But damn it, why this lousy technical manual. I’m going crazy here. Anything but this.

Back on the horse, or Tauntaun…

#208

When she would don the suit, everything would change. Suddenly 50 feet tall, she would rampage across her small town, breathing radioactive fire on her office , skipping down freeways, and kicking the suvs that crowded all the street parking on street sweeping days. Being a giant monster is cool.

We are all that exists in all the world. There is nothing but fine dust in every direction shining in the hot afternoon sun. We are alone, alone and free and everything disapears. In this state, that world back there is nothing. There’s the now, the now and the wind.

So, 10 things:

1. I’m back from burning man. If you are linked to me on facebook or flickr you’ve seen the pictures.

It was lovely.

2. I just got a new battery for my car. It was having trouble getting started. Like me. When I went to pep boys, I had this profound realization that I can do many things on my car myself. It’s a skillset that I set aside for years, but I used to be pretty adept at troubleshooting car stuff. And after the engine detail, my honda is so happy.

3. My writing partner informed me taht he finished the first draft of our current project. This makes me infinitely happy.  We have a meeting tomorrow. I am looking forward to working on it!

4. I’m building a new shade for the back porch of the cabin, starting this weekend. I need help. I have a few brave volunteers. It’s going to be really fun, I think. And Damn I love the cabin.

5. I spent my Saturday night at Medieval Times in Buena Park. I used to go there any time I could talk my parents into a birthday party there when I was a kid. I used to love that place! As an adult, I was far more bored. I didn’t remember all the “drama.” But the company was great. It was cast and crew from Cirque Berserk and we were celebrating my dear friend Jenn’s birthday. We took a Hummer limo. It was rad.

6. Speaking of medieval times, I am planning on starting up a casual thursday night dnd game. If you played in your young past, or you want to try out the new system, I am creating an episodic game where you can come in and out whenever you are available. It’s going to be really fun. A number of poeple have aproached me about wanting to learn to play. Here is your chance.

7. Work has picked up. I worked four days last week. I am sure more is coming.

8. I am re-listening to  the 4 Hour Work Week on audiobook. I have forgotten so much from that book. I need to remember to cycle through books a second or third time to really grok the whole thing.

9. I lost my ipod. I am sure that some people out there have ipods that are just sitting in drawers out there. I love listening to the ipod in the car, and leaving the iphone separate. My flow while driving is all messed up.

10. Ah the last one is always the hardest.  In the next six months I am going to get one of my cartoons into production and it’s going to star the voice talent of Ali Packard and Jason Marsden. By my birthday it’s going to be financed.

Burning Man 2009, originally uploaded by ericspaceman.

The sun would set as the moon would rise. We would become aware of the movement of the Earth, the planets, satellites and Sol above us. We build icons to reach for the heavens. We would walk the land like gods for just one week. Then we destroy it all.

Burning Man 2009, originally uploaded by ericspaceman.

In the quiet hours before dawn the seekers who had lost their loves would gather at the Temple and quietly reflect on the void. When the flame jets would spurt toward the darkness, we would hold our breath, seeing the spirits for a brief second. Countless whirlwinds would come Sunday.

It should be noted that people are limited in communication. We are limited in what we can express, limited in what we can hear, and especially limited in what we can process. This is true of all humans, we are all limited.

I don’t know about you, but right this moment I have about 25 things that need to be managed. Some involve others, some are just simple things like organizing my tool belt. Some, like sorting out my burning man camp involve countless people, variables, unforeseen circumstances, and personal actions that aren’t getting done.  I am constantly processing ALL of these things at any given time. Sure, there is some compartmentalization, but for the most part my to do list is running in the background. It’s sucking processor power, speed and performance.

I am constantly dealing with these things, and I think that I am communicating most of my thoughts to the people who it affects. I’d like this to be the case. I feel like I am constantly telling everyone everything about my life.

This is not the case. Turns out most of the sharing is going on in my head right before I go to sleep.

At the same time, nearly everyone I know is also processing far too much and trying to communicate… via telepathy. So clearly, there are breakdowns in communication. I am thinking you should already know this thing I never told you, details of that thing I need to do that affects you are assumed to be known… etc.

Plus, I never listen. Ha. take that. I am trying to listen, sure. But my mind is full of it’s very own noise. I am working on 45 things here, while listening to you. Don’t worry. You are doing it to. To me.

So things are going to slip our minds. Things are going to be left at home (like your burning man ticket). Things are going to change. People will be upset. Feelings will be hurt. I promise it is not personal.

Part of what is going to make us as people better communicators is practice. Tell people what you are doing. Tell people what’s going on in your head. Open up. Be a fool. Don’t worry, be cool. We’re all in this together.

And make a list, damnit.

I’m leaving in a week and a half and Scotty asked me to dig up the Less Than Zero Expectations what to bring list.  It has been modified for the American Dream. I’m not modifying it for the Evolution theme.  This list has been gathered from friends and changed so many times, who knows where it came from. Catherine and Wizard definitely get the lion’s share of credit.

