Oh the questions!

[littleflower]

My excitement and anticipation for Burning Man, however, is now unconstrained, which is hard because we are 50 or so weeks away (that is a long time to healthily be excited, I may explode before then ) -- and I am a little upset that I didn't do this sooner.

i don't know how i can make it so long without exploding, either. i know, regionals and preparation and everything ... but ...

i'm glad you're doing OK. and thanks for that video! what a scream.

[Elderberry]

***UPDATE***

...Anyway I am thinking out loud again, I came across this the other night, and it really brought my spirits up!

First, let me say that I read the entire post from beginning to end and agree totally with your decision to part company from your girlfriend.

I was 60 years old before I went to my first burn. This year was my second time and I'll be going every year as long as I am able.

I knew about BM for a long time, but really never had an interest in going--until a met a guy that was really into it. At my age, my idea of a 'vacation' included 5 star hotels and restaurants. The first year we were together my now life-partner did not want me to go--he was afraid I would ruin his burn.

I followed the entire burn on TV Free Burning man, watching all the live feeds and reading every page on the Burning Man website. It almost felt like I was there--sans the dust!

Anyway, when my partner returned, he said he didn't enjoy the burn (his third at that point) as much because he missed me being there to share it with him. So, I made a committment to 'try' it at least once. Frankly, I only 'sort of' enjoyed it--the elements took a bit of getting used to; but being a Viet Nam vet, I just changed back to that 'survival' mind-set and the week turned out to be great after that.

After that first burn, I (we) started planning on the next one almost from the minute we returned--my challenge and major enjoyment in preparation, is doing all that can be done to tame the elements--short of renting an RV. I find the more comfortable I can make it, the more I can actually enjoy the entire event.

I guess the whole point of relating my story is that even if I had not come to love everything about BM, I felt it was important to at least take an interest in something that was so important to my partner, and knowing this, I would never have felt it fair to deny him participation in something that was so important to him and his life.

I think you made the right decision and I think you will have a GREAT time at your first burn.

JK

[doppelGanger]

LOL, let's start a pool for 2010 .... DG will meet a wonderful woman at BMan '09 and they'll be married on the playa 2010. But which day? Could happen! Don't discount it.

If you need us, we're here. Maybe not without a snarky answer, but we're here to listen. Well, I'm here, so as not to speak for the rest of the eplayans.

That would be so amazing, maybe it will happen!

[theCryptofishist]

We also have a wonderful African grey parrot I will have to detach from, which is worse in some respects because she is pretty much my child...

And sadly, given parrots, she will miss you. I hope she's going with the one she's more bonded to.

[doppelGanger]

We also have a wonderful African grey parrot I will have to detach from, which is worse in some respects because she is pretty much my child...

And sadly, given parrots, she will miss you. I hope she's going with the one she's more bonded to.

Regretfully, my ex is the one who purchased her, and I came along after. However, Bella, is head over heels in love with her "Daddy bird" as she puts it ( but that does not mean my ex does not love her, and that she won't be in very caring hands). I wish I could take her, she is going to be very sad, as I am. I believe though, that if it gets to the point where she starts mutilating herself i.e. plucking her feathers out (god forbid), my ex would do the right thing. Since I have been typing this she has yelled "Daddy bird come here!" and "I love you!" as well as "Your such a stinker!". Damn that bird...