Savoy Cabbage Journeys

New Item Posted on Issuu

2011-07-27T00:36:00.002-04:00

I've posted a new guide to SL photography on Issuu at http://issuu.com/se7enwirsing.

Some Time

2010-12-19T23:04:00.002-05:00

A cake with black frosting sits plaintively near the coffee maker. There are black balloons on my doorknob. There is a black envelope on my desk. As I roll my chair back and plop myself at my desk, the words of my younger brother echo in my mind, "Well, old hag, how does it feel to pass the half-century mark?"

I arrange my piles of paper into fewer piles. I think how tired I am. I stay up late every night, but I can't seem to get my work done. My brain is mush. I ignore the clock and tell myself there is always tomorrow. In my mind, I push back the night. I can't allow the day to end. I refuse to shower in the morning; a shower signals the day has begun. I don't want the day to begin. If it begins, it's a day away from my favorite things. I hate the day. It is ugly. But, it can't end. It can't have passed, wasted.

Hating the day and hating the night, I have passed 50 years. I have been pretending time doesn't exist or was I deceiving myself into thinking I could slow it or stop it at will? I grab it with both hands and dig in my heels. Wait! I scream, in my mind. I just need to sprinkle a little sugar on top. There is no sugar, though. I have a cup of tea and hope it will appease me until tomorrow, when I'll force myself to shower and...begin the day.

2010-12-11T23:45:00.001-05:00

I've found myself in SL more than usual lately because of Kizzy. Just as I found a way to connect with Drax through Mafia Wars, now I've found Kizzy and I love to do "hunts" together. Right now, we're in the middle of the Peace on Earth Hunt and Zombie Popcorn Hunt. Along the way, we've stumbled on about four other hunts, involving black bags of "coal," Santa hats, plaid ornaments, rocks and other such stuff.

This is a good distraction from my overall mood, but I still can't write. I don't even feel interested in writing about SL, which has been a main topic for many months. I can't find a reason to continue and I'm seriously considering closing down several of my blogs. I have no use for them, since I'm not writing. There...I deleted two of them. I feel better. Odd, isn't it?

Perhaps I should throw away more stuff.

What's the point?

2010-11-09T21:58:00.002-05:00

I feel like I've lost my compass. I haven't felt like this since before I entered Second Life. I feel like I am working harder and harder, taking on more tasks each week. I did graphics for a healthcare/business article, I worked on an article we're submitting for a contest and now I may be helping in the data analysis phase of a research project. The next project is probably an NIH grant submission. I'm doing all the odd jobs for the recruiter - - screening the applicants in the 2000+ database, copying, making name badges and schedules and doing anything at any moment of the day she needs it. Oh, and then there is my job to do.

I don't get paid any extra for doing all these tasks, some of which are on someone else's job description but she refuses to do them. What I actually get in return is sabotage and gossip. My boss doesn't support me in any way. Instead, she threatens me.

So here I am working hard and suddenly I don't know why. Even at home, I stare at the computer, like I'm waiting for it to give me a direction and a reason to do anything. My head is full of stories and ideas, but I don't write. What is the point of writing it down? What is the point of doing anything? The harder I've worked, the harder I get to work. There is no reward. There is only rejection and disappointment. I'm very tired, tired of it all.

Club Rock has a new manager

2010-07-19T05:25:00.005-04:00

My SL resume certainly grows. Erik Goff has now given me the title "Club Rock Manager." And now I get to attempt to rescue a dying club. It's not enough for me that, as AFK magazine editor, I can barely persuade a handful of writers to write an article once in awhile. It wouldn't be my life if anything came easily.

I am reprogramming my host HUD. Instead of saying "Welcome to idioteque" it will now say "Welcome to Club Rock" and I'll have to delete comments about sculpture and try to think of something else witty to say. Now, I'll have to learn about the stream, something I haven't been allowed access to before, and persuade performers to work for tips only.

It's not too many jobs, right? AFK editor, Club Rock manager, Press Pass writer...oh did I forget to mention I'm writing a novel? I also do freelancing in RL; currently, I'm making worksheets for elementary school students. I actually receive USD for that!

After a long day of battling control freaks and passive-aggressives at my RL job, I dream of coming home to a candlelight dinner with Amakusa and moonlight dancing. But, instead, I'll be sending notices, juggling performers and greeting strangers. Perhaps, I'll gain some fodder for one of my many blogs.

Weekend leaves Se7en exhausted

2010-07-12T07:42:00.004-04:00

I spent a bit too much time inworld this weekend. I contacted my new editor with a tiny issue, which she resolved immediately. Being that I'm ready to write on almost any occasion, I asked for work and she obliged.

My usual GMG meeting was canceled due to World Cup fans invading the city where Erik Goff lives. He could find no peace. I went to pick up a dog we are dog-sitting this week (in RL) and returned to cover an event. I spent all afternoon checking the Environmental Fluidity opening - omg it is HUGE. I managed to break the tour HUD you get in the beginning and became hopelessly lost after trying to film with my WeGame device. By then, I had been through about 2/3 of the exhibit and had crashed everything except SL. It was time for Poetry Libre and I had a splitting headache. I IMed Rosemary to say I couldn't make it.

After chatting with Drax about his camping trip, feeding the dogs and myself and taking ibuprofen, I returned to the exhibit. After a couple of RL long phone calls while I explored the final parts, I realized there was a party at the end I had totally missed. If only Mr. Dickins would have told me at the beginning, I would have gone there first. It makes me wonder if they thought people were supposed to get through the whole thing within an hour or two. I was having too much fun in the hamster ball riding down the "Spin Cycle."

This morning I can't get Arron's song about the runaway train out of my head...

Arron Savira performs in the vicinity of idioteque

2010-07-04T16:32:00.003-04:00

It is highly unlikely to find Arron Savira performing at a time when I'm available. Usually, I'm at work, since he often performs in the morning. Perhaps that's why he sent me a personal invite, in addition to the group notice. I only waited long enough to ask if he was at idioteque; I don't try to go there since my banishment. When he said "Savira Sounds," I teleported.

I have missed hearing him play and sing. His voice has a slight rawness to it that is very endearing-reminds me of Jonathan Richman, but more melodious. I can't tell you what he played today. I just soaked it in. His publicity says, "Arron Savira is an up-and-coming SL musician who has been strumming a guitar since age 13. Expect lots of acoustic \'90s alt rock covers, a few TV show themes and lots of giggling at his performances." Here is a little taste from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCOj_nQUf0I&feature=player_embedded#!
But originally, he hooked me in with an Elvis Costello cover.

Someone, who shall remain nameless, passed around a gesture called "humpahumpa" which became the dance of the event. Totally unflappable, Arron continued to play as fans pulled in tightly around him.

Someone, preferably British, please explain to me...

2010-06-28T04:25:00.002-04:00

My daughter, who is American, is all of 5'2" and weighs about 98 pounds. You can blow her over with a breeze. She is very soft-spoken and doesn't lie. She carries a laptop with a tablet, books and five changes of clothing. She is an artist. She has a valid passport. She is going to stay with her friend, Kit, and Kit's family. Is this so abnormal?

Now she is being held in detention at Heathrow, until they can verify her "story."

Please explain this to me. Is it so incredulous that anyone would want to visit London? I can only guess that the more innocent you look, the more likely you will be held for being suspicious. Perhaps you just don't like Americans?

Just chatting

2010-06-16T06:40:00.002-04:00

Se7en and Jo chat on a recent evening. Jo had just changed houses for the hundredsomethingth time, but was totally unaffected by it. After wearing a dress for two days, I've been hanging out in my plaid pajamas with my Adamski jean jacket.

I am going to totally crash soon. I still can't sleep. I woke up at 3:30 am and, after tossing and turning for about half an hour, got up and started writing.

I am becoming a ghost in this house. I rarely appear outside my room when I'm here. It's not only about the writing. I have banished myself. I belong in this small room with my piles of books and boxed-up stuff. There is more to that story, but it's secret.

The incredible thing for me is my brain will not stop. What you see posted is a fraction of what I'm working on at any given moment. I do like to edit it a bit, although I am almost too excited to wait. Unfortunately, I still have to go to work today as every M to F, so I have to stifle until I return at about 5:00. Ugh...best get to stifling. I have an early meeting.

You'll never guess what happened...

2010-06-13T01:32:00.003-04:00

OMG people, check this out:

"Congratulations! This story has been selected as an Editor's Pick on Textnovel. We pick these stories based on writing quality, originality and publishing potential. Plus we think your story is an example of the type of story that has a shot at a prize and possible publication."

Am I allowed to get excited now? Okay, it's raw, unedited, but here it is.
http://www.textnovel.com/story/Martins-Son/4112/

On leaving Brisas del Mar

2010-06-10T20:08:00.003-04:00

I miss the manor. It seems very silly to be sad about losing virtual property, but being forced to move has brought to the forefront the realization that it's all virtual. Now, my little platform in the sky only exists in my memory.

This morning, I was thinking about how my life was before SL. In many ways, it is dramatically different. It's not because of SL per se, but SL has enabled me to find many friends and pursue new interests. Thanks to my friends, I have fairly well overcome depression, which has plagued me off and on for all my life. Today, I may feel sad over some incident or get upset about my job, but I have an underlying joy in living that I never have had before. I can't even begin to mention the names of all of you who have comforted, accepted and cheered for me, as well as pushed me to be a better person.

The biggest treasure I've found in SL is, of course, Amakusa Ghost. Someday, I hope to be at liberty to tell you everything about him. For now, to protect his privacy, I can tell you only a bit about him. One night last week, my new friend Long asked me if Amakusa is worth waiting for, after I explained he would be incommunicado for 20 days while he works "en campo" or in the field. I gave her my stock answer, which is I was not seeking a boyfriend when I came to SL and I don't want any other. She said that I could hang out with her and Jo until Mr. Right returns from the bush. I'm going to take her at her word, although I think she may have been teasing me.

We have been in a virtual relationship for about a year. I met him around the time when I was wearing the title "doesn't want a boyfriend." He comforted me after Lost and I broke it off. Early in our relationship, he impressed me with his wide vocabulary and when I remarked on it, he explained he is very well-read. He had been training to be a doctor for three years until the economic downturn in 2001 (in Argentina). He can fix about anything in your house, including your body. He is often attending to a friend who is sick; most recently it was a friend who had an abscess in his mouth. I hope and expect he will eventually become a doctor.

We were friends for awhile before he asked me to be his girlfriend. From the outside, he seems to be so far from me in every way, but in truth he is very much like me. I think he really "gets" me and he hasn't run away yet. He knows my thoughts before I can translate them into [English] words. He challenges me. He is the wellspring of patience and hope.

As I wait impatiently for my passport, I think about what it would be like to visit him. The rational side of me wonders, how do I expect this to turn out? My heart breaks every time I think about it. He lives more than a day's journey by plane! I can't expect him to leave his parents and sisters and especially his baby nephew he loves very dearly. He may never have children of his own and certainly won't with me. I can't ask him to move to the US, knowing he probably can never be a doctor here. But, can I leave my children, who are both on the autistic spectrum, and move so far away? I can't ask them to move to a place where I expect I would be living in poverty in a culture very different from ours. Every way I look at it, it ends in heartbreak and still I can't walk away from him. He would say it's in God's hands. He is better at trusting God than I am.

I GOT IT!!!

2010-05-27T20:04:00.001-04:00

my birth certificate, that is : )

Venturing into Clan Lands...and Right Back Out

2010-04-21T09:55:00.002-04:00

I have been telling my liege how kind the members of the clan have been to me. I have often been offered assistance by various people within the ranks. I have even been offered a makeover and free hair. I'm guessing they figure I'll never be able to attract victims in my state; I certainly agree with them.

I have rarely had any issues with Bloodlines players, finding they are regular folks and just looking for acceptance and enjoyment in SL. As I have volunteered on Help People Island, I have chatted with many vampires and made many friends in that way. I have had no issues there, because I truly enjoy talking to people and I'm interested in their stories. Typically, it is non-vampires who cause problems like griefing and rudeness.

Now, I have worked and partied with vampires. I feel I can safely say they are much like you and I. Generally, they expect a certain order and it probably upsets them when this order can't be relied on. I don't always like to find the unexpected, either. Last night, I became the "disorder."

While I was planning to go to Builder's Paradise (yes, I'm far behind in my research), I was invited through the clan IM to a sale. Even though I only have $L92, I stopped by just to browse.

Let me step back a bit and explain I am not your typical Bloodlines player.

Leave it to me to find a way to play which throws a monkey-wrench into the system! As I have mentioned before, I'm not into hunting and biting. I'm not interested in working up the hierarchy; I'm a lowly pomme and expect to stay in the background, not exciting any interest whatsoever. So what do I want in this game? It may be a surprise for you to find I'm just curious and want to explore. Going back a bit - "Unconsciously, I have been asking the fundamental question how do people live?" In this case, I like to ask, "what is this game is about?"

Not long after I arrived at the sale, one of the King's Familiars wanted to befriend me. I IMed her, because I didn't know who she was and we talked for awhile. But then, as I stood there alone, a Princess in the clan approached me. She began to ask me questions, in what I felt was a very confrontational tone. I assured her I would leave immediately, if I was causing a problem. Suddenly, the Queen was there. I thought, this is what it must feel like on Help People Island for vampires. I didn't understand what was going on and the leaders of the clan were descending upon me.

I was in their territory, unarmed and unprepared for such interrogation.

I guess this treatment smarted a bit after the other night when I spent hours picking apples and eating them and having uncounted liters of blood sucked out of my body, as well as spending over $L200 on apples.

I left from there and considered whether I wanted to experience this on a regular basis. I will continue to be misunderstood; my motives will be questioned, because I play the game my way. It's strange to them and inspires suspicion. As I told the Princess, I want to be myself. In a virtual game, why should I subject myself to someone else's expectations? I have to do that all day in the real world. I come to SL to explore and enjoy.

I deleted myself from the group and took the pair of them off my friends list. It would be better for us all. I will fall back under the radar and not bother the order of things. They did IM me and ask to remain friends. I allowed it, but they won't see me around there. I refuse to be the center of controversy. This would never happen, of course, if I would just play "normally." But I am the salt of the earth; how bland it would be if we are all the same...

Hanging With Vampires

2010-04-19T00:29:00.004-04:00

I've been looking at the vampire lifestyle since Hooch bit me. I don't bite; I'm not interested in that. The technical details are interesting. I was invited to "the basement" to give blood, as I am a pomme.

It was already late at night for me, when I asked Tally if it was a good time. She teleported me. I told her, "I've never been in the basement." She asked me to show my stats. I thought that was a bit bizarre since I hadn't bitten anyone, but I dug down into the bottom of my inventory and found the little box. When Tally realized I had never given blood before, she explained that whoever is taking the blood should always supply me with apples and make sure my stats were back to 100% before I left. She asked me to eat apples, but then realized she had none. We went to pick apples with guy who happened to be there.

Apple-picking is easy. First, you "touch" the tree and this shakes the apples out onto the ground. Then, you right click to buy and take them. It gets tedious if you have to buy a bunch, as we did. After we had about 80, we returned to the basement.

Tally had some small and large tanks for storage of blood. She wanted to finish filling a big one. I can't even guess how many liters I gave. The reason you wear your stats is to make sure you have some humanity. As you eat apples, your percent humanity goes up. You're not supposed to let it get too low. As I ate apple after apple, Tally poked me. I had to sit down, because every time she poked me, I jerked around. I had to reset my camera to see the apple and click on it to eat it.

We ran out of apples, so we went to pick more. By that time, it was getting very late and I was tired. We returned and topped off the tank. I ate enough apples to get my stats to 100% and then collapsed into my bed.