Bring:

• BURNING MAN TICKET!!! (or confirmation email printout for will call)
• Early Arrival Pass (if you got it)
• Extra Car Keys
• Cash (once you’re there, you’ll only buy ice, coffee or use it as an illegal bartering medium)
• Ice for road trip
• Jumper Cables
• WATER!!! (BUY IN RENO – you’ll save your car a lot of weight. It’s recommended 1.5 gallons/day per person for drinking/food/showers This is good advice with current gas prices)
• Food (see list below)
• Alcohol (pick a budget and stick to it)

Bike Stuff:

• Bicycle (Decorated! – It’s prettier and less likely to be stolen)
• Bike Rack
• Bike Light (it can be DARK)
• Bike Lock (combo best so you don’t have to hold keys!)
• Tire Repair Kit
• wd40
• bike multi-tool

Camping:

• Tent
• Heavy Duty Tent Stakes (Long, at least 12″ although heavy rebar will work well too)
• Shade structure (I have a carport I got at pep boys years ago. It’s survived pretty well and I use shade cloth on the sides to make it even better. I curse it every time I put it together.)
• Sleeping Bag or Linens
• Pillow
• Air Mattress or futon
• 2 Camping Chairs so you can have company
• Camping Table
• Lantern
• Camping Shower (cabellas.com has the best one)
• Tool Kit  (for me this is a lot)
• Rope/line (as a grip I can say, you can never have enough out there)
• Small Broom/Dust Pan (sweeping your tent)
• Water Bottle with Strap, clean canteen on a carabiner or a Camelback (sold at REI- usually,on sale in August)
• An extra cup or two!

• Clothing for Warm and Cold Weather (always prepare for extremes)
• Boots
• Close-Toe Shoes (at least some of the time – and make sure they can get dirty)
• EXTRA SOCKS!!! (Seriously, at least DOUBLE what you think)
• EXTRA UNDIES! (you may loose some)

• Headlight/Flashlight
• Tiny Flashlight (to hook on you for night walking)
• Extra Batteries (all kinds – camera, lantern, flashlight, boom box, etc.)
• Blindfold (for day sleeping)
• Earplugs
• Duct Tape
• Sunscreen
• Lip Screen/Balm with sunscreen!
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Goggles (for dust storms)
• Bandana for Dust Mask (THESE ARE GREAT CAUSE YOU CAN FOLD THEM UP)
• Umbrella
• Rain Coat or Poncho
• Zip Lock Bags (lots of the ‘storage’ size)
• Garbage Bags (i suggest contractor bags or trash compactor bags. the last thing you want on your return home is a leaky trashbag stinking up your drive)
• Plastic Grocery Bags
• a cardboard box for burnables
• First Aid Kit
• Matches / lighters
• Soft Kleenex
• Sewing Kit
• Safety Pins
• Paper Towels
• Moisturizing Eye Drops
• Nose Saline (they have this at 99 cent store)
• Baby Wipes (great to carry around in a plastic baggie & to take showers with!)
• Q-tips (to clean ears from dust)
• Medication (allergy, migraine, Echinacea, birth control, vitamins, etc.)
• Oil (for hair- great treatment!You can get very dry out there. be sure for hair- some are toxic in high dose)
• Lotion (Big)
• Nail Polish Remover
• Sponges
• Shampoo/Liquid Soap (dr bonners!)
• Shower Puff (the plastic ball kind that dry quickly)
• Towels
• Toothbrush/Toothpaste/Floss
• Can Opener- Eureka!!!
• Swiss Army Knife/Corkscrew
• Fire Extinguisher (There should at least be one close by)
• Spray Bottles (2) one for your body one for cleaning dishes and pans!
• Vinegar
• Basin
• COSTUMES!!! (For various types of weather/temperature)
• Body Makeup
• Bright Nail Polish
• Blinkies/Glow Sticks
• Essential Oils (for smell-just nice)
• Wigs
• A bathroom bag (small backpack or sling bag) . contents: roll of single ply TP. flashlight, baby wipes, surface wipes, a ziplock for the used wipes, hand sanitizer basically anything you would need in the porta-potties. Keep it right by the door of your tent. so that in the middle of the night it’s close at hand! Trust me. This is a lifesaver!
• Kitchen set up plates, cups, utensils. Pots pans, knives spatulas, etc.
• A butane stove. I got mine at a chinese supermarket in chinatown.
• a solid cooler that will keep your drinks cold and the FEW things you need to keep cold for freshness fresh.
• one of those orange five gallon drinking water things. Keep this full of ice and use it to get your water cold. TIP: manage your coolers by keeping them in the shade!

FOOD

• Water
• Emergen-C or Gatorade (you’ll need the electrolytes!)
• Nuts/Dried Fruit
• juice
• Shakes
• instant soups and asian food from Trader Joe’s. Think anything pre-made. just set them in the sun to cook!
• Oatmeal
• Those tuna packs that make instant tuna salad
• Clif Bars
• salty treats to help keep you hydrated
• Tasty Bites or similar food in a bag (get at trader joes) a real treat out there!
• If you want to be super awesome. Get a great dish from your favorite take out restaurant and get a double order of something you love (like gumbo, or kung pao shrimp) and freeze it in a big ziplock. Then eat it in the first few days, just by heating it up in a big pan.

Extra Tips
- Pack in plastic storage containers. Use bins to help stack your stuff!

- Pack clothes in categories in large zip lock bags. Keeps them less dusty. zip them back up when you can!

- Pack one clean set of clothes (including shoes and socks) for the ride home. Don’t open during BM. You’ll be happy!

- Pack all of your undies & makeup in plastic baggies (so never too dusty)

-You might want to add a mesh bag like the kind that onions come in. Put wet garbagein them ( like food waste) and then it dries out in the heat and can then be put in plastic bags for drive home.

DO NOT BRING:

• Excess Packaging – take cereal bag out of cereal box, etc.
• Anything with feathers or loose glitter
• Too much produce (especially watermelons! Never bring watermelon to burning man)
• Styrofoam Coolers