The Bar 2014 Edition

[Savannah]

Packing up begins this weekend.

All that dust, and I've got nothing to wear......lol

I'm in with the Beacon again, and things SHOULD go smooth, The problem is, as it always is, is that you never KNOW what will go on. Survival rule #1 - protect thine own ass. Rule #1 kicked two years ago when I got pulled over in Nebraska by the Nebraska State Police. The trooper will claim to this very day he wasn't profiling me, but I know better. He saw my prescriptions on the top of my bag, and that constituted enough for 'reasonable suspicion' He had me explain every single pill/Vitamin I took. The final one he said 'looked like a horse tranquilizer'. I turned it over, and it said......CENTRUM. My daily multivitamin.

His next words......"you can go now....." were music to my ears, and I was too tired to argue. Good thing I was carrying the ORIGINAL pill containers.

I hate how large original containers are, but I do this too. On the occasions when I have shared my packing list with virgins I have added a note under the first aid / personal section that says "ALL PILLS IN ORIGINAL BOTTLES". I really think it wouldn't occur to 3/4 of them.

Because the bottles are so bulky, I don't even bring all the vitamins I normally like to take, like Calcium and Fish Oil . . . mostly just Flintstones, and some Emergen-C.

[^Rhino!]

Packing up begins this weekend.

All that dust, and I've got nothing to wear......lol

I'm in with the Beacon again, and things SHOULD go smooth, The problem is, as it always is, is that you never KNOW what will go on. Survival rule #1 - protect thine own ass. Rule #1 kicked two years ago when I got pulled over in Nebraska by the Nebraska State Police. The trooper will claim to this very day he wasn't profiling me, but I know better. He saw my prescriptions on the top of my bag, and that constituted enough for 'reasonable suspicion' He had me explain every single pill/Vitamin I took. The final one he said 'looked like a horse tranquilizer'. I turned it over, and it said......CENTRUM. My daily multivitamin.

His next words......"you can go now....." were music to my ears, and I was too tired to argue. Good thing I was carrying the ORIGINAL pill containers.

I hate how large original containers are, but I do this too. On the occasions when I have shared my packing list with virgins I have added a note under the first aid / personal section that says "ALL PILLS IN ORIGINAL BOTTLES". I really think it wouldn't occur to 3/4 of them.

Because the bottles are so bulky, I don't even bring all the vitamins I normally like to take, like Calcium and Fish Oil . . . mostly just Flintstones, and some Emergen-C.

Flintstones? Perfect for Black ROCK City.

And for you, Savannah, your winning ways make me say, '[Yabba-dabba-DOO!!!!!!!"

I'm tired of getting leaned on by 'the man', even in my home town. A couple of officers dropped by one day when I was working in my garage at home. They had heard that I had 'a ton of "rock" in there' I said, 'I sure do.' I noted that they were a little uneasy at first when I said it.

"And you could show us this 'rock'?"

"Sure. No problem."

I opened the cabinet and started bringing out the fruits of collecting over 20 years as a professional geologist. Huge slabs of crystals of galena, sphalerite, and calcite from the Viburnum mines, a large calcite crystal 2 feet long from the same location, pieces of granite from all over the world, a 9" diameter ammonite from Kansas City, etc., etc.....

The officer laughed and nervously told me that he had meant crack cocaine.

Police 'intelligence'? I'll never accuse them of it. This was the result of a bad tip, or a conversation that they mistook for my posession of illegal narcotics.

They have a tough enough job as it is, but I'm a kind-hearted old fool who is not into such things.

[sadie]

Jeez! Had to really hunt the bar down tonight!

Hi Everyone...drinks all around.

Yggy..how's your finger? What a crappy way to wake up! Hope it's feeling better.

Can't wait to see all you folks in a couple of weeks! Yes, a couple of weeks...

I am going to teach myself how to replace the spark plug in my lawn mower tomorrow...fingers crossed that's the problem. Doing all of this Burning Man prep has a) boosted my confidence in my abilities, and b) used up all of my cash! - so imma do it myself!!

Happy arting and packing and crossing off lists to all...

[Elliot]

...

I am going to teach myself how to replace the spark plug in my lawn mower tomorrow...fingers crossed that's the problem. ....

How old is the gasoline in that mower? Gasoline goes stale, and lawn mowers are notoriously sensitive to stale gasoline.

[Patsh]

I'm about ready for one of those drinks, sadie! Thanks!!
Busy busy busy these days. Seems the closer it gets, the more there is to do!

Cheers, ALL!!


