Archive for June 2013

200

Cowgirl Up


I really just wanted to blog a story that was inspired by Truth Hawk's brand new style of hair because I thought it was that amazing, and I just didn't want to make a 'look'. My SL Family and I really love dressing up in themes (actually, my sister has a pretty rockin' cowgirl outfit already) just for the sake of dressing up in themes. It's fun! And it's also a big part of SL! Be what you want, right?

The problem was that I didn't have a horse. How can I be a proper cowgirl without a faithful steed? I mean sure, there are prop horses out there for posing (yeah, I have them) and plenty of beautiful static horses out there (pretty much from the same mesh model), but that's not what I wanted. So, I bought a few cheaper ones (one was 9L) and picked up a free one somewhere, but the problem is the tail on this particular mesh model and my graphics card. They don't seem to be friends and pictures with said mesh model just look terrible.


Eventually I found myself with three choices: Amaretto breedables, AKK horses, and Realistek. I really love the Realistek model. I tried it on, played with the poses, drove the demo all over the SIM, and thought it was pretty awesome for being so old school SL. Then? The price tag. The price tag! $12,000L was pushing the envelope. Okay, it was more like destroying the envelope. No way was I paying that much money for something in SL. The Amaretto horses are cute, but they look strange. Like a cartoon rather than an actual horse. So it went down to AKK. Again, it's a very outdated product in terms of it being all sculpty parts, but it's still a decent looking horse and comes with poses and walking animations. It's also cheaper in the store than from the hefty $2,500L that's on the marketplace, which is still seriously pushing the envelope on things that I would purchase for SL. However, as Dannika Dryke told me, "The things we do for pictures..."


Despite my overly drawn out horse-shopping-spree, I had a lot of fun doing this blog post. Why? Because I made a new friend today. Rather, Ich habe einen neuen Freund heute. That's what Second Life is all about. That and Truth hair. I can't think of a better way to end my 200th post by saying how much my friends in Second Life mean to me. I love you all. Almost as much as I love my Truth hair.




Credits:
Top:    e! Eclectic Apparel - Jillaroo Shirt (Tan)
Jeans:    L&B Lapointe and Bastchilde Mesh Jeans (Faded Blue)
Boots:    [HANDverk] - Western Ankle Boots (Rust)
Hair:   Truth - Jill (Red 02) New!
Hands:    SLink
Eyes:    IKON Ascension Eyes - Evening New!
Skin:    League - Jen (Fair Natural)

199

Let's Make a Splash!


I'm so behind in SL things that I did not realize there was a contest going on for this year's Hair Fair! My friend, fellow redhead and blogger Dannika Dryke commissioned a pose for me for her own entry into the contest. How could I have missed Hair Fair contests! At first I wasn't going to do it because the contest ends at June 28th at midnight SLT. I've been kind of in a slump lately in regards to my photos and finding any inspiration (it happens) and I just wasn't sure if I could come up with anything. 

The more I thought about it, and the more I looked through entries, I decided I did want to hop on the bandwagon. At first I was going to do The Little Mermaid (it's just a fave of mine!) but saw an Ariel already. I know that there's no rule in submitting for the same movie, but I didn't want to do be another Ariel on the judge's plate. So, I went with my second favorite fictional mermaid. (Can you tell that I love mermaids?)

Hair fair contests entries end on the 28th! So make sure you get yours in real soon if you want to join the fun! You can read the official rules here as well as join the flickr group


Credits:
Tail:    The Siren's Lair - Splash Madison
Hair:    Truth - Rebel (Seaspray w/ roots)
Eyes:    IKON - Eternal Eyes (Brown)
Hands:    SLink Mesh Hands
Skin:    League - Jen (Sunkissed Natural)
Pose:    Self

198

Picture This! Poses @ Poser Pavilion



I made two new model poses for The Liaison Collaborative's new mini event, Poser Pavilion. Make sure you check it out because there are many wonderful creations centered around the current theme of summer.

197

Beachin' It


June seems to have been an official explosion of beach fun, bold, bright colors, and summertime goodness. Have you been to the Liaison Collaborative's 'The Garden'? I can't stress the amazing designs put out by the Grid's talented mesh makers of all things home and garden. The Garden has anything you could possibly want to make your SIM and home the perfect summertime getaway. One of my favorites of the bunch (they are all my favorites) is the Avalon Guard Tower by Breno. It comes with tons of options and animations as well as fun props and different color schemes.

