Ballooning at the Blake Sea (Updated with SLurl)

The invention of the GPS (Global Positioning System) and its adaptation and application for civilian use have improved my quality of life with at least 5%. It has saved me countless of hours of being lost and searching for the correct direction to go and of making excuses for being late.

I actually like getting lost sometimes, because then I get to go places and meet people I wouldn't have encountered otherwise, but most of the time I simply want to get from point A to point B as fast and easily as possible. Of course I have used written directions earlier and sometimes even maps, but it is so much easier to find your way with a GPS.

My lacking of sense of direction has undoubtedly stopped me from certain activities in first life, and perhaps even in SecondLife. 

 After the party at Whim - Part Deux yesterday evening Tomais suggested that we and Guyke should go ballooning. I was a little hesitant, but allowed myself to go along with the idea. Afterall "Home" is only a teleport away in SecondLife.

First we went to buy some amazing balloons. They were sold for L$10 and parachutes for L$0 by a fabulous creator who had left SecondLife after being dejected and upset by some changes Linden Lab had made to Marketplace. You can get the balloon and parachute here Abbotts Aeronautics (SLurl).

We promptly unpacked the balloons and Tomais took us to a location at the Blake Sea to start our adventure. First we simply had to - of course -texturize our balloons, which was easy with the beautiful textures that Tomais provided and a texture-HUD. (In the middle of the trip I felt adventurous enough to change my balloons texture to the McMillan tartan and Guyke changed textures too, which is why you see our balloons with different textures in the pictures.) That being done, we were ready for take off.

Tomais was an excellent instructor and was completely calm the whole time, although he himself crashed and had to relog in the middle of it all. He found us easily and hitched a ride on my balloon for the remainder of the trip. I felt very safe with his voice in my ears telling us how to maneuver the vessels, what speed and height to set and which direction to fly. 

A cute ass I happened to see over the sea 

Ah, I knew I recognized it!

We had a fantastic time up there in the air, but at some point we would have to land and I was a little worried about that part. What if I made a total fool of myself and landed us in the middle of the sea? Tomais shared some misadventures that had occurred the first times he had tried it, no doubt to take away some of our worries of feeling like fools.

Le Petit Prince

I needn't have worried though, because I did a perfect landing on the small island that Tomais had chosen, well apart from dunking the two of us in water briefly before hitting the designated landing spot dead-center. I was jubilant and elated over my fantastic achievement, Guyke was thrilled too because he also had a safe landing, but not as wonderful as mine. (I will never confess to Guyke, but between us I believe I had some really good beginners luck going for me there.)

Returning to Life

Since I stopped taking the Champix cold turkey last Sunday, I feel myself getting better each day. It's a relief to feel that I can focus again, get things done and that my general mood is improving. I am even starting to like people again.

Yesterday I returned to SecondLife and dropped in at DJ Arcy's set at Butch's Whim - Part Deux. I had a wonderful time with great music and sexy company. This evening everyone there was bouncing around on pumpkins, so I chose a pumpkin and joined in.

"Prime Cut"

DJ Arcy

 

I even succeeded in forcing Butch to give me a good night hug before he went to sleep. He is a bit wary of my "homosocial" habits. This time he only complained that my antlers were sticking through his head.

Impromptu @ Whim

Butch has gotten in to the excellent habit of inviting us to an impromptu set at Club Whim every Sunday before it is time to log off for the Euros. Mellow trance music is soothing and an excellent way to relax.

This Sunday Butch, Guyke, Dej and I were joined by Harli, Eeva, Micky, Jasmine and Amara. (Amara is not in any of the pictures as she came in at the end when I had stopped photographing.) 

The Re-Opening of Whim

During one of our talks last week I mentioned to my son, that he and I had known and loved too many DJ's in SecondLife. The statement is of course true, I would never lie to you all about something so important as love. I am, however, not quite sure what I meant with the comment, because I would not wish not having known and been given the opportunity of loving any of them.

Anyway, last night one of the DJ's my son and I know and love, the incredible, brilliant, sublime and - not to forget - humble Butch Diavolo invited us to the re-opening of his Club Whim, which for no particular reason, other than a whim of the genius himself, was shut down before the summer.

Butch wishes us to think of this as a new club "The Whim - Part Deux", but to me it's still the old Whim in a more dilapidated condition. (Dilapidation is actually more difficult to get right than making something look fresh and new, as the genius will willingly tell you.)

Myself, Guyke, Kiri, Nicky, Butch and Spanki

Guyke, I and the rest of the patrons were treated to one of Butch's best sets of trance music in SecondLife yet. I was almost knocked speechless, which is no easy feat.

Butch and Spanki

Aisha with Pite behind

Monday Lazies

Today I didn't feel like doing anything at all, just hang around and talk with my friends. I think Guyke and Butch felt the same way because we ended up just hanging in Butch's newly remodeled non-club, "Whim - part deux"

Butch has done a wonderful job in recreating his old club, although with my limited powers of observations I did not consciously discover all the small changes until just before I was leaving for the night.