Kokochi

New times ahead...

Six Apart acquired by VideoEgg.

End of an era since I've been with 6A pretty much since the beginning, working in that old dental office, hammering away on emails seated between the CEO and President. We used to all go to lunch together way back then.

I got married and had a daughter while at 6A. I got to be totally open about who I am (i.e. a Burner), and got to work closely with Tokyo, my home.

It's a  new chapter, and this makes sense in many ways. But this is a biggie...no more "Six Apart" where we called ourselves Six Aparters. Just noting the occasion with a bit of sadness, but also it's time for a new chapter.

BM catch up

Can't believe almost 3 weeks have already gone by since Burning Man. Definitely takes time to get our regular life back to order, and I have been tired. Needed down time. I just finally downloaded our few pictures from our camera! To be honest, however, we didn't take that many pics because we had 1 professional photographer as well as 3 great hobby photographers, one who was a newbie so had an eye for all those things us veterans take for granted. So from the get-go, I knew I'd rely on others to document. : )

Huge kudos to Lorene who took a lot of time to capture the city as it got built since we arrived before gates opened (my favorite time before it gets crowded). She also diligently took snaps of the art and people in great detail. I'm so grateful to have this set on the city. She also got a nice set just on our camp, Chaya. And the Regenbogens created a great photo set as well.

I have to say I just loved our camp. Pretty small, but also big enough that our "living room" was a social space. We even adopted 2 newbies who fit in very naturally (Lorene even thought we knew them from before). Tesla knew everyone so it was like one big family of aunties and uncles for her. We didn't organize anything really, but all organicaly came together which is ideal for me.

I also really enjoyed having the tea house where we could welcome folks and share something special. We had people seek us out, or even come back bringing their camp mates to share what they felt was worth it. I was so honored. I even had one guy insist on serving me tea at his camp, so one morning Lorene and I went over with low expectations. Low and behold, we had tearfully touching conversations while we shared the tea, and it turned out the camp was a hair-washing camp so we got a blissful hairwash which felt amazing.

As usual, there were too many experiences to jot all down. But overall, I was very happy to bring Tesla and share BM with her. One thing I didn't realize was that my intention was to be Tesla's caretaker while letting Dav run stress free, but it didn't work that way since Dav is Daddy whenever he's around. So ultimately, we both need to both go as parents or not. We decided we'll probably alternate years so next year not bring her.

I say this because this year overall was a great great year. BM.org at large just got it right, the population was together, and the art/shows off the wall. So it inspired me to not bring Tesla so I can see more as well as hopefully participate as a Ranger again.

Anyhow, just wanted a final note about BM 2010 as it already fades away. We're focusing on Halloween now! In the end, pictures say most, so I'm plucking a few favs again.

 

 

 

From Kerry. I had dressed up for a fur party but rather missed the timing. Tesla is wearing her new dress she got at a costume camp that hosted a kids-only awesome costume give-away. She loved it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Jeremy, our beautiful gate and tea house at night. We had lanterns, solor-powered lights, candles, and lamps. I loved Chaya at night, and it was beautiful to walk by. Here's the original.

 

 

 

 

Tea ceremony. Thank you to my mother who taught me over the years, and also provided me with the tools. I'm sure she never thought I'd actually use my lessons at Burning Man, but the way people appreciated and respected it, taking the time for the tea, indicated to me that the playa was a great place for tea ceremony. I did have to significantly modify and simply things though.

 

 

 

 

 

See how Tesla is watching every detail. Tesla had her own English tea set and when I wasn't serving, she sometimes set up her own version, with slow movements and a certain quietness about it. She asked Dav to invite people off the street and she respectfully served them tea. It was pretty cool to watch her.

 

 

 

 

M had a brilliant idea and got us all to prepare cheerleading outfits to do a group thing. We each got our own letter, and M brought a very easy to follow cheerleading song. We busted it out on the street, Tesla joined (which really was one of my highlights of BM!!), and quite a few folks either passing by or our neighbors joined in. We even stopped an art car in its tracks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I rather like this one that Lorene got of me relaxing at camp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me serving tea again. That was someone's shade umbrella. I thought it was a nice touch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telsa and me in our yukatas. Posing at the gate.

We also played with bubbles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, the magical double rainbow we saw on Monday, after it rained a bit, shutting down the city for a few hours. We all huddled inside, and the playa fell quiet save a few folks stranded to carry their bikes and walk in the sticky mud. In the end, everyone didn't care since the rainbow was such a treat. Hoots and hollers all around the playa!

Overheard

OH: I wrote a picture note for you today, but I forgot it at the office. It has a big heart on it, with maybe 8 hearts inside it.

~ the father of my daughter

Daughter tends to asks for picture notes very often when we say goodbye in the morning.

In the past, picture note requests have involved dinosaurs, trees with doors, princesses, bridges, and various forms of cars.

I ♥ Dav.

