SkirBlog

Burning Man Ticket going going ... soon to be gone....

skirblah — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:04:32 GMT

Sembazuru will be auctioning off one BM08 ticket at our fundraiser on August 2nd in SF ..... Il Pirata - 9p-2a. Bidding starts at $150 - it's a $250 value ticket .... must be present to win, must have cash in hand to win. If you, or someone you know needs a ticket, this is a prime opportunity to possibly get one at a good price, which will also support getting our Temple of Community to the playa. Also, we're raffling off a loveseat that will BE delivered to you on playa, AND picked up from you at the end of the week..... all you have to do is kick back and relax on the loveseat all week long. Many other raffle items could be won as well. Do not need to be present to win raffle items, but do need to get tickets before the lovely prizes are gone gone gone.

Temple of Community PARTY and fundraiser

skirblah — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:51:27 GMT

Flyer has the details: Lets make this a community event! Please come out , learn about and support Sembazuru - we've made this gift for you, for our community, but we also need your support to finalize it. Come by, support us, take a stab at winning some of our great prizes, including a loveseat for your playa enjoyment.... delivered to your camp - then later picked up from your camp... all too/from playa transport provided by the ToC and Blood Vessel crew. I'm also organizing Temple of Community Sohei (warrior-monks/guardians) to watch the structure and participants; if you're interested in assisting me with the task of watching our Temple out on the playa, PLEASE contact me. From my experiences as a Temple Guardian (last year for Best's Temple), this can be a VERY rewarding experience, and is a great gift to the community. We could really use your assistance in this endeavor. Thanks Namaste!

Temple of Community Sohei

skirblah — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:46:02 GMT

To keep the peace between Basura Sagrada crew, the Temple Guardians and our crew, we've decided it would be best if our 'guardians' had a distinctly different name, even though the tasks will be similar. Our temple watchers will be know as Temple of Community Sohei - continuing the Japanese theme that we created when we named the crane Sembazuru. Sohei were feudal era Japanese warrior-monks - which we feel is a very appropriate 'translation' for the job at hand. Our Sohei volunteers will be gently protecting both the participants and the structure each night from 9pm to 6am in three hour shifts (daylight shifts may be added if we're able to staff these slots). If you're interested in assisting in this role, please contact me via a tribe PM, or at skirblah at skirblah dot com with ToC prominently in the subject line. Thank you for your interest and support! We really cannot do this without our community!

Temple of Community

skirblah — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:34:43 GMT

Please visit our website: www.templeofcommunity.com There's all kinds of groovy info there, including, but not limited to: *Instructions on how to make your own crane! We really would love to have lots of Baby Cranes under Sembazuru! Please message one of us if you are interested in this. *Come check out our fundraiser PARTY on August 2nd! *Donate to the project! *Project pictures, member bios, and more.... Thank you all, Namaste

Temple of Community Guardians (name subject to change)

skirblah — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:42:52 GMT

Hey all, I'm coordinating guardian shifts for Sembazuru - the Temple of Community. If you are interested in volunteering for a shift - likely a three hour shift, operational hours 9pm - 6am ... please contact me. We'll need a pretty good body count for this service. If you've ever done Temple Guardian shifts at the main temple, you know this is a VERY easy job. Basically, you're behind the scenes making sure the temple is not violated, no flames, no one climbs areas they're not supposed to, and that the visitors are ok physically and mentally. Thank you Namaste

This weekend....

skirblah — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:49:53 GMT

Sea Dragon will be appearing at the Celtic Midsummer Faerie Festival in Fair Oaks - please come on by (FREE admission) and have a great day with a multitude of different entertainment options... oh, and while you're there, ya might as well check out my natural homemade soaps. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- (text below acquired from http://www.groveoftheoak.org/grove/events/faerie_festival.html - there is more info there, so go check it out) The 4th annual Celtic Midsummer Faerie Festival will be held June 14 - 15, at VFW Hall near Phoenix Park in Fair Oaks, California. Festival opens at 10 a.m. both days, closing at 9 p.m. on Sat. and 6 p.m. on Sun. This FREE family oriented event features local and regional artists performing a variety of Celtic, World, Folk and Rock music along with a variety of other entertainment. The Festival boasts: * A diverse marketplace including many unique and handcrafted items * A Celtic village and living history display * Energetic dance performances * Drumming * A spirited poetry and a performance arts competition * The festival caters to children with games, crafts and storytelling * The festival highlights ancient Celtic culture and history Sponsored by the non-profit Sacramento Grove of the Oak (Grove), attendees are encouraged to bring a donation of canned food for the Grove’s food closet. While music and performances will be on stage both days, Saturday’s highlights include the Northern California Honored Bard competition. Poets and performers from around Northern California present their poetry, stories and music, all contending for the title of Northern California Honored Bard. (See below for more information.) Local dance troops will also present high energy fire dances and a drum circle that will be open to all. Actors in full costume as warriors, fairies, druids, magicians and more will wander the event to entertain and astound attendees. Attendees are encouraged to dress in Celtic or magical finest.

