To Mad Flava and Pancake Playhouse Playaz:

Thank you for the most rawkin' good time last week on the playa. I knew it was going to be a great week when we had perfect weather for building camp, and were set up next to the most fab theme camp out there (PP), and we imbibed the best Scotch whiskey in existence all week long. Despite some gnarly dust storms on Monday and some bad conditions for biking around the playa, we managed to see just about all the amazing art out there, with baby Jesus as a witness...

Temple of Breaks managed to rock our faces off, despite the fact that the Space Wench (who a bunch of us donated money to to get 'em on the playa) never made it to the spot. The Robot Heart art car (and Oscure's knob-twiddlin') took over, and I managed to dance so much that my blistered ankles were bleeding by the end of the night (but of course did I feel it? Hells no!) The BRC 5K went off without a hitch and managed to draw 40 crazy runners out this year, and Stephen, Tim and I led a very successful group run around the BRC perimeter fence (10 mi!!) this year. Once again, I was rather disappointed by the large soundcamps (except for Opulent Temple) and the large name DJ's that came to the playa - they just couldn't get my booty to shake as much as some of the no-namers who are hopefully up-and-coming. Deep End (2008 was their last year!) was full of hilarity and hijinks as we know it, but I was sad to see that Piss Clear's sailor hooping boy (you can see him on You Tube) wasn't there to grace us with his amazing hooping skillz :(.

I was blown away by the Flaming Lotus Girls' Mutopia, and their fireworks spectacular on Friday night was amazing - first thing I do upon moving up to the Bay Area is volunteer for those fine folks. Once again, the art was really amazing, moving, and politically charged (esp the Abu Ghraib installation), and considering all the people hating on the theme, I think many people's instillations showed intense thoughtfulness in their artistic vision.

Of course, BM wouldn't be complete without volunteering for the fabulous Pancake Playhouse. Mitch, Ari, Stephen, Tim and I rocked out at the shifts, and managed to find Tim the hot playa name "Honey Next Door", or was it "Hot nuts"...? There's nothing like flippin' the cakes for hungry Burners.

The best part (in my mind) was how well we all worked together - whether it be camp set-up, breakdown, or volunteering at the playhouse - it was just a really great time. I was stoked to get to know so many of you better, which is awesome and makes me look forward to next year even more. There's really nothing cooler than sharing your BM experience with some really amazing people. That said, I am really looking forward to seeing some of those familiar faces from Mad Flava who didn't attend this year - you better show up in 2009!!! :)

So as I try to reconstruct some semblance of life as a graduate student (one who's trying to finish SOON), I'm left with some really fantastic memories from this year - where some of the best one-liners ("thank you for speaking", "sport sheets!!") and impressions (that russian lady with the spicket on her crotch), and experiences (acid tuesday) were had. Thanks everyone for a great week! Probably what made it best was leaving before the dust storm on Saturday before the burn, only to watch the burn on the internet later with some fabulous scotch and the most bitchin' burritos in Reno (which were surprisingly good considering us San Diegans are rather snobbish when it comes to mexican food)...

And since the 2009 art theme is already up (!!), let's get a-plannin' for the Mad Flava (R)evolution...

Hugs to all! I'll be a-seein' some of you in a few weeks when we come up to SF for a wedding, and hopefully everyone else around da Diego and at LA/SD Decom!

Besos,
S