I want to thank everyone who participated in the Charity Auction yesterday at C2P.  It was a lot of fun and best of all we raised a good deal of money.  I believe we had about 150,000L last night so a HUGE thank you to everyone!!

There will be a donation box out at the Crown and Pearl for anyone who wishes to donate but couldn’t attend yesterday.  Remember, last year we raised over 1 million lindens!!!!!

Every little bit helps and counts so if you can spare some lindens, put them in the box.

Thank you to Prad for DJing and assisting with the auction.

Thank you to Lands for all the notices and promotion of the event.

Again, thank you to everyone who donated or agreed to be auctioned off!

LOL I know, silly title but what else would say it quite so well?  See, nothing so there you go.

As my lovely friends will attest I’ve been suspiciously absent from the Crown and from their IM windows.  I haven’t even bugged them for new Gallery photos although they will get that poke later when I get home.  Hint hint

So, where have I been?   I’ve been roleplaying in Midian  and I’ve been hanging out with a very special neko that I adore and who adores me.  We partnered last weekend and I couldn’t be happier.  We talked that night about having a wedding ceremony, he said he’d do it if I wanted it.  He offered, is this guy great or what….  So, we’ll be having a wedding and a christening at St Michael’s parish in Midian.  Details will be forthcoming when I know what they are – lol.

I know I said I’d never get married again in SL but this is different.  He’s different.  I’ll spare you all the soppy details.  He knows how I feel about him and that’s all that matters.

The Crown and Pearl Charity Auction is this weekend.  We’ve had quite a few people sign up to be auctioned off.  It’s a good cause, Cancer Research so come out on Sunday and bid on someone or just dump some lindens in the donation box.  The Auction itself is Sunday at 1pm SLT at the C2P on Angel Square.  Join the Crown and Pearl group for updates on the auction and all the other great events and DJs.

The Gallery of Light theme should be changing this weekend.  The new theme is Respect.  The artwork I’ve seen so far is amazing.  We have a new addition to the gallery; Elise Capalini.  Welcome Elise, we’re happy to have you join the family.

The Angel Square market/mall is open and starting to fill in.  If you are looking for store space let me know.  Come down and take a walk through the gallery and the stores opening, there’s some truly cute items there.

So that’s what’s new and notable in my world for now.

Quick update:  I’m 3 days without a single complaint!  Woohoo Go me!

Well it’s that time of year again.   Time for the Crown and Pearl’s annual charity date auction.   That’s right, the regulars and staff are putting themselves up on the auction.   What do you get if you out bid everyone else and “win” one of these awesome folks?   You win a one hour date.  What you two do on your date is up to you.   We don’t wanna know.  No, really we don’t. 

So how does it work?  Well if you’d like to be “auctioned” off, then contact me by Thursday and I’ll add you to the list.   The you need to come to the C2P(the underground club on Angel Square) Sunday February 8^th by 1pm.   You’ll go up on the auction block and the winning bidder gets a date with you by paying the donation box.  

The event is always a lot of fun and we raise a lot of money for a good cause.  Last year over the course of a week we raised over $1million lindens for Cancer Research.   The event was dedicated to DeeDee Fadoodle, a regular of the Crown and Pearl and resident of Angel Square.   We lost DeeDee last year and she is sorely missed. 

If you can’t participate in the actual event, the donation box will be left up for a few days and you are welcome to throw some linden love in the box.   All the money raised will go to Cancer Research UK, we aren’t keeping a penny of it.

So you wanna know who is being auctioned off right?  Well, we’ve got 2 of SL’s hottest Male Avs, I’m not saying who.   I hear there is a rather sexy cat or two up for auction as well as a several other lovely regulars and staff.

If you want all the details you need to be in the Crown and Pearl group so sign up if you aren’t yet.   You’ll get all the details and notices about the event.

I’ll thank everyone in advance for their support for this very worth cause.

I apologize up front, this is a longish post. If you read all the way to the end though, I think you’ll have a good laugh.

