PolyParadise Year Wrap-up - 2005

• History
• What Went Right - What Went Wrong
• Playa Location

Thursday September 22, 2005

Thank you all....

WOW!!! What a year for PolyParadise!!!  There is NO DOUBT  this was the BEST year yet for our Camp and for our Village. A HUGE Thank YOU goes out to each and every person who camped with us, who came by and helped with our events and our Guest PHT Facilitators, each of you in your unique way contributed to the AWESOME success of PolyParadise & Shangri-La Village..

This year not only did PolyParadise have representation from the 48 contiguous states, we also had an International flavor with folks from Canada & New Zealand, thank you all from the FAR reaches of the globe in making PolyParadise your Playa home.  We are a diverse group from far reaching Cites & Countries, though we come together at BM as a group of Polyamorous folk to share love, respect, & stories of our trials and tribulations in non-mainstream lifestyle choices.

As part of the Post-Playa Wrap-up from your CAMP DADDY the following is a list of Thank YOU's to everyone who contributed to the success of PolyParadise.  This list in not an all-inclusive list and if I left someone or something out it is not because I was unaware of your contribution it is just a minor oversight.  EACH ONE OF YOU HAD A PART AND A HAND IN MAKING US THE SUCCESS WE WERE!!

Please also peruse the 2005 Financial Statement and the What went Write & What went Wrong sections of this Post-Playa Wrap-up.  As always your Comments, Bitches & Roses are welcome...

Thank you all for being flexible with Playa placement I hope each of you got the space you required and wanted.  In all we had a large enough space 200'x220' that was able to accommodate all of us, our infrastructure and even roads within the camp.
 
Each year I thank StrokeGreg for heading up the Human Carcass Wash, for recruiting folks each day to help man & run the event, setup & cleanup. StrokeGreg, Your initial idea of the Human Carcass Wash has mutated into the BEST SHOWER, time can buy, on the Playa.  The HCW is so popular it was mentioned in the recent novel published by Donn Cortez - The Man Burns Tonight: A Black Rock City Mystery available in Paperback.  Noted on Pg. 173 is The Human Carcass Wash, the best Wash on the Playa - Now how is that for recognition!!! I estimate that 200 people per day enjoyed the event.. HATS OFF to everyone else who helped with Setup & Cleanup and to those that ran the event each day.

Thanks to WildChild, StrokeGreg, Lynn & Costello, Scix, YonderMan, FoxyGoddess, Naked Shawn for leading PHT, and sharing their life experiences with those seeking information about Poly and spreading Infinite Love across the Playa. I know it is difficult to have a discussion group with competing loud music sources, though you all made it work each day. There was at least 40 people in the discussion each day...My Hats off to all of you...

Thanks go to Water Log...a.k.a...Steve for his work on the Water Reclamation Project. To provide this service to PolyParadise is one thing, but to provide it to all camps in Shangri-La Village is quite another. HATS OFF TO WATER LOG...What was the final number of Gallons processed? Steve your efforts to allow this water to be given to the Playa deserve much applause, look forward to seeing what you come up with for next year. Making a definitive cutoff for Grey Water processing helped get the project to its end and not have Steve processing large amounts of water on Monday...

Thanks as well to Steve for the awesome Adlib song about Water Ecology at the Village Meeting on Thursday..."Conservation, Preservation...Guard Mother Earth...The only way this will work is to spread the word"...A very catchy tune with an awesome message...Look forward to seeing the Video...

Thanks to ALL of the Road Hosers & everyone Village Wide that helped with the Grey Water Project...Your efforts are greatly appreciated...I am sure that in the near future we can coax Water Log to give his annual review of Water Reclamation 2005.

Thanks to ALL of you who were patient & understanding as the planned Poly Play Space was devastated by the fierce winds of Monday.  Thanks to FozyGoddess, WaterLog & others who helped resurrect the structure later in the week.  See PPPP What went Write & What went Wrong Comments.

