***BE THE CHANGE***

Friday, July 31, 2009

Life: Bento Box @ M Cafe


Life: Bento Box @ M Cafe
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

Burning Man 2009: Whoa Nelly!

Burning Love

It's getting to be about that time, once again, yo! I couldn't possibly be more excited about celebrating my 10 year Playa-versary with Farilla. Posts on this here blog will likely continue to slow down as we get closer to our departure date. Just to give you an idea...Farilla and I have been VERY busy plotting, scheming, creating, planning, sewing, distressing, shopping, coordinating, laughing, collaborating, loving, dancing, hugging, smooching...oops, wait! Where was I going with this?! Oh yeah, we're pretty damn busy right now prepping for the Playa! Splitting our time between two camps in addition to our commitments to the BMorg are once again proving to be no joke! So much to do, so little time! Stay tuned...

Running: 98 Workouts; 391 Miles



As of this AM I've logged nearly 400 miles on my Nike+! w00t! So looking forward to BIF tonight with Farilla. The focus is 15 minutes of cardio, 15 minutes of core strengthening and 30 minutes of stretching (something I desperately need more of)! I can't even begin to tell you how incredible I felt after our session last week. Stretching is key, yo!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Music: Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Snakesweat


From YouTube...
A mescaline-infused short featuring the YYYs playing severely warped versions of themselves. Together, they try to "lose their minds in order to recover purity of truth." And stuff. Directed by Barney Clay.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Running: Busy Little Bees!



Such a good run this AM. It was a definite challenge to keep up at that pace but I feel REALLY good! And now that Farilla has been introduced to BIF we have particularly active schedules these days!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Burning Man 2009: What To Expect At The Gate

Sunrise Arrival 8.20.08: Gate
BRC Gate Arrival 2008

From Sparkle...

Here's some tips on what to expect at the Gate when arriving at Black Rock City and how to make the process go as smoothly as possible for you:

#1. BE ON TIME
No one likes an 'Early Emily'.

Please, do not plan to arrive, and DO NOT arrive at BRC until you are allowed to be there. The event opens at 12:01am on MONDAY August 31st. Showing up early may actually cause you to get into the event later than if you show up on time. Stop somewhere and take a break if it
looks like you will arrive early rather than drive 2 hours to BRC only to be turned around. You will save yourself a lot of frustration. IF YOU ARRIVE BEFORE 12:01AM YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED INTO THE EVENT AND YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO WAIT AT THE GATE.


#2. BE PREPARED.
Don't be a 'Disorganized Danny'.

When you roll up to the playa, have your ticket and any applicable paperwork (copy of mutant vehicle registration, early arrival pass, etc.) in your hand. Not your friends' hands, not in your trunk, not in your friend named Hans' trunk. Be prepared to show your ticket to the
Gate volunteer as soon as you hit the gravel (heck, get it ready in Gerlach!).

Your car will be searched at the Gate. Keep this in mind when packing and the search will be easier for everyone, which means you get through faster. If you have a large vehicle or a lot of stuff, we appreciate it when you help us during the search! Read the Survival Guide and know what items are not allowed into BRC!


#3. BE AWARE
Don't be an 'Uninformed Ursula'.

Buying a ticket or picking up a Will Call ticket?: stay in the FAR RIGHT LANE on Gate Road and look for the entrance to the Will Call Lot. Go to Will Call/Box Office, get your tickets and then get in line. Everyone in your vehicle must have a ticket in hand when you reach the Gate or your entire car will be turned around! Do not add an hour (or more!) to your wait time. Don't get searched twice! Head to will call, get the tickets, and get in line - but don't get in line without all your tickets!


#4. BE REALISTIC
No one enjoys a 'Frustrated Ferguson'.

Thousands of people arrive in the first 18 hours of opening. If you arrive during these hours, expect a long wait at the Gate. If you want a smoother and faster entry, consider arriving after the initial rush. If you are going to arrive in the hours after opening, plan to enjoy the wait. This is also true for Exodus - avoid leaving during the peak afternoon times on Sunday and Monday if you want your best chance at a shorter line. You have been warned!


#5. BE PATIENT
No one likes a 'Grumpy Gateperson', just like no one likes an 'Angry Allen' or 'Mean Mary'.

The Gate folks are VOLUNTEERS. They donate their time to help you get in to Black Rock City! If you're patient with them, they will be patient with you. Remember, no one likes a 'Dishonest Denise' or a "Fencehopping Freddy'. Please, be patient, play nice and wait your turn. Cutting in line and running through fences not only makes you lame, it will guarantee that you get into the event a LOT later than you planned.

Also: Gate is NOT Greeters. Gate is Gate. Greeters is the
fun part just after Gate.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Running: The Winner!



