LEA13, Floating by Bryn Oh and Cica Ghost

Visit Floating here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA13/128/128/21
Two of my fav SL artists/builders Bryn Oh, and Cica Ghost  teamed up to build "Floating". Basically it seems to be about the disparity between the haves and have nots, wealthy living and poverty housed, with of course. some whimsy and fun to enjoy while exploring the parcel.  There is a zap gun at the landing you can get for free to blast your friends with and you can ride and float around on an umbrella or enjoy smashing into block or have them drop on you.  If you wander this mostly monochromatic landscape you can voyeur into the lives of the wealthy or those of  lower level living or pod housing.  These two artists never disappoint me.  Check it out.

Dallas Jam 2017-Second Life Musicians and Fans in Dallas in First Life

Dallas Jam 2017 -Skip to the bottom if you just want to see photos, this post is long.

See Gwampa/Bruce's professional pics here: http://www.brucel.com/SecondLife/Dallas2K17/
(I'm in 27th-30th and more up close in the 34th and 35th)

And videos (you do have to sign in but its easy to do) here: https://livestream.com/gwampa/jam
If you want to see and here ME (yeah.. finally totally outting myself I guess) check out this one around 6:13  https://livestream.com/gwampa/jam/videos/164690838

As you can tell, I've slowed myself way down in SL the past couple of years and this includes my blog posts and socialization.  I'm still in SL a lot but have mellowed after so many hours/years inworld and have become less productive and more relaxed in my play.   After all this time I've only met one SL resident in first life prior to the Dallas Jam and that was because I was  vacationing in the area. I never intended to meet anyone, as SL was meant to be my down time in the evening after a hard worked day and that's that. But we all know SL friends are more than a hobby really.    This year I broke down and signed up for one of the real/first life music jams I've been hearing about for many years.  Basically the musicians were meeting up and playing their music together in RL and fans started to want to come too.  Way back in the day Linden Labs also used to hold community conventions where people would meet up and socialize in RL, but they went by the wayside some years back.  The music jams have only increased in popularity, size, and excitement.  Facebook has a bunch of first life photos on many of the attendees posts.  And be SURE to see the wedding photos, yes there was a real wedding.. and it was awesome.

I call this my lost files as I was not very good about documenting my fun, didn't even get many selfies until the last day, most my pics turned out in poor quality and I found for the 5th time my lost music jam virgin song we were GOING to sing but never seemed to get to, so I'll just write out here on my post.  Gwampa/Bruce documents very well anyway, so if you want to check out his photos and video you should check out his sites/links above. The big group photos were taken in the Halloween costume theme and unfortunately I had my mask on but remembered to lift it up for the "ladies" group shot and the "virgins" group shot.  The virgins are first time jammers and this year there were only 9 of us and the rest have all been to at least one before.  They say if you go to one you'll want to get to more.. I feel that way too.

Highlights for me: 

Time with friends, old and new, music, THE WEDDING (Taunter/Deb and Rob), costumes, A 1:30am fire alarm and evacuation, blue jello shots, spiked gummies, chocolate pudding shots, moonshine, Tiaras and pearl necklaces all around, speedo, furry shenanigans, and did I mention THE MUSIC and THE PEOPLE. 

Thank Yous: 
Since this is my blog and was made initially mostly for myself to save my good SL memories and somehow morphed into a full fledged blog before everyone and their brother started blogging too, I still want to use a lot of words and pictures and save my memories of my first SL jam here, so bear with me or move on to the photos if you like.

 I want to say a huge thanks to a few people in particular.  First of all Renee / Luka =host, Bruce /Gwampa Lomasky=video/photographer, Matthew =sound guy (who also sings and plays multiple instruments), ALL the musicians for some amazingly talented and entertaining music, and special residents who helped make my first visit more comfortable and welcome, Cryptic Harmony, OMG, way fun and sweet, adorable and so talented too (be sure to hear her shows inworld) Jorrdan Jarrman, of Whispering Sands Live Promotions, a good friend who was also a first timer, Toysoldier Thor, another good friend and so much fun! (I think he goes to all of them and knows the ropes and contributes a lot to the fun and errr the Facebook posts LOL), Agatha and Collin, both beautiful inside and out and welcoming to everyone, (again be sure to catch their inworld shows) Gina Stella, so talented, pretty, and sweet and we reconnected the last night after having known of each other years ago (of course I've also caught many of her shows), Maddy, she was awesome and I noticed made a point of making the rounds talking to and greeting everyone and chatting, super friendly, I think she said manager for Hogan, Kat, glad to get to know you better and you and Cryptic were so fun (OMG the costumes), Hunson and J, love your sounds and spirit, Lyndon Heart (Not sure I'll ever wash that kiss off my cheek you talented man), Maurice and Meegan (Jeff/singer, and Meegan/After Dark Venue) so good to get to know you!, Thunder, just wow on those drums, nice to meet you. Elske!, Eli,  and some others I briefly connected or  reconnected with after having known them more in the past inworld, Art, Starfish, Crap (We needed more time and a photo!),  and some new friends,... ok wait.. I"m about to list everyone at the jam for something special about each of them, I better stop here but you all know you are special.  Just like Second Life each of the attendees contributed something special to my experience. THANK YOU JAMMERS

