PolyParadise - 2009 - Wrap-up

Thursday December 1, 2009

This completes year eight as Benevolent Dictator. These words are my way to thank those that helped create such a loving & caring space not only On-Playa but all year long. What an amazing community we build throughout the year on PolyBurn and within the gates of BRC. Each year I am amazed and overwhelmed at the outpouring of so many people within our camp giving of themselves and their time. I am taken aback by those that give even when they are not PolyParadise campers or give to the community even if the Playa is not in their travel plans.

Here-in are my THANK YOU's for Burning Man 2009...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!!

The first Thank You has always been reserved for my Life Partner, Wife, Friend & companion, WildChild!!! She continues to be an awesome inspiration for all things Burning Man, stands by me in my ever increasing need to volunteer…Thank you my love!!!

Thanks to UncleBob! I was so glad that you finally decided to move to AZ and become part of our household. Your ingenuity and insight are most valuable in the running of PolyParadise, Thank you!!!

A VERY SPECIAL thanks goes out to the awesome Arizona group of PolyCampers!!!! Senior Steve, Portia, Just Plain John, Corvus, Cactusman, Jayme, Dawn, Adam, Mary, Airman, Sista, Alien, Spence, UncleBob, Eno, Doc, Knotch, Shadow & Tyler.

Thanks to the Truck Packing crew: UncleBob, Alien, Jayme, Dawn, Portia, Just Plain John, Poje & CactusMan. It is so much fun to share the excitement of PolyParadise hitting the road with all of you!!! YEAH!!! You guys are GREAT!

Many, Many thanks to all of our Early Arrival crew. Kudos go out to Many, Many thanks to all of our Early Arrival crew. Kudos go out to Airman, Jayme, Trouble, Sista, Azriel, Brotherluv, Jacques, Theresa, Knotch & Shadow, Aurelia & Dio, Stagger, UncleBob, Touch, Stealth Angel, Owl, Keith & Lenel. for their tireless efforts to get the camp erected and all system connected. You guys ROCK!!!

MANY, MANY thanks go to the most amazing takedown crew we have ever had. There were so many people that stayed we had the truck packed and our Playa Space MOOPED... Those folks include: Trouble, Parrot, Stagger, Aurelia, Dio, Owl, Stealth Angel, Zeebs, Touch, Keith, Lenel, Theresa, Jacques, Puzzle, McGruff, Sista, Portia, Just Plain John, Knotch, Shadow, Will, Trevor, Kiera, Loius and so many others. THANK YOU ALL!!! Both WildChild & I appreciate your efforts.

Thanks to Shadow & Knotch for having the extra room and willingness to take a few items left over (Bikes, Ice Cart…) that would not fit into the truck. An awesome result of that kindness was that Uncle Bob & I got to visit them in Southern AZ and share their lovely property & home for a day. You both are awesome campers!!! Thanks again!!!

We all must collectively thank Tailfeather for his amazing efforts on the Poly Playa Space. Each year the space has evolved and creates an awesome addition to our Community. A space to let loose, a space to explore sexually. Thank you Tailfeather. Thanks to everyone that assisted in the assembling & teardown of the dome.

Thanks to everyone who led a Poly High Tea during the week, sharing your thoughts and experiences with the group is a very special gift! Thank YOU! We had standing room only during the discussions.

The Carcass Wash...Many thanks go to Touch, Stagger, Trouble and others for heading up the Human Carcass Wash. A HUGE THANKS to everyone else who helped with Setup & Cleanup and to those that ran the event each day.

Thanks & Many Many Kudos again go to Tailfeather & Twist for collaborating on the awesome shower structure that has made it another year.

Thanks to Twist!!! Hats off to you my Right Hand Rocket Scientist!!!! In 2008 the generator stopped working and a group of people attempted On-Playa Generator Surgery that was less than successful. Major Kudos to Twist who rebuilt the damaged threads! Major Thanks as well to UncleBob who has been instrumental in maintaining the generator all year long.

Thanks to Twist for the ’08 Gray Water Bins/Pumps and hose that continued to be a vital resource for our camp.

Thanks so much to Sani-Hut for providing us with a Gray Water Holding Tank and for the awesome service on Playa. We appreciate your efforts and hope to continue to do business with you again in 2010.

Thanks to WildChild, UncleBob, Twist & Hatchethead for their artists talents in creating the PolyParadise signs.

A special thanks to Alien (Jim) who can always be found cleaning, tidying up and getting involved in all things PolyParadise.

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 week leading up to Labor Day, 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...

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. A special thanks to UncleBob and his crew for keeping all things kitchen in order.

Thanks to Lynn for taking walks to the Burn Pyres with our Burnable Trash.

Thanks to Nancy & Foxy for stepping up and doing the dishes and general cleanup when those that were assigned this task failed to show.

Thank you to Stagger for heading up the Garbage area and bagging of said garbage for proper hauling Off-Playa. I appreciate everyone who assisted in dealing with the garbage during the week and am most grateful for each and every person who took garbage Off-Playa. Thank YOU!

Thanks to everyone that went on the daily ice runs. Thanks to Jeff & George and others who assisted with the Cooler drain & repack ritual we play each day.

Thanks to everyone that assisted with Trash Can Turkey & Pizza with Special Callouts to Big Phreaky, Joshua, Owl, Susan, Dio, UncleBob, Dawn, Alien, Airman, Clair, Tuna, Kiera, Touch, Fred, Tailfeather. You guys Rocked!!!

Thanks to David for jumping in getting those four Turkeys carved and ready for the masses and thanks for the Kegs of Beer!!!

Thanks to Dr. J for donating a Massage Table to the Community and for everyone that brought sheets and lotion, It was awesome to have the table in the community space for anyone to use. Thank you Dr. J.

Speaking of Dr. J…. A special callout to Dr. J (Jeff Patterson) who showed an exemplary heart in his concern for his campmates, you are a gift to this Community and I thank you very much!!!

The most SPECIAL of SPECIAL THANKS is reserved for my Partner & Wife WildChild!!Your love of everything Burning Man, Community, Hard Work, artistic talent and love of people is inspiring. Never let that light dim.

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.

This amazing journey has been 10 years in the making – with so much anticipation of our next attempt at creating Paradise Poly in BRC! There are so many people that give of themselves, give without thinking about how long it will take or how heavy something is, so many people that give of themselves!! Burning Man is a year-round event at our house and when I see those smiles On-Playa of those that camp within our borders...The phase that comes to mind is ‘Priceless’, I cannot think of a nicer more family place I ever want to be!!! Thank you ALL for assisting me in creating PolyParadise.

I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!!

Only 271 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 - Benevolent Dictator - Burning Man Lifer