Thanks again to Lynn & Costello for providing the Cuddle Pool...It is such as awesome space...I enjoyed its comforts several times...THANK YOU!!!

Thanks to WiLdcHiLd & our Phoenix friend Elu for the AWESOME PolyParadise signs.  Having two signs one on the 4-Corner Village and one between the Community Shade & Carcass wash were awesome.  Two signs will definitely be in our future again.  Cannot wait to see what you come up with for next year!!, .

Thanks to Scix for providing the awesome Cabanas, they were not only colorful but also functional when we put a chair inside each one.  I did catch two Playa folks taking advantage of that space...LOL

Talbon & Brittanni thanks so much for your amazing energy and enthusiasm.  I appreciated all of your help and WiLdcHiLd surely enjoyed that massage.

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Elmo & WaterLog for coming of age as Rangers this year.  Thank you so much for your efforts on behalf of all of BRC.  Let us not forget our other PolyParadise Rangers...Piper & Phil. Thank you all for taking the time to complete the Ranger Training and for working on behalf of all the Playa Citizenry.

A special thanks to all the Playa Virgins that decided to make PolyParadise their First Home on the Playa.  I hope your experience was awesome and that Burning Man, The Playa, BRC and the rest of us instilled in you a LOVE for the last week of August and that your excitement will have you camping again with us next year.  Each of you gave & gave & gave of your time & effort and we all Thank You...

Alex from Vermont.... WiLdcHiLd keeps laughing and saying some weird things about Winooski, something about domes...Can you tell me what really is happening in your faire city. I enjoyed meeting you, you is good people my friend, a kind gentle soul.  I hope Burning Man was EVERYTHING you hoped it would be and MORE!!!  Thank you for the gift of yourself in everything you were involved with in Camp and your involvement of those IN camp.  Thanks for the gift of Music, we both look forward to listening to it on cool Fall nights on our new Front Porch.

AnthTONY...For a Playa Virgin you were quite the Veteran.  From the time I received my Burning Canadians Hat I knew we would be friends.  You were always willing to help, whenever and where ever needed.  All the while your smile never waned, never faltered.  I was so glad we got to hang out a few times and shoot the shit.  Make sure to keep in touch and camp with us again...Please...

Fred, the gifts you bring are not measured easily, for they are gifts of the heart.  Your attention to detail and making things just right for Kennita was what my Father called being a MENSCH - n. Yiddish (MENCH) Literally, "person." A caring , decent person – a person who can be trusted. Please make PolyParadise your Playa home again.

Kennita, Other people make excuses about not coming to Burning Man...You made excuses about why Burning Man was so important...Congratulations on taking the plunge, knowing you have limitations is not the same as limited thinking.  Hope your Burning Man was a Great Experience for you.

Thanks to everyone who provided & prepared food for Community Meals, Washing Dishes, all who helped out when it was needed, for taking garbage home with you, for knowing what building community & sharing community is all about.

Kinky & Indy, It was awesome to have you camp with us.   I hope you found our hospitality likened to an AAA rating.  Sorry the generator problems cut short your Photo ID Booth.  Hope you will camp with us again...

Foxygoddess, YOU AMAZING WOMEN YOU!! Always there to help, there to the VERY END...with a Smile & a HUG and the truest & purest of Burning Man Spirit.  Follow your HEART you are on the write Path!!!

Neal, I know you said you do not have email or computer access, so you probably will not see this...But I wanted to say THANK YOU!!! I MEAN THAT!!! You volunteered for some real nasty, dirty, non-recognized work with me on the Playa, always with a smile, always wanting to do more.  Please never let that spirit fade inside you.  You have so many great years ahead of you...Travel Safe my Friend!!

Thanks so much to WiLdcHiLd, DClynn and everyone else who helped setup and maintain the kitchen all week long and who kept us in snacks galore.

