What I learned at Burning Man was:

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:33 am

- Flat roof canopies are good
- Aluminet is expensive and overrated
- Canopy legs with locking bolts to the rebar require no guy lines...much easier than t posts
- Balaclavas (or in my case, a cthulhuclava) and goggles are surprisingly comfortable against heat blasts from the burns
- Cheap ass tie downs from Harbor Freight actually work, and are excellent for stabilizing car port uppers
- Gorilla tape does indeed work well in heat.

junglesmacks · Post by **junglesmacks** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:36 am

Fuck that, I wanna hear about this little marriage thing..

Sorry in advance for the attempted derail..

Ok ok ok.. in the spirit of fair play:

- Even though the rebar may be the same thickness, there is a HUGE different in quality. Cheap rebar sucks.. as does cheap duct tape.

- 28 ft geodesic domes need to be staked down too.

- BOOTS not shoes. Boots not shoes.

VultureChow · Post by **VultureChow** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 11:01 am

Bring more food to share, less to consume personally. The most satisfying meals were those I cooked and then served to people (early morning steak) or those people served to me. Cooking for myself was boring.

Better, thicker socks.

More buffs, less bandannas.

Less booze or smaller sizes for gifting. I drank very little of my own.

I like to be useful. Volunteering in various ways was the highlight of my burn.

I am not a night owl.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 12:01 pm

TomServo wrote:- Canopy legs with locking bolts to the rebar require no guy lines...much easier than t posts

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 12:07 pm

money is the ROOT of all evil.

nuff said.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 7:52 am

Too much food, but then, it is what I am eating now until I can get to the grocery store. I should make my list now while the memory is fresh.

Frozen tamales baked in the oven are terrific breakfast food. Sweet rolls are good, but we brought too many. Our shade was less social than last year in the Booby Bar.

Olives in a pack were a good idea, but we didn't use them. Single serve hummus worked well, single serve peanut butter just didn't do the trick. Brought too many tuna packets, only ate one. Chicken and biscuits were fabulous. Chicken chunks in teriyaki sauce with biscuits hit the spot. Can't wait for Ranger Genius to make curry I can vac-seal and freeze (or freeze and vac-seal). We'll bring brown Minute rice for that.

Too much booze, we didn't get to the bars where we normally donate. More Five Wives to gift. Mini-bottles too. I had a few drinks at Golden Cafe, and one champagne-y thing at the meet n greet, and a cup of Trilo's pago pago octopus at the mod summit. Yikes, I'm a lightweight.

Shave ice at the meet n greet was perfect, although we need to find more cranking volunteers, Larry's shoulder was sore the next day.

I could have made the effort to walk into the road to catch a glimpse of the Man or Temple burns. Then again, just didn't feel like it.

Our shade structure holds up as well as ever. More ground covering in the "living room". Tweak the end walls, again.

More cotton socks. My new ones don't compare to the ones I wore out over ten burns. New earplugs too.

illy dilly · Post by **illy dilly** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:34 am

1. Make sure you unload all the water from the truck at once. Otherwise at some point you'll panic because you think you ran out, only to realize there is still an all load of water at the back of the box truck.

2. Cheap duct tape does indeed suck.

3. Slightly warm PBR is better than slightly warm MGD.

4. It actually is worth leaving space in your beer cooler for at least one block of ice!

5. The only thing Junglesmacks puts away after using it is the can opener.

knowmad · Post by **knowmad** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:55 am

If one is trying to be a slut, one must remain conscious.
If there is shade stand in it. if there is water in your canteen drink it. If you fall in love say somthing.
There is no better joy than the joy on your new frends face.
Platform boots make great purses.
Eat random pills off the floor of Simon of the Playa's Tipi, you only live once.
If 3 Japanese girls take you home for the night; smile, nod and STOP DRINKING. I also learned that there is some sort of Vile Seeweed concoction that makes you sober pretty quick. don't be afraid to compliment the girls on their small body parts; the don't speak a word of english so it will not be awkward.
Don't wory about that rash, prolly just playa skin.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:58 am

i learned the whole eating random pills off the tipi floor YEARS ago...

hey we had a lottery, so why not?

ps...that was a super-duper fun night....

