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As
a citizen of Black Rock City you are required to contribute to the community.
Some people make lemonade, some work as rangers, others build art cars,
some serve booze, some make art installations, others perform. Nobody checks
you to see if you are contributing, so it is amazing that people go ahead
and contribute. On the last day I decided that I would play the accordian
for passerbys on the playa. Most of the time I had no audience. And when
people did pass by they gave me dirty looks, which I find ironic seeing
as most of them were naked and looking rather silly themselves. |
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This is my
new friend Abigail. We painted each other. I was going for a tiger motif
when I painted her. Many people at Burning Man were topless or naked.
Even while riding their bikes, which I find rather disturbing. Some people
painted their boobies, other people painted their penises. Some people
painted their whole bodies.
I was too
shy to go around naked and instead wore this swimsuit fit for an 80 year
old lady.
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This guy
brought in a DJ and the contents of a portable roller rink, which includes
rollerskates of all sizes! It was fun but dangerous and I only skated
for a little bit because I have bad health insurance and don't like to
risk injuries.
There was
so much crazy stuff going on, it was easy to forget that the rest of the
year, Black Rock City is a lifeless desert.
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The
first day I spent in Black Rock City I was happy and drinking water and
such. I was biking in the middle of the playa when BOOM! I was hit with
the runs. And my tummy hurt. Then BOOM! I got the runs again! I said to
myself, "I'm no dummy, I obviously have the stomach flu." So I
biked to the medical tent (which is no easy feat when you are runny). The
paramedic said to me, "You don't have the stomach flu, you are dehydrated."
So he gave me two IV bags to rehydrate. I kept getting the runs and the
paramedic in the picture had to walk with me to the port-o- let to hold
my IV bag. I was so embarassed. He told me I had more clothes on than anyone
he saw that day, so I don't have anything to be embarrassed about. Here
is a picture of me on my deathbed. |
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This
is one of the many huge trampolines that people brought out to the desert.
They are a lot of fun to jump on. And make you really tired. I attribute
my diarrhea to excessive jumping on this trampoline. |
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One
night, I went out on the town as a Hooters Waitress bride. And lo and behold
I run into a clan of Hooters Waitresses complete with saggy hooters. This
is the third time this has happened. It happened twice in West Hollywood
during Halloween when I was dressed as a Hooters Waitress. |
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In
San Francisco there is a bike thing called "Critical Mass" where
all the bicyclists bike through the city together screaming and raising
a ruckus. Well, in Black Rock City there is a thing called "Critical
Tits"-- which is like Critical Mass in that all women (usually topless)
ride their bikes together through Black Rock City screaming and raising
a ruckus. I did not participate in Critical Tits, although I sure was tempted.
My mother told me "Don't run around naked there!". And see, those
words stuck. |
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I
found Kennedy in the desert! I also found my friends Reagan and Angie. Which
is crazy because there are 30,000 people there and it's a big coincidence
if you run into someone more than twice while you are out there! He was
camping with the "I'm Ok, You're Ok Corral". They were very funny
and had a cowboy theme going. |
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There
were a lot of giant vaginas in the forms of cars, installations, and others.
Made me feel so blase. It was only after this week that I was totally numbed
to vaginas and penises. |
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Here I am
in front of the MAN. He is at the center of the camp and is representative
of central icons in other cultures. He is loaded with fireworks that go
off when he is burned at the end of the week. It was hella hot when they
burned him down. I am wearing those glasses because it gets so dusty out
there.
My favorite
thing about Burning Man was getting to ride my bike and explore every
inch of the desert at any hour I wanted. I don't ride a bike normally,
so it was a real treat.
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My
friend Jocelyn who
is a blogging whore made me write this and take a picture of it. This sign
was part of a bigger art installation that was burned at the end of the
week. |
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Whoo!
This crucifixion stuff is hard work! |
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This
is one of the friendly Black Rock Rangers. This guy is guarding the man
and making sure only 15 people go to the top at a time. Probably one of
the few times you will see a ranger in such a cute skirt and matching stockings.
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In
this cool art installation, you can pick up the phone and actually talk
to God. Yes! There was someone talking on the other end of the phone! Unbelievably
cool! I asked God for money in this picture. |
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Here
is me and Kennedy. He is dressed as a bride as part of the "99 Brides"
performance installation on the desert. Everyone from his camp dressed as
a bride and travellled in a bridal themed art car (with a 6-door limo alongside)
and were married to the MAN in a giant ceremony. I married the MAN too.
It was purely coincidence that I was dressed as a bride too. Doesn't he
look sharp in his dress? I think it's so him. |