In September of 2006, as we were driving back from Burning Man exhausted after a week of over-the-top fun, Juanita and I decided that we were going to take a break from Burning Man for 2007. We usually have some project that we are involved in so taking a year off sounded pretty good.

Somewhere along Hwy 95 between Fallon and Las Vegas, only four hours after leaving the playa, this idea for a giant structure smacked me in the head. I played with it in my mind as we drove down the desert road toward home. I knew we weren't going to make this thing but it passed the time.

A week later, the idea hit me again even harder along with the realization that the theme for Burning Man 2007 was going to be The Green Man. At that point I knew we had to create Amphibia. I called Juanita, who was working in Phoenix to tell her the news.

I expected her to be mad at me for trying to get her to give up our break from all the work it takes to go to the playa. I was happily surprised when she said, "Yes!" So, instead of taking a break, we are going off the deep end into a project that is consuming our lives - in a good way.

Our friends jumped off the cliff with us and, at this point, we have a team of dedicated crazies building, donating materials, and brainstorming ideas for Amphibia. This is truly a team effort and, I can already tell, the result is going to be spectacular.

What a ride!

Royce Carlson, A.K.A. Mr. God