Happy Halloween!

To all my friends and family out there, hope it's been a great Halloween filled with fun. Best wishes and as they say at Disney World, "Boo to YOU!" (Trust me, it's a good thing.)

Second Life_Chapter 30_Burning Life 2009

This past weekend it was time once again for the Second Life answer to Burning Man. That's right friends and neighbors, it's Burning Life 2009.

This year's fest seemed to offer a lot more displays, creativity, and...well...some things you just can't describe. I saw everything from Star Trek odes, to Alice in Wonderland displays. Several of the sculptures were as tall as buildings and I even saw a few stages here and there. Was cool to see some other SL residents at a drum circle as well. I was asked to join, but just didn't have time. Too much to see and do.

As expected, lag was pretty high given the huge amount of animations concentrated in such a small area. Didn't make it to the grand finally, aka watching the big virtual wood sculpture flame up. Last year had so many people at that time, that the servers were shutting down or you couldn't log into the area at all.

Took lots of pictures for all to see and yes, we did see the return of last years flaming top hat along with a Burn The Man necklace from Roxx Mills. Thank you kindly for that gift! :)

If you're a Second Life resident, artistically inclined, or just curious, check out Burning Life.

Until next time!

Blogging Buffet & Nerdly News_October 2009

Well gang, it's been an insanely busy time here at the blog. The past few months have been filled with book tour events, travel, and a heaping helping of World of Warcraft...and it's not slowing down any time soon!
* Congrats to the Imagicopter and Kerlak Publishing authors for their recent Award Nominee status. Very happy and proud for them. Glad to see everybody at the Jackson Mississippi event.
* I was recently made an admin for the Imagicopter Facebook page, further adding cred to to my Web/Programming resume. Thanks to the folks at Imagicopter for that and glad to help out.
* Working on about 4 different spare time writing projects as well as some Haiku. (Yes I DO have a little culture for those who have the nerve to act surprised). ;)
* Job hunt is still dismal. If it was a horse, I'd shoot it. Still retooling resume and trying to find the best way to package my skills. Anybody need a social media/web guy?
* Had a great time about a week and a half ago in Tunica, Mississippi. Kimberly and I did the Horshoe Casino buffet. Great atmosphere followed by casino hopping. We hit Horshoe, Sheraton, Goldstrike (Mississippi's tallest building, btw), Harrah's (with Dunkin Donuts!), and Bally's. Gambled about $22 and did pretty well for a first timer. Never gambled or set foot in a casino before. Hell, I'd go back for the buffets over the slots any day. ;) Got a nice pocket watch and some new travel magnets.
* Next year's con and events schedule is already stacking up. Lots to cover...and that's before any themepark stuff! Dates and times will be up once everything is finalized.
* This November will be a year since our most excellent Pigeon Forge Thanksgiving family vacation. What a great time, and once again, hats off to Pete Owens and company for a wonderful park in Dollywood.
* Been having a blast on World of Warcraft and chomping at the bit for Lich King and next year's Cataclysm. Wonderful creative stories, beautiful environments, and just really fun. Yep, WoW is about 90% of my Christmas list this year.
* Hope everybody at Coaster Crew and Theme Park Review had a great time on their respective Halloween Haunt trips. Hope to meet up in the next few years to share in the fun. There with you all in spirit.
* Gearing up to cover Burning Life (Second Life's answer to Burning Man Festival) again this year. Had a fun time last year and glad to do it again this year. Yes, we will see infamous flaming top hat return along with a cool Burn The Man necklace given to me by Roxx Mills. Thanks Roxx for thinking of me and it will also be a yearly event staple. :)
* Thanks once again to Angel Aristone of Six Flags for inviting me to the Blogger Conference Call. Pleased to be included and hope to do it again next year.

That's all for now. More adventures on the way!

Blogging Buffet & Nerdly News: WoW

Random fun and goings on from the World of Warcraft (or my latest obsession). Fair warning, this is for the RPG (that's Role Playing Game, NOT Rocket Propelled Grenade) crowd, so it might not make much sense. It will, however, further comically cement my nerd status. So dig out your Pocky and 20-siders and have a laugh. ;)