I'm sure by now you've checked out Collabor88's newest round. I'm loving the 90's theme and the bright, fresh colors.

Lastly, do you like my little friend? The designer behind Bilo's creations showed me this cute puppy and puppy carrier. It's a fun, free gift from Tuty's.




Credits:
Top:    Tee*fy - Basic Knot T-Shirt (Yellow) New! ~ Collabor88
Bikini Bottom:    -jinXtimacy- - Bali Bikini (Model12)
Sandals:    SLink Aussie Thongs (White)
Necklace/Bracelet:    MG Maxie Gossamer - Rapture Rave & Love Heart New! ~ Collabor88
Sunglasses:    Izzie's Oversized Sunglasses
Puppy/Bag:    Tuty's Mesh Pet Carrier
Hair:    Truth - Siobhan (Red 02) New!
Eyes:    IKON - Ascension Eyes (Nymph) New! ~ Numerology
Hands/Feet:    SLink
Skin:    League - Jen (Medium Natural)
Pose:    Picture This! Poses - Model 01-05

196

Oceanside Blues


I've got the blues. No, I don't mean the sad sort of blues. Today, I'm inspired by bright, vibrant blues. Especially aquas, teals, and of course, red. I was looking for a lovely seashore to take my picture at and I came across Studio Skye's SIM, which is the store brand's location to purchase wonderful landscapes for your own SIM for pretty good prices. Even if you do not find something you wish to purchase, the SIM itself is a lovely garden of landscapes detailing their products.

In case you're wondering, my long hair comes from the batch of the latest Truth releases. It's called 'Tawny' and I love the length of it.


Credits:
Dress:    Drift - Zoe Maxi Dress (Romanc) New!~The Dressing Room Fusion
Hair:    Truth - Tawny (Red 02) New!
Skin:    League - Jen (Medium Natural)
Hands:    SLink
Pose:    BENT - Behind

195

Breakfast at Keliah's


Blogger Strawberry Singh posted a fun challenge. Make a movie poster! I've always wanted to recreate a Breakfast at Tiffany's picture, but never got around to it. I initially tried to include Cat, but my zooby cat is just too big and a bit too orange. I almost lost this image, too. A random thunderstorm blew right through and just as I was hitting the 'save' button on my photo, my power flickered off. I hit save at just the right time!


Credits:
Dress:    (CM) Cracked Mirror - Audrey Dress (Black)
Gloves:   *BOOM* - Dame Elbow Gloves (Coal)
Jewelry:    DF Donna Flora - Mirella Set (Gold)
Cigarette:    [NikotiN] Cig_Lady_Black
Pose:    Self

194

The Isle of Pandateria


I would guess that the most popular draw of Second Life is the role play community. I first learned of Second Life back when it first came out from the Gorean AOL group I used to play with, but I didn't join Second Life until 2010 - for RP. Pandateria is a new ancient times RP SIM, centered around, you guessed it, the Isle of Pandateria. 

Pandateria is also known as Ventotene, which was an isle made of the ancient remains of a volcano. Ventotene was a place of exile; a prison of sorts for nobles and commoners alike. 

From the WikiPandataria is best known as the island to which the emperor Augustus banished his daughter Julia the Elder in 2 BC, as reaction to her excessive adultery, where she was to spend five years, and to which Tiberius banished his grandniece Agrippina the Elder in 29 AD. She perished, probably of malnutrition, on October 18, 33 AD. After Agrippina's son Gaius (better known as Caligula) became emperor in 37 AD, he went to Pandataria to collect her remains and reverently brought them back to Rome. Agrippina's youngest daughter, Julia Livilla was also exiled to Pandateria twice: the first time by her brother Caligula for plotting to depose him and the next time by her uncle, the emperor Claudius, at the instigation of his wife, Messalina, in 41 AD. Sometime later, she was discreetly starved to death there and her remains were probably brought back to Rome when her sisterAgrippina the Younger became influential as the emperor's wife. Another distinguished lady of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Claudia Octavia, who was the first wife of the emperor Nero, was banished to Pandateria in 62 AD and executed on the orders of her husband.


Pandateria was a vacation destination for Roman elite, but the isle proved to be too inhospitable for residence due to it's steady commerce of pirates and it's exposure to the sea. "Life on Pandateria was harsh.  There was little there. A prison, a few vacation villas and the sea. Nothing more."

