CagedNymph's blog: "Who doesnt love a porta pottie explosion?"

The Firefolk and the Fearsome Guardian (Barneveld) Once upon a time, in the land of Circle , there was a Tribe of Fire Folk who went up the hillside to turn their lead into purest gold. From the stroke of midnight thru to the silvery dawn, the Tribe worked their Alchemy together tirelessly. On the way to the hillside, there was a bridge over a gurgling brook which the Tribe had to cross; and under the bridge lived a Fearsome Guardian, with a deep growling voice and a huge hulking black shape that shifted and slunk through the darkness. Now, after several days of alchemical work, it came to pass one starry night that one of the Tribe’s Cauldrons became engulfed in flames. While none feared for the contents of this pot, which contained only that which the Tribe had cast off, much fear and concern was felt for the larger Vessel within which the Great Work was done. The bell rang out, and the Tribe valiantly ventured forth to secure their Sacred Space and the Land which contained it. The first of the Fire Folk came to the bridge. “Stamp, stamp, stamp!” went the bridge. “Who’s that stamping on my bridge?” the Fearsome Guardian growled. “It is I, Coyote Firefolk! I must cross the bridge for I know how to pump the Indian to put out the flaming pot.” answered he. “Ok, off with you then.” growled the Fearsome Guardian. The second and third of the Tribe came to the bridge. “Boomity, boom, boom!” went the bridge. “Who’s that booming on my bridge?” growled the Fearsome Guardian. “It is we, Barry and Laurie Firefolk! We must cross the bridge to save the noise makers on the other side, for they are dear to us.” answered they. “Well, must take care of that. Off you go.” growled the Fearsome Guardian. The fourth of the Tribe came to the bridge. “Clickity, clack, clickity, clack!” went the bridge. “Who’s that clacking on my bridge?” growled the Fearsome Guardian. “It is I, Crystal Firefolk! I must cross the bridge to make sure that the sacred symbols strewn upon the peat are safe.” answered she. “Oh, alrighty then.” growled the Fearsome Guardian. The fifth came to the bridge. “Dingity dong, dingity dong!” went the bridge. “Who’s that dinging on my bridge?” growled the Fearsome Guardian. “It is I, Fireman Dan Firefolk! I must cross the bridge to give orders to the other Firefolk, for they are much confused and deep in chaos.” answered he. “Aye,aye Sir! and off you go!” growled the Fearsome Guardian. The next of the Tribe came to the bridge. “Trip, trap, trip, trap!” went the bridge. “Who’s that tripping on my bridge?” growled the Fearsome Guardian. “It is I, Peggy Firefolk! I must cross the bridge, so that I can climb over the gate, so I can run through the darkness to the end of the road, so I can meet the Fire Department, so I can lead them to the Flaming Cauldron!” answered she, out of breath and shifting from one leg to the other. “But, why you, Peggy Firefolk? Why must you take this dangerous assignment, and not another of your Tribe?” queried the Fearsome Guardian. “For behold,” answered brave Peggy, “I can pee standing up!” “Go then, and with all the blessings of Gods and Guardians alike!” growled the Fearsome Guardian. And it came to pass that the Cauldron melted into a bubbling mass, the flames were quenched, and the Land was saved. The End…………….

My labor day weekend celebration... So this weekend was another gathering, semi festival. I get there on thursday after working half the day, then driving 5hrs into the hills. Then the first full day our cook has to leave for the rest of the gathering... something about stopping her meds cold turkey.. anyways you know me, I end up being the cook for EVERYONE for the remainder of the fest. It was just scary, the last time I got sleep was for about 2 hrs sunday morning. I couldnt get the nap I needed sunday night. I dont know.. I was talking to a whole bunch of people. Teaching and counceling.. then I tried to sleep, but I just ended up laying there. So I went to go and sit next to the fire that we all gather at to go to the ritual site. I looked over my shoulder as I was sitting there and saw that over the trees by the ritual circle, you could see a fire. I remember discussing with the fire team that that nights fire needed to be smaller than normal. So I got up to see why they had made it so big. Then I see the flames licking over the tops of the trees.. and I start running towards it. One of the other girls is running towards me saying that the brush caught on fire! I ran to ring the gathering bell, started shouting "FIRE!!" getting people up.. Grabbed all the buckets that we could find, pasta pots, coolers.. were getting them filled with water and had gotten people to get there cars to load them into. As I went running back towards it, letting the others continue to fill the buckets... I was fearing that the ritual space was on fire. The space was made completely out of wood, in the trees, with dried peat to walk on, all our drums were down there, tents, everything.. everything flamable.. And the space is about a half a mile away... But I was running my little ass off to get there.. As I turned the last corner I saw that first: the ritual space was safe and untouched (HUGE sigh of relief) and second: the portapottie was no more.. What we gather happened was the tiki torch next to the porta fell and caught the brush.. which lead to the fuel reserves stored a little ways away.. that was the first blow that I saw.. Then the flames caught the porta.. and you can imagine what happened then. We were able to stop the fire about 10ft from the ritual site. After calming everyone down, we did still end up doing the ritual. Mostly to gather everyone together and get there focus off the events of the evening. The ritual went until dawn like normal. Then it was back to the kitchen for making breakfast and preparing for lunch. Taking down tents and the drive back home. Arriving at around 9:30 PM. So needless to say I havent slept in quite a while.