Burning Man was fucking CRAZY. Let me give you some of the highlights/lowlights:
+ Being an hour and a half into the drive to Reno only to have Scott mention that he “forgot” his ticket. Luckily the people at will-call allowed him to purchase a full-price, $300 ticket with the promise of a refund. But hey, I forgot to bring chapstick, which is pretty much the same thing.
+ Accidentally forgetting Scott at the side of the road… you see, the traffic kept starting and stopping, moving only 20-30 ft. at a time. At one point Scott got out of the car to go practice trumpet (note: it was about 10PM, completely dark on the road with no lights) and right as he closed the door, the traffic started moving forward. I thought it was only going to move about 20 ft. and so I just started driving with the subconscious understanding that Scott would walk up to the car after I pull up. But, the traffic kind of kept moving, and it took me about 40 seconds of driving at 30 mph before I realized, “Oh shit! I left Scott and this is a long way to walk!” But I couldn’t turn around without losing our two-hour space in line, so I just kept driving for about two miles until there was a turn-off on the side. After ten minutes of nervously laughing to myself, pacing outside the car, and yelling, “SCOTT!” into the darkness, I hear his voice from the misty night and watch him pull up, hanging on to the back of a Range Rover, palm to the slippery roof, terrified. I love you Scott.
+ Waiting from 8PM until 3AM to get into Burning Man…that is, sitting in the car being cranky and watching a naked chick hoola hoop in front of us.
+ Accidentally peeing on my feet and in my boots. Not a highlight.
+Going to an “alternative dating mixer.” This was seriously a highlight, though one of the more uncomfortable moments of my life. We (Scott, Nakul, Kellan, Neil, Eric & Zach) entered into the dome where we were immediately lined up facing strangers in a circle. We then had to place our hands over our hearts and gaze lovingly into the stranger’s eyes, while this hippie woman asked us poignant questions like, “Could you fall in love with these eyes? Do these eyes make you excited?” Most of the eyes looked something like this:
Then we had to bring our hands together and simeloutaneously kiss one another’s hands. As if this wasn’t enough, we were then given a very detailed lesson on “how to hug.” During the “hug practicing” this man came up to me, embraced me, and then upon withdrawing from the hug he said, “Wait!! Heart to heart.” He then altered sides and placed our hearts together. He kind of looked like John Lennon’s gross brother.
+ The night where I danced around the playa for hours, saw the Rocky Horror picture show, used the porta potty and… that’s pretty much what I can remember…
+ Forrest Gump… [there was little light involved in this...]
+ Guantalamera
+ The Rollerrink camp! Even though I only went once and stayed for about 10 minutes, it is going to be my main haunt in upcoming years.
+Stopping in Reno for some of the best Thai food I’ve ever had.
+Trying to be a slutty raver chick, but ultimately failing.
+ Dressing up in glowsticks!!! Total first, aside from buying those obnoxious glow-twirlers at Disneyland.
+Zach unsuccessfully bandaging my foot after I rebarred it.
+Pancakes every morning made by naked women– delicious and gross at the same time…
+Participating in speed dating on the playa and actually getting paired with someone (though, we never met after that).
+All the lost, little moments.
All in all, I had an incredible time and I’m definitely going next year. I encourage everyone to put it on their “bucket list” and experience it at least once… it’s something you can’t understand until you’ve experienced it, and something you need to experience so you understand (I’m trying to make a huge party deep, though it’s really just that: a huge party.)
The boys hanging out at camp
Both are still nasty...
Being unimaginably cool
The Temple
Near the Dome at 10:00-- we were at 9:30