The Second Life setting of this place in history takes off from the 37 AD, after Caligula collected Julia's remains. It boasts a small village, a few villas, a prison, and a den for the pirates. The build of the SIM is extensive, perfect with it's detail, and inspires the imagination. Players of Pandateria can choose from several 'classes', including citizens born to the isle, exiles, pirates, and prisoners. If you are interested in joining the brand new Role Play community, than check it out. Notecards on the different roles as well as a history of Pandateria are available at the welcome area. 



Credits:
Dress:    ::Elysium:: - Cleo Dress (Purple Plain White)
Armlet:    ~Soedara~ 
Shoes:    Slink - Ilena Sandals (Brown)
Hair:    Analog Dog .b - Five (Punch)
Eyes:    IKON - Destiny Eyes (Ice)
Hands/Feet:    SLink
Skin:    League - Jen (Sunkiss Natural)
Pose:   Picture This! Poses - Deux Models (1)








193

Always Look on the Bright Side

Dreamscape at Twilight

It's been awhile. Real life dropped by as it is wont to do, shook me by the shoulders, and then left me wanting and disoriented. The truth is I had to put SL aside and figure out what was going on with my life - because it was going no where and I realized that if I didn't set my personal wheels in motion then I was going to wind up living in my car with no future. 

Those who know me know that I've been looking for work. I've been out of work since November. At first I was like, 'Oh, I'll get a job right away and everything will be okay.' I tried to not let it get me down as the first three months ticked by without anything. Luckily, I had - and do have still - unemployment. It barely pays, but at least it's something to hold on to to help along. However, as the months passed, the deadline for my benefits was coming dangerously to a close. I found myself wasting a lot of my time bent over my computer. In fact, I was spending probably 90% of my time online, if not more. I would wake up, not get dressed from my pajamas, drink a pot of coffee, and just be online. I neglected my home, my car, and my health. I sank so low into depression that I had to struggle to stay up on my hygiene - and when you're having personal arguments with yourself to take a shower, you know you have a problem. I had sunk low into depression (a condition I struggle with, but usually self manage just fine) and couldn't see any way out of my current situation. 

Luckily my graphics card fried. Without it, I realized SL was a big distraction from my misery, and I used it as a blanket to cower behind while the real world was  progressing to a bleaker future. The thing is, I have goals. I have a certain thing that I want to do pretty much more than anything - and that's move. But how is that going to happen if I have no money? How about when I get to where I want to be? My field is not in that state, there are no job prospects for me there and in order to move up to the state where my SL boyfriend lives, I have to have a job. See, I want to take care of me - not move up there and be a financial burden to someone. My outlook was so poor that I couldn't seem to make my goals come to fruition.
Today I am in a much better place. I just...sort of snapped out of it. No, the magical job fairies were not going to provide me with a job that 400-500 people in my county were applying for. No, that winning lotto ticket wasn't going to come into my possession. No, feeling sorry for myself and wasting my life wasn't going to make things better.

I decided while I was on unemployment, I was going to make a drastic career change after reviewing the Department of Labor Statistics. I re-enrolled in school. I've been going now for a month and I love it. Being in a place where I was actively making a change in my life raised me up a few notches on the feel-good-o-meter. Suddenly, I had responsibility again. I had a schedule again! Also, I have a job starting officially on Monday. What's best? It's in my new field and with a national company that, hopefully, will allow me to transfer when I am ready to move. These are two goals I set out for myself. Get accepted in this school. Get a job with this company. I have met them. I feel good! Life, I hope, is finally going my way.
 
Second Life no longer serves as a vice to hide with. It's no longer a wall between me and reality. Because of this, I feel I can return and spend more time here than I have been these past two months.

Credits:
Dress:    Indyra Originals - Elisne Tribal Dress (Santorini) New!
Earrings:    Indyra Originals - Slyph New!
Bangles:    Indyra Originals - Peacock bangle stack (Santorini) New!
Shoes:    SLink - Ilena Sandals (Brown)
Hair:    Truth - Bobbie (Red 02) New!
Hands/Feet:    SLink 
Eyes:    IKON - Destiny Eyes (Ice) New! @The Boutique
Skin:    League - Jen (Sunkissed Natural)
Pose:    Adorkable - My Hair