October 16th 2007
"The Fall Ball Journals"

For photos click here.

Prologue.

I climbed out of the RV and wandered behind it taking big swigs from my can of Miller Lite. I walked to the edge of the woods where the land started sloping down to the water. From where I stood I could see out across the blue of lake Eufaula. With my beer in my left hand I fumbled with my right to undo the zipper on my khaki shorts. As I stood there, raising my beer to my mouth and relieving myself, just seconds away from a huge group of my friends, I realized; 'this is what it means to live in Oklahoma'.

DAY 1. MONDAY.

We started out the day getting the last of our stuff loaded into our old '79 RV then met up with Paul and Kelly for lunch.

When lunch was over we headed back home, Matthew drove the RV and I followed behind in the Jeep. Right away things went awry. The brake lights on the RV were not working. I called Matthew and told him about the lights and that I was going to stay right on his ass to keep anyone else from getting behind him, we weren't going to take the time to fix it before we got to the camp out.

First stop was to get propane. I could tell by the way Matthew turned the RV into the drive that there was something wrong. He said there was a problem with the power steering.

A girl come out from the store to fill our propane tank as we looked under the front end of the RV, where there was a belt visibly hanging down. That would explain the power steering.

While Matthew put in a call to Harold to ask if we should drive the twenty some minutes to camp out without the belt, I stepped to the side of the RV to check on the propane girl. By this time the girl had returned to the store to get another woman to come out and help her. They obviously were having problems.

As I walked up the second woman looked at me and said, ' Is this yours '

I assumed she meant the RV and said 'Yes'.

She returned with 'Do you know how to put propane in this?'

I gaped at her a minute and said, 'Well, no, that's why I always bring it here for your store to put it in before I go camping.'

She rolled her eyes and turned back to the RV.

I left them at it, too concerned about the belt to worry about their incompetence.

Much later, the two women successfully got the propane into the RV's tanks, I went into the store and paid, not complaining a bit, just grateful it was done.

We sat out for our next destination. Gas. We pulled the RV onto 270 HWY, me following close to keep the traffic off Matthew's tail. Not far away from the store, the yellow cap from the propane tank flew off and into the busy mid-day traffic.

A few curse words flew from my lips, all directed at the employees that filled our propane tank. I flipped my phone open and called Matthew. We decided that there was no point in stopping, Matthew was having a difficult time steering anyway.

We made it to the gas station, me wondering what would happen next, but surprisingly we made it through the gas process without problems.

Harold had given us the okay to drive on out to the the campgrounds, where he said he would replace the belt before we headed back home.

So, off we set to Arrowhead State park, only twenty minutes away from McAlester. When we arrived at the campground where the Get Along Gang's FALL BALL camp out takes place, it was deserted! We were very happy to find that we had our choice of campsites.

Matthew and I went about setting up our RV only arguing once about where and how the jacks should be positioned to level the vehicle. My mouth was already watering for a beer.

Harold rolled in not long after with him & Sherri's camper.

After Harold got his camper in place, he took off back to town. Not long after the ranger stopped by and greeted us with ' Are ya'll gonna get to stay for seven days this year ?! ' To which we answered 'yes'. He told us how much he enjoyed it when the Get Along Gang was there and hoped we had a great Fall Ball camp out!

DAY 2. TUESDAY.

Day two came, I had to drive back into town to work, so Matthew and I threw on our grungy clothes from the night before, got in the jeep and drove home.

After I got a good shower, I checked the bank accounts, did some figures, got a deposit ready, then headed to Roseanna's.

All in all, it was a short, yet stressful day, then we were back at the campsite ready to enjoy ourselves. It was a beautiful day!

As we unloaded I immediately noticed that there was propane coming from under our RV. The spot where the cap was missing. Harold came to check it out. He and Sherri ended up driving into Eufaula to get something to fix the mistake that the propane place had made.

That evening Kelly, Cody & Tuchina come out to drink with us. Shortly after Matt come out and pitched his tent next to our RV. Harold built a fire and we circled around it drinkin' beer and picking on the lesbian. I wasn't sure yet, but someone, sometime was going to get duck taped to a tree... would it be Cody or Kelly?

After dark Bill and Eric arrive! Just slightly intoxicated I jumped up to help them get set up. Bill chose the spot directly across from our camp.

Several of us helped Bill and Eric get things settled, so we could all gather around the fire to set in for a good night of drinking. Which we did. It was a wonderful evening!

DAY 3. Wednesday.

Got up on Wednesday, headed into town to work. Got back to the campsite around 2pm. The last day of work for the week!

