This year, I got some sleep before I went to Flipside, and I had a Raz with me. I was also going steady with Mary, which worked out better than I could have possibly imagined.
I found balance in the things I did, rather than suffering from second-timers’ burn out. I got to build some ridiculous things before I got there, and out of that came some great new friendships.
Slackyderm Thanks:
A bunch of people helped get an absurd elephant-car contraption out there – captainsodium was instrumental in everything from his relaxed attitude to car fixing and generous offers of tools, supplies, trucks and teaching. Fawning aside, to see the intensity and pace of him in action is inspirational.
schlaukraft and Michael Snyder were amazingly patient when the house and garden became awash with tools, wires, pumps, and sawn off cars, never once suggesting that living in a junkyard was inappropriate.
dancingb4diana came up with the Slackyderm name. Countless people gave support and encouragement.
oriori1, Casey, nationelectric, Mark, Tristen, and a few other went through the 8 minute welding school here and helped fashion a metal skeleton. tatianastarr dragged her red bug here and donated it to the cause. mooneyman came around and got the project off the ground with much broken glass. calamityjune kindly tagged it, and put up with a sackload of tools invading her sewing sweatshop.
mary_austin supported me in many, many ways, from drawing artistic visions to suggesting ways in which to apply for a grant. And she made a great anus for the back. Her relentless enthusiasm and smiles fuelled many long hours of work.
The Art Garden gave me a grant. How fantastic is that?
A very jet-lagged Raz helped me with grommetting right up to the last minute.
indiskies was a whirlwind – making the head, the pelt, and decorating the body in record time, with no sleep, and little encouragement. Another powerhouse of creation. She also lent us offspring to test water cannons on, which is a bonus.
Rusty donated a dishwasher, mscaution, Rob Dew and a bunch of other KOS folk offered great suggestions on implementation.
Working on late night projects with nationelectric and Mark in advance of the event yielded some fantastic memories. Having people knock on my door offering panties for the pantie-cannon makes me smile.
Living in Chupa HQ and seeing the feverish works that were always underway was an education. There’s definitely more to come, new people to work with, more absurdity to happen, more inspiration to receive. Chupa’s popping around to lend a hand with anything that needed doing. Priceless.
I am blown away by the number of self-starting, kick-ass, talented folk who will jump up and make things happen, and I am sincerely grateful for knowing them, and for the opportunity to get to know them. Sure, a few people got to drive an elephant car around a field, and occasionally squirt water at rangers and their assassination game prey, but the building and bonding and collective problem solving are what stick in my mind. That’s what I’m going for more of next time.
Photos:
Maredith’s model.
Man discovers fire and welding.
June and Casey test the water cannon from opposite ends of the barrel.
It got there.
