laTher, RinSe, repEAt

Upcoming Florida Events

pwrstrm — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:51:19 GMT

Santarchy, Downtown Orlando - Saturday 12/6 http://www.mypunchbowl.com/parties/401328-santarchy-2009 PreHeat, Lakeland, FL - April 17-19, 2009 http://www.floridapreheat.com/tickets.htm What is PreHeat? PreHeat is place where Burners from various cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies gather to participate in a temporary community filled with interactive art, music, and radical self expression. It is a place that exists only because those that attend choose to create it and is a direct expression of their collective and diverse visions. PreHeat is an official Regional Burn and as such the 10 Principles of Burning Man act as the cornerstone of PreHeat, but our expression of those principles extends far beyond the Playa. There is no definition for Participation, rather it is up to each individual to determine its meaning to him and to appreciate the interpretations of others. Some choose to gift handmade trinkets, some gift their art or talent, and some their time; whatever form it takes the only common thread is that it is about sharing of yourself with your community and having the freedom to do so in whatever way you are comfortable. Community, participation, self-expression, self-reliance, and generosity of heart are the lifeblood of the Burning Man community. Welcome to PreHeat!

help my sis win the doritos contest

pwrstrm — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:31:11 GMT

My sis and her husband submitted a couple of commercials in a contest where the winner gets shown during the superbowl. They're pretty funny so please check'em out and vote. Feel free to pass this along to all your friends too :) "We're That Good" You did not eat my Doritos... http://crashthesuperbowl.com/#/gallery/video/1039/ "We're That Good (Cannibal)" http://crashthesuperbowl.com/#/gallery/video/1051/

Florida AfterBurn Tickets on Sale

pwrstrm — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:21:42 GMT

So ya'll need to come down and visit us here in the sunshine state...AfterBurn is Nov. 14-16 and tickets are on sale now! www.floridaafterburn.com

Alma...new beginnings...new adventures...

pwrstrm — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:51:59 GMT

As a Regional Contact, I know that different areas have different dynamics and different social nuances. So even though I already had a few good friends among the San Diego/LA Burner communities I was still a bit worried that coming from FL I would stick out like a sore thumb, not really sure of whether I fit in. And now I sit here back in FL missing all the wonderful new friends I have in SoCal and wishing there had been so much more time to talk and visit. Thank you to everyone at Alma that welcomed me from the moment my sister dropped me off at the dock. This has been a very hard year for me and now I finally feel like life is truly moving forward. I would like to thank all those at Alma who helped me kick start a year of new beginnings and new adventures. And I would like to thank all my friends that have been there for me this past year...thank you for the hugs, support, and love...LIFE IS FINALLY GOOD AGAIN!!

Florida Burn Events...Mark Your Calendars!!

pwrstrm — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:47:38 GMT

Florida AfterBurn, November 14 - 16, 2008 (www.floridaafterburn.com) Florida PreHeat, April 17 - 19, 2009 (www.floridapreheat.com) This is for all of you who promised to come for a visit...you know who you are and I know where you live... Don't make me come after you!! ;)

TubeStock Video

pwrstrm — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:29:30 GMT

Check out my friend's video from TubeStock...rocket staff and lots of other fun pyro stuff was documented... http://www.youtube.com/beachboyfll

Profound words...

pwrstrm — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:14:47 GMT

This is something my roommate Wynter wrote that I thought was absolutely brilliant. She's planning on publishing a little book with this and other philosophies of hers, but I couldn't wait for that to share this... "A promise is something you give away, and once given, it is no longer yours. If you cannot joyfully keep a commitment, be honest and ask the one(s) to whom you gave it to release you from your bond. If they love you, they want only for your happiness and will release you despite the pain or disappointment it may cause them. Do not interfere in the commitments of others. Honor and support their decisions. Respect the divinity of a promise kept with love and faith." ~ Wynter Adams

At long last, PreHeat Pics!!

pwrstrm — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:25:18 GMT

Happy Happy Joy Joy!! Found a program online to recover my lost pics :) Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed being there... http://picasaweb.google.com/pwrstrm/PreHeat2008?authkey=YY_mIzqPe3o

Roommate Hunting...again...

