Afterburn
One year ago today, I was headed to Burning Man. Which, honestly, was something I thought would never, ever happen. I'm not a big camper in the first place. And after spending a day at Tassajara last year (where it was hot and humid and I was miserable - thank god for the delicious food), I had decided I'd never be able to do the Burning Man thing. Camping? In the desert? Without running water? I didn't think I was capable of dealing with that.
Then I had the opportunity to go. With a friend who promised to take care of me. I thought about it and decided I should go, just to see if I COULD do it. Now it was a challenge.
After a year, I've forgotten a lot of the bad (not that there was much), and I'm feeling nostalgic for the good parts. So I thought it would be a good time to give you a little bit more detail about my experience at Burning Man:
The Bad (though none of it was really THAT bad):
- Getting to the entrance gate and telling them it was my first time. I had to get out of the car, make a playa angel, and then ring a giant bell while screaming, "I am no longer a virgin!" Which was embarrassing and kind of fun but I'm glad there's no photographic evidence.
- Using a port-a-potty for 3 days. Though they are some of the cleanest you'll ever use. Also, I don't know what people did at this event before Purell was invented. We didn't leave camp without it.
- Dust. It's everywhere. There was a dust storm one night, and I accidentally left one corner of my tent entrance unzipped. There was dust all over pretty much everything in my tent. Thankfully, it was our last night there, so I didn't care too much. Playa dust has a way of sticking around though, and a year later, there's still some in our tent. I don't think it'll ever be completely dust free.
- The last bit is all my own thing, but there were times when I simply just did not feel like I was "weird" enough to be there. I suppose compared to people I work with, I may be a little...odd, but at Burning Man, I an undeniably normal. I had no costume, no oddly colored hair, and I was pretty much fully clothed the whole time. Which isn't to say that I have a problem with anyone else doing these sorts of things, but when you're with about 30,000 other people who are dressed (or not dressed at all) like this, it was hard for me to not feel like I didn't belong.
The Good:
- Bikes EVERYWHERE. I loved being able to ride my bike to get around and not wear a helmet or worry about cars. That may have been my favorite part about the whole thing.
- ART! Everywhere! And I probably only saw half of it. The scale of things is just amazing. And some of it is interactive and encourages you to participate. People write messages all over the man which eventually get burned. Same idea with the temple that's built every year. And it's all in the middle of the desert. It's pretty amazing.
- For the most part, people are very friendly. Lots of people have theme camps with games or other things to draw you in (giant trampoline, beer, roller skating!). We shared food with one of the camps in front of us and ate meals with them a couple of times. There's a definite sense of community.
- There's always something to do or see. Or not. It's entirely up to you. We would usually wake up, eat, go out and see some things, come back to camp and take a nap, and then go out again when it got cooler. There was a nice sense of freedom from not having a watch or really having anything scheduled to do, yet always knowing there was something to do if we wished.
- Camping at the very edge of the event. We stayed with a friend who usually camps in this same spot, and I really think it was the best place to be. There was less noise, and less people (and we were close to a set of not oft used port-a-pottys). So when we came back to camp, it was easier to relax and feel like we weren't still in the middle of everything (which was a little overwhelming at times).
- The Man Burning! It's a giant wooden thing ON FIRE! There's usually some sort of fire dancing happening on the ground to entertain the crowd and then they start to burn that sucker and you get to watch and have whatever life changing experience you want to have (or not). It's really freaking cool.
So, as you may have gathered, not a totally life changing experience for me, but I was really proud of myself for surviving the whole thing without any issues. I didn't even get sunburned! In fact, it may have been the only time I've actually tanned a little bit. It also makes you appreciate running water and indoor plumbing so much more. After 3 days I was definitely ready to come home.
I also figured that I wouldn't have much desire to go back having been once and feeling like that was enough. But as I'm reading tweets and seeing photos, the nostalgia is kicking in and a little part of me is sad that I won't be there this year. Of course, the rest of me is really glad that I'll be able to wash my hand with water and soap all weekend.
Shutterbug
I've talked before about the issue of having a large-ish camera and trying to keep it with me at all times to take photos (everything I've read about photography and getting better at it encourages you to shoot every day). While I've tried to make it easier on myself to do this (I keep buying larger and larger bags), the sad fact is that I just can't manage to lug that thing around with me every day.
However, the last time I went on vacation, I decided to purchase a couple of things to help make taking photos easier:
Black Rapid Camera Strap
I can't remember where I originally heard about this, and wasn't sure how I felt about it at first. Having my camera hang by one large sized screw made me a little nervous, but not having to switch back and forth between it hanging from my neck or hanging to my side was very appealing. So I bought one, and it turns out it's pretty awesome. The camera just hangs at my side, and the hardware feels sturdy enough that I didn't worry about the camera falling off the strap. The padding on the shoulder pad is definitely more than enough and I love that that angle the camera hangs at prevents random buttons from being pressed while it's resting against my hip. There's even a slightly more stylish women's version available now. (If it had been available before my trip, I would have gone with that one!) I know it's not as cute as some of those handmade straps out there, and maybe not as cool as the seatbelt strap I had been using, but function is totally pummeling form in this case.