Se7en snickers

2010-04-18T11:31:00.003-04:00

Some people are twisted. An editor I worked for previously had apparently decided at the time I left he didn't want anything to do with me and removed me from his friends list. I thought that was a bit extreme and tried to discuss it with him. I assured him I would like to remain friends, in spite of not wanting to work for him. He only stated he was busy with his magazine, so I let it go.

Not long after that, I noticed he was following Se7en on Twitter. This made no sense to me; why would a person not want to be friends, but still want to follow? The only reasons I could think of is he was nosy or, perhaps, would like to intimidate me with his presence. As for nosiness, he may be as nosy as he likes. It's easy to find out what I'm doing if you google Se7en Wirsing or look at my blogs. I don't hide it. Maybe the other reason...so I tweeted:

"People who would like to manage me at the cellular level and/or persuade me that my writing is inferior can be blocked xD"

Then, I ignored my Twitter for awhile. I noticed this morning he is no longer following me. I always manage to get a little too close to the truth.

How Did I...?

2010-04-12T07:40:00.004-04:00

I don't know how this happened -- I got stuck crawling while I was exploring with Jo last night.

If there is such a thing as the post-TV generation, then I have joined it. I have no use for TV except to watch Get Smart episodes on DVD with my kids. I did like the History Channel and true crime like Forensic Files and such, but after I found SL, facebook, Twitter, Flickr and blogging, I seemed not to miss TV. It is rarely on in our house now.

This morning I was wondering why people bother with TV. It's very expensive from Time Warner, if you want to get any interesting programs. Most of the time I found nothing I wanted to watch, even with over 100 channels. It was good at putting me to sleep, particularly when I was ill.

After I accidentally found an article that mentioned SL in a magazine while I was waiting for the doctor, I wrote the tiniest note to myself to check it out. I didn't look for it for a few months, but I found the note while I was browsing my sketchbook and finally visited. A few weeks later, I decided to try blogging about it. I heard of Flickr and I learned how to improve my inworld photos from Zillow Dejavu, my editor at Second Chick. Not long after that, my social media got out of hand. Now, I have five blogs, including a couple secret ones and not including the blogging I do for others, like AFK. I have two Twitter accounts, Se7en's and a personal one. I have four Flickrs, including a secret one and a personal one. I'm on Blogger and Wordpress, and I tried to start a Tumblr blog, but it got neglected. facebook has been a bit of a challenge for me, as I like to say whatever I want and I have to be very careful there. Se7en is on LinkedIn, but I don't have a personal account, and that is quite neglected.

Currently, my only paying job is with AFK. I have a difficult time writing an article per week, with all the other writing and adventuring beyond my RL job and family. I have a book project I'm working on, as well. So, if you don't see me inworld, it only means I have immersed myself in something else for the moment.

Se7en Visits New World Grid

2010-03-30T23:17:00.004-04:00

I was curious on Sunday after Axalto mentioned New World Grid and opensim. I downloaded a bunch of software from the NWG website and I found Hippo OpenSim, with which I can visit SL and NWG and some places I never heard of. I haven't quite figured out how this is possible; I guess I need to do some research.

Grey, Godwin and Se7en

It was a typical day for me. I made three friends. I showed a guy how to open boxes and get dressed. I went to a freebie shop and got some plaid: ) It was very much like SL. The viewer was very like my viewer -- I don't have the beta one yet.

There is a strong presence of former There.com folks and NWG appears to be welcoming to them. Because there are so few people around, the people I met were very friendly. Very eager to share their knowledge, they tried to teach me how to change to daylight, how to make a landmark and such, but I already knew from SL.

2010-03-26T07:22:00.006-04:00

Ahh...the life of a journalist...Writing has been slow this week, partly because of RL happenings such as friends needing assistance with computer viruses, camera connection and such. My main story this week has fizzled because I couldn't get an interview. I waited for an hour for someone to show up, but it didn't happen. That would have been a good story, but I suppose this happens all the time in the journalism world. And I haven't gotten started with another idea. I do have an article in progress I'll probably finish tonight. I'm sick of looking at it. I'll have to reach into my random idea box and pull out something new this weekend.

My lessons in Castilian are going well, but I have to drill every word and concept into my brain. My main complaint is the lack of usefulness of the lessons in my book/CD. I did find a very good website that starts from "encantada(o)" (pleased to meet you). I think I need some cheat notes to hang in my car and office and perhaps the lid of my laptop - one of my favorite places to put notes.

As usual, I have so many "things" to attend to this weekend. It boggles my mind...I better start working on the to-do list.

Small but Unexpected Honor

2010-03-16T07:12:00.003-04:00

"Hi Se7en Wirsing,

I am writing to let you know that one of your photos has been short-listed for inclusion in the tenth edition of our Schmap New York Guide, to be published early April 2010."

And I did it with my hp Photosmart and didn't even edit it. Okey, you're not allowed to laugh at my camera anymore...

All quiet on the home front

2010-02-22T07:44:00.005-05:00

...but away from Brisas del Mar...busy SL weekend

You will not believe my weekend! Go ahead, guess. Did you say bitten by a vampire? How about Se7en is pregnant? Come on, where is your imagination? All those things happened!

Okey, so what do you want to hear first?

Yes, Se7en is pregnant, confirmed by the Bebitest.

The story behind that will be in my Sirens article for March, which is coming out March 6. If you're desperate to know, find me inworld and maybe I'll slip you a notecard.

Bitten by a vampire? I never thought I would allow it, but there it is:

HUD [Thirst::Bloodlines] 3.3: Se7en Wirsing is a registered Bloodlines player. His soul is possessed by Hooch Shippe.

I am no longer in possession of my SL soul.

Hooch Shippe

But, don't even think about me becoming a vampire - I have no time for that!

Ingenue: Fashion With a Past: My Favorite Shop

2010-02-21T20:14:00.006-05:00

I was shopping a few days ago and I was becoming very frustrated with the clothing I had bought. It looked good on the model, of course, but when I put it on, that was another story. As I was trying on the new clothes and pathetically trying to get them to look good, when Rouge Anthony strolled by. We started talking about clothes and I told her my frustration.

"That could be why I normally shop at vintage shops. Almost everything is meant to hug, so it flatters you no matter what," she told me.

She gave me several landmarks. Ingenue (SLurl) is my favorite so far. As soon as I entered the shop, I saw shoes I actually like and they look good on Se7en. Then, I found some lovely business skirts and blouses and some cute overalls. In total, I bought a white blouse, blue skirt, matching blue shoes, overalls, some black flats and a hat. I was so happy I didn't take off the overalls for days.

I went back to Ingenue and bought some bargain basement outfits and shoes to match.

Rouge Anthony, you're my fashion hero!

Red Heart 100

2010-02-02T22:22:00.004-05:00

Fundraising Sale for Red Cross Haitian Relief Fund
GLANCE – February 1, 2010 – GLANCE International Agency (GIA), SL's premier fashion public relations and marketing company, announced today the start of the RED HEART 100 a very special fundraising drive to benefit the International Red Cross Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund.

The Red Heart 100 is a special sale taking place now through Valentine's Day, February 14, 2010 on the Glance Sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Glance/160/219/3097/). Thirty of SL's top fashion designers have created special outfits or priced down their latest releases which are being sold at Glance in special Red Cross Vendors. All outfits, clothing, hair and accessories are priced down exclusively for this event at just 100L with all proceeds from the sales going directly to the International Red Cross.

"Like everyone around the globe, I, and everyone at Glance, was heartbroken by the catastrophic devastation the earthquake has wrought on Haiti," said Patty Cortes, founder & CEO of Glance International Agency. "Working with so many of SL's top designers, we are pleased to present this amazing collection of clothes and accessories, all specially priced and all to benefit the Haitian relief efforts of the International Red Cross. I would like to thank all of the designer's that have contributed to this event," Miss Cortes continued.

Designers participating in the RED HEART 100 include: *FDL* by Sanders Beaumont • CCC by Chianera Cioc • House of London by London Dailey • Purple Rose Jewelry by Storm Babeli • BELLISSIMA! by Elle74 Zaftig • WARDROBE OUTFITTERS by Aurelia Scarpulla • VASSNIA by VNP Ninetails • JADOR Fashion by Ziamela Loon • DIRAM by Djod Karu • ATOMICBAMBI by AtomicSparkle Skytower • AMBERGRIS DEADLY FASHION by Ambergris Baphomet • KID ASIA by Abby Chambers • [KA] DESIGNS by Kira Ahn • MANNON'S Hair by Mannon Mannonen • CHANTKARE by Applonia Criss • MEB FASHION by MariaElena Barbosa • XPLOSION by Kaliha Noel • CALLIE CLINE by Callie Cline • ORA TREI DESIGNS by Potnia Theas • ROULE - Isaa Gelber & Mariah Bressig • PHILOTIC ENERGY by Aemilia Case • MY PRECIOUS by Agnes Finney • CS FANDANGO by Christine Svenska • LOLLIPOPZ Hair Salon by Zeev Dinzeo • UZURI by Bella Bombast • LE CHARME FASHION - Ramona Planer • FASTER PUSSYCAT by Honey Bender • NAIVE by Leah McCullough • KIM by Kimberly Flagon • SKIN FLICKS by Mavis McGettigan.

______________________________________________________________________

Rouge Anthony contemplates the outfits at Roule.

I encourage you to stop by and see the beautiful offerings of these top designers. You're sure to find something you like. Or if you're not a shopper, there is a place at the landing place to donate Lindens.

While I was shopping, I talked to Rouge Anthony. I asked her if she had seen anything she liked.

"Yep I love this bra and picked up a dress at My Precious," she told me.

For more information about Glance, go to http://www.glance-international.com/.

Household Ramblings

2010-01-31T21:39:00.001-05:00

Today I said to Qz, "I was thinking about cleaning-" which she interrupted to state, "no, you weren't."

I hesitated and said, "okay." I waited to find out what would happen next. After a moment, she said I was thinking about...and she named three ridiculous things that only she would ever think of. She folded the towels as I had asked her and went to her room without another word.

After that incident, I thought, this is why I talk to myself, talk to the animals and blog. This way I can talk all I want and I won't bother anyone else, especially since most of the things I want to talk about are pretty random.

Not long after that, my father called me, something he rarely does, and that was a bit bizarre. I started feeling I can't take any more bizarreness today.

Earlier, I decided I would try to organize myself, my mountains of papers and clothes, etc. This is what I bought to hang my coat on so I can find it the next day as well as put some papers and stuff on it.

I put it together today...omg. Needs no tools-how easy is that? Those of you who know me know this was a major project. I'm not good with these type of destructions. I really needed two strong men to get the tension rod in place. If you had seen me, you would have been rolling on the floor laughing. My kitty kept scurrying off into her corner as the baskets whacked against the wall over and over. I finally got it where it should be after about an hour of messing with it and I fell into a chair, saying that was it for today.

I REALLY was thinking about cleaning...until the tension rod.

2010-01-31T00:04:00.003-05:00

Things I Hate in SL
Women's shoes...are made for amazons and the heels are so high as to be ridiculous. There are no nice-looking flat ones. I wear "chucks" most of the time.

Shopping...is so lagged and I rarely find anything I like. It wastes so much time.

Finding children...real children are wandering the grid. Occasionally, I find one who admits being underage. Most of the time, it's not from a lack of supervision, but last week I found a 12-year-old who was under the guardianship of his older brother because one parent had died and the other had run away. That's the saddest case I've found so far.

Not having a dance partner...is depressing. Since Amakusa rarely comes inworld and is typically in metabolt, we can't go dancing. Dancing has been one of the most fun amusements in SL. And I don't like dancing with strangers. They think the next step is virtual sex and become enraged when I refuse.

My Favorite Places
Help People Island
Savoy Jazz Club
Bookstacks
Da Vinci
Lost Gardens of Apollo

Most Important Things I've Learned
Who I am
How to stand up for myself
Things are not always as they seem
Go with your intuition; it is right

I was reminiscing at the Savoy tonight. Lately, I have been thinking on my year in SL. It is truly bittersweet. I've seen friends come and go-that's the hardest. As in RL, I am surrounded by my small group of my dearest friends. I confess SL has spilled over into RL where it concerns friends like Rosemary, Lost, Cliff and Amakusa.

There are still plenty of new things to learn and do.

The Search Goes On

2010-01-10T12:29:00.004-05:00

I am so disheartened. Two of my recent jobs have fallen through. The economy blog I was most excited about didn't get started because the publisher/editor doesn't have time now. That's why the MetaCard article is on 2nd Journal. Then, another job I was excited about seems to be going the same way. So, I expect to be posting another article to 2nd Journal that is business-related.

Last night, I submitted an article with pics to another new magazine. We'll see where that goes. I have broken my rule about not writing for free. This is probably another big mistake.

As well, my RL search for writing assignments is stalling. The main problem in all these instances is editors seeming to fall off the face of the earth. I email, IM and send notecards all to no avail. All I am looking for is someone to give me a bit of direction and send me on my way. I don't need someone to hold my hand and lead me. I just need someone to point me in the right direction and I take off running. I have proven this over and over. I find my own topics, research and interview, take my own pics and write the article. I even have excellent English skills. What more could an editor want?

I have applied for a new position at a well established SL magazine, hoping to make a couple Lindens and entertain myself with writing. I'll give it a few days and if nothing happens, I'll apply elsewhere. It's becoming commonplace for me to continually be in search of a job.

I have no will whatsoever today.

PS-I did find one of my editors reappeared from the abyss this morning xD

A Visit to Virtual Argentina

2010-01-03T18:26:00.009-05:00

DJ gasty Aldrin at Aero

I suddenly thought, "hmmm...there must be an "Argentina," after Jo TPed me to virtual New York City. I did find it in search and it turned out to be a very lovely and friendly place.

When I arrived, the first place I wanted to go was the Aero dance club. They were playing great music, a mix of Argentine and American songs. It was just like other clubs in SL, in that there was a DJ and he talked between songs (I didn't know what he was saying, though). But, there was no host/ess to chat and suggest tipping the DJ or the venue. The DJ's tip jar was empty! I wonder if that was typical; perhaps I will be able to ask him sometime when we can use the translator.

La Iglesia

After visiting Aero, I wandered the sim. I went into the church, only realizing later there was a sign requesting appropriate dress. I wasn't wearing a head covering and I don't know if plaid pants is appropriate, but I was covering my midriff and my cleavage.

A high-rise towers over the surrounding empty land. Apparently, this is homes and offices because I couldn't explore there. There is a drive-in theater, ice skating and freebie shop. All the people I ran into were friendly, in spite of my being mistaken for a man: ) and the fact I could only communicate with a translator.

The sim would be a perfect place for a wedding. There is a beautiful gazebo by the ocean and a huge romantic dance floor on the other side of the church. A pond with swans is set in the park and, although it's a public sim, there are plenty of places for quiet reflection or chat with your sweetheart.

2009-12-22T07:53:00.002-05:00

You have found me to be absent from SL. I am not all that busy with holiday preparations. In fact, I'm being drawn in kicking and screaming as I dislike this time of year. Instead, I've been focused on writing. I have a new job at afk Magazine. My new editor is very experienced and I can see this may be *fingers crossed* a long term relationship. I am trying out for an RL opportunity that's not prestigious but would net me a few extra dollars weekly. Also, I have applied for a new job within my company in the marketing department.

Of course my shopping isn't done, cookies are not made and I haven't even played the Christmas music. I have yet to decide what to bring to our newly instituted potluck Christmas dinner.

I was listening to Joy Division, New Order and the Cure last night, so now I'm in a strange mood, but not unhappy. I must drag myself to work and hope the grant-submitting, article-submitting and other general can-you-help-me? type of work has slowed down so I may catch up on my actual assignments.

Check out the size of this candle holder! I must come inworld at least once more before Christmas to dump candy canes all around. After that, I'll have to put the candy cane dropper away until next year.

