Strum @ Stargazer's (Updated)

What can I say, except that it was wonderful to hear Strum Diesel singing again. It's been a long time since the last time I heard him, much too long.

The cat on the dance floor  is the very courageous Eliza Cabassoun, a long time Strum Diesel fan like myself, in her latest avatar.

Update
Strum Diesel's meat-avatar, Sean Kagalis, has a homepage here. You can listen to some of his music there. There are also links to where you can buy his music and awesome merchandise like this t-shirt - which is a Must Have!

Strum At Kannoji Zen

I have had withdrawal symptoms for the longest time now because I haven't gotten the recommended dose of Strum Diesel.

Well today I finally caught up with him again, even if I had to sneak up on him in the middle of my night (7 PM SLT) at the beautiful fireplace in the woods at the Kannoji Zen venue. Although, as he told me, he nowadays also has a set at 1 PM SLT on Sundays.

Let me tell you, our wonderful and talented green-haired boy has been extremely productive the last few months and has loads of new songs, all great. You can buy Sean Kagalis/Strum Diesels music at cdbaby.

The Last C&P Show

When I got the news that Circe Broom was shutting down the Laurel Arts sim I was devastated. I have spent many hours of my SecondLife there enjoying poetry, live performances, comedy acts and last - but in no way least - "The Coffee and Pajamas Jazz Show with Elfay Pinkdot" (C&P) together with Ars, with friends or on my own.

Circe Broom, owner of the Laurel Arts sim

I first knew off C&P and met with DJ Elfay Pinkdot at the Saturday and Sunday shows that were held at Second Pride Festival of 2008. I was blown away by this chatty DJ who played great music while having an interactive banter with those at the show in SecondLife or listening in on radio and who were sending her messages by text or mail.

DJ Elfay Pinkdot in action

Everyone didn't get or like the format of the show, which relies heavily on audience participation and Elfay´s communication with us throughout the show. But I was thrilled and excited as many of the regulars who lovingly came week after week for Elfay, the music and the other regulars (in that order). Circe herself and her lover Vince were almost always there. Circe acting as a safe anchor and participating with the rest of us.

Margo, Carol, I and Diana

After Ars passed away I rarely left the home sim for a long time except for sets by Bara Jonson and Strum Diesel or events at OrmDricka and the C&P. These places I felt loved, welcomed and fairly safe. I cannot say how I would have managed without them, but I am happy they were there when I was in need.

Margo, Carol, I, Joetonight and Diana

As I was preparing for the last show of C&P at Circe´s Sunset Jazz Club I was sad but at the same time happy, because although I knew this was the last time I would be going there I would also meet the other regulars who had become my fiends, Circe, Elfay, Diana, Carol, Joetonight, Margo, Ex, Mari (who unfortunately could not be there this Sunday), DoubleDown Tandino (whom I meanly have renamed DDT for short) and more, many more.

It is sad when good things come to an end, but I for one will relish in the sweet memories of those days until I lose my mind or die. The last show was a Valentines Day celebration, if you should wonder about all the hearts.

The regulars assembled for a last shot

Joetonight

Bock

Celebrate with Mid

My friend the beautiful, creative and always busy Midnattsdotter Fride (Mid or Fride, to those of us who love her) is celebrating her rezday today and invites us all to join in.

Teleportation service to the Legolas Beach (SLurl)

Happy rezday, dearest Mid! I am already getting excited to listen to strum Diesel at your beach again, the very same place where I heard him the first time:

We Owe Them Gratitude - SEMA 2011

Day in and day out, week after week and all year long they work tirelessly to give the rest of us in the Swedish community in SecondLife, and our International friends, a possibility to meet, chat, dance, listen to music, meditate and have a good time together.

We owe these avatars loads of gratitude and love for doing that!

Apollon Allen, Vira Broome and NE0 Timeless got together and created "The Swedish Event Makers Award" (SEMA). The purpose of the SEMA is to celebrate the creative and committed avatars for their efforts during the past year.

"The only thing wrong with the SEMA", said the Much Honored Bock McMillan, laird of Southern Charm and prince of Cascade Falls in an interview to CNN today, "is that I didn't come up with the damn excellent idea myself. Of course I will be there - and in full colors - to give back a little to all these these wonderful people!"