Unbeknownst to them, I race everyone around me at the gym. Admittedly, I always declare myself the winner. However, today I was MOST DEFINITELY the winner! Some dude who was trying to keep up at my pace on the treadmill next to me had to stop TWICE to catch his breath. Ha! That's what you get sucka...

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Burning Man 2009: Homeslice Meeting

Burning Man 2009: Homeslice Meeting
Burning Man 2009: Homeslice Meeting
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

Homies!

Burning Man 2009: Farilla's Playa Boots


Burning Man 2009: Farilla's Playa Boots
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

You think I'm kidding?!

Life: Wheat Peace


Life: Wheat Peace
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

As seen on Melrose.

Life: Fixing Farilla's Bad Ass Gauntlet


Life: Fixing Farilla's Bad Ass Gauntlet
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio


Burning Man 2009: Greeter Training

Burning Man 2009: Greeter Training
Burning Man 2009: Greeter Training
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

Topless Deb & Naked Bruce holding court at Greeter Training yesterday up at Widget's hillside hideaway. I was a greeter last year but I never had any formal training so Farilla and I carved out some time to attend this gathering. Lots of good info and tons of laughter...so glad we went!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Running: A 12 Mile Week!



Good week! I hope to make it to Boot Camp this evening. That said, BM prep seems to reign supreme right now. I'll gauge things by just exactly how overwhelmed I'm feeling come the end of the day. ;)

Humor: Wedding Entrance Dance



Farilla thinks this is brilliant. Hmm, should I be concerned?

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Life: Half Birthday Cookies!


Life: Half Birthday Cookies!
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

From Diddy Riese, of course! At this point they're just sitting here taunting me.

Life: It's My Birthday!


Life: It's My Birthday!
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

Hey, Half Birthdays count too! They count so much, in fact, that I was just gifted this very thoughtful present. Looking forward to Half Birthday lunch! w00t!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Music: Animal Collective - What Would I Want Sky



[Daily Swarm]

What you're listening to here is the first legal sample of a Grateful Dead song (Unbroken Chain).

Running: The Run That Broke My Brain



HOT! That's the best way to describe this run....insanely hot. I wanted to stop at 3 miles and guilted myself into that last grueling mile. By the time I was done I was drenched and couldn't even think straight! I pulled out my gym card in an attempt to get my car keys....TWICE! Feeling like mush and "treating" myself to a Chai Latte.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Hoop Dance: LED Hoop Status = FIXED!

Hoop Dance: LED Hoop Status = FIXED!

FINALLY! It's taken seven months to finally get back around to completing my LED hoop. It was all wonky because the coupler was too long. I pulled it apart , unhooked the battery and took a hack saw to that sucka. Voilà...back in action! Thank goodness for Burning Man....otherwise half of my to-do list would never get completed. On to the next project!

Hoop Dance: LED Hoop Status = FIXED!


Hoop Dance: Fire Dancing Gone Wrong!



[Thanks Ops!]

...very wrong!

Friends: Tony & Spinnerette on Letterman!



Tony's wearing the hoodie and rocking Lizziebot's infamous 'Art's Hard' arm band! Righteous!

Humor: The F'g Moon (NSFW)


[Thanks Megatron]
Music video for "The Fucking Moon", from The Evolution Control Committee's album "Plagiarhythm Nation v2.0" on Seeland Records.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Life: Silly Monkeys!

Life:  Silly Monkeys!
Life: Silly Monkeys!
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

Music: Robotic French Space Disco Inspired By Star Wars (1977)



From Dangerous Minds:

Inspired by the 1977 release of Star Wars, Yves Hayat (synthesizers and sequencers) formed Droids along with Richard Lornac on keyboards and Jean-Paul Batailley on drums and tablas. Two of the guys performed the single “(Do You Have) The Force” on French TV in 1977 dressed as robots—which could explain the Daft Punk comparison. Star Peace came out a year later, and then the Droids were out. The LP is sought after for its kitsch appeal but also killer electronics and good vibes.

Friends: CJ And The Toaster!



From CJ...
Here's my debut on youtube (as far as i know). The Giant Toaster and PrideFest were fantastic hits. A toast...

Running: Happy Monday!



I haven't been as big of a slacker as it may seem. I forgot my iPod last Wednesday so there wasn't any data to post. Since I wasn't recording my run I decided to try out the LifeCycle (Farilla's fave). That experiment lasted all of 10 minutes before I moved back to the treadmill. Yes, Lifecycle may be low impact on your joints but, dude, did it feel awkward! One of the biggest reasons I choose to train on the treadmill is due to the ability to bump up the pace throughout the course of my workout. The Lifecycle (at least on the manual setting) let me to slack off too much so I popped back on the treadmill to finish up with a speedy 2.5 mile run. Good stuff. After pounding through that run last week I was totally inspired to kick it into high(er) gear this AM. I really focused on my breath during mile one...no sucking wind just slow controlled deep breathing! Then I bumped up the pace every 1/4 mile right through mile 4. I felt like I was sprinting that last half mile. Ahh, feeling so good!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Burning Man 2009: Taco-ster Team


Burning Man 2009: Taco-ster Team
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

Sweet Cheeks, Dick Howler & power tools! Yes!

