157: Second Pride on Hallowe'en

Alex Thaub and I got dressed up for Hallowe'en last night ... one problem is, we didn't quite know what we were dressed as. Finally I thought the phrase "gay elven warrior strippers" would cover it.  I plugged that into the search engine, looking for a place to take some pictures -- and came up with some kind of elven grotto. Cool!
   Then we went off to Second Pride's Volcano venue to dance to the music

and hosting team of Lex Solari-Holland and Christian Holland Solari. Good music, good friends, lots of great costumes, and a good time was had by all.
   Happy Hallowe'en!

104: Halfway to Second Pride, at Collective

Hard to believe that we're at the halfway point of the year as far as the countdown to Second Pride is concerned ... how time flies when you're having virtual fun! Jerrod Rodenberger is in charge of Collective, the science-fiction companion club to steampunk venue Engine, and last night put on a party to celebrate that halfway point. I think this kind of party keeps people's minds on

what a great celebration Second Pride always is for LGBT SL residents, and thanks to Jerrod for putting it on.  A good idea in a good cause.
     There were lots of people there and I'm hoping that Second Pride collected a lot of donations. I saw DJ Ez (Ezzie Mirabella), who's not only a well-known DJ but the Chair of Second Pride, in attendance. Ezzie always seems to

make time for these Pride-related events, even though he's terrifically busy -- thanks Ezzie! Also in attendance was my fellow blogger NakedCarl Paneer, whose blog is here (and who will probably have his own report!), and my handsome boyfriend Alex Thaub, who despite the persistent attentions of a couple of horn dogs is not on the market -- sorry, boys!

     I had to leave before I found out who "Best in Sports Kit" was -- there were a lot of hot candidates! A fun party, good music and a visually interesting venue. Should continue to be a popular place to dance!

077: Lledge Eames sits on my deck

I've been pestering Lledge Eames for an interview for a while now and he is a busy guy, so it's taken a while. But I finally managed to pin down this busy guy for a few minutes of interview with my standard questions. He's got a hypnotic charm that you're really only going to see in the pictures, and I'm not sure I've captured it, but he's a very magnetic guy and I hope that comes 

through. I enjoyed our chat and I think you might also.

[16:14] Rusty Redfield: <fumbles with his tape recorder> this button here.  <click> There.  Okay.  We're recordling

[16:15] Rusty Redfield: Welcome! I'm here with Lledge Eames.  I have seen Lledge around the clubs but only met him when he got involved with Second 

Pride's volunteers.

[16:15] Rusty Redfield: And he very kindly agreed to an interview. Welcome Lledge!

[16:16] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): Thanks <smile> and thanks for asking me

[16:16] Rusty Redfield: my pleasure!

[16:16] Rusty Redfield: if you don't mind then I'll get right into it -- I know you 

have other appointments today and I appreciate your squeezing this in!

[16:16] Rusty Redfield: 1.  Why do you stay in Second Life?  What keeps you here?

[16:16] Rusty Redfield: just six questions and that was #1.

[16:18] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): Let see, I'd say both my friends and family keep me here, as well as the 

inherent creative outlets that SL provides.

[16:18] Rusty Redfield: the tools and the people

[16:20] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): pretty much, where else can  you be expose to people and experiences that you would ordinarily not be able too.

[16:20] Rusty Redfield: yes indeed.  I've done some amazing things here that 

would be impossible in the real world

[16:20] Rusty Redfield: and people from -- everywhere.

[16:21] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): global exposure

[16:21] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): <grin>

[16:21] Rusty Redfield: and talking about people, that segues nicely into question #2

[16:21] Rusty Redfield: 2. What are the qualities that attract you to people in Second Life?

[16:22] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): hmmmm, well I think that would be true in any realm .... friendly, creative, warm hearted, sense of humor

[16:23] Rusty Redfield: <grin> I think so too.  But some people seem to think it's about being on the best-dressed list 

ROFL.

[16:23] Rusty Redfield: admittedly that's something to be admired, it's hard work to look good even here, but ... I'd rather have friends

[16:25] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): very true - both take plenty of hard work <wink> but I'd rather work on the friendship those are more dynamic

[16:26] Rusty Redfield: it's a very 

rewarding aspect of being here, or at least potentially so.  So it's worth putting in the work ...

[16:26] Rusty Redfield: now -- for the next part, I encourage you to blow your own horn

[16:26] Rusty Redfield: so talk about anythign you like, perhaps Second Pride, but you have other enterprises too, I think

[16:26] Rusty Redfield: 3. What are you working on, as a form of artistic expression or in order to earn money, or both?

[16:29] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): besides like most of us, we all like to dabble with the (as I call them) sl legos and create spaces to inhabit.  My husband and I have a couple sims we occupy and maintain for a small rp 

community.  But my passion

[16:29] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): My passion is my music and djing / mixing

[16:29] Rusty Redfield: interesting!

[16:29] Rusty Redfield: Can we know what the RP community is?

[16:32] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): Not sure I can define it, it's grown over the years to have a life of its own, its 

own culture as it were.  Needless to say, your imagination is the only limitation.  But most of all its family and friends.

