2011.06.02 07:00 - Three years and a rock

The Guardian for this meeting was Storm Nordwind. The comments are by Storm Nordwind.

A special personal celebration.

Adams Rubble: Goodmorning mr. Nordwind :)
Storm Nordwind: Good morning Ms. Rubble
Adams Rubble: It is the first Thursday in June. Do you know what that means?
Storm Nordwind: Hmm... I expect I don't
Adams Rubble: It is three years since I wandered into a session of yours and learned about PaB
Adams Rubble: June 5, 2008
Storm Nordwind: Oh wow!
Storm Nordwind: Congratulations on your staying all this time!
Storm Nordwind: :)
Adams Rubble: you too Storm!
Adams Rubble: hehe
Adams Rubble: I am very struck this year wwith how long it has been since April 1 and I am a bit humbled by how long you all took to hone PaB before i arrived
Adams Rubble: two months is a long time in paB
Storm Nordwind: Yes it is. Thinking about this year, it seems SUCH a long time since the birthday celebrations
Storm Nordwind: Really just two months ago? Wow
Adams Rubble: :)

A timely exercise.

Adams Rubble: I don;t know if you are reading Piet's book for the Time sessions at all
Storm Nordwind: I wish I had the time :)
Adams Rubble: I read this morning and I am actually doing one of the exercises by being here this morning
Adams Rubble: He suggests looking at ourselves as we were at some time in the past and looking from that past person as we are today
Adams Rubble: I have a good memory of myself on that day three years ago :)
Adams Rubble: never imagined then what would happen though
Adams Rubble: Hello Xirana :)
Storm Nordwind: Hi Xirana
Xirana Oximoxi: hello Adams and Storm
Adams Rubble: It is my third anniversary in PaB Xirana and I am musing a bit this morning

Changes.

Storm Nordwind: But are those things that have happened, YOU? Or is the you that you were then unchanged and you have just gained extra memories and experience?
Xirana Oximoxi: oh! congratulations Adams!!!!
Adams Rubble: There has been change
Adams Rubble: I realize it sometimes when people are talking about things that are bothering them and I realize those things do not bother me any more
Storm Nordwind smiles and nods
Adams Rubble: I have learned things about myself that I did not know then

Not being scared away!

Adams Rubble: and then I think of how fortunate I was that you were here the first day and did not scare me away :)
Xirana Oximoxi: :)
Storm Nordwind: hehe!
Adams Rubble: I nev er would have imagined I'd still be here three years later :)
Adams Rubble: or thst PaB would be here

A departure from the predictable question.

Storm Nordwind: So it's traditional to ask what you have learned in this period. BUT I won't do that today (as I did in previous years!). Instead I'll ask: "Knowing what you know now, what would you change about the way you've done things in that time?"
Adams Rubble: wow, whhat a question
--BELL--
Xirana Oximoxi: it's very good, it means that here things are going on too.. always renewing and that whay one can still come and share and learn and...
Adams Rubble: there are things I did that still make me uncomfortable but being uncomfortable makes one see things about oneself one might not otherwise see so I don't know that i can answer that question Storm
Xirana Oximoxi: I'm sorry if I go suddenly.. again stormy weather and probably I will have to disconnect...but I will read the log later... I find interesssant to know what this three years of PaB has meant to Adams.. :)
Adams Rubble: hope your connectiojn stays OK Xirana but nice to see you anyway
Xirana Oximoxi: ty:)
Storm Nordwind agrees and hopes Xirana can stay
Xirana Oximoxi: ty to you too Storm:)
Xirana Oximoxi: Adams..what kind of things make you uncomfortable, if I may ask
Adams Rubble is going to keep coming to Storm's session on the first thursday in June as long as Storm is here :)
Storm Nordwind is honored and glad about that!

Clouds or sky?

Storm Nordwind: That's OK. Accepting what we were is often hard, especially when what we've become is so positive. And that's sometimes why I think of the question "What would I have done differently". And it makes me wonder whether I am the different clouds that pass through the sky, the old stormy ones or the new fluffy ones, or the constant sky that they sometimes obscure. :)

Self-image and intimate feelings.

Adams Rubble: any time one messes with one "self's" image of itself one can get uncomfrtable Xirana
Xirana Oximoxi: I agree that beeing uncomfortable can leads to learn about oneself too
Adams Rubble: There is a difference too about being honest with oneself and wanting to talk publically about it
Storm Nordwind nods and smiles
Xirana Oximoxi: oh yes!
Xirana Oximoxi: but even if it's a way to be honest with oneself it's good:)... not everything is easy to speak publically, specially more intimate feelings
Xirana Oximoxi: and not necessary to do it

Less time to be talkative!