Diana, thank you for being in camp and knowing your KNOTS!!! Your help was invaluable in securing the shade structure.  I enjoyed spending time with you and learning some things about City Planning and those that call themselves City Planners, all the while I was disguising it as an Ice Walk.  Please think about camping with us again.

Dron & Big D, Your enthusiasm to help is only limited to the fact there are only 24 hours in a day.  Thank you so much for all your help. 

Piper , So glad to have you in camp again my friend...It has been an interesting year for the both of us, I am glad you seem to have come out on TOP as did I.  We both have been introduced to vivacious women who will challenge us at every turn.  Love them & they will Love you back...Sounds quite simple...I was so glad to meet Rose and have her camp with us.  I hope she will make it back again next year.

Thanks to Kingsley for being the 'Czar de Garbage'...I appreciated your efforts in managing the garbage and making sure everyone took some garbage home with them...

Thanks to Phil, YonderMan, StrokeGreg, Dali, Mark & Neal and everyone else that helped with Exodus and the breakdown and SHOVE in the Truck Monday Blitzkrieg.  Both WiLdcHiLd & I appreciate your efforts.

cactusman, I am so glad you live in Phoenix cause I cannot wait to hang out with you some more.  I had a BLAST playing Generator 201 with you, thank you so much for saving the day for a few days when the main generator went down.  Thank you too for your repairs to the Poly Shower, much appreciated.  You appear to have the Burning Man Glean in your eye and both WiLdcHiLd & I look forward to having you over for dinner sometime soon.

Jay, you did not spend much time in camp because of your Playa Volunteer duties.  Burning Man is run by volunteers at many levels and many fronts.  Thanks for making a difference!!! I hope you would consider camping with us again.

William, it was awesome to camp with you and spend time getting to know you.  WiLdcHiLd raves about the time you 2 spent washing dishes...Talking about Art & Interior Design.  I know Phoenix does not have a Smithsonian, but we do have the Heard Museum (Great Native American Art), You always have friends here in the Valley of the Sun!!

Steve' Water Log' Iddings, You old Burning Man Warhorse, PackRat and purveyor of the finest Water Reclamation information this side of Gerlach.  I so enjoy the time we get to spend together on Playa, even when confronted with the worst of humanity, you always have the most amazing Belly Laugh that makes me laugh so freakin hard...I Just LOVE YOU MAN!!!

Thank you SOOOOOOOOOO VERY MUCH for all the work on behalf of PolyParadise & Shangri-La Village for Water Reclamation, we could not do it without you WaterLog. An amazing song and Water Ecology lesson for the masses @ the Village Meeting on Thursday.  The little buckets with the Dry Ice was a nice touch.

PPaRRot, so amazing to make your acquaintance and have your spirit and energy as part of our camp.  I hope that you will again be part of our ever growing Playa Address.

Thanks to Dick & Tes for bringing in Fresh Salad supplies on Wednesday for the Pot Luck and of course for the Dry Ice purchase.  That really made us Road Hosers (Singers) have a dramatic entrance into the Village Meeting when it was time to SING about Grey Water.

Stagger, you have become much more than just a camp mate you have become one of my closest friends.  The way you watch out and over people, the way you help those in need is something we all should take notice of.  Thank you for the Buddha, it sits in our new house, proud & tall.

HypnoBurn...I was so very glad that your back troubles from last year are a thing of the past.  To say you touched my HEART is an understatement.  Both WiLdcHiLd  & I SOOOO Enjoyed our time together, seeing her JUMP into your arms was priceless each and every time.  Thank you so much for the therapy sessions and for making time to hang out.  We have so much more to learn from each other.  Know you always have a place here in Phoenix.  When you coming out west?

Mandel, seeing & hearing about Burning Man through your eyes when we spent some time hanging out was amazing...Thank you!!!  You gave from your Heart, you gave from your Spirit.  You also had to give the officer your home address, but that is another story.  Please return & camp with us again....

