On October 9, 2009 (I erred in math and celebrated a day early) I showed the naysayers that Parky’s Pub had what it takes by celebrating the one year anniversary with a six hour gala affair that brought in great DJs and singers.  Still there were those who believed it would close.

On October 10, 2010 Parky’s Pub celebrated with a three hour two year anniversary party (Parky is getting too old for the all-day parties).  This party brought the official DJ debut of Parky herself who kicked it all off at 2 pm.  Then the wonderful and very talented BartyAum Mohegan serenaded the house full of friends SLamily and new comers with his amazing music.  We finished off the day with an hour of DJ Crighton Johin doing what he does best, spinning the best jazz on the grid.

Two griefers decided to show up during Barty’s set, but they were quickly dispelled and everyone had a wonderful time.  Pub photographer, Kimala Kohime took lots of happy snappies and then took some of them and made them into the following video.  I messaged my sweet angel, Aeryn Lovenkraft during the party and told her I had tears in my eyes.  She fussed at me, but I reminded her I had tears in my eyes for the first anniversary as well as for the grand opening.  As I look around and I see all those wonderful souls at the pub enjoying themselves I can’t help but feel that it is all because of them that Parky’s Pub has lasted as long as it has.  It is the great people who come to the two events each week (jazz with Crighton on Thursdays at 5 and Celtic Kitchen Sink with Isobela on Fridays at 2) and those who come for special events and just stop by to enjoy the place during off times that have made Parky’s Pub everything I had dreamed it could be.

Enjoy the video and here’s to at least two more years and to each and every person whom I see when stand and and look around when no one is there.  It is your laughter and chatter that fills the place.  Thank you.

Click the link below.

2 Year Celebration! Parky\’s Pub

I sent out the notices indicating Isobela’s request (she didn’t know what I was doing).  As the doors were opening, our first special guest arrived, the Butt Fairy.  This fairy stated that she came in her sister’s stead as she did not know where her sister was, but knows many have grievances with her.   No one wanted the services of the Butt Fairy unless she decreased the size instead of augmenting.  The owner, however decided to use this to her advantage and was able to keep the rowdy group in line by telling them instead of ejecting them she would send them to the corner with the Butt Fairy.

The Butt Fairy

It seems that after people around the grid began receiving the notices they sent out beacons looking for the Boob Fairy to help Isobela and while the crowd was dancing away to the wonderful Celtic tunes a new fairy flew into our midst.  This time we had the one and only Boob Fairy.  Together, the two fairies danced and played with the patrons who came from all over the grid just to become acquainted with these two fine creatures.

I am always excited about the patrons who frequent Parky’s Pub and when we can have two such very special guests who mix and mingle with everyone else it is all the more exciting for me.  We have been visited by special guests since the pub opened 10/9/08.  From refrigerators to spaghetti monsters and even Frankenstein in a kilt.  Perhaps one day I can get all the fairs and perhaps a leprechaun or two to visit at the same time (our usual furries and blue angels are always welcome).

The Boob Fairy and The Butt Fairy

In February 2007, I was at home watching the Law & Order: SVU episode where they were looking for a person who was involved in a virtual reality world called “Another Universe”.  This gave me an idea.  I found that Another Universe is fictitious, however there is another virtual reality world that was alive and well called Second Life (later in 2007 Second Life (SL) would be depicted on CSI).  I had my laptop at work and created an avatar and entered the world.  Due to not having internet at home at the time and issues with my laptop I did not make it off Orientation Island.  I put SL aside and went on with my life.  In the midst of Meniere’s I dealt with the death of my father and a treatment that took away my immune system and left me fighting colds and infections.

October 2007 I watched the CSI episode involving SL and was reminded of my failed attempt at entering that world.  I couldn’t recall my avatar’s name and password.  So I created a new avatar and called her Parker Janick (Parky).  I made it into SL this time and began exploring.  I would spend my free time at work in SL (I worked nights at a television station and was all alone there)  During my exploration I was clicking things and not knowing what I was doing things would happen.  One time I clicked something and received a blue box and clicked yes.  I then went to change a tape and when I returned, my avatar was dancing.  I sat there and cried for about five minutes.  I could no longer dance in Real Life (RL), but I could dance in SL.