Ms Gittrika Mint : Proprietor of Måndagsbörsen (The Monday Exchange) where she has a theme party every Monday evening. She also runs Greenroom on Wednesdays for formal dances.
The Monday Exchange (SLurl)

Ms Iendi Laville: Proprietor of La Grenouille Inn where she throws parties with live music and also proprietor of the inworld radio channel "The Swedish Transistor".
YADKIN VALLEY (SLurl)

Mrs Vampi Twine-DeSantis-McMillan (honorary) and Sergeant at Arms sirhc DeSantis-McMillan (adopted) owners of Club OrmDricka (by the laird and his clan lovingly referred to as OD) where they throw parties - with or without themes - every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
ORMDRICKA (SLurl)

The Connemara Hills collective: (Mrs. Rultan Zeppelin, Mrs Blanche Argus, Mr. Peppe & Mrs Trulte Firecaster who own and operate Connemara Hills together) The collective has a Celtic evening every month and arranges meditation sessions every Friday.
CONNEMARA HILLS (SLurl)

Princess Midnattsdotter Fride, lovingly referred to as Mid or Fride: owner and operator of the Frides Club & Lounge, where she has events once a week with International DJ:s and Fride Live with International Live Musicians once a month (this was the venue where the laird heard the awesome Strum Diesel the very first time)

LEGOLAS SIM (SLurl)

Mrs Ewa Aska: Proprietor of Viking land of Birka where the theme is mostly viking, but she also arranges Bollywood parties once in awhile. (Earlier venues have been Vadstena Castle and The Ice Hotel - ahhhh all the great memories I have of that beautiful venue)
VIKING LAND (SLurl)

Ms Kicki Spingflower : Proprietor of "Club Kicki´s Jetty" where she has tea dances in the mornings and nude parties on Fridays.
KICKI´S JETTY (SLurl)

Ms Fia Wycliffe: Proprietor of Fia´s Porch Club where she - usually on Fridays - throws parties that are called "Friday cozy ups"
FIA´S PORCH (SLurl)

Mr Alfdeejay Cooper: Proprietor of the Avalon Club & Garden Beach and Xanadu Club. At Xanadu Club the theme is usually ´80s or Disco. He also owns and operates the radio channel Alfdeejay Radio around the clock.

AVALON (SLurl) and XANADU (SLurl)

Mr Ix Heron: Proprietor of Euroclub, where he DJ´s himself on the theme Eurovision. .
EUROCLUB (SLurl)

Ms Jini Shearer: Co-proprietor of the September Rainforest which is a sim filled with romance, beautiful waterfalls and a dance floor in the middle of the jungle (great for dating and marriages)
SEPTEMBER RAIN (SLurl)

Be there or be square!
...and for the love of everything that is important to you lets show them all our love and gratitude by having FUN!

What: The SEMA 2011
When Saturday February 4, 2012, 1 PM - 3 PM SLT
Where: Fallen Gods Club (SLurl) (Reopening of the club)
Who: Everyone who wants to see Swedes go crazy is invited
Clothing: Gala/Formal (which means tartan for me)
Host/DJ: Apollon Allen

Rock Against Hunger With Strum

I have always been a huge fan of Strum Diesel, the wonderful greenhaired singer/songwriter with the fast lyrics with meaning and a mellow warm voice. He can be serious, he can be fun but he is always charming!

As I haven´t been in-world that much lately it was good seeing and listening to him and his husbanager Stirred Diesel.

The benefit "Rock Against Hunger" took place at a new venue for me named SuperStar. People were friendly and the hosting was good even if I believe the three hostesses could have held back on the gesturbating a bit, especially when the guest artist was on stage singing or playing his music.

 

A wonderfully constructed avatar - Vrill Tone

We Crashed the Sim

Photo courtesy of my buddy Apmel Goosson

Yesterday was a messy day in SecondLife, partly I guess due to the usual overpopulation during weekends but Linden Lab seems to be doing some major overhaul of their servers also. I crashed two times the same evening, which actually hasn't happened for a very long time.

Anyway, as I promised in my post yesterday, I could be found at the Fride Club & Lounge´s fourth jubilee most of the evening.

My friend and the club owner Midnattsdotter "Mid" Fride gave us a great line-up of amazing live artists this evening, among which could be found my buddy Strum Diesel. Zelator Bahomet, Mid´s business partner, had built an wonderful set befitting the theme of the party, "Super Mario Characters".

All of Mid´s patrons came teleporting in to celebrate Mid and the club, which eventually led to the sim crashing on us. I have always maintained, "Every great party needs at least one sim-crash!" 

The sim-crash occurred during The Rails set, and after that I unfortunately had some troubles with getting the sound to work properly. This meant I had to raise my volume way high to hear Hazideon Zarco and Strum Diesel sing, but still had difficulty hearing them talk between the songs. The sound problem seemed to have solved itself by the time the last artist, AM Quar, started his set but by then I was too tired to stay.

Overall I had a wonderful time and saw many friends and others.

Saturday Fun

Among all the other events going on in SecondLife on a Saturday evening I would especially like to recommend the following two.

My friend Midnattsdotter "Mid" Fride and her crew are celebrating the 4th anniversary of Fride Club & Lounge with an impressive line up of great SecondLife entertainers for four hours, featuring among others my buddy Strum Diesel. This event starts at 12 PM SLT with a new artist/group every hour. Theme for the party is "Super Mario characters".

This is the event I will try to squeeze in to. The line starts behind me, don´t use your elbows but any other body part is OK, with the exception of boobs!

SLurl to the party

The second event I would like to recommend is arranged by the great LGBT news blog Gay World News and starts at 8 PM SLT (which is 5 AM for me so I will most likely miss it).

