Dared to Drabble

So I partly blame the resurrection of the blog on those of you out there that keep encouraging me to write something...you know who you are!

So having waxed and polished the blog and started with a few posts...I was challenged! The gauntlet of verbosity was thrown at my feet by none other than Miss Ceejay Writer! She recommended a very interesting and challenging exercise to flex those little grey cells...a drabble!

According to Miss Writer, a drabble is a story in exactly 100 words...no more...no less. She added that she writes them often. She will ask a person to give her three words...the challenge being to incorporate them into the drabble as part of a coherent and readable 100 word story.

Wicked woman that she is...three words slid out of the thrown gauntlet! So you want to be a writer Mr. Trenton? Give me a drabble with the words "naked" "jell-o" and "taint"! "Oh...and it has to be PG-rated...snicker" I gasped...wishing I hadn't earlier joked around about taint! What a cruel task master you are for my first drabble!!! Or are you?

I present PJ Trenton's first drabble...

The last thing he remembered before everything went black was a sense of serene calm. Granted, it had been hectic for so long, that he was starting to worry it would always be thus. It didn’t seem possible that anything could taint this feeling, but a slippery road and a tree had other things to say about it.

Why did he push it so? They would have waited. But not anymore he thought; lying naked, save for the hospital gown. A missed opportunity! Lesson learned, he thought as he contemplated the little green cubes of Jell-O…all that awaited him now.

*Bows and silently pads off*

Cue the National Geographic theme...

Mister Trenton finally finds himself on location after many months of planning this photographic expedition to the Dark Continent. Trenton is ready to explore and document the beauty and the danger that is the deepest parts of the jungle!

But this trip could never be undertaken without the proper planning...acquiring the proper clothing and equipment. Mister Trenton is prepared for anything in this stylish and practical Arthur Conan Doyle Safari Suit from the talented designer Viv Trafalgar of Viv Trafalgar Outfitters.

Planning your next safari? Don't even consider going without the proper gear. Visit Viv Trafalgar Outfitters to pick up this most important part of your wardrobe...also available for the ladies! Visit them in-world at Port Babbage (slurl).

The Quest Continues...

Crotty is unaccounted for and the Wing Commander fears the worst...where could he be? Find out in the next exciting installment of The Quest for the Golden Prim in issue 7 of The Primgraph...now available at http://en.calameo.com/read/00000423407faa11b4d8e.

Missed the opening episode from last issue? Have no fear, it is also available at http://calameo.com/books/000004234d292ec0f0202.

Visit the official Quest for the Golden Prim site at http://goldenprim.blogspot.com/.

Primgraph No. 7 Released

As summer rolls on, it is with great excitement that I advise you of the release of the latest issue of Primgraph Magazine. Issue No. 7 finds us by the Victorian seaside in Caledon. So grab your copy, your bathing costume and venture forth to the seaside for a leisurely read!

I am particularly excited about this issue for a number of reasons. I find myself in the enviable position as a contributor to this fine publication. I am tickled with the cover image they selected that nicely melds the essence of steampunk and Victoriana. Caledon was a beautiful sim to explore and I invite you to share what I experienced through my photography.

I am very pleased with the antique postcards that I created to accompany the fabulous article by Miss Ceejay Writer. When I saw the running list for the issue and specifically Ceejay's article entitled A Holiday at the Victorian Seaside...I was immediately struck with the idea of antique postcards...of which I have a fair number in real life. Those who follow my Flickr photostream will see that I have recently become quite smitten with antique postcards from the virtual world.

Issue 7 is available online in pdf format at Calameo. You can access it by visiting http://www.calameo.com/read/00000423407faa11b4d8e

The issue also features the second installment of The Quest for the Golden Prim! The Quest is a web-based comic shot entirely in Second Life. The story is being written by Miss Saffia Widdershins, Frau Annechen Lowey and Miss Viv Trafalgar, and runs as a continuing serial in each issue of The Primgraph. Armed with the script, I head off with our intrepid actors and actresses and attempt to bring the story to life. It is a tremendous amount of fun and a wonderful challenge that I am savouring with each shoot. I complete the work for each episode by laying it out.

My thanks to all involved in its production and in particular the patience of all of the people who give so much of their time to be part of the story.

Pokes at his blog...

...and thinks he feels a faint pulse. Perhaps it can be saved...resuscitated...poked...prodded and cajoled back to life.

As you can see, it has been a VERY long time since Virtually PJ has seen any activity. Not because PJ has been virtually inactive...far from it! I'm without doubt busier now then I have ever been in Second Life.

