It’s July, and you know what that means! Burning Man is next month! So it’s time to really get serious, get our collective acts together, and get ready for another wonderful week on the playa. This is another rather long newsletter so get ready to be inundated with way too much information. At least we’re organized.
But first, we always like to see something Barbie Death Camp related, and this month is no different. We have two articles that mentions our little slice of paradise on the playa. Always nice to get some good publicity.
http://www.sfchron.com/cgi-bin/blogs/culture/category?blogid=3&cat=128&o=30
http://bingethink.blogspot.com/2009/01/barbie-death-camp-and-wine-bistro.html
And now, on with the show.
We begin with logistical concerns. One of the biggest problems is getting everyone to and from the playa. We are going to try and coordinate transportation where possible. If you have any openings in your car, van, dune buggy, or hot rod, please let us know. We have a number of Villagemates from not only across the country but from around the world. If you can offer a ride or help with carrying out material such as water, shelter, or beer for me, please let us know. One of our members, Josh from Nebraska, will be flying into Reno Wednesday morning. If any of you are passing that way, he would really appreciate a ride. We also have several campmates who need to get to the Reno airport fairly early on Sunday after The Burn. Let me know if you are heading that way and might have room. And for those of you flying or taking Amtrak into Sacramento, the AVIS dealership in downtown Sacramento is very burner-friendly. The manager, Steve G., not only will give you the best deal around, but he won’t hose you for cleaning fees, as long as you don’t completely trash the car or van. Tell him I referred you and that you are taking the vehicle to TTITD.
Tracy is beginning to design the Village map. Not only will each camp be clearly placed, but where possible individuals camping within their own camp may also be placed. If you know how much space you need (for example, two people with an RV or trailer, some shade, and maybe a goat would ask for a space 30′ X 10′) we will try to accommodate. We anticipate the BMOrg giving us our request of 105,000 square feet. If they do, everyone should be taken care of. We will have the map out probably by the second week in August. There will also be a large centralized map of the Village posted at Barbie Death Camp so when visitors drop by, they can be directed to the proper camp whether or not you know the person. Also if you have any special needs requirements (i.e. must be on the street because of an art vehicle, or want to be hidden deep within the Village simply because you’re ugly) please let us know that as well. We will try to honor most reasonable requests.
JR has given me a list of what he thinks the art truck will need in the way of maintenance and repair before it gets out to the playa. It needs a tune-up, oil, and lube. It absolutely needs a radiator shroud, whatever that is. He also says we should get several small 12 volt fans, considering the idle speeds, weights, and temperatures it runs in. We should also change the transmission fluid and have the clutch checked and adjusted if necessary. For those of you in the Sacramento-Orangevale-Auburn area who are mechanically inclined, we need your assistance. Please let me or Felony Arson know if you are up for this necessary assignment.
Speaking of the art truck, we are still in dire need of somebody to haul it out to the playa. It is drivable (and then we would need someone to drive it) but it would be so much better if it were either towed on a double-axle trailer or towed with a T-bar. If you can manage to do either of these things, we will pay for your fuel both up and back to the playa, and you and your passengers will have top priority for early arrival passes. But if you say yes, we are going to hold you to it. Anyone? Pretty please?
We have had some good progress with the All Village Pancake Porkout, which will be held on Wednesday, September 1st beginning at 9:30. We have enough syrup (3 gallons) and pancake mix (35 pounds). Hottie is supplying Bloody Mary fixins and OJ, Sharen is bringing BM mix and champagne, and we have two propane griddles secured. We need four or five more griddles, preferably propane. We are also needing bacon and sausage, Irish whiskey for Irish Coffee, more champagne, OJ, more Bloody Mary fixins, liquor in general, paper plates, and plastic utensils. We will also need assistance with clean up afterwards if you are not cooking or donating food. Or even if you are, we need the manpower.
We have another contribution to this year’s T-shirt design. Summer came up with the design below. Frank is checking out to see if having the shirts in color is financially feasible. If you have a vote (say between Barb’s design and Summer’s) let either me, Frank, Felony Arson or CJ know. And this segues nicely to the fact that shirts and hats are for sale. Shirts, either regular or tank top (S-XXXL) are $20, hats are $15. All proceeds (profits, actually) go directly to help defray the cost of the wine that Frank supplies. Shirts can be ordered with or without your name/nickname/playa name and need not be paid for until August.