Adams Rubble: The first few months I spent a good bit of time ion PaB sessions being very talkative once I got started (hehe)
Storm Nordwind raises his eyebrows ;)
Storm Nordwind: Rubble is as Rubble does ;)
Adams Rubble: but then RL commitments forced me to spend less time and that has been a two and three quarter year adjustment for me :)
Adams Rubble: It has been fun to watch PaB develop and sustain itself
Xirana Oximoxi: yes... as new here..during the Birthday of PaB I've seen it has a long story..full of interesting people, things, discussions, activities
Adams Rubble: yes, lots of activities now too :)
Adams Rubble: PaB has more "parts" to it than it did then
Adams Rubble: one can muse oneself well off the beaten track. hehe
Storm Nordwind: hehe!
--BELL--

Ideas of community.

Storm Nordwind: I remember when Pema and genesis and I discussed different parts of PaB - when we were at Princeton together. genesis was keen on the idea of community within PaB. I remember that I wasn't so much. But I think we were both right. Community has evolved (and still evolves) in PaB and is VERY important. But it's probably not what anyone envisaged or could have encouraged or imposed. It's grown its own way - and that's wonderful!!
Adams Rubble: yes, I agree Storm
Adams Rubble: I think many of us have a time when we are very engaged and get very close to the people who are very engaged at that time
Adams Rubble: that repeats itself again and again
Storm Nordwind: The constant evolution is heartening though. More things emerge. And there needn't be any sadness when some things pass away.
Adams Rubble: somehow that seems to give us all a common bond

People who drop away.

Adams Rubble: I still miss people when they drop away for their various reasons
Adams Rubble: makes me a bit sad
Xirana Oximoxi: welll..that's the magic of SL..we also share feelings, and miss others when are away...
Adams Rubble: One reason it makes me sad is I wonder if we failed them
Storm Nordwind: I admit I don't feel sad. If they have the awareness that they need to do something else, even for a while, then I am happy for their expanded awareness. Play as Being is not a panacea, nor are we perfect!

Milakel and Arch join us. But who is Milakel?

milakel Resident: hi :)
Adams Rubble: Hello Milakel :)
Xirana Oximoxi: hi MIla
milakel Resident: any news from bruce?
Xirana Oximoxi: I also was thinking of Bruce
milakel Resident: ah, phone...
Xirana Oximoxi: sad because he can not come
Adams Rubble: we all hope Bruce is OK
Xirana Oximoxi: I don't think PaB 'fail' to people... it's more like they have other interests at the moment or other wonders
Adams Rubble: Hello Arch :)
Storm Nordwind: Good morning Arch!
Xirana Oximoxi: hi Arch:)
Archmage Atlantis: Mila, Xirana, Adams, Storm, ........nice to see you
Xirana Oximoxi: nice to see you too Arch:)
Adams Rubble: ye Arch
Adams Rubble: yes
milakel Resident: sorry, forgot to mention that i'm boxy's sister :)
Archmage Atlantis: I usually listen to mucis when I am here......atm Blck Mtb Rag is playing
milakel Resident: hi, archy
Xirana Oximoxi: ahhh hello Boxy's sister:)
--BELL--
Adams Rubble: ha, that was my guess Milakel. Nice to meet you
Storm Nordwind: Amazing how genetics works... there seem to be no sharp edges to Milakel :)
Adams Rubble: whoops
Archmage Atlantis: The 90 seconds is being better observed, I like that
Storm Nordwind nods and agrees :)
Adams Rubble still pondering some things Xirana and Storm said
Archmage Atlantis: It took me a long time to begin to understand this place.......an d there are many placem different in design and observation, that are equally as special
Adams Rubble: we learn from each other all the time
Xirana Oximoxi: I agree...and that's very nice
Adams Rubble: Arch, maybe to some other people but probably not to us
Archmage Atlantis: Home is home
Xirana Oximoxi: I like the sense of a group that one have between you...
Xirana Oximoxi: even if we may be all very different
milakel Resident: archy, maybe it's a habitual experience

The rock.

milakel Resident: i liked a story that gaya sent to the wok group recently...
Storm Nordwind has many special places... and he's sitting in RL in one right now! :)
Adams Rubble: :)
Archmage Atlantis: Even the beeshave 1 queen......still the send ourt new queens and dronse
milakel Resident: "... an experiment once performed by Krishnamurti: I placed a rock that held no special significance on my mantel and bowed to it each day. I did this deliberately to see whether I could infuse a unique quality into something completely ordinary, simply by incorporating the rock within a morning ritual. At the end of a month, the rock held a special, holy place in my perception."
Adams Rubble: :)
Yakuzza Lethecus: hey everyone
Xirana Oximoxi: hi Yaku
Storm Nordwind: Hi Yaku!
Adams Rubble: Hello Yaku :)
milakel Resident: yaku-san :)
Archmage Atlantis: Sway to the rhythm of love.....head phones

June 12th June 12th June 12!