Fun with Translators

2009-12-06T22:52:00.004-05:00

Galaad Uramen on HPI

I have had some interesting experiences with translators, particularly lately. Of the free, readily available ones, I have found the Simbolic is the best for Spanish. Amakusa and I can understand each other pretty well in spite of the translator. I have learned to recognize many Spanish words and Amakusa is learning English. But occasionally the translator has caused some issues.

When I'm on Help People Island, I use Velma's Free (Google) Translator, which automatically recognizes the languages. Last week, I tried to help a German guy and the translator was a disaster. It was saying a bunch of nonsense. I switched to the Simbolic and that was a bit better, but we had quite a time communicating. I found a German place for new residents, but there was no one there. I gave him the landmark and he looked at the tutorials. Back at HPI, we finally found Luana, who speaks German, and she talked to him.

On Friday night, a Vietnamese man was looking for help. This is how it went:
Huy: I'm ViÃªt nam
Se7en: speak english?
Huy: no
Huy: I'm dont speak english
Se7en's translator: Ready to translate
Se7en: vietnamese is not on the translator
Se7en's translator: Vietnamesisch ist nicht fÃ¼r den Ãœbersetzer *must have been still set to German*
Galaad: hello Se7en
Se7en: hi galaad
Se7en: oh dear
Se7en: he left
Galaad: ;-)
Se7en: i tried
Galaad: c'est le principal
Universal Translator 1.8.3: Galaad Uramen(fr>>en): "is the main"
Galaad (Q-Translator fr->en): is the main
Se7en: the translator didn't have vietnamese
Se7en: lol
Galaad Uramen: ok
Universal Translator 1.8.3: Galaad Uramen(fr>>en): "ok"
Se7en: you changed
Galaad: yes
Se7en: you look human
Galaad: yes
Se7en: lol
Galaad: lequel aime tu ?
Galaad (Q-Translator fr->en): who loves you?
Galaad: lequel
Galaad (Q-Translator fr->en): which
Se7en: good question
Galaad: haha
Se7en: i have never been asked that
Galaad: hahahhhaa
Galaad: it not to late
Se7en: right now i think cowboy loves me
Se7en: but he's a bit crazy
Galaad: hahhahhhhaa
Galaad: je voulais dire quel avatar que tu aime entre celui ci et l'autre
Galaad (Q-Translator fr->en): I meant what avatar you be like this one and the other
Se7en: lol
Se7en: lmao
Se7en: translator bad bad
Galaad: yes
Se7en: i like them both
Galaad: ok ;-)
Se7en: this dude is handsome
Galaad: ok
Se7en: but the other is mysterious
Se7en: which do you like?
Galaad: for now ... this
Se7en: yes
Se7en: i can always recognize you
Galaad: ;-)

So, happy ending...no thanks to the translator.

When weeds get in your eyes

2009-12-02T19:52:00.002-05:00

So last night I ran into Cliff and he was in the mood to play. Usually, he is just taking a short break from his work, but last night he wanted to go someplace fun. I teleported us to Acquarella, which I had been writing an article about for 2nd Journal.

We started wandering to the other exhibits and he was doubting the veracity of Alizarin's comments on her website stating the works weren't photos, but were drawn with a tablet and pen. "Because it says so doesn't make it so," he stated. Then, he explained that an artist had used his work for "inspiration," but hadn't given him credit. As he was explaining this, I was just uploading the article on Acquarella. He continued to talk about ethics and, mistakenly thinking he was talking about Alizarin, I stopped inserting photos.

I can't put my stamp of approval on an artist who steals someone else's ideas, I thought.

As soon as the thought popped up, I trashed the article, photos and all. I commented on how coincidental it was to run into this artist in SL. I felt like I had ruined his evening by bringing him to see Alizarin's work. When I said it was my fault he was upset, he suddenly said, "this isn't the artist." He had been making a point! I had given him a hearty laugh, but I felt very stupid. And now I had to upload the article and photos all over again.

Trying Something New

2009-11-27T17:54:00.002-05:00

The decision has been made. It's my turn now and I get to make all the decisions: ) Check out my experimental journal at http://2ndjournal.wordpress.com/.

Looking for the Perfect Writing Gig

2009-11-26T23:11:00.002-05:00

After I parted ways with Carmichael a few days ago, I decided to be very selective in looking for a new job. OI was definitely a quality gig for me and I've learned a bit about the type of work I want. I'm concerned my best option may be to start my own blog/magazine. I would like to find an editor like Zillow Dejavu; she was a gem of an editor, letting me develop all my own leads.

I searched the classifieds and found a couple. I also went to the Rack and looked at the various magazines. I did go to one "interview." I teleported to the office of a blog magazine. Almost immediately, the executive editor IMed saying she would be right there. I didn't think that was necessary. I chatted with a man who told me he was on trial for a week. That was the first indication this was not for me. When the editor arrived, she began to speak with another man who had just arrived and invited him to the conference room.

Hmmm, was I witnessing a bit of bias there?

I decided to wait patiently to see what would happen. A few minutes later, she asked me to join them. When she started explaining the job to us, I thought she must be very green. They are very rigid. Everyone starts on a trial basis and, if they like you after the third article, you get promoted. I told her I was an experienced writer, but that didn't seem to matter. She didn't ask for my resume or previous work.

Nope, not for me. After you read my previous work, you will decide if you want me or not. From there on, it's all a trial; if you don't like the work I'm doing, you have the option of firing me. And if I object to your policies, I can go my own way. I'm interested in doing articles with some "meat." I found I enjoy writing about the economy, as well as the arts. Maybe I'm too serious, but fashion and home aren't high on my list.

Speaking of the economy, I wrote an article for Franco for the economy blog and asked him to review it. After a few weeks of hearing nothing, I emailed him. He replied to say he is too busy right now for the blog. So I have an article with pics ready, but nowhere to peddle it. I think I'll check out a few other magazines and if I don't find any situation I like, I'll just start my own. The only drawback to my plan is I'll have to sell it to advertisers if I want to make lindens.

7 busts out of her small town for a day

2009-11-15T11:36:00.009-05:00

I took the bus to New York City with my friend Martha on Saturday. I'm sure it would have been comical, had someone filmed us. She is the type to have an itinerary set in stone, which is excellent and helps you to see all you want to.The challenge is I am easily distracted and I like to experience more as we go, journaling and taking photos.

As soon as we got off the bus, I gouged my finger while compacting the umbrella. Martha took off running, while I attempted to get some pics with blood oozing out of my finger. We went a few blocks to the Morgan Library, where they relieved me of my bag after I hastily snagged a bandaid. We proceeded directly to "A Woman's Wit."

That we enjoyed very much. We watched the short video and examined all the letters and illustrations on exhibit. Although a bit small, being contained in one room, it was impressive. The most interesting thing to me is the way she arranged the letters, using every available centimeter, and how she folded the paper like a book to write and then folded it in a particular way to seal it. I wish all my Austen Family could have been there with me! I didn't attempt to take photos in the exhibit, knowing the flash is probably bad for the papers. I did take a pic of the glass elevator, but then was asked by an employee to put the camera away.

The actual library is gorgeous. My favorite item there was a polyptych from the workshop of Ferrer Bassa on the life of Christ, Mary and the saints done with tempera. Unfortunately, I can find no photo of it. We also perused the Rococo and Revolution drawings and ate lunch at the cafe in the museum. We visited the shop, but they had no exhibit catalog or even a brochure about the Austen exhibit; we were severely disappointed.

From there, we caught a bus to within a few blocks of the Guggenheim. It was incredibly crowded, and Martha debated me about waiting in line for tickets. A man standing nearby overheard us and offered us tickets, apparently having bought an extra couple for some reason.

What? Scalpers at a museum! I thought nervously.

But, we purchased the tickets for the same price the museum was charging and pushed our way in.

We examined the Kandisky paintings as we spiraled up and didn't get waylaid by any other exhibits. As many others were taking photos, I took a few of the interior. Soon, I was accosted again by a scolding employee. When we reached the top of the spiral, there was a sign stating "no cameras." How stupid is that?

We enjoyed describing what we saw in the paintings to each other, to the amusement of people around us. I found the exhibit more interesting than I thought I would, although I enjoy abstract as well as realism.

Overall, it was an enjoyable day and I did a bit of drawing in my journal on the return trip. I really would have liked to get some more pictures, though.

Adventures in Film Making or ?

2009-11-13T07:01:00.004-05:00

So I've been writing a bit for NaNoWriMo...a bit. I'm well behind where I should be, so behind it's laughable. I'm not giving up, though. I am happy to be writing as much as I am, as this week has been rough emotionally and my sleep deficit is hitting me hard. I'm hitting the pillow for at least 6 hours a night. I feel better today, not dragged out and crabby.

I was doing research for the main character, because she is supposed to get into machinima, and as usual I did some very silly things by accident. Like choosing "p" for my hot key; you can imagine what happened. Every time I pressed "p" it took a screenshot. DUH!

I had some fun with that and next I'll try some more tips from the SL wiki and surely get into more trouble. You can check out my lame attempts at http://www.wegame.com/watch/Dizzy-2/.

I can't do without Amakusa and PG Tips

2009-11-10T07:42:00.004-05:00

Amakusa and 7: I miss his cute face

I live in a valley surrounded by low hills. One day last week as I drove to work, the thought popped into my head, is there life beyond this valley? If I drive over the hill, will I find life, people to live with, perhaps a new life for myself? Could it be better for me or will it bring heartbreak? Some people around me, like my coworkers with their small minds, can't see the larger world. They are obsessed with clawing their way to the top of the little heap that is my department, not caring whose life gets destroyed in the process. But, to what end? In perspective, I don't make that much more money than the secretary and the manager doesn't make all that much more than me. And, to control such a small realm (and so dysfunctional)...would it make you feel big? There's a far bigger world than I can envision and I certainly don't expect to feel like I own this planet. I am enjoying all your stories of your lives and it keeps my thoughts in the perspective of the larger world, relieving my annoyance with small minds.

I was thinking Sunday night, after I interviewed Neo7899 Collins, about how much I have learned about the world since I have been in SL. Talking to people all over the world, I have been able to ask any question I want and not feel stupid. I find people are eager to share their history and culture.

Unconsciously, I have been asking the fundamental question how do people live?

What kind of city do they live in? What is their house like? What foods do they eat? How do they earn a living? It seems very mundane, but it is endlessly fascinating to me.

Then, who do they love? What is their family like? Often, people will reveal their deepest feelings to me, even early in our relationship, and I honor and value that. And it's all good for me; I find some dysfunctional, as my family has been, and some close-knit. Somehow, we have managed to come through it to be the people we are now.

I am very spoiled, although by US standards I have comparatively little. When I see what is typical in some countries, I can't imagine how people get by. Billions of people manage to live on a fraction of what I have and are content. Argentina is one of those places. When I told Amakusa I couldn't make it through the winter without my electric blanket, he was astonished-"manta electrica?" He had no idea there was such a thing. It causes me to wonder how little I could get by on if I had to and could I be as patient with life as he is? I think I would particularly miss my favorite teas.

Medicine or a Spoonful of Sugar?

2009-10-27T09:37:00.004-04:00

Could I be becoming interested in marketing and finance? Banish the thought! I write fiction and biography. I have always dismissed topics related to economy and finance as boring (sorry Franco) and too complex for the average mind to understand. However, as I am gathering information for articles and talking to business people about their business challenges, I find myself totally hooked. Please don't tell my artist and writer friends-I wouldn't want them to think I've gone all concrete and pragmatic. This is very disturbing. I feel like I would hide my notes among the pages of my virtual journal and photo albums if anyone should come upon me suddenly.

***Se7en tiptoes back to her virtual news desk.***

Distractions

2009-10-24T11:09:00.005-04:00

In research, I am finding my biggest problems are inability to make decisions and distractions. I need to develop some criteria for decisions like Katydid hasn't responded in two days...next victim. I simply have too many friends. This is wonderful and I love it. However, I am always being invited to parties and concerts or just to chat. How can I decline? This is totally opposite to my RL. When I return from work, I lock myself into my house. Typically, I go out socially only for family events and art gallery events like First Friday. So, I am having too much fun in SL and not progressing fast enough with my stories. I do manage to get them done on time.

I forgot the other problem...I am totally disorganized. I have hundreds of photos and hundreds of documents. I think I will remember information so I don't write it down. Then, a green engineer IMs me with notecards and I have no idea what I wanted from him. But, he seems like a really interesting guy. Maybe he'll forgive me for not remembering.

My curiosity always sidetracks me. On Thursday, while I was chasing Metacard leads, I bumped into Shockwave Snowbear in an optic store. I was in a crazy mood, because everyone seemed to be ignoring my attempts to start conversation. I put on my chimera and tried to start a dance party, but people just scooted to the other side of the room. Shockwave was the only one who talked to me. Perhaps he was bored.

Oops...I did it again

2009-10-20T19:03:00.005-04:00

As you see, I'm at it again, destroying whatever is nearby. This time I was attempting to remove a hatchet from my new "kilt." I don't like to wear weapons because I would have to be conscious of where I was at all time. Some sims don't allow visible weapons, like HPI. I was rather in a hurry, because I was on my way to the book club.

I took the skirt off and placed it on the floor. I managed to get a piece of the hatchet off and delete it. Another piece I got off was in front of the window blind and I think what happened is the hatchet piece got attached to the blind which is apparently attached to the window and the wall. When I clicked on delete, the wall disappeared.

I panicked for a moment, but then I realized I liked it that way. Now it's open and light comes in; it's so much brighter than before and I can see the sky. I am afraid to tell purple anyway, so I may as well leave it as is.

It makes little difference what the house looks like. I spend very little time there, due to my writing assignments. I am continually doing research. And Amakusa can't see it. He is typically in metabolt and we can only chat, which is okay. But the house doesn't have to look nice if no one can see it.

Success is the Best Revenge

2009-10-15T08:13:00.004-04:00

This has been one of the most important weeks of my life. Okay, you may laugh if you like, but you can't get me down. If my passive-aggressive spying tattling jealous no-talent bum coworkers can't get me down, then you can't. Even if my two latest job offerings fall through, I will still have this experience and I will still have my fans and friends. You can't take that away from me.

I was chatting with Carmichael on Monday. "hey read ur blog :P," he said. Uh oh, I thought. I didn't know he would do that. We talked for a long time and HE LISTENED TO MY IDEAS. He may not or probably won't use them and that's okay. What matters is he considered them; that's SO rare. That in itself ranks him right up there with my RL pastor, who consults me on things like website design, handheld organizers and facebook (I HATE facebook, btw; just had to put that in). Then, he offered me an ungodly amount of lindens to write a blog on the Survivors of Suicide project! In addition to the assignment he had given me for the next issue of OI...I think he just needed someone to bounce his ideas off.

Then, on Tuesday, I sent a notecard to the contact Carmichael had given me for my new assignment (I thought). Later, he IMed me.
Franco: hi
Franco: what is oi magazine?
Se7en: oh dear
Se7en: do you know carmichael?
Franco: nope
Se7en: lol
Franco: if you want to interview me I need to know what it is about
Se7en: oops; i'm sorry i am mixed up
Franco: I am looking for freelance journalists to write about economics? are you interested
Se7en: lol i'm not really knowledgeable about economics
Se7en: give me an example
Franco: Interview business owners, write about the stock excahnges, write something critical about economics in sl ingeneral, new trends, what rich avatars buy etc...

[7 starts to become interested]

Se7en: i don't think i would do very well with that; not my best thing
Franco: what's your skills? do you write about fashion?
Se7en: no
Se7en: lol
Franco: ...
Franco: about what? lets see if it fits
Se7en: do you want my resume?
Franco: yes please

That's how it started out; after awhile I told him I didn't know I was going to be interviewed that day. Then, he started telling me I could hire a staff and showed me my office and desk. He asked me how much I wanted to be paid! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha I think he is crazy.