Uh huh.... nailed this one

skirblah — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:36:37 GMT

"Friendships are a little like backyard gardens; we plan to tend to them, we just always put it off until next week." Jerry Espenson - Boston Legal

do you know the reference?

skirblah — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:39:59 GMT

"Do you have to open graves to find girls to fall in love with?" that's all i'm giving ya.....

Blood Vessel woes

skirblah — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:18:25 GMT

I've not been asked to post this - I also want to keep all names out of this post, however, some of you will already know the parties involved - please respect my wishes to KEEP NAMES OUT OF THIS. I dont want this to be taken as a negative toward anyone, it truly is not meant to be, I can see each side's reasons for what they're doing. This is a call to save the Blood Vessel, nothing more; I'm friends with everyone involved and wish to remain such... I merely wish to save our art car from being sold off. If you feel it necessary to toss names into this, I WILL delete them. If you feel it necessary to turn this into a snark-fest, I will delete your posts. The extremely condensed back-story as I know it: the BV was purchased and rebuilt as a partnership vehicle - two friends came together to see her come to reality. She needed a lot of attention, time, and money to rebuild and modify. Those things were put in to each persons level of ability. However, joint ownership is not always an easy venture. Lets just suffice it to say that this one has suffered a few hardships, and to keep the peace after BM07 the joint owners decided to split ways in regards to this project. Well, that brings us to the here and now - retaining-owner needs to pay off leaving-owner for their portion of the investments. Retaining-owner currently does not have the necessary funds to pay this debt; I'd put up the money, IF I had it, but the sad fact is that I dont. We're not talking a ton of money here, but a substantial enough amount that it's now to the point of we either find a source for the funds, or we're going to have to sell the BV to pay off the debt. I really dont want to see that happen, so I'm turning to my friends, my community and asking for your assistance..... if you'd like to continue to see the BV on the playa, we need financial assistance, and the sooner the better. If leaving-owner can be paid off, we'll be able to move forward with plans for the BV; if not, well, the BV as we know it will be put up for sale.

Weekend report - Temple of Community and Blood Vessel

skirblah — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:48:09 GMT

Dateline May 17th and 18th, 2008 - Santa Rosa, California To beat the heat Pikey, Gothalot, and Rod got off to an early start working on the Temple of Community. With one wing assembly nearly ready to be raised and articulated, progress was being made by the time Skirblah and kids came rolling into the Haasienda. Kids ran off to be bored elsewhere while Skir jumped in and assisted with the assembly. Much of the day was spent measuring, drilling, checking, and then finally we were ready to raise the first wing. Steamboat and Butterfly Lisa came out to assist and up went the wing. A few snags were encountered - literally, with a couple metal brackets needing modifications to ease articulation, but then with a few chops in the shop... a thing of beauty.... One attached, articulated wing!! Yea!! Some disassembly of the second wing followed, by more modifications in the shop; then reassembly and setting up of a template for the prep of second wing's assembly. In the meantime, Pikey is busy getting himself a piece of tail.... erhm, building himself a piece of tail - evidentially he wants tail pretty badly. Time for dinner.... OMG - Butterfly Lisa was busy prepping food in the oven, on the stove, and on the grill.... what a trooper!! And this woman can cook - enough to feed three armies. Yum! Thank you, Lisa! Time to kick back, have a beer or two, or three, discuss a few ideas on how the tail will attach and be supported - get cleaned up... and off to bed. After an early rise, I'm off to crawl under the Bitch... Love you, Clarice - while Pikey and Goth go back at it with the second wing and tail assemblies. Lemme tell you, there is NOT much space under a 1971 Cadillac Hearse ... even less under on that has been loaded down with an upper deck, 200 lbs of bondo and 10 layers of paint (most black). Ok, maybe I exaggerate a little on the bondo and paint weight... but there is not much space under that beast. I roll around for quite a while, tickling her underside, asking her, coaxing her, tweaking her so that she'll give up her parts - her starter solenoid.... and when she finally does give up that part, what's she do... she hides one bolt, in the tiniest of crevasses. All this effort to NOT remove the starter is now in vain.... starter must come off to retrieve aforementioned bolt. I grunt, I groan, I cuss at the bitch... but I get the starter, already sans solenoid off..... and instantly the bolt drops into my awaiting hand. The Bitch likes me a little it would seem. So, now with starter off, bolt found and all... I reassemble the starter and solenoid - so much easier than doing it in place, slide the starter back in place and then start the rehookup process. Starter slides right in, and with a few grunts, is reattached. Solenoid, on the other hand... well, lemme just say - four large gauge attachments on one post ... yeah, that caused me much aggravation, bitching and swearing at the Bitch - gotta remind you... I still love her. Struggles ensue.... we argue, she wins. Bitch - they seemingly always do, dont they? .... so, I make a promise, and I kid you not, she fucking INSTANTLY gives up the sweet spot - with gooey hands and all, I'm IN - and it feels good. Tighten everything up, recheck to make sure all attachments are good, and tools out from under her.. and we're good. Attach battery, and rouse Gothy to get her keys. It takes her a few cranks to get started - not because of the starter or solenoid, which are performing just like new, but rather because she's sat a while and she dont like the fuel that's been sitting her her carbs..... but vaaroom vaaroom once she's running.... NICE! Goth and Pikey add a little tranny fluid - she leaks, even after last year's rebuild .... and then Goth drives her over to assist in the raising of the Temple's second wing. We all rest a few minutes, then back to building - Pikey and Skir have to get going soonish..... second wing raising and articulating goes up with very few hitches - all nicely falling in place... WOOHOO, we've a two winged, no headed or tailed bird.... well, kinda... we've a skeleton crane - with no head or tail (Pikey's gotta work on his tail getting skills more). Oh so feels good to be seeing progress.. and she looks cool so far! Oh... yes, for dramatic purposes, I did not tell you the promises I made with Clarice that made her give me her sweet spot...... I was down there, playing with those last four wires (and small post) for quite a while. She was NOT giving it up, I was swearing like a (four wires, one nut from done).... well, I was swearing and grumbling a lot .... we'll leave it at that. As soon as I open my mouth and make my promise to her that if she gives me the room I need and allows me to get these wires attached - she does - literally, as the words are finishing coming out of my mouth. The promise... I promised her, and will keep said promise, "Come on Baby, if you give it to me now, I promise that later this summer, I'll get good and drunk and ride you ALL night long!" Bam, I'm in, wires are attached and the nut is on.

Text messages

skirblah — Fri, 16 May 2008 21:19:35 GMT

If anyone has been attempting to send me text messages over the past week, I've probably not received them - especially true if you've not heard back from me. AT&T has been changing things, and well my older phone/sim card was outdated by these ATT system updates. I can send fine... I cannot always receive - however, I get billed for these missed texts. If you need to get in touch with me, better do it the old fashioned way.... call me.

Two words....

skirblah — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:07:57 GMT

Ok, limit yourself to two words... any two words, but just two... any more and i might just delete your reply. Consider this a challenge of a sort......

Temple of Community updates

skirblah — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:18:57 GMT

The Temple of Community is truly becoming a reality. We literally broke ground this weekend, then started erecting the base structure. It's real, it's happening, it's going to be a big bird. Please check out some of the other pix on the ToC tribe page - http://tribes.tribe.net/templeofcommunity Sadly, when we broke ground, and started playing with wood, we had to break the piggy bank too..... she's dry.... any chance you can help a bit? We are in need of donations so we can continue the build. www.paypal.com templeofcommunity@yahoo.com Thanks Namaste

opinions

skirblah — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:05:12 GMT

ever feel like a nobody?

Darkangel

skirblah — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:36:52 GMT

In your dream you see me clear I have no restraint, no fear Powerless I watched from faces I'd assumed. My purpose set. My will defined. Caress the air. Embrace the skies. Escape the sorrow and restraint of mortal cities. Give me time I will be clear. Given time you'll understand What possesses me to right what you have suffered. I'm in this mood because of scorn. I'm in a mood for total war. To the darkened skies once more and ever onward. So many years I stood among the thoughts and tears of those I served. Among my own I was alone through my own doing. All the years I walked unknown behind the faces I assumed. Powerless to clear your mind of what you'd suffered. They fall again. They fall again. Give me time I will be clear. Given time you'll understand What possesses me to right what you have suffered. I'm in this mood because of scorn. I'm in a mood for total war. To the darkened skies once more and ever onward. There is no faith in which to hide. Even truth is filled with lies. Doubting angels fall to walk among the living. I'm in this mood because of scorn. I'm in a mood for total war. To the darkened skies once more and ever onward. I'd only come here seeking peace. I'd only come here seeking me. It seems I came to leave. VNV Nation

Sea Dragon's Second Exposure

skirblah — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:15:50 GMT

Sea Dragon Natural Health and Beauty will be vending at the Belly Dance Swapmeet in Placerville, presented by Vahana Bellydance Please come by and check out the various bellydance, Middle Eastern, Indian, or related items - Sea Dragon falls into the related category ;) April 27th, 3 to 5 (or 6) p.m. Stage Right Studio 466 Canal Street Placerville, CA ADMISSION IS FREE! OPEN INFORMAL DANCE SPACE AVAILABLE. Great show with Brothers of the Baladi after the swapmeet. Cozmic Cafe, Placerville, 8 p.m. $12 at the door. Vahana will be dancing.

jonesing for some new ink......

skirblah — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:29:44 GMT

that's all...... i'm really feeling the need to go under the gun... and soon....

jubilations, i'm getting hitched today

skirblah — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:23:07 GMT

cool eh? i'm so happy, it just came outta the blue and hit me early this week... i should get hitched, so i went in made an apt and it's now taking place by the end of the day, i'll be fully hitched up .... ____________ addendum, since goth was so fast to spoil my fun..... the pic is my new trailer.... not the prettiest beast out there, and yeah, a small one, but it'll serve me well for now

Sea Dragon's official kick off event

skirblah — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:15:54 GMT

Sea Dragon Natural Health and Beauty will be vending it's first official event at SWAN Day at the Brickhouse ART Studio - hosted by Obsidian Butterfly Saturday, March 29, 2008 12pm to 7pm Workshops and Vending 7pm to 9 pm Music and Dancing 9:15 Fire Performance The Brickhouse ART Studio 2837 36th Ave Sacramento, CA 95824 Obsidian Butterfly has invited Sea Dragon out to support and celebrate their SWAN Day event! About the event: SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now Day) is a new international holiday that celebrates women artists. It will be an annual event taking place on the last Saturday of Women’s History Month (March). The first SWAN Day will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2008. As a symbol of international solidarity, there will be events all over the world featuring women artists on SWAN Day. The public will be encouraged to attend these events and to make donations to their favorite women artists. By focusing attention on the work of women artists, SWAN Day will help people imagine what the world might be like if women’s art and perspectives were fully integrated into all of our lives. The long term goal of SWAN Day is to inspire communities around the world to find new ways to recognize and support women artists as a basic element of civic planning. www.swanday.org ********************************************************************************** Please visit www.sacredfiredance.com for tickets and additional info. Part of the proceeds from ticket and workshop sales goes to raise money for the Fire Spectacular on August 8, 2008. Please visit www.soothingenergymassage.com/SeaDragonIntro.html to see Sea Dragon's product line - prices at the event will be discounted from the online prices listed.

three days, 27 pounds.....

skirblah — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:48:58 GMT

of soap.... ok, i took monday off, but between saturday and today, i made 6 batches of soap. two batches of citrus spice one batch of rosemary-peppermint one batch of tropical woods one batch of jojoba (an unscented extra moisturizing bar) and one batch of marbled chocolate-peppermint the last one was a fun way to torture my daughter .... she seems to think that the cocoa powder that went into the soap was wasted because it cant be eaten...... oh, the fun ways we find to torture teen girls..... just as a side note for anyone interested... each batch produces 15 bars, each approximately 4oz my house smells sooooo good right now...

Mr Wednesday visits....

skirblah — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:20:25 GMT

Sometimes he's near invisible... sometimes he hits ya over the head so hard ya go spinning for weeks. I've a feeling this appearance will last longer than either..... I've a strong feeling this visit is a challenge. Fuck - Mr Wednesday challenges mean SOMETHING - always, they mean something.... always always always (clear yet?) so, hahaha Wednesday morning at 4:30(ish) I awake from a dream... VERY VERY rare that I notice my dreams.... this one has one VIVID implanted image.. rest of it, I have no idea..... wait, no, I do recall some SCA like setting - I pass a tourney field, I pass a young boy who lost his sword, I find and return it to him.... I am looking for a place to set up my camp, as others are doing.... I end up hiding under a bush (wtf thats about, I dont know......) ..... the rest I dont know, this is all vague - foggy, yet remembered... and how it connects to the tattoo image I have burned in my head (still part of the dream tho), I have no idea..... The tattoo.... hmm... well, lets just say it is a full back piece, but not uber detailed. It's Him, His face - Mr Wednesday - VERY young... yet still him, One-Eyed, oh so very One-Eyed, freshly scarred, deep deep wisdom in that other eye; the odd tho.... very short hair, NO facial hair... and obviously YOUNG - yet lived that long hard full life.... strange, yet not - given that it's HIM. So, as is typical when I wake and my mind switches on.... I use the bathroom, then settle into a book. Instead of reading the book I've been reading nightly, I grab the book I picked up at PCon.... Steven Abell's Days in Midgard.... look at the toc and decide Tomorrow looks like a good short story... just a few pages, should put me right back to sleep.... hahahahhahaha.... not that story, not now, not in conjunction with the dream.... oh, No... not that story. In short, it's OH SO VERY MUCH about MR WEDNESDAY and His visit from the Reaper.... *SMACK* again So, thoughts spiral (up, down, in, out... does it matter, they are SPINNING!!) .... and here, I do believe is the challenge: another Mr Wednesday friend of mine recently past... NYE recently. ... and to be truthful, not just a friend.... more of my unspoken father figure in the community. Deep bonds, deep love, deep friendship, deep connections. His absence is profound. I'm thinking it's necessary to find a way to create a memorial for him... a lasting memorial, stone, steel, I dont know... but 9 months is my timeframe to complete this. That means September. Uff Da! I've lost others in my life... we all have... I've created one other lasting memorial in my life - a large carved memorial stone - it was a bit of an undertaking. This one, I believe, will not be any easier.... oi... I should be just waking now.. not wide awake... not this lost in the spirals, the dreams, the thoughts, the plans....... the other part... I'm going to have to get my next tattoo very soon.... not the one mentioned above.... even though it was mine in dream, it's NOT mine.... mine will be his symbol pierced just above my heart.... **SMACK** *spins off into spiral* g'night

Be part of the Temple of Community THEME CAMP CHALLENGE

skirblah — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:36:40 GMT

Hello fellow Theme Camp organizers. The Rue Morgue and Temple of Community would like to offer you a challenge of a different ilk. Some of your crew may already be on this project but we'd like to see a represented piece from your camp. When we found out that Best wasn't doing a temple this year we started to embark on creating one for the community that each camp could be part of. We are building a 20 - 30 foot origami crane from wood to burn. It will a place of mourning, deep thought and release. To say goodbye to loved ones that have left this world. We are asking various camps to build their own 5 foot version that can be placed next to the main structure in a circle to show that no mater how different we are together we are a community. We will be happy to send you scaled down drawings but in the end its your art piece and we'd like you to make it yours. Use the skeleton as a base. If you are interested in this challenge please contact me or Gothalot. THIS OFFER IS OPEN TO UNREGISTERED AS WELL AS REGISTERED THEME CAMPS. FOR Temple of Community INFO or to JOIN us go to: http://tribes.tribe.net/templeofcommunity We also need financial donations to make it happen! Thank you for your continued support. Namatse Skirblah

Celtic bands?

skirblah — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:22:56 GMT

Hey, I have a co-worker that is getting hitched on May 17 and she'd like to have a local Celtic band perform at their wedding, which will be in Manteca, Ca. ..... so, any Bay Area/Sacramento area bands that you know of that might be available? She had one lined up, until they found out the date - evidentially there is a Highland Games that weekend.... so they had to decline.

Vote or Shut Up!

skirblah — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:04:24 GMT

I dont care who or what you vote for... NO, I mean that, I really dont - that is your choice, validated by your ethics/opinions/etc. However, I do care if you dont get out there and actually put your vote in the ballot box. Get your ass out there and VOTE - make your voice heard. -=-=-=-=-=-=- In case it is not clear, I do not care who you vote for... nor will this thread be used by anyone to promote their political views... if it is, I'll delete your comments.... just vote - I suppose if you have nonparisan/nonpolitical opinions to place here, well they might stay.....

stupid internets

skirblah — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 05:06:18 GMT

ok, maybe not stupid internets.... but i cant get the friggin form on my webpage to notify me like it is SUPPOSED TO DO..... stupid beta software that i am using...... grrr...... form works, form saves data to a file on my server, but form does NOT come to me .... grumble