Burning Man 2009: Nage Mahal-age


Burning Man 2009: Nage Mahal-age
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

These make Homeslice homey.

Burning Man 2009: Homeslice Prep


Burning Man 2009: Homeslice Prep
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

Making shit happen.

Burning Man 2009: Clean!


Burning Man 2009: Clean!
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

Burning Man 2009: Homeslice Storage!


Burning Man 2009: Homeslice Storage!
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

Burning Man 2009: Homeslice Prep In Full Effect


Burning Man 2009: Homeslice Prep In Full Effect
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

I love the smell Playa Dust in the morning!

Burning Man 2009: Playa Surfer Rummage Sale TODAY

photo.jpg

The Playa Surfers are gearing up for another big year at Burning Man. Come on down and help these righteous Burners get their lifeguard tower and mad beatz back out to BRC!

Saturday (7/18) only!
Now until 2pm

photo.jpg

Friday, July 17, 2009

Life: Cirque Berzerk FREE Tonight Only!

Picture 1

If the Do Lab says so it's probably true!

Life: Cirque Berzerk - Beneath

Otter, Pirate Brian, Farilla and I arrived just before show time. After getting a lot of advice from friends who have seen the show we opted to buy tix at the venue. Screw you unnecessary online service fees! We were also advised that there wasn't a bad seat in the house. Werd, to that!

Cirque Berzerk

Waiting for the show to begin...just off to our right scary drunk clown peaks over a divider separating our seats from back stage. I'm pretty sure I was the only one who noticed. I smiled at him and he slipped back into the darkness. As we sat there staring at this empty stage I realized that the show had already started.
Cirque Berzerk

If you haven't seen Beneath then you're missing out. It was completely entertaining AND inspiring. The costumes and makeup were absolutely divine! The singers...WOW! My favorite performances (without giving too much away) were the masked dancers, the underwater lovers and the trampoline act. I'm happy to hear the show has been extended through the end of summer. Seriously go see it! You won't be disappointed. Also worth mentioning is the large outdoor venue which includes burner-friendly vendors, food, a bar and a separate performance stage. Helios Jive occupied the stage last night. Good stuff. A very carnival-esque type atmosphere...which you know I love!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Running: Life, And Such...

Sunday was an incredibly busy day starting off bright and early with a visit to my salon. Alyssa straightened my hair to make sure all the layers were even so I decided to wear it straight all day. I can't remember a time I was so aware of my physical appearance. I couldn't stop looking at myself in the mirror. While I thought it looked pretty I also very much felt that it looked incredibly plain. No offense to my straight-haired sisters....I just never realized how much I love my curls. After my cut Farilla and I went downtown to check out the Renegade Craft Fair. I love having a partner who appreciates Indie design, art and fashion as much as I do. We walked through the Fair at least twice to make sure we hadn't missed anything and sure enough as we were getting ready to leave we ran into Ted and Angie from Poketo. We chatted with them for a while and Ted helped Farilla pick out another Poketo tee to add to his ever-growing arsenal. If you haven't already stopped by, be sure to hit up the Poketo pop-up shop at Royal/T in Culver City. And don't forget to check out the cafe. Angie hand selected the eats currently being served. After Renegade we shot back to the westside to stock up picnic-ables for the Ray LaMontagne show at The Hollywood Bowl. Tim, Tessa, Farilla & I arrived at The Bowl about an hour before showtime. We were lucky to find a picnic table where we enjoyed a variety of yummies from the Whole Foods deli....Mmm, olive bar! As you've probably already read the show was fantastic. We got home late and I was thoroughly exhausted! I guess this is my long-winded explanation for not getting up and into the gym yesterday morning. Fortunately we rallied and made up for it today. I had a good but not great run this AM. Back at it tomorrow...



Monday, July 13, 2009

Life: Ray LaMontagne @ The Bowl


Ray LaMontagne @ The Bowl
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio
What an incredible show! Farilla and I basked in each others presence while listening to Ray croon. The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra was an added bonus. Wow! A complete love-fest.


From last night....

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Friday, July 10, 2009

DIY: Christine Haynes - Chic & Simple Sewing


DIY: Christine Haynes - Chic & Simple Sewing
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

Book signing, fashion show, Yudu screen printing demos, sangria & cupcakes all at the Urban Craft Center.

Life: Happy Birthday Nikola Tesla!


