"Home"
Just a thought from 31 August 2003 about Burning Man.

We're home. Everything looks different. It's weird.

I am also very tired. More soon.

Tonight, bathing and sushi and more bathing. Tomorrow, unpack.

And It's On
Just a thought from 25 August 2003 about Burning Man.

The sun is rising, the van needs packing, and Spoo the cat is freaking out. It's time.

If you're headed to Burning Man, you can look us up at Vogon 42 near Certain Authority. If not, I'll be back in a week.

Rock!

1 Day to Burning Man
Just a thought from 24 August 2003 about Burning Man.

Then came Heather.

I had sworn off Burning Man and she'd never been. She looked me in the eye and said, "please." Then she looked me in the eye and said, "I'm going." So we went.

Burning Man 2001 was like a rebirth. Like Europe had been. A place so new that it feels like you're made new, too.

It was the year of extreme dust. Total whiteouts every day. But it didn't matter. Every time I felt that old stress creep back, she was there to remind me that everything was okay.

Burning Man 2002 was even better. We found a warm home with the Vogons. It was the best weather I'd ever seen at Burning Man. And while I occasionally had pangs for the smallness and the danger of the earlier years, Burning Man remained a true fountain of joy.

Tomorrow we pack the rental van and head back into the desert one more time. It'll be good to be home again.

Fray Cafe 3 CD
Just a thought from 23 August 2003 about Fray.

I'm thrilled to announce that the official Fray Cafe 3 CD is now on sale! Fray Cafe took place in Austin back and March, and the CD contains thirteen of the most memorable performances (including yours truly). Get yours today! All proceeds go toward future Fray events.

2 Days to Burning Man
Just a thought from 23 August 2003 about Burning Man.

I didn't go to Burning Man in 1999. I was just back from Europe and brought a nasty cold with me. When I kissed her goodbye and watched the car disappear down Prosper Street, I didn't realize it was the last kiss we'd ever share.

I didn't go to Burning Man in 2000, either. I swore I'd never go again.

3 Days to Burning Man
Just a thought from 22 August 2003 about Burning Man.

Burning Man 1998. Year two of Fray Camp. We had 17 campers who I felt responsible for. I spent the whole time playing mom. In the end, I had an awful time, and it was all my fault.

Best moment by far was the sock puppets. We brought an assortment of old socks, some glue, pipe cleaners, and googley eyes. One afternoon we just sat down and made puppets. That part was planned.

What we didn't plan on was, as soon as you have a dozen people with sock puppets on their hands, everyone starts talking in squeaky voices and going nuts. We became the Sock Liberation Front and ran around the playa demanding that people liberate their socks. People took off their socks and threw them at us. At one point, I think we even stormed a radio station.

The Road to Burning Man
Just a thought from 21 August 2003 about Burning Man.

My friend and Vogon once removed Ben Brown is on a pre-playa road trip, and he's posting to his site from the road with his phone. Check it out! It's fun, because he clearly has low standards for posting. The most recent post is, "rrrrreaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllyyyyy druuuuuuuuuunk."

Vogon 2002
Just a thought from 21 August 2003 about Burning Man.

A smattering of pictures from last year by my fellow Vogons Robin Jean and Heather Champ. Looking at these photos now is like watching a silent movie - there's so much more going on, it seems strange to look at the event one moment at a time, without sound or dust or anything. Still, they provide a glimpse of what life at Burning Man is like, and really make me excited to go back.

See you soon, Vogons!

Tales from the Playa
Just a thought from 21 August 2003 about Burning Man.

On the official Burning Man site they have a feature called Tales from the Playa where participants can post their Burning Man stories. They are raw and emotional and really capture what the event is all about. (Cross-posted on Storyblog.)

4 Days to Burning Man
Just a thought from 21 August 2003 about Burning Man.

A flashback to Burning Man 1997. It was my second time there, and the year of the first Fray Camp. I put out three easels with giant pads of paper and Fray-style questions on them. It took me months to photograph and then scan all the stuff people wrote.

