clamperdom. He earned his stripes as an early Humbug for De la Guerra y Pacheco, but has been a long time member of Peter Lebeck by choice and my resident anchor in Kern County.

Luis "Vaquero" Bouza has traded in his Recorder's chair to be our new Gold Dust Receiver (Treasurer), and Kevin "The Yeti" Oviatt has moved from Hostrix up to Grand Noble Recorder to fill-in behind Luis. Both moves are in recognition of their dedication and hard work last year.

These moves also support a major objective of mine; allowing Gene "DH" Dunker to retire from GDR duties. Gene "took one" for the chapter when in 6016 reluctantly took the reins of chapter Treasurer, a job he didn't want or like. I for one extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to Gene. It's clampers like you that set the bar so high for those of us who follow.

I'm happy as a puppy sniffing a new leg that Tim "Ptomaine" Gillespie and Joe "Smalls" Rivera will continue providing our chapter with the best food in all of Clamperdom as Chef and Sous Chef.

Other Brothers who continue to carry on last year's duties will be me as Hawker, with the help of Tackles Ron Moen and Jim Bailey; Gene "DH" Duncker, PXP as Clamp Crier; and Mike "MGM" Ramirez-Mares as Cyberrecorder. Mikee is also this year's Clampatriarch by virtue of being our most recent outgoing Humbug.

We are introducing new blood into the ranks with a few Brothers who answered the call in 2012, and had the desire to participate in keeping our chapter alive & well:

Jim "Fury" Bailey (aka: Pokey) will be our new Grand Imperturbable Hangman.

Robert (Babbabooey) Hernandez Sr. will be our new Damnfool Doorkeeper.

Andy "Stagecoach" Vilapando will be our new Clamps Hostrix.

Also, we have a new Functionary title this year; "Petey's Flying Circus." Fred Fenski and Dave Staley have volunteered to be our ringmasters.

The Circus will organize the set-up and teardown of our canopies and bar at each chapter event. The emphasis here is "organize." The show must go on, but two carnies can't do it alone. So please Brother, break out your clown nose and your muscle shirt, and lend us your back at the start and at the end of each doin's.

2013 will be a busy year for PXL. We've already worked our tails off putting on a fantastic Widders Ball. Attendance was up near the 100 mark, and it was more fun than a barrel of PBC's. To fill out the rest of the year we've got our Spring and Fall Doin's, we are hosting the 40th TRASH Trek in our territory, and we're holding several work parties. Our biggest challenge has always been our work parties. These are especially difficult for PXL due to how far and wide our membership is spread throughout the state. That's OK, I have a plan.

I've traveled far and wide in Clamperdom, and I know enough to realize that being a Humbug while still working is going to be a huge challenge. A wise man once said in a gravelly voice to "the Dude," "Sometimes you eat the bear… and sometimes the bear eats you."

I'm feeling up to testing the bear because I've got great mentors and a great leadership team. However, we'll let you know who ate whom by this time next year.

Russ "Hole der 1st" Chapman, PXL NGH #52

Now a Few More Tidbits from Mikee...

I want to congratulate Hole on his steping into the barrel for 6018. I'm sure he's going to make a great Humbug. He just managed the best PXL Widders' Ball that I can remember, and it's just another good sign of the jump he's gotten on his coming 'Bug Year. He did a great job for me as Vice so I know quite well what he's capable of doing. That said, we need to give Hole the support he'll need to make this year a success. The most important change that the chapter has made in recent times is to put the Humbug firmly in charge of operations. Hole has ambitious plans for the year and they are solidly grounded, but we can't succeed as a chapter without your help. So please join Hole and your Brothers here at PXL for the most satisfying male bonding in "history." Go Hole!

Before I go on to report on the Widders' Ball, I bet you are asking, "So where are the pictures from the Widders' Ball?" Well due to changing web technology, you get a choice. On the Clampdown page, you can watch the multi-definitional YouTube slide show. It's a fast moving and scrubbable 32 minutes. On Peter's Picture Pages you'll find an automated Flash Gallery; and for those of you with devices that can't do Flash, such as the iPhones, iPads and the latest Android operating system, you'll find an HTML version there just for you. I'll explain why I'm doing this some other time, but for now, just enjoy. Thanks to Hole; to Kevin Oviatt, our 6017 Clamps Hostrix; to Luis Bouza for his help behind the camera; and to Charles Topping and all the Brothers (and their Widders) who helped make the Widders' Ball a smashing success.