* Met a rather friendly Troll on the boat to Auberdine. He waved and pointed at something off deck. Sine he was Horde and not Night Elf, I couldn't understand, but laughed anyway. About the time I changed out of Cat Travel Form, he leaned over from the side of his mount, and petted me. We both laughed. Troll exited the boat and was immediately chased by the dock sentinals.
* The Druid Starfire spell is so my friend and a wicked way to deal Independence Day style beatdown. Zap!
* Bought a companion Great Horned Owl in Darnassas a while back. While Hunters can tame and have attack pets, just thought it was cool to learn this. I'm on the hunt for similar follow pets, mainly for the novelty.
* After much scrounging, I finally earned and bought Basic Mount Riding. Also bought a Striped Dawnsaber (traditional Bengal Tiger) to ride. Rampage has already payed for himself in travel time and cool factor. Wish companion pet owl could be active while I'm mounted, but hey, who's complaining?
* Still have a handful of quests in Azuremyst and Bloodmyst to finish up. Draenei Land has been good to me, especially in the gear and stuff to sell department. Very happy with my "Armored Geta" and Draenei staff.
* Bloodmyst is a good place to pick up wool for the Gnome in Tinkertown at Iron Forge. Seems the Saytrs and Moonkin carry a decent amount.
* Brewfest is over, and places like Exodor just don't feel the same without bad Scottish brogues and cheesey festival music. Regardless, most entertaining add-on and loved the Goblin Mage joke.
* One of the funnier freebies aquired during battles here recently were "Pants of Power". Either cloth or leather armor with a plus to strength. Sold 'em. My pants needn't be THAT powerful.
* Liking the Greek and Roman style ruins of Dark Shore and southward. Something cool about aged white columns and green moss.
* Besides exploring and fun, the main goal is to up my faction status in order to learn and ride various mounts. Exalted is a loooooong way away however.

Hope you enjoyed the World of WarCrack..er...Warcraft report. Stay tuned for more adventures!

Aquarium: An Underwater Dining Adventure

While in Nashville this past weekend, I finally got back to Aquarium: An Underwater Dining Adventure in Opry Mills mall. This place was a treat!

Honestly, I went in thinking "Great themeing and it'll have ho-hum food, since it's an atmosphere sort of thing." Well, it seems a slice of humble pie was served with the outstanding shrimp scampi. The food quality was on par with what one would expect from a nice dress-up quality restaurant. It was rich and flavorful and definitely not any of the discount produce or seafood. Both scampi and the shrimp and crab dip were well cooked. They were simply and elegantly displayed. Yes, I was wrong. Also felt bad for not wearing at least a suit coat to this place.

Our server was knowlegeable, friendly, and on the ball. We never had to hunt for him and our drinks never went past the halfway point. He also told us some fun facts about the aquarium in the center of the room. Seems their resident Guitar Fish (looks like a cross between a Shark and a Sting Ray) is named Gibson. Can you guess why? (Hint: A Gibson Guitar store is located in Opry Mills).

Ok, on to the terriffic themeing. To enter the restaurant, you pass through a small hall way with fish on all sides, just like in the larger aquariums. You might also see a diver doing various things while you wait to be seated. Besides the central aquarium, the whole room is made up like a sea cave. Blue lights give an ocean feel from depresisions in the ceiling as well as simple wall sconces. The carpet has an ocean bottom look to it with pictures of sand and coral. Fish-shaped pendant lights also hang from the ceiling. If you like themeing of any sort or things like Rainforest Cafe, you enjoy Aquarium as well.

For more information, head on over to: http://www.aquariumrestaurants.com/aquariumnashville/

Thanks folks for a great meal and see you again next time I'm in town.

GMX Day 2

Busy and good con day!

* Kerlak discovers Pocky...and raids the dealer room...repeatedly. Yours truly was blamed.
* Got a Jade necklace made by a Tibetan Tantric Buddhist.
* Saw a great Halo Cortana costume along with a female Klingon.
* Got my con photo done...in Neko ears and tale. Yep, only Neko guy at con and yes I got pictures for you all to laugh at. Had a great time and will do it again. Got petted on the head twice too.
* Filmed a short clip for Mage TV discussing my Steampunk costume and how it functions for fun and camera work.
* Attended a good Steampunk demo and panel thrown by the Apparition Abolishers. Nice job folks!
* Learned several new costume tricks including some creature effects. Very cool!
* Had dinner at Jack Daniel's restaurant in Opryland Hotel.
* Watched some wacky Nashville Burlesque group on public access.
* Stopped into the 501st Star Wars Cantina Party and witnessed Bar2D2. Knew only 1 person there but thanked the hosts just the same.

Things wrap up tomorrow and we head for home. Overall, a good 1st year con and a fun time. Those who bailed or didn't take a chance missed out. Hope GMX runs again in 2010!

