Comments | blk: I'd get a thousand hugs / from ten thousand lightening bugs

blk

I'd get a thousand hugs / from ten thousand lightening bugs

Jul 06, 2010 17:24

Home from Firefly!

Trying to sum up things coherently would take too much brainpower, and my head has gone into powersave mode in the heat today, so instead, here is a bullet point list of interesting things from this past weekend.

( everything is never as it seems )

trip report, camping

Comments 17

frobzwiththingz July 6 2010, 23:13:11 UTC

I total agreement about the packing-out in the ungodly heatwave, but will say that IMHO it beats packing out (or in) slogging through the more usual firefly MUDPITS. Hands down.

blk July 7 2010, 15:02:07 UTC

Yeah, the promise of rain and mud in other years is also not endearing me to the whole idea either. It was fun while things were perfectly dry and comfortable, and I'm not sure I want to experience the other side. :)

(The comment has been removed)

blk July 7 2010, 15:07:39 UTC

I have to admit it was very amusing watching the young girls near us oh-so-carefully prep their "look," which generally included careful levels of modesty while changing into a bikini (since bikinis are the essence of sexy/showing off skin without being, y'know, improper). I much preferred the folks who dressed comfortably, who looked happy. I remember the faces and the smiles, but honestly, I couldn't name a single outfit I saw.

I'm finding myself much less concerned with my own skin showing these days, both that more skin doesn't mean more sexy (even though I like my body), and that sometimes my skimpy clothes are just for keeping cool while hanging around the house.

penk July 7 2010, 01:23:33 UTC

I have to admit the idea of a 'sky camp' sounds awesome. Part ewok village, part sandbar construction. But oh the hardware you'd need to haul out.

Bouncy perky white middle class glitterfolk aren't...exactly... the crowd I'd gravitate toward. Glad you found some space to enjoy!

blk July 7 2010, 15:11:23 UTC

Well, for basics, a big dense clump of trees. Then a good mesh of thick, sturdy webbing starting at about 3-4 feet up, which you can walk/balance on to set everything else up. Hammocks are ideal for sleeping, with a rope ladder to get up from the ground. I'm sure there's more, but other engineers can think about that. :)

penk July 7 2010, 15:29:00 UTC

Ah, see. I was still thinking Playa. No trees. But hmmm. a clump of trees close enough to build 'up'. It's nigh on impossible to sleep a full night in a hammock unless you're used to it... but I could see rigging a 'bed' up in the trees.

Hmmmmm.

talldean July 7 2010, 02:04:00 UTC

The problem with a quiet-camp is that someone invariably parks an art car next to you that's way over your noise-padding threshold.

Worth going to next year? I'm strongly considering that or PEXfest instead of Spring PDF.

blk July 7 2010, 15:15:58 UTC

Yeah, the only thing I can think of that would even vaguely work the way I'm thinking is an entirely enclosed room that has serious soundproofing. Which is a lot more hardware than I'm at all interested in carrying around or setting up.

We were camped up the hill away from the main path, which meant that sounds were quieter, but the oontzy music (and the generator providing it, which the camp had so thoughtfully placed behind some hills for them, which made it open view to us) were still very present all night long.

I have absolutely no idea if I should recommend you go to FF or not, as I don't have experience with other events, or what sorts of things you like. :) I think you'd definitely enjoy it, and would probably have fun with the crowds that I did. But you should talk to xuth or someone else to get a better opinion. :)

starphire July 7 2010, 06:25:37 UTC

That's a pretty good list for a set of quick notes ( ... )

blk July 13 2010, 15:41:49 UTC

I think I knew more people who went to the Rainbow gathering than Firefly. I might have to reconsider plans next year. :)

The person hit with fireworks was mostly OK, from what little I heard. Not-major burns and some freaking out, but likely to recover well, I think. I have no idea if they found the person who set them off (unapproved).

It was an overall good experience. I think it would be a much better experience if it were only a 2-3 hr drive away instead of an 11 hour one. That detail by itself makes it a lot less fun. But who knows how I'll feel next year.

starphire July 16 2010, 17:59:18 UTC

Well, Rainbow doesn't often happen on the East coast - I think fewer from here will make the trek to the Pacific Northwest for it next year (though some are talking about it).

I hear you about the long drives, though. Maybe there are ways to break it up/combine with other adventures out this way next year.