Chicken Valhalla

I decided the other day that I was over my chickens. Finally. The moment has left the building. Or something.

But I wanted to give them a good end. An honourable end. Something memorable and worthy of them.

I've heard of people blowing theirs up, running them over, shooting them, kicking seven shades of crap out of them and bouncing them from 3000m. All of these lack a little panache though, I reckon. I wanted to create something memorable.

In this post, Tony Curtis's part will be played by myself, while the Kirk Douglas's part will be played by eight chickens.

So yeah, a memorable end. I wanted to see them on to a better life. To send them to chicken heaven in style. And what has more style that a Viking funeral? Sending off the dead to chicken Valhalla to evermore feast and frolic, waited on by chicken valkyries. If I was a chicken, it would be my idea of heaven. And how I'd want to go.

It was going to take a little arranging, but I knew I could give the chooks an admirable goodbye.

The first job was find a Viking longboat. And to transfer the chickens to said boat. The second part of this was easier said than done due to their innate desire to want to return 'home'. Fortunately I had a willing accomplice on hand to move the chickens and hold them in place while I touched them and typed quickly to 'home' them.


They looked a little uneasy over there on the boat, bobbing up and down with the swell of the sea. I think they looked a whole lot more uneasy when I pulled a bow, an arrow and a Zippo out of my inventory.


The first shot fell short. The second shot sailed over the bows. The restless chickens definitely picked up on the warning shot. But the third shot dropped perfectly into the bowels of the longboat. With a whoosh and a puff smoke the flames began to spread.


It didn't take long for the flames to take. And spread. The boat was wooden after all. I'm sure the squawking of the chickens got a lot more deliberate and panicked at this stage. I couldn't hear it though, over the laughing from the girly next to me. "OMG. This is all sorts of wrong" was a rough approximation of her sentiments. Between the laughs.


The longboat burned long into the night. I stood there on the foreshore in the shadows of the flickering glow. Watching. Reminiscing. Taking in that oh-so-good chargrilled chicken fragrance.


So, as the longboat drifted off into the night, glowing brightly against the dark sky and even darker sea, I contemplated my feelings. Was I sad? I had expected to be but no, I wasn't. Maybe the send off had been some sort of flame-grilled closure. We'd been through a lot but I'd sent them on their way with glorious honour.

Alternatively it may be that I wasn't sad because I was already too busy contemplating what I was going to do with an extra 200 prims.

I've heard tell of a yard sale close to my little mudmound that's happening this weekend. Do you think anyone would want to buy one slightly charred Viking longboat?

Ok, so that's the chickens gone. What's the next craze I can jump on the bandwagon of well over two months late? I've got 200 spare prims after all...

A minor celebration

I made my first ever sale on XStreet today!

Well, I thought it was exciting. Mildly exciting, at least.

I will get truly excited when someone I don't know makes a purchase.

Normal service is restored

After a small emotional hiccup yesterday a few slaps round the face, a few encouraging words, and a few correctly placed hugs have got me back on track. Some people are lovely, y'know?

And what better way to get back on top of things than attending a gig by my fave SL performer. It is rare I make her gigs because of the old timezone thingummy but today everything was in alignment for me to catch the mellow guitar and vocal stylings of Miss Starflower Orbit for a second time.


And just like last time she rocked. It was just the chill pill I needed.


I have been trying to persuade friends to go along to Starflower's gigs when they're on, even if I'm not inworld, but with no success so far.

Today, being inworld, I was determined to spread the word and invited a couple of friends to join me. You'll have to ask them for a definitive answer, but I am pretty sure Lysi, Lolita and Boss enjoyed Starflower's music.

Time heals all wounds

I was told something yesterday that shocked me. It gave me a stark and bitter warning as to the potential effect our actions in SL can have on those around us and their RL.

I've hardly ever managed to affect someone's RL with my RL to the same degree so to hear that a particular course of events in my SL have had such repercussions is sobering.

There are many things said and done beyond those that I will mention on here mainly because they are not solely mine to share. Truths shared and reality bared, if you will. I will not betray that trust.

And yet I had to write this. I want this post to serve as a warning to you all. Please never forget that people sit behind those avatars. What we do and say impacts the lives of others.

I am almost ready to walk away from my SLife.

