So much has gone on since my last post (yet again) that I have no idea where to start or what might get left out. Though I'm going to make sure I cover the most important things and if I forget something I'm sure that my family will let me know and then I'll probably have to write an amendment blog just to make things right with the world.
As blogged before, I mentioned something about entering a contest for SL Top DJ 2011 that was being hosted by Club Echo that I work at. After much encouragement by Abby and Cady, I put my name into the hat to be a contestant. There was a period where you could vote for a DJ to make it to be able to battle for the spot, and with a big thank you to my family and all my Fretwerkaholics out there I was one of the highest voted performers in the contest. It made me feel very good and gave me the confidence to really try to take the title home. Unfortunately during the week before the contest I came down with a wicked cold and sounded horrible during the sets that I performed during the week. I was horrified that I had to do my thing in front of a huge crowd with a horse sounding voice. I took as many meds as I could within reason and made use of a lot of cough drops (RICOLAAAAAAAAAAAAA!) as measures to try and remedy the situation. The night came where it was my turn to perform and while I was still sick, I was able to keep my throat loose enough to be the Fretwerk that everyone knows and loves. There was a hot crowd and for an hour Echo was mine!!! I feel that I did very well and everyone was having a blast.
Then came the results the next day...
I knew that they were going to announce the winner at a certain time and I also had to work RL that day. Though I figured I would have enough time to log for a bit before I had to leave to find out what happened. I originally was not going to and thought that fate would run it's course if it were meant to. Then I second guessed myself and chose to go anyway because it might go against me if I wasn't there. So I get on and go to the club and Cady is there already which was a nice surprise. I definitely thought the support would help me. So it comes down to the fact that the judges that scored the performances ended up declaring a tie...good news is I was one of the DJ's that was a part of the tie....bad thing is that they couldn't have a tie and that someone had to be chosen as the clear cut winner. So I stood there with my heart racing a million beats a second and my fingers crossed as they announced the runner up...and that's when I felt the sharp sing of what felt like a bullet going through my spine. I placed second which is by no means horrible and at least I was able to say that I was one of the top two but the worst part of it is that the winner was not a gracious winner. Some of the comments she made after winning made me a little ill. They were not discrediting towards me or my performance but it was just not the way a humble winner would have acted or how I would have acted. So with having to leave for work I logged off as quick as I could and tried to bury the bitterness I was feeling (that I'm still feeling a little still). All in all, thank you to everyone who supported me through the contest and that continue to support me. You are all very special to me and there aren't any words I could possibly say to do that justice.
Now that I got all that out of the way/off my chest, it's time to dote on Abby! HAHAHAHA LOL LOL (sorry couldn't help myself). The other night I was able to attend a football game that her school team was playing and that she was cheerleading for. She is definitely one of the best if not most organized members of the squad. Too bad nobody else recognizes that but the people that matter most are the ones who are not oblivious. I wasn't really into the game much since her school was getting pounded harder than tent stake but I was able to capture a couple of shots of her during the halftime show to prove that I was there and paying attention!
Sometimes you can be afforded some funny moments when you least expect them and this story is priceless. Abby is the type of girl who likes to help people and she was trying to help my brother Matt work on his avatar a little bit to polish it a little better and to make him stand out more. Well I came home one night and went to talk with her and she was working on fixing the shape he had. In order to do that she went and got a demo copy of his skin and parked herself on a poseball and went to work; when I arrived and set my cam on her I almost had a heart attack by what I saw. I even posted a plurk about it and this is definitely an After School Special moment or even a PSA on parenting...so parents let this next image be a lesson: Never allow your children to take steroids...especially females.
Now that I've probably embarrassed my poor little girl, I'll get back to doting again. This past Friday we held a Rezzday/Sweet 16 party for her at the SIUM Space station. If you've never seen this place you need to check it out...it's home to a really nice lady Elysium and her partner but they have it open for anyone to come and hang out. The theme of the party since we were at this venue was a futuristic/space type where the guest were encouraged to come dressed up as robots, aliens, or anything that fit the theme. A lot of Abby's friends attended which pleased Cady and I as we wanted to make sure that our girl celebrated in style. I was the entertainment and DJ'd for the entire party and played songs she likes. To show how truly selfless my daughter is, she set up a kiosk at the party and instead of people giving her a gift they could donate money towards the Relay For Life charity which is directed towards finding a cure for cancer. So besides there being the space theme there was the underlying theme of telling Cancer to "F**K OFF!" We raised a good deal of money in SL terms and everyone had a good time. Mission accomplished I would have to say...but I forgot to take a pic of my costume because it was pretty rad. Oh well...the Armored Assault Warrior will get dusted off again someday but I did take a pic of myself doing a soundcheck before the party...check it!
In other news and funny moments...I took it upon myself not necessarily of boredom but to see what kind of reaction I'd get if I dressed completely out of context for my set at Mostly Harmless the night after Abby's party. I had already dressed up as the SL version of Iron Man so I decided to go to the extreme in reverse. I put on what I call my "Homeless Man" attire and for some reason either out of pity or because I was just doing that well with my performance that I had a really good night as far as tips went. My family thinks that it was probably because the VIP's were scared that I would come to their land and wipe them out...that's not always a bad idea sometimes. (Just kidding!) So for those of you who missed it or are wishing to relive the moment...here's a shot of me in my Homeless Man glory.
Of course yesterday was Valentine's Day. It's one of those days most people fear in both RL and SL alike I'm sure but this year was not one of those for me. I am living a dream that hopefully no one pinches me and I wake up from. I have a beautiful girlfriend and an amazing daughter in my life and without them I think I would fall to pieces. My regret is that I was unable to spend the day with my girls because I was obligated to be at work in the real world so I was not able to. I did get to have a little time with them when I got home but it really was not enough for me. My girls went to Cady's sister's wedding and both were dressed very fancy which impressed me to the nth degree. Those two know how to wear their clothes and accessorize...everything they do is with thought. They have a knack for it and one of the reasons I love them immensely. Cady and I were having a hard time figuring out what to get one another because we're the type that always goes out and gets whatever we want for ourselves; doesn't leave much room for the significant other to buy gifts on special occasions does it? She was very sweet and picked up a gift cert for one of the stores I'm always talking about going to and more than likely I'll be taking her with me to pick something out that she thinks might look good on my pixels. For her it was tough but I was able to have a special necklace made for her that has a heart with a picture of us inside. It looks great on her and she'll always have me close to her one way or another is the way I see it. You know there's always future Valentine's to perfect the art of gift giving and even if the gift is just time with her then I don't have a complaint in the world.
Well I think I have been going on long enough so I will leave you all be and hope that you and your significant other had a wonderful holiday! That's it for now...until next!
- Fret
