AUTHENTIC Reno Celtic Celebration...

First, a little background information...a couple of years ago, I began reading these books. These books are about Celtic people in general, and Scottish Highlanders in particular. I am here to tell you, NOTHING has captivated my interest in a long time, like these books. The books are by Diana Gabaldon, and it is the Outlander series. Jaime and Claire are two of my hero's, and I can't wait to see what happens to them next! Hunky Highlander!

I have, at many times in my life been an absolutely avid reader, but I am one of those people that once I read a book, I cannot reread it. Until Diana's books. There is so much to them, and there is so much detail and HISTORY in them, that one cannot help but reread. The first time, you want to know what's happening in the STORY. Subsequent times show you what you missed. Not intentionally, but skimmed over because you were worried about WHAT CAME NEXT. These books are awesome! My geek-love for Diana reached unknown boundaries when I began to participate in an online forum she also frequents, the Books and Writers Community, originally through Compuserve, purchased by AOL, yadda yadda. I've interacted with Diana a few times, and she seems like a pretty cool person. Anyway, moving on...

I began to learn and absorb things about Celtic culture. I was raised by mom, my dad died about a month before I turned seven, so what little family traditions and such we grew up with, came from her. Her background is Hispanic and Native American, but there was NO NA influence in our lives. At the time my mom came of age, people with Native blood learned to be VERY ashamed of it.

What I never thought about until this couple of years ago, is that the other half of my heritage is IRISH! I am half Celt too! Hey, that's ME!! I think. We didn't keep in close contact with whatever was left of my dad's family, so I am not 100% sure, but my dad looks like an Irish guy. Red hair, never tanned, super white skin, and from stories told, he definitely handled the drinking gene. I began to get interested in Celtic things and learn what I could.

For the second year now, at the beginning of October, I spend a weekend getting some serious Geek on. Our local folks hold a Celtic Celebration, and last year was my first one, although I understand they've been doing it for awhile. This year, I got to see amazing things, and meet really cool people. One of the most AMAZING things I saw was HIGHLAND COOS!!

They were so cute! I wanted to take them home, but I don't think that would have been good. Although their pens were about the size of my backyard, I don't think they would have liked it much =)

Saturday, we had an awesome day! We met amazing people and it was BUSY! Sunday was just as amazing, but moreso because we had AUTHENTIC WEATHER:

Folks who know how seldom it rains in Reno know what a site this was! It was beautiful! To me, it made the celebration that much more special! I also got to meet an amazing and awesome Scottish couple from near Edinburra (Edinburgh). There son was giving some sort of talk, and his mom said "He's a good laddie". It was awesome. Then there was the Irish guy who walked up and said "Do ye take crrrrreeeedit cccaaarrrds?" None of the other folks working the front could understand him, and I did! So I got the pleasure of telling him where the ATM machine was, but he could have burrrrred at me all day and I would die a happy woman!

At one point, a small group of three young men strolled to the entrance gate, where I was working, one of them had a plaid on, bare legs and what looked like knee high Jack boots. The boots were playa-fied, so I said to him "Those boots look playa-fied". "Yep," he says, "In fact, this whole outfit was gotten for Burning Man". We laughed and I wished him an enjoyable time at the Festival.

The quote of the day came at the very end. A piper came down the hill, past the front gate and returned a little while later with some friends, who asked "We heard you were giving away free t-shirts. Is that true?" Well, we had discounted the t-shirts, but weren't giving them away, so we said so. A little while later, this same man drives towards the gate, ready to leave, and rolls down his car window to see if we are giving away t-shirts yet. He's driving a very nice, if slightly damp, newish BMW 5-series car. Hmmm. The guy in the kilt who was a burner and his friends were walking behind the guy in the Beemer and says "You're driving a BMW for Fuck's Sakes, pay the Five Dollars for a t-shirt".

I love my life.

Peace.

seasons change...

it's really only been in the last few days that fall seems to have arrived in the truckee meadows with finality. we had some rain, and it was cold for a little bit after (and DURING) the migration home from the playa, but then it warmed again and we were treated to near-idyllic days with cool/chilly mornings and warm days/afternoons...

Photo by Kristen, Ranger Social 2010

another year of burning man has passed, and a friend of mine, scotto, makes it a point to reflect after each burn and codify what lessons he learned. i think that's a pretty nifty idea, so here is what i learned from burning man 2010:

• sometimes less really is more, especially when it comes to working on the playa!
• always be willing to take advantage of opportunity when it knocks, sometimes wonderful things happen to good people.
• friends are the family you choose, and the importance of that family during vacation, survival in harsh desert environs and thru dust storms and drama is not to be undervalued.
• be good enough at what you do to realize your shortcomings and brave enough to let go when someone who CAN do what you were tasked to do comes along to take over. the importance of knowing when you've found your replacement is cannot be overstated.
• men look cute in tutu's also!
• b1rd's can do GREAT on the playa, if you care about them enough to give them adequate care and lots of love and attention. chickens? not so sure...
• some people should not give lap dances; some stuff just CANNOT be scrubbed from the retinas.
• massages on playa are sublime!
• double rainbows are ALWAYS the bomb!

Photo by Twita2005 on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/twita/

i am pretty sure i've done this before, in another venue. if i find those posts, i may bring them here. not sure yet, as burning man is undeniably a part of my history.

i was going to write something about teaching SEED's in this post. this has been an amazing experience for me, so far. in many ways, i feel like i've failed my daughter for some of the rough times she went through, and i can't count the amount of time i've spent reparenting myself to correct wrongs of my past. adolescence is a traumatic and confusing time, and i wasn't sure how i'd respond to helping others through it...

Used under creative commons license. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pomegranate_opened.jpg

i have become very attached to the seedlings in our program. they make me smile, i am awed by their grace, willingness to learn, their bravery and their ability to be candid. i can't wait to see where this year takes me!

that's what i am up to. it's time, at the time, to become introspective, as it always is when the wheel of my own persona year turns. i experience "new year" somewhere between the end of burning man and samhain =) my pagan heart says samhain, but so much of my year culminates at burning man, i think the older i get, the less absolutes i have in my world, the better =)

i've recently been participating in some "open to love pujas"....ceremonies given by a friend once a month at a local yoga studio where people learn to connect on many different levels. there's one thursday and man, am i looking forward to it. i have been feeling adrift and a tad sorry for myself of late. but never, NEVER so sorry that i would wish to be anyone but who i am, experiencing the life i have. my blessings are so great that i wonder every day at how lucky i am.

peace.