1) if you're going to run behind a truck at burningman, make sure it's the water truck. you don't want to run behind the johnny on the spot truck in a hungover mistaken moment yelling "spray me". (really, not personal experience)

2) if you are running behind the water truck, realize that you are on clay. slippery clay. doing a slip-and-slide burnout while naked can result in scrapes in tender places. (yes, this one was me)

3) make friends

4) do not camp next to bitchy people with bullhorns. total buzz kill.

5) when you leave the playa gas stations will not take mini-disco balls as payment.

6) neither will restaurants.

7) indoor plumbing, a short distance from the bedroom, is under-rated.

i had a great first burningman. it was b's third. all the way home we talked about what to do next year.

i had every intention of writing a long post about all the strange and wonderful things, but i'm finding it increasingly difficult to explain it all in words, back here in the big world.

we got there about 1:00 in the morning (car problems) and going out to the center playa the first night was crazy. and it got crazier from there. b. took most of the pictures that we have (drink more water, you *will* get sick and dehydrated) because that day i was sick and dehydrated - so i'll let him post them.

douglas has something to say about it all. it was good to see him there, even more fun to startle the hell out of him when we walked up to him sitting in camp one afternoon. it took a fair amount of work to find people (except andrew, who is always easy to find as the unimog is a good marker - hello luvee, hope your re-entry went well), and we never did find judith and co. (not for lack of trying).

it was so good to just *be* for a week. it was good to see so much creativity. b. is a great campmate, and so completely wonderful - so nice to just spend a week off together.

what else... i'm sure there will be more. all in all it was pretty mellow, or as mellow as burningman ever is.