Hello and Welcome... What's your name? Tell me about You...

[lightningbug]

Moniker is Lightningbug - hope we get some boiling cumulonimbus! I am finally getting back after 18 years!

[Savannah]

I'm sorry to hear about your 2010 Burn and the after effects. Your attitude about it is impressive, in my opinion.

Of course, I cannot speak for renolaw, but having had something similar happen to me, and being slapped with the "inspiration" identity, I will say that most people go ahead and live their lives as fully as possible within the limitations of their bodies. Maybe fewer in the states, because we are a spoiled and entitled lot, but in general nobody wants to spend their live whining, so eventually most of us do pick ourselves up and go on...

I knew about the cliché involved with "inspirational", and it would not occur to me to describe someone that way because I'm aware of the condescension that is sometimes involved.

However, if "impressive" has the baggage attached to it for him personally, I hope Renolaw will let me know!

[renolaw]

I may not *yet* be hip to this inside banter but i will say positive things came from an otherwise bad incident.

[Dieyoung1]

I did speak alot during my intro,and i have been trying to change my name.......i thought for a minute and this is one of the most positive "Worlds" on earth and my name does not parlay that....no more Dieyoung1, but try to "KEEP ROLLIN ON"....Thank you and i hope all of your new years are the best ever.........KEEP ROLLIN ON

[Zenobia]

Hello, I am Zenobia. I will be attending for the first time with my husband Virgil Starkweather. My son has gone twice and we want to experience it for ourselves instead of watching on the live cam. Felt a VERY left out watching the festivities on the internet this year. Kinda overwhelmed right now with where to start planning, but that is part of the fun.
"one's real life is often the life one does not lead." -oscar wilde

[Dieyoung1]

My name is Timothy Thomason.......I live in Denver and have for eight years, I grew up in PhX, AZ. I used to go to Grateful Dead Shows as much as i could for a 16 year old.......I unfurtunetaly have been fighting Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, Docs said i would be gone in 5 yrs ...it been eight,!!! Skateboarding And Music are the great loves of my life.....i am living on 714.00 Social Security, That is very Difficult......I am hoping toget a ticket for my two best friends and my self......i have had so much chemo that i cannot get anymore....so when this bout of cancer hits i cant get any-more chemo, i could always get it before, but my blood count is just too unhealthy to receive any-more chemotherpy......... I am trying to do all that i can while i can, i want to experience mind-blowing theatrics, crazy sights, and do good for my self others, and the world......i want to do what i can for the world, it needs it, we need it......i want it to be beautiful when i leave this body. Thank-You for your time.....have fun.
Timothy Thomason

[phone number edited by Savannah. To get in touch with Timothy, please PM him]

[Savannah]

Hello, I am Zenobia. I will be attending for the first time with my husband Virgil Starkweather. My son has gone twice and we want to experience it for ourselves instead of watching on the live cam. Felt a VERY left out watching the festivities on the internet this year. Kinda overwhelmed right now with where to start planning, but that is part of the fun.
"one's real life is often the life one does not lead." -oscar wilde

Hi Zenobia!

Where to start planning? The ticket. If you didn't register for the holiday pre-sale, register for tickets during the two-week period from January 9 - January 22 on http://tickets.burningman.com. More info in that link. Once you've got your ticket, I find that deciding how you'll get to the event shapes your packing and shopping lists to a great degree.

You can start making a pack list (and learn a lot more) by downloading and printing the 2011 survival guide here:
http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... index.html

My name is Timothy Thomason.......I live in Denver and have for eight years, I grew up in PhX, AZ. I used to go to Grateful Dead Shows as much as i could for a 16 year old.......I unfurtunetaly have been fighting Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, Docs said i would be gone in 5 yrs ...it been eight,!!! Skateboarding And Music are the great loves of my life.....i am living on 714.00 Social Security, That is very Difficult......I am hoping toget a ticket for my two best friends and my self......i have had so much chemo that i cannot get anymore....so when this bout of cancer hits i cant get any-more chemo, i could always get it before, but my blood count is just too unhealthy to receive any-more chemotherpy......... I am trying to do all that i can while i can, i want to experience mind-blowing theatrics, crazy sights, and do good for my self others, and the world......i want to do what i can for the world, it needs it, we need it......i want it to be beautiful when i leave this body. Thank-You for your time.....have fun.

Hi Timothy, welcome to the board. I edited your phone number. People can easily send you messages through this website, and you can give your number at that point to individuals if you really want to.

You might be a good candidate for Low Income Tickets. Keep your eye on the main Burning Man website to see updates about when the application process begins. (We don't have a lot of info about it here; the process is being changed this year and we're just a bunch of Burners chatting, rather than folks with influence or extra tickets).

Have your friends do their own homework as to their tickets, however. (Low income tickets are not issued in multiples, just one at a time.)

[Your Pharmacist]

I'm Marko and I'm from the Cleveland, Ohio area. This coming year will be my first experience at BM and I can't wait. I'll be trading the exciting life of a pharmacist in the default world to attend. I'll most likely be flying out to Reno and driving to BRC with one or two others. We'll be trying to organize a ride share from Reno in the near future. We'll most likely be participating with a group of friends from San Francisco.

[Savannah]

Hi Marko!

