I have loved jazz for a long time.  Jazz and blues are very closely related so I am a fan of each.  Seems everyone knows my favorite is Louis Armstrong.  It is often said that jazz is the black man’s music and white men have tried to take it for their own.  I have also heard it called African Music.  I honestly do not believe any of this.  Jazz is the music of peace.  It transcends race, gender and age to bring everyone together for a meeting of the heart, mind and soul.  President and Mrs. Obama were seated in the balcony with the honorees.  Secret Service were there as well.  The agents assigned to protect the president are to be alert and always focused on what is around them.  I usually think of Royal guards who aren’t allow to move at all while they are standing guard when I think of the Secret Service agents.  While the cameras were capturing the faces of those in attendance during the performances I watched.  During Dave Brubeck’s presentation I noted the faces and posture of those the cameras caught.  When they were focused on the First Couple I noticed the Agent seated behind them.  His eyes were focused and watching everything around them, but his head was moving to the beat of the music.

Wide shots throughout caught everyone with heads bopping, feet tapping and fingers drumming to the fine jazz music being played.  Black, white, Hispanic, male, female, actor, musician, president.  It didn’t matter who they were, they felt the heartbeat of the music that is jazz.  If it moves your body, even your toe to tap, then it has reached your soul.  And that is JAZZ.

What is Spanksgiving, you ask?  Let me provide some color to this black and white portrait.  What seems like eon ago I walked into an amazing club in Second Life called The Bee Hive.  I met a wild and wacky group of people who enjoyed spanking each other.  I just sat back and enjoyed the music as well as the amusing banter.  Over time I had heard tales of this thing called Spanksgiving, however, I didn’t inquire as to what it was.   Over the course of time I became endeared to this loud, capricious crew.  Last year I attended my first Spanksgiving.  The music is played the banter continues.  The spanking is manifest to one and all.

This is the one day a year I will don a spanker in Second Life and allow those in close proximity to click and watch me do a backflip (it is the spanker that controls it).  I, as well, will indulge a bit and spank those around me as we commence with mindless, whimsical conversation.  This year, as I was not well (stated before) I didn’t change out of my new Sunday Blues On The Green attire (I am a hamster for those now to attempt to get friends to change their ways and desist from smoking hamsters).  I arrived at Bistro Olive and immediately began sending limos for all those on my contact list who had not arrived and I felt should be there.  Then I put on my spanker and sat on a piece of signage.  Since my spanker was as big as my avatar, it didn’t take much for anyone to send me spinning in the air.

With everyone in attendance that could be there (a few missing due to RL and SL issues and obligations) we had an absolutely amazing time and all are looking forward to next years festivities and to see who will host the holiday that should be declared an international holiday.

I knew I had set the opening of the pub at about the same time of my Rez date. I thought it was the day before. However, as I was looking at my Rez date (10/9/07) I realized that it was actually the day after my Rez day that I held the grand opening for Parky’s Pub. I said nothing and didn’t attempt to change the plans as everything was set. Now I fess up to my grave error and beg your forgiveness. **hangs her head** I just don’t do well with numbers at all. I am so sorry.

What I do not regret is having the party as I did.  Just over a year ago I was GM for someone else’s club.  We had seven gigs a week and I worked almost all of them.  I put out the $$L as if it were my club, but was constantly reminded that it was not my place.  I sat on the deck of my friend Saphire’s home and told her about a dream I had of having my own pub.  She told someone else and the rest, as they say, is history.  Parky’s Pub is truly a place that was created from friendship and love.  It is sustained the same way.  I wanted a place where anyone could come and feel comfortable.  Irregardless of gender, breed, sexual orientation, religion, politics or anything else, if you follow the rules, you can stay.  RULES???????  Oh no!!!!!  This is very simple.  Just remember that the pub is PG and to treat everyone with respect and all will be well.  Over the year, I have been ‘advised’ to lighten up on the rules, make it a ‘Mature’ club, offer contest prizes and have cheese costume themes.  I have always said NO.  The closest the pub has come to ‘Mature’ is when I was in NYC and left the place in the care of Isobela and Aeryn.  The themes I chose to do are musical like Coltrane, Bird, Billie and Thunder.  (Oops, the last is my fantasy theme)

