Tag: Burning Man

I had my first Burning Man Anxiety Dream last night. Not my first Burning Man dream, mind you, just the first I can remember clearly manifesting some anxiety. My prior dreams have featured fantastical landscapes with impossible kites and wacked out fun houses.

Last night’s dream though was clearly some subliminal exorcism of a bit of latent anxiety I have about the shade structure. In the dream I was already on the playa with a group of friends (none of whom are actually planning on going with me) and we were still running around looking for parts and trying to get camp set up.

Bring back the kites.

My understanding is that, after water and beer, the most important thing you must bring to the playa is shade. Much of my early research into Burning Man was spent on various shade structure designs and ideas.

As soon as I came across Argyre Patras’ design for a parachute shade tent I knew that was what I wanted to make.

I set about obtaining a parachute (two actually) last spring. The first chute I got had a few tears in spots, so I sourced a second cute in better condition. I plan to double up the chutes (rotating the color sections) to maximize the light-blocking properties.

Just today, I was able to obtain the last of the three lengths of retired climbing rope for the out-rigging support lines.

Next up to obtain: grommets for the chutes since the original lead lines were cut off; the pvc hoop materials, and the center support tubes. More to come as I continue this project.

So I just made a reservation for a rental pickup truck to haul my ass out to the playa. This is going to happen!

I am in possession of one ticket to METROPOLIS! A fully accredited citizen (to be) of Black Rock City am I.

A short nine days ago, I eagerly awaited the appointed time (10:00 AM PST) and promptly got into the virtual ticket line at tickets.burningman.com. I was impressed with the way the organization handled the virtual queue and kept the page auto-updated as my ‘place in line’ moved along. Eighty-five minutes later I was able to get to the virtual ticket counter and purchased my ticket without undue burden or heartache. I found this quote on ePlaya to be particularly humorous, to wit, “Without getting all worked up and glandular, it’s just not the same.” This being my first time to go to Burning Man, I haven’t had the angst that so many have had in previous years stampeding the ticket site on the first day of sales.

In related events, I got a first glimpse of the 2010 ticket design today on arinfishkin.com. Quite the pretty piece of paper it is!

I suppose I should relate how I got the bug to go to Burning Man in the first place. As you might expect, the exact moment in time is preserved in the cloud. I made a spontaneous suggestion to a cross-country friend that we have a meet up at Burning Man. Where the idea came from I have no idea. I hadn’t thought of Burning Man before that moment as far as I could remember. I’m certain that I was made aware of it probably during my college days, but I never remotely considered going. Of that I am certain.

Since that moment last year, however, Burning Man has been a daily mental distraction. I have put out the word to friends that I am planning a pilgrimage in 2010, and no one other than tarbendar has expressed any serious desire to go with. At this point, I’m also not even counting on him to make it either. As the months have passed, I’ve come to terms that if I am to exercise any “radical self-reliance” I will need to prepare to go to Burning Man on my own. I will welcome any eventual co-sojourners as a welcome surprise.