Over this long period of time I have been fortunate to meet so many new, interesting and creative people. I have also been lucky enough to find myself involved with a number of very interesting and well respected publications, namely Prim Perfect magazine, and The Primgraph.

There is just so much that I have come across...so many interesting things out there that MUST be shared. So here I am..back...I think! Let's see how this goes shall we?

PJ

POINTS OF INTEREST ~ The Far Away

So here is the first in a regular feature I would like to do where I tell you about a cool place I have found in Second Life. These are all places that I recommend you visit, for their design, their concepts, or their overall "coolness." :-)

First stop...The Far Away (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dreamworld%20North/226/95/22/). This is a really neat place featuring a wheat field...a rusted out old train...a windmill...and some hidden secrets...can you find them?

Cetus Gallery District...the place to be!

Without question, one of my favourite spots in all of Second Life is the Cetus Gallery District (CGD). The people behind this wonderful place...Xander Ruttan, Tricia Aferdita and their dedicated team of executive volunteers show us all that they truly understand the word "community."

CGD is unquestionably the most vibrant arts and culture community in all of SL. The essence of the district is the wonderful collection of galleries housing works of artists from around the world. Housed in some of the best gallery spaces you will find in the metaverse, Cetus offers patrons of the arts a wide array of fabulous works to view.

And if that wasn't enough...musicians and djs make regular stops at Cetus...in Tricia's Harmony Cafe or in the Community Centre. I have heard...and met...so incredible musicians who understand the word community just as much as the those involved in Cetus.

I strongly encourage everyone to make Cetus a regular destination in their SL travels. Arts and musci events are regularly announced through various groups...or better yet, become a Cetus VIP and get all the information and keep up with all that is going on in this one-of-a-kind neighbourhoods!

Toys for Tots...thank you for your support!

December 8th and 9th saw some of Second Life's best known musical talents come together with artists and fashion designers for an incredibly successful fundraising event in support of Toys for Tots. All told, approximately $450,000L was raised for this very worthwhile charity.

I was honoured to have been asked to participate and took the opportunity to get creative and shoot some images specifically for the event. They had been looking for very specific themes in the art to be sold...and I just didn't feel I had any existing images to contribute. I am actually glad that I didn't...I had alot of fun setting up a bit of a studio shoot...including the one posted here.

Paula and I went to see the our first SL fashion show...the culmination of the two day event. OMG! The bidding was fast and furious...perhaps a little insane at times...but all for a good cause. By the time I worked out wanting the bid on something...the darn thing already had bids up over $1,000! It was quite something to see...congratulations to all involved.

Ultimately I ended up selling 9 works and purchased one from another artist.

East meets west at Landon Arts

East met west at Landon Arts tonight as my Japanese friend and fellow photographer Sakura and I had an exhibit opening at Louis Landon's fabulous Landon Arts sim. I enjoyed writing up the group notices and getting them distributed to all and sundry. I assured Montana, who is Louis' manager, that I was certainly not trying to steal her job...she laughed and told me to be careful what I wish for. ;-)

The night was a great success, with about 40 to 50 people dropping by to hear our good friend Louis Volare (RL jazz pianist and singer/songwriter Louis Landon) play an impromptu. I encourage you to join Louis' Peace Revolution group in SL so that you can find out where he is playing. You don't want to miss one of SL's premier musical performers. Visit his web site at http://www.louislandon.com to find out more about his music, listen to samples of his songs, or order his cds online.

I met some wonderful new people that evening, while reconnecting with some old friends.

Overall the night was fabulous, between Louis' fabulous playing, Paula's cloned hair and HatHead rocking the umbrella...alot of fun was had by all.

PJ Trenton on until January 1st, 2008 @ A.R.T. Galerie

I am extremely delighted to be joining 3 fabulous artists until January 1st at A.R.T. Galerie...Teofila Matova's wonderful gallery in New Boston Art Colony (http://slurl.com/secondlife/New%20Boston%20Station/37/32/22).

I met Teo by chance during a flurry of gallery visits where I was looking for new opportunities to showcase my work. Luckily for me, one of the artists that she had invited to A.R.T. Galerie was unavailable and so the space was available to me.

I am excited to join Gracie Kendal, GM Nikolaidis and Autopilotpatty Poppy in this wonderful exhibit space. I am featuring black & white images from my portfolio for this particular exhibition.

A.R.T. Galerie hosts regular music events with live musicians or dj's. For more information about A.R.T. Galerie and some of their upcoming events, visit their web site at http://www.calicoinfo.net/artgalerie/.