Still no shade built, but the aor is cool and the sun shines but really… today is the most beautiful day I’ve seen on the playa in some years. Cool and breezy and clear.  I can see the man base from my camp, a three story skyscraper beneath where he will be. wow. But the carport will have to wait untl I have a friend to help me set it up. 

I decided to finally do some work around my camp. I tried to set up my shower tent. Well it is an awesome tent. But there is nothing more emasculating than a man fighting with a 3 foot across tent in the wind that will not let up. I gave up. but when it calms down, it’s on. Needless to say, I am pretty ripe and dusty. My hair does interesting things.  

So I decided to construct the Voodoo Man Doll. The wind proved excellent testing for it.I went with a simpler and more efective stand, using the nautural angles to keep it solid. I tested it in wind and I think I can get away with just one or two anchor wires. This is good news! Now all I need to do is attach some canvas, drill some holes for the 8″ “pins” and attach the hammer, the nails and the sharpies for the curses and blessings.  I am really happy with how it’s coming out. 

I finished this all before noon. I’m now at my shift in the box. I gotta say, my work is a pretty sweet deal. I get to be that first face people see when they come in. I get to meet artists. I get to work with great people. I get to interact with the gate crew who are AWESOME! I get to experience the dust storms from an air conditioned box.

They have locked down the internets now, so while it is calm in the box, I will still be hitting the blog. But it probably won’t stay calm for long. People will start arriving very soon. My last shift is Monday. 

I love this town.

So the other day, I mentioned my burning man guilt. I was pretty down on myself for not being at all sorted out. Scotty pointed out, that I should be acknowledged for the projects I decided NOT to do. I am not doing my live chicken improvised explosive devices, I am not building a cooler shaped like a chicken coop complete with live chicken sounds. I am not building an axe throwing range in the center of camp. I am not doing any art really at all… Yet.

But I got home last night to a packet from the Burning Man, LLC. They offered me a job! So I am working the event this year! It’s not at my full rate, but honestly, it’s being paid for things that I would have done for a free ticket last year, and if I am giving all I got, I may as well get paid something for my trouble. And I am getting a very early arrival, meaning I am cleared to arrive on the playa on the 16th of August. Depending on how long I stay, that is a good 16-18 days on playa. That’s a lot of time. Last year I think I was out there 12 days.

I may be the first face you see when you get to the Playa. I hope I am.

But that suddenly puts my prep period into high gear! I am working until 3 days before I leave. I don’t know where the time will come from. I may have to enlist Bridge’s help after all. And just like that I am already contemplating getting a sweet Costco carport and doing my shopping. I’m such a comfort camping whore. Who knows how I will set that thing up when I am the first person at my campsite for a week. And then, where is my campsite? I still have not gotten word from placement!

Okay, calm down, Spaceman. We have time.

On the upside of being out there early, maybe I will set up an axe range on my campsite if there’s nobody there to get chopped in half. And there is nothing quite like the playa before all the burners come and ruin it. Ah, the playa at dawn. Nothing better.

Priorities: This is for me.

New Crates. I want to have 5 crates that pack up more uniformly than the ones I have now. Once I get to the Playa I want to use them to raise up my futon. I could also build legs pretty simply. I like being off the ground in my tent. A piece of plywood cut to my bed size also is in order. The new crates should pack better as well.

Costumes: Voodoo. I need to start gathering my voodoo stuff and get some sweet costuming going.

Our camp. It looks like I am going to be out there early again. Maybe we just land grab again if we get crappy placement.

The Beacon. I need some help with this. I have these super bright aircraft lights that I want to wire to a beacon and mount on a pole. Create a way to find my camp in the middle of the night. Anyone got the skills?

A carport. I have this one that I hate, and it’s about time I get the super carport pad a la Earth and Tinkle. I can afford it, if it is my one major playa purchase this year.

A shower rig. This is always a concern. I like to shower out there. I also don’t like showering in a pile of mud. I gotta work something out that drains and suspends the shower and is reasonable. I am willing to buy this.

Bike. I was thinking about biting the bullet and getting a cruiser. But at this point, is that smart? Maybe I just wd40 my bike. See what I can do and ride it out. It’s been to 5 Burns. I should be green about it, eh? Green. Who am I kidding. Tough call.

A trip to REI is in my future. Just cause.

Live Blogging. I gotta be really dialed in with Spaceman23.com by the time I hit the playa. I want to be able to blog with pictures for the entire time I am on the playa, especially beforehand when everyone is wondering how the conditions are. I need to talk to Brian and Art about this.