While You Were Out, part the second

It’s been a couple of years since I’ve written about this. Since Burning Man is still consistently selling out, a lot of us long-time Burners are having to look for new ways to experience they Burn without making the trip to the dust. There are so many people who can’t or have no desire to make the trek back to the desert. So, what is there for people to do when Burning Man being a sell-out event is an issue?

Well, then we get creative with what we do. We obviously can’t make it in to the desert party itself because… well, no tickets.  And you can try to sneak in, but the people who work the gate have spent many years spotting people trying to come in over the trash fence or in vehicles. So, what to do.

Well, because the event has sold out, that means that Burners can’t make it out to the event. Instead of putting emphasis everything pointing to the event in the desert. They now are putting emphasis on practicing bits of Burning Man all through out the year.

Then there are those of us who aren’t going, not because of choice or design but because of circumstance.

Burning Man is starting to get to the point where it’s not really affordable for most people. In this economy where we’re still dealing with companies just not hiring with the frequency they used to. So, what’s left for those of us who have the desire to go, but not the means?

There’s an online refuge for those of us who still want to have a simulated experience of being there and seeing some of the art, but from the comfort and relative safety of your own home. Camp Envy is still going strong. We all gather around our computer, laptops and tablets and watch what’s happening at Black Rock City and chatting in chat rooms. We share the community that we all have come to know and love. It’s a place for discourse and snark.

It’s everything that many of us love about Burning Man, but without having to leave home.

For me this year, I had to take the replacement over the actuality. While I did have tickets for this year, We didn’t learn that we had tickets until the beginning of August, just after we returned from Comic Con. It was too late for us to truly prepare. There were things scheduled that couldn’t be undone. So, we had to give tickets a by this year. This year for me was a bit more difficult. Though, no worse than the last time we had bought tickets for the Burn.

Camp Envy helped me try to make it through this year, which was already full of many trials. It’s been really hitting me this year. Camp Envy has been helping me out this year.

If you’re interested in Burning Man, but don’t want to make the financial obligation to take the huge jump, Camp Envy is a great place to learn what it’s all about. After all, there are plenty of veteran Burners who are willing to share their knowledge. In many ways, Camp Envy is a wealth of knowledge and community.

And I keep coming back every year. The helpful, wonderful people make it worth logging in and joining in on the community.

campenvy.com

It’s Monday. Yay.

That’s right, it’s that wonderful time of the week known as Monday. That time of the week where we have to throw off the fun of the weekend and it’s time to get back to business. It’s a time that is both loved and hated, depending on the person and the job.

It’s also a time I talk about what I plan to get done.

Or in this case, what I might not be able to do.

This week has filled up fast with interviews. This isn’t a bad thing… Well, for the most part. It does mean that I might not be able to put up any new stuff this week. This makes me sad as this is also Burn week. I will attempt to put up stuff on the two days I don’t have interviews, Wednesday and Friday. Friday’s will more than likely be focused on Burning Man and what it’s like being my 5th year away from the place that some call Home. This year has a distinct edge over previous years that I will discuss in that post. So, keep an eye out for that.

I should keep this short as I’m off to an interview this morning.

Until later!

The Week in Preview

It’s Monday once again, which means it’s also time for the week in preview.

I’m hoping that this week I can finally go back to posting 5 days a week. It’s going to be some work, but I’m going to figure out a way to make it work.

This week I hope to accomplish…

Well, I hope to accomplish a lot.

I hope to post about some of the things that I was remiss in doing so when my back was in pain. I still have to write about LA and San Francisco Burning Man Decompression parties and this years J-Pop Summit Festival. Because you know, better late than never.

I might actually put the finishing touches on 47 Ronin, but as I started writing it, I realized that I hadn’t fully fleshed out my thoughts on the post. It’s something that’s in progress and will encompass more than just what was originally in the post.

Finally, I think I’m going to be giving my “short story” a respite. I’m starting to catch up with my finished writing, so it’s time to give a week or two break.

So, there we have it. Hope you enjoy.

Popping in for a Quickie… Post

Hello everybody. (Hi Doctor Nick. Ha ha ha.)
I’m popping in today to give you a quickie status update.

While I’m still dealing with a good amount of back pain, I’m also feeling more capable of being able to write. So, I should be back to posting next week. That also means that I’ll finally finish my epicly long visit to Comic Con and write about the J-Pop Summit Festival as well. Hell, I might throw in a write-up about LA and SF Decoms…

So, I shall return. There will be plenty to read. And I’ll share a bit about the other reason writing has been a little hard as of late.

