Off to Cali

Attn all west coasters...

I am coming in a few hours. I pretty much lost all phone numbers so if you are in cali, hit me up here with your number if you wanna get together.

Burning Mannnnnnnn

Everything is set... Jen and I will be camping with "...and then there's only love" at 9:00 & Esplanade. Our flight leaves at 7:30am Sunday morning and we should arrive in Reno at 12:25pm. We're renting a car, getting our supplies, then heading into the desert. With any luck, they'll let us in a bit early :) See you there!!!!!!

Plane Ticket To Burning Man

I need one... But I'm very broke at the moment. If anyone happens to find a good deal on a flight to either Reno or San Francisco or can help in any other sort of way, let me know.

Thanks!

Dollar Store Ownz!

God I love the dollar store. I went in today because I was ultra bored and figured I might find some decent buys... And did I ever!

2 Hula Hoops
8 small orange cones
4 17" skewers with handles
3 dozen clothes pins
140 feet of plastic rope
Total - $9.54

Where else can you buy all this great stuff in one place and for such a great price? Shit, id probably pay over 9 bucks for the clothes pins alone at a fetish shop.

This gives me an idea - I want to open a burner shop complete with blinkeys, fur outfits, fetish gear, fire and juggling props, records, local art, and booze! Who wants to invest?? :~)

Lullabye...

Rock-a-bye, baby
In the treetop
When the wind blows
The cradle will rock
When the bough breaks
The cradle will fall
And down will come baby
Cradle and all

What kind of shit is that to sing to your kid? Sounds horrific. Why is the baby in a tree? Was there a tornado? I dunno for sure but I DO know that when a baby (and cradle) fall out of a tree, chances are slim the baby will survive.

Lucky for me (I guess?) my mom sung Tora Lora Lora... Which is still kinda strange since I'm only a quarter irish... And not on my mom's side.

Anyhow... Did anyone's mother used to sing Rocka-bye-baby to them? Are you totally wacko because of it or what?? :~)

Wild Vegetables

A couple of weeks ago, I came across a strange thought. I realized that in my 25 years on this planet, I've never seen any wild vegetables. No broccoli, cucumbers, lettuce, celery, or anything. Certainly I've seen fruit of all types from berries to apples, lemons, and cherries and I've even come across some wild spices. Where the hell are all the vegetables though? Farms produce tons of vegetables but they had to come from somewhere... And where did it all go?

I've brought this up to several people since I thought about it and yet no one has claimed to have seen any wild vegetables nor has anyone been able to give a reasonable explanation for this. I think it's a conspiracy.

Wow... An amazing piece of my history...

So, I was going through my folder of text documents which I rarely do. I opened a file which had numbers as a name. What I found inside was my first contact with the Philadelphia Fire Arts. It is the conversation I had with Skip who was the one to invite me to the Philadelphia Fire Arts meetings. This was my doorway into the spinning community. Previous to this, I knew no one else who spun. Check it!

PatchworkJester: Hello?
oONyebrightOo: hi
PatchworkJester: Yo. This is a fire spinner in Philadelphia. Are you still in Philly? I got your AIM off of Home of Poi.
PatchworkJester: Hello?
PatchworkJester: My name is Skip Walker.
oONyebrightOo: "oh, for real? yo, what's up" sorry for not answering... we're playing with a video...
PatchworkJester: Lol.
PatchworkJester: Video?
oONyebrightOo: yo... this is mike's friend erica... I met him thru home of poi too... actually, I'm here at his house... we just had a burn and I'm working on a promo video for Bonnaroo...
PatchworkJester: Cool! You are both now required to come to the gathering!
oONyebrightOo: huh?
oONyebrightOo: what/when/where/ is the gathering?
PatchworkJester: Thursdays and Saturdays behind the Art museums at 7:00
oONyebrightOo: fire gathering?
PatchworkJester: Yup!
oONyebrightOo: on fire? :-) hehehe
PatchworkJester: Definitely.
oONyebrightOo: Sunday is the free day for the museum, isn't it? I was wanting to go... was there last Monday... hell yeah.. fire are there lots of people that go?
PatchworkJester: You guys can meet some of the best spinners in philly (Or show them up) and learn a gazillion things.
PatchworkJester: We're up to a pretty regular 5 with 10 being our max. But it's VERY regular.
oONyebrightOo: right on... I'm somewhat outside of the area... douglassville... here's mike...
oONyebrightOo: Hey, this is Mike
PatchworkJester: Hey mike.
PatchworkJester: What up?
PatchworkJester: www.pbase.com/patchworkjester
oONyebrightOo: Not much, just trying to get this video stuff done
PatchworkJester: Gotcha
oONyebrightOo: Ill have to check that later but I definately will. I am very interested in these gatherings.
oONyebrightOo: I got a few vids online of myself so Ill send you a link to that a lil later too
oONyebrightOo: Ive been trying to find some fire spinners forever
PatchworkJester: There are tons of us!
oONyebrightOo: Well, Ill most likely be joining you :-)
PatchworkJester: AWESOME.
PatchworkJester: It's a great gathering.
oONyebrightOo: Any gathering is great in my book. Specially when it comes to poi cuz Im the only one that I really know that does it... Besides this girl I have over right now, but we only met twice.
PatchworkJester: Where in Philly are ya?
oONyebrightOo: Im just outside Philly in a town called Bensalem. Im like 5 mins from Franklin Mills
PatchworkJester: Yup!
oONyebrightOo: Anyway, Im gonna go and finish this video stuff. Ill definately get in touch with you later. You on alot? And Erica wants to know if anyone you know is going to Bonnaroo?
PatchworkJester: I have no clue what bonnaroo is.
PatchworkJester: 555-555-5555 for info.
oONyebrightOo: Its a festival in Tennesee. Whats that number for?
PatchworkJester: That's my number. My name's skip walker.
PatchworkJester: Info on the gatherings, jsut in case.
oONyebrightOo: Ok, how late do you accept phone calls?
PatchworkJester: Before midnight is best, but if the line is busy, email benbradaigh@hotmail.com
oONyebrightOo: Ok, great. Nice talkin to ya, will keep in touch.
PatchworkJester: Definitely.
PatchworkJester: Take care