Lowepro SlingShot 102 AW
I know, another camera bag, and it's not even that stylish or cute, but stay with me. The thing about this bag is that it fits my camera with a 50mm lens, it has spots for 2 more lenses, pockets for extra batteries, specific pockets for memory cards, a zip pocket on the front for other random stuff (little white balance card, cell phone) and it's got a section that fits my wallet, sunglasses and keys. Did you get that last bit? A section that fits my wallet, sunglasses and keys! If that weren't enough, the way the bag is designed, I have to wear it over the shoulder I don't normally wear things over. So it's not putting strain on that already worn out shoulder. When I need something out of it, I just sling it around to the front and it's positioned so I can easily unzip the main compartment and get my camera out. Also, the whole non-dominant shoulder thing means that while I was walking through various airports, my laptop bag was across one shoulder and the camera bag was across the other. I WAS BALANCED. There was no possible way a repeat of the Injured Back of January 2010 was going to happen. I love this camera bag!
If the camera bag sounds appealing, I do have a slightly older version of it in red that I'm looking to sell. I upgraded to the new version because my wallet wouldn't fit in the old one and I didn't want to change wallets every time I wanted to carry my camera bag around. So, if you don't tote around a gianormous wallet, it would be a fantastic camera bag! If you're interested, leave a comment or drop me an e-mail!
September 01, 2010 | 04:07 PM | link
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« last time | August 30, 2010 : Birthdays and Bikes
Birthdays and Bikes
This past Saturday we celebrated the twin's birthday. We had discussed all sorts of options to celebrate, and ultimately went with just hanging out for the day with a couple of friends. Oh, and eating a pie.
We also went on a bike ride in the morning. We've been going on a lot of rides lately because I bought a new bike last month! It's a true hybrid...sort of a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike (my old bike was more of a mountain bike/cruiser cross). It's also about 10lbs lighter than my old bike, and it's a dream to ride. The only issue I've really been having is some soreness from the smaller, less cushy seat. And then, by sheer coincidence, the writer of a blog I recently started following went on multiple day ride and listed everything she had brought clothes-wise. Among those items was a pair of Canari Gel Liners. I usually wear a pair of heavily padded spandex bike shorts under another pair of shorts or pants when I ride, and they do help a little, but we were going on a longer ride Saturday morning, and I wanted all the help I could get seat-wise.
I picked up a pair of the liners Friday night and was eager to give them a try the next morning. About 10 minutes into the ride, I could already tell they were a good purchase. We ended up biking 20 miles (there was a stop for a birthday brunch in between), and I know that if I had worn my old bike shorts, I would have been in so much more pain (there was still a little soreness, but I'm hoping I'll get used to it the more I ride). The Canari gel liner worked great, and they're actually meant to wear under other things, so they're more comfortable and breathable than the spandex I had been wearing. Perfect!
Oh, and that pie up there? I'm referring to it as "The Pie" now, because it's got a reputation and it's being requested frequently for birthdays. The Pie even has it's own set on flickr now.
August 30, 2010 | 02:53 PM | link
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« last time | August 23, 2010 : Dinner During a Heat Wave
Dinner During a Heat Wave
What do you make for dinner when it's 6pm and still close to 90 degrees? We don't have a/c in our apartment, so on nights like this, turning on the oven or the stove is simply NOT an option. So I made tuna. And a salad.
Let's talk a little bit about tuna. I know some people have aversions to it, which is okay, you're allowed. But as someone who hails from nordic ancestors, I have a thing for fish. And my mum made a mean tuna salad when we were kids. And maybe that's the key. Someone has to make it for you the RIGHT way, and then you're able to appreciate it. I don't know that mum always made it the same way, but the night of the '89 earthquake she made us tuna sandwiches for dinner (no electricity) and she used red onion and for some reason I latched on to the "Earthquake Tuna" and that's how I've made it ever since.
Tonight though, I decided I would look up the Cook's Illustrated recipe for tuna salad and give that a whirl. I was pleasantly surprised that it's pretty similar to my favorite tuna recipe! They add lemon juice, celery, a smidge of dijon mustard and some parsley, but the basic recipe is the same:
1 can tuna (I use the kind packed in water)
1 tbsp minced red onion
dash of garlic powder (or a tiny bit of minced garlic)
1 small dill pickle - minced
Mayo to taste (Cooks Illustrated suggests 1/4 cup)Cook's additions:
1 sm rib of celery minced
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp minced parsley
1/8 tsp dijon mustardDrain the tuna and place in a small bowl, break up with a fork if needed. Mix in the rest of the ingredients and you're done!
Make a sandwich with the tuna salad, or scoop some right out of the bowl with your favorite cracker. I actually eat it with potato chips sometimes (don't knock it 'til you've tried it!)
