Hello from San Francisco

[CyanEssence]

Hello Everyone,

I did this a bit late, as I jumped right in on the forums first, but figured I ought to do it anyhow.

I first heard about Burning Man when I moved down to San Francisco from Humboldt in 2002. I asked a lot of people about it, and got mixed reviews. Some loved it, some hated it, but all along I knew it was something that I really wanted to do. I was drawn to the natural beauty of the desert, something very different from where I grew up. I always wanted to camp out in a desert, especially to see the clear night's sky, framed by a wide-open horizon. I was also drawn to the creativity, and the music - I am unabashedly a lover of electronic music, and have been since '97 or '98.

Because of work and college, it took me nine years to make it out to the playa, and I had my first burn in 2011. I went solo, and I had a terrible time. I will spare the details, but I can say that it was entirely of my own doing. I knew that I messed up, and knew that I would like it if I gave it another shot. I went out again, and had a great time.

I continued to head out to the playa solo, but quickly found myself camping with more established camps that invited me to do so once I was out there. Through the friends that I made, I was invited to join a build team for this year (2015), and I am really enjoying the community we have created around our project. I am also learning a lot of new skills in the process - I've got cutting and buffing metal down, welding is next.

I love a lot of things about the burn. I love having no schedule (or at least a lot less of one). I find it awe inspiring to look out on the open playa, and all the massive art. To me, it is the same feeling that I get when I set my gaze upon something like the Grand Canyon. I am inspired by burners who make the seemingly impossible possible with their massive projects, and I bring this into my default life by challenging myself to bring into reality ideas about which I am passionate. I also love to community and connections that happen on playa, and year round. I love how many people are open to hugs in place of handshakes. I also like that the longer I stick around the burning man world, the bigger that world seems to become.

The burn has also inspired me to create a lot more during my free time. I make playa-wear, jewelry, jug wine, and paintings, and I am beginning to play around with leather projects.

Thanks for reading everyone,
Cyan

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

Now that you're officially introduced, you can come to the meet-n-greet at Barbie Death Camp on Wednesday and meet us all!

[some seeing eye]

You have some great skills and you are contributing! Solid!

[CyanEssence]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

Now that you're officially introduced, you can come to the meet-n-greet at Barbie Death Camp on Wednesday and meet us all!

I will, unless I have a shift at that time. I may have to bring a bottle of that pineapple jug wine that has been aging under my desk for the last few months. I don't have much, but I love to share. Are you all aiming for the 6:30 'hood again? It looks like I will be with a camp that was at the 9 o'clock portal last year, since a few others on my build team are camping there too.

You have some great skills and you are contributing! Solid!

Thank you. I just got home from 12 hours at NIMBY, working on the Arborealis Forest 2015 project. I learned to weld today! I also met a nice fellow who offered to show me how to use his plasma cutter. I'm thinking I might try and do a small burn barrel, or maybe something else small. I have a good idea about the image, just need to decide on an object to cut.

Also, all I can taste and smell right now is metal.

Side note, it looks like our project is going to be at 11 and D.

[Elderberry]

I'm pretty sure that's where BDC will be. I'll be, hopefully, in the 7:30 sector--Mudskipper Cafe--drop buy for a fruit smoothy!

[Savannah]

Welcome, CyanEssence!