I TPed later to HPI to hang out for a bit.
Sabre: hello Se7
Se7en: hi sabre
Se7en: hi timothy
Se7en: @@@ YEEEEAAAWWWWWW @@@
Timothy: Hi 7
Sabre: how goes the S7-ing
Se7en: just got a new job by accident
Se7en: lol
Timothy: oh?
Sabre: lol
Timothy: doing what?
Se7en: writing about economics
Se7en: lol
Sabre: yikes
Timothy: oooook
Sabre: at this time and era!?
Se7en: shut up
Timothy: that is heavy thinking there 7
Se7en: i can write it
Se7en: Scanningâ€¦
Se7en spanks Timothy's ass.
Timothy: LOL
Se7en: now what do you think?
Sabre: he prolly submits now.....
Timothy: I have been assualted by an economist
Se7en: get used to it
Sabre: lucky u tim
Se7en: if you're going to have that attitude
Se7en: lol
Timothy: LOL
Sabre: lol
Sabre: ...just somethin about a smalll woman when she gets angry and spanking....scary....

Tim is really a supporter so I know he was just kidding. And I'm really happy, very excited. I haven't been able to envision a future for myself for about 16 years. Sometimes I wonder how this has happened. Then I instantly remember...

Les Gravois: ) told me my future.

It's Monday...AGAIN

2009-10-12T10:46:00.004-04:00

Turbulent waters at Angelgate

So I am thinking this morning my life is so ridiculous. Where is all this leading? Blogging, article writing, searching for writing jobs, writing poetry, working on my books...

Then, there is the people factor; I am waylaid by my concern for them. Example: Friday Carmichael Caudron told me his graphic designer disappeared, leaving him in the lurch for this month's issue of OI. I spent all day Saturday writing and conferring with my coworker who is afraid she's about to get the axe. On Sunday, I spent the bulk of the day searching for and testing an inexpensive solution for Carmichael. I think I found a pretty good one, but 9 chances out of 10 he'll say "thank you, but I don't want to go that way." That's fine. It typically happens that way. He's not the problem here. I am. Why don't I just say it's not my problem and go about my business? I can't seem to put a boundary there and that's very frustrating to me. It's like my feeling love is love in SL as well as RL. It doesn't just poof when I turn off my computer at night. So it is with work. If I work for you, I work along side you and your challenges become my challenges. Besides, I really like Krissy and Carmichael. They took me on as an unknown and they have been more than fair, in fact very gracious.

These things never happen in a vacuum, of course. There is laundry to be done, bills to be paid and children to be watched over. And I am off and running again. Sometimes I wish I could just say, "that's too bad," and tuck myself in for the night with my mind at ease like most other people instead of dozing with my chin propped up by hand, elbow resting on my laptop.

Obviously, if this is leading anywhere, it's going at a tortoise' pace.

Alone at Brisas del Mar

2009-09-20T22:19:00.002-04:00

I spent Saturday afternoon looking through my boxes of photos. Most of the photos I found in my grandmother’s wooden chest chronicled my life from the time I became a mother. I realized love is, as I suspected as young woman, truly different after one becomes a mother. For me, it felt like there was a secret bubble of emotions hidden in my soul that irreparably ruptured when I gave birth, allowing the emotions to flow out uncontrollably. I knew I could never go back to having my love neatly bundled and tucked safely inside me.

While I examined pictures of myself, looking for signs of my feelings and thoughts, I found nothing but a smiling face. I remembered feeling happy at times, but mostly unsettled and lonely. When I slept that night, these thoughts were operating in the deeper regions of my mind and wake me early in the morning. There was the unsettled feeling again, a feeling that I didn’t live on the same earth as everyone else. My father’s favorite question was, “what’s the matter with you?” and it confirmed the feeling I was defective in some way I never understood. I got up and had some tea; it was a good time to write.

Amakusa called me early in the day on Sunday and we arranged to meet at my skybox over Brisas del Mar at 10:00 pm with photos in hand. I had promised a picture of myself as a college student and he was to bring his head-shot. In searching through my photos, I had only found a few from my life before children. I posted them to my flickr to share them with him. I arrived shortly after 10:00 and spent a pleasant couple of hours in IM with some friends and creating experimental jewelry. There was no conciliatory IM from Amakusa or text message on my cell.

When midnight had come and gone, I said good night to my friend and stood looking across the deck to the gray sky. The wind chimes were making their mournful sound, like the horn of a faraway train, recalling my loneliness for him. I had fallen in love, but it’s a love that can’t be held safely within and not even close-by. Today, Amakusa will work in the field and I didn’t understand that he would return to his home at night. He may be incommunicado for days or I may never hear from him again. After finishing my work day and after chatting with my friends, I may end my day alone at Brisas del Mar.

Amatsu Shima Library

2009-09-19T22:59:00.003-04:00

You should see our new meeting place for Jane Austen Book Club. Well, not new as a venue, but it has been rebuilt into a larger and more beautiful space. It's a most comfortable library called Amatsu Shima. Rosemary Serenity found it when we first arranged the book club. Now, it has a bigger space for reading and meeting as well as 2 added floors, the 2nd for children's books and the 3rd for office space. It is situated on a picturesque sim and the residents are very polite and helpful.

You are cordially invited to join us on Saturdays at 3:30 pm SL time. We have just finished Mansfield Park and will start Emma next. Rosemary is planning Halloween and Christmas parties for us. Oh, I almost forgot the pajama party is upcoming...

What do you think about when you wake up?

2009-09-14T21:35:00.002-04:00

Se7en surrounded by suicidal images
while writing an article about "Survivors of Suicide"

Just wondering...because I have realized there are some people who are thinking and planning how to do the absolute least they can get by with. How is that for a life's goal? What a different frame of reference that would be and it seems like it would be more work than actually doing some work.

What could make a person decide they are willing to do everything and anything to meet this objective? Would it be fun to sit idle all day or IM and surf the internet when you are supposed to be doing work? Could I lie to my boss and make up stories about my work? "Oh, I didn't get to that," I could say. "I'll do it today." Or, "I'm working on [the 5-minute project] and it's almost finished."

I imagine her thoughts:
I'm so swamped with...IMs. This book on [complex medical topic] is very interesting to...pretend to read. I can get out of doing work by saying Dr. [fill in the blank] gave me the book. If I look like I understand the book, people will think I'm really smart. In the meantime, I'll refuse to order paper for the copier; after all, why should I waste my time and effort to make a [30-second] phone call when it is far more amusing to watch people scramble for paper when it runs out. I can have fun playing my passive/aggressive game while everyone else around me scurries from one task to another, trying to make up for my slacking. And, I can easily persuade at least one of my coworkers to shirk her duties if I promise to watch her back. The others will scurry around even more then.

We can sneak around and meet in the stairwell to gossip. We can tell our friends at lunch all about it. I bet they will try it too and have some great ideas on how to get out of doing work.

What if this was the meat of my existence? What is it like to feel I never want to learn anything new or become anything more than I am now? What's the point of living if it will consist of hiding behind my desk and working hard not to work? Then, would I turn to spying and gossiping to feel superior to others?

What would I tell myself to justify that? Would I say I am so misused or treated like a slave? They don't pay me enough to care about these things? Everyone else does it? Well, if they followed my example they would. Maybe I'm too naive to think of an excuse good enough. Better stick to my work...a subject I know all about.

All My Children...SL Version

2009-09-11T07:17:00.002-04:00

Last night, while I helped mahjoub open some boxes, I became a bit suspicious, although I first thought it was a language barrier. He is in Tunisia and speaks French. I held my anxiety in check while he told me he was a Bloodlines player, and I couldn't get my HUD to operate, and he wore a sword, neither of which is allowed on HPI. (Yes, I took a break from writing to be a Helper!) His first interaction with me was to offer a Mexican hat that I didn't accept, explaining I don't usually accept gifts from strangers. After I helped him, he told me not to take a Mexican hat because it was a trick. I responded by asking him why he gave it to me; wasn't he a nice person? He replied, "I don't know." Hmmm, I thought...strange answer. I asked him his age and he said 16.

He reminded me very much of "my son" Rohit, a sweet 17-year-old at that time. He looked for me every time I had him removed for violation of age. Finally, I told him if he insisted on coming to me, he couldn't mention his former avi name or age. He obeyed, but I always knew it was him since he called me "auntie," apparently a term of endearment and respect in his culture. Shortly after that, he went on holiday and I haven't seen him. He is 18 now.

About mahjoub, I thought, here we go again. I explained to him as gently as I could he didn't belong in the adult SL and he should try the Teen SL. Fortunately, or rather unfortunately, he believed me when I said he could be taken advantage of, since it had already happened to him. He said he had many friends in SL, even underage ones. I told him to IM the underage ones while I waited and tell them to meet him in Teen SL. He agreed. While he did that, I asked him what time it was and where his parents were. He did tell me his parents were sleeping and he was on holiday from school. But it was 3:16 am, so I told him to go to bed when we finish and go to Teen SL in the morning. Amazingly, he was agreeable to everything I said and didn't become disrespectful. I could tell he was well brought up and his parents cared about him, as with Rohit.

Of course, in the middle of our conversation Laurelle walked by and prayed she wouldn't notice he was a Bloodlines player and wearing a sword. I had his confidence and was thinking let's just take it one step at a time. It really didn't matter about those issues, since he would be gone from SL in a matter of minutes. If she did notice, she didn't mention it.

As I sent him to bed, I told him to stay a nice person, but you know teenage boys...he'll be testing the limits I have no doubt!

7 Sets off a Smoke Bomb in the House

2009-09-05T23:02:00.005-04:00

I was trying on clothes the other night and I found some stuff in my inventory that has been there for ages, but I didn't know what it was. An item called NIEBLA NEGRA exploded a black cloud that grew larger and larger. It crashed me several times while I tried to figure out what to do.

Dear friend & landlord, purpleorchid hendes

I looked for andree, my 5 star fix-it guy, but he was not in-world. I IMed purple saying, "I did something really bad." When she TPed to my skybox, she brought her friend, Thales, with her. Thales is a sweetheart, but he is quite the clown. He kept laughing hysterically. Between them, they were unable to find the part generating the cloud. purple said goodnight to Thales and sent him on his way. Then, she was able to concentrate, find it and send it back to my lost & found. I can't tell you how relieved I was; I thought I had permanently messed up the house.

And the day started so well...

2009-09-02T00:03:00.003-04:00

I slept so well last night. The pain I have had for the last few days has lessened. I put my soft red blanket on the bed and rolled myself up in it. When it was time to get up, I actually felt like getting up. And I felt peace of mind, in spite of the fact that I didn't find Amakusa last night. Perhaps it's a lingering sense of peace coming from the calmness and stability of our relationship.

And for the last two days, I have been interviewing and writing; that always gives me satisfaction. I am working on two articles, one for Role magazine, due to the affiliation with HPI, and the other for my new job at OI magazine.

I came to SL last night for a bit of information for the OI article and was immediately IMed by Stacy Pearl, Jo and Lost Quar! Lost has been incommunicado for awhile and I had begun to worry a bit. He was incredibly happy, though, and we were mutually pleased to see each other and catch up.

There were a couple of incidents yesterday. The first one I could have handled better, but I guess I'm still a little sensitive about people telling me I'm not a writer. Call me an idiot and I will laugh, but don't tell me I'm not a writer. But this is exactly what a guy did and after I told him I write for two magazines, he insisted I wasn't a writer. I asked him why he had an attitude toward me and he laughed. So I told him, "buhbye," and left. I know Cliff would say, "screw him!" or probably something worse. I may think it, but I don't say it. It's nice when he says it; I feel justified.

Then, there is missing furniture. As I was trying on some gifted outfits at Brisas del Mar, I noticed one of my chairs is missing. I contacted purple and as we talked, I realized I am missing 2 chairs, a lamp, a table and a small fountain. She has no clue about what happened, although she said she had cleaned up after the other tenants moved out. I did have a mysterious IM from Fire, the owner of the sim, about some stuff of mine supposedly floating above him. I don't know what the outcome of that was. (And, yes, I did check my trash and the lost and found folder.) I am convinced renting or owning a house is a neverending stream of inconveniences and problems. But one could hardly rent from someone nicer or more responsive than purple. How could I be upset? All the furniture was free. The only thing I lose is the time it will take to find something I like to replace it.

After I got home from work, my day took a nose-dive in the RL department. My mother had insisted on putting my name on her deed, saying it would change nothing. I thought, if that would make her happy, I'll do it. Well, today I got a bill for school taxes. Next it will probably be thousands in property taxes. I am NEVER listen to her again! And that's all I have to say about that.

Meanwhile, back at HPI

2009-08-09T21:17:00.002-04:00

Takashi Inkpen

Life is going on. The landing zone has been moved. There is a cozy place for couples by the beach. Some other things have been changed. It's still as lovely as ever.

Yesterday and today, I had some free time and I wandered a bit. I am looking for a job, with little success. While I was at Virtual Horizons, a man who thought I worked there IMed me desperately seeking a job. He had been in SL for 4 hours and was desperate for a job! I gently explained to him he doesn't need a job right now. He seemed frantic about everything, even asking me, "what do I do next?" I took him to HPI and showed him the freebie shop. We chatted while he shopped and he dressed himself in nice pants and shirt with a tie. After that, he seemed relieved. I gave him LMs to freebies and camping and I scooted off to help someone else.

I went to Shin Tao yesterday and got some great pics. They had a play and Kabuki dancers. I walked around for a bit in between and got aerial photos. I ran into Green Ivanovic there and he was telling me about the music and instrument. Even there, I was IMed by jimmie (did I like country music?), Jo (just checking in) and Sabreman (obsessing about poetry). Stacy IMed me and mentioned she was at an HPI party, so I asked her to TP me. We danced and IMed for awhile. Notty asked me if I would like to write some articles about HPI for a magazine; I was so excited.

Of course, during this time, I ran into some old friends like Takashi. It's rare to find him looking so human. And, I met some new ones. I tried to smooth over a little tiff between an apprentice and a visitor. I don't know how that will come out.

I'll still in the Jane Austin book club and it looks like I am the main host now, which is okay. I have to be prepared every week with readings and questions to discuss. It gets me reading again. Speaking of reading, I am also in the middle of Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. If you can, read it. I can hardly put it down. His writing style draws you in and he has some entertaining and amusing tails woven into the serious parts. I also bought Blink and the Tipping Point to read on vacation next week.

I have managed to get some laundry done, but that's about it. BAD GIRL!

It dawned on me at 0500...

2009-08-02T09:41:00.001-04:00

This is the reason I became hysterical and put the titler on: "doesn't want a boyfriend." Ever since Amakusa mentioned he wanted to get down to 68 kg (I thought he was saying he weighed 68 kg), I have been obsessing. All week I have been careful about what I eat and I have been walking in the evening for 30-40 minutes. This has led to blisters and crunches and sore muscles, seemingly to avail little. I am still afraid to get on the scale; I don't want to know.

We're at the point in our relationship at which he wants to see RL photos. And he wants to see me in a dress. Easy enough, right? Except I had no dresses that fit; I chucked them because they were too big after I lost weight. I have one ugly skirt I can find (remember the other one I threw in the back of the closet, never to be seen again) and it's about 100 years old. So I decided to go shopping yesterday for a new dress, just a simple one. You know how much I HATE shopping; I was filled with dread.

It went much better than I expected. I went to two stores and tried on three styles of dress. I bought two of the three. All the other hundreds of dresses disgusted me for one reason or another. I am ridiculous. I came home and put the dress on with sandals. I took the time to find my favorite necklace and put that on. Then, I persuaded Drax to take photos, enough to try the patience of a saint. He kept looking at me with an amused smile on his face; that's the pic you want, a sweet testimony to his love for Mom. He would have liked to laugh at the silliness of it all, but kindly checked himself.