We received lots of compliments about this year's Widders' Ball, and much of it had to do with the new location where we held our soirée. Because of our Brother Jim Bailey who manages the Homewood Suites, we had the benefits of a spacious hospitality lounge, a comfortable outdoor area for our smokers, great rooms, and a marvelous staff. Brother DJ Carlos Lemus probably would have kept on playing past one a.m., were it not that the staff had to go home. A certain visiting ex-proctor even wanted to know why we were charging so little for such a premium event - especially with an open bar. So much thanks again to Jim, his staff, and his family for treating us like, well...family.

This was also an emotional event for us. After dinner we honored several Widders for their service to the chapter over the past year: Jeannie Johnson for her Hawking of Widders' Goods at GC and her support of the Widders' Ball, and Pat Topping for her help installing the Joseph Walker plaque up on Walker Pass, were two. But Marti Charter was far and away this year's choice for Widder of the Year. I know that Marti doesn't feel like she did anything extraordinary to earn it, but that's only because Marti sees what she did for the chapter as more duty than service, and that makes it really hard for her to see it from our point of view.

Back in April, our Brother and Hawker, Doc Charter discovered rather suddenly that he had a ticket for the Golden Hills, and it was due to be punched in a just a few short days. Jesus said, "Whatever you do unto these, the least of my brethren, you do unto me." Now around here we feel the same way about Brethren and Brothers, and while Doc was hardly the least these, he was more Brother than we all deserved.

Upon learning the sad news, a lesser person than Marti would have shut down, but she did her best to help prepare Doc for his trip to the Golden Hills. It was something that as a group we couldn't have done for him ourselves, but she was there for Doc and she did it exceedingly well. What's more she didn't shut us out. Marti invited us into the Charter home so we could comfort our Brother even as he was passing. She was of great service to our Doc and to our Chapter, and we are grateful for it.

As for the Widders' Ball, Marti for her part wanted to make a presentation of some of Doc's things to PXL. She gave Hole a sculpture of a Miner and Jackass that Doc had intended for use at the store, and she also donated a complete set of the Bob Powers History collection so we would have it for our library. But the gift that evoked the most emotion was Doc's red and black wool capote, which she asked us to put up for auction.

Frankly I was overtaken by the spirited bidding, and I know there were several people who were disappointed at having been outbid. But the amount that it brought into the chapter would have brought our late Hawker much satisfaction. "Wild Bill" Davidson was our auctioneer. Congratulations and thank you to Lora Lee and Joe Custodio for their winning bid.

Our new raffle format showed much promise. It shortened things up quite a bit, we upped the quality of our prizes, and no one was caught snoring in the back rows. Despite what it cost the chapter to foot the $300 Widders' Prize, the Year of Comped Clamping for the winning Brother, the gift baskets and the handful of $20 Bills we handed out, we netted about as much as we usually do from our raffle. That's actually good news, because historically we've used that money to help defray the cost of our event. At PXL we want to make sure that anyone who wants to come to our Widders' Ball can afford it. At $35 a person the price is hard to beat. Cathy Chapman and Pati Nolen were the winners of the big prizes.

The traditional costume contest was held after dinner once we had moved to the disco. In order to encourage the Widders to dress in period costume we had the judges roam the floor to pick our winners rather than make the ladies get up and parade. Not so for the Dudes. The guys had to strut their stuff on the dance floor, and the Widder judges had to decide whose Brylcreem reigned supreme. That produced a tie for first and forced a dance-off between Gene "Dickhead" Duncker and Pat Oliver. Despite Dickhead's self-assurance, it was Pat who was ultimately declared PXL's Best Dressed Dude. Pat Topping and Darlene Staley won for Best Period and Saloon Girl costumes of 2013. Peggy Horn was our tie-breaker judge. To everyone else, better luck next time.

Lastly, I know that despite the best attendance we've had in many years, many a Brother and his Widder ended up staying home sick. T'is the season. Frankly I'm glad you did the right thing and stayed away but it was sad that you couldn't make it. That said, don't be strangers. We have a year's worth of wonderful stuff coming your way, and plenty of chances for the ladies to get their men off the couch and out of their way.

So Brothers, please mark your calendars, and don't miss our upcoming doin's and work parties - they don't call them "parties" for nothing. Just watch this space for our announcements. We'll be heading for Fort Tejon the last full weekend in April, but before that we'll be headed to Walker Basin to build a monument for the 150th Anniversary of Rankin Ranch. Won't you join us? And don't forget to friend us on Facebook. and keep an eye out for work party updates on Peter's Board.

MGM, XNGH -- "Recording No Cyber Before Its Time."