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.
“Dust Disrupts Burning Man”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/01/arts/01arts-DUSTDISRUPTS_BRF.html?_r=1&ref=arts&oref=slogin
A dust storm disrupted the Burning Man festival in Nevada on Saturday, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Land Management,Roger Farschon, told The Associated Press. The festival was in a “total whiteout,” Mr. Farschon said in an e-mail message. “A similar cold front caused a major dust event on Monday. The rest of the event has been relatively dust-free.” The festival, a celebration of music, art and self-expression held in the Black Rock Desert, attracts nearly 50,000 participants each year.
Um, have these people even been to Burning Man? It IS a dust storm. That is the whole thing. We go there, cause a dust storm and have a silly fun time.
It looked like rain this morning, so I drew out a few of my tarps and covered my stuff outside my tent. I also packed all of my rain gear for work today. By the by, the surest way to prevent rain? Pack rain gear, bring rain boots, be rain proof. If it’s raining, you can be sure some jackass on your crew forgot their raingear. I’m just saying.
I am camped in the middle of nothing. I have a one block radius in all directions and a bank of portapotties to choose from. They are clean, mainly because I am the only one using them. But they fill with dust and the blue chemical is steadily drying up. Soon, these will be surrounded by people. The plus side is that I will be leaving before they get really bad. Hopefully.
We opened the box office a day early. Our shifts start today, and I was given a field promotion to shift lead. My last shift is Monday night. I’ll have a few days to party at least! The box office is right adjacent to the gate. It’s interesting. The cultures of the two groups are totally different. Box is all about being nice and making peope feel welcome. The gate is about getting your ass in, making sure you have your tickets and early arrival passes, and looking for stowaways and other shenanigans. I’m looking at a 12 hour shift today. Sweet.
The wind still hasn’t let up. So I still haven’t set up my shade structure or shower tent. My hair is doing interesting things. But early on there is this odd aversion to being clean. Everyone is just expected to be a certain level of filthy. I’ve been accused of being clean at least four times. So by the time most of you get here, I should be a shriveled monster. No matter what, I can’t seem to keep my lips unchapped.
Now, here’s the thing. Every year, for the last four or five I have come out early. Every year, I have been given reports of off weather or terrible dusty conditions. And then, every year things have been fine when people get out here. It is a very unpredictable and challenging environment. It changes constantly. It is beautiful or horrible depending on your perspective. Come prepared. Come ready for anything. Be adaptable.
The playa is beautiful.
And dusty… And windy.
and now, the videos I wanted to share (I got some fast speed). Just go to the link. it’s still processing now. Man there’s gotta be an easier way.
http://www.youtube.com/user/spacemaneric