AbundantChoice · Post by **AbundantChoice** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 11:04 am

1. sliced cucumbers and decent mustard turn a boring-ass coldcut sandwich into a DELI MASTERPIECE

2. Not to get bugged out at the half of your camp that isn't contributing anything, as long as the half that is can manage to still get everything done

3. Say yes

H.G.Crosby · Post by **H.G.Crosby** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 11:06 am

this.

tattoogoddess · Post by **tattoogoddess** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:44 pm

platform boots will make you eat shit at night in pot holes, so make sure to bring some one to help pick you up and dust you off if you intend to wear them.

deodorant melts if not left in the shade

egg beaters,cheese and tortilla are amazing on the playa oh and apple juice!

non wanted sex is legal out there but only if it is by your bike... note to self get a bigger bike seat next year or invest in a chastity belt those pot holes are a bitch and will make you their bitch

I can dance longer then most 18 year olds even if they are on something and im never to fat or to old for a platform!

chicken on a biscuit from a great neighbor hits the spot!

Never go to bm with any expectations other then to have fun.

The playa truly does provider in strange and magical ways.

Post by **Eric** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:19 pm

Don't make advance plans. Ever. Let things happen as they will.

If you have the Most Amazing Night Ever on Monday, let it go when Tuesday night rolls around. You still have multiple days to go, no use mopping over what's past.

Don't bring beer. Buy more booze, which I actually enjoy drinking.

More breakfast burritos.

Never buy that Trader Joes peanut-noodle crap again. "blech*

Look into peoples eyes when you smile.

More pickles. 3 jars full wasn't enough to share without worrying, and lord knows they are meant to share.

Actually use your camera to take pictures with friends. Just because it's my real-life doesn't mean I can't take more than 20 shots...

BBadger · Post by **BBadger** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:30 pm

TomServo wrote:
TomServo wrote:- Canopy legs with locking bolts to the rebar require no guy lines...much easier than t posts

I'll have to try that... I've been using wooden feet (rebar is pounded down flush) for a guylineless carport:

carport_feet.jpg

Oh, and cheap duct tape does suck--especially Interstate brand.

knowmad · Post by **knowmad** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:50 pm

listen to your virgins concerns, they are voicing your subconscious fears and desires.

pink · Post by **pink** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 12:41 am

When your body tells you it's finally time to have sex on the playa, don't be shy and ask for it.

(a sigh, a smile, a happy memory )

MacGlenver · Post by **MacGlenver** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:17 am

Already knew it, but my gf learned the hard way: instantly cover rebar. Period.

clocksnmirrors · Post by **clocksnmirrors** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 12:25 pm

- i am capable of setting up and breaking down a kick-ass-hexayurt-monkey-hut camp with way too much shit for one person all by myself. radically self reliant - check
- setting up and breaking down said camp in a radically self reliant way is a lonely experience. i'm really great at doing it all for and by myself, but i think i don't want that anymore
- beef jerky, peanut butter, and dinty moore meal singles are more than enough to survive on for a week
- no one on the playa drinks soda so don't bother bringing it
- day 6 will find you light-headed from dehydration and sun poisoning if you don't drink enough water and seek adequate shade
- niggas be illin' with the moop. seriously. the night the man burned i saw piles of crushed beer cans just laying there on the playa. the next day i did a sweep down my street and picked up more feathers and cigarette butts than i would have believed possible. WHAT THE FUCK

most importantly

- there are beautiful people. i'm still soft and mushy from the smile of a guy i danced with in center camp. i can't stop replaying in my mind the wonderful conversations and the hugs i shared with the beautiful souls i encountered from my camp neighbors to wanderers in deep playa.

- i also learned i have to bring this beauty into the other 51 weeks of my life. there's no way i can wait that long to experience more of this. i know that to experience it i have to project it. that will be my challenge for the coming days.

tattoogoddess · Post by **tattoogoddess** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 12:41 pm

clocksnmirrors wrote: - no one on the playa drinks soda so don't bother bringing it

you must have been with the wrong people. we drank that stuff up like crazy in our camp. what i learned... bring more soda!