[Dr. Pyro]

Welcome Marko. I used to live in Norwalk, OH. Good place to be from.

[Kenrock]

Hello all.
I'm Kenrock and this will be my 3rd year on the playa. My first year there I was riding my bike near Center Camp when I stopped, looked around, and thought to myself, "It feels like I've always been here". Weird (Cue Twilight Zone music). Maybe that's where the "being home" thing comes from. Or it could have just been a piece of undigested potato. Anyway, I'm looking forward to another year on the playa!

[Savannah]

Hi Kenrock!

[jorgebongo]

Hello, my names Eric. Never been to the BRC. Almost went in 2001. Didn't quite get the hole thing until about a year and a half ago. Back then I didn't understand the concept, pay a lot of money to go to the desert without anything for sale? No food for sale, drinks, concessions. I was a raver back then and I wanted some massive like Electric Daisy or Nature One or whatever- Well I grew up a lot since then. Got married, had kids, got the daily grind. And in that time I lost a big part of me. The untangle need for people, the need to be challenged, the need to express. I watched a special on some cable channel about Burning Man and I guess it all clicked. The art. I had no idea it was like that. The tractor trailer sculpture and some mechanical hand that threw cars. The art cars were the icing on the cake. I was hooked. I I am a mechanic and a motorcycle nut. This blew my mind. I told my wife "dude, we need to do this"! I need it in my life. I already have ideas for some crazy art I want to bring. Mostly cars but some crazy cerebral stuff too. Well lets hope this lotto thing works and we get tickets. If not eh it wasn't meant to be. Hope to see everyone out there.
E

[bigdane]

welcome, Marko, Kenrock, and Eric!

[Turtleburp]

Hi All,

Toby here, it has been a decade since my last burn experience in 2001 and I am really looking forward to taking my BRC virgin partner with me (lottery allowing) in 2012!

I still have dreams about the dust devils caused by the intensity of the burn and holding hands walking through a dust storm unable to see the girl I was with.

Returning to something you remmber so passionately is often a recipe for disappointment - it may be different this time around but I am sure that BRC will not disappoint!

This is me in 2001 - If I stand far enough away, really suck my belly in, hold my breath and you poke yourself in both eyes or really squint you can still see the similarity - it's incredible I tell you!

[AntiM]

Welcome to the eplaya.

2001 was my first year, I recall those devils in the night.

Yes, it has changed a great deal, and not at all.

[forge]

Hi my name is Forge. This will be my second year on the playa. My first was magical and I am frothing like arabid dog to get back there to get back home.

My body lives and works in Los Angeles but my mind is drifting drifting drifting

[Savannah]

Hi Turtleburp! It'll be different all right . . . it's bigger, brighter, louder, and the portapotties are pretty awesome, now . . . but you might still love it.

[Turtleburp]

Thanks for the welcome Antim & Savanna (not that I'd expect anything else from veteran burners of course!)

[TheSongstress]

Im Sarah hello from OCCUPYLSX... Been dreaming about Burning Man for years and, having given up most of my regular work to get involved with the art wing of the Occupy movement here I might just make it to the festival. I want to create a FERAL GREETERS CHOIR from volunteers who want to sing an exuberant welcome to the incoming burners... put 'choir' into the search engine and it returned... nothing . Mass Voice is where its at for me; damn the culture of 'experts' and Idols with their mysification and elitism . If you can breathe then you can sing and Im the woman to prove it with 2 decades of experience in creating on site melodic madness in exhilerating harmony. Anyone out there like this idea?

[Savannah]

Sure. Do it!

As you may know, you can find out more about being a Greeter on the main site:
http://www.burningman.com/participate/greeters.html

If this will be your first year, you'll want a few experienced Burners on your Greeting Team, because part of being a Greeter is being able to dispense advice, give directions, etc.

One of the occupational hazards of Greeting is losing your voice (the shifts are four hours). The dust in the air is very dry and alkaline, and there's lots of chit-chat and cheering. Your choir may want to research vocal treatments if they expect to last--or simply want to have voices left when their shift is over.

I am going to try gargling with honey-lemon this year. (I have urgent plans to do a Metal Scream beyond Wednesday of the event).

[Elliot]

Songstress, you might want to get together with VeganChoirGirl and maybe also Gaminwench, both here on this forum.

[Lollipop]

Hi there. I just registered for the lottery today and I've never been. I'm a little obsessed. I live in Northern California, USA and I've a bf and many friends who have been before. I'm really looking forward to it.

[Savannah]

Hi Curvyburner!

[Lollipop]

Hi Savannah

[Ugly Dougly]

Even though the playa is as flat as a pancake, you will be welcome!

[LochTessMonster]

Hey Everyone!
My name is Tess. I love hooping, sewing, coffee, dreads, pizza, fire spinning, and layers. I live in Moorhead MN and would love to meet some Burners from around here!
Happy Burning!

[theCryptofishist]

Even though the playa is as flat as a pancake, you will be welcome!

And covered in confectioner's sugar as well!

[Lollipop]

Even though the playa is as flat as a pancake, you will be welcome!

Thank you kindly Ugly Dougly!

[Dr. Pyro]

Welcome Curvy. What part of Nor Cal are you from?