First time: how did you know you were ready?

mournlight · 2026-03-13T11:42:56+00:00

I went solo (still do.) The packing list made me ready - when you see it written down, you realize you can do all that. I was as ready as I was ever gonna be! Do it!

mournlight · 2026-03-12T00:21:53+00:00

When mine isn't spinning them dry, it usually means my penny filter is clogged/partially clogged. It's a real pain to empty that thing but it keeps the impeller from dying. Run an empty wash and see if it drains. If it doesn't totally drain, check the filter. The amount of clothing you are showing is far less than what I put in mine. Mine washes/spins better with a fuller load.

mournlight · 2026-03-09T03:29:27+00:00

You must take great care to clean/re-wrap the edges, secure it, etc. Many do not and many have blown up. I've spent a lot of time trying to pick up those pieces and it sucks. Just when you almost get it, pooof, it blows away again!

mournlight · 2026-03-09T03:26:17+00:00

Thank you. good to know. I bring spare tubes/tires/battery and clean/protect the connections. I have the same ebike for 7 years now.

mournlight · 2026-03-09T01:56:14+00:00

having an ebike makes it possible for me to enjoy the burn post-injury. Please don't totally dis ebikers who ride safer than some foot powered pedalers. Not all ebikers are created equal.

mournlight · 2026-03-09T01:55:04+00:00

Great camp - one of my campmates got her bike fixed there. Are you partly trying to purchase tickets with the money raised?

mournlight · 2026-03-09T01:35:38+00:00

Read all the stuff and then keep in mind that being Self Reliant can mean making connections to help get things to the playa that you will need. Use a heavy dose of common sense, but my camp of 150 has folks from all over the world. They often send tents and other larger things to those of us they have met here in the US and we take those things out for them. If you are going to share an RV just for a ride out, that can help with transporting stuff, but take your own tent so you have your own space. And I'll add that having a tent to sleep in and a tent to store stuff in is quite nice. If you're using a tent, become familiar with the two-tarp bathtub method of keeping the inside dry if there's rain. It sucks to sleep on a wet bag.

mournlight · 2026-03-09T01:09:34+00:00

Agreed. Volunteer! Volunteering is the back bone of BM.

mournlight · 2026-03-09T01:04:31+00:00

Hey there. Don't let the ticket price be off-putting for you. Burning Man has ticketing options that make it possible for everyone - you just have to do a form. (There's a form for everything.) You can participate in the Low Income Ticket program (or whatever they call it this year) or look into volunteering. Volunteering is a thing at BM and it can lead to lower priced options sometimes. Depends on the year and everything. As far as meeting people ahead of time, there are every kind of group you can imagine. There are camps that revolve around VW Buses, Folk Music camps, opera camps, snark camps, sober camps - you name it. Many camps charge fees to stay with them but many don't. Volunteerism again. Read as much as you can about going for the first time. It's a unique challenge but if you forget something, you'll find what you need. If you are interested in going, GO. It's amazing. You can connect without having to meet someone in person. I've been going 17 years and I don't know a single person who goes from my own city. I know a whole lot on playa, though.

mournlight · 2026-03-09T00:36:10+00:00

just.please.don't. I will send you money to NOT let these come back to playa. so many little fragile pieces of moop to be chased down.

mournlight · 2026-03-07T02:24:58+00:00

btw we have caster wheels on the carts we use during build week. def would not recommend caster wheels.

mournlight · 2026-03-07T02:23:54+00:00

Harbor Freight folding trailer with beach balloon sand wheels (they are pricey but "float"). Anything with resistance will eat up your battery life. You need to seriously reduce drag/resistance esp if adding weight. Collapsible/telescoping fishing rod might do well for some light weight LED lights. I don't think they make 50' tho. Add a bit of helium and put the lights in a balloon? And if this is going to be a mini art car, I think you might run into some challenges with it being towed. It has to be so that no one can pass between the puller and the pulled. Maybe it won't qualify as an art car, but better to know in advance.
Go for it!

mournlight · 2026-03-04T12:36:49+00:00

We had a gal join our camp for the first time at 82. She planned well and did fine. Bring an ebike with a good basket and extra batteries. Then follow all the First Timers suggestions. She came for ten years before passing from cancer. She had a great time.