LadyG & Madogg, Thanks so much for choosing PolyParadise as your Playa Address.  The Henna Tattoos were a big hit, you are quite the Artist!!!  February...Tucson...Gem Show...Be There!!!  Look forward to hanging out with you both.

Thanks to Reaps & Erika for persevering with your RV issues and making the trek to the Playa.  Reaps it was a pleasure having your son as part of our camp.  I hope he plans on returning & camping with us again.  Please thank him for me for all his efforts.

Thanks to ALL the Arizona PolyParadise Campers...WiLdcHiLd, cactusman, John, Mike, Kenrda &  PainterDave....and to SPF who could not make it to the Playa, well made it all the way to Fallon and had to turn back...It was SO very awesome to have so many of our AZ family in camp with us...I hope that you would all consider camping with us again...

Rina, jonyB. Goode, Annadora, Davi, I thank each of you so very much.  Your help was always timely and appreciated.  Thanks for always having the Tool I needed, when I needed it. Hope your Burning Man was something very special, and that it will again be on your radar for next year...Come on back Ya Hear'...

Yonderman, To camp with the New Zealand Regional was awesome!!!  Both WiLdcHiLd & I had an AMAZING time hanging out with you, drinking Foster's with YOU. Passing you on your way to the Trash Fence when WiLdcHiLd  & I had just come from there was 2 funny.  Thanks as well for hanging out on Monday and spending a day with me, Foster's and Camp Teardown Day.  Thanks too for taking MULTIPLE Bags of garbage off Playa.  You have an awesome spirit and kindness about you!!  I look forward to having you & Jane & the kids in camp next year, forget Kidsville, PolyParadise is Your HOME!!

zeppocat & Mark, I was so glad that you chose PolyParadise as your Playa home.  It was certainly enhanced by your energy & spirit.  WiLdcHiLd  & I enjoyed sharing Profit John's Lox & Bagels with you Mark...btw zeppocat, WiLdcHiLd can give you information on where to get more of that Glitter Body Lotion.

Harry, I was so glad that you decided to camp with us again.  You were always there and always willing to help and lend a hand when asked.  I will make sure to have a non-electric Coffee Pot for next year with you in mind.  Have a great year and come back and camp with us again.

Thanks to Kingsley &  WiLdcHiLd who helped haul burnables and the PP Signs to the to the Burn Pyres on Sunday, and thanks to Trouble for allowing us to use his SUV to get the stuff out there easier.

Thank you all for bringing Drinking Water and HCW Water...With additional donations from HCW participants we had plenty of water all week for our use as well as our Camp Events...

Thanks to Trouble & Autowitch for again being part of our ever growing space.  The Dome certainly went up easier this year with the hoist, now we need a better way to hoist & let down the hoist...LOL  Thanks for the Dome, I hope that others enjoyed the space as well...Both WiLdcHiLd  & myself spent some time in there, away from the dust, away from people who needed me, a respite place in sometimes what seems utter chaos....Thank YOU!!!

A VERY VERY VERY VERY SPECIAL thanks to WiLdcHiLd for ALL your help in packing the truck in Phoenix and for ALL the Help, Love & Support you provided me throughout the week....YOU are VERY SPECIAL!!!  I am so very honored to be able to have you as my Primary Partner...I could not have run the camp as efficiently without you...Love you so very much...

To those that camped elsewhere or who were unable to make BM this year, your spirit was always part of PolyParadise, and know that you are deeply missed & loved in this group.

It was my pleasure and privilege to be and to serve as Camp Daddy and would gladly do so again. Though in the end all of you served that role as well, looking out for each other being there for each other. A Scattering of applause to all of you as well.

Please return to the list during the year, let this awesome feeling we all have in our hearts for BM, PolyParadise and each other stay as a beacon of a place we can share and be together again.

Only 339 days until we Burn again. Each of those days will have thoughts of all you and how good I feel having each of you as my friends and part of my family.

Playa Love,
Scotto
Camp Daddy