[16:33] Rusty Redfield: that sounds fascinating.

[16:33] Rusty Redfield: and I imagine you DJ in connection with that space and others?

[16:34] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): I'll have to give you a tour sometime, but 

honestly I cant say I have done it all on my own, it is a community, they all contribute.
(Next morning: Lledge asked me to add that the community's name is Raven's Claw, and more information is found here.)

[16:35] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): I do a little but mostly I connect outside of that with the SL GLBT community with my music.

[16:35] Rusty Redfield: that's a context in which I've seen you at the Second Pride celebrations, I think

[16:37] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): SL provided me a connection that I dont have anymore.  And yes, thats where you have run into me <smiles> either mixing music or Event directing recently.

[16:38] Rusty Redfield: and tell me your exact title.  I'm so bad on details -- you're on the Board of Directors of Second Pride and you are in the area of Events, kind of like an event producer?

[16:38] Rusty Redfield: I'm sure I have this all wrong but -- you can tell me what you're doing better than I can guess

[16:39] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): No you have it right, I am this years Event Director for Second  Pride

[16:40] Rusty Redfield: <wipes brow in relief> Oh good the research paid off ROFL

[16:40] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): <chuckle>

[16:40] Rusty Redfield: That's quite a responsibility, are you finding it a lot of work?

[16:41] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): Yes but its a lot of fun as well, so that makes up for it.

[16:41] Rusty Redfield: I know, right? I know some of the board and I bet those meetings are FUN! LOL

[16:42] Rusty Redfield: well, I'll do what I can to keep people posted about upcoming Second Pride events.  I liked Hallowe'en -- or as I like to call it, Gay Christmas ROFL

[16:45] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): I'm glad you enjoyed it.  It was a lot of fun putting it together.  We had some really great diverse performers from across the grid.  Where else can you here live rock&roll, swing, jazz and house in an evening, and thats was just one day of a week of events.

[16:45] Rusty Redfield: yes, and I loved the haunted house, and fun house -- that was so much fun!

[16:46] Rusty Redfield: great performers AND some great builds on the sim.

[16:46] Rusty Redfield: is it still there for people to look at?

[16:47] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): No unfortunately we took it down.  And yes that was a great build.  Jak and Marge did some wonderful work decking the place out like that.

[16:47] Rusty Redfield: yeah, amazing stuff.  It's in my blog, and I bet they'll outdo it next year!

[16:47] Rusty Redfield: But -- got to move forward.  My next question is for my newbie readers

[16:47] Rusty Redfield: 4. If you could give advice to your earlier self in the first month that you spent in Second Life, what would you say?

[16:49] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): Hmmmm, slow down and dont try to do it all at once.   There is so much to learn and you have to have patience.  Its a learning curve but once you get it, you'll be sailing smooth.

[16:49] Rusty Redfield: see, that's good advice.

[16:49] Rusty Redfield: yes, just take a breath, in a little while it will be second nature

[16:49] Rusty Redfield: we ALL fall off the staircase ROFL

[16:50] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): <chuckle>

[16:50] Rusty Redfield: now, the next question is also for the benefit of newbies, in a way --

[16:50] Rusty Redfield: 5. What do you like most about the way that your avatar looks?

[16:51] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): oh thats easy, it looks mostly like me and a reflection of who I am

[16:51] Rusty Redfield: there you go

[16:51] Rusty Redfield: I am told that newbies like to hear the answer to that because it helps them decide what to do -- and "looking like yourself" is a good thing

[16:52] Rusty Redfield: then the last question --

[16:52] Rusty Redfield: 6. What’s your favourite place to spend time in Second Life?

[16:52] Rusty Redfield: This is my sneaky way of getting tips for interesting places to visit! LOL

[16:54] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): ohhh hmmm, I think that changes, Id say like most I like exploring or finding new places to show people ... but Id have to say the best places are the ones you explore with friends and family

[16:54] Rusty Redfield: oh, good point! yes, it's fun to go places in SL, but it's even more fun to take someone along.

[16:55] Rusty Redfield: let's face it, the Destination Guide is actually a pretty good way to find places to check out -- it's not so much finding places as maybe arranging with someone to check them out together.

[16:55] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): but I did have one favorite place that is no longer available, the pools of Apollos use to be my quiet place to hang out

[16:55] Rusty Redfield: ah yes.  I have a kind of meditation place that I don't tell people too <wink>

[16:55] Rusty Redfield: these days it's my hot tub! ROFL

[16:56] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): if it works, its all good

[16:56] Rusty Redfield: but listen, Lledge, I know you're tight for time -- you've done all my questions, and I want to offer you the chance to say anything you want -- philosophy, applause, whatever, it's all good

[16:56] Rusty Redfield: What's on your mind in Second Life these days?

[16:57] LLedge Eames (lledge.eames): Finding the next adventure <wink>

[16:57] Rusty Redfield: Perfect!

[16:57] Rusty Redfield: (me too!)

[16:57] Rusty Redfield: then we're done ... thanks again! Let me just shut this <click>

Lledge had to run but if there's anything further he wants to add, I'll give him the opportunity at a later time.