So I am missing my Playa. I am really missing it. This is only my second burn night in the last ten years that I have been anywhere but Black Rock City.  It’s hard. But, I am here, an here is really a kind of paradise, no matter how you slice it. Because really, I am the burn. 

So, in no particular order, the top ten adventures I had on the playa. 

1. Getting my mustache shaped twice in the Barber Shop of DOOM! My friend Santi (Barber of Doom) brought out a barber chair and hot towels and straight razors and shaved my face. I have never had another person shave my face. It is a profound intimacy. It is especially intimate that Santi must at every second suppress the urge to slit my throat with his platinum razor.  I even manifested Santi in center camp to give me a a touch up shave shortly before dawn on Wednesday for my flight home. He gave me a Hulk Hogan Mustache, also known as the Enforcer. 

2.  My walk out to the peak of the trash fence. Monday Night, I wandered out to the deepest playa, along the way stopping and visiting some of the incredible art I encountered like the Tower of Babel (the hilton tower) and the indian encampment. At the peak  encountered Wolf, a perimeter interceptor. We watched the moonrise together and had a great conversation. 

3. Going to the Hot Springs. For the first time ever, I went to the Hot Springs before the event opened. Although, the springs themselves were just okay, the wild offroad ride with the other Box Office staff was a blast. I’ll have to do that again. Although I am more interested in high speed rolling through the open playa next year. 

4.  The day long dust storm on Monday. i worked the box that day. It was one of the most intense shifts I have ever worked. White out conditions. Computers going down. Internet failing. People crying. Closing the gate and greeters. Me with a bullhorn working the box. It was a wild day and I took on a lot of energy. It took me until my walk to the trash fence to clear my head. 

5. Watching the moonrise every night. I came with the intention of seeing every sunrise. I saw three. But at moonrise every night, I was there. I became acutely aware of the cycle of the moon. It’s so beautiful. When I arrived the moon was full and popped up just after the sun wet down. On my last night, the moon was a tiny sliver and came up shortly before dawn. I felt very close to the moon out there. Mainly because I was becoming a were-tarantula. Beware the next full moon. I’m just saying. 

6. Flying out of Burning Man. Yeah, definitely the way to go. 

7. Waiting in line to go up to the man, and kind of bumming that there was already a line on Monday night. Then the DPW guard says “is anyone in line Norwegian?” And I, automatically say, “I am Norwegian.” to which he replies “Front of the line, sir.”  It’s good to be big and blond I always say. 

8. Camp Voodoo Bistro. My camp was the best. Again. Our Voodoo Altar was incredibly effective. We gave food to the gods. we made offerings. We asked favors. I totally summoned Kalla using the altar. I loved being in that energy all week. And then there was my Voodoo Man Doll. That thing turned out so amazing. I was really proud of it. I hope they are burning it right now! And then there was our Campmate Zaragun. He is a 6′ across furry were tarantula. So fucking cool! He really became  part of the camp. And the human members of our camp were incredible as well. KT, Brian, Wolfie, Jennie, Scott and Kymber, Steve and Julian, Anastasia (my new pal!), Art (my oldest pal), Rand, Rif, Janneke, Denise, Radhika and all the people who came later… I love you all! 

9. Having Dinner with Rob, the guy who designs Black Rock City Every Year. What an honor. The lasson of this year really was that you never know who you are sitting next to. What an incredible guy. I was able to acknowledge hm for all he has done for my life through his city, to which he turned it on me. He thanked me, for without us, there is nothing. 

10. Camp Veal. When I went to the Virgin Mobile Festival a few weeks ago, I had this idea that I tossed around with Scotty. About Richard Branson (Virgin) went to burning man every year. We created this whole story. Then I started telling it at Burning Man this year, about this camp that Branson had set up. That he arrived in a silver hot air balloon (there was a takeoff and landing of a hot air ballon). That he was arranging a low altitude fly-over of the Virgin Galactic Spaceplane (this sparked  lot of anti-corporate sentiment) and that he camped in a huge silo of RVs far afield with his massive entourage (a comment on the number of massive RVs I saw this year.) I had so much fun dropping this little meme into the consciousness of Black Rock City and I wonder how far it spread.  I really wonder. If you heard it independently of me, let me know. 

I know there were more. But I gotta go party with my do lab people! Getting present to the great adventures I had sure makes me feel less sad about missing the puppet show tonight.

I love sleeping out here when you can. It is peaceful camping. Early is when it’s at. Soon there will be no rest for the wicked. Last night I passed out right after my shift. I slept like a baby with plausable dreams of utopian anarchist futures. 

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.

I just set up my tent and campsite. Voodoo Bistro is more like 4:40. We’re between astral headwash (yeah!) and JLo’s topless camp… whatever that is. 

I arrived yesterday to see the most magical sunset and moonrise. When the moon is full, it is directly opposite the sun, did you know that? The moon rose in a cloud of dust. So beautiful. 

The city is so empty. Infrastructure is just being set up. I was so tired when I landed. It took every ounce of energy I had to unpack my car so i could sleep in the back. I love my car. 

I decided though to wander out to Early Burn, where men were burned. Fireworks were launched. Old friends were seen. I was so tired though. I ended early. I had to walk. The playa is so soft around my camp that I couldn’t ride my bike. Boo. It was like walking on the moon. 

So what I am hearing is that this is the dustiest year ever. It’s hot. I heard 108 yesterday. Today it’s very hot. But overall, it’s lovely. I love it here.  Don’t forget the sunscreen. 