pwrstrm — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:36:51 GMT

I'm losing my wonderful roommate Wynter, so the hunt begins again... --------------------- Pagan/Artist/Burner seeks roommate to rent room in 2,900 SF house with hardwood floors on 1.4 acres in Orlando (zip 32818), rent includes all utilities. The room for rent is on the opposite side of the house from the Master Suite, so you will have plenty of privacy and you will only have to share the bath with my brother. The room is approximately 12’ x 14’ and has 2 full size closets. Amenities include driveway parking, wireless highspeed internet, cable, washer/dryer, reverse osmosis drinking water. The house is just minutes from the West Orange Bike Trail and is 20 minutes from Downtown Orlando and Universal Studios. There is no smoking in the house, but you may smoke on the deck. You may feel free to use any of the common areas of the house, including the family room & TV, deck, etc. Pets: You must love pets. I have a couple of dogs that are indoors most of the time. I will consider someone that has a dog, but it would depend on how well the animals get along. There is a chain link fence around the entire yard. Roommate Requirements: You must have a stable income and transportation and be willing to go through a background check. I am looking for someone that is “tidy” and respectful…you don’t leave dirty dishes sitting around, you clean up after yourself, etc. As mentioned before, you must also love pets. Rent is $600/month (all utilities included). Move in costs are 1 month’s rent deposit + pro-rated 1st month’s rent. If you're interested give me a call at 407.694.7151 Storm

PreHeat 2008: The Other Side of Orange

pwrstrm — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:53:22 GMT

From long before anyone ever stepped foot on Maddox Ranch, PreHeat 2008, the inaugural official Florida Regional Burn, was infused with community support and enthusiasm. This positive energy, coming from seasoned Burner and Virgin alike, created a soul and a heartbeat for PreHeat that filled the entire weekend. The PreHeat community created an environment that fostered art, poetry, personal responsibility, healing, and most importantly, fun. As Participants made their way down the dirt road to the greeter station they were urged to remove their peel by wonderful inspirational quotes gifted by Charis. And once at the Greeter Station they were not only welcomed with open arms and stiff paddles, they were asked to sign a most unusual document, the “Porta Potty Pledge”. In an effort to maintain the pleasantest potties for our participants the pledge was used to educate participants on proper potty use. In addition to listing do’s and don’ts the Pledge threatened time in the Porta Potty Stockades (Leanna & Rob’s art project) for any violators. Between the Pledge, the Stockades, and wall papering the potties with signed pledges (Peter’s wonderful art project), Participants took to heart this new education and the potties were kept nearly MOOP-free! Over the entire weekend, with around 250 participants and nine potties there were only a handful of violations and most of those consisted of MOOP left on the potty floor rather than dumped into the potty. Equally impressive were Participants’ dedication to keeping the overall site MOOP to a minimum and volunteering - about 1 out of every 5 Participants volunteered to help with greeters, Rangers, PiMPPs (PreHeat Medical & Pyro Posse), and the effigy builds. So with their potty oath on their mind, Participants happily turned down Yellow Brick Road and entered the world of PreHeat. Fifteen theme camps created a sprawling esplanade along Drunken Drive and the Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Bubble Camp, Conscious Sound, Old Skool Rave, and OBE filled the air with tunes and beats suitable to every frame of mind and time of day while the Blazing Coffee Bean kept everyone perky and the Pallet Bar kept everyone in good spirits. Mandela Camp encouraged Participants to look deeper and Naked City encouraged them to dress less. Spin Camp provided lessons in poi, staff, and hoop and the Huka Louge provided the most fabulous dinner for volunteers. Wine, cheese, and poetry were enjoyed at East of Scrap Eden while plushy body parts were mingled at Franken Babies. And the Purple Passion Palace hosted the Wango Video Lounge and served a yummy Sunday Brunch. Many Participants lounged at the pool, took turns grassboarding, and volunteered as a canvas for Raoul’s tireless brush. Others exchanged gifts with the Gifting Tree, took a ride on the Bed, and tasted the edible art freshly cooked in an extraordinary show on a Teppanyaki grill. Participants enjoyed the view from atop The Oven as it preheated to 420 on Friday. And the Firey Bitches of Bitch Nation and Riz of the Fire Keepers used their extraordinarily large fire canons to help the Shim get its burn on Saturday night. The Paper Tree lit the early morning hours on Sunday in an impromptu burn thanks to the help of a lone fire canon. Throughout the weekend drama was nearly nonexistent, MOOP was barely visible, and the potties were kept in tip top shape, while the art, creativity, and positive energy reached one peak after another thanks to the Participants and my crew: Fjord - the infamous Ranger Wrangler, Tama - the Ultimate Bitch’s Bitch, and the volunteers. And yes, I did take time to have fun myself, the truth is that every moment was a blast from the time I stepped foot on Maddox. The Stats: 3 Days 270 Participants 50+ Volunteers 9 Porta Potties 15+ Theme Camps 2 Effigy Burns 2 Art Cars Art, art, and more art 1 attempted entry without an invite (both he and his ego were denied entry) 2 minor poi related burns injuries (treated by on site medical) 1 minor sprained ankle from grassboarding (treated by on site medical) Reports of a white male making inappropriate repeated hand gestures in public (this is under investigation and will be handled appropriately) MOOP Report: 1 beer bottle had to be fished out of a potty, several empty fuel cans were left behind by fire performers, 1 large black bag full of garbage was left behind in the area where Conscious Sound was camped.

