Made it back to Berkeley and now recuperating from my stint in the desert. We got there Friday night and stayed through Monday afternoon, the longest I've ever been out there. For the most part, I stayed pretty healthy. No visit to the medical tent, no scars (I didn't teach much bullwhip cracking this year, stuck to juggling and unicycling mainly), no close calls with bikes or art cars, and I had an awesome time. Experienced a crazy lightning storm Sunday which was incredible. I could hear the crackle before the lightning but felt no ionization when the storm was overhead. It was terrifying and awesome at the same time. Circus boot camp went great, met some incredible people and aside from one small accidental self stabbing with a guy practicing his knife throwing no big injuries :3. I usually remember burns by associating a theme for them. Last year was the greatest music year I ever had, for instance. There's also been a disaster year, crazy weather year, etc. I consider this the emotion year. I read people's tarot every morning at center camp (my eighth year reading at burning man) and there was a lot of emotion this year. Usually it's very light hearted and people ask about relationships, or their jobs or something. This year was rough. So many people had experienced loss, or health issues, break ups...I had a really cute couple sit down for a mutual read about their relationship which was on the rocks. It was rough, I went to the temple Thursday night and sat there for a few hours. I usually only go for a few minutes and then leave for deep playa since even a short visit to the temple will mess me up for the rest of the night. This time I stayed and let the raw emotion sweep through me and drain...the losses and sadness of the people who wanted their tarot read, the 10th anniversary of my grandfathers death (he died while I was at burning man my first year, he is the only other person I knew who had the same eyesight as me), the loss of my job of 12 years, the sadness surrounding both of my grandmothers failing health...it was rough, but ultimately good for me. Later I walked to deep playa and the boundary of burning man. I finally found my favorite dance party (a mobile art car / Dj platform called dancenauts) on the way back and had a great time. I visited fur camp a lot...I really wanted to join there camp this year but I can't leave behind my camp...I love my camp dearly but the Furries looked like they had a lot of fun. My favorite memory is seeing one of the Brit furs dancing on top of the art car while wearing these incredibly huge furry hooves that went up to his thigh. If I wasn't so shy I would have gone up and tried to dance with him, he was fun to watch. The last really great memory this year was on Monday when all of the sudden I turned around and saw 20 people hammering in this 20 or 30 foot clown. The head guy said someone commissioned it but was under a tight schedule and would return later after he verified the address. It was a little confusing until we went to the next door neighbors camp looking to borrow a ladder and saw them all there. It was a great prank and we went with them later when they moved it to center camp (ultimately I think they wanted to set it up under the man but I know they would never have gotten close. Anyway, here's a similar picture (our clown said valley instead of circus liquors) (http://offthefreeway.files.wordpres.....rcusliquor.jpg) and I guess the sigh was made famous after the movie clueless had a scene at circus liquor.

So here I am, back to reality and the routine, time to look for a new job. I'm looking forward to the Berkeley meet tonight and frolic next weekend. Next big vacation, FC...and maybe Pacanthro in November..I'm leaning towards going :3