See you next week!

Camp Envy

I know that I’ve already written about Burning Man once. I had an experience at home that I think is well worth the sharing, so here we go.

Now, I’ve been a member of Camp Envy since 2009. The reason why I’ve had to do it is because the money hasn’t been there. When it has been, I got it too late. So, each year I sit at home while a good majority of my friends leave to head out to the desert. It gets more difficult every year.

In 2009 I spent a lot of time in Camp Envy. I talked to a lot of people and it was a lot of fun. Then next year I was working so I couldn’t spend a lot of time online. 2011 was the year I had to sell my tickets. I was heartbroken so I spent a lot of time not online. I tried not to think about it because it was hard.

Your writer at Burning Man 2006. Picture by Craig Gordon

This year was different in so many ways. A good portion of my friends didn’t go to Burning Man this year. They stayed home. They went to other places. But it’s the people who said, “OMG I’M GOING TO BURNING MAN!!!!!!111eleven”, they’re the ones that made me snap. I’m happy that I have friends that get to go out there. They say, hey see you in a week, a month… however long they happen to be out there. That’s cool. It’s a little different when it gets almost fangirl like.

So, after four years I snapped. I felt something that I haven’t felt in a long time. I felt that deep, black emotion of jealousy. It wasn’t because of the fear of missing out. I knew I was missing out. I knew what I was missing. Even though every year is different, I knew enough to know that not only was I missing out but that I felt something more that I was missing.

So, Tuesday morning after the beginning of the event, I decided to reach out to the one place I knew would be full of people also wanting to be there as well. I spent my Burn in Camp Envy.

It was the best experience I have ever had at home… from the comfort of my papasan chair.

I got to talk with others who also felt the same way. We all enjoyed Burning Man. We all had a certain amount of wistful feelings for it. We would spend hours chatting, watching as the event continued. Watched the event peak and then peter out and almost completely disappear.

And yet it’s been one of the best Burning Man experiences that I have had since 2005. It reminded me of what I loved about Burning Man in the first place.

More importantly, this is what I love about Camp Envy. Even though we’re at home and are only connected by this thing called the internet. And yet we can become friends. We can chat and get to know each other in a similar fashion to Burning Man. By the time it’s over, we’ve created some really awesome friends.

I may not have been on playa but I can’t imagine spending that time with anyone else. I thank Camp Envy for being there when I needed it.

campenvy.com

Burning Confusion

Some of you may remember last year. I sold my tickets so I could go to Comic Con this year. Thankfully that worked out well.

However, here I sit again.

Looming Man, Burning Man 2006

I thoroughly enjoyed myself at Comic Con. In many ways, I think I enjoyed myself more at Comic Con than I would have at Burning Man. A lot of that has to do with actually feeling like I might be forwarding my career. That makes me happy.

At the same time, I feel a certain amount of sadness. I still know what I’m missing. I’ve been there. I know what it’s like. That’s what makes it hard. I’m trying to be strong. I’m doing something I couldn’t last year. I’m watching it online. (For those who want to watch it themselves: http://www.ustream.tv/burningman )

However, I still miss it.

But it’s not just the not going to Burning Man… that’s just a small part. It’s the weeks of people who went “OMG! I’M GOING TO BURNING MAN! SQUEE!!!!!!!!!!!!eleven!!!”

Stormtroopers and Boombox, 2008

There’s only so much that a person can take. Of course, there’s a certain amount of regret because I could have gotten a cheaper ticket. I probably could have gotten a free ticket. I turned it down because when I make a promise, I keep it. I like to think I’m a person of my word.

And then there’s the people who want to “manifest a ticket”. If you can’t afford to pay for a ticket, maybe you shouldn’t be going.

It’s a combination of things that are all creating this perfect storm of ennui.

There are also some bright patches to this dour time. Not all my friends went this year. So, it’s not a ghost town. And then there’s Camp Envy. A group of like souls who, for whatever reason, also couldn’t make it this year. It’s these comforts that are making it easier. I’m also meeting people who I might not ever get the chance to meet. This is also a good thing.

La Contessa, 2005. Picture by Craig Gordon

While I wish I could be out there in the dust and chaos, I also appreciate what I have her. Talk about being split on how to feel.

Soon it will be over and everyone will be driving back in the clusterfuck that is exodus. Sure, I’m not in the middle of the magic that is Burning Man, but I’m also not away from it. This technology has created an interesting dichotomy where I feel outside but also a part of the crowd.

It’s a wonderful thing this technology is…

Burning Man: http://www.burningman.com/