I know I should not feel guilty. But I do.

Out of the blue - *please*

The are few things I enjoy more in SL than receiving a random IM. Ok, ok, so I don't mean a truly random IM like "Emancipated pudding hurlers!" or anything like that. I mean specifically IMs out of the blue from complete strangers who read my blog and just want to wave hello. It happens, you know, every now and then. And it's just soooooo encouraging and heart-warming and other snugly stuff ending in -ing.

It is always so nice to meet readers inworld. Especially when they're friendly and don't bite. Some people are uncomfortable sending unsolicited IMs but I say sod it. Who is ever going to mind a hello from a potential new friend and a little ego rub?

Last night was just an occasion. There was me, just sat around, when up pops an IM from someone with a name seemingly from a 2nd century BC Sanskrit play. A little chat later and I nipped over to her skybox to chat a bit more although to be honest her prog rock radio feed was not quite my personal cup of tea ;)


We ended up just hanging a while and discussing music tastes, AO peculiarities and what SL means to each of us. Most pleasant.

She said, that from reading my blog, she picked up that I "get" SL. I am not sure I agree. I don't "get" SL. It is more that I get what SL is for me. It's different for everyone and it just takes some time sometimes to work it out for yourself.

I know I've talked about it before, and to be honest, I am sure I'll cover it again, but heck, I'm gonna talk about it anyhow. It's my blog :p

So what exactly do I "get" about SL and what it is for me?

SL is different for all of us. I don't make it more than it is and I definitely don't make it less than it is. For me it's a way to meet friends. And a way to see nice places. And a way to be blown away by the imagination and creativity of others. It really is that simple. SL just fills the gaps in RL.

With that general umbrella arching over everything I do in SL, as if I'm ever going to mind a random IM from a blog reader. So if you're sat there reading but don't know me. Say hello sometime. I won't bite either.

Oh, and as a last thought - "Eggs have no business dancing with rocks" says the old Italian proverb. Just a little something for you to contemplate over the weekend.

Beautiful Freaks

It's an interesting title for a blog post, eh? Beautiful Freaks. Beautiful Freaks. Beautiful Freaks. Tell me though, what did you expect to find here? Borked rezzing incidents? Avs with extra prim-limbs? Bearded ladies that are stunning as well as hirsute?

If you'd guessed any of the above you'd wrong. Because Beautiful Freaks is actually the name of a show coming soon to a Second Life near. Actually 'show' is too light a word. I think 'extravaganza' is probably more apt.

Part of the creation and performance team, Chryblnd Scribe describes the extravaganza as "a creative venture where burlesque meets metal, featuring exotic acts, dancers, and SL innovation". I don't know about you but I'm intrigued already. She goes on that the event is "jam-packed with entertainment, charisma and the very best no-drama atmosphere inworld." Yup, I'm sold.


Beautiful Freaks starts this Friday, the 4th September, at 7pm SLT. And it runs till 10pm. 7-10pm!?! That's like three whole hours of "Burlesque meets Metal under the Big Top". But if you can't make it this week, do not fear, as it is running every Friday night during September.


I can't find the exact SLurl for the place at the moment, and I'm not inworld, so you'll have to make do with this one. TP over to Idle Rogue (right in front of my gallery!) and turn round, the circus tent is behind you. I'll see you there!

Swirly Disco Flames

A little while ago I mentioned that I had a business idea. I also mentioned that I wasn't going to be put off despite someone kinda doing the same thing (although not as well!) already. I ploughed on blindly regardless and am at a stage now where I can share news of some developments.


Swirly Disco Flames is officially open for business!

And I've made two sales already! Woohoo!

The place is finished, apart from a few final tweaks. But while those go on, the place is most definitely open. Come on down to Idle Rogue when you have a few spare minutes and check it all out. I'd love some independent feedback :)

You never know you might even get a photo opp with the artist himself ;p


I intend to have a grand opening party ("GOP") (which you're all invited to, of course) and I'll have news about that as and when plans begin to firm up. There is a group set up for my place too, if you want real up-to-the-minute news on the GOP, but at the moment I haven't figured out how to sort a group joiner thingy for the front of the gallery. You can find the group in my profile though and join that way if you're keen.

But yeah, other than that, please enjoy my work :)