Ah, Hello

[GadMatt]

I am GadMatt and I would like to introduce myself, tell a little history and thank some people:

In September of 2002 I saw a very short story on the local TV about the burning of the man at an Art gathering, way out in the Nevada desert. I live in the mountains of Oregon and didn't get the internet until September of 2009 (I was using my computer for Word processing). A friend in town did some research for me and signed-up for the Jack Rabbit News. She would print it out and then I would pick it up when I was town. My partner, (I am the trusty side-kick to Terrawanda); we decided to spin the wheel & go. We spent the next year getting ready. I learned to sew, (hey guys, it's much like running a band saw) and made a couple of 12 X 24 mono-pole shade cloth shade shelters. We created some art and even drove to the playa in early summer just to check-out the roads, gas stations, rest stops, and find in-route camping spots. Built a roof rack for my truck, a 12V misting system for the shade shelter and hand-made some small gifts (swag). Because of the harsh environment, we decided to pull my old 24 foot travel trailer... When Holly toured to promote her "Drama in the Desert" book and DVD, we drove 250 miles just to sit in the same room with some burners and try to learn something. Later we went to Eugene, Oregon and met with a small group for coffee. They were incredibly helpful to us and tried to answer our endless questions. Our first burn was Beyond Belief, and it was.

Many times in life: you get back what you put out.

Then we, Vaulted the Heavens. Again, we spent all year getting ready... Learned lessons at the Burn that were both painful and outrageously joyous. But we were prepared for that journey...
(Notice a theme that I am trying to develop here in my intro?)
Because of default world complications, we didn't get to return to BRC until Green Man... And what an historic burn! Oh yeah, what a spiritual and mystical time that was... (Actually it was.) It involved life and death. That year, we adopted a couple young and clueless Brits. (They were a delight.) They showed-up with a rental car, no tent, no cooler, no shade but had plenty of top shelf booze. They were funny and witty and participated in the burn by being really excellent company. For us and others.
Please kids, read the survival guide and come prepared. Learn some card tricks, tell some stories or memorize some poetry/jokes, do some rope tricks, spin some hoops, dress-up & dance in the light of the moon, but ...remember to pick-up some trash. This really is the chance to give the best of yourself... And that is no small thing. (Absolutely no kidding.)

We tried really, really hard to come home last year... Wanted to do an elaborate theme camp, to give back, in some small way for all that had been done for us, but failed at the lottery and although STEP eventually did come through for us, it was far, far too late to put anything together well. We didn't go; it was kinda heartbreaking at the time. To us, it seemed like the future, (and Soul) of Burning Man was hanging by a thread. Ya know what I mean?
We did not give up. (Never give up, never surrender...) This year, I am so pleased to announce that the Creative Cognition Camp will be burning brightly with our hearts proudly on our sleeve. Just yesterday we learned we were placed at 7:30 and John Frum! It will be a very small affair. I have made three more shade shelters and, for the first time, no RV. We will be in an 18 foot teepee tent, living out of a cooler. This is our first camp with placement, so naturally we are long-tail kittens contending with scary logistical rocking chairs. But WE ARE BURNERS! And we will do our best.

A few words about Eplaya: In 2009 we got the internet. On that day I registered on this board. Since then I have read it, from cover to cover, almost every day. I'm not a lurker, I pretty much always log on so as to not be anonymous. (I like to think of it as being a really, really, really quiet person standing in the light of the circle and listening to the conversations.) Many times, in the last four years, I really wanted to PM someone to compliment or console but was unsure of: the appropriate manners, protocol and what buttons to push to properly achieve this. Or perhaps more to the point: whomever I messaged wouldn't even know me because I had not properly introduced myself. In this community, I was a stranger. And I guess I'm like everyone else, hardly anyone likes to appear as a fool, or incompetent. Added to this learning curve I have a hearty and cautious distrust of the internet in general and social media in particular, especially in regards to personal privacy. This is my first post anywhere.

You, the Eplaya "family", have made me feel like a part of Burning man was in my life all the year round... and from my heart, I thank you deeply. There are people here in this community that I like and respect so very much that, Burning Man aside, I would share my water with you in the desert. I hope to meet you, and express my admiration, probably as awkwardly as possible.
Finally and in conclusion; I most especially I wish to thank all the Moderators, past and present, for the hard work, all the long hours, wise council and dedication that you give. "Tis a fine and priceless gift that you give year round and I'm sure that thousands of others join me in echoing this sentiment. (Note to the Mods: Don't you dare to edit out this next bit!) I think that each & every one of us should make a little bit of swag of appreciation for them. That way we could honor (and embarrass) them at the M&G. Wouldn't that be something if everyone actually did that?
Thanks for reading this over-long post. See Ya in the dust!
Love and Kisses, GadMatt


In the desert, you can remember your name.

