Hot Nerd has left me to go on a “boys trip” for a full week. He, and two of his best buds, are off in the middle of the desert trying to reclaim their youth… or say goodbye to it… I’m not sure which.

Do you know
what
BURNING MAN
is?

Well, Hot Nerd is going to be there.

Basically, it’s a yearly art festival/community/experiment. It takes place in the middle  of the Black Rock Desert, and tens of thousands of people show up every year to create “Black Rock City”.  It’s an experimental community that exists for a week. He’s never been- neither have I, but here’s what I know:

• Each year has a theme- this year is “Metropolis”.
• It’s a gifting society. No buying or selling of goods is allowed. No bartering either. Everyone is expected to “gift” things (food, water, hugs, art, advice, objects- whatever).
• You need a bicycle to explore the miles of camps, music,  and art installations.
• You also need a head lamp to ride at night.
• Hot Nerd and his friends bought Superman costumes, to take part in an effort to break the world’s record for the most “Supermen” gathered in one place. Seriously- I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.
• He also purchased a big box of glow sticks, a neon wig, and several pairs of strange glasses.
• There is no cellphone reception.
• People run around naked. Some don’t… but some do.
• There is a big temple, shaped like a man. It burns.

Hot Nerd has been planning for ages. They have an RV, water, freeze dried food, strange costumes, bikes, goggles for sand storms, and alcohol.

When he first told me he was going, I said “Aren’t you a little old for that?”

But I think what I was really thinking was, “No fair. No fair. No fair.”

Not that he doesn’t deserve this. He’s a hard, full time worker, and is also going to school to get his master’s degree. On top of that, he’s a hands-on dad and husband.

It just seems so… footloose and fancy free to me.

We have both been bogged down by “grown up” life lately.

Plus, well… he’s a nerd! He’s regimented, and borderline OCD, and very set in his ways.

And, okay, I’m jealous.

Yes, I just got back from my awesome girls vacay in Vegas- but this trip of his sounds so crazy, I’m kinda sad I’m not a part of it.

Plus, it’s the hot desert, and he’s going to be shirtless for a week.

He’s been planning for it too.

He’s been tanning for a month or so, because he’s the whitest person to ever exist. He also has been working out religiously, paying special attention to his abs.

I’m not kidding.

Look-

I don't call him HOT Nerd for nothing.

Now, it is entirely possible that a gaggle of naked young ladies, on ecstasy, could come bouncing up to him and invite him to dance in their circle of  praise to the desert spirits.

That kinda makes me uncomfortable.

So he let me do this with my Sharpie-

It doesn’t make up for him going on this expensive, extended, super crazy fun trip, without me.

But it does take the sting out, a little.