 

 

Burning Man 2010

This was my 9th year, and wow, it was really good this year. Quite possibly the best year ever in terms of the art, the vibe of the city, our camp, and my overall experience. Whatever it was, Black Rock City really clicked this year. Others who have been many times stated the same.

I hope to jot more down about my thoughts, but until I'm settled back into regular life, here are a few pictures (thanks to Lorene who captured so many moments).

Nexus (giant dance camp) setting up. I love getting in early to see the city still being built.

Tesla helping out setting up our camp. She loved BM : )

The temple this year was stunning. Instead of a building, the design symbolized natural rock formations.

Everyone was amazed by the giant female statue that lit up at night. We just couldn't believe the details, and how it stood on one foot. Art this year was not just big, but was seriously complicated,  so even thinking about the process/logistics was inspirational.

Art car that Lorene captured in beautiful light. These scenes are why I love being back in the desert.

Again, the playa by itself is one of my favorite parts of BM.

Burning Man approaching

I didn't go last year, and that break was good. I am going on new terms vs. going as an annual habit.

Tesla is coming - her 3rd year, but 1st as one with her own thoughts and opinions. I am very excited to share this with her, even though I am fully prepared for her to form her own opinion, positive or negative. She may not like it. I've made contacts at Kidsville to have tons of playmates, I've made from scratch a Tinker Bell outfit, we all have a superman outfit for a mass gathering I thought she might get a kick out of, she is bringing her tea set to serve her own tea at Chaya, she knows this involves living in the RV which is her happy spot...and Dav bought a giant bafoonish prom dress wreck of a thing so he can dress as "princess" per Tesla's request. I suspect a week of getting to wear whatever she wants (vs. school clothes) will win her over.

But again, I'm open to what she thinks. This year, in addition to enjoying serving tea, I am looking forward to hanging out with Tesla, letting her explore, seeing things through her eyes, and mostly connecting with her as 2 playful happy beings.

Here are her new goggles.

Final Chaya updates from S.F.

The tea house and details are set! The tea house is decontructed, ready for transport very early Sat. morning. We are delighted with how this came together, and look forward to providing an elegant experience to those who will visit us.

Giant love to the Regenbogens who frankly kicked ass in everything. Team Yagibogens!

 

My grandmother Laura

My grandmother Laura passed away today. She was 91.

I met her several times as a kid before moving to Tokyo, but memory became fuzzy. It wasn't until I was an adult, living back in the U.S. that I really got to know her. I had heard many stories from my family, and she seemed so fabulous, glamorous, and so-not-a-grandmother in the traditional sense. I called her Laura for a long time, until one day, she flat out told me to start calling her Grandmother. That's when we started to get close.

She was the kind of grandmother who had life stories to inform any young adult how to navigate  life issues. She lived really an amazing life, and within her stories, she shared what it meant to be a woman. Her era was different from mine, but I learned a lot from her. She inspired me to get  comfortable with my own desire to want a lot out of life, to not settle.

At one important time, when I was dealing with some issues, she spoke to me as if she'd taken her grandmother hat off, and person to person, told me what to do. Best advice ever. I will miss her, and sharing with her how my life unfolds.

My uncle wrote:

She had a fascinating life, and lived it fully.  She did more in one lifetime than many could do in several.  She was an actress, singer, classical and popular music pianist, fine artist, writer, world traveler, founder of “The Realm” Playwrights group, diplomat’s wife and Mother of three.

And it's true. Her marriage to a diplomat took her to foreign countries, which back in the day was rather rare. The parties she went to and the people she met! She took some time off by herself and hung out in Macao in probably her 30s. She visited my Japanese grandparents, arriving on a boat with so much luggage that my grandfather had to recruit 3 cars.

Of all her stories, what touched me most was her telling when she met my grandfather Dick (who passed away when I was very young). My dad and uncle's biological mother died during childbirth. So when my grandmother, at the age around 22 or so, came to my grandfather, my dad was maybe 5 or 6. So marrying Dick meant becoming a mother of 2 boys at that age. A key moment she decided to go for it was when my dad, came up to her, and asked, "will you be my mother?" She told me that many times, and I know they have a very special bond.

By the time I really got to know her, she was living alone, painting and writing plays. One even got to off-broadway. I'm glad Tesla got to meet her even though she was just a baby. And I'm glad I got time with her too.

It's very strange now; I have no grandparents.

I will miss you, grandmother. Rest in peace.

Chaya updates

Coming along splendidly.

old old cuisinart died

My cuisinart, that my college professor handed down to me, finally died today. I have to say I'm excited as this means I can get a fancy new one. This one was a working horse, and as long as it worked, I felt silly to buy a new one. It must be 20 years old. Now that's good use of a gadget (vs. how our relatively new dishwasher is already a bit wonky, and it pains me to think of getting a new one while the current one becomes garbage only after a few years...)

Recommendations for the perfect cuisinart?

 

 

Chaya updates

Check it out. Includes an accident!