And now the Dallas Jam specifics:
Location: Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham DFW Airport North 5000 Plaza Drive Irving, TX 75063 +1-972-871-1412
Date: Oct. 19-22, 2017
Attendee, Musicians and Fans:-Musicians: Agatha Nowles, Arturo Martinsyde, Bat Masters, Bearsheart, Benude Cleanslate, Beth Odets, Boney Mosely, ChicagoSax, Chris Darkstone, Collin Martin, Cryptic Harmony, Djembe Dragonfire, Edward Lowell, Effie Emmons, Gandalf Mornington, Gina Stella, Hojo Warf, Hunson Abadeer, ohbehave (J. Lively), Juel Resistance, Katydid Something, Krell Karu, Levi Hyx, Lyndon Heart, Mamma Saiz, Matthew Perreault, Maurice Mistwalker, One2Luv Resident, Porter Paquot, PT Beardmore, Seren McGillivary, Starrfish Ohmai, Strum Diesel, Taunter Goodnight, Thuderfoot Lorefield, Twostep Spiritweaver, Wofie Moonshadow,

-Super Fans: Asonga Strangelove, Bob Bowie Zeplin, Byte, Cellandra Zon, Crap Mariner, Dak Harbinger, Dana Desiree Cleanslate, dls Falconer, DniasRos (Ross), Electra Spearson, Eli Schlegal, ElskeKolbu, Fetzer Magic, Fijilove, Gwampa Lomu, Guru Witt, Harley Wytchwood, jared swords, Jim Urso, Jorrdan Jarman, Kachja Mistwalker, Kara Trapdoor, Kat Chauveau, Kate Hershey, Kiki Utherwurdly, Lark Ascending, Lita Windstrom, LoganSands, Maddi Thespian, Marissa Goodliffe, Meegan Danitz, Mia Kitchensink, Michael (With Katydid), Nyna Slate, Poppy McDunnough, Riley Boccaccio, Sedna Lomu, Serenity Dimanovic, Smidge Frimon, Stephanie Merrienboer, Suzzie Halsey, SydneyBristo, Tara Reardon, Tay Beningborough, thknrdy Resident, Toysoldier Thor, Tyche Szondi, Vala Lunamor, Vette Sweetwater, Zany Xevious, Zarah Dawn

The Virgin Song that Never was:  

The Virgins traditionally pose for a photo so it's there for a keepsake.  This was MY first year so I was into this.  This years virgins were: Myself, Kiki Underwurldly, Starfish Ohmai, J Lively, Jorrdan Jarrman, Jared Swords, Electra Spearson, and
You can see the pic of us here, sans Jorr.... who knows where he went. Virgins here: http://www.brucel.com/SecondLife/Dallas2K17/i-DBTJMr2/A
http://www.brucel.com/SecondLife/Dallas2K17/i-DBTJMr2/A
Gwampa told the virgins we had 2 jobs, 1) Make our virgin poster for the picture and be on time for it and 2) sing a song as the virgin group. 

The Song (sung to the turn of Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay)
Lyrics by Starfish, myself, and Kiki threw together in a few minn over lunch.

Sitting at the Dallas Jam,
All Virgins ..2 girls and 2 mans
Watching all the jello shots go in
Then we all wanna be back here again

Virgins for the very last time
Just give us a call for a good time
Thanks for letting us join in
This song is our initia-shin
(kneels with arms up-"Supa-Stars"!!

Too bad we didnt sing it LOL  It seemed like a better idea at the time when we were writing it but maybe not : )

Considering Attending One?
And finally a word to all considering a jam, I've heard people are nervous not really "knowing" anyone, or how they might appear to others who only know them as their beautiful 25 year old avatar or whatever the concerns I've heard are, but this group has enough repeat participants at each that they seem to recognize the first timers and embrace them, and even if they don't know you they are all super welcoming to all.  It's like one big happy beautiful family made up of people of all ages over 21, (at least I think Hunson is over 21) and up, all shapes and sizes and political affiliation, and personalities coming together for the love of music and Second life.  5 minutes and I'm sure anyone would feel comfortable here.  Alcohol does help however.

Request:
I'm starting to have withdrawal, can't anyone with a sim pull off a inworld Dallas Jam 2017 reunion? Like each singer gets a song in the hour then I can see the SL names/avatars to go with the RL persons I met that I didnt previously know and friend them inworld too!

