Summertime… and out WAY too late

but look what I found! How can you possibly go wrong on a location named “Happy Mood!”

Skybox Garde

It feels good to have made it to late night SL again… I’m ready to see what other hidden gems are found in those other 85,000 other sims.

Field Trips

Yesterday was a unique day for Bigd and I. We had time ALONE on SL! I know that sounds odd — but normally he and I are racing around doing this or that or the other thing for a business venture or event. Today the middle of the day meant we sat there looking at each other and said… hey… wanna go on a field trip?

Deep in the Tomb

The King Tut sim will be highlighted soon in the Virtual Pioneers History Educator group that Kimmer and Bigd are a part of — but I was excited to go and explore ahead of time. Half way through our tour we heard from 2 familiar faces — Parker and Aeryn. We invited them to come too. Aeryn had to leave to order pizza so it was really Parker who braved the chilly underground tombs with us for the longest.

SL is filled with so many incredible opportunities. Field trips to explore the amazing imaginations of others is definitely something to not let take a back burner. They inspire and remind us of the possibility of SL beyond shopping and dancing and events and decorating.

Thank you in advance for indulging in our field trip photographs!

Click to See More! Field Trip Photos are the BEST!

Why do you choose to connect?

I SHARE by Botgirl

Thank you Botgirl for your insight and analysis.  You give lots of food for thought.  Why do you log in?

The List

In the never-ending dilemma of keeping or deleting people from the SL friends list, I found this quote a perfect fit.

Regina: We do not have a clique problem at this school.
Gretchen: But you do have to watch out for “frenemies”.
Regina: What are “frenemies”?
Gretchen: Frenemies are enemies who act like friends. We call them “frenemies”.
Karen: Or “enemends”.
Gretchen: Or friends who secretly hate you, we call them “fraitors”.
Regina: [rolls eyes] That is so gay.
Karen: [gasps] What if we called them “mean-em-aitors”?
Regina: [scoffs]
Gretchen: No, honey, it has to have the word “friend” in it.
Karen: Oh…
~ Mean Girls, 2004

Why keep people on your list if you don’t really like them? To avoid drama? Because someday they may come back and be your friend again? Because you don’t believe in un-friending but you do believe in ignoring? What qualities should be in a friend who made the list? How do you figure out who not to put on your list? The whole list thing… I’m sure it will be a sociology study of the next few decades.

There are horrible things all around us that make life too short to deal with the silliness of who said what to whom when. Bigger issues like marital separations, cancer, job cuts, financial losses, illness in children, aging parents…. aren’t these the issues we should be focused on? When does it become less about petty grievances and bigger issues to care about and support each other on. I found Second Life at a point in my own first life when I was at an all time low for creativity and sadness with regard to a hostile takeover in my career. I found friends. I found laughter. I found people I genuinely care about. I found creativity. I didn’t realize this Second Life would also contain all those dark elements of first that just suck the life out of you.

I’ve always been one to believe in asking for what you need. If I am on your list, and I am not giving you what you need. Then either speak up, and ask for it, or simply consider moving on. Delete me. I know that sounds silly and bold at the same time but honestly… life is too short. I’m still in Second Life for all those same things I wandered in and found almost two years ago. But I have added to my list – business ventures and event planning and publicity. I love those things. It allows me to be something in Second that I do some in first and it allows a fun interchange between the two.

Decide whether you want a list of friends, or a list of frenemies. Simple question. Either you’re on one side of the fence, or the other. Pick one. Make something positive and joyful and exciting of your Second Life. Why would you spend time and energy doing anything else with an imaginary world ruled by real hearts and minds?

Some Things…

just aren’t fun. Being told people saw enough of me yesterday and that’s why they aren’t answering my invitations to Parker’s party? It is hard trying to rally people. So.. why try?

Humor as sarcasm is lost on me when I am tired. My patience… zapped. People who carry endless grudges but expect you to be around them? People who don’t know how to forgive? People who IM me and ask if so-and-so will be there because maybe they shouldn’t come by as a result?