Comment to the blog with specific questions, I’ll see what I can do. I am getting wifi in my tent at this point, but there’s almost no interference at this point. I’m gonna see about putting a video in here! okay. not this time. More to come. I promise.

I realized as I posted yesterday about what to bring to the burn, I mentioned toolkits. What would go in such a thing you ask. It’s going to be different for every person. For me, and I will be out there for a while and I a total tool whore. 

Basics:

• screwdriver (phillips and standard)
• crescent wrench (for bikes)
• bike multi-tool
• tube repair kit
• Hammer
• Sledge hammer
• A good knife or matte knife (or both)
• Channel locks and/or vice grips (for pulling out stakes)
• Work Gloves (you will want them on as soon as you get to the playa and start setting up camp)
• Leatherman, Gerber or other multi-tool
• Wire cutters (dikes) and needle-nose pliers
• Scissors
• Duct Tape
• electrical tape
• Zip ties
• bailing wire
• small shovel
• extra flashlight (I keep flashlights stowed everywhere.)
• at least 50′ of rope and 50′ of sash (cotton laundry rope, essentially)
• superglue (also good for bad cuts. I’m just sayin’)
• sewing kit
• wd40 & silicone lubricant (the silicone is for your tent zipper)
• gun lighter
• hex kit

So, as soon as I get home, i really gotta  pack up the ol’ element and get going to the Playa. I have 2 days. So I figured I’d dig up the Less Than Zero Expectations what to bring list.  It has been modified for the American Dream.  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

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.

Wonderful. Mad. Beautiful. Exhausting. Inspiring. Conspiring.

***Tried to post this the other day, failed. I am home, ready to sleep! Here she is!***

I am spent. I had an epic good time at LIB. It seems that just about everyone had an epic good time at LIB.

I lost my iphone. This is sad, and I still would like to find it. I lost it sometime before dawn, and I brought this upon myself. Was it worth it? YES. But please, if you hear of anyone finding an iphone with steampunk gears on it, please send them my way. I’d rather not have to buy a new one.

***Update*** I found it. It was in my tent. I like to think that a time travelling me from the future took it, used it for a little while and then put it back while I was working. Either that, or I was so out of it when I came home sunday night that I just misplaced it. Either way…. HAPPY!

Highlights:

1. The Yard Dogs: Yeah, like I said, fucking incredible! There was one song, this mournful Etta James song, it lifted me up. I actually had to keep checking behind me to see if someone was lifting me up, or fitting me with an arial rig or something, I was sure I would fly away over the stage. It was magic.

2. Building the festival. I knew every inch of cable adding power to the show. I knew every path and golf cart route. I felt real ownership of my contribution.

3. I met great people everywhere! New members of the Do Lab, people from my past, people I have met in the future, and just smiling loving faces at every turn.

4. Gnoming it up. I scared and tricked so many of my friends, and lit up the faces of many strangers.

5. Wolfie’s set at 1:30 Saturday. It was like a family reunion. I danced, and played for the whole set. Ali and crew, you guys rocked me! I got some fantastic video, I should have it up this week.

6. Watching Adam Freeland from the lighting booth Sunday night.

7. Partying like a rockstar on a sunday night, just like old times, eh gang?

8. My camp. It was so sweet. I was surrounded by good friends that I really wanted to connect with, my tent setup was super sweet, and I leveled my futon frame perfectly. After Matt Cole hooked me up with a new blanket, and scotty picked up a jacket for me I was warm as could be.

9. People saying to me “Oh you’re Spaceman!” Apparently people are actually reading this! That makes me happy! It seems that people have been talking about me, forwarding my lists, and reading without comments.

10. That kiss.

*** 11. Wrapping all the lighting in 1 1/2 days.

*** 12. The amazing sushi dinner on tuesday night for the crew. I love being a part of the Do Lab!

Cold today and tonight. f you are a vendor, bring warm stuff. I will buy it.  I had to run into town to get some thermals I was so cold. I will also take cuddle partners, purely for body warmth and survival, I assure you.

Notes from the Bottle

1:20 am. First free minute to try and get a blog post going. I got a touch of video today, but there is no way I can get it up on our limited bandwidth. I decided to do this tonight, even though I am very tired.

Bugs. Yes. There are bugs. Bring bug repellent. Also, I have heard that if you take B1, mosquitoes don’t like your blood. Please confirm or deny.

The days are mild and sunny, the nights are cool and a bit damp. Word on the street is that it should get colder as the weekend progresses. Bring a good jacket, I didn’t.  Pack the extra blanket.

We are turning the electrical meter backwards with solar power. That is pretty dang cool.

There will be ice vendors.

The Do Lab crew is working 18+ hour days to bring you the best event we can. There is tons of equipment that we are putting all over the place. We have whole crews managing the logistics of this huge event. My request is simple, show the love. By the time most of you get here, we will have been working a long time. Be appreciative and generous. People of note to shower with love: Josh, Jesse, Dede, Aaron G., KJ, Monika, Brian F., Alphi, Travis, Tyler, Ian, Y2 and Brian Shaw, Heather Shaw, Charlie and Carl, Brent H and John G, Shena, Derek and Derek, Jedi and all the others I have forgotten or don’t know well enough to say. Bring presents.

It’s Jesslynn’s birthday and Charlie’s Friday! Sweet!

I forgot about the wild turkeys! Crazy.

Stay away from our power. Power? You brought ‘er!

Ok, Spaceman signing off for now.

More practical stuff.