PreHeat...Estimated Population 275 Freaks...11 days till SHim Burns...

pwrstrm — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:10:47 GMT

A friend today told me that we are all guilty of underestimating our abilities and worth and that couldn't be more true for me right now. I can hardly believe, in fact I'm almost positive this is a dream, that in barely a week the little city I have pondered will be real. I am utterly amazed that the first multi-day event that I have ever organized...EVER...is going to have well over 200 people in attendance and everything is falling into place so smoothly! This next week is going to be a whirlwind and come Saturday night when our first community built effigy burns under a full moon my head is going to be swirling somewhere out in the atmosphere. I wish I could find some better way to express myself, but you'll have to settle for "Thank You" right now... www.floridapreheat.com

playing with a new toy...

pwrstrm — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:50:11 GMT

Just got my new fire blades in yesterday and naturally had to invite a friend over to play... http://picasaweb.google.com/pwrstrm/FirePlay

why...

pwrstrm — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:44:24 GMT

He loves me, he loves me not, He loves me, the rose proclaimed And in her heart she knew the same Yet before the last petal hit the ground Her love was nowhere to be found The invisible box he gifted her held no clue Only an old shirt and a braid of blue The words he’d spoken of his love deep and profound Echoed through the chamber without a sound Her lifetime of lessons could not explain How her love could choose to cause her pain The invisible box he gifted her held no clue Only an old shirt and a braid of blue Time it’s said can heal all wounds But what of those kept fresh and new Betrayals repeated and displayed for her to view The invisible box he gifted her held no clue Why had he given her his braid of blue?

thoughtless...

pwrstrm — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:14:09 GMT

He called her his precious He said it was true He talked of the future And the things they might do His feelings for her They ran very deep Too precious she was For him to keep For her love he was certain He did not deserve So he chose to run Into the arms of another Not waiting a week Or even a day From her arms to the other's He ran away Flaunting his frolic With the other he played Disregarding his Precious And the memories they’d made Smiles and giggles with the other To the world he displayed Not waiting a week Or even a day He called her his precious He said it was true So broken he was That he cared not she was blue That flaunting his frolic Only more damage did do He called her his precious He said it was true But compassion and consideration Were something he chose not to do So broken he was…

Tattooed

pwrstrm — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:22:55 GMT

One moment I’m up The other I’m down Oh, How I want off This merry-go-round It hurts to let go It hurts to hold on How much longer will I Need to sing this song? I’m letting you go One day at a time But the memories stay Forever etched in my mind The pain that you bred Forgiveness does ease But the hurt leaves a mark Tattooed a full sleeve One moment I’m up The other I’m down I’m letting you go One day at a time My friends and my family The herd circles round They keep me from falling From hitting the ground I get better each day I get better each moment But the memories stay Tattooed a full sleeve.

haunted...

pwrstrm — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:16:57 GMT

Haunted by our love letters Words so sweet and so kind You called me your sweetheart, your precious, each time All through the months your words grew more dear Of your feelings for me, you made yourself clear The world I did spin Your soul I did rest My embrace you did treasure Time stood the test These did not fade Not in our final days You still held me tight Moments till your flight I am left so perplexed and so stunned How broken you are to just turn and run So I pick up the pieces Of my soul and my trust Items you chose To turn into dust Each day I grow stronger I mend and I heal It is for you that I worry It is for you I feel pity A life ruled by fear Will only leave you empty.

Atonement?

pwrstrm — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:24:24 GMT

The List was long, he held it tight Of things he'd done, things not right Each night and day he would recite But could not chase away his light And though her gentle ears refused to hear The List he always kept very near Until it grew more solid than rock A sheild around his heart without a lock In his atonement he took pride In victimhood he did hide The light was gone, it faded away Until fated, it returned one day Still this boy, a man refused to be Clung to his pain, denied this gift to be free Forgiven his past, for his best he did do But new knowledge does not old best make new In his atonement he took pride In victimhood he did hide The light returned he now lets die...

god/dess is in my iPod...

pwrstrm — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:55:31 GMT

sometimes i think my iPod is controlled by otherworldly forces...songs that I've never heard before come up and yet their words are what is going through my heart right at that moment... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkIYMachsvk

an ending...