The grand opening lasted 12 hours and held many glitches like DJs not showing up and stream problems as well as SL must being a menace.  The anniversary party lasted from 2 -7 pm.  We began the festivities with DJ Isobela Capalini doing her usual Friday Celtic Kitchen Sink.  We got a great dosing of Barley Juice, Celtic Thunder and Celtic Women along with many other delights.  After a wonderful two hours, DJ Crighton Johin stole the stream and kicked off his set with Louis Armstrong (I think he wanted to make sure he was on the owners good side).  After an hour of Creighton’s smokin, sexy, straight ahead jazz the lovely Irish lassie DJ Kerry Anderson stepped in and played lots of Irish folk and just plain Irish good music.  (Parky was definitely happy yesterday)  To put a WOW to the finish, Maudite Carpaccio took the stream and with guitar in hand she stepped to the mic and just let her pipes ring out.  Tis a good thing Maudite is a friend and I am near deaf from what I understand.  But even with fighting sinus problems, she still did a great job singing and playing for us.

Noticeably missing from the festivities last night were Parky’s Prankster and Parky’s Pub photographer (This is why there aren’t more happy snappies posted).  These absences were not by design.  Unfortunately, the flu bug bit their family once again and kept Kimala and BigD from joining us.  We do send them lots of love and warm wish to a speedy recovery.  Many times in this past year, I have seriously considered closing Parky’s Pub and leaving SL altogether.  I even had conversations with those involved in the pub about doing so.  Now that we have reached the one year mark I stand in awe and lower my tear-filled eyes.  It is all of you who have kept Parky’s Pub going for a year.  Love and friendship opened the pub and keeps it going week in and week out.  Only love and friendship will close Parky’s Pub.  Enjoy the offerings I have here and stop by the pub when you are in world.  I thank each and everyone of you for this wonderful time.

P.S.  More happy snappies to come after I figure out how I broke the loader.

Oh yes, Parky’s Pub. This pub is one-of-a-kind. I consider it Celtic as opposed to Irish. This pub was built and continues to exist on friendship and love. Were it not for those I call friend, there would be no Parky’s Pub. There are only two gigs a week. Thursdays, the incomparable DJ Crighton Johin spins wonderful jazz and on Fridays the lovely Irish lassie DJ Isobela Capalini spins the Celtic Kitchen Sink (CKS). CKS is a gig where anything can happen. If the music and/or artist is from the Celtic region it will be played. Also, Isobela plays music that may not be remotely Celtic and she plays 6 degrees to connect it. No matter what, we always have fun. Parky’s Pub is not there to make $L, but it is a place where anyone can come and feel comfortable. Furries, Nekos, Tinies, humans or whatever, as long as you treat each other with respect, you are welcome at the pub.

Now the one element that keeps me coming back to Second Life over and over again. the reason there is a Parky’s Pub -> FRIENDS!!!! I am of a shy nature and it takes time for me to get to the point where I will call someone friend (RL and SL). There are a handful in my inner circle who keep me going. They have crossed over into my RL although we have never met in person. Being my SLamily, they encourage me and make me laugh and think and help me grow. they are also there to chastise or give me a good swift kick in the seat when I need it. I love y’all.

Parky’s Pub is the best Celtic pub in all of Second Life. It was created out of friendship and love. I have it, not to make money, but to be a place where my friends and I, and anyone else who desires, can meet and listen to some great music and just hang out in a non-threatening environment. There is no nudity nor foul language allowed. Also no weapons and the most important rule is to treat everyone with respect no matter their shape, color or background. I have a translator that is turned on if someone comes in speaking another language. There is also a Tinies Dance Ball for the wee lads and lasses who find there way to the pub. Parky’s Pub is, in fact, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Check it out for yourself if you don’t believe me.

Second Life is how DL got her life back after Meniere’s took over in the real world. There are many in SL who have found their way due to similar situations. Mostly for me this is my life. DL is along for the ride. Besides hosting two gigs at the pub each week I also work for the best jazz club in SL, The Savoy. I host a wonderful gig for the fabulous DJ BigD Flanagan playing blues and blues-rock every Sunday morning to help us wake up. I also host every Wednesday night for the best jazz DJ in all of SL, Crighton Johin. He heats up the club with his wonderful straight-ahead jazz.

Tune in here as I share with you from Parky’s heart about all that is going on in her SLife week to week and get to know Parky and all her wonderfully wacky friends that have come into her life.