I picked a couple of the least horrible pics and emailed them to Amakusa. I was anxious; I desperately wanted chocolate. He texted me only to say he had no internet. I went to bed early, still obsessing, and woke up at 0430. At 0500, while I was trying to persuade the dogs to go out, I realized this is the same thing that happened with Lost. As soon as I saw pics of myself, I started obsessing about my weight and how not pretty I am and how old I look. That was the beginning of the end. And exactly why I didn't want a boyfriend, because suddenly it's all about the way you look and it fills me with self-loathing.

I am happy just sitting at my laptop, writing poetry and blogging. I enjoy taking walks. As I have said many times, I enjoy being by myself or with my children. And, I am not looking for a man. I always have to start acting "normal" when I have a boyfriend. I like to relax and be myself. If only I could stop falling for these sweet, responsible, hard-working men, I could just live my life.

Now, I am waiting for him to make some excuse as to why we should break it off. It will be a good opportunity to write lovesick poetry and eat chocolate.

Like some "cake" with your interrogation?

2009-07-29T13:16:00.001-04:00

Okay, I know what you're thinking...I'm nuts, right? Asking you about your socks, how you make coffee and what you're eating for breakfast...but remember as recently as the past weekend I was mentioning how my curiosity can get me into trouble. Not today though.

The fun part is I never know what you will say. I asked Amakusa about his socks. He was incredulous. "Calcetines?" he kept saying. I found out what size he wears (he misunderstood the question), what color they are and what they are made of. Then, I asked him about his gloves and whether he wears Polartec or woobie.

This morning when I woke up at 4 am, I found andree (he is Portuguese) was in-world and we started talking about coffee and tea. "How do you make your coffee, drip or perk or what?" I asked him. He explained what I will call the "andree method" of making coffee. First, he puts a bit of sugar in the cup and lots of coffee (I am guessing instant). He likes the coffee strong. He puts a bit of hot water in the cup and mixes it into a paste. Then, he fills the cup with hot water and stirs it until it's frothy like espresso. Sounds yummy, eh?

He ate some melon that I have never heard of; it's yellow on the outside and green on the inside. He decided it's melo. After he ate a peach, he went next door to the bakery to get "cake." "Cake for breakfast?" I asked him, the mom in me coming out. What he described sounded like a Danish. We continued to describe our favorite foods until I had to get ready for work.

New York Magazine Approval Matrix

2009-07-22T07:03:00.004-04:00

Simplified SL Version
My former boss, Martha, and I use this little-known but humorous matrix to describe our experiences in the hospital where I work and in day-to-day life. I will try to stay away from RL examples, although I am tempted to describe some of my coworkers that I mentioned before who are begging for the "ban button." Instead, I will use it in the context of SL, in which I could get in as much trouble but I won't lose my job as a consequence.

How about Shakespeare in SL, Jane Austin book club and Ballet Pixelle? Definitely "high brow" and, since you have to be intelligent and innovative to overcome all the virtual world obstacles to present it, "brilliant." What about behaviors like requests to befriend or teleport me without the requisite introductions or explanations? While not quite despicable (unless it's a guy you met once trying to teleport you to sex), they are not brilliant. But these examples are too easy.

What about slavery? Or virtual sex? I'm not going to touch that... Child avatars? I think they are low brow and despicable. Alts? Brilliant, but low brow? I will let you decide, because it is really a matter of opinion. Suppose you can't stand Shakespeare? Then, I guess it would be despicable to put it in a virtual world, although hard to describe as low brow unless you're twisted.

Week in a Nutshell

2009-07-17T07:30:00.002-04:00

or giant wormy apple core...

Les & Se7en chat last night after Les received bad news

I didn't sleep well last night. I haven't slept well all week. There is something wrong, maybe too much caffeine. Perhaps it is all my obsessing over recent accusations I am phony and disappointing. I have been reflecting on my RL and SL relationships. I haven't come to any conclusions and I'm bewildered at the moment, to be honest.

Purple has moved my skybox twice this week. First, she bought new land and took me with her. Then, a neighbor put a skybox in sight of my huge windows. Or should I say my huge windows were in sight of his skybox? In any case, it destroyed my privacy. Purple and Andree tried putting gigantic screens around the outside and later to rotate the skybox, which chucked my carefully-placed furniture all over the sky. And Purple and Andree spent so much time on it...what a bother! I hate being the cause of so much trouble. After two days of messing with it, I wondered whether it is worth it.

Do I really want a virtual apartment?

For now I do, if only to have a place for Amakusa and me to talk openly in local chat, because we need the translator for situations like a few days ago when we were shopping and he thought I was telling him to strip (LOL). I said, "This isn't an appropriate place for this discussion." We TPed back to the skybox to sort it out.

I hope I am settled for awhile. My furniture is all wrong for the petite Japanese-style house Purple set up for me, but I don't feel like shopping at the moment. It is enough to have a couple of places for us to sit and chat and maybe snatch a kiss.

Aul-Sea [For Art's Sake] Gallery Exhibits

2009-07-13T07:50:00.011-04:00

Are you a resident artist looking for a place to exhibit your art? Seafoam Teardrop is offering gallery space for Second Life artists at For Art's Sake Gallery.

About the Gallery
The welcome card reads: "Here you will find Classical, Modern, Medieval and Renaissance paintings by: Michelangelo, Raphael, Monet, DaVinci, Rembrandt, O'keefe, Remington, Wyeth, Escher, Picasso and much more. If you Love Art, this is the place. Includes an Exhibit by Resident Artists." The variety of art is astounding; there are even historical photos from the National Archives.

Currently displaying their art are residents:
Irene Arkright "My debut exhibition there is entitled 'My Beautiful Scotland'. This collection represents a selection of photographs I have taken during many visits to this wonderful country."

Priya Rajal displays photography

ragdoll Sugarplum displays mermaids
Viviane Adamski displays mixed media including some animated pieces
Seleuma Snowpaw "I am a Portuguese artist with influences in celt and tribal mixing with some surreal view of things."

I will be posting more information on each artist in separate articles.

IM or drop a notecard to Seafoam Teardrop for more information on exhibiting. And visit the gallery at SLurl!

Thankful

2009-07-13T06:44:00.002-04:00

I am thankful today, more than usual. I think I take too many things for granted. First, I am thankful for Amakusa's return from his work in the mountains and that he is recovering from his illness.

There are a thousand things to be thankful for. I have a job, such as it is. I live in a quiet, low-crime area. I can get fresh food and safe water. Although I would describe myself as toward the lower end of middle class, I have a comfortable lifestyle and I will be able to send both my children to college or trade school. I have health insurance and can get the health care I need. I can buy all the clothes I want, including nice work clothes, for $2.00 at the clothing bank. The only clothing I must buy new is shoes, underwear, some items for Qz and all of Drax's clothes (he is 5 ft. 9 in. with size 13 feet). My car is in good shape. I have a roof over my head with central heating. My children stay away from trouble and get good grades. Because of Qz, my life is filled with music and art.

I don't have to be afraid I will say the wrong thing or read the wrong book and be dragged off for torture. My employer has to follow stringent laws regarding my pay and safety.

I have the opportunity to fulfill my dreams.

Untitled Apology

2009-07-09T08:38:00.001-04:00

Last night as I was about to lose one of my dearest SL friends, I thought I'm sorry; I can't be all things to all people. I feel the pressure of conflicting advice and opinions:

Get a boytoy. Vitual sex is fun. versus You should uphold your RL standards.
SL boyfriend doesn't mean anything. versus A person looking for a RL partner in SL.
Don't be so serious. It's a game. Tell them to f*** off. versus There is a real person behind the avatar.

I don't doubt all these statements are true. They are all true, depending on your point of view. I can only be who I am. I love who I love in RL and SL. I won't change who I love to be the person you want me to be. I don't talk about my love life and you will never know what happens there. I don't reveal personal information that could be used to hurt someone. I do that for him as well as for you. Remember when I said, "they won't hear it from me"? Now you know it's true.

I nursed my grandmother, the only person in my family to encourage me, as she died from pancreatic cancer. I'm talking about holding the barf bucket, helping her go to the bathroom, helping her wash and dropping liquid morphine into her mouth when she was practically unconscious. What I told you about my marriage dissolving and my hard times is all true. I don't try to compare it with what you are experiencing. I only know that pain is pain and it hurts while you are enduring it. It hurts me to know you're in pain.

You can say I'm not genuine. I value our friendship and every word you have said to me. To be let into someone else's world is a precious thing and I don't take it for granted. I would never intentionally hurt you and I'm sorry we had a misunderstanding.

Retraction

2009-07-08T08:28:00.004-04:00

I spoke too soon. I have been consumed by impatience, which is one of my greatest faults. I will try to do better next time.

On a more pleasant note, I am writing poetry. Rosemary has definitely influenced me in this, but Sabreman pushed me over the edge by dragging me to three additional poetry events on Sunday and Monday. When I woke up Tuesday morning, there was poetry in my head. It's not romantic, as you probably would expect, and I wish it could be more like Earl Dinkins or Stosh Quartz. There is some interesting poetry. I have a long way to go...

I continue to meet new people. I am thankful when some of the crazier ones fall by the wayside. Sometimes I don't know how to react to their craziness. I have had time in the last few days to chat with Les, Wild and Rosemary. That is always amusing and comforting. And one of my new friends, Wyde, has given me some expensive consultation I probably won't use in the way he intended. I have tucked it neatly away, until it's time to use it. I have a bunch of new pics to post, including Wyde, but I haven't taken the time to sort through them, as I have been busy with ring-making, writing and chatting. And all I have with me is a pic of Qz in teen SL. She taught herself to build on her second day and now she's a milliner. Check out her plaid! I haven't been able to find a nice plaid shirt like that in SL; perhaps one of my designer friends would make one for me...

Helpers

2009-07-03T08:18:00.004-04:00

Ganymede Zeplin with his house

I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating. Some of the most thoughtful and helpful people are not Helpers. Last night was grueling on the plaza and I was on the "walkie talkie" several times begging for assistance. I think my fellow helpers were partying, so I resisted the urge to scream "YOU PEOPLE ARE ON YOUR OWN!" and TP away to a quiet place. I was being pushed by three people, trying to calm an angry Bloodlines player and trying to keep a mob of disgusted women from beating on a naked guy. Of course, this doesn't happen in a vacuum; I was trying to explain about getting jobs, how to learn about animating and renting and how to use the search function, as well as conversing with friends. Then, since I changed clothes, my face disappeared again (thanks to the new viewer). By this time, I could only laugh. Could anything more go wrong?

Takashi and rags were entertaining us with their antics, with steve Emodemon putting his little jabs in occasionally. This was nicely diverting and helpful in its own way, defusing my temper. But for me, the hero of the evening was Lost Quar. He interrupted (without even being asked) a conversation with a friend to help me assist the naked man, who only spoke Portuguese. He took him off the plaza and patiently talked to him for at least 20-30 minutes, explaining to him how to put on clothes. Apparently, the man was insisting that "wear" didn't work. Just as Lost was asking me to try to help, the man figured out what to do.

After Lost returned to his friend, he seemed surprised I didn't want to interrupt him again. How could I not want him to enjoy companionship of others?

Let me just wear my heart on my sleeve for a moment...

Lost is one of the most genuine and sweetest men I have met. His happiness remains important to me. I think we have been a mutual support to each other, although maybe he doesn't see how much he has supported me.

In other ways, the night was enjoyable. I talked to Ganymede Zeplin about building and he shared his house with me. I am impressed with his building skills with so little time in SL. I asked him to try my ring and we discovered it's too big, even for man hands. I had Andree try it too and a smaller version. It needs work...

Andree is another who has impressed me with his building skills. I remember the first day I met him shortly after he was born. I think he has found SL to be a place where he can learn and enjoy and where he can love and be loved, an intelligent guy behind that language barrier.

Morning Thoughts

2009-06-29T08:52:00.002-04:00

More antics brought to you by GayUnitedKingdom Littleboots: waiting for the train at Rez

And, it's Monday again. I milk the weekend, try to squeeze out every drop of fun I can, because I know Monday will come again. I will be required to return to my RL job. It isn't too bad, as far as jobs go; I am somewhat autonomous and it is intellectually stimulating. I believe I get decent wage and benefits for my job description of program assistant (which in no way describes what I do). I won't go on a rant about it here, but I think we need to put barbed wire across our offices. Let it suffice to say I wish I had a "ban button" for some of my coworkers.

It was a typical weekend in SL for me. I began the weekend with a search for textures, which I eventually got from Andree - thousands of them! I am learning to make rings, a slow process for an inept person such as myself. If I succeed in making anything interesting I'll photo it and share with you. Purple is looking for a small place for me to rent. Gosh, my friends are so good to me...

On Saturday, I talked to three vampires about wearing garlic on HPI and had good success. I think I may be getting the hang of it. Of course, it helps that I am so innocuous-looking; Se7en couldn't scare a flea. I never have problems with vampires. I think they want to be treated like anyone else, with respect and kindness. About 95% of the time, they just didn't know the rule and are happy to comply. Some I find are eager to stop playing vampire and were apparently just waiting for someone to mention a way out.

It's the non-vampires who give me grief. And, I never will understand guys in SL. I tell them I have a boyfriend (yes...again) and, as if they are totally oblivious, they still ask me to "date," "share all their love" and teleport to the bedroom. OMG wake up fools! I am not your blow-up doll!

I attended a couple of the SL6B events at Quantum. I wrote an article for the HPI blog on one. The other I am writing an article for Second Chick, with the hope my editor will return soon. I went to the Ballet Pixelle on Sunday after Poetry Libre and started writing an article on that also. I used the PC; it is much faster for photo-taking. How beautiful to see the sets and costumes totally rezzed!

And now, as I am already late, I better shower and get going...

Es necesario estudiar el español

2009-06-22T07:31:00.004-04:00

So the Spanish lessons begin...The first story is about a girl who is studying for her Spanish test tomorrow. Her brother turns on the TV and it's her favorite program-El amor y la pasión. What I want to know is why she is allowed to watch such a program and watch it instead of doing her studying. It gives me the impression that parents all over the world are as soft on TV as Americans are.

That's in the book, but I also have CDs with it. I have been listening to the first CD in the car. In the second story, there is a woman who keeps saying, "Eso es tonto, Paco." Now, in my mind, I keep hearing, "Eso es tonto...Eso es tonto." It seems very silly (LOL). I can hardly wait to hear to the next story!

Then, I opened Qz's 500 verb book and almost fainted. It's a bit overwhelming...all those verbs, all those tenses. I think I better not look in there for awhile.

Surprisingly, I feel like Spanish makes sense. I don't know if that's because it does or because I had taken it before. But, no matter. It must be infinitely easier than English.

Rosemary Serenity reads next to Corwyn Allen at Poetry Libre recently

The Joy of ...

2009-06-11T18:48:00.010-04:00

meeting someone new
...learning something new
...and going someplace new

On Monday, as I lounged on HPI, Marker Dinova asked if anyone would like to ride in his balloon. Hoping for a bit of adventure, I said, "Sure." And I was treated to the type of tour for which I am usually the guide, not the tourist.

After hovering over HPI for awhile, he asked me if I wanted to see King Tut Virtual. He wanted to make a quick stop at Error (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Error/122/115/30/), just to show me. There he taught me how to use mouselook to fly more smoothly. I need a bit of practice on that, but I notice it's a great way of getting good pics much faster. Marker allowed me time to look around and take some pics before we moved on to King Tut (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kings%20Rezzable/195/96/258/). He showed me how to TP around the exhibits and we wandered around for awhile until Amakusa wanted to join us. As it was getting late, we went our separate ways. What a treat...going someplace new with a new friend and learning some exciting new camera tricks!

What I've Learned So Far in SL

2009-06-07T22:12:00.004-04:00

...that i can apply to RL as well...

where Portugal and Argentina are
how to seem nonconfrontational when I feel like I want to slap someone
how to stand up for myself and insist on being respected
there are many people like me who are "not typical"
there are many people who are not like me and how I enjoy meeting them!

SL has also caused me to remember how much I enjoy all types of music and dancing. I have been blogging and working on some new as well as long forgotten projects. Now I am editing for a poet friend, a very valuable experience I would not have had if not for SL and HPI.

I am returning to learn Spanish after more than...well, many years. It is a bit easier now I have two private tutors and some sweet motivation.

A Typical Night in SL

2009-06-05T08:05:00.003-04:00

As I stare at the blank text box, Amber walks across my keyboard, perhaps trying to make her own contribution to my blog. I open my pictures and edit a couple from last night to post this morning. I minimize my picture window. The ever-present blue bench (a borrowed pic) sets empty in the center of my desktop. My yahoo messenger pops up; Qz is awake!

I reflect on my conversations from last night...

It was very much a typical night. As soon as I logged on, osno IMed me and I was happy to talk to him. Of course, as soon as we started chatting Yug accidentally sent me an IM totally in French and Rosemary and Akshay IMed me as well just to check in. INKsters offered a writing event at 1800 SLT and Ballet Pixelle offered a performance at 1700 SLT. My mouth watered...but I needn't have considered either of them, because I got involved with helping someone : )

I was able to squeeze in a bit of conversation with Lost. As osno and I talked about his most recent issues, the HPI walkie talkie interrupted with a request for someone who speaks Portuguese. I asked osno and he agreed without hesitation to help. Lufpleh Obstreperous TPed us to the beach, where he and osno attempted to communicate with a Brazilian man.

osno and luf help ori

Apparently, they had some success, because he left, saying he would return with his girlfriend. Luf advised us to "run," so we TPed to a quiet place to chat privately until osno decided to go to bed.

Purple, who had IMed me in the middle of "helping," TPed me to shopping with herself and andree. andree and I left her to check some land he would like to buy. Purple allowed us to wander off and have a long heart-to-heart chat. She apparently left for bed and andree and I went to Savoy Jazz Club to dance for a bit until we went to bed.

Somewhere in the midst of all this, Spanish Speak in SL accosted me with people speaking totally Spanish. I don't remember signing up for that! Eric Millar sent me his latest creation. And, I was only able to snatch a small bit of chat with Cliff.

Amakusa must have been working very late or incommunicado, because didn't hear from him at all for two days. Perhaps he will return to his home today and we will be able to see each other tonight. Or it will be another typical night for me...

The Best Date in SL

2009-06-04T18:39:00.013-04:00

When I first met onso, I thought he was a bit rough around the edges, but that was a mistaken impression. One day while we were at Savoy Jazz Club, I got to know the kind and sensitive person he is. He decided to arrange a lovely date for us.

I had just finished shopping for a dress on Monday, which (as you know) pushes me over the edge. Osno asked me if I would be available that evening and, as I was, he teleported me to Astronomy & Planetarium by Mag. We enjoyed the exhibit of the planets in the basement.

The next place we went was DaVinci. He rezzed a submarine for us to explore under the sea and, surprisingly, in the sky. Although I had been the DaVinci many times, I had never been in the submarine.

Then, he teleported me to an old favorite, the Tunnel of Light, in which you ride in a...TEACUP. He showed me a new way to view it and get interesting pics.

That seemed all too short when we moved on to dinner at Willowdale, a Chinese restaurant. I don't know if osno noticed I had three desserts; he politely didn't mention it. We didn't tip the waitress, because she kept removing our plates before we were finished.

We explored a Victorian "house" at Bretagne and ended the evening with an intimate chat by the fire until I noticed the time and sent him to bed. (I am infamous for thoughtlessly keeping him up all night, exploring and chatting.) It was evident he had given much thought to what I would like in a date and sweetly surprised me with his choices. Could anyone have been more thoughtful on a date? I realized, although we are just close friends, the "best" part of the date was him, his thoughtfulness and generosity with his time.

On the Path to Reconciliation?

2009-06-02T18:07:00.003-04:00

Missmia & Jess

That would be a definite maybe. I have found from experience some people will use any means to control me; they would like to tell me what to write and, sometimes, what not to write. They would like to censor my photos. Then, there is the matter of disrespect. Just so you know...I won't tolerate it. I confront the crazy RL secretary who tells people to use my office; why wouldn't I confront you? If that makes me a b*tch, so be it. It's my office, my writing and my way of caring for people, not yours.

But, did you notice I didn't bomb the bridge? I left your name on my friends list with hope we would remain friends. It seems my long-awaited apology is not forthcoming, but this morning a thought popped into my head:

That's enough.

Let's find some peace...

tabytha1 Baily
Check out all the photos of tabytha on my flickr; she was radiant in this dress!

No hay de que

2009-05-28T07:45:00.003-04:00

Purpleorchid Hendes & andree Scientist

My sleep deficit is creeping up on me again. I still haven't entirely recovered from my meltdown and its after-affects. Last night, Amakusa and I were wrapping up a long discussion and he asked me to dance with him for a bit. Being exhausted, I reluctantly agreed. Had it not been for his request, I wouldn't have been in-world to help andree and purple report a harassment. But, as Amakusa says, everything happens for a reason. I was glad I was there to comfort them.

7 unleashes her mayhem

2009-05-27T21:43:00.006-04:00

Felitia sits with me at Bookstacks

*7 IM's friend*
Se7en: hey just in time *has just put on a neon flashing title "DOESN'T WANT A BOYFRIEND"*
Cliff: Hi
Cliff: Just in time for.... ?
Se7en: to witness the meltdown *runs beserk around the plaza*
Se7en: lol
Cliff: Oh, should I be wearing my space suit?
Se7en: no
Se7en: its funny to watch i'm sure
Se7en: want to see it?
Cliff: sure
Cliff: what am I going to see?
Se7en: am i scaring you?
Se7en: lol
Cliff: No, I'm excited with anticipation...
Se7en: you want to tp me the h*ll out of here? *accepts TP and runs beserk around the park*
Cliff: Hi, over here at the meditation seats *notices 7's title*
Cliff: hahaha, no Boy Friend...
Cliff: where are you?
Se7en: i don't know
Se7en: where are you? *notices the park is welcoming her and shouts "I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 10 MINUTES"*
Cliff: pick a seat, any seat, you will be placed automatically
*7 shouts "YOU PEOPLE ARE TOO QUIET"*
Cliff: you learned how to yodel?
Se7en: no i told you i having a meltdown
Se7en: its too quiet for a meltdown here *stands up on Cliff's seat, then runs again*
Cliff: where do you want to go?
Cliff: or, more accurately, where did you go?
*a kindly person IM's 7*

joshua: you been here 10 min and noone has talked
Se7en: sorry just having a meltdown
joshua: melt downs are allowed its the law :)

Cliff: uhhh, can you TP me? *finds 7 nearby*
Cliff: OK, what's up 7?
Se7en: uh nothing *laughs hysterically*
Se7en: lol
Cliff: come on, talk to daddy

...so it went a few nights ago as I talked with my most trusted confidante. As we talked (and I became calmer), it occurred to me that I am subjecting myself to an SL boyfriend when I wouldn't do it in RL. I don't know how I expected it to turn out. I am too intense to be nonchalant about it. That's just not how it works in SL.

Amakusa Ghost consoles me

Now that I've detached myself, I have a bad case of melancholy. I have enlisted some friends to cheer me and have been back on HPI just keeping busy. I finally understand the SL love thing, but I have decided it's not for me, at least for now.

A Fellow Writer Cajoles Me into Taking off the Statue Skin

2009-05-20T17:09:00.007-04:00

On Friday, as I was brooding in Apollo, I heard a voice.
Yug Zepp: Hello se
Se7en Wirsing: yes yug
Se7en Wirsing: could i help you?
Yug Zepp: Hope i do not disturb you too much....
Yug Zepp: No do not need help
Se7en Wirsing: i will gladly move if you want privacy
Yug Zepp: nop
Yug Zepp: stay there

He noticed my statue skin, which I had been wearing since "the incident."
Yug Zepp: You decided to become a statue ?
Yug Zepp: Explain
Se7en Wirsing: i usually put it on when i've had enough
Se7en Wirsing: last night i decided i had enough
Se7en Wirsing: and put it on
Yug Zepp: enough of what
Se7en Wirsing: lol
Yug Zepp: explain more
So I did.

We fell into a conversation about his fiction project, but managed to get off topic several times until I said:
Se7en Wirsing: you keep diverting
Yug Zepp: Curious woman....
Se7en Wirsing: lol
Yug Zepp: lollll
Se7en Wirsing: you wouldn't believe

After he had entertained me and made me laugh about my "bad english," he asked me:
Yug Zepp: Will you now delete your statue face ??????
Yug Zepp: lollll
Se7en Wirsing: yes
Yug Zepp: I love people that see the beauty of life
Yug Zepp: not the worst thing of human sides
Se7en Wirsing: i'm human
Yug Zepp: What a lovely avatar....
Yug Zepp: We are all human
Se7en Wirsing: you made me human again!
Se7en Wirsing: lol
Yug Zepp: mmmmmm
Yug Zepp: Love to hear that
Yug Zepp: and....
Se7en Wirsing: very kind of you
Yug Zepp: do not be worry when some fool avatars say or think bad things.....
Se7en Wirsing: i will try

Disappointed

2009-05-16T21:50:00.005-04:00

I am exploring again, this time looking for a new hangout. I like Hyde Park. The people are nice and friendly. Torric took me to a new dance place called UCG. I was about to ask if it was an all-Michael Jackson place, but then the DJ played some fresh Cure and I felt right at home. This time Torric didn't ask me about the statue skin; maybe he remembered me from before.

I feel lonely without my HPI friends. I don't know how this is going to work out. I am so disappointed in SL right now, like with the previous incident in which I was wrongly accused. What could be the matter with people? Or is it women? This is the second incident involving a woman. Maybe like RL society, SL has status tiers. All the very tall, beautiful and sexy avatars command the highest respect or at least like to think they're very important. I expect I fall to the bottom of that heap since I'm a shocking 5 ft. 2 in. and look nothing like a model. Is that the problem? I don't look like the other girls. I don't act like the other girls; I'm not all obsessed with the exterior. I am not perfect, but I respect you and I have manners. It looks to me like you can't stand not being the center of attention each and every moment of the day. For that, I feel sorry for you.

I've been very happy here and made so many friends and some really close ones I can't imagine life without. And, it seems I attract people who care less about the exterior and, in my opinion, less important aspects of your avatar. The appearance of your avatar shows me some of your personality and enables me to start a conversation with you. "That's a lovely dress; where did you get it? I hate shopping..." Beyond that, I am only interested in your inner beauty. You don't impress me with all your phony bling that can be bought cheaply here. Instead, I appreciate your politeness, kindness, intelligence and humor. These are priceless but can't be bought anywhere, least of all in SL.

Sleep Deficit

2009-05-12T06:55:00.004-04:00

My sleep deficit is compounding rapidly in the past few days, complicated by a case of insomnia. The cats are loving it; Siobhan persistently drops her sock ball in my lap, Alex tries to type messages to Wild and Amber begs for my lap which is occupied with the laptop. They try to trip me on the stairs and follow me from room to room. The dark circles under my eyes make me look sickly. And, to top it all, this morning Drax asked, "Did you sleep?" **LOL** "Of course," I told him. He noticed I was right where he left me last night when he went to bed.

Good News: Aden has appeared, although briefly. And, thank you SO much for watching for me; many of you IMed me to let me know he was around!

What I have found is his computer is the problem and he can't always log on when he wants, which sucks for me since I like to chat with him to the point of monopolizing him while he's in-world. I would never think of depriving him of your company, though, or depriving you of his.

Bad News: My friend Mikus Velinov is now gone MIA. He IMed me a few days ago from Freebie Dungeon saying he was stuck in a loop there, unable to log on.

This is his punishment for skulking around Freebie Dungeon, picking up chicks! Get your *ss out of the most lagging place on the planet!

I have no idea if or how this was resolved. Sucks too because I wanted to ask him how he gets in-world through his phone...just what I need - another way to feed my addiction.

I think I should take my own advice and crash for awhile this afternoon...I'd like to leave work early...

Green Ivanovic with a tiny friend

I'd best get back to article-writing before my editor fires me.

Aden Woodrunner: Missing in Action

2009-05-07T11:25:00.000-04:00

Aden: You are in big trouble when I get my hands on you! You have disappeared since the day we talked. Now, I'm very worried I said something that upset you and I'm concerned about your well-being in general. Please report in; I left a notecard for you. Or email me at se7en.wirsing@gmail.com.

Unfortunately, I have no pics of Aden [can't imagine that; I take photos everday - how could I miss such a handsome dude?]. However, if you see him, tell him to report in immediately : )

My Confidantes

2009-05-07T07:54:00.011-04:00

This has been an emotionally draining week. You probably guessed there has been something going on with me. After these several months of being your trusted confidante, I have been pouring my heart into your ear and leaning on your shoulder.
I think I am beginning to put some things in perspective, including the SL boyfriend/girlfriend and marriage concepts that have been to puzzling for me. I have been so dense about "virtual love." I realize now it's not necessarily like RL and I have been trying to mold love into something like I have known and understood before. But that's been like putting chicken noodle soup into a cardboard box; the chunky parts are trapped in the box while the liquid part soaks the box and oozes out. When you lift it, the box deforms, drips and leaves a puddle nobody wants to clean up. I'm still stubbornly trying to hold the deforming box in a recognizable shape. I think, with time, I'll be able to let love be what it is and accept it as we have worked it out without the preconceived framework.
This situation reminds me of the movie Meet Joe Black when the old woman says to Joe, "Nice that it happened." It is overwhelming to me, considering I have not been in love since 2000. And, yes, I am the person who had no use for men and virtual love.

You

2009-05-06T10:00:00.001-04:00

I enjoy talking to you early in the morning and, well, just about anytime really. After I have tea with you and maybe breakfast, I exchange my Tinkerbell jammies for business clothes and drag myself to work.

I chat with the residency recruiter...I think of you. I work on a publication or enter a budget for a grant...I wonder how your day is going. In between meetings with doctors, research coordinators and the lawyer, I check my gmail with the hope you have written me.

Back at home, I hug Qz and Drax and Ozzie [the dog - LOL]. I throw some dirty clothes in the washer and empty the dishwasher. Qz shares her drawings with me; I ask Drax if he has done his homework. I go to yet more meetings or take Qz to her evening class. A RL friend calls to share a joy or sorrow. I wedge in some prayers for you.

I visit with you late at night until I start dosing off. As I flop myself into bed, with my kitty kissing my face, I think of you and your challenges with your love life, job or lack of a job or whatever you have told me in confidence. I drift off to sleep with prayers for you still on my lips : )

Virtual Habits

2009-04-30T07:43:00.004-04:00

I have encountered coffee, absinthe, beer, wine, hash, and now cigarettes. I imagine whatever habit you have, you may enjoy it in SL. The gentleman is Southern Georgia and lovely lady is Abasylph Tenenbaum. I asked them to pose together after Abasylph bummed a cig from Southern. They puffed happily and chatted while I attempted to catch a good shot.

Habit is a more neutral term than vice or addiction. I hesitate to use negative terms except in the case it applies to me. I was concerned that Southern would take offense to my interest in his smoking, but I assured him I have my own vices and would never feel justified in condemning someone.

My worst addiction is to SL itself, not to minor habits like smoking.

[If you meet Abasylph, zoom in for a close-up. She has the most beautiful skin I have seen in SL.]