Oh! And the salad. It's a simple corn, avocado and tomato salad. I used to make it so much that I didn't even look up the recipe. Rather than type it all up here, I'll just point you to the link. It's a Paula Deen recipe and it doesn't use a stick of butter! It's even one that you can make the night before (good for lunches and potlucks!) because the lime juice keeps the avocado from turning brown. I leave out the red onion most of the time, and I've even made it without the cilantro and it's still good.
So that's how I try to survive dinner during a heat wave. It also helps, after you're done all the slicing and dicing for your meal, to go put your feet in the pool and cool off for a few minutes before you devour your oven and stove free dinner.
(Yes, it's really nice to have a pool (that I share with everyone else in the building), but I'd rather have a/c.)
August 23, 2010 | 10:05 PM | link
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« last time | August 17, 2010 : Cheese and Pasta Makes Everything Better
Cheese and Pasta Makes Everything Better
This is what I made for dinner last night. It's a little bit of work to chop up all those herbs, but totally worth it. Even after I was full of herby, cheesy, linguine goodness, I had to step out of the kitchen for fear that I would eat all the leftovers. The only modifications I made to the recipe were to use whole wheat pasta and using homegrown tomatoes from the garden* since the store didn't have any heirlooms. Super delicious. And many thanks to miss Shutterbean for reading Rachael Ray's magazine (and finding tasty recipes) so I don't have to!
Totally unrelated, but I'm really liking some of the new fall Dansko styles, especially the Rory. I have a feeling I'm not alone in this, because Zappos is completely out of this style in black. When/if they come back in stock I may have to order a pair. They're not something I'd normally pick out, but I love the slightly retro thing they've got going. They'd be the perfect excuse to wear dresses and skirts and colorful tights this fall.
*Garden = the large pot of cherry tomatoes that someone planted near our front door. They're ripe and nobody else is picking them so I think they're fair game!
August 17, 2010 | 02:07 PM | link
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« last time | August 16, 2010 : Of Course This Would Happen on a Monday
Of Course This Would Happen on a Monday
As I was getting ready for work this morning, I remembered that I had wanted to write a hair-iversary post. (To be really accurate about it, I would have had to do it on August 1st. Since it's now August 16th, I'm not really concerned about being too accurate.)
So I made it in to work and decided that if things were slow, maybe I'd type up a hair-iversary blog post. Minutes later, I checked my e-mail and realized that my iTunes account had been hacked. Somebody spent close to $80 on apps for their iPhone. With MY iTunes account. After I got over the initial panic, I changed some passwords, reported fraudulent charges to Paypal, and called Apple. My brain has pretty much been mush since then.
Between the recent bike thefts at our apartment building (Cyrus, Seth and one of our neighbors have all had mountain bikes stolen) and the iTunes account hacking, I'm feeling pretty wary about life - online and off. So I'm going to go home and cook something for dinner (standing in the kitchen and chopping things with a big knife tends to make me feel better) and maybe later this week we can celebrate a year of me cutting my own hair.
Right now, I just want to celebrate making it through Monday.
Bizarro Me
I have a problem, internet. Not a big problem, but something that's become a bit of an annoyance. And while I love the internet and it's e-mail capabilities, I think it's also causing some of the problem indirectly. This is the thing. There's someone out there who created a gmail account for herself, and then she seemed to sort of forgot what it was and now thinks that her email address is actually one of mine (because for some reason I feel the need to have 15 different e-mail addresses).
It appears that "Bizarro Whitney" and I have the same first AND last name (to quote my friend Jessica "I am not a unique snowflake!") and Bizarro Me thinks that she somehow registered an e-mail address using our name. But I did. AGES AGO. So now I get all sorts of e-mail that is supposed to go to her. And either she doesn't use e-mail that much or she just uses her gmail account for a few things, because I don't receive THAT much of her e-mail but I do get things like:
- confirmations for tickets purchases for plays (she's going to see Little Women!)
- someone from a dance studio sending her mp3s of songs that they're dancing to
- she was looking for housing on rent.com
- she signed up for a contest to win furniture!
Someone suggested I look her up on Facebook, which I tried but no luck. The fact that Bizarro Me doesn't understand what her own e-mail address is makes me think that something like Facebook might be too much for her to handle.
Oh! And the reason I partially blame the internet for this is because of the google. Did you know that, for example, "firstnamelastname @ gmail.com" is the same as "firstname.lastname @ gmail.com"? I didn't know that until a few months ago. While it's kind of a cool feature, it's certainly not helping this situation. THANKS GOOGLE.
So I'm not sure what to do. I did reply to the woman at the dance studio and mentioned that she should maybe let Bizarro Whitney know that the e-mail address she thinks she has? Not actually hers. Not sure if that will help or not.
Until I figure out how to resolve this, I may just have to give occasional updates on what my Bizarro Self has been up to. Maybe she'll get tickets to Wicked!