Climbed into the RV and took a bit of a nap, when I woke up 3 or four more campsites had popped up just down from us. One of them Drew, John & Dennis. Matthew and Matt were helping Bill get his outside kitchen equipment set up so Matt could make his chicken gumbo and Allen was stopping by after work to visit, as well as Will. Cody come in later with his tent and found a spot near Sherri & Harold's camper.

By the evening hours several more RV's pulled in, which made Sherri & Bill decide they better call Gayla and tell her RV spots were running out.

Nightfall found us gathered around another gorgeous campfire by Harold and made more beautiful by Matthew's colored campfire sticks which turned the flames brilliant blues, greens and reds. There was a large crowd of folks around Harold's campfire, drinking and feeling blessed to be out under that amazing sky. Much fun was had and everyone knew it was still just Wednesday!

DAY 4. THURSDAY.

At 6am in the morning Matthew woke me and asked if I needed to piss and once awake I did. We have a restroom in our RV but prefer to step outside when we can to conserve our waste tank space.

We slipped on some shorts and went outside. Still dark the sky was more beautiful than the night before. No one was stirring and the campfire, now smaller, was still crackling in along with those outdoor early morning sounds.

We stood there urinating and gaping up at the stars and Matthew said 'Hey look at that' directing my attention to a flashing, twinkling star that could be seen between the branches of a tree. It was Venus . Bill and Eric had told us that something unusual was going on between Venus and the Moon that week.

After appreciating the Venus, it was back to bed for us. Into the RV & up the ladder, not to come down again until noon.

When I finally got up, Sherri and I took a small trip to Wal-Mart in Checotah. When we got back several of us started setting up the stage area for the coming Friday and Saturday night events, with Bill giving us directions on how things were to be put together.

The stage turned out wonderful with some great purple curtains that Bill made and a tarp runway accented by rope lights. While putting the stage together and old friend showed up to pay a visit.

Tonye and I visited the rest of the afternoon and part of the evening and it really made my week!

Through the night and afternoon more and more folks pulled in with trailers, RV's and tents. By the end of the night, most of the electrical hook ups were taken.

The red hat ladies passed the camp out while on a hayride and had an event near us under the pavilion.

Sherri, Matthew and I went on a walk-about to pass out fliers for The Emperor and Empress' Royal Keg Party to be taking place the next night. The keg party would be the last thing Sherri and I did as Emperor and Empress, except for pass on our crowns on Saturday evening as the new King & Queen would be crowned.

Vernon and Tina also came in that evening. The night soon became festive with drinks and campfires.

DAY 5. FRIDAY.

Friday came and in the morning hours I woke up several times, but only climbed down the ladder from the bed to stumble to the RV's tiny bathroom, then it was right back into bed. Finally between 11:30 and 12:00, I convinced myself to wake up and join the world.

I took a shower, threw on some clothes and a cowboy hat, grabbed my first beer of the day and stepped out into the bright sunlight.

I ending up sitting at Bill & Eric's campsite directly across the street, with a full ice chest nestled in between me and Bill's chairs.

Harold was making his famous stew on Bill's nifty outdoor kitchen equipment. Bill and I downed beer after beer and the day seemed to fly by! Folks were very festive that day and having tons of fun.

Matthew came out of the RV around 1:30, by this time I was very happy and bullshitting non-stop like I do when I drink.

Before you know it Bill looked at me and said that it was after five and maybe we should think about getting started! The keg party was at 6pm and I hadn't even put on my Emperor drag yet!

So I got up and headed over to get ready. Harold and Vernon were putting the keg out and getting ready.

The keg party was directly behind our RV where the stage had been set up in the trees with Lake Eufaula in the back ground. Bill cranked up his sound system and brought life to the area.

6:00pm came, Sherri and I dressed as Emperor and Empress in our purple robes and jeweled crowns, went for the walk up the road to announce to everyone that the Keg Party had started!

Folks slowly began to gather around the keg and haul lawn chairs down to set around the stage.

Matthew had a great, Pimp daddy outfit on. Afro, maroon coat, leopard print pants and platform shoes with fish in the heal. The theme for the camp out was 'Pimps and Ho's' and he seemed to have it going on.

Gayla, Gary & Joseph did the welcome thing on the stage that night and beaded the 'newbies' to the camp out. They introduced the reigning King & Queen (or Emperor & Empress) and said some very nice things about me and Sherri.

After the welcome party was done a guy that had just been introduced to all of us did a bit of a dance segment along the runway while Bill played his music, being an attractive guy lots of folks boys & girls alike were interested.