5 Days to Burning Man
Just a thought from 20 August 2003 about Burning Man.

My first Burning Man was 1996. I had no idea what I was getting into. But I stuffed a girlfriend (who did not want to go) and a friend (who did) into a car, bought some water and a stove, and drove off into the desert. We camped with friends in the Spiral Oasis. We witnessed guns and explosions and art and a wedding. We saw the man burn.

It's difficult to explain what that First Time is like to someone who's never been, but everyone who has understands. Have you ever taken a trip that lasted long enough, and was dramatically different enough, that you completely forgot where you came from? It's like that. Except Burning Man isn't the trip. The rest of your life is the trip. Burning Man is coming home.

6 Days to Burning Man
Just a thought from 19 August 2003 about Burning Man.

The sun sets over Vogon 2002. I submitted this photo and more to the official image archive at burningman.com. You can see the rest here.

7 Days to Burning Man
Just a thought from 18 August 2003 about Burning Man.

Only one week left until Burning Man. If you're going, I'll be there. Just look for Hector.

Mondays hate me
Just a thought from 18 August 2003 about .

So this is two bad day stories in a row. A trend? I hope not.

New in San Francisco Stories: The little voice: "Someday I'm going to start listening to that little voice. Also, I'm going to stay in bed every Monday."

New in {fray}: The Blackout
Just a thought from 17 August 2003 about .

Were you caught in the blackouts on Friday? Frayer Dori Mondon was, and she has a story to tell about it: The Blackout. Do you have a blackout story to share? Post away!

Curmudgeon in-chief
Just a thought from 14 August 2003 about .

I'm the resident curmudgeon and stater of the obvious in this story at OJR: News Sites Still Figuring Out What to Do With Online Communities. I just know I did more smack-talking than that in the interview. Oh, well. At least I can say that, of all the floating heads on that page, I'm the only one who's sitting on the roof of a car.

Washing the dirt away
Just a thought from 9 August 2003 about Stories.

So I was washing shoes. Heather had expressed some concern. Are you allowed to wash sneakers at the laundromat?

"Of course you can," I said.

But the seed of doubt had been planted.

So when I was moving the sneakers from the washer to the dryer, I found myself doing it furtively. Avoiding eye contact. Rushing.

Just as I was putting the last shoe into the dryer, the man next to me said, "excuse me."

I played deaf.

"Excuse me? Sir?" he said louder.

I turned to face him. "Yes?" I said, a defensive tone creeping through.

"I'm done with this dryer and there's 10 minutes left on it," he said, motioning to a dryer next to him.

It took a moment for it to sink in.

"Oh," I said. "Oh! How nice! Thank you!"

I smiled and moved my shoes to his dryer, hit the LOW TEMP button, and thanked him again.

After a week of bad days, in a world where there's so much random hostility from all sides, it was nice to be reminded that strangers can intermittently kind as well.

Ha ha ha
Just a thought from 8 August 2003 about .

Couldn't have said it better myself....

Screw it. I'll walk.
Just a thought from 7 August 2003 about .

When life hands you a bad day, at least you can make a story out of it.

New in San Francisco Stories: One of those days: "My daydream is interrupted when the grumpy Asian woman gets up to leave. I look up and see the Muni driver in the car. Never a good sign."

Join the Fray Street Team!
Just a thought from 5 August 2003 about .

Psst! Hey kid. You want some postcards? They're shiny....

Piles of Ben Brown TV
Just a thought from 4 August 2003 about .

Please join me in maxing out Ben Brown's bandwidth. Video video!

Sutro by Sea
Just a thought from 4 August 2003 about .

Just another photo of my favorite San Francisco landmark, as seen from a boat in the bay.

Pier 70
Just a thought from 3 August 2003 about Photos.

Fray Day 5 CD: Last Chance!
Just a thought from 2 August 2003 about .

We've sold out of Fray Day 5 SF CDs! But if you wanted one, for a limited time, you can purchase it at CD Baby for just ten bucks! And if we sell enough this month, one of our stories could wind up on the CD Baby Sampler. So help the Fray by getting yours today!

Holy Shit
Just a thought from 1 August 2003 about .

I know I should be all professional and mellow about this, but screw that. Armistead Maupin will be performing at Fray Day 7 San Francisco. Excuse me while I do the happy dance.