pwrstrm — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:24:24 GMT

In the dark and cold I found you A dream made real by fire light Together we swayed, a dance to our silent song Together we grew, Each the Other's Key To a long lost gate called the Heart Together we soared, revealing paths till then unknown Together we loved, mending broken wings Now I stand alone on unfamiliar feet Unwilling to settle for life aground, having learned to fly with you Our paths no longer crossed, but parallel Your broken wing, a cruch, a mask, against the beauty of the sky I wish you strength and courage, find the desire to fly The gate you unlocked remains open even if I must pass you by... http://www.last.fm/music/Blue+October/_/Clumsy+Card+House

Florida Wildlife -- Pictures

pwrstrm — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:04:40 GMT

These are some pics from Roots' recent visit to see me. We stayed at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and also hung out with some of my friends to play with fire... http://picasaweb.google.com/RootsPhotos2008/Florida208?authkey=f8evd-9dGCM

How can I be mad at you for doing your best?

pwrstrm — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 02:22:41 GMT

"I wouldn't fly off without a word. I wouldn't leave with you mad at me." "I'm not mad at you." "Hm," I said. "Just mad enough to stop the nicest friendship I've ever had." "Listen, Richard, really: I'm not mad at you. I was furious the other night, and disgusted. Then I was sad, and I cried. But after a while I stopped crying and I thought about you a lot, and I finally understood that you're being the very best person you know how to be; that you have to live with that until you change and no one is going to make that happen except you. How can I be mad at you for doing your best?" -The Bridge Across Forever, Richard Bach

"Friendship"...Betrayal...

pwrstrm — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:04:01 GMT

“Friendship”, I have found is a word that has very little meaning to some, but rather is used by them as a lure used to attract underserved trust…they are as sly and cunning as a Fox and just as hard to guard against. As a person, I choose to extend my genuine friendship to anyone who crosses my path, and while recent betrayals cause me to question this practice, I feel it would change who I am too much to stop or to let my future actions be ruled by the pain I am in now. Life is about choices, not just about being responsible for the consequences after the fact, but about weighing the consequences before making those choices. And while this may be hard for many in the general day-to-day life, I feel that it should be an inherent act when making choices that involve those you claim as friends. What is friendship if you don’t consider how your actions will affect those you care about? And how can you truly claim to care about someone if you don’t take their feelings into consideration? If you covet the relationship a friend has with their partner, wouldn’t friendship dictate that you honor that relationship even if there are weaknesses you perceive in that relationship? Or, if you claim that there is “love” involved, does it excuse violating that friendship? Is it okay to discount the hurt of someone you call a friend if you claim to violate their relationship because of your “love” for their partner? My answer to all these is no. I always consider those around me when making life choices. Yet once again, I am the one paying the price for a “friend’s” short sightedness, feeling the hurt and betrayal, grabbing on to a thin thread of hope to keep from drowning in sadness…

Today is the day...

pwrstrm — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 03:46:06 GMT

For those of you who don't know, I am currently organizing Florida's first Official Regional Burn "PreHeat", and as with most things in my life, I have taken the bull by the horns. The local community outpouring of support has been truly inspirational for me and has kept me steady against the wind. So today is the day where all the hype and promises are put to the test, today is the day that event Invitations went on sale. And I must say that so far I continue to be amazed by this wonderful community. I can't wait till April when we all come together again to be surrounded by amazing art, performances, and people! And for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, check out www.floridapreheat.com and come join us in the Florida sun this April 18 - 20!

Bridge to the Unknown

pwrstrm — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:19:13 GMT

I'm a Cancer born on a Wednesday, so I'm astrologically doomed to worry. Over the years I've learned that by finding different ways of looking at things I can use that natural tendency to find solutions to my alleged problems and thereby short circuit my worrying. So lately I've been doing a lot of thinking about the different relationships that we have with others, and I've come to the conclusion that all relationships have obstacles to overcome. The concept of an ideal or perfect relationship is a complete and utter fallacy. The key is in how you view the obstacles in reference to the relationship. I have decided that such obstacles are like a deep river that needs to be crossed. The relationship is a stone bridge you build over time to cross that river. Each day that goes by, each interaction you have, each decision you make is a stone in that bridge. If you take care and consciously foster positive interactions and choices you will build a sturdy bridge that will eventually cross that river and stand for a lifetime. While you cannot control the river's flow or existence, you have complete control over the bridge that you build. I am determined to become a master bridge builder, focusing my energy on each stone rather than allowing myself to be distracted by the swiftness of the river...

The Gift Experiment

pwrstrm — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 23:45:52 GMT

For the first three people who respond- and re-post - this challenge, I will send you something. It might be something I've made (ohhh to be so lucky!), or something from my stash o booty, a special surprise, a book, a cd or whatever comes to mind when I think of you . Whatever it is, I promise that I will get it to you in 30 days or less. That is as long as I can find you! The only thing you need to do in order to participate is to be one of the first three to reply to this, AND post this very same thing* - 'cause its fun to give people stuff.