Kerlak Publishing and Imagicopter @ GMX

GMX Day 1

General observations:
* Decent turnout of about 300 so far to kick off the con.
* Small dealer room, but great selection of Japanese/Asian Import Snacks. I had the Octopus flavored soda. No Neko gear thus far.
* Radison has a pretty hotel atrium with pool...and lots of steps and ramps.
* Rave party @ 11 pm had 3 people total in it.
* Saw the charity "slave" auction. Humorously, one of the Neko girls was wearing a Thunder Cats shirt. I've pulled the same gag in Second life. Nice!
* Seeing lots of 20 somethings and feeling a little old here.
* 1 confrimed Steampunk girl thus far. She bought a fetching Black Canary look-a-like for at least $45 in the slave auction. The guys sitting around her were drooling.
* Saw some poor little old lady trip over a wet floor sign. Told her I had the same trouble hitting my head getting into vans. She and her friends had a good laugh of that and seemed to feel better.
* Souvenir badge is a slap bracelet for access. Smart and fun idea there.
* More Opryland and hotel news tomorrow. Grizzly River Rampage still at Opry Mills. Fill dirt for bridge to center still in place. New fence up in that area. Seems like they cut down several trees along the interior rock line facing where Chaos used to be. No apparent start to long rumored demolition plans or construction on Opryland Hotel convention center expansion.
* More tomorrow!

Adventures in World of Warcraft

In the past couple weeks, I've joined the ranks of 11 million + people playing World or Warcraft (Wow) for short. Highly addicting, vastly entertaining, full of adventure, and some very pretty simulated landscapes.

Before we go any further, I'm sure some of you are thinking "Get a life, get some sun, live in the now, come back to reality, etc." I offer you a more relatable perspective on this Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMO RPG or just MMO). If you've ever read a REALLY good book that you just couldn't put down, full of plot twists, technical thinking, and the like, you'd be more inclined to play WoW than you might realize. There's really not that much difference between the two, other than WoW is a "book" of sorts visualized in 3D, complete with fantasy characters of all descriptions. As you read on, if you so choose, keep this frame of reference in mind.

The name of the game here is questing. You pick a race, a faction, and a class, and then you're given a backstory and some guidence after being tossed into the UBER-MASSIVE world...that is almost on it's fourth expansion. My character, for example, is a Night Elf, of The Alliance, and a Druid. Doesn't mean a hill of beans to you does it? Well, it will, because this is what defines you in the world and helps you become part of the ongoing story that has more heads than a Hydra. It also helps you relate to and quest with other users.

As you might guess, there are large quests and small ones, humerous ones, and some just really random weird ones. One of my faves thus far involved killing giant crabs on a beach and bringing back the meat for gumbo. The reward was the recipe, some coinage, and several bowls of said gumbo. Another classic was having to warn three groups of an inpending attack in under 12 minutes. The quest was called "The Kessel Run". You Star Wars fans will get a chuckle out of that just as I did.

Yes, there's a lot to like in this game. There are tons of quests, tons of various achievements that can be earned (join the Brew of the Month Club?!), lots of crazy weapons and armor, and, as said before, the landscapes. The realms truly have a beauty and creativity all their own. Large, Greek inspired cities like Darnassas and Stormwind will leave you standing in awe the first time you enter. You're greeted with epic giant statues and huge white marble columns among other things. Equally large tree creatures stand guard and lumber about. (Think Godzilla as city security here). Areas like The Burning Steppes are charred and desolate. The underground city of Iron Forge, complete with it's own tram system, is a jaw dropping monument to Dwarven engineering, (Stone and Steel, Stone and Steel...). Yes, my hearty old Dwarven comrades Gomar and Orar would be pleased, right down to their REALLY bad Scottish brogues. ;)

Since people are variable, you will have good and bad, just like with any group. I've experienced rude people who will walk right up in front of you while you're having a conversation with a shop keeper, instead of standing beside you and patiently waiting their turn. Others will find dumb reasons to laugh at you, or pester you about joining their guild so they can go buy some armor they just have to have. Others will be coming the opposite way and just run straight in to you instead of going around. Would these people walk square into someone in real life? No, because it would get them a beating and it's rude. So why do it in a game?

Now, on the flip side, I've also encountered some VERY COOL and GOOD people. Case in point, I was about to get the ultimate beat down in a fight, when I was suddenly healed. Back in the distance a Draenei Paladin had sent me a random blessing. Other passing Druids have also doled out boosters and help in not only good spirit, but in good gamership. I particularly like this tradition of random good will blessings, and have also done the same. Sometimes, in return, I've been given a boost, or a thank you. It's these kinds of moments that really make the WoW adventure that much more special.

There are also just some random funny things too. For example, I've seen a Druid, in Feral (bear) form, start dancing on a ship. There's a skittering turtle named Crusty Bob on the Azuremyst isle. I gave a saytr creature some pine cones and he turned into a frog. The other Night Elf looking on, got a laugh of that too. Then there are the VERY perky Gnomes, who'll say "My! You're a tall one!" while you converse with them.

Oh there's more. Much much more. Suffice to say, if you enjoy fantasy, adventure, good stories or intrigue, and the occasion pop culture reference, World of Warcraft truly is a fun experience. Have a look if you're so inclined. You might even bump into me (Grizzlyriver) somewhere along the way.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a big cat mount named Rampage to save for. :)