Dues are due. We have collected from most of you who are staying in Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro, Eden, Clan O’Crash, Black Rock City Body & Paint, and Loose Nutz. (Boosh, Preserved In Time, The Alaskans, and Camp Wet Dreams have their own dues structure.) Dues are now $75/person and increase to $100 if paid on the playa. We really would rather not collect any dues money on the playa! (International travelers are the only exception to this rule.) All dues must be paid prior to being awarded an early arrival pass. We have collected from 63 of you, so for that we thank you. And hay, even if you’re not going to camp with us or even show up on the playa, you should still cough up for the dues. You think we like eating rib eye instead of filet mignon? And Silver Oak cabernet doesn’t exactly grow on trees you know.
There have been some snafus with the Annual Nude Bike Ride & Pub Crawl. First it was on, then it was cancelled, then it was going to be on Thursday, then on Wednesday, and so on. Well they finally got their stuff together and it will be held again beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. We are likely going to be the third stop, which means the 200 or so very naked cyclists will be wheeling in around noon or so. We do ask that you help serve wine should you be so inclined. We also will need to supply the wine. If we can come up with about four cases of wine (no fewer than two of them being white wine or white zinfandel, yuk) that is what it will take. We are required to supply the wine and we really don’t want to feed them “the good stuff”. You would have to be a weapons-grade moron to do that. So if anyone, or any camps, can see their way clear to pop for a case or two of Two Buck Chuck, that would be appreciated.
We are still planning on having our December 30 Birthday Party on Monday, August 30. If there are any of you born on that great day (currently me, Felony Arson, and Stacie are in) please let me know. Since we get screwed every year by Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or what have you, now it’s time for us to get ours. And those gifts had better be expensive, damn it.
We do not need any more My Size Barbies! The Boston Burners have supplied two and our troop from Denver sent me one this week. They will all be used to help decorate the art truck. Thank you for your contributions.
We have requested 87 early arrival passes from the BMOrg. Assuming we get them, we should have enough for everyone who wants one. Please let me know if you need one. Do not assume!!! So far we have 48 of the 87 already taken. I have not gotten the numbers from Preserved In Time, Boosh, or The Alaskans. Please let me know by the middle of July how many you think you will need. And please, only request one if you are available to help set up not only your camp, but the Village as well or can be counted on to help decorate or fix the mutant vehicles. If you are just going to sit around on your lazy arse and drink beer, then come in on Monday. We will have pizza for the workers who help set up the camp on Sunday evening.
We would like to welcome a new camp into our Village. Taking the place of Burner International, Camp Wet Dreams makes it’s debut on the playa. My friend Tom and his lady from Brooklyn, New York will be the go-to people. Tom is also known by the handle of Whaleboy. I guess you should watch out for his harpoon and keep away from his blow hole. There will be 20+ people in his camp, many from New York as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles. Tom can be reached at campwetdreams@gmail.com.
Speaking of welcoming new campmates, we have another five to welcome into our Village. Hottie has a friend from Florida, Doug M. He has no email address but any friend of Hottie’s is a friend of ours. Also welcome Clarity from Vallejo. We are finally represented by the great state of Texas. Please welcome newbie Joe from Austin. Another New York newbie is Stephanie F. And finally another couple from Carmichael, Alice and Eric.
As the summer progresses we will be asking for your help, if you’re comparatively local, with working on the art truck and helping with other logistics. CJ is hard at work with the decorations but needs manpower. Beginning the weekend of July 17-18, all work will be done at Ericka’s in Orangevale. Mechanical work, cleaning the trailer, painting the shower, and Barbie repair will be done throughout the summer and I will be there on this Saturday to help out in any way I can. That generally means schlepping the beer or something. But please volunteer if you can.
Have a wonderful Fourth of July everybody and remember our mantra (which that clown who is The Most Interesting Man In The World stole): Safety Third.
The Man burns in 65 days.
Doc Pyro, MOBDV