Most of us collect quotes.  Whether it’s a pic in our profile or a series of notecards we keep.  Below are just a few that I’ve collected over the last 2 years.  It’s by no means a complete list, just the ones I want to share.  If you have any you’d like to share, leave a comment!

*warning, those easily offended, stop reading.

Pradisms

• Just a few pearls of wisdom and nonsense from himself.

Prad on being gay:

Prad says: I’m entitled to have my girly giddy moment

Prad Prathivi : I can be gay.. just give me 5 minutes and a lot of vaseline.
Prad Prathivi : ugh.. I can’t believe I said that.. 0.o

Prad Prathivi : It’s about time I had a gay relationship

Prad Prathivi : I wish I was gay..

Prad Prathivi : Man, I wish I was gay..

Prad Prathivi says: You know straight guys don’t wear earrings right?
Ryker Beck says: You’re straight?!
Ryker Beck says: O.O
Prad Prathivi says: o
Prad Prathivi says: m
Prad Prathivi says: g
Prad Prathivi says: DIE

Prad Prathivi : ummm.. that reminds me
Prad Prathivi : ummm
Prad Prathivi : hmmm
Prad Prathivi : ummm
Holly Klaxon : What?
Prad Prathivi : Can I borrow some lingerie off you this weekend?

Pheobe Petrov : I hate it when a guy won’t go down.
Prad Prathivi says: I hate it when they do.

Just Prad :

Prad Prathivi : this place is smexy
Prad Prathivi : I’m the best architect in SL
Prad Prathivi : rawr

Prad Prathivi : I’ll try anyone once.

Prad Prathivi : I’m not worth much, anyways

Prad says: I gravitate to anything with a pulse

Prad says: My fingers hurt.. >.<

Prad Prathivi : I’ll pop over in a sex

Prad Prathivi : fall on your knees. Guys like that.

Bailey Longcloth : you’ll just have to accept that somethings you don’t know
Prad Prathivi : I can’t accept that

Prad Prathivi : I’m sure I can be bribed..

Prad Prathivi : I just don’t know when to shut up..

Prad Prathivi : Who’s Prad
Prad Prathivi : ?
Prad Prathivi : DO NOT ANSWER THAT

Prad Prathivi : I wouldn’t kick her(jayjay) out of bed..? 0.o

Prad Prathivi : Errrr.. so I just did something a bit dumb and banned myself from the pub just to see what would happen.. can someone take me off the ban orb, please? =)
Prad Prathivi waits for it

Prad Prathivi : I said I could see your cleavage, anyways

Prad Prathivi : Lies!!
Prad Prathivi : I like ballgags too.

Prad Prathivi : lol – trying to work out what that online indicator was
Prad Prathivi : Turns out it was an online indicator

Prad Prathivi : When I twiddle my knob, it makes random weird stuff appear.. 0.o
Rrishanna Regina bites her tongue.
Prad Prathivi : ummm..
Prad Prathivi : Out of context, that’s a little bad..
Prad Prathivi : 0.o
Rrishanna Regina : you think?
Prad Prathivi : hush
Prad Prathivi : 0.o

A few gems heard at the Crown and Pearl

You just never know what someone will say if you spend enough time at the Crown.

Kitty O’Toole :  It’s like Anal, you like it or you don’t

Bailey Longcloth :  I’ll try it

Landsend Korobase : my boobies have freckles now!

Landsend Korobase : I like your drunken fingers Simmi
Simmi Althouse drunkenly fingers LK an little more

Hero Harbour : whatever Bailey wants Hero does

Landsend Korobase : I broke him(Prad ) anyway, his thingy doesn’t work anymore

Rrishanna Regina sighs…I really hate catching crabs

Tee Kenzo : mmm horse penis…

Dellik Snoring : im really dumb……

Kitty Otoole : basically, i just want to see Prad ’s willy:)
Kitty Otoole : Then I can die happy
Kitty Otoole : I figure with his success rate he must have one helluva appendage

Rrishanna Regina : I leaned over the desk to turn up the volume on the speakr and my boob hit the keyboard

Rrishanna Regina : I’m barefoot, bald and my pants are going to fall down

Landsend Korobase : Prad doesn’t count, he’s sexually ambiguous

Landsend Korobase blows goats too ^^

Rrishanna Regina : pmsl.  You can only watch a guy clean himself with his tongue after using the toilet so much and then you just gotta leave?

