DIRT IS BEAUTIFUL
 

LAST KNOWN LOCATION:

                            Eureka, CA

LAST UPDATE:

12/03/2011, Saturday AM

CURRENT TRIP:

Living on the coast is amazing and I feel compelled to stop at every beach and meet the people!

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Climbing in Northern California.

FUTURE ADVENTURE:

Picking up hitchhikers and on my way to Portland.

Latest Travel Blog Entry: Burning Man - And What It All Means! “Sold Out 2011” - one of the stickers I was handed. October 2, 2011 I had the brilliant idea that I was going to arrive at Burning Man with all the energy in the world to “play” investigative reporter. To go around and ask people ... “What is Burning Man to you?” and “Where do you see Burning Man in the future?” and “Is Burning Man the next Woodstock?” In retrospect, I admit that I do greatly admire my naivety, because I throw my heart out there with pure intentions and my simple brain is flooded with ideas (not always good ones). As it turned out, I got to Burning Man and a wave of insecurity passed over me. I say insecurity for a few reasons, first I was alone, second I had no other destination to achieve (finding security in the journey rather then the destination, I guess), and third I had a broken bike, bad sight with the fading light, and my “people” were not there yet. I literally felt venerable. Plus I had a surge of - who am I to go around and interview people - being a Burning Man “virgin” and not so good at remembering what people say with out recording somehow. Oh god, right! My heart sank, which does not happen that often. Everything I imagined doing at Burning Man disappeared and I simply (cause ultimately that is how my brain works) gave myself to the playa with an open heart without expectations of myself, others, or what greater worldly significance it might have meant. I will have to “play” investigative reporter some other time. Oh by-the-way I was exhausted, but I had a reason to be exhausted. I did just turn 30, rode my bike 40-60 miles a day for seven days, and volunteered myself for a 48 hour adventure to Reno with a mere nap. Room service, right! The stimulation (no I don’t mean drugs, so don’t get excited) was outrageous. There is something going on and something to look at every second of the day and night. Burning Man, an adults playground, is what you make it (100% and that is all it is). Folks that have been to multiple “Burns”, talk about manifesting who they will meet and what they will learn and take home with them, while others will just sit back and observe, still others are there to “party”, and those who choose their own adventure. Some “virgins” are lost and uncomfortable and do not let go of this and chances are they will not be back again, until something clicks outside Burning Man in their personal lives. So when I say “party” I mean sex, drugs, and music. Now there is nothing wrong with that. In fact that is a huge part of what Burning Man started out as; a bunch of Californians saying “Hey lets get our party on in Nevada’s “native reservations”. It is true, no denying. But everything grows; it is human nature, and Burning Man, whether the oldies’ like it or not, has evolved into something much more. I did get a chance to talk to some Paiutes (the “native” people) on the reservation. With paraphrasing, I was told the following story. “I used to watch the “Burners” drive by with my friends and we were always curious, but the rumors scared me. (He didn’t tell me the rumors.) Over the years more and more people drove in, with more and more interesting vehicles, and these art works attached. When I was a teen, my friends and I saved our beer money to go, telling our parents we were going fishing (he laughed). We figured people would give us beer, and us Paiutes get tickets for real cheep. (He then commented on how much (we) pay.) We went and (he made an open heart gesture), it was more then I thought and I go every year since.” A few Paiutes I talked with voiced gratitude towards Burning Man, wether it be keeping businesses, well in business, or for personal attendance reasons. This surprised me (I don’t know why, but it did). What does Burning Man mean? Again, I can only answer this for me. But many people told me to just say, “Go yourselves and find out!” but the same folks will complain about how many “virgins” and how it is getting “so big” and “changing from what it was when they first went!” So, I stood there in front of the man in my tie dyed peace sign bikini with the sun about to set, my vision getting worse, I decided to let go of my “play” journalist idea and open my heart, but I was still alone. I found my people, and when I say this they weren’t the ones I jotted down on a piece of paper, through various days of wondering I eventually “bumped” into some of those list dwellers. What I mean is I found the people I was meant to find, and they were amazing and offered me a home and much more. I found myself. Huh! That is funny I was going to say ... I found myself wondering, observing, heckling, visiting, meditating, learning, drinking lemonade, and playing games, while meandering Burning Man, which are all true. But when I wrote, “I found myself” just now, well that sums up my Burning Man experience. Nice and simple. For those who want more I have always had an understanding of who and where I am. But I found a peace, a path, a balance, a calling, a re- reeducation, I fell in love with, not just the world (I already had that), but with myself in connection to others and the universe. Hooky pocky, I know, but how am I going to be a teacher when I am not living what I teach and self love is truly needed before one extends to family friends community state country world and universe. I am not a perfect example of advocating how we should live, but I try with all my strength and the more I do, the better I get and that is all I can do and I truly love me for doing this. I also decided that I need to work toward healing others because I do tend to have a lot of energy. OMG to much information, but I love to share, that is what this website is about. Other things that Burning Man has to offer. These are literally from the catalogue, and yes it is that organized. - Bollywood Night, Storytelling, Irish Zombie Movie Night, 90’s Dance, Milk and Cookies, Yoga, Quality of Touch, Sex Ed Class, Clowning Workshop, Spirit Animal Readings, Math Club, Sling Shot Tournament, Boobies Beautified, Pickles! There is a rumor going around that 2011 was/is the last Burning Man. Well Burning Man is a profit organization has employees and pays taxes the whole nine yards. The Burning Man Project is to get Burning Man Corporation as a nonprofit, just wanted to clarify. Lastly, the dust! I loved rolling in the alkaline powder that seeps into your skin, crusts up your nose, dies your hair a silver white, and leaves you with a powerful cough. I used it as sunscreen everyday. This powder is not good for your body at all, however if you need some soul healing, it’s the balm. This is not an environment for non-campers or dislikers of strong sand blasting winds that cause whiteouts, if you mind these things then don’t go. Those who do will be welcomed Home. aLeXaNdRa LoVeLl