Post by **AntiM** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 1:18 pm

I don't like soda on the playa anymore, too sweet in the heat. I went off sodas ages ago for a couple reasons, and Burning Man was one of them. Now and then I'd crave a coke, and I know I can always find one. Very much a personal taste. You're a soda drinker or not. Lot of nots in our camp. Cheap soda makes me sick as anyone who has read my sodium benzoate rants knows.

We had OJ, organic sweet tea in cans, and powerade zero. Some random other stuff too from our pantry. I mostly drank ice water from our dispenser cooler. Dump in a bag of ice, and a gallon or two of water, and you have cold bevvies all day.

Oooh, and shelf stable chocolate milk. One tiny carton a day.

pink · Post by **pink** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 1:50 pm

I dislike sodas on the playa, but love a cold seltzer.

clocksnmirrors · Post by **clocksnmirrors** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 2:05 pm

i pretty much only took the sodas to gift and was pretty much refused at almost every turn

personally i preferred gin and ruby red grapefruit or vodka cranberry... it practically flowed through my veins

hence my day 6 "episode"

junglesmacks · Post by **junglesmacks** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 2:16 pm

illy dilly wrote:5. The only thing Junglesmacks puts away after using it is the can opener.

The Girl agrees with you from the top of her lungs from the other room.

Hey.. even in the desert, things get put away wet.

clocksnmirrors · Post by **clocksnmirrors** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:07 pm

tattoogoddess wrote: we drank that stuff up like crazy in our camp. what i learned... bring more soda!

lol

next time i'll come looking for you with my 12 pack of coca cola

tattoogoddess · Post by **tattoogoddess** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:14 pm

deal!

Post by **Savannah** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 4:11 pm

clocksnmirrors wrote:- i am capable of setting up and breaking down a kick-ass-hexayurt-monkey-hut camp with way too much shit for one person all by myself. radically self reliant - check

- setting up and breaking down said camp in a radically self reliant way is a lonely experience. i'm really great at doing it all for and by myself, but i think i don't want that anymore

I love those two truths right there.

Congratulations 1) on being a solo badass, & 2) for simultaneously knowing that there is More To It than that.

And I love the new avatar.

clocksnmirrors · Post by **clocksnmirrors** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 6:33 pm

Savannah wrote: Congratulations 1) on being a solo badass, & 2) for simultaneously knowing that there is More To It than that.

And I love the new avatar.

thanks! those flowers made me feel fabulous

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:27 pm

I can drink 5 to 7 shots of vodka in a evening, and not feel bad the next morning.

I was born to be a "political officer".

Cheese, crackers and salami is the best way to feed your campmates when they are setting up and tearing down infrastructure.

MikeGyver · Post by **MikeGyver** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:57 pm

Brought 2 12 packs of Dr. Pepper because I usually drink a lot of it and never even opened it till Friday when someone asked if anyone had one. Since I've been home I've only drank three of them when I used to drink about 4-5 a day.

What I thought I learned last year is you cant bring enough Re-bar since I ran out after giving all my extras away, but apparently everyone was scared this year so brought enough and I hauled 20 lbs of extra for no reason.

Monkey huts are over rated if you don't sleep past 9am anyways but are good for hanging out in.

Second year in a row I only used my bike once. Probably wont even bring it next year. You bike straight past most things you would have noticed if you were walking without thinking twice.

Bring more hard alcohol, ran out way too soon.

BBadger · Post by **BBadger** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 8:05 pm

Huh... I usually don't drink much soda in default life, but on the playa having a cold Coke or orange Crush was just great (in addition to other tasty beverages). Those San Pellegrino juice drinks are also extremely tasty.

What was waaaaaay too sweet for me were those damn energy gel packs. It's like a mouth full of honey mixed with syrup. YUCK.

What I learned at Burning Man was:

What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was:

Re: What I learned at Burning Man was: