I haven't been here in awhile....maybe I should add this to my list of New Years Resolutions!

One time at Burning Man...

I was walking along the innermost "road" of the city during a huge dust storm. I could barely see my hand in front of my face when all of a sudden the wind let up. The dust started to clear and what do I see? A 10 - 12 foot art installation spelling out the word "MOM". It was daylight so it wasn't lit but it was still impressive. I was by myself and not totally sure what I was seeing was real. Had I conjured it up because of the goals I set for myself to see the Temple, say "goodbye" to Mom and try to accept my own guilt for not being there for her last breathe? To be honest it scared the hell out of me so I walked back to camp as fast as my legs would carry me. The next day I was out with friends on the art car and there it was again. I took a deep breathe, gathered my strength and asked if it was real. JJ confirmed it was indeed real and she looked at me as if she could read my mind saying only "I know baby I know".

Over the next week I found myself drawn back to the piece. My description of it will not be adequate. Each letter was 10 - 12 feet high by 6 - 8 feet wide by 3 - 5 feet deep. It was welded metal with a flying bird cut out pattern. The lighting was placed on the inside of each letter and each was synced so that they simultaneously cycled through various colors. People were climbing inside the "O" to have there picture taken. The reactions were varied. Some finding peace and comfort, others expressing anger and rage, and there I was in awe of it all.

So that is my "One time at Burning Man..." or "the playa provides" moment for 2009.

Taking the challenge from Deborah...The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. If you have a request, I'd be happy to entertain it...(within reason, of course, and my budget). This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make for you! But I hope you will...2. What I create will be just for you. Or maybe a member of your family if you'd rather.3. Give me at least 'til August to finish4. If you are long-distance, I'll probably send via cheapest shipping.The catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people to comment.

What an amazing accomplishment.

Where once stood a "crack house" now stands a Temple.

A symbol of hope.

Proof that if you put your mind to something you can make changes.

Not sure which of these is correct but it's worth the time to see this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

DO YOU SEE COLOR?

This was written by a black gentleman in Texas And is so funny. What a great sense of humor And creativity!!!

When I was born, I was BLACK,
When I grew up, I was BLACK ,
When I went in the sun, I stayed BLACK,
When I got cold, I was BLACK
When I was scared, I was BLACK ,
When I was sick, I was BLACK ,
And when I die, I'll still be BLACK .

NOW, You "white" folks....

When you're born, you're PINK,
When you grow-up, you're WHITE ,
When you go in the sun, you get RED,
When you're cold, you turn BLUE,
When you're scared, you're YELLOW,
When you get sick, you're GREEN,
When you bruise, you turn PURPLE,
And when you die, you look GRAY.

So who y'all callin'
COLORED folks?

Check this out!

www.dothetest.co.uk

Temple 2008

Here is the site for this years Temple. I had such an amazing experience last year. We lost two important family members (Rob's Grandpa D.O. and his Grandma Katherine) and my friend Wendy lost her Dad. Rob and I intended to head out to the Temple several times throughout the week but did not make it there until Saturday. Doesn't really sound too interesting until I add the fact that it was Grandma's Birthday and neither of us realized it. Rob and I went our separate ways. I wrote (it is customary to write on the Temple) a poem for Wendy's Dad and poured my heart out to Grandma and Grandpa on a pillar near the entrance. It was very emotional and when Rob found me I was sitting on the ground next to the pillar I wrote on crying. He said "you are such a gentle soul" and I cried even harder. The next night the Temple was burned to the ground. The crowd was silent for awhile and then a wave started. But not the usual wave, this was a sound wave. The most spectacular part was the small embers which appears to be floating away from the Temple as it burned. Rob and I looked at each other and said "look at all the messages floating to God". I hope this years Temple has the same or an even better effect!

The picture on my first blog "beautiful" is a shot of the 2007 Temple.

http://basurasagrada.org/

SMILE

If you are feeling blue just watch this video. If you still feel blue...SEE A DARN DOCTOR!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WlbQPmXg08&feature=related

Beautiful

Beautiful

Beautiful with Margaret Cho(from SuicideGirls)

I went on a radio show recently and the DJ asked me,"What if you woke up tomorrow and you were beautiful?"What do you mean, "What if?"He continued, "What if you woke up tomorrow and you were blonde, you had blue eyes, you were 5'11, you were 100 lbs and you were beautiful? What would you do?""Well, I probably wouldn't get up because I would be too weak to stand."Immediately I felt sorry for him, because if that is the only kind of person you think is beautiful, you must not see very much beauty in the world. I think everyone is beautiful, and if you don't think that I am beautiful you are missing out because I am so beautiful.It has taken me a long way to get to feeling beautiful. It certainly wasn't easy. I never felt beautiful growing up. I was a really awkward kid; very overweight, totally shy and scared of everything and everyone. When you are big people ignore you. You become totally invisible which is weird because there is so much of you to see.When I grew up I still felt like I was ugly. A lot of my life was lived under this notion. I had sex with lots of guys because I thought I was so ugly... who was I to turn them down?That is really terrible, when you feel so ugly that you don't have a right to choose anything. I mean there isn't anything wrong with being slutty. Slutty can be awesome and fun. I respect and love sluts and enjoy being one now and again. But slutty should be a choice!Having sex without valuing yourself and respecting yourself is a sad thing, and I did way too much of that.I look back on it all now and I want to cry for the beautiful young girl I once was because I wasn't as kind to her as I should have been. That is why I am so good to myself now.I have tattoos because I am so beautiful the only thing I can do is make myself more beautiful. My tattoos are gorgeous because they also remind me that my body is mine, that it is a work of art, that even though I may not be a size 2 and am old enough to be the mom of some of the tattoo artists who have worked on me, I am still stunningly beautiful. Tattoos are away to share some of the beauty you have on the inside to everyone who is outside. When I see anyone's tattoos I say, "Ah – beautiful!"I hope everyone comes to my brand new show "Beautiful". I hope everyone feels beautiful all the time.

Margaret Cho