Too Much Stimulation for One Day?

2009-04-26T09:33:00.004-04:00

Seafoam Teardrop (left) teaches HPI greeters with Aullere Ocello (right) and Aeon Perian (not pictured) assisting

I woke up this morning to the sound of rustling outside my OPEN window. [It is heavenly to sleep next to the open window.] TinTin (cat) and I rushed to see what was happening. Amber (queen of our cats) had caught another tiny bunny - darn cat instincts! I bolted out back and when she saw me, she dropped it. I grabbed her and dragged into the house. "BAD CAT!" I told her, even though I knew it was useless to scold her. The bunny seemed stunned but I didn't see any blood, so maybe he will be okay. Hoping the bunny would get away, we kept the cats inside for awhile.

Having resolved that, I sang "happy birthday" in a really annoying opera voice to Qz, which caused her to smile, a sight we don't often see. She has hit the typical teenage moodiness stage, a little later than expected but not as intense as I would have expected, considering she is my daughter. We have made plans to go to the Chinese buffet later.

Yesterday seemed like a very long day in SL and I felt every emotion one could feel. I spent the afternoon in classes at HPI. Happily, I was able to spend a chunk of time with Lost but - God bless his beautiful heart - I said the wrong thing again and we had to work that out. Later, we went to Venice to try the gondola, but as with my friend love the gondola kept disappearing. I am trashing that landmark! He was right; we needed to stick with dancing. We went to the jazz club and he kindly entertained me until 2:30 am his time.

strider and I met later and chatted about the complexities of virtual sex. We examined the instructions for his p**** and found there is no way to hide it under clothing and, reading about it on the xcite website, I found he will have to be ready to put it on at the time it will be used. I guess men have similar issues with their parts as women. It doesn't seem worth figuring out, but I may be one of the few who thinks that. My evening ended pleasantly; we were lounging at one of the meditation areas at Mary Lou.

I laughed and cried and nearly slapped a rude girl who was posing as a help person - overview of my day. I was even able to squeeze in a little chat with Mikus, as he waited for his date to arrive. But Andree and I had the worst timing and were only able to chat for a few moments. Maybe I will find him today. I have important things to discuss with Les. I hope to make it to poetry reading today. Such is my weekend in SL. Sometimes it makes me look forward to the quiet of weekdays, when I can be found sitting on a park bench with Les or lounging on the beach with Cliff.

2009-04-24T08:05:00.004-04:00

Andree plays the piano in Elfhame

The weather is supposed to be sunny and warm here this weekend. I'll believe it when I see it. Unfortunately, I will spend most of my time indoors trying to stay awake at meetings and working on two grants, one due on Monday and one due on Tuesday. My real life becomes more ridiculous by the minute.

I'm starting to think men from other countries, particularly European countries, are more well trained in manners than American men.

I can't wait to receive the backlash from that statement!

In SL, I have met men from Canada, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, India, Pakistan, UK, Norway and China. Of all these men, not one has thrown his calling card in my face and asked for sex. In fact, they have been very adamant about wanting friendship and not sex. It isn't only that; they have been very kind and thoughtful, preferring to put my wishes ahead of their's. My experiences with Lost and Andree have been good examples of this; they are both Portuegese.

Last night when I was with Andree, we went to Dance Island for awhile for dancing. I asked him to show me some places he had been. He TPed me to a London park that is like HPI and, then to a club he had never been to. His computer was crashing; the lag was incredible there. He left to relog and as I started to rez, I found it was an adult only place. I was accosted by an employee with questions as to whether I was a child avatar. I walked out and into the garden to wait for Andree. When he returned, I explained I didn't want to return to the club because I didn't belong there and the lag was very bad. He immediately said he didn't want to return and asked me to choose what we would do next. Is that not sweet? He didn't want me to feel uncomfortable and maybe he felt uncomfortable there, also. We did some exploring at Elfhame and went to VHEA to sign him up for job notices.

Andree hasn't asked me how old I am or what my job is, instead talking about our experiences in SL. He has never suggested I need to be taller or wear different clothes or hair. That, in itself, is refreshing.

Lost likes to consult me about his problems with people in SL; I think he is appalled by some of the behavior he has witnessed. This may be the other side of the coin. Are these American women who are incredibly rude to him? Maybe I'll have time later in the weekend to ask him.

I don't mean to insinuate all American men are rude, only they seem to be overwhelming focused on their desires and not on finding what may be a mutually enjoyable experience. I often feel like I am just an avatar in a big ocean of avatars and not like a person they would like to know. This is a challenge, then; prove me wrong!

Turning Me Round and Round

2009-04-23T08:14:00.003-04:00

Touring DaVinci with Andree

I woke up this morning to Santana's Smooth on my radio.

I jumped right up out of bed and started bellydancing.

Okay...you can laugh...fortunately the only one watching was my kitty, who eyed me curiously. I think I'm going to feel it tomorrow.

Cliff and I had a serious talk about my future last night. Okay...you can laugh...I am well beyond the age of asking "what are you going to do when you grow up?" This conversation is unprecedented in my life; there is a person [an intelligent and successful person] from far away who will actually share and sympathize with me. It feels very strange and wonderful. If it had not been for SL and a "accidental" meeting, this would never happen, not because my RL friends and family don't love me. I learned long ago not to reveal my dreams to the people around me; I would be begging for ridicule. There are too many reasons I wouldn't be able to achieve my dreams, according to those closest to me. Just be safe and do what you're told, they would say; you are the most successful you are ever going to be and, in this economy, you should be happy you have a job. I won't dwell on it.

I have put in almost all my hours this week and I think I'll be able to sneak out early today; there is something important I want to do, something important to me.

Lesson of the Day: You haven't heard it all

2009-04-19T11:26:00.003-04:00

So I've been exploring around and meeting lots of people, as you've noticed. My friends list is bulging. I have heard many interesting and some quite unbelievable stories. On this day, I realized I can't smugly sit on my lounge chair and feel now I have heard it all. Thank you, Cupidon Steerpike : ) for waking me up. I have been feeling very comfortable in my little niche and with my reputation as one of the most curious people in SL.

I have many writers thrown into my path lately or maybe I have thrown myself into their paths. Cupidon is one I saw from across a crowded room. At first I wondered if he was a vampire; that sparked my interest. But no, he wasn't. I checked his profile: SCRIBE - a writer? I began to get excited - must meet him! I did meet him but my problem was

I was too excited at meeting a fellow writer to register anything he said.

Fortunately, he has been very patient with me, as Sebastian was when I couldn't understand why anyone would want to get married in SL. It took a few days to sync our time, as I've been traveling and Cupidon's been...doing was he does. And our conversation was certainly juicy and...enlightening...and maybe has prepared me for more surprising, er, shocking revelations.

Answering the Most Popular Question

2009-04-18T15:40:00.006-04:00

Today, a guy kept telling he wanted to meet some new friends. I explained he could meet friends on Help People Island or I could give him some landmarks where there would be people to meet. I offered him friendship also. I don't know if I misunderstood what he wanted or he misunderstood me. He finally blurted, "f*** all of u." [I asked him to please not talk like that; it's PG rated. Then, I apologized for my lack of understanding.] He wandered to the other side of the plaza.

Hmmm, I thought, not the usual response I get...

"What do I do next?" is a more typical question newbies ask many times a day at HPI and elsewhere. It's not that kind of game, I would like to say, not a pre-scripted game. You make what you want of your experiences here. You choose. Some people grab onto that concept with both hands and teleport out of HPI with a handfull of landmarks into a great big world of possibilities. Others are hanging back, waiting for someone to tell them what THE next step is and are frustrated at not getting a specific answer. Could that be my friend's problem this morning? I'm still wondering. We do our best to explain and offer suggestions, but you won't find us telling you what to do next. That wouldn't be any fun for you!

Cricket Crabe assists a newbie with this question. He is good to work next to; he is always positive and I notice always nurturing my efforts to learn more and improve. And not just me - I've caught him praising the efforts of others in a way that makes them feel appreciated. That you really need, particularly when someone has flipped you off virtually.

Consoling Each Other

2009-04-16T10:54:00.005-04:00

Tuesday was a bad day for me. At the end of the day, I felt all the energy had been sucked out of me. Fortunately, I was able to spend some time with Les in a quiet place. She massaged my frayed nerves, made me chuckle and sent me to bed with happy thoughts.

When I returned on Wednesday, I felt refreshed and ready to meet the onslaught at HPI. My friend Lost arrived in the middle of a very busy time, but waited for me to finish helping someone so I could chat with him. He was in need of consolation this time; some rude ladies had upset him. This time, I was able to console him and make him laugh.

Lost and I have had a bit of a challenge communicating. He is Portuguese and I only speak English. He does very well with English, but occasionally I say something that confuses him (my fault for not being very specific) and we have to take a time out to clarify. Typically, this causes amusement afterward when we each discover what the other was thinking. Now that we know each other better, we have fewer misunderstandings and can just enjoy chatting. I found out Lost likes to dance in RL; maybe I'll be able to persuade him to show me his moves in SL.

Where'd that bunny go?

2009-04-13T10:26:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, after stuffing myself with ham and potato salad, I thought I would doze off for a bit until I realized how late in the day it was. I figured I would never sleep at night if I napped in the early evening. I thought it would be quiet and relaxing to visit SL and keep me awake.

Yep, it kept me awake.

I decided to clean out my inventory, a major undertaking these days. I received a valuable tip from ET about keeping it organized; he uses the "make outfit" function to put his outfits in folders. Imagine...me--female and old enough to be his mom--not even thinking to do that! Organization has never been my strong suite. As I was trying on, trashing and organizing my clothing, I noticed a woman who was getting very frustrated with her clothing and hair. She turned out to be a new friend, as well as a gentleman we met while opening her boxes.

We went to Lost Gardens of Apollo, where we explored until she was accosted by a rude guy and I had to start scolding. Our gentleman friend had to leave us and at that moment, I received a dance party invitation from HPI. We hurried back to the party and danced all night.

L to R: seafoam, Aullere, Notfragile (our host) and Aeon

After all my friends had left, I went back to the plaza to hang out for awhile and wind down. That didn't happen; instead, marc (an SL mentor) entertained us with all his avatars until he brought out a dance ball. daf and I started dancing with him. I IMed a guy who was not responding to my inquiries in local chat; I was kind of creeped-out by him just standing there silently. "Speak English?" I asked him. He did and he explained he had been away from his computer.

He was wondering what to do and we went to the rainforest to explore. We found some nice spots, but I began to get tired. I shared my chocolate bunny with him. He couldn't find it in his inventory and as I tried to explain where to look, he lost his pants (fortunately he hadn't found the 9 [male part]s--lol). "You lost your pants," I told him. "I was looking for my bunny," he said. I said, "It's not under your pants." Now he had lost his pants, though, and being too tired to go through the process of looking for them, I gifted him a shirt and pair of jeans. He had finally got himself together, with clothes on and happily eating the chocolate bunny. That was my cue to bid good night and collapse into bed. Guess I didn't have to worry about not being able to sleep...

2009-04-11T20:09:00.002-04:00

Broses Core and Missmia Portland Tie the Knot

What's your game?

2009-04-06T07:45:00.004-04:00

Cliff and 7 relaxing after a busy weekend
(I believe this is in eastern time, not SL time.)
[2009/04/04 19:02] Dark Jobseeker: hi, are u there?
[2009/04/04 19:02] Se7en Wirsing: yes
[2009/04/04 19:03] Dark Jobseeker: hows u today? :P
[2009/04/04 19:03] Se7en Wirsing: fine
[2009/04/04 19:03] Se7en Wirsing: can we talk later pls?
[2009/04/04 19:03] Dark Jobseeker: sure
[2009/04/04 19:04] Se7en Wirsing: i'm helping someone now
*Was helping with the female body parts*
[2009/04/04 19:04] Se7en Wirsing: ty
[2009/04/04 19:04] Dark Jobseeker: sory if i bothered tho
[2009/04/04 19:04] Se7en Wirsing: no worries
[2009/04/04 21:23] Dark Jobseeker is Online *I befriended him.*
[2009/04/04 21:24] Dark Jobseeker: was going to tell if u know how to get a job lol
[2009/04/04 21:28] Se7en Wirsing: where are u now?
[2009/04/04 21:28] Dark Jobseeker: at a club
[2009/04/04 21:29] Dark Jobseeker: dancing lol
[2009/04/04 21:29] Se7en Wirsing: we can talk about it tomorrow if you want
[2009/04/04 21:29] Dark Jobseeker: yes sure
[2009/04/04 21:29] Dark Jobseeker: if that won't bother you
[2009/04/04 21:29] Se7en Wirsing: have fun
[2009/04/04 21:29] Dark Jobseeker: i'll be happy to
[2009/04/04 21:29] Dark Jobseeker: u too thx
[2009/04/04 21:29] Se7en Wirsing: stop saying that lol
[2009/04/04 21:30] Se7en Wirsing: u aren't bothering me
[2009/04/04 21:30] Dark Jobseeker: ok :P
[2009/04/04 21:30] Se7en Wirsing: : )
[2009/04/04 21:31] Dark Jobseeker: :* thx
[2009/04/04 21:31] Dark Jobseeker: realy need a job :d
[2009/04/04 21:31] Se7en Wirsing: yw
*Next morning*
[2009/04/05 5:32] Dark Jobseeker: hi
[2009/04/05 5:33] Dark Jobseeker: talking about a job here u have sometime or later?
[2009/04/05 5:33] Se7en Wirsing: hello
[2009/04/05 5:34] Dark Jobseeker: I'm looking for a job :)
[2009/04/05 5:34] Se7en Wirsing: how old are you dark
[2009/04/05 5:34] Dark Jobseeker: 26
[2009/04/05 5:34] Se7en Wirsing: no silly in SL
[2009/04/05 5:34] Dark Jobseeker: ohhh
[2009/04/05 5:35] Dark Jobseeker: like 12-13 days.. or so
[2009/04/05 5:35] Dark Jobseeker: let me see
[2009/04/05 5:35] Dark Jobseeker: 19
[2009/04/05 5:36] Se7en Wirsing: kk
[2009/04/05 5:36] Dark Jobseeker: oh sory 16
[2009/04/05 5:36] Dark Jobseeker: :)
[2009/04/05 5:36] Se7en Wirsing: r u busy?
[2009/04/05 5:36] Dark Jobseeker: not at all
[2009/04/05 5:36] Dark Jobseeker: just came in
[2009/04/05 5:37] Se7en Wirsing: kk can i tp u?
[2009/04/05 5:37] Dark Jobseeker: yes pls :)
*we met at the agency*
[2009/04/05 5:42] Dark Jobseeker: I picked u from the search for jobs :P
[2009/04/05 5:43] Se7en Wirsing: what?
[2009/04/05 5:43] Dark Jobseeker: I've found u from the search
[2009/04/05 5:43] Se7en Wirsing: in jobs
[2009/04/05 5:43] Se7en Wirsing: ? *I was starting to get suspicious.*
[2009/04/05 5:43] Dark Jobseeker: yes
[2009/04/05 5:44] Se7en Wirsing: i don't have anything to do with that
[2009/04/05 5:44] Se7en Wirsing: were u on Help People Island?
[2009/04/05 5:45] Dark Jobseeker: oh well u was there with some other persons.
[2009/04/05 5:45] Dark Jobseeker: but most of them was offline
[2009/04/05 5:45] Dark Jobseeker: what u mean with help island?
[2009/04/05 5:45] Se7en Wirsing: wait i have to see this
[2009/04/05 5:45] Dark Jobseeker: okay
[2009/04/05 5:46] Se7en Wirsing: what search terms did you use?
[2009/04/05 5:46] Dark Jobseeker: employment or something
[2009/04/05 5:47] Se7en Wirsing: kk
[2009/04/05 5:47] Dark Jobseeker: :)
*I confronted him.*
[2009/04/05 5:49] Se7en Wirsing: what's your game dark?
[2009/04/05 5:49] Dark Jobseeker: Vampire
[2009/04/05 5:49] Dark Jobseeker: but will quit this
[2009/04/05 5:49] Se7en Wirsing: you don't scare me
[2009/04/05 5:50] Dark Jobseeker: no I just told u
[2009/04/05 5:50] Se7en Wirsing: i don't believe u
[2009/04/05 5:50] Dark Jobseeker: ?
[2009/04/05 5:50] Dark Jobseeker: will quit it :)
[2009/04/05 5:51] Se7en Wirsing: where did you get my name?
[2009/04/05 5:51] Dark Jobseeker: just wrote Employment or something on search
[2009/04/05 5:51] Dark Jobseeker: and I've found you there with some others
[2009/04/05 5:51] Se7en Wirsing: u are lying
[2009/04/05 5:52] Dark Jobseeker: no im not lying
[2009/04/05 5:52] Dark Jobseeker: wait I will try to find again
[2009/04/05 5:53] Se7en Wirsing: you saw me in the vampire area?
[2009/04/05 5:53] Dark Jobseeker: no
[2009/04/05 5:53] Dark Jobseeker: never saw you
[2009/04/05 5:53] Dark Jobseeker: im not lying
[2009/04/05 5:54] Se7en Wirsing: you know [vampire friend]
[2009/04/05 5:54] Dark Jobseeker: no
[2009/04/05 5:54] Dark Jobseeker: u know when u go to search for employment it gives u some names
[2009/04/05 5:54] Dark Jobseeker: I tough those are members
[2009/04/05 5:54] Dark Jobseeker: but anyway, I have nothing to lie about
*I realize he doesn't know what he's doing.*
[2009/04/05 5:55] Se7en Wirsing: those are people seeking jobs
[2009/04/05 5:55] Se7en Wirsing: not working there
[2009/04/05 5:55] Dark Jobseeker: u can belive me if u want to, but im not lyng
[2009/04/05 5:55] Dark Jobseeker: ok
[2009/04/05 5:55] Dark Jobseeker: didn't knew that
[2009/04/05 5:55] Se7en Wirsing: i believe u sorry, honest mistake
*After looking at some jobs*
[2009/04/05 6:17] Dark Jobseeker: why did u told me that i lie? :P
[2009/04/05 6:17] Dark Jobseeker: why should I lie in here lol
[2009/04/05 6:17] Se7en Wirsing: lots of people lie to me here
[2009/04/05 6:18] Se7en Wirsing: i know that when u search for jobs u will not get my name
[2009/04/05 6:18] Dark Jobseeker: but I did
[2009/04/05 6:18] Se7en Wirsing: the reason u found me i was looking for a job at that agency
[2009/04/05 6:18] Dark Jobseeker: that's the place where I picked u
[2009/04/05 6:18] Se7en Wirsing: i was a member, not employee
[2009/04/05 6:19] Se7en Wirsing: don't IM the members
[2009/04/05 6:19] Se7en Wirsing: they will get mad at you
[2009/04/05 6:19] Dark Jobseeker: ok
[2009/04/05 6:19] Dark Jobseeker: didn't knew that they are not members
[2009/04/05 6:20] Se7en Wirsing: they're not employees
[2009/04/05 6:20] Se7en Wirsing: you are lucky you got me instead of them