This party takes place at the BLU club at Boystown and the theme is "Super Villains". The event will be covered by GWN in-world.

SLurl to the BLU Club

Second Pride 2011 - Satisfaction Survey

The organizers are asking us to do a satisfaction survey on Second Pride 2011. Please click on the picture above to get to the survey!

I have a few views which I have already shared in doing the survey.

It was a great party and the DJ´s were awesome. I had a lot of fun and met old and new friends but

• I would have preferred if everything had taken place in the same area
• I missed the opening and closing ceremonies
• I missed the opening and closing parades
• I missed the live acts (below I mention a few that I am sure would have loved to be there)
• Bara Jonson
• Strum Diesel
• Jaynine Scarborough
• SOAR
• Junivers Stockholm and the Cardinals and
• DJ Elfay Pinkdot with her Coffee and Pajamas Jazz show

Burning Bridges

Photography by Tim Barber

Well life sort of sucks right now, and I really brought it on through my own actions. I now feel like the man on the amazing picture above by Tim Barber, caught on a bridge and trying to escape the fire.

Ever since my Ars died (there I finally wrote that horrid four-letter word) I have enveloped myself in a cocoon of safety that the Swedish community in SecondLife has kindly offered me. The only places outside of that "safe haven" - which have offered me the sense of safety that I required - have been Elfay Pinkdot´s show at The Circe´s Sunset Jazz Club and Chade Dagger´s club The Den together with Strum Diesel´s and Bara Jonson´s gigs have been the limits of my SecondLife world outside of my home sim.

Recent events and ghosts from the past have forced me to understand that this cannot go on any longer. I must widen my world in SecondLife again, either that or leave it. And I do not wish to leave so there only remains one real alternative for me.

There will of course still be places in the Swedish community that will always feel like a second home to me, places like OrmDricka to mention only one. So I will not burn any bridges, but I will start asking myself and many people on my friends list if we actually still are friends or if we ever have been.

SecondLife is huge and wonderful and has so much more to offer, but I hope to run across some of you out there!

Fourth Rezday Party Pictures - UPDATED!!!

Sorry for the delay with this post but I have a real life too ya know...

The pictures are mostly the gracious gifts of my dear friends Diana (surname withheld) and Joetonight Starship, one was stolen from my darling sister Millimina Salamanders blog and a few are my own.

All did not get captured on film by either Joe or Diana and they had - alas - both left us before the hunkalicious men from Club Erotes joined us. At a fast glance I can also see we missed taking pictures of Stirred, and many, many more but we were over 35 avatars a good while so...If anyone has more pictures and don´t mind sharing them with me, please send them to me!

Update 11 PM SLT (7 AM CET the next morning): I have now added a few pictures stolen from Apmel Goossons blog, that include Adrina, Sarco, Svessa, Vanadis, Chade, Volker and ush...

Update 10:30 AM (6:30 PM CET); I have added a picture of Apmel´s buttock cleavage on his insistence and for your comparison.


My deepest thanks again to everyone who came and to everyone who could not come due to real life or other reasons, but most of all to my wonderful family who convinced me this was a good idea and arranged it all with the wonderful surprise performances by DJ Andrey (my BIL and the other rezday boy), Strum Diesel, Bara Jonson, legendary DJ Sarco and last but in no way least Apmel Goosson for showing cleavage.

DJ Sarco - stolen from Apmel Goosson

ush in front of the shirtless gay men, Adrina dancing with Bock, Chade with Volker, Frost with Svessa - stolen from Apmel Goosson

Vanadis in her "Bock" t-shirt, Kandi, Frost and Svessa - stolen from Apmel Goosson

Photo stolen from Millimina Salamander

Andrey (my BIL), Frosts back and Millimina (my sister) - Diana

Ciroc and Andrey - Joetonight Starship

Andrey - Joetonight Starship

Joe himself with Apmel and Millimina - Joetonight Starship

Apmel - Joetonight Starship

Blanche - Joetonight Starship

Bock, in the background you see Diana and her hubby Hunter dancing - Diana

Bock study, in the background Valter and May - Joetonight Starship

Bock again - Diana

Bara

Strum

Bara attacked by a crazy stalker

Bock - Joetonight Starship

Ciroc showing his perky ass - Joetonight Starship, and below - for my readers comparison of cute buttocks -
is Apmel showing his cleavage for us also.

Dejerrity - Diana

Dejerrity and Bock partying - Joetonight Starship

Frost and Millimina - Joetonight Starship

The Cuteness and Coolness, Guyke and Janttu - Diana

C & C - Joetonight

Joeh - Joetonight Starship

Kandi - Joetonight Starship

Lunata - Joetonight Starship

Mialinn - Joetonight Starship

Millimina - Diana

Millimina - Joetonight Starship

Minoa - Joetonight Starship

Party people, party! - Diana

Strum - Diana

Wizanna - Diana

Vampi & sirhc, Joe, Apmel and Frost in background - Joetonight Starship