Oh!! Hi Elliot!!

[Elorrum]

Doing all of this Burning Man prep has a) boosted my confidence in my abilities, and b) used up all of my cash! - so imma do it myself!!

I hear that. Just about ready myself to let open the sluices on my checking account, and yes you can!
Had a good pep talk with a friend and fellow overreaching inventor at work. He said that even though figuratively I want to build "the castle, minarettes,towers, buttresses, everything" that I first have to build a house, and then add on from there." We both commiserated about the two hour projects that always take three days, while we messed around in the back of the store looking at all the different ways to fix pipes to walls or inside other pipes.

[Elliot]

Hi Patsh! All your Stuff is loaded in Millicent already.

[sadie]

...

I am going to teach myself how to replace the spark plug in my lawn mower tomorrow...fingers crossed that's the problem. ....

How old is the gasoline in that mower? Gasoline goes stale, and lawn mowers are notoriously sensitive to stale gasoline.

The gas is only a couple of weeks old...fresh in the can 2 weeks, fresh in the mower last night. Got the front yard done, then couldn't get it started back up for the back yard.
I let a friend borrow it recently, and he pushed it to his house about 4 blocks away. I'm thinking the bumpy trip jarred something loose...will begin with pushing on connections to see if something wobbles. After the front yard last night in 90 degree heat, I didn't really try too hard to figure out the problem..

[Elliot]

Very good. Try a new spark plug.

[Patsh]

Hi Patsh! All your Stuff is loaded in Millicent already.

You must mean, all Delle's Stuff? Cool!!
Thank you!

I haven't begun loading the car... a fraction the size of Millicent! It shouldn't take long, once all the bins and bags are lined up.

[LeChatNoir]

Sorting stuff this weekend. Better late than later.

[LeChatNoir]

(Sets out cheese, crackers and hard salami)

[Patsh]

Hoping to meet you this year, le Chat! (and Karine!)
*puts a little cheese on a cracker*
Yum... thanks!

(j'aime bien les chats)

[trilobyte]

Drinks indeed! Drinks all round, and a vodka and vicious chemicals for me. My 2014 tag production is well underway, I finished getting the bike rack art painted (just needs clearcoat), got some sign designs I was playing art director on over the finish line, and a few other tiny details. I would have been able to get to some packing, too, but the damned cat was needy when I got home for lunch - I kicked back with her on the lounger and she immediately stretched out and fell asleep on me, dragging me into nap as well.

Back to the bar - more drinks needed, and then more lasers in the morning!

[Maizie]

Tomorrow is the final pack/organization, and then Sunday is the last crafting day ... we leave on the 17th. Yikes!

[MyDearFriend]

Doing all of this Burning Man prep has a) boosted my confidence in my abilities, and b) used up all of my cash! - so imma do it myself!!

I hear that. Just about ready myself to let open the sluices on my checking account, and yes you can!
Had a good pep talk with a friend and fellow overreaching inventor at work. He said that even though figuratively I want to build "the castle, minarettes,towers, buttresses, everything" that I first have to build a house, and then add on from there." We both commiserated about the two hour projects that always take three days, while we messed around in the back of the store looking at all the different ways to fix pipes to walls or inside other pipes.

Omg, this.

Why why why do I start so many of these???

Okay off I go

wait

loading the DC containers today,

[AntiM]

We don't roll until the Friday before, even with EA. Larry can only take so much time off, and we save some of that for other vacations (Portugal in spring next year, ye-ah). I am still painting, with bouts of sewing and fussing with food and clothes. Because Larry only gets 36 hours at home usually, our "weekends" are jam packed with camp prep chores. Camp infrastructure upkeep is an endless chore.

We need a bike rack. As usual, we won't have one.

But we had a Thai chicken pizza for supper, and watched a couple recorded episodes of Defiance, so that was a nice stay-date.

[Elliot]

Good morning!

The two bottles of Secret Ingredient arrived yesterday (for Chocolate Martinis, as discussed previously). Buwahahahah. Of course, the Mix-Off is up to Martini Steve himself, but he did not voice any protest against the idea, which I take as consent. Perhaps at the Meet-n-Greet on Wednesday?

For anyone with Early Arrival: Please double check the date on your Early Arrival document. There was a snafu with mine and several others in the department where I volunteer. It was quickly and courteously corrected, of course, but they cannot correct it if you don't tell them.
Be sure you print out the attached .pdf with the bar codes on it, not just the e-mail. I don't know if this applies to all EAs or just the staff volunteer ones, but please look closely at any and all documentation, which is different from last year.
Also, you must have a Vehicle Pass, even with Early Arrival. (If you are towing a trailer, the trailer does not need a pass.)