Most of the folks set in motion, heading up the road and down the road, going from campsite to campsite, campfire to campfire to party, drink and visit with friends. It was a great evening, and most of the folks found themselves back at the keg fillin' up more plastic cups at some point. I know I did and one of the times I ran into Gayla who stood and visited with me at some length, during which I invited her to be a speaker at next years McPride Picnic- hope you remember that, Gayla!

I'm sure there were lots of stories from Friday night, some where forgotten with alcohol and some I'm not going to put into print, but needless to say, folks had a great time.

DAY 6. SATURDAY.

Folks were slow to start moving on Saturday! The night before had been a massive one.

I rolled out of the RV, beer in hand around noon.

I headed across the road at Bill and Eric's campsite chatted with several folks who were gathered there, then went next door to chat with Kelly, Richard and Randy. Kelly made burgers and steaks for several folks on the grill.

Most of the afternoon was quiet and I managed a bit of a nap. The new King and Queen nomination board had been put up and people were voting. Paul showed up for the evening, then Mom and Dad came out sometime after 5pm.

I'd been sitting and drinking with Bill, Keith, Josh, Eric and a few others. I greeted my parents at their van with a large purple 'pimp' hat, that I was to wear with my Emperor robes that night instead of the crown. Their dog took one look at me and one look at the camp out and refused to leave the van.

After some persuasion, Dad got the dog out and we found a place to visit behind our RV and near the stage where folks were coming and going.

Evening rolled in and I went to the RV to put on my Emperor garb. Matthew had finished with his first costume of the night ( he had three different costumes for Saturday evening ). He was in drag with a cowgirl fringe outfit. Looked great.

Barbie and Ken were re-united when Angel showed up!

After threats of duck-taping passed between Kelly (Butch Pickler) and Cody all week, Cody finally got his chance and got Kelly taped to a tree... with one problem- Lindsey got in the way! Well, two is usually better than one and if you can get two folks duck taped to a tree at once, then you must be very talented... or maybe they are very drunk.

The show ran late due to the football game of the day, then bingo afterward, which made Bill sitting and waiting a bit long at the DJ spot, but once the show got started folks livened up! It was a good one. One highlight being Matthew lip syncing to Shirley Bassey's 'Get This Party Started' while 6 grown men in big-girl ballerina outfits came out from behind the curtain and danced out through the audience.

Renee' was the host and emcee for the show and did a wonderful job, clad in a great pimp costume. The costume contest found Matthew out of drag and into a new 'pimp daddy' outfit, as well as Derrek in his fabulous Geisha drag and may others. The winners were Jackie for pimp costume and Derrick for ho costume.

When the time come to announce the new King and Queen (or Pimp and Ho), Sherri and I were honored to pass our capes and crowns on to Harold as King and Eric (Sonja) as Queen. We were a bit sad, we've sure had fun with those titles over the past year!

DAY 7. SUNDAY.

The morning hours of Sunday were very enjoyable. Most folks didn't get up till very late, because many didn't get till bed until after 4am. But when everyone did get up, the seemed in a good mood and had many, many stories to tell about the night before.

A group of folks gathered around our picnic table, Kelly and I had a couple beers to help us get started, Harold and Vernon put a new belt on our RV.

Everyone visited and didn't seem to get in a hurry, but by the evening time most folks had pulled out and camp out was almost over!

Eric had left earlier, but Bill decided to stay another night as well as a few others. Matthew and I always stay Sunday night, it's usually the most peaceful night and we're never ready to leave.

Matthew made a campfire and nighttime found us around it with Bill, Clint and Waylon.

Bill went to bed and soon after Matthew retired to the couch for some shut-eye in the RV, but Clint, Waylon and I set out by the fire watching the storm roll in and sharing many, many, many stories. It was a wonderful evening.

Finally sometime after midnight the wind picked up fairly heavy and the first drops of rain came.

Not too long after we decided to say 'good-night' and head to bed.

DAY 8. MONDAY (the end)

Matthew and I slept in once again on Monday. By the time we woke, the only campers left were us and Bill.

It had rained all night and a lot of the morning. Everything outside was now a muddy mess and was sure to make it more difficult packing up.

Instead of starting right in on closing up camp, Bill came over and suggested the three of us going into Eufaula to have a bite of lunch, which we did.

Bill took us to a little diner that had some great food and it helped me gain the energy I needed to finish closing up camp when we got back.

EPILOGUE.

Over all, the camp out was wonderful! When you get that many folks together for that amount of time, there's going to be a few squabbles, a couple of fights and so on, but this year that was to a minimum.

Even though there always ends up being a little drama at camp out, it's always worth it and when you leave you carry amazing memories with you to last a lifetime and if you're lucky, great photos of your friends doing bad things they don't remember.

I can't wait till Spring Fling!