I continued to explore and ultimately got internet at home where I could explore more.  I made friends, learned how to swim and do many other things in SL.  I finally found my life again.  Along my journey I began meeting other people with chronic illness and issues.  There are those who are bed ridden and others who are in wheelchairs.  I have even met three others in SL who have Meniere’s Disease.  It helped at one point when I begin attending a support group in SL for people with chronic illnesses and/or their caretakers.  One thing was certain, we all came into SL for the same reason, to do things that we could no longer do in RL.

I can’t do much in RL that I used to do, but in SL I am thriving.  I own a Celtic Pub where everyone is welcome (as long as they obey the rules) and I host twice a week at a friends jazz and blues club.  I am involved with writing groups and even attend a Writer’s Circle once a week where I read some of my own work.  I recently submitted a poem for a contest in SL and won first place.  I even wrote a short story called The Damsel And The Dragon about why I am in SL and it was published in a SL magazine.

I highly recommend SL to those with Meniere’s Disease or any chronic illness that keeps you from doing the things you love to do.  You can do those things again by using an avatar in SL.  Use this link http://secondlife.com/.  to find your life again, even if it is virtual.  I would still much rather be dancing, hiking and swimming in RL, but for now I will do these things in SL and keep my mind active while meeting new people from around the world and making friends (gaining contacts) in the process.  Don’t let your illness deprive you of your life.

A staged shot taken to accompany my short story The Damsel And The Dragon

A staged shot taken to accompany my short story The Damsel And The Dragon

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.

Portcia

I should also add this is what happens when Isobela turns her back with the closet slightly ajar.  Apparently, Portcia stepped out of the closet and pushed Isobela in and decided to hijack the stream and DJ for Celtic Kitchen Sink.  I was slightly skeptical recalling what happened in April when Portcia and Aeryn were left to handle the pub in my absence.  It seems as though Portcia has been watching over Isobela’s shoulder and learned a few things about DJing.  I kept a close eye on things just in case Portcia strayed and tried to break the rules of the pub.  I am pleased to say that she behaved herself quite well.

I know there are some who are wondering about the aforementioned rules.  Yes, Parky’s Pub has posted rules.  A while back I had to post about the DJ who broke the rules and ended up in a soapy mess.  The only dress code is to wear clothes so that your bits aren’t showing.  For the rest, No weapons, no profanity, no fighting, etc.; the pub is PG even if the SIM is Mature.  Respect for each other is the course.  Furries, humans, nekos, tinies, etc are all welcome as well as all genders and various sexual orientations.  Being respectful at Parky’s Pub runs the full spectrum.  You are asked to be respectful in open chat as well as private IM while you are in the pub enjoying yourself.  My only desire is to provide a safe enjoyable venue for everyone.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.  DJ Isobela has broken free from her bondage (aka closet) and promises NEVER to let Portcia gain that much control again.  I for one would be very sad if Portcia is locked in the closet never to be heard from again.  I do miss her as a regular each week and think it would be quite fun on occasion for Portcia to DJ and Isobela to sit back, relax and enjoy.  We will have to see what happens.

]]> http://dlbach.com/parkysprattlings/2009/12/06/this-is-what-happens/feed/ 1 http://dlbach.com/parkysprattlings/2009/10/10/parkys-pub-turns-one-year-old/ http://dlbach.com/parkysprattlings/2009/10/10/parkys-pub-turns-one-year-old/#comments Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:33:38 +0000 dlbach http://dlbach.com/parkysprattlings/?p=12 I keep telling people how bad I am with numbers. No one believes me. Well, here it is and you are the witnesses. Last night, Friday October 9, 2009, I had a BIG party at Parky’s Pub for the purpose of celebrating the one year anniversary of the pub. For the past two months I have planned this event. I set up the talent and rearranged so everyone could perform and enjoy. While I was writing the note card and making the invites I discovered the wretched truth ~~ TODAY, October 10, 2009 is the actual anniversary date.

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.