So, I had a really nice time on the playa this year. Yep, it was just fine. Just not my best year. Funny, 'cos the art was sure the best, my camp was the most fun camp i have ever been with, and my camp mates the best one could possibly hope for. But, I just didn't have the best time. Nothing bad happened, but nothing really stellar either. I had some great moments, but they were too few and far between. I met some great people, but we didn't get to hang out that much. I spent lots of time waiting for people, looking for people, and watching other people have the time of their lives. I spent more time straight and sober than ever before ( was that it? ) and more time alone in my hot tent ( a drag - won't do that again) and way more time working ( which was okay , but not as much fun as playing) ... I was usually the 3rd or 5th or 7th wheel - as a single gal with mainly couples in my camp. That played into it i am sure. I kept looking for my friends that live far away so we could play, but we never connected. My single girlfriends had or found playmates and were busy or away all the time too. I guess I felt kinda disconnected from everyone this year, no matter how much I participated in my camp. I felt like if i wandered off for a day no one would notice. So... I'm not sure if i'll do it again, and if i do, I will certainly do it differently. Hmmmm. Guess that in itself is a playa realization....Anyway, I do want to thank all my fab campmates from the LAB for creating such a cool space and being such awesome folks - you all rock and I know that our off-playa times will certainly be wonderful! I do love you all and i'm looking forward to both our decom and SF too. Maybe I'll have my best burning man moments off playa this year!

The surgery went well yesterday, and after his eye was removed, he woke up fine , and they called me to say he could go home with me today . Pepe was just 5 years old, a beautful silky black velvet kittie. Many of you have met him - he was a spunky cat, even tho the crypto blinded him in december. He recovered to the point where he would slip outside every chance he could,and i'd have to chase him into the neighbors yard...He loved being outside. His relapse came as a huge surprise to me- he had been doing so well. But a week ago,he became lethargic again, and I called the opthamologist to make an appointment. "The eye has to go " she said. There was a large mass behind it causing him pain from the pressure on his eyeball, making it swell even more. They thought it was cancer, but I said No way ! But when I got the call from the hospital last night at 11, saying I should come right down, I was so afraid. By the time I arrived, he was in a coma, no longer breathing on his own. He had some kind of seizure,and then he had trouble breathing, altho his heart beat was strong. They hooked up to a respirator, with tubes everywhere. His little pink tongue hung out of the side of his mouth. I held his head and stroked him , crying , kissing his face for 5 hours. I finally had to leave at 4:30 , to get my roommate David , who came back to the hospital with me to say good bye. Pepe went to sleep around 5 am this morning, crossing the bridge to play with his brother Peanut, and chase butterflies with both beautful golden eyes wide open. I miss him so much -my black velvet kittie. Pepe, I love you and I know you are still with me in spirit. Your ashes wil go to Burning Man with me , and then you , like Peanut, will be there with me every year. Goodbye my youngest little boy...