joygantic

Vamos a la Playa (Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh!)

We're off!

Sara, Trevor, and I are heading north and should be in Reno tonight. Lightning fast provisioning will have us on the Playa mid-day Sunday. Cross your fingers, but Dia should join us Tuesday. My partner has impecable timing as by then domes will have been set up, our shade porch errected, the bike rack well established, and the RocketBar will have already made it's maiden voyage. It'll be just liike arriving at some tropical resort. OK, maybe not; it'll be better than that.

I'll moblog a bit from the road on the way there and post when we leave Black Rock (scroll to bottom for the latest ones). Maybe I'll logon to the BRC WiFi network and post, but I doubt it. My laptop has been turned off for 48 hours and I think I want it to stay that way for awhile.

A Homework Assignment

Now I'm not naming names, but let's just say that a look at refer logs indicates that some regular readers are reading and not writing regularly in their own blogs. You know who you are.

I know, I know, you get busy, there's work, you don't think you have anything to say, blah blah blah blah blah. But that's not good enough, people.

I'm just about to disappear into the desert and there will be no joygantic musing appearing on the Intarweb until after Labor Day.

This is my gift to you: By not posting, I'm saving you valuable time and I expect you to use it to get back on that horse blog.

Conspicuous Consumption

I'm staying in Northridge, Californian (AKA "The Valley") with my wonderfully kind parents-in-law. This is the third year in a row I've swooped into town and proceeded to scurry about conducting all sorts of last minute Burning Man projects and errands. The whole raison d'etre for being here is to pickup the family motorhome. I'm blessed with great in-laws and not just that: great in-laws who have lots of tools and practical know-how, which at times I am lacking.

Yesterday's errands involved trips to a lumber yard, Home Depot, KMart, Target (three times, don't ask). I don't typically patronize "big box retailers" so during this annual rush of last minute provisioning I'm exposed to all sorts of shopping trends that I'm way behind on. For example, who knew that quesadillas were such a difficult culinary art that one needs a $30 electric quesadilla maker? And this paint ball craze. . . boy there are all sorts of guns and accessories for sale. And apparently this Avril Lavigne character is what all the hip back to school youth are listening to. And did you know you can buy a TV shaped like a Disney character? And if you get your timing right at KMart, "a medium cheese pizza is only $3.99 but every minute you wait it gets more expensive"? That's some incentive for you.

But in terms of consipcuous consumption, nothing beats the Hummers. My god, there are Hummers everywhere down here. And they come in all sorts of colors. And they are incredibly ridiculous; I salute them.

(btw, I completely see the irony in preparing for a no commerce event with a frenzy of commerce, but I really need things like a pack of 30 cheap plastic hangers. Really.)

On the Road . . .

Yikes. Tasks like packing always fill the available time. I'm running to the airport and will not reliably be online until after Labor Day. Watch the Moblog (right sidebar) for postings from the road. We booked Dia a Seattle-Reno ticket and it's possible NoNo will be driving through at the perfect moment to give her a ride . . . keep your fingers crossed. A HUGE THANK YOU to Lucretia for her tireless work with about a half an acre of fur.

OK Universe, Just Tell Me What You Want Me to Do

Dia got out of bed before I did this morning (which is not usually the way it works) and I was roused by her concerned voice: "Where's Camille?!" Camille usually wakes us up but was nowhere to be found, until I found her being not at all her usual self. . . wouldn't eat, lethargic, not making eye contact, breathing labored . . . we took her to the vet where she stayed all day while we cried and tried to figure out what we need to do.

Yes, Camille is a cat, but she's been my companion for fourteen years and has spent nearly every night I've slept at home curled between my legs. She has a personality that immediately makes everyone fall in love with her, she's smart and empathetic. She's quite a friend.

She's on meds, we're waiting to hear XRay results (has the cancer spread to her lungs?) and are generally focused on making her remaining time with us as comfortable and happy as possible.

We were supposed to leave tomorrow for LA to swing into manic Burning Man prep, enjoy the Hollywood Bowl on Friday and attend Dia's 20th high school reunion on Saturday. The plan had me driving the RV to the Playa on Sunday with Trevor and Sara with Dia attending the twins' birthday on Sunday, working until the end of the month and then flying to Reno on Tuesday and finding a ride out to our camp at 9:30 and Mercury. Jesus, one of the years it would be nice to have more straightforward logistics.

Maybe that's this year. Dia's decided not to go to LA; if Camille stabilizes she'll fly into Reno from Seattle and make her way to the Playa. I'm pulling for this option. As an added bonus of this change in plans Dia will get to attend a funeral. It's been the sort of year that attending a funeral is something to be grateful for. Who knew?

Gmail Invites

Let's here it for viral marketing . . . more gmail invites showed up today; let me know if you want one.

Google Hacks

Are fun for the whole family!

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sigh

Bear Progress Continues

I had what is likely my penultimate bear fitting last night around midnight. We've determined that the crotch needs to be raised, the collar will be left scoopy to aid cooolness in the desert and of course a second ear will be attached to my head. The not quite finished outfit is off the hook.

Lucretia: So there's this fashion show on September 12th where I'm showing some of my work.

Mark: Cool! I'll just be back in Seattle and would love to go.

L: I was wondering if you'd be willing to model the bear suit?

M: Totally!

Life takes strange turns. I've always assumed I'd end up being some sort of Bono-like rockstar. I had no idea I'd end up a model.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Dia and I were married nine years ago today and I say: Hooray for us!

Next year we're thinking we'll renew our vows and maybe have big ass party to celebrate a decade of legal union.