This file is dated 5/18/2004. I found poi the day I registered on Home of Poi, 3/27/2003. I like finding this because it helps me piece together the details of my own spinning history I forgot about... I was spinning for over a year before I knew anyone else who did it.

Now, I have no idea why I saved this conversation back then. Did I know it would be a piece of my history? Doesn't really sound like something I would do... And I have no idea how I never found this before. I really had no idea this existed.

Fun fact: The first time I went to the Philadelphia Fire Arts meeting, I got rear ended on I-95 in the new car I had just gotten 2 weeks before >.<

Cali Trip...

Yes, my trip to California was awesome and exactly what I needed to get myself back on track. I was pushed to do things I normally wouldn't have done, I was inspired to get back into some things I had lost touch with, and I had many memorable and special experiences with friends, new and old. There aren't words to express my appreciation and gratitude for the ability to take such a trip and all the people who made it possible.

There are a few people I would like to thank in particular but before I do so, I would like to send out a mass thank you to everyone who crossed my path while I was out there, for everyone played an important role in making my trip special.

Isa: You are AWESOME for opening your home to me for an entire month and putting up with my shit for so long. I can't thank you enough for the generosity you displayed both personally and professionally. You gave me opportunities which tested my abilities and allowed me to grow and you completely enabled me to have an experience without limits. You add deep value to my life and I love you dearly.

Atreyu: The energy I felt when connecting with you was intense and it grew steadily as time went on. We shared many moments that are beyond description but when you pulled out the bottle of ashen dirt after Fire Drums, I was floored and almost wanted to cry. I don't know what else to say except that I will always be connected to you by that moment.

Sky: Man... People keep using the word 'epic' to describe this year's Fire Drums and while I hate to sound like a broken record, I have to say that it is the only word I feel is appropriate. It was indeed epic. Just about every fire spinning personality I have ever admired (and then some) was there and the time I got to spend with them was more than I could have ever hoped for. I couldn't have made it any better if I were to create it in a dream. If you had a goal in mind as to what you wanted to make Fire Drums into, I believe this was probably far beyond that. You shall go down in history for this one, my friend. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Noel: You were also a huge part of what made Fire Drums so damn good. You worked hella hard and put up with a shit ton of crazy fucks for a long time to make it happen. With all that on your plate, you still made sure that even I had what I needed to be comfortable and happy. You shared your home, your food and drink, your room at the lodge, and much more. You even helped celebrate my birfday. Thank you, it all meant a lot to me.

Draya: Funny how things happen sometimes. Perhaps you don't know just how funny it is... But trust me, yer pretty funny :~) Thanks for kidnapping me and becoming my friend. You also enabled me to have a few last good experiences before I left and I feel like we started a bond which will continue to grow stronger as days go by. Till next time...

Yuta, Andy, Olive, Ronin, Arashi, Zan, Poki, Vatra, Tim, Rovo, Conway, and the Vulcan crew (in no particular order - possibly forgetting some): Thanks for being just the spinspiration I needed to find my passion for poi again. I had lost the drive to play with my poi some time over a year ago. One of my main goals for my trip to FD was to be reinspired so that I may once again inspire others myself. It was really great to hear some of these people tell me that my old videos helped them along their way. Funny how things have come full circle and those who I've inspired in the past are reinspiring me today.

Lilly: Thanks for the sweet hair cut! You made me at least 400% better looking :~P Oh, and the 4/20 party at BMHQ was a cool experience too.

I could go on forever cuz like I said... Everyone played a part in making my time out there special. If you are reading this and feel you did something especially cool but I forgot to mention you, I am sorry. It happens. You know what you did and you know I am extremely thankful. I can only hope that I did something some time that made you feel the same.

I love you all.

Namaste~

Just a Reflection

There is always the antithesis. There will always be opposition. The stronger you are, the stronger it is. Take every challenge as a reflection of your own strength. Know that you can conquer it and when you do, you will come out stronger yet. It is the only way to grow. If you lose, it is only to yourself. You submit to the antithesis living inside your own head. Your power is indeed immense but do not be afraid. Do not be intimidated.

Keep pushing through the waves and you shall learn to swim.

Day 10

I woke up a little bit ago from a bad dream. I dreamt that I went out and bought a pack of cigarettes and smoked a few... Although, I didn't remember buying the cigarettes. It was like I was in a trance and snapped out of it while in the midst of smoking. I spent the next hour or so in and out of sleep saying to myself "I can't believe I smoked! Now I have to start all over again."

Eventually, I woke up enough to realize I had been dreaming and didn't actually do this. I was much relieved so I went down stairs and ate a nice big helping of pot butter on toast for breakfast. God I love California :)