I should have done this a long time ago but here are some pictures and video of me throwing my fire whip. In these pictures I am throwing my 6′ kevlar rope whip. It’s not a very good whip and I’m not that good yet, so I cannot do that many different cracks. But I’m still pretty happy with it.
All the pictures and video here were in late July through mid August.
I also just ordered a lot of kevlar so I can make my own fire whip which will hopefully allow me to do all the cracks I can do with my nylon whips with a fire whip. I’m quite excited.
So I’ve been in my new apartment for a bit over a week now. I like it so far and the more I make it mine the more I like it. The only main issue I have left with it is the price. It’s about $750 including utilities, which is kinda high for a studio, but I’m paying for the location and I think it will be worth it for now. I will be able to ride my bike to school in under 10 minutes which will be really nice given that I’ve had a 1 hour commute for the last 5 years. I’m really looking forward to not that. Also the lease on the apartment is only 6 months, so I will have a way out if it’s a problem. I will probably start looking for other places in 4 months or so and consider moving.
One thing I have done to the apartment that I’m really happy about it adding lights. When I moved in there were no overhead lights in the main room. This made it really dark at night (though during the day it get plenty of sun, which is nice). So I went to the hardware store and bought some wire and some sockets and plugs and switches and made lights. I’m really happy with it though in retrospect I’m not sure it was any cheaper than buying lamps. But I like it more and they are really bright. (Note that my whips are hanging on the wall. I’m really like them there for some reason.)
I have now cleaned the place but as of 2 nights ago the apartment as a whole looked like this: (click for a high resolution version) (EDIT: This is a better version I made since I originally posted this)
This panorama is made up to 28 individual images taken using my cell phone. It’s got some real issues with brightness and color, but honestly it’s amazing how well it came out. I’m really proud of it. It was made using Hugin a open-source panorama stitcher.
I just got back from the burn. I’m in the hostel again for a night.
I’m about to take my first shower in I days. It will be awesome except for the part where I’m sun burned pretty bad. Anyway. I’m soo tired. But I’m back on email and stuff which is nice.
More on burning man later. But I thought people might want to know that I got back safe.
I like portland. The last few days have gone well. I’m ready for burning man. And I’m signing a lease on a studio this afternoon. The apartment is about 8 minutes by bike from school so I’m really excited about the commute. I hope winter will not prevent me from biking. I have been walking a LOT. It’s been good.
The apartment isn’t as cheap as I like but it should be very nice I think. Its reasonably large and has good sized windows that open well. Heat, water, garbage, sewage and even electricity are included in a flat rate utility fee. So at least there shouldn’t be any unexpectedly high bills. Also the building would allow me to move to another apartment in the same building for pretty cheap if I want to later. That way I could ungrade if I want to later. We will see. Also the lease is only 6 months so I am not tied down for long.
I’ve met a lot of good people. Half of them being the burning man crowd, but half of them from other things which is good because I don’t want to only know crazy hippy types.
I have not yet had a chance to visit my school. I’ve just been insanely busy. I will go up there once I get back to portland from burning man. I have been by my school though and I’m confident I will be able to get there easily when from my apartment.
People are really nice here and I really need to unlearn some of my NYCisms. They don’t apply here. The bus system is very nice and the street cars and trains are good. It is weird though that the trains actually run down the street.
Portland really is a bit like a huge lawrence, KS. Nice people, polite drivers. I think I will be at home hear quickly.
The flight in also went well. We flew by mount hood. It was beautiful.
Also since I started writing this I have actually signed my lease. So I have a place to live and I’m set to move in. I will still need to spend one night in the hostel when I get back from the burn, but I will move in the next morning. Then I will start working on settling in.
Right now I am in a mexican resturant having a victory lunch. And tomorrow at 3AM I will leave for burning man. I’m excited.
I’ve started scheduling my first few days in portland. I’m going to view 5 or 6 apartments on the first day. Hopefully one will be nice and I can rent it then and there. I would love to have a place pinned down ASAP. Then I will go to my school and otherwise get to know portland.
However in addition to that I will be preparing for Burning Man. Then after 6 days in portland I will be heading to the burn for a little over a week. Then I will be coming back to portland and actually moving into the apartment I rented.
I’m really scarred. But I’m also excited and having solid plans makes it feel more comfortable.
The first whip I made. (Sorry the picture is fuzzy. Phone cameras suck.)
There are a lot of things wrong with it, but it’s my first and I will be able to do better next time around. I already have plans of how to change the design. I need to tweak various things so I can work up to building a kevlar fire whip. I’ll be practicing with nylon for a bit because kevlar is almost 6 times as expensive and you need a LOT to make a whip.
Anyway I’m totally excited about whip making and actually making a whip that cracks is a really exciting first step.
I’m on the plane away from NYC. I will probably only be returning to visit (which I will be doing). It is a really weird feeling that the New York part of my life is actually over. I always said that I would not live there indefinitely, only now am I really realizing that that means. I don’t think I will miss the city, but I already miss all the friends I have in New York.
Special people definitely make the place. And it’s the only thing that made living in NYC bareable. The city was always too big and busy for me. So for those of you who love the city, I hope you enjoy it; you are welcome too it. I will enjoy visiting I’m sure.
And to all you special people in NYC: I’ll miss you, but I will be back to visit. Be well! (And as I learned to say in NYC “Get home safe”)
