The Bar 2016 Edition

[Aurelia]

We know you !
xoAurelia

[lucky420]

Uh oh

[trilobyte]

Got some errands done this morning, made some progress, and this afternoon's work involved testing and refining my sumerian sling drink recipe. Yummy stuff!

[msj2u]

Peeks in.....

Well after 13 on the playa, my luck has run out. No tickets, but I'll find something else to do!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe trip!

Hugs to Maryanimal and Ratty (whom I've had the pleasure to meet and talk with)

Looking forward to pictures and stories!!

Until paths cross,

M S J

[Mohairs]

Morning Bar
This week was a total train wreck and I lost so much momentum. Hoping for a mental and physical re-start this weekend. My countdown is now at 2 weeks before departure so its game-on now! I need to rehearse putting up my Monkey Hut one more time before packing it up for travel and get more food prepped.

The weather here is going to be awesome, classic North Woods weather instead of this steamy jungle atmosphere we've had. Dry air is what I am craving. The weather out on the playa looks to be amazing this coming week (See below)

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

ZZ

I'm having the same loss of momentum.
Leaving Duluth hopefully the 24th....

[trilobyte]

Sorry to hear you'll be missing the playa, MSJ. I started a year behind you but have had a couple gap years along the way.

I got a little bit of last minute laser work done today, if everything stays on track I may actually be done with all big tool prep work. I also got a bunch of errands done too, inching closer to the finish!

Tonight we had a bit of a floor show - the fire alarm for the building went off a little while ago. No sign of fire when I scouted from outside the building, and the garage and halls on our floor seemed clear. The fire department showed up in short order and checked it all out. I think one of our upstairs neighbors had a smoke alarm get away from them while cooking, and I guess it tripped the whole building's breaker. The cats weren't too pleased, and one of them is still on high alert, patrolling her way through the loft to make sure everything is checking out.

[burner von braun]

Sorry to hear it MSJ, but you may find a bit of consolation over in Camp Envy watching the live video stream. That's where I'm headed this year, until I return to the playa next year, burnier than ever.

Yeah ZZ and Mohairs, a bit of a rollercoaster is understandable. I think it's hard to sustain that super-elevated level indefinitely (especially with the loss of an animal best friend like Lily). It's been my experience though, that once you hit the highway and get a few miles under your belt and the adventure begins in earnest, it all comes roaring back if it hasn't already beforehand. For me it's been about shaking off all of that mad dash last minute (days/weeks) flurry of hyperactivity and stress, and embracing the freedom and fun.

By the way, I'm glad you decided to go, and got a ticket Mohairs!

..and Yay for Trilocats on patrol!

[^Rhino!]

I too am disappointed that ms2j will not be in attendance.

Well, folks, here's the big news: I meet on Wednesday for dinner with the departmental director of Graduate studies in geology at the university. At age 56, I'm going to return to school for a PhD in geology. I'll start in the spring. We've already discussed my dissertation topic, and it bears on all of us. I'm going to look at the geochemistry, deposition, isotopic geology, and origin of playa dust. Turns out I stumbled on to something in 2010 when I attended and got an analysis of the dust, and it's (in his words) "highly worthy of pursuit, modeling, and publication". He told me that Stanford University in a recent publication got 'a sniff', but I am light years ahead of them in thinking.

I get to keep my good job and attend, and my boss' boss wants to help me do it. Leave time is not a problem, in other words. All I have to do is pay for my schooling. And I've done that before, but the director says a scholarship is in the works. I am EXCITED!

Plus, I give the Playa Dust lecture again this year at Earth Guardians. There's a photo of me doing it last year on their website:
http://i2.wp.com/tonyandkarina.com/egca ... C00114.jpg

This year will be even better. I hope to see ALL of you there. You can only guess at how much I love and respect you as my playa family.

[gaminwench]

Rhino, that's awesome!

Congratulations!

[Aurelia]

Rhino I thought you were already the best of your work and now you're getting even better bravo !

[trilobyte]

Congratulations, Rhino!

[ZigZag]

That is so awesome Rhino! Big time congratulations.

Do we call you Doctor Rhino?

[msj2u]

Thanks Trilobyte and Rhino, it seems strange not preparing....

BVB, I couldn't ask for better company!!

Congrats Rhino, you'll do very well!!

Until paths cross,

M S J

[^Rhino!]

Thanks, all. I really appreciate it.

Aurelia:
"Rhino I thought you were already the best of your work and now you're getting even better bravo !"

