Pink Heart Camp Video

Yes, I know. I have not posted since before I left for my trip. Honestly, I didn't feel the need to post. But, now that I have decompressed, I MAY start writing again.  Until then, here is the video of our Burning Man experience. As made by my friend Halycon.

<3

Do You Need A Massage?

I know that I could use a massage right now since I am neck deep in prep and such. But I also know plenty of you that are not going to BM could use one too. So, why not call my friend? He is a licensed massage therapist and will bring all the stuff to you. Yep, you don't even have to leave your house! :) Or hey, if do want to leave your house, come to mine and we can drink wine and make a relax day/evening out of it. :)

Anyway....here is his info, along with an awesome special right now.

Regular rate: $85 an hour, $110 for 90 minutes and $150 for two hours.

SPECIAL RIGHT NOW:  $20 off first time clients. So, $65, $90 or $130. 
Buy three, get one free! :)
Cash & credit cards accepted.
Eric 206-375-8862 or email him here by clicking here

If you tell him I referred you, I am sure he will sweeten the deal a bit too. Or else I will beat him up! :)

Single Digits

Holy freaking cow...we are down to the single digits before I leave. How in the world did I get here! When I first decided to go on this journey to Burning Man, part of me really didn't think I would actually go! Seriously. All things were stacked against me, including myself. But, as we are here in the final countdown, this is really happening. All the major logistics are worked out: transportation, shelter, food, camp. I am SO HAPPY that I joined and was accepted into the fold of my theme camp. I feel so loved and cared for already, it is hard to describe. I have tried my best to be a part of the camp even though I am up here in Washington and the majority of them are in cali! The things that are left are minor: clothes, coat, sleeping stuff, shoes, cool stuff, etc. And, if something gets left behind, or, I can't take stuff I really wanted to, then that is ok. All will work out and this experience will be awesome and amazing.

I am such a planner and need things all detailed out. Through this experience, I have learned to let that go (to a point!) and just float. I am trying to float. Trying not to have a panic attack that I am not packed yet, that I am not sure how to get everything in, not sure what I will do on the train, not sure if I will find a camera to take, not sure how I am going to handle "playa time" and many many many more. Just going with the flow of things and allowing the universe to guide me. So far this year, it has mostly been a good thing.

In two weeks....

Two weeks from now I will be on the playa. Setting up my tent and help set up the camp that I have only been a virtual part of so far. Mixed emotions going through me right now :) I am so excited and scared at the same time. I am such a planner, but out there I will be learning to let that go and just float.

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I need this!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QTXKCE/ref=oss_product

 I want one of these for my trip! Not only can I listen to the radio on the train, but it will keep my cell phone charged as well on the trip! And, it will be handy for Burning Man! Anyone care to purchase me a late birthday present or early christmas present? :)

more preparations

Well, taping the tent didn't work. Went out to inspect it today and its coming up. Stupid tent material. I am now debating if I should try to glue gun nylon fabric over the mesh or just say screw it and just to with the rainfly....hell, its going to be dusty anyway, right?

I am also trying to do a little research on my camelbak thing. I KNOW I need to stay hydrated and drink water. BUT, I have never been one to drink straight water. Even when I was a baby I would spit it out, yes, I know, I am weird ( but that is another story). I am sitting here tonight attempting to drink straight water and it just is not working well at all.  Now, who knows, out on the playa, maybe the magic fairies will take over and I will be able to drink straight water, but, I am not planning on that. So, I am thinking a little flavor would be a good thing...like crystal light. But, wondering if it is OKAY to put that into the camelbak. I imagine that I would never get the flavor out of the bladder, but, that is okay, as it will be for Burning Man only anyway. But, is there any health issue with it? Last thing I will need out on the playa is to get sick.

Tent Taping

How to prepare a tent for the playa? Well, you must cover all the mesh.  I had been debating for some time about how to cover the mesh at the top of my tent. Furnance filters? fabric? Cut up the rainfly and hot glue it? Well, my cousin suggested we use duct tape. So, we did. I am hoping it will stick. I am leaving it up for a few days to see....

Hair....

My hair is extremely thick. REALLY THICK. As such, I keep it about shoulder length. For Burning Man, I have been waffling about what to do with my hair. Some thoughts are just pony tail with a hat, bandannas, etc. But what i REALLY would love to do is small braids. Similar to these below...

Not the cornrows, but the small braids. but, when I asked my regular hair lady about it months ago, she just laughed at me! It would take too long and kill her wrists! :)  But, I still would like to do it. So, I am hoping maybe someone knows someone who is just starting out in the hair biz and needs the experience and to show off for thier portfolios and stuff. Not sure if I will find anyone, but I can hope and wish!

