Fantasy & Folktales

Remember your first wooden train, teddy bear, and dolly?

Have you ever wondered where all the old and broken toys go when we are done playing with them?  There is a place, in Second Life, that might be considered the very place these old toys can go to have a second life of their very own.  Take a trip to the fantasy land of the Island of Lost Toys, found on the Avilion Hinterlands sim, high up in the snow-covered mountains that overlook the mystical land of Avilion.

Come over to see what Santa's elves do to keep busy while fixing the broken and forgotten toys, so they can find new homes with children who will love them all over again.

Then a reading of one of the holiday's most beloved poems, "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore.

Episode 12

Part one:

"The Island of Lost Toys
one the Avilion Hinterlands sim.

SLURL:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Avilion%20Hinterlands/188/174/24

Part two:

"Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clark Moore

Music used in this podcast:

Part 1:
"Sting Quartet #2 in D Major III. Notturno" by Alexander Borodin.

Part 2:
"Carol of the Bells", performed by Doug Astrop, from the Podsafe Music Network.

Closing piece:
"Concert Grosso in G Minor "Christmas Concerto" by Arcangelo Corelli.

This episode is approximately 15 minutes long.

Hit the slopes! Break out the hot cocoa!

High up in the snow covered mountains of the PeachTree Resort sim in Second Life, you will find one of the most charming winter ski resorts in this virtual world I live in.  A skating pond, horse-back riding trails, a leisurely ride through a "Tunnel of Love", and ski lifts and slopes to test your ski legs are just a few of the activities offered at the enchanting & lovely Wolf Mountain Ski Resort.

Romance, shopping, skiing, and lots of wintery fun, on six sims, are all here, waiting for you to discover and enjoy this winter wonderland in Second Life!

Then a reading of one of Hans Christian Anderson's tales, requested by my good friend in SL, Gomem Desoto.

Episode 11

Part one:

Wolf Mountain Ski Resort
on the PeachTree Resort sim

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/PeachTree%20Resort/53/45/30

Part two:

Hans Christian Anderson's story of "The Emperor's New Clothes", read by me, in a story-telling manner.

Music used in this podcast:

Part 1
"Thais: Meditation" a soothing classical piece by Jules Massenet.

Part 2
"Cello Concerto No.1 in C Major", another classical piece by Franz Joseph Haydn

This episode is approximately 14 minutes long.

It's beginning to look like Christmas!

A little snow, a big ice skating rink, snowmen and snowflakes, and Santa's cozy little cottage, and you just might find yourself smack in the middle of a most wonderful winter wonderland!  You can find this and much more at one of Second Life's premium "Christmas sites", a beautiful place called Winterland Classic Christmas, located on a sim of the same name.  You might even be able to see if your name is on Santa's "good list"!

Then a reading of one of Hans Christian Anderson's tales.

Episode 10

Part one:

Winterland Classic Christmas
The Original Winterland!

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Winterland Classic Christmas/116/229/33


Part two:

Hans Christian Anderson's story of "Thumbelina", read by me, in a story-telling manner.

Music used in this podcast:

Part 1
"String Quartet" a sweet classical piece by Franz Joseph Haydn

Part 2
"Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) Overture", another classical piece by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

This episode is approximately 29 minutes long.

Romantic Steampunk?

Mix Victorian era, Industrial Revolution, with a touch of fantasic science and imagination, and you just might find the magic of Caledon in Second Life. Steampunk at it's romantic best can be found on the many islands that make up this 19th century Victorian era based community.  Whether you explore this land in a steam-engine train, or a mechanized hot air balloon, you are sure to find fantasy and wonder at every bend.... in Caledon!

Then a reading of one of the tales by the Brothers Grimm.

Episode 8

Part one:

Caledon
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon Victoria City/128/128/0

Part two:

The Brothers Grimms' Tale of "Snow White & Rose Red" read by me, in a story-telling manner, special request of Salem

Music used in this podcast:

Part 1
"Water Music Suite, , a classical piece composed by George Frideric Handel.

Part 2
"Bolero", another classical piece by Maurice Ravel.

This episode is approximately 21 minutes long.