[Savannah]

GadMatt, I've seen you logged in so many, many times that when I saw this thread and clicked on it and saw "Posts: 1", I was a little disoriented. And then it occurred to me: "Okay, yeah, I've never seen him speak."

What a wonderful and interesting first post. (Not the least because you're intensely complimentary, haha!) My three favorite details: that you used to read the Jack Rabbit Speaks printed out(!), that you learned to sew and compare it to running a bandsaw (which is both funny and an excellent way of putting it in perspective for handy men) and that you took care of 2 fortunately charming, clueless, tentless n00bs in 2007 and managed to find glee in it. Above & beyond.

. . . I'm a teepee tenter with a cooler, too.

Congratulations on your placement, & welcome to ePlaya.

[ygmir]

haha a indeed Gadmatt, I've seen you logged on, not realizing you've not posted.

good on ya, for a first post!
But, jump on in!! as you well know, we are an eclectic bunch, but mostly not to mean.

Welcome!

[Elorrum]

I guess you waited until you had something really awesome to say. Now get on down here, Burner, and play in the dust with us!

[Sham]

After 4 years, I'm happy to finally welcome you to eplaya---officially!

I've seen your name so often in the online names below, that I never really caught that your post count remain zero. The name is so familiar though.

Now that you've introduced yourself, I hope you post often here, and look forward to seeing you at the M&G on Wednesday.

Glad you finally "came out"!

Sham....

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

[Sham]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

Not now JK, he's been here for 4 years!

[lucky420]

Hola and hello...

I lurked for awhile before I posted too (although not as long as you). Some of these fuckos here scared the shit out of me...kind of

[ygmir]

Hola and hello...

I lurked for awhile before I posted too (although not as long as you). Some of these fuckos here scared the shit out of me...kind of

scared you? who coulda done that?

[lucky420]

Well it was almost like that feeling you got when it was the first day of school and you were the new kid....

[tatonka]

will see ya at your camp , my friend and I will be around 8:00 -830 or so nieghbor and thks again for invite to the SOAK , will try to make it next year.

[GadMatt]

Ahhh, thanks ever so much for the warm welcome, it means a lot to me, especially coming from some of my very favorite people...
Savannah, you are a peach. With hoping for a Theme camp placement this year I knew that if we were successful I would need to pull a utility trailer loaded with stuff for the camp. (No RV) Recently in a thread, you recommended your 10 X 10 teepee to TheCryptofishist. You said you were pleased with it's performance out on the playa, so I checked it out and bought the larger model for, (ahem) more living space. Hope it works as well for us as does yours. (I am going a little bit nuts trying to build a bomb proof shade shelter for it, however.) 18 by 18 is a hell of a foot print and the ten foot height (with the little pointy spike on top) presents quite a challenge for wind deflection and interior day-time heat. Main concern is wind and having a tolerable space to wait-out a prolonged white-out. But thanks to one of our resident geniuses, (Mr.) FIGJAM and his clever evaporative cooler, we have expectations of a fair chance of survival this year.
I would not feel truly welcomed without jkisha offering his standard greeting... Thank you, Sir. (In return would like to welcome you to Eplaya as well.)
Elorrium, I liked you from the first moment I saw your avatar and since then, it's only gotten better. Thanks for the hello, truly.
What can I say to such a polymath as Ygmir? I'm happy and flattered to have you welcome me. I am quite sure that just being in the same room as you would make me laugh and would probably raise my I.Q. (Your gift, is that whether that be true or not... It would just make me feel that way.)
Sham, my man! I, like so many out here in the West, grew-up thinking of Moxie as moxie, as in the movies "Ya got a lot of moxie, kid" meaning a lot of heart, guts and soul. Moxie (the drink) is just one of the many things you have brought to the conversational table. Thanks for the Mod Job and the welcome and... I loved your telephone. It was so very cool. Sorry about the snow, that was a bummer.
Oh, Lucky 420, in a Burner's world of clever camp names yours ranks right up there. You, like me, and many others spend all year getting ready. I love that. Work is love made visible. "Something strange in the neighborhood... I ain't afraid of no ghosts" I ain't afraid of no fuckos... and neither are you! They might be fuckos, but they are our fuckos, right? You might be giving the world a defiant one finger salute, but I know the truth of you.

I might be strange but with my happy introduction I am no longer a stranger. Thank you all.
GadMatt

[Sham]

GadMatt, with only two posts since 2009, you got some catchin' up to do. Good luck with that and hopefully we'll see your face at Barbie Death Camp.

[theCryptofishist]

GadMatt, with only two posts since 2009, you got some catchin' up to do. Good luck with that and hopefully we'll see your face at Barbie Death Camp.

I t will take centuries for him to catch up to Ygmir.

[ygmir]

GadMatt, with only two posts since 2009, you got some catchin' up to do. Good luck with that and hopefully we'll see your face at Barbie Death Camp.

I t will take centuries for him to catch up to Ygmir.

thank you Kettle........


signed:
Pot