Post
by melancholy harlot » Fri May 09, 2008 11:42 pm
All right yall, sorry to post up in the eleventh hour agian-- I won't be able to keep abreast of all this activity until after graduation. A few things that happened along the last few pages that I want to address:
Mozy's stag image was fantabulous and I think it says something important about Stag Camp that Red was getting at with her post about equality. We use "stag" in the connotative sense, not the denotative. Stag's connotation as "a male who attends a social function alone," stems from its denotative relationship to a biologically sexed term. We're all postmodern (postpostmodern) enough to realize the artificial nature of links drawn between sex and gender characteristics. This term, as in "stag party", was coined at the beginning of the 1900s, when it was natural to envision a swanky man at a party, confident, independent, alone, and probably smoking cocaine-laced cigarettes. Today, it's more than plausible to picture the same solo individuals, confident, independent, swanky, though not necessarily smoking the same, as female. Which is why, in the definitions of "stag" given at the top of our tribe site, we define a stag as "one" who attends a social function alone. Mozy, I really appreciate the way you've mixed the masculine and feminine in your piece without losing the dignity and uniqueness of either. Also, it's really pretty. ;)
Plowman's refresher on the nature of Stag is totally timely and necessary. Thanks Shell. I just wanted to add that, in addition to our rules, we are really serious that everyone be completely self-reliant. Consider the Burning Man "rules" to be our rules as well. You alone must be capable of hauling your gray water. If you're not going to build an evaporator, bring a large gasoline jug. Motsky was kind enough last year to let us use his shower set-up. Do NOT rely on this. Be prepared to haul your own trash. Etc. etc. etc.
As far as showers go, I do not want to be a downer, but... to our newbies... you HAVE to prepare your ladies to give up on the idea of being clean. Otherwise, they will fight an uphill battle that ends only in frustration. After the burn ended, I washed my hair in the hotel THREE TIMES before it was even remotely passable. The problem is, they will not be able to use their normal hair care products. These are not safe for the playa. There is no good biodegradable, nontoxic, chemical free shampoo and conditioner. Everyone uses Dr. Bronners. It feels good, but it will not feel like a normal bath. The dust will get under your finger nails. It will bury itself in your pores. The very best ways to get clean are to visit some of the shower camps, like the Human Carcass Wash and the Steam Room. At the Human Carcass Wash, lines of people wash each other. It is very respectful and a positive experience--nearly a dozen of us Staggers made a field trip there together last year. But, the camp is visible to the street, and, if they are not comfortable being naked, this solution will not work. At the Steam Room, if they have it again this year, you wash yourself, but the nakedness problem persists. (Also, chasing the water truck... though your feet get a bit muddy, unless you're in socks...) I went in last year thinking anyone who got completely naked in public was crazy, even to shower, and by day two I was doing it myself. The playa is like that. So, there are options. But they are playa options. Even with the fanciest RV rig available, your girl will be dirty. Key is for you both to learn to love it. It's more than worth it. ;)
And, if that sounds devastating to your cause... tell the ladies they will get the best tan of their entire fucking lives. Guaranteed.
Lonestoner, congrats on Doc Posse. Glad to have another Stagger there for the grab.
Much love.
"Since we don't know where we're going, we have to stick together in case someone gets there." -- Ken Kesey
(Sorry, I'm not very good at evil, pervy laughs!) 
This old dinosaur just ain't what she used to be, I look forward to the day I can blow it up! Serves me right for not using the office computer I guess...
hope we do get a shift or two i love working there if anything i am going to e-mail Blaze and see whats up. Either that or i will try to hit up Tiger Tiger Directily.
WOAH!!! dude lol like it a lot... hey maybe that is me in that picture lol.... according to Red when i said that i should type an intro up one of these days... she said Funky.... are introductions from you really necessary? You my friend, you are a legend in your own right.... still trying to figure out if that is bad thing or a good thing lmao 
They even did a local new report last night about how people are buying seed seedlings etc..but not able to plant and I drove by my neighbors and they have a whole patio of prettys waiting for the good earth! Anyway, we did plant some potato towers, and get some corn started in the greenhouse. 
