Rancho Mastatal UPDATE for the month of OCTOBER 2006 The 30-degree nights, pale-faced pedestrians, Christmas in your face, leafless trees and occasional Hummer are an obvious change from Mastatal. Our small collection of long-sleeved shirts and cotton socks are getting stretched as thin as SPARKY as we continue to work our way throughout the lovely Northeast visiting friends and family. All of the running around has been exhausting at times but worth the effort. We\'ve seen a slew of our RM compatriots over the last many weeks and are now gearing up to spend the last few days visiting with the fam before our annual despedida. It\'s been a real whirlwind this time around. We\'re excited as always for our return to Tropidise, our projects and our Mastatal family though with so much going on this trip it feels for the first time as if it all went by a little too fast. But then another Santa ho hos his way across the 86\" HD Plasma swivel set or the phone rings eight times in six minutes and it all gets a little easier. The following edition was put together predominantly by this year\'s Ranchsitters with a few contributions from us here in the States. Gracias especially to TYLER SEE for keeping this newsletter breathing during this time. We\'ll be back in Mastatal sweating our asses off by the time you receive the next newsletter. The newest busy season is just about upon us and we\'re anxious, in a good way, about what this year holds. It promises to be the most amazing yet. Our winter lineup is chock full of perennial all-stars including ALAN, Sparky, GREG and KAREN, MISS EMILY JUMP, LARISSA, TYLER, NATE, MAXINE and a bunch of new faces so watch out. We may have a few guest appearances as well. We\'ll keep you posted.
Early winter highlights should include Rudolph\'s Raucous Lip Synch Contest and a New Year\'s Eve bash slipknot Elmer Hohl Campo de Pitching Horseshoe Extravaganza. And assuming time permits, the first day of 2007 should be opening day for our professional whiff whiff league sponsored by Rock Ice and Caraca\'s free-range pig. We wish you all an amazing holiday season. See you in Mastatal soon.
A note from Tyler See
I just want to send a special thank you to STEPHEN STROUD for being such a great musician. More than anything, though, for his willingness to teach and share with any and everyone. For crying out loud, he\'s got half the town singing \"I Love You Make Me Feel Good.\" He\'s showing local kids how to play, and providing endless hours of entertainment for those at the Ranch. That is, as long as it\'s nothing on his wife PHOEBE\'s \"unrequested\" list. For me, it\'s been a privilege to be able to play with someone who\'s so good but also so excited to make me better. Mr. Stroud, your enthusiasm for life and music is an inspiration, and I\'ll certainly miss our sessions. Talk about a free lesson… criminy. May the Ranch be forever more a haven of live music. And Stephen, keep spreading the sugar. You understand.
Hallelujah to that. Enjoy!
This month\'s update includes:
RM Program News: Upcoming Renewable Energy Workshop
Conservation Update: Lapas Making a Home in Mastatal?
Building Report: Timber Framing in Mastatal
Volunteer/Guest Gossip: Cranking It Out in the \"Slow\" Season
Community Facts/Stories: Bingo and Bookcase Make Way for Brilliance
Comida Corner: Russian Mushroom & Potato Soup
Fútbol Follies : Yearning for the New Year
Inspirational Impressions: A few more dollars