Alann Whitfield : I saw Pavarotti live… And I tell you now, He didn’t like when you sung along

Luna Hula : Oh hai, who are you & what are you doing in my Landsend storage facility >.>

Luna Hula packs Lands away for later & goes off on a wild adventure

Vine Talamasca : hmmm…good work young padiwan.
Landsend Korobase : yay! *accidentally lasers off the nearest apprentices hand in my excitement* Um, I did a boo-boo…

Dark Otsuzum : Well if the woman is really ugly I make her wear the condom on her head. But you can’t beat a paper bag.
Dark Otsuzum : It works as a contraceptive too. When I am about to come I whip the condom off her head and the moment passes.

Rrishanna Regina : equality? We already know we’re better than you guys…we just want you guys to admit it.
Johan Rosca : lol
Landsend Korobase : lmao
Johan Rosca : I admit nothing.
Johan Rosca : Can I call my lawyer?
Rrishanna Regina : sure, she’ll tell you the same thing

Vine Talamasca : *starts wrapping tin  foil around her head*
Landsend Korobase starts licking it
Landsend Korobase : Mmmm, tinfoily

Landsend Korobase : lol, bad time to mention I’m carrying your baby then..?
Lucien Uriza : eep
Lucien Uriza : do i get to call it fred
Landsend Korobase : Yeah, but she might get teased at school

Little Red Dragon : Hell sounds like my kinda place
HellSpawneD Xingjian : is your dragon comming on to me?

Kitty Otoole : christ my farts stink

Dark Otsuzum : Women are not safe with Mowgli… we painted him green as a warning
Iona Jigsaw : why is your hair painted blue then?
Rrishanna Regina : we ran out of green

Lucien Uriza : these eyes of mine are dangerous, im known for impregnating people by just staring into their eyes
Lucien Uriza : i need condom glasses

Aribeth Coronet : Ewww… y’know McDonalds chips never grow mold… or anthing.
Aribeth Coronet : They stay perfectly preserved no matter how long they’re left, lol.
Alann Whitfield : WOW,, we might be able to grow new chips form it`s dna

Vortex Scholten : I wanna try butt sechs

Lucien Uriza : im a lady!
Lucien Uriza : u only get to hear me say tht once

Becki Zanzibar : So you’re not a girl, then?

Landsend Korobase : Me? Nah, all man baby

Dark Otsuzum : I think I cybered my brother one, but he had nice hooters at the time

Aribeth Coronet : All the fucks are shwimming in the water, fa la la la la la

Aribeth Coronet : DUCK

Aribeth Coronet : S

Stoo Loon : sometimes I just talk genuine nonsense to see what happens…. all the brits just ignore me, and the americans have optimistic attempts at translating it cos they don’t want to be seen to not speak the lingo :p

Ahuva Heliosense : i like balls, but this may be a bit much
Ahuva Heliosense : more balls!!!!!

Landsend Korobase : I have balls o.O

Landsend Korobase : my balls fell off o.O

Simmi Althouse: OMG!!! i totally forgot to drink!!!

I hope these made you smile and gave you a giggle or two.  Feel free to add more in the comments.

No really, legit question.  Are you one of those people who bounces all over the grid checking out random sims?  Or do you have one or two favored places that you always go to? 

If your bouncing all over the grid how do you choose where to go?  What makes one of these places a favorite and worthy of inventory space by keeping a LM?  What makes a sim instantly unlikable?  When I’m bouncing around the grid I’m looking for an interesting place to take pictures.  Right now I’m seeking out sims reminiscient of the 40’s/old Hollywood glamour days.  If you know of any, let me know!  In fact, found a fantastic sim you want to share?  Put it here in the comments.  I’m going to start a page of favorite landmarks.  Just included a brief description with the slurl. 