Tesla Coil @ Burning Man 2007
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

Read more about the man who "shed light over the face of Earth" here.

Running: Yes!



Today was a MUCH better day! I caught my second wind by mile 3. Breathing was clam and easy right through mile 4. If only all my workouts could feel this great! Happy Friday, indeed!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Music: Ray LaMontagne - You Are The Best Thing



Team Shutterilla will be joining Tessa and Tim at The Bowl this weekend for the Ray LaMontagne concert. Delicious eats, stellar friends, twinkling stars, soulful music and blazing love...what more does a girl need?

Burning Man 2009: Music To My Ears!

Music To My Ears!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Life: West LA Power Outage


Life: West LA Power Outage
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

Eerie!

Some observations...

Lots of wreckage and burnt out flares in dark intersections. Lots of tow trucks towing mangled cars. Quite a few empty tow trucks driving around too. Sidewalks packed with local diners whose tables have been relocated outside. The lighting store on Bundy had power while the rest of the block was pitch black. Gas stations all have power. One side of the street may have power while the otherside does not. Same with neighboring intersections. I have power, thank gawd! Lots of people hanging out outside. Very dark bike riders....one riding with a flashlight in hand.

Running: Ugh!



No more two week breaks between now and when my braids go in for The Burn. I'm tired, sore and cranky...chai latte time.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Video: Crazy Clown @ Bass Ritual

Happy Clown

Crazy Clown made a special appearance at Bass Ritual's Indepen-dance party last weekend. He claims to be Happy Clown but after seeing this I'll stick with Crazy! Click the photo to be taken directly to this short video...it's definitely worth watching!

Running: TGIMonday...



These past couple of weeks have been busy...as in, if-I-get-home-at-least-one-night-this-week-before-11pm-I'll-be-happy busy! Multiple hoop dance classes and fire training have been consuming most of my time these days and as excited (and nervous) as I was about lighting up last Wednesday I was also a little relieved knowing that after that evening my life would start getting back to normal. With so many back to back late nights I found it nearly impossible to pull myself out of bed those following mornings to get to the gym. In a blink of an eye there went another two weeks of no running. So today I say TGIMonday! Back to my regularly scheduled programming!

Music: Hmmm, Black Eyed Peas Steal Adam Freeland's 'Mancry'?



Read the full story on the Daily Swarm.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Hoop Dance: Photos- Lighting Up Ceremony

As promised, here are some wonderful pics and vids (courtesy of Farilla & Special Ops) documenting the Fire Groove lighting-up ceremony. HUGE thanks to them both for capturing these moments! What an incredible experience. I couldn't stop smiling for HOURS after we left the beach. Of course, I'm now itching to explore ALL of the other fire tools as well. Staves, fans, poi....hmm, what's next?! Time will tell...until then I'll continue to practice my hooping. So much to learn.

From the videos below you can see that I kept things simple for my first two twirls. It's a whole other world standing inside that fiery vortex. There was so much new-ness for my brain to digest in those moments. The fire whirling around my head was disorienting at times and trying to spin in sand was much tougher than expected. I suspect my courage to try different moves will grow the more I work with the fire. One thing is for sure, I'll never forget the sound the fire made as it swirled above my head for the first time. Completely wow'd! Thanks to everyone who came out in support...Mad Love to you all!

Lighting-Up...
Lighting UP!

Getting a feel for things...
Getting A Feel For Things

"OMG, the SOUND!"...
THE SOUND!  Wow!

Pure Bliss....
Blissful


Twirl Number One (courtesy of Special Ops)...


Twirl Number Two (courtesy of Farilla)...

Life: Santa Monica Farmers Market

Life: Santa Monica Farmers Market
Life: Santa Monica Farmers Market
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

Farilla and I rode our bikes over to Main Street this AM for a bite to eat and some fresh produce. After watching Food, Inc. last Friday afternoon we were both reminded why it's so important to buy locally grown organic products. If you haven't seen Food, Inc. I highly recommend checking it out asap. You're probably already well aware of some of the info about the American food industry discussed in this film but if Monsanto and GMOs sound foreign to you then you MUST see this documentary.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Hoop Dance: Hoop-tusion Part Two

Hoop Dance: Hoop-tusion Part Two
Hoop Dance: Hoop-tusion Part Two
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

This is my bruised hip after our big night last night. As some of you know I've been taking Hoop Dance classes with Fire Groove these last couple of months. And, as of last week I added Special Ops' class to my already busy schedule. Last night marked the culmination to many
weeks of dedication and practice! Last night we ceremoniously lit up our Fire Hoops on Dockweiler Beach! The Fire Hoop is heavier than regular hoops so my hip took a bit of a beating. Adrenaline was cranking so I felt nothing but pure bliss. More photos and video to follow soon'ish!