My Photos: 
(Actually the one of me and Agatha she took with the selfie stick so credits to her, and she got a nice one/better quality, all my stuff is starting to go downhill smh)

(If you really want to know whose is who, click on the pic and the Flickr linked will list most of them-I know a couple are doubled, sorry, there were so many I wanted to collage them and got confused and too burned out with that to go back and fix )

Dallas Jam 2017 Here I come

Dallas Jam Facebook site here: https://www.facebook.com/events/245253829237984/

Most of you probably already know about the SL Live Music Jams that are held periodically in real/first life.  Musicians have been meeting up in groups for years and more and more fans have been joining them. This will be my first music jam and although it runs Oct. 19-22, I'll be going down for Friday evening the 20th and leaving Monday the 23rd.  People sign up for them months in advance and then have the opportunity to fall out if things are not going to work for them leaving the waiting list in suspense for a spot.  This jam there will be approx 100 SL residents meeting up in Dallas for a weekend of fun, live music, and getting to know their SL friends in RL.  Some of you may remember the good old SL days when Linden Labs actually hosted community get togethers in RL in a similar fashion.  The music jams are actually hosted by residents who are willing to put their efforts into the arrangements and some regulars like Gwampa/Bruce who records videos so those who cant make it can see photos, video, and some live stream.  There are also sound people and most the musicians bring their own equipment and take turns preforming.  If you want to follow along this time head over to the link above starting Friday evening.  If you enjoy the SL fantasy, keep in mind people really do not look much if at all like their avatars.  There is another site for the jams in general if you want to stay posted on the jams and upcoming events here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SLlivemusicjams/
Until Friday......

Dark Moon, the Calas Galadhon's Halloween Sim Opens to the Public Oct 1,2017

Visit Dark Moon here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/EREBOR/128/128/2

Here is the official Calas Galadhon's web page: https://calasgaladhon.com/

Here we go again.. the greatly anticipated annual Halloween sim by Ty Tenk and Truck Meredith that is always unique and always a great explore and fun time.  I won't say much as it really just needs to be seen and explored by everyone.  These are always some of the best SL has to offer and not to be missed.  A few bits from the notes then some teaser pics.  A hint:  follow the guide persons and lights.  There are so many options, I'm not gonna lie, yes I did get lost in the lower passageways for quit some time. (again keep in mind my poor laptop is aging and wont do it justice and should be experienced in person, plus somewhere along the way my windlight got changed and I eventually noticed and put it back to the sim windlights so some pics look very diff in diff lighting) ....

At the landing grab the note card and enjoy their suggested windlights. Listen to the sounds, try all the passageways, savor it all... it's not about making it to the mothership quickly it's about the adventure. Oh, and don't forget to tip, it's worth it and we want to see these special sims continue for years to come. Thanks and enjoy.

"YOUR GOAL: To reach the ”MOTHERSHIP" which is our live music venue for our October performances. While there grab a copy of the October calendar of events.  All events will be costume with an alien/sci fi theme "

"This year’s Halloween build has FOUR levels:

Level One: The Cargo Ship “CS UTOPIA”. The ship is large so you’ll want to explore ALL areas of the ship. A ‘PORTAL’ to the next level is also found here.

Level Two:  The moon’s surface. Both the DARK MOON SHUTTLE TOUR & the CAVERN ENTRANCE can be found there. Arrows will help point the way. There is no Portal at this level, but the way to the next level is clear.

Level Three: ‘THE CAVERN & EGG ROOM’ the cavern is a very large one and has several levels of its own. You will want to take your time in the cavern as you travel DOWN to its floor. "

Level Four: The Mothership- at the moon's core.  Music venue and ultimate destination.

(lots more pics on my flickr .. just click on one of the above pics to get there)

Split Screen at LEA15 For Everywhere Nowhere and The Games We Play

Visit Split Screen at LEA15 here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA15/138/129/551

My friend Dividni Shostakovich hosts LEA15 this round and currently has two exhibits there to enjoy through the end of the month.  There is The Games we Play which is like a giant room of chess pieces that are much larger than life size by Krystali Rabeni.  On anther several levels there is Everywhere Nowhere by Jade Yu Fhang. Be sure you click around as you can pose and animate in some place.  I took a few pics of course.

AMG Haunted Portraits

AMG Haunted Portraits in Second Life available now on SL Marketplace here:https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/AMG-Haunted-Portraits-Complete-Set/12722685
 https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/AMG-Haunted-Portrait-Debutante/12722682

These super cool pictures have multiple animations, sounds, and various other options.  This video does not do them justice as my poor laptop isn't so great for video any more but you can get the idea.. a must-see in person.  These are made by my friend Will Burns/Aeonix Aeon in Second life.  Halloween is coming!

Jack Slade at Boda Live

Visit Boda Live here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunset%20Cove/224/60/22

Find out more about Jack Slade here: https://www.jackslademusic.com/
and his FB here: https://www.facebook.com/MAJJackSlade

I caught a great live music set by Jack Slade at the venue Boda Live (which I"ve previously blogged) and was impressed with his fantastic smooth voice and guitar playing.  Be sure to catch him in SL and visit this cool venue too.  He's so great I wanted to get him on my blog and here he is....