Two weeks to go

Exactly two weeks ( and a few hours) until i leave for the burn. As I type this on my cool new phone, I realize that I have gone into a manic mode. I have not slept more than 4 hours for the past fee nights and my mind is racing like crazy. I know this is all in my brain, but I wish I could do something to slow it down and get out of this manicness. It will pass, always does. But, I dont want to make any bad or rash decisions or do anything stupid. So, I need some support please. Thanks. I will write more later as there is alot to tell that is going on!

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19 days...

So, I must say that I have been a bad bad horrible blogger. Really, there just has been no time to write. Or, by the time I thought about it, my mind was already too jumbled to make anything make sense. I MAY go back and explain the events over the last few weeks, but, it has all been good. We survived the craziness of Squishy's show and are now enjoying family from out of town.

Today makes my 19 day mark until I leave on the train. CRAZY. I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that this journey is really coming true and trying not to be scared of how it will all turn out.

Some of you have asked how you can help me right now in my final preparations. So, I am putting together a list of items that I still need. Maybe if you are out and see them onsale you can pick some up. Or, you can donate a small bit through paypal.  No pressure at all, but, if you feel like you can, than I will gladly accept the help! :)

Here is the link to the page with supplies I need. I will try to keep it updated with things as I think of them: http://purpleishealing.blogspot.com/p/burning-man-supplies-needed.html
Or...if you prefer to donate funds, here is the option you requested..

Staying focused.....

This is up on my bedroom wall. As the countdown gets smaller, I needed something to remind me why I am doing this and help me focus and not stress.

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39 days...ACK!

Well, after trying hard, unsuccessfully,  to find someone around here to sew some stuff for me, I went ahead and mailed my wonderful fabric finds to my dear friend in Kansas. I trust her with my precious fabric and trust that she will make awesome creations.  Sucks that I couldn't find anyone local though. I really think sewing is a lost art. But, I know my god-sister will create some awesome stuff for me!

I finished the sashes tonight. :) Yippee! One more thing off my list of things to accomplish before I leave. And considering I only have 39 days, it is not much at all. I still have a bin full of items I want to do something to (add gems, fur, etc.) but who knows if that will happen!

We are preparing for my sister and my niece to come out and stay with us. They are coming in Monday night. I haven't seen them in years. In fact, they have not been out here since 2003 and considering that my sis was in a car accident that left her with a brain injury and neck injury 3 years ago, it is a big deal.  They are going to be here for about 3 weeks. Excited, but it will make for a cozy house! :)

Squishy is in her final countdown to the opening of her show.  The cast is amazing and I am proud. I have been sitting in on rehearsals and I am so impressed with these kids.  If you are in the area, you must see the show...seriously, if you don't go see it, I will hunt you down!

My Burning Man stuff is getting organized. I will have to go through it all again and reorganize it, but, at least I know what I have and what I don't. And, more importantly, where everything is.

Okay Universe...

Not sure what the universe is trying to do to me. My health and my back had been going better this year. While the countdown is seeming to be going faster, the universe is hitting me hard. First my car issue and now my back. My nerve root block wore off on Thursday. :( For those that aren't aware, my nerve root block injections are what make it possible for me to live day to day without too much pain. And when they wear off, my pain increases hugely.  It has been awhile since I had my last injection, which is a good thing. But, it also means that I have to have my doctor's okay before his nurse will schedule a new injection. Problem is that he was out of town last week. So, he wont be back until Monday. But, hopefully, he will have time in his schedule to get me an injection next week. Until then, I am in limbo.

where is the time going!

So it is really starting to sink in that i am leaving in 43 freakin days for a trip that will be a first in so many ways. It is starting to feel like bipolar swings. haha. Emotions are changing so rapidly. Alot of it is the unknown. But i am learning to let go and float more.

(from mobile so forgive errors)

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45 days.....

Well, I just lost two days on my countdown today. But, that is because I decided to leave 2 days earlier to go meet up with some camp mates in San Francisco and ride out to Burning Man with them, arriving to the playa on Saturday (early arrival). Part of this decision came from the hot hot weather this past week. We had a week straight of weather that was in the 80s and 90s. In fact, it got to 98 and 96 at my house twice last week.  During this time, I really realized how sensitive I am to the heat. And, the extra precautions I am going to have to take out in the desert at 100+ degrees.  I also starting worrying about getting lost, not knowing where to go and breaking down in the middle of no where! Typical me, attempting to plan and know everything that is going on. Yes, I know I am going to have to let that go. So, in an attempt to help keep my sanity, I reached out to a  camp mate in San Fran area and asked if her offer to ride with them was still valid. She was excited to have me.

