BM2K7 Playa ROM Playa Prologue First Day A Busy Day The Man Burns Early Rebuilding the Man A Very Full Night and Day Kidsville Happenings The Man Burns The Temple of Forgivenesss Burns Return to the Default World Decompression
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Burning Man 2007: A Very Full Night and Day
30 September 2007
The work of the rebuild crew still underway, the Man continues to need a baby-sitter. I volunteer to continue. On the way I stop off at the Center Camp Café to pick up some hot chocolate. (After a few days on-playa I can't drink regular coffee, even with my usual ration of half-and-half. Lattes and hot cocoa become my lifeblood.)
I so appreciate the staff at the café. They deal with us, so many of whom are not as polite as we might be. Thank you all.
Back under the pavilion I set the outer perimeter and stroll the inner perimeter. Here's the new head of the Man, just assembled. There's cleaning up and sorting and getting ready for the morning crew. A very disciplined style of working.
A panorama of my point of view. The Man is mostly assembled, and it's really amazing to see how much has been done since noon.
(think "Psycho") is on duty, and make a point to come to my station. We catch up on the year's happenings; even with email somehow things pass without the proper attention to the wonderful people in my life. Big hugs. (He was here with his new bride. Congratulations, you two.)
One of changes in how I maneuver around Black Rock City is, after more than a decade here, I now have a LEAL vehicle. At heart I'm a Dirt Ranger, and don't like the insulation of a vehicle between the citizenry and me; meet-and-greet is my style. But I need to be able to respond to emergencies quickly, so the wheels are necessary. My compromise is to motor a short ways, very slowly, and then disembark and stroll around an area, and then repeat. There have been times this year that being able to transport someone in need was worthwhile the sacrafice of 100% dirt time.
At 03:22 I pass by the upper edge of the city, where these two dance domes were placed. Inside it's loud and mellow at the same time. Warm and humid, in contrast to the cooler morning air breezing by.
There's been a shift change, and I'm continuing to patrol until another LEAL can be roused :-) Here's an outside cage dance, near to the domes. This is just after the sun rose, so the crowds are very few.
Getting very close to finishing up my ersatz "shift." I double-check the perimeters around the newly-built Man, chat with the Ranger who's heading up security while the sun is up, hand over my wheels to the new LEAL, and stroll back towards HQ to sign out and get a new battery. Just outside the Center Camp keyhole I'm accosted by a group of very enthusiastic Japanese tourists, who all want a photo with the Ranger. Luckily I remember to toss my camera to the photographix; so rarely do I get to capture a moment of my experiences.
Wow, I'm back home. This is the scene under our front porch aluminet shade structure. As I'd hoped, it's become the focal point of Kidsville. People have been bringing their toys, chairs, and kids. And taking it all away.
A shift wouldn't be over without a trip to the porta-potties (very well kept up this year) and the near-by commissary (for some absolutely awesome lemonade; it kept me going).
Sleep? No! The family is loading on an art car that's leaving to ride around the playa. I can't miss this. I toss the night gear away - I'll tidy it later - only to find out there's no room for me to sit. I see, in the kids' faces, that they want the Papa along. With a loaded combination expedition pack and several-liter hydration system on my back I job in the mid-day sun behind the geodesic dome-on-wheels.
A sleep-deprived loaded-down Ranger can do only so much. The art care "speeds" away; I'll catch them at their first stop.
Our timing is perfect; they're raising the Man #2! Much as I want some sleep, I'm thrilled that we got to see this. It feels so good after all that work, and after all those hours.
I pose so it looks as though the Man is standing on my head. Hardy har har! I'm a little sweaty from all that running.
Seeing others pose I realise how happy many folks are about the resurrection. It's cathartic. Hey, how to some people get so clean on the playa?
I told you I'd catch up with the art car. This is the face I love to see. Hi honey, it's noon. Hot enough for you?
A very shorn Isaac plays with the mounds of Lego bricks deposited under our shade structure.
I have no idea what I'm doing here. I don't know any Irish jigs.
Sunset filtered through lots of airborne dust. The heat is breaking; everyone is relieved.
Here's one of our neighbors taking a stroll on the road between Kidsville and the commissary wall. They look so happy, and so clean.
Just showered? Someone is very, very happy.
As night falls the burning starts. Lila and Isaac enjoy the Kidsville burn barrel, which they helped stoke.
Everyone asleep, I'm back on patrol. Here's the scene in Center Camp, on the central labyrinth. It's yoga plus dance plus meditation.
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