Thank you. One of the most important lessons of LIFE, and I'll hand it out to everyone right here, is, that whether we like it or not, learning is continual and lifelong. Some people say that they're burned out on learning, and won't ever go back to school....they're still learning. In fact, they just learned how to say no to a formalized education. They'll still learn from experience. The challenge is to go and seek out the learning experiences. I just did. Burningman is proof of that. We all came to Burningman, and learned and grew.

Zig Zag:

"Do we call you Doctor Rhino? "

Zig Zag, you're a burner. Thus, Rhino will suffice. Otherwise I'd be an egotistical overbearing blowhard. Ooops.....I already am. Perhaps I can start doing my Buddy Hackett impersonation this year.

[trilobyte]

Whew, what a day... it is absolutely, positively time for a drink or three!

[Roundabout]

Dr. Rhino,
What is the day, time, and address of your playa dust lecture? Please?

[Ratty]

Wow Rhino. Now THAT is exciting. Who knew that this dust 'hobby/fixation' would bloom into such a marvelous new path? I'm already proud of you and you haven't even started yet.

Oh yea. and drinks on the house.

[^Rhino!]

Dr. Rhino,
What is the day, time, and address of your playa dust lecture? Please?

3 WEEKS FROM TODAY!

August 30 (Tuesday), 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Earth Guardians HQ on the Esplanade.

Surprises in store this year;
WHAT DO PLAYA DUST AND GENERAL FOODS INTERNATIONAL COFFEES HAVE IN COMMON?
WHAT ARE THE MYSTERIES OF LIFE?These and more questions will be answered.

[Oldguy]

Woo Hoo, drinks all around ! Just got my confirmation email from ticketfly about my low income ticket, AND my invitation from the hotties to inspect my disability vehicle/ car. I'm coming in 2 1/2 weeks...

[trilobyte]

Sounds interesting, but you mean 3 weeks from yesterday! Damn, time is flying, isn't it?

Speaking of which, I'm down to just a couple projects to get finished up before the packing and the cooking. I've got one last piece of art that's coming together slowly (waiting on a render), and then get the trikes ready to go.

Great news, Oldguy, cheers!!!

[Elliot]

Wow, Rhino, that's a major decision to take! Fabulous! Wondermuss!
From what I hear, earning a doctorate involves a ton of serious work; original research work.

Of course, you won't be quite alone in this endeavor. There are ePlayans who have done it, and some who are working on it right now. Perhaps you will connect with some of them for mutual cheer-leading.

And I'll be rooting for you -- for what that's worth. (College dropout that I am. LOL)

[^Rhino!]

Wow, Rhino, that's a major decision to take! Fabulous! Wondermuss!
From what I hear, earning a doctorate involves a ton of serious work; original research work.

Of course, you won't be quite alone in this endeavor. There are ePlayans who have done it, and some who are working on it right now. Perhaps you will connect with some of them for mutual cheer-leading.

And I'll be rooting for you -- for what that's worth. (College dropout that I am. LOL)

Thanks, Elliot! I just met with the director of grad. studies for my department last night at dinner, and he's moving forward full throttle for me. He's already impressed by the amount of work I've done for the groundwork on this project.

And it's original - he confirmed it.

[Ratty]

*Saunters in dragging a string of fish with a stuffed Build-a-Bear on the end.* I brought a bottle of Baileys because it goes well with coffee. Face it, we all need to stay up late and sort our shit. Oh, the fish? I just bring them to keep the bear moving. It's a beautiful night tonight.

[Patsh]

*Saunters in dragging a string of fish with a stuffed Build-a-Bear on the end.* I brought a bottle of Baileys because it goes well with coffee. Face it, we all need to stay up late and sort our shit. Oh, the fish? I just bring them to keep the bear moving. It's a beautiful night tonight.

Hhmmmm... I'd have thought the fish and the bear were there to help celebrate your birthday, and keep you from drinking the whole bottle of Baileys by yourself. Happy Birthday, Ratty!!

[burner von braun]

It's a beautiful night tonight.

..with a Perseid meteor shower tossed in as a bonus!

[Ratty]

Patsh thanks. You know there's no alcohol at my house so I have to do all my drinking here. I'm going to tackle the clothes and costumes next. If I'm not back in 2 days, send in the sniffy dogs.

[ZigZag]

It almost slipped by....
Happy Birthday Ratty!!!!

So there.

[burner von braun]

Happy Birthday Ratty!

[ygmir]

Happy Birthday, Ratty!!

[Aurelia]

Happy birthday Ratty