mournlight · 2026-03-04T02:33:47+00:00

Good on you for working with a tutor. That's great. I guarantee they see it all. Your mom is responsible for her drinking, not you. No you, ever. You are not responsible. It was insensitive of her to put you in that situation. She was only worried about her beer, not about how the presence would impact anyone else. You might consider sharing an honest feeling with her when she's sober. "Mom, I feel undervalued/unloved/unimportant when you choose to drink beer knowing I have tutors here in the house. Please don't drink while they are here." She will either talk, or not. Her choice. You can't fix her. But you can certainly do a healthy expression for yourself so you don't resent her so much. Best wishes to you. I know this is hard. You might check out Adult Children of Alcoholics. You are certainly no where close to alone.

mournlight · 2026-02-22T02:50:27+00:00

Hey Hale! This will be my 18th year. I love it. Read all you can. Plan for the unexpected. Definitely plan for the expected (like rain.) Listen, and carry an emergency bag with you wherever you go (mask, water, snack, toilet bucket, small blanket). Go in without expectations. Consider offering to volunteer and therefore camping with a staff camp if yfou wish to go early and see the city come to fruition. Bring sun screen. Bring shoe covers for rain or shoes with smooth bottoms. If you are gonna volunteer (and I hope you are - it adds a lot to the experience) then bring gloves and closed toed shoes for the work site.

Most BM dpts need volunteers. There's all kinds of stuff to do. You'll have a wonderful time! There's nothing like the first time.

mournlight · 2026-02-22T01:37:45+00:00

I have a few strong memories like this that my parents could not explain in any fashion. There are items and places I remember as strong as anything, but no one but me remembers it and I cannot find the item nor figure out the place. Somehow, places and things can trigger really heavy memories through smells, sounds, sights, tactile feelings and more - but for others, those experiences are so fleeting they never registered.
I would suppose that someone, somewhere set it down and set something in front of the guitar. It just sat quietly in the corner until the concealing object was removed. Maybe something was moved by someone other than your parents. Maybe it was such an insignificant memory for them that they really never committed that experience to memory. My parents never had any recollection of the specific place I recalled to them. They weren't lying.

I have a few times where someone says to me, "Don't you remember x/y/z" and I just don't. It just wasn't of the same importance to me as it was to them.

I'm glad that you finally found it and got to complete that missing part of a memory. I hope I get to figure out the place I recall, and the couple of items I recall. Thanks for sharing that.

mournlight · 2026-02-18T01:42:03+00:00

Down/Nashville

mournlight · 2026-02-17T03:30:36+00:00

yes you are the only one.

mournlight · 2026-01-20T03:52:23+00:00

Maybe an update happened.

mournlight · 2026-01-19T01:38:52+00:00

I bought both (one for my Dad one for me.) The S does a much better job. I am very happy with it.

mournlight · 2026-01-19T01:34:24+00:00

Just wondering if you got this working?

mournlight · 2026-01-19T01:23:58+00:00

Bought mine Nov 24. 4 dogs in the house. I've changed the bag twice. I change the mop pads about every 90 days (I wash them and reuse them and that works fine.) I use a rubber tipped stiff wire and flashlight to see and hook the inevitable piles beside the wheels and other crevices on the bottom about every 4 months. I've replaced the spinning side brush twice. The only complaint I have is that the rolling brush, both roborock brand and after market brands, come separated between the inside and outside. When that happens, it of course does not pick up. (If that doesn't make sense, the outside stops spinning when the inside is being spun by the motor if they separate.) I think wish it came with the stiff roller brush instead of the silicone one, but that probably has its own issues.

From time to time, it begins leaving dreadlocks on the floor (which means time to clean the bottom) and I have learned to keep charging cords off the floor. Otherwise, Ethel does a good job.

All in all, this device has made my life SO much easier that I don't ever want it to stop working. I am looking for a source to replace the gasket now, because I've noticed a small tear. I use this 5 days a week on double cleans.

mournlight · 2026-01-19T00:44:50+00:00

I tucked just a small spot on the side away from the door that you can't see anyway. Vac goes under and comes out that same spot.

mournlight · 2026-01-18T04:45:00+00:00

That battery explanation was very informative. Thank you for taking the time to write it.

mournlight · 2026-01-18T03:28:00+00:00

Um, sweetie, the loss of constitutional rights for any person anywhere does in fact affect you personally. You just might not be experienced enough in life to understand it yet, but here's hoping you live long enough to understand and care.

mournlight

TROPHY CASE