I don’t want my SLife to be that way. Life is short. First and Second. Mikki reminded me today there was an off button and by God, yes That smart winged snogger sometimes OFF is just what the doctor ordered.

Sometimes supporting something means staying away. I hope those I love understand that.

Discovery…

Playing with Photography

A much overdue Sunday field trip to Elements in Design! I have been thinking about this sim recently. One of the last things Bigd and I did when we still owned Tortuga Island was visit Elements in Design. I rezzed giant boxes and plastered my SL photography all over it. I was kinda shy about it but people gave me lots of compliments.

I just love the work of Gwen Carillon’s work and find her sim an incredible inspiration. I made sure to check with her today on taking photos. I am all about the protection of content rights and would never want anyone to think I’m trying to take credit. In fact, I’d encourage you to visit… but not so much that her sim loses its serenity.

Sunday field trips. One of my first loves in SL. Exploring incredible works of average people. Laughing with friends and just general craziness. Nothing organized. Nothing required. Participation optional and AFK always an option. Real life intertwined with the fun of SL. Our family in SL was formed this way. I was reminded of that yesterday as I laughed and laughed during a skybox “futbol” (soccer) game with Bigd and Clynt and Blissie. The game was filled with taunting and gestures and… surprise, surprise… outfit changes. It was competitive. I was worried I’d hurt my keyboard from pushing on the arrow keys so hard. I was most excited about the coordinating soccer player outfits Blissie and I had. We ARE the hottest soccer players around I think!

So today was a continuation of that rediscovered joy. A little coffee and blues with Bigd at Savoy and then off to Elements. The best part of exploration is that we just know when to wander alone and when to come back together. We share photos and soak up the sights.

I’m looking to enter the collage collections into the upcoming Bistro exhibit on Discovery and I hope you’ll consider entering something as well. But in the meantime, I hope you’ll just enjoy soaking up what weekends and Sundays and, most importantly, Second Life is all about: friendships, family, laughter, and beauty.

Christmas Wishes

Snowy Christmas Celebrations @ The Savoy Jazz Club

The purpose of art is to create an emotional response in the person that is exposed to that art. And there are three categories of art; bad art, good art and great art. Bad art will elicit no emotional response in the person that is exposed to it, i.e.; a song you hear in an elevator and it does nothing to you, a picture on a wall that gives you the same emotional response as if the wall had been blank, a movie that chews up time. Good art will make you feel an emotion that you have felt before; you see a picture of a forest and you remember the last time you went fishing with your dad, you hear a song about love and you remember the last time you were in love. Great art will make you feel an emotion you have never felt before; seeing the pieta, the world famous sculpture by Michelangelo, can cause someone to feel the pain of losing a child even if they’ve never had one. And when you’re trying for these emotions the easiest one to trigger is anger.

Anyone can do it. Go into the street, throw a rock at someone, you will make them angry. The emotions of love, empathy and laughter are much harder to trigger, but since they operate on a deeper level, they bring a much greater reward.
~ TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

An amazing line up of DJs and live artists. An incredible group of people. A place I’m so thankful to be associated with. Special thank you’s to Iso for reminding me how much I appreciate the Trans Siberian Orchestra, “Christmas Eve and Other Stories.” Catch the holiday spirit – it most certainly isn’t too late!

A Whole Bunch of SLtime

So I spent most of my Saturday working with the U2inSL security crew. It really is an incredible experience – from the organizational standpoint, the preparation standpoint, and then the fantastic concert tracks selected. This afternoon’s show was taken from U2’s show in Hawaii. The cast that puts it all together is to be commended. The fans who come are also to be commended. It takes an incredibly strong and secure avi to come with noob hair and no prims

From what I hear – their next concert set early in 2009 is not to be missed – and even better than this time! Make sure to drop by Dragon Moon and pick up info on U2inSL. They encourage involvement in the One Campaign and lots of other good things. Its not the REAL Bono or Edge or Adam or Larry… but… it IS their REAL concert tracks. And… its concert fun right from your armchair. Your hair doesn’t smell like smoke at the end of the day and you don’t have to fight the crowds in the parking lot and the concert tshirts are FREE. Can you top that?