milakel Resident: storm, what will happen on june 12? :)
Storm Nordwind: I asked Bleu what to say when people asked me that (after she'd given me the shirt). She was very mysterious and suggested I tell people to ask her! :)
milakel Resident: ha!
milakel Resident: and i was hoping for a little sneak peek :)
Storm Nordwind: It's kind of fun to be asked questions that you can't answer
Xirana Oximoxi: ok..I will ask her too.. really curious and not sure if I can come
Archmage Atlantis: June 12 is a preview
Archmage Atlantis: Oc lice to come
milakel Resident: it starts to resemble 2012
Adams Rubble: I must be off. Thank you again Storm for helping me get started and thanks all for the discussion
Archmage Atlantis: The 'verse is full of life.....life's purpose is to live......rather simple
milakel Resident: have a nice day, adams :)
Storm Nordwind: You're welcome. Bye for now. Stay another year!
Adams Rubble: :)
milakel Resident: archy is full of zen quotes :)
Adams Rubble: maybe I will Storm. hehe
--BELL--

More thoughts on the rock.

Storm Nordwind: I like that story of Krishnamurti's Arch. We make these links and we are these links. The question is, would others perceive the "specialness" as we begin to perceive it. Or it is solely within us? Is it subjective, or objective? Or is there no difference between the two?
Xirana Oximoxi: bye Adams.. I hope we share converstations three more years:)
Xirana Oximoxi: which link
Storm Nordwind: By paying reverence to an "ordinary" rock, the rock became special for him. There was a link between that rock and a feeling that he had not previously noticed, or had not been there
milakel Resident: they will feel it if they hold same specialness in those who perceive
Archmage Atlantis: And SL has become my rock, as in Storm's story
Storm Nordwind smiles
Archmage Atlantis: Blessings and Namaste
Yakuzza Lethecus: bye arch
Xirana Oximoxi: bye
Storm Nordwind: Rock is an interesting choice - especially in Arch's last saying - because rock has connotations of stability and foundation, something that we rely on

How to leave the rock behind.

milakel Resident: more difficult question is how do you move on and leave the rock behind
Storm Nordwind: Why do you feel that's a difficult question Mila?
milakel Resident: cause it's hard to let go off what became sacred to you
Xirana Oximoxi: bye to all.. I must go, see you soon and thanks for this nice time:)
Yakuzza Lethecus: bye xirana
milakel Resident: bye, xiry :)
Storm Nordwind: If the whole universe becomes sacred, and the rock is part of it, there is nowhere to go that is not sacred :)
milakel Resident: yes, it's a nice concept :)
Storm Nordwind: Where there is no separation, there is no loss
milakel Resident: sadly, it doesn't work on a macro scale
Storm Nordwind: How do you mean?
milakel Resident: we're all separated wherever you look
milakel Resident: it takes a special trained mind to see it otherwise
Storm Nordwind smiles
--BELL--
Storm Nordwind: Perception of apparent separation is a reasonable and practical coping strategy, that's for sure - at least for a while. But coping strategies have their limitations. And they may not show us what's always best for us as we grow.

A little tech stuff to finish.

milakel Resident: btw, how is the script time reduction going? i see the numbers haven't changed
Storm Nordwind: No the numbers haven't changed. I have to contact LL next. I'm not hopeful. Especially as I recall some release note somewhere mentioning adding extra server-side logging, and seeing script time suddenly double in my home sim after a server "upgrade" :-/
milakel Resident: hmm
milakel Resident: well, more logs can be helpful on the other hand :)
Storm Nordwind: Yes. It's knife-edge, but at least it doesn't seem to be causing too much lag for most users most of the time - - - yet.
milakel Resident: i've been to various sims and the script time numbers that we have seem to be typical
milakel Resident: i wonder if the docs we've read are outdated
Storm Nordwind: We're typical now. Though, like I say, recently (last 2 weeks) my home sim (an ex PaB sim) jumped from 9ms to 20ms script time overnight. It's now "typical" too - sadly.
milakel Resident: oh, 9 is very nice
Storm Nordwind: WAS very nice
Storm Nordwind: And that was with my 15 sea kraits plus their intensive AI!
milakel Resident: also, it was in tune with "9 sec" :)
Storm Nordwind chuckles
milakel Resident: well, can we get a list of top 10 scripts on the sim from lindens?
Storm Nordwind: Maybe. We used to be able to get that level of service. Especially when we paid the 5 times as much money!
milakel Resident: heh, right
--BELL--
Storm Nordwind: Well good friends - please excuse me! I didn't have time for breakfast this morning :)
milakel Resident: bye, storm :)
Storm Nordwind: Bye!
Yakuzza Lethecus: bye
milakel Resident: ok, i'm off
milakel Resident: be well, yaku-san :)
Yakuzza Lethecus: bye mila
Yakuzza Lethecus: nice to meet you :)
milakel Resident: same :)