We all know I’m usually at the Crown.  Big surprise, I own the place.   Even if I didn’t I’d be there though.  First the island is beautiful thanks to Rrish and the Crown itself is unique and beautiful and special, thanks to Prad .  The people are what really make it special though.  Our regulars are a right bunch of nutters but let someone come in asking a question they’ll get as many replies as there are people in the bar.

So that’s my SL.  A bit of wandering and a lot of time at the Crown and Pearl with interruptions for shopping(no prad, we can’t have too many shoes ) and visiting.

What’s your SL????

The Gallery has been open for a month or so now and I thought it was time I talked about it for a bit.  Why did I allocate space on my island to a Gallery which doesn’t contribute to my tier payment you may ask?  The answer is simple.  There are so many talented folks who are regulars and DJs at the Crown and Pearl that I thought what better way to show that then to open a Gallery for them to show their work.

Each artist displays one piece of artwork based on a theme I determine.  In the future I may ask each of them to choose the theme.  The current theme is *Dreams*.  You know the song from Cinderella.  Dreams are wishes your heart makes…..  Well that was my inspiration.

Every couple of weeks the theme will change.  I’m not telling you what the next theme is.  You’ll have to wait and see. 

Currently the artists on display are:  Ryker Beck , Natalya Homewood , Prad Prathivi , Bailey Dazy, Aribeth Coronet , Landsend Korobase , Hellspawned Xingjian and myself.  New artists are welcome to join the Gallery.  Just drop me an IM or notecard in world.

Stop by and see the artwork by these very talented folks.  If you like what you see, well why not drop them a note and tell them.

Christmas has come to the Crown and Pearl again this year.  The sim is covered in snow and trees are covered in lights.  The advent calendar is up so stop by every day and pick up your gift.

Feel free to join the Secret Santa party too.  It was loads of fun last year and is certain to be again!

While the holidays are a difficult time for many people, we hope you come down and join the festivities.  We’ll be having a Gold and Silver ball closer to Christmas and you are all invited.  Put on your fancy threads and come down and party with us.

Whether you celebrate the holiday or not, it’s always a good time at the Crown.  Good music, good people and usually good conversation.

The sim looks beautiful, thank you to Rrish for an amazing job as always!  So come take pics or just hang out.

You’ll be glad you did!

For those of you that don’t know, I’m a Second Life Mentor.  Now the mentor group has had it’s fair share of trashing from all over.  Those that think we are all just little Linden wanna bes or suckups trash the group as a whole as being useless and just after a tag.  Now for some, yes that may very well be true.  But it’s not true for all.  Mentors who spend hours on end at the Help Islands assisting new residents in the first hours of Second Life are a gifted group of people.  They’ve got patience, understanding and a wealth of knowledge to share.  You try standing in a group of 10 brand new avatars all asking *Where is sex?*, *I can haz sex with you now?*, *Give me money, job*… I could go on and on.  Everytime the media does an article on SecondLife, we are flooded with new residents.  Which leads me really to the point of this post. 

What’s the best way to introduce someone to SecondLife?  The Lindens have been working on the new user experience for quite a while now.  I don’t know what their  plans are, what viewer will be used, what or if a tutorial will be out there but I do know the way it is now, isn’t good.

I’ve been in SecondLife for 2 years now and my experience as a brand new resident was much different.  I had orientation island which had a bunch of posters to read which told me what to do.  I followed along and at the end, I went to Help Island.  Didn’t stay there long.  I ended up at the Hanja Welcome Center which became my home for several months.  I wandered the area and was tp’d around the grid by people I’d met.  At that point I was trying to decide what to do with it and whether or not to stay.  I met Aribeth and the rest is history but my point is, I stayed past that crucial first hour.  I was given direction and tasks to complete.  They weren’t hard.  Learn to walk, talk, fly and how to change my appearance.