Long Good SL Day…

 

Gem in Burning Life

Today was an amazing day.. Mikki & LoVolt got married, the ceremony and reception were beautiful, the music was good as always – how can it not be – Cataplexia Numbers and Borday Moo, and then we had Sunday Blue Olive to polish off a brutally packed social day.  It was the best.  Good people.  Good Music.  No calorie super high prim food!  Hoooo!

But then… in the quiet of the end of my SL Day… I remembered I had been remiss in stopping in to see Cataplexia and Taliesin’s Burning Life sim.  I am soooooo glad I did!  Talk about a perfect end to a perfect day.  How can you not think it perfect when you can end it by meditating on a green egg?

In all seriousness, I share this beautiful quote from the equally beautiful Cataplexia, about their creation:

 I would lose myself in the colorful stories and images of Dr Seuss, and dreamed of living in a world like that, where everything was bright and pretty and filled with sing -song rhymes. These childhood memories have influences my art and poetry immensely, and sometimes even now I dream of that place, that beautiful magical care-free place.

There are good things in Second Life.  Take some time to find them.  Finding out who and where… makes it all worth it!

 

Good Night Sam I Am

Art Inspired Poetry

I opened my email today while talking to my mom and getting the full scoop on day 1 of Flagstaff’s Open Studios. It was a really busy day with well over 100 visitors and art admirers (well I suppose they would all be admirers, right?) stopping by. With over 70 framed prints and originals, matted wrapped prints and small originals in a bin, and loose and packaged cards for sale, my parents’ small condominium was transformed into a storefront.

Summer Blanket at the Peaks

www.catherinesickafoose.com

I shared with her that I had made a bold move and blogged about her work yesterday. I only thought that was fair because I linked to her site and figured eventually google would give me away Always best to turn yourself in first, right? Also, my “imaginary Second Life and blogger friend” Parker Janick had taken the time to really explore her website and became inspired in what she found. She is a RL author you know, but I have not disclosed her RL name until I get her permission.

Through Waters Eyes
Taking a step
I walk through
Soft music lulling,
Gliding me
Entwining with color
Bright, happy, sweet
A gallery of
Magic, beauty, love
Butterflies and paper-whites
From mountain, field, stream
Drawling me further
Into a watercolor world.

September 21, 2008
~ Parker Janick

My mom doesn’t have internet at this time at the condo, nor does she have time today to read email or blogs. She is in day 2 of Open Studios and the 2nd day/final day of an event is always harder than the first – you are a little more tired, and a little more anxious that the event meets your expectations. She was, however, totally flattered that someone would take the time to explore her site and be so inspired as to write a poem about it. Parker’s words were “well, it isn’t Browning…” but either way… how often do you find poetry written about you!?!?!

My mom has had some amazing additional interactions with her art admirers that she will be sharing in an upcoming e-newsletter. I am prodding her too to build a web storefront so she can sell her work online, as well as in all the physical locations she currently now works so hard to contribute to – galleries, spas, restaurants, etc. I also think there is quite a world beyond the art loving community in Arizona and know you all can help me in spreading the word of her talent.

Perry Mesa Shards

 

Burden Basket Carriers

Who KNOWS! Maybe I’ll even talk her into being a featured SL artist at the Bistro Olive I can’t really imagine her at a virtual artist opening – but it might be possible. Her favorite CD these days is the Mamma Mia Soundtrack. I know I could get at least Blissie and Bradley to attend, if we featured those showtunes, right? I know she’ll be reading this at some point, so I hope she laughs at that thought and knows I can explain more about the Bistro and all Dave and I have been up to for months in our Second Lives… I think she might have to sit down though, because it might blow her mind to realize we’ve been managing a fine dining, art gallery, musical event locale since late summer (Shameless unrelated to mom’s art plug – come by the Bistro and see the in-world photography work from Flatkin’s Studio – the talents of Eliza Flanagan & Timber Watkins!)

Cheers to doing what you love and loving what you do! I am back to my online coursewriting homework and then will reward myself with some Second Life in a while.