I'm making a pair of crude replacement street-name signs for the corner of 5:00 and G where I expect to camp. The idea is to install these after the originals get stolen as souvenirs, which unfortunately happens rather routinely. Granted, the names are still there on the small posts, but those are so hard to see. Don't make the replacements too nice, or they get stolen also!

Gosh, I'm disgustingly awake for this early hour! Of course, in 11 days I will be on Perimeter patrol now.

[unjonharley]

AaaaUp..Morning slept in to seven.. Need coffee..

You guys going somewhere.. Like with all this rushing around and packing??

[trilobyte]

It's kind of funny how public perception and accepted attitudes change over the years. Ten years ago when I was going to my first burn, our camp leader (a guy on his 6th or 7th burn) explained as he talked about the map that there would be a quiz on Saturday night, when all the street signs get taken. His view was more that it was a great prank and served as a lesson in radical self reliance. On burn night, I don't think I encountered a single veteran who thought it was an outrage that people were making off with the signs. I've never taken one, and I've never gotten worked up about it either. I can usually find my way around without them (I come from a long line of surveyors), plus of course in a pinch you can always look at the intersection name on the signpost's plastic sheath. It's written vertically and abbreviated, so it would look like this:
7
3
0
D

...at the intersection of 7:30 and Darjeeling. It's on the sheath several times so that an ESD or other responder vehicles can read it regardless of what direction they're coming from.

Off I go to get ready and spend a bit more time on the laser. Then I've got to make another run to the lumber yard, and finish up another project or two, etc etc. I need caffeine!

[Patsh]

mmmmmm.... caffeine........ good......

[ygmir]

*canters up on War Rabbit™ , lets him "free range" and heads into Bar*

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*notes left over patron from last night*

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Sidles up to bar (sfw) *sporting best "bad guy" look*:

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Hi gang!!

yeah signs.......usually I don't care, though a year or two ago, some particularly ass hatish frat boy was taking ours, and I gave chase, pulled him off his bike by the back of his shorts, he hit the ground and lost the sign. it was sort of funny, in that as he was screaming, people were running from the neighborhood yelling "stop, thief" and throwing things, even bikes, at him........wow, large price.
sorta made me think, though, and though I dis agree with taking them, not sure all the blood and bruising is worth stopping it........unless it's something I made myself or personal property.

well also, I have tactical rolls of razor wire, (handles for fast deployment), if anyone wants to borrow some.........

*strokes tv, heads for IBBOD*
*opens LABIA for overflow crowd*

[media]

[FossaFerox]

I need a drink.

Someone asked me "How many days now?" and I answered "13" only to have them act surprised.

"I thought your birthday was this next week, not the week after..."

Whoops!

I had to stop and figure out how many days to my birthday. All I've been able to focus on is the Burn. So much left to do...

[nilasnake]

the gerlach webcam is looking dirty....or perhaps there is alot of smokey haze in the air. does somebody clean the lense?
i wanted to watch those 35 trucks for embrace go by.

[trilobyte]

It does get dirty from time to time, between the dust and occasional rain, Looks like it's gotten a bit mucky. I'll relay word, but right now I imagine everybody's crazy busy doing other things.

[Rice]

It has been an interesting morning. Getting ready for TTITD. Only a few days till I have the privilege of being on the playa.

This video aptly describes how a so-called friend reacted to me not wanting to do free crap for her businesses any more:

[media]

Oddly, I feel like a drink.

Hope to see ya on the playa.

[MyDearFriend]

Good for you. Rice; no more so-called friends.

Got my stuff on the DC Container today, yay!!! This is really going to happen.

[burner von braun]

the gerlach webcam is looking dirty....or perhaps there is alot of smokey haze in the air. does somebody clean the lense?
i wanted to watch those 35 trucks for embrace go by.

Any idea about when this might occur? I'd like to see it as well, and perhaps grab a few screenshots for all if I'm able.

If someone possibly does have time to clean the camera, perhaps they could readjust the view too.

Yay! for getting stuff to the DC container MDF!
*pours Bushmills*

..and Rice, I'm glad you're able to make it back to the playa this year.

[Maizie]

Yikes, Rice .... "interesting" is an understatement.

[Sunbeam56]

Made it to the bottle store today.
Too poor to buy a round, you-all come by and i'll
spot you a splash