So what makes a good new user experience?  If it was up to you, what would do?  If I think about all the games I’ve played, every one has a tutorial that you must complete before you enter the game.  You read the prestory, do the tutorial and your dumped into the game.  That’s what I’d do with SL.  Intro page of what SecondLife is, a good tutorial.  Rezzing, attaching objects, changing appearance, buying something, walking, flying, communicating in open and IM.  Then dump them on a help island where they can practice.  Next stop main grid.  Put them in a welcome area or info hub.  If I was the lab i’d also ask sim owners if they want to have their sim/venue as a stopping point.  The Crown gets loads of new residents constantly.  I’d certainly add it as a new resident entry point.  Provided someone was at the Crown of course.  I know LL can limit it to sims with residents only.

So what’s your idea?  I really wanna hear what you think.

*Wow, it’s so quiet here tonight!*  I’ve heard this dozens of times sitting at the Crown and Pearl just chilling out.  This out of the mouth of someone fairly new to the Crown.  Someone who sees a group of folks sitting and chatting as a *quiet night*. 

A crowded dance floor isn’t what makes the place special.  The sploder going non-stop isn’t what makes the place special(although it does help pay the bills! lol)  DJs everynight isn’t what makes the place special.

What makes the Crown special are the people who are there.  As Lands said one evening, it’s not the quantity but quality of people there that makes it a good night.  You can have 3 people in the place and have a great time or 30 and walk away feeling cold.

Now I won’t speak for other bars/clubs.  We don’t have hosts and we don’t spam everyone to tip this or that.  If you like the bar, put some lindens in the tip jar.  It helps keep the sim open and the music flowing.  If you like a particular DJ, tip them.  It doesn’t matter whether it’s one linden or a thousand.  It’s shows you appreciate what they are doing.

Some of my best memories at the Crown have come from nights we’ve just sat about chatting.  So if your a newcomer to the Crown, don’t run away if the dance floor isn’t full.  Come have a seat on the sofas.  You never know what we’ll be chatting about.  Politics, religion, sex, children, holidays, life, death, SL, linden labs, sports or general nonsense.  You really never know.

Take some time to get to know us and we’ll get to know you.  You’ll find that while the Crown is a great place for a party, it’s also a great place to just hang out and enjoy some good company.

So, the next time you stop by, before you comment on how quiet it seems to you because no one is dancing, check out the crowd sitting on the sofas.

It’s been a year since Prad, Kendra and I opened the Crown and Pearl.  In that time we’ve had ups and downs.  Days when we thought it was for nothing and others when we couldn’t believe the generosity and love from those we call friends and family.

It’s been a long road but one that has been the best ride I’ve been on.  Tonight was the Black and White Ball.  So many friends old and new came by to celebrate, to dance and to try and break the sploder. LOL  I DJ’d tonight, 4 hours worth and had the best time.

I wanted to say a special thank you to everyone who came by tonight.  But I also wanted to say thank you to a few people who without their love and support I wouldn’t be in SL.

Landsy:  Although our friendship is fairly new, silly girls we are , you’ve been a source of strength and laughter on some of my darkest days.  I don’t know what I would do without you to talk to, without your shoulder to cry on.  Thank you, you’ve no idea  how much you mean to me.

Ari:  Two years have seen a lot between us.  You are my dearest friend.  No matter what life throws at us, I’ll always be there for you.  You’ve heard me laugh, cry and yell.  You’ve seen the good and the bad and through it all, we’ve always been friends and always will be.  Love you hon.

Prad:  What is  it that brings two people together that are so very different and yet become the closest of friends.  You’ve taught me much in the past year and a half.  I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again here, some day I’ll see you in the news for some amazing thing you’ve created and be able to say, “I knew him when…”.  There aren’t enough words to be able to say Thank You enough for everything you’ve done for me.  Love ya kiddo.

There are so many people I could single out and say Thank You to for everything they’ve done, said, inspired in me.  For all of you, Thank You.  You all mean so very much to me.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the last year at the Crown and Pearl.  I look forward to seeing what the next year brings us.

See you all at the Crown!

Love,

BL