Playa Booger

I woke up this morning and could not breathe through one nostril. I blocked the working side of my nose and blew, dislodging the biggest piece of playa booger from my sinus, dropping like moop onto my bedroom floor.

In transit

UIm in the taxi to the airport. I closed my eyes for about an hour last night, lets call that sleep. Just over two hours till my flight.
Its still dark here in Toronto, the sky begins to brighten the day. I roll down my window to feel the cool breeze as we pick up highway speed.
Checking in, they charge me 25 dollars for one checked bag.
6:30 and Im already at my gate. I was wisked through security( one of the fringe benifits of being blind). The lady in front of me forgot her laptop at the xray machine. She took off so quick I called after her, success, reunited.

They make the final call for a united airlines flight to San Francisco. I would be on that plane save for my hatred of said airline. I got airsick last time i flew united(they also sqewerd traditional gender roles with male flight attendants and a lady pilot.

I go shopping to kill time. Not really looking to buy anything. The duty free shop has nothing on BevMo (a store in California where i plan to buy my booze).
I pick up a cheese bagel and apple juice. Ahhh breakfast. I wish they had a Tim Hortons in this section of the airport(i think its on the domestic flights side unfortunately)
I was starving. Now Im not. But still not satisfied, that comes later, when I get lunch at Sweet Chinito. That sandwich draws me west.
I dont watch anything on the flight, i just try to catch my missing zzz's.
I was smart enough to pre-purchase lunch(a chicken wrap and some cashews) saving myself 3$.
The plane banks hard and i catch a glimpse of my city out the window. Yes, my city. San Francisco, my friends live here, the food is amazing. I've been here more times than I can count (is this the 13th time?).
Touchdown. Next post is from Matt's house.

Toronto Newbie Burner Picnic eats chocolate covered bacon

Toronto Newbie Burner Picnic

Last night was the Toronto Newbie Burner Picnic. The event is held by the Regional BMO to connect newbie or "virgin" Burners with local seasoned Burners to share advice and experiences so they can be better prepared for life on the Playa.

I went to see if anyone I knew was going and to offer any help to noobs I might meet.

There were at least 50 people that met in Trinity Bellwoods Park, and the mix seemed to be more veterans than noobs.

A lot of great information was shared, from entry to exodus.
They talked about the two Canadian art projects headed to the Playa, the Toronto C.O.R.E. project, and Super Street Fire from the people that brought us the Heart Machine.
I'm going to get involved with the Super Street Fire project in some capacity.

Being a picnic, there were potluck snacks. I made some Chocolate Covered Bacon to share. It went over well, as burners love bacon.

So much to do

Sunny J & "The Fire of Fires" Temple,
Burning Man 2009

I'm going to Burning Man 2012, but very little is ready. It's 39 days away and I haven't even done anything with this blog. My recent trip to England was expensive, and I will have to make it to Black Rock City with limited funds. 


My plan is to fly to San Francisco the week before the Burn. This way I can help my camp Shadyvil load up the gear (some go out to the Playa early to set up). I love Shadyvil, they are from San Francisco and New York and all over. 


I'm not so much blogging as I am thinking out loud. 


OUTSTANDING ITEMS 


-Flight to San Francisco (around $800)
Very essential. San Francisco is my base of operations. This is going on my VISA card.


-Ride to the Playa (about $100)
Since every hipster in the Bay area is headed to Nevada the last week of August, it shouldn't be too difficult to find a ride either from a fellow Shady or an aforementioned hipster. My last time out I scored a ride via Craigslist and made a great friend, Frank (He's going again this year, but leaving from Seattle). 


-Camp Fee ($200)
I don't have this money, and it has to be paid, like, now. 


-Keg ($80)
Shadyvil is one of the few camps with a respectable bar, which includes cold draft beer. The bar is tended by my good friend Bill W. The beer is only stocked through generous contributions of monies. I plan on contributing some cash, then generously consuming some beer.

These next things are from a list I made at the end of my last time at Burning Man of things to improve:


ITEMS FOR A BETTER BURN
-Be more fit (Go to the gym!!!)
-Sunglasses (no more cheap dollar store shades, it's too bright, get prescription shades).
-El Wire (Brighten up your world, and your bike)
-Bed roll (comfort issue, Playa surface is to hard)


  

I've got a golden ticket

I can't sleep.

I got an email from the Burning Man Organization, my application for a low income ticket has been approved.

I had given up. I was sure that I wasn't going home to Black Rock City this year.

This is the kick in the pants my life needed. I have missed going for the last 2 years. Each time felt like a void passing through my life as I burned vicariously through the internet on BRC's ustream feed.

I am going to use this blog to try and cover my Burn as it develops. That was the original point of this blog, I just got really sidetracked.

The Man burns in 141 days.

Cold Outside, Hot in the Head

It's freezing cold here in Toronto, typical Canadian weather for January. But if your a Burner you can feel that intense Playa heat warm your bones every time you close your eyes (although in reality it is fucking cold on the Playa right now). Tonight is the Toronto Decomp*, I will not be going cause I'm trying to save funds for the actual Burn. I'm sure it will be a great time, everyone I have met in the Toronto Burning Man community has been really cool. 

I will get my music and dancing fill next weekend at Igloofest in Montreal, the outdoor winter music festival that is the climatic antithesis to Burning Man.

*Decompression parties are held regionally after the Burn to re-aclimatize Burners into the "real" world. 

Burning Man Tickets, for the price of 3 Daft Punk tickets, you can NOT see Daft Punk

The first tier tickets for Burning Man went on sale at 10am pst yesterday morning, and as always the site was overwhelmed within 15 minutes. When buying tickets for Burning Man, participants are asked to purchase tickets at the price level they can afford. Each tier is 9,000 tickets, the first tier tickets 210$ and the second tier 240$. Inevitably thousands of people crush the website, I just checked and 1st and 2nd tier tickets are already sold out. That means if you want a ticket you are gonna pay 280$ for third tier, and when that sells out its gonna cost you 320$ to see that playa sunrise. I'm going to try the Low-income ticket option, which requires you to fill out a form and order by mail. It really is the only way I can afford to go, and I can't help but wonder how many people bought the first and second tier tickets and drive hybrids from the City into Mountain View every morning.

For Burning Man Ticket Information, please click here.