So, here is the new plan:
* Leave my house in the morning of  Thursday 8-26
* Drive the 721 miles in approximately 12 hours and 5 minutes (according to google maps) to my camp mates house. Perhaps I may stop at my aunt and uncles house, in Silverton, for dinner or a nap. We shall see.
* Arrive there sometime Thursday night and hang out with camp mates.
* Leave Friday afternoon for Reno (about 4 hours away)
* Meet up with our camp truck and a few other camp mates for some last minute shopping, dinner, gambling and rest(?)
* Leave Saturday morning for the playa to arrive about 12noon to begin setting up camp.
* Have an amazing time for the week
* Leave Monday Sept 6th from the playa and head to Reno for a real shower, dinner, gambling and rest.
* On to San Fran Tuesday afternoon to unload
* Leave San Fran Wed morning on my way back to Seattle.

Everyone got that? Subject to change of course. :)

PLACEMENT!

Pink Heart Camp (and therefor me) was granted the requested space on the playa we wanted! We will be at 9:00 & Esplanade!

Below is the 2010 Map of Black Rock City! Being on 9:00 and Esplanade means we will be right in the middle of 24/7 thick of it! :) So amazing. Who needs sleep anyway, right!

Getting Creative...Again

Many of you may not be aware of this, but, I NEVER have been a crafty person. Not even in like elementary school. Hated art time. Always thought inside the lines and everything had to be perfect. I never was one of those kids who could take a big pile of stupid objects and turn it into a piece of creative art. NEVER. I would organize that pile of stupid objects into rows and sort them all out. My sister and others however, could see that same pile of stupid objects and create something of it.

As part of my new journey this year, I decided I would try to get more crafty/artsy. Letting go of "things must be perfect" and such. And just trying out the other side of my brain. Slowly working on it. As such, on a whim, I decided to volunteer to make sashes for our camp. Not have ANY clue on how I would get it done. I am not going to go into my whole process of how I decided on this, but, really it just happened because I was in the fabric store (on one of my many trips) and noticed this blanket binding ribbon stuff on sale. Looking at it more closely, its basically a 3 inch ribbon, that is already sewn on the sides, that is sold in 10 yard spools.  Looking at the label, it said it could be used with a glue gun. MAGIC! So, I bought a little and experimented with it. Lovely. :)

After obtaining all the pink in the Seattle area and requesting my fellow camp mates get some, I went to work. Here is the progression of the sashes and the final product! :) Go me!

Oh ya, and I made the collage too! Look at all the new stuff I am learning how to do this year. Proud of me yet?

Got A Bed!

I have been debating about what kind of bed to get for Burning Man. I had narrowed it down to a couple and was just waiting for the right sale or sign to get it. Then I found this one on freecycle!

Walmart.com: Ozark Trail Queen Airbed: Camping

It isn't the exact one I wanted, as its lower to the ground. But, can't beat the price! I love how the universe provides!

(P.S. I used a new blogger feature for this post, so, if it looks different, thats why! Testing it out!)

Pillows Pillows Pillows

Part of being part of my theme camp is that we are creating a lounge on the playa. That means we need to bring in comfy things to sit on, cuddle with, etc. Obviously I can't fit a couch into my car, but, another thing we need are pillows. Everyone in camp is being asked to provide at least 5 pillows (or stuffed animals, etc) to the camp. Pink of course. Well, I have gone a little pillow happy. I keep getting pillows and have the fabric to cover them. But, I realized yesterday that there is no way I can bring all these pillows with me down to BRC! HELP! So, I think I will be mailing some pillows down to my camp mates in california for them to load on the truck. But, please, for now, if you see me buying more pillows, spank me!

More Prep And Shopping!

I am back and recovered from a great, yet stressful weekend in Oregon, for one of my cousin's graduation from college.  That is a story in itself that I will reserve for another day. hehe  But, I must say that I made sure to make time for a little shopping down there. Oregon is full of great little shops and NO SALES TAX! hehe

Here is a picture of my awesome coat I got at this little thrift/antique/consignment store that was litterally in the middle of fields of crops...seriously...

It was 80 degrees outside, but, I wanted to get a picture!  $4 for the cashmere coat! I got some other little items there as well, but, this was the best find of them all for sure!

Slippers I got.  They are WAY too big for me, but, thought they would be awesome for a friend of mine. hehe

Slippers to wear around camp :)

More shoes...pink with hearts.

There is lots more that I got. But, thats it for now. :)  Excitement is building for sure. I am going to take this week and get organized. I feel like i have been buying stuff and don't have an actually handle on what I have and what I need.