Agita and Cats Attacking from All Angles

2009-04-05T07:48:00.003-04:00

Se7en at Elorian Gardens 18, 137, 26 this morning in my new shirt from ET Sparta

I am finding too much excitement on weekends in SL. Don't laugh so loud! I am actually a homebody, especially after a typical week in which I spend Monday through Thursday evenings out at meetings and chaffeuring Qz to class, in addition to working part-time. And [I never thought I would say this] I keep forgetting to eat. So last night after helping newbies and TPing a couple of friends to various dance clubs, I got very hungry and ate sour cream & onion potato chips at about 11:30 pm. I awoke at 5:00 am with indigestion, although only enough to cause me to start thinking about future writing projects.

The cats are happy to see me up and around. Siobhan brings me her balled-up socks and paper wads to play fetch, grabbing onto my leg with her massive paws. Amber climbs onto my lap. Alex hops up onto the table and starts cooing and rubbing his head on Amber. Since they're awake, they decide to get into stuff, wrestling around in a paper bag left from yesterday and climbing all over the kitchen counters looking for trouble. Now they have scurried off to find trouble in the dining room.

I have been volunteering as a greeter at HPI, which provides much interesting material for writing, as you may imagine. For two days, it seems to be all about sex. On Friday, a guy asked one of the HPI ladies in a public chat where to buy male body parts. "That's a common question," she said matter-of-factly. I was *covering ears* and thinking, you have to buy them?! But then I thought,

hmm...I never checked myself under the glued-on panties.

The guy's question led to some interesting conversation all around and ended with a bunch of us receiving a landmark for a store to buy male and female parts. [Don't even think about me going there! I just knew some guy was going to ask me and I wanted to be prepared.]

As if that wasn't enough to make me blush to beet red (although Se7en was cool and calm), a girl IMed me yesterday saying she had a problem with her female parts. She was quite embarrassed to have to approach a stranger about it, but I told her no worries (lol). She started to describe how she tried to assembled it and we took out the instructions. We went to the sandbox (actually not the place to be for this assembling) and took out part of it. As we were trying to figure out what went wrong, a guy came over and touched it. I told him "hands off!" and if he wasn't trying to TP, "get out!" He went to the other corner to play. Soon I realized I was not going to be able to help her and searched the web and found support for her items (lol). Fortunately, she had a good sense of humor when I asked her questions like

"you broke it?"

and "you have to buy the [part] separately?" I finally told her I had learned I don't want a virtual v*****, to which we both laughed heartily.

[After she TPed away, I talked to the curious guy and told him to ask first before touching other people's things. I told him I wasn't trying to be rude, but he was upsetting her because it was a private matter. I really don't think he knew what we were doing and was just curious. He accepted his scolding well and apologized, so we were all good after that.]

I needed a break after that episode and a friend TPed me away to dancing, which was overstimulating so shortly I told him and our other friend good night. Whew...

A sad day in SL...and RL

2009-04-04T10:30:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was a personal low for me in SL. If you have read my blog before, you know typically I don't "name names." If I love you, I love you even if you have wrongly accused me. As well, I don't feel it's proper to bash you publicly. I feel hyper-sensitive about protecting your reputation and not hurting you.

I have been abused by many people since I have come to SL, but you have seen how little I have written about it. I could easily bash people every day for their treatment of me and print their names. I have chosen not to dwell on the negative experiences. Instead, I like to share my joyful and playful times. For me, SL is supposed to be a fun and interesting diversion. It has been a place to be myself without worrying what people would think about me. I had no idea I could get into so much trouble by just being myself...and trying to help other people be happy.

My personal sadness is overshadowed by an event that has attracted national attention. You may have heard about the rampage in Binghamton, NY, yesterday. That is about ten miles from my home. Our city is in mourning today...

Weekend Frolicking

2009-03-30T07:26:00.003-04:00

I have had the most incredible weekend! First, I slept which is quite the accomplishment these days. Then, I was fortunate enough to talk with some very interesting people.

Wild invited me to Pink Floyd to meet MOMO and Magus with a surprise visitor. I was able to get some good pics of them. Di was there with us, but (stupid me) I became absorbed in the photo op and lost track of her.

Gay showed up at HPI in a wheelchair, saying he had fallen off his horse, which he produced and hopped up on (fast recovery, eh?). He had fun trying to convince me to bear his child. Aden encouraged him until I was ready to fall off the chair laughing. Notfragile started an impromtu dance party. I had a good time dancing until I got stuck. I tried all my "stop animation" tricks; I would stop for a minute and then resume dancing (much to Drax's amusement). Finally, Leigh mentioned she had to re-log to stop, so I tried that and finally stopped.

I searched for Sebastian, who officiated the wedding I attended. I was able to find him and interview him. Afterwards, we ran into Jess and chatted. Missmia introduced me to her new beau.

After all the excitement, I craved some peace and thought I would find it at Joaquin. I asked Wild if he was going and he replied that Jesika and he would meet me there. Magus TPed there also, but MOMO was not feeling well. Magus entertained me all evening with dancing and stories of his SL adventures. It was relaxing but also stimulated my imagination-a perfect way to end the weekend.

Open Mouth...Insert Foot

2009-03-29T17:08:00.004-04:00

I believe I may have totally misjudged rohit. And I will take full blame for it instead of making excuses. Unless I am misreading him again, I have found him to be a gentle, harmless person although probably not a native English speaker. A few days ago, I IMed him because his shoes were messed up; he had not put the "shoe base" on. I remember what trouble I had in the beginning when I tried to get my shoes to look right. I didn't know you had to put the base on. So I didn't want him to go around like that, looking...uh, goofy.

After I told him about his shoes and he had fixed them, we were talking and finally I asked him, "you don't remember me?" He had no clue, said he was playing a trick on his friend. I scolded him for doing it in the women's dressing room, explaining that there are some very modest ladies around like Noorah. He said he wouldn't go there again. He actually took the scolding very well and he IMs me regularly.

What impressed me about him is he talks to one person at a time and doesn't notice anyone else. Maybe he doesn't understand the concept of local chat or maybe he is only able to focus on one thing at a time. I have talked to him several times and watched him in action. He doesn't purposely try to cause trouble, but he lacks understanding of what is acceptable behavior and what is inappropriate. Hmm...maybe he's a teenage boy who snuck in.

On another front, there is vinny. I met him around the time I was born and he has always been totally honest. I really appreciate that about him, even though he is blunt most of the time. It is refreshing after having men who seem very nice suddenly change into sex-crazed jerks. There is a gentleness to him that makes up for his bluntness. And now I know he doesn't intend to hurt me, we can joke about our differences.

In this amusement park, there were "walk as a couple" poseballs. I convinced him to try it; men always walk too fast and lose me. Or I walk too slow. "You want me," he tells me. "lol," I say. Whether I do or not, he knows it's not happening. We have a good time until he wanders off to find a girl who will.

Dancing on Pink Floyd Lake

2009-03-26T07:35:00.002-04:00

I figure that men aren't easily shocked, but after chatting with Wildfire I realize SL attracts some bold (read: crass) women as well as men. I knew from the moment I met him he is a gentleman. I love that quality in a guy; I must be getting old. He mentioned some SL women shocked him. I found this to be funny, but I guess if you hangout in SL or RL with rude people you become used to it and act that way as well.

Not that I think women have a corner on the virtue market...

I appreciate people who, like me, come to SL to relax and enjoy, not to release their mayhem on others. Some days I feel like I have had enough of the drama (like being chased by a knife-wielding guy screaming "I'll kill you") and I look for Wild and Di or MissMia.

On this day, Wild asked me if I like Pink Floyd and when I said yes, he teleported me to this place where they play only Pink Floyd music. I couldn't have imagined such a place, where my RL brother would feel right at home. Wild reminds me of him a bit, except my brother would NEVER do ballroom dancing even in a virtual world with Pink Floyd playing.

Congratulations Whistler and Aimee

2009-03-23T07:41:00.002-04:00

The last week has been chock full of surprises. I hardly know where to begin. I started my new job as a contributor to secondchick.com. That would have been enough excitement for me, but there was much more.

A dear SL friend told me she was engaged, but within a few days she had broken it off. It was as sorrowful as any RL break-up; I felt her pain. Meanwhile, another SL friend was having RL marital problems and his wife left him. I'm not quite sure what to think about this situation. I can only say I may never understand the lifestyles or motives of some people.

There was some happy news; I was invited to attend an SL wedding. What a treat! I had not met the couple previously, but they were very gracious toward me upon our introduction through a mutual friend. The venue was the "home" of a friend, Jess, who had redesigned a portion of her space just for the wedding. She had done a fabulous job; it was a perfect setting with a canopy-covered area for the ceremony, banquet room, dance floor and beautiful picture pose spot next to the ocean. The reception lasted for about two hours, during which I did a little dancing with the preacher (lol) and took over 50 pics. They had a very good DJ named Davey Swindlehurst who played a mix of romantic and contemporary music infinitely suitable for a wedding.

Now, to sort through and assemble the pics...

Here's another one...

2009-03-19T23:53:00.001-04:00

I hope you get to meet GayUnitedKingdom LittleBoots, if only for the pure joy of seeing him in action. I met him on HPI, while he was making one of those notorious mistakes; he offered me friendship without ever talking to me. I refused it, but immediately I found him and talked to him. In IM, I told him it was customary to talk to someone before offering friendship. I asked him what he liked to be called (I refuse to type that whole name while we're talking) and he told me, "Gay." I offered him friendship, thinking this is going to be interesting. I had no idea...

The next time I saw him, he had teleported me to a dance floor. There was a bunch of people dancing. I joined in. Gay was wearing a wild rainbow-colored shiny outfit with stars attached to his feet; he radiated. He started shouting (as much as you can shout in print) about "JOJO HAS JOINED. THE POT IS UP TO $32. PLAY THE SPLODER. THE NEXT WINNER WILL BE IN 3 MIN." I asked him if this was his job and he said no, he does it for fun. I had no lindens and when I won some (not sure how), I gave them back to him. I hung out for awhile, but I became overstimulated with all the noise and action. By the time I left, Gay had put on an outfit that made him look like fireworks.

Today, he found me in Mary Lou, just finishing my pics for secondchick.com. When I finished, I asked him to teleport me. He was wearing this outfit that looked like it came from the Carnivorous Clown collection. He was playing the sploder game again and I couldn't dance. I clicked on the danceball and it only offered "sit." I didn't want to embarrass myself by sitting on the danceball up by the ceiling. Somehow, I managed to win again, but I don't need any lindens. I will get paid next week. I gave it back to him. Since I couldn't dance I left. I'm sure in a day or two he will IM me again for more excitement. Maybe sometime, he'll be in the mood to chat with me and I can get to know him.

A Dance on the Seemy Side

2009-03-19T22:41:00.003-04:00

On Saturday while I was doing some research in the orientation area, I ended up answering some questions for newbies. Several asked for my friendship.

As I was weeding out some old landmarks and notecards on Sunday, I received a request to teleport to a girl, truth, I had met the day before. I teleported despite her lack of conversation prior to invitation. I found her dancing in someone's yard wearing only a shirt and angel wings. Two men were there dancing with her.

"Where's your pants?" I asked her. She ran away, saying, "I'm not wearing any? I can't tell. I have a mac. It's giving me problems." While she put some pants on, one of the men started talking to me. "Do you own this property?" he asked. I assured him I wasn't the owner. He disappeared shortly after that so I assume he looked at my profile.

truth restarted her computer to see if it would work better. While she was gone I danced with the other man. I checked his profile and he had been in SL for awhile. When truth returned, I IMed her saying I didn't think the two men liked me and asked her if she wanted me to stay. "What's going on here?" she asked.

"He read my profile," I said.

He made some crass remarks I believe to scare me away. He was basically telling me they were into rough stuff and BDSM.

"I'm a big girl. If I don't like it I will leave," I said. "My only question is why didn't you tell her she had no pants on? You have been here alot longer than she has. I think you're taking advantage of her."

"It's okay," truth said. "I like to be sexy." Then, the man suggested a BDSM party and teleported away. truth went with him.

Just some of the interesting people I met this week...

Newly Discovered Brother: Skyfire

2009-03-15T14:24:00.001-04:00

As I chatted with a friend on Saturday, I was surprised by the appearance of Skyfire Wirsing. He was asking us where the pool or spa was and I gave him the card on how to find it in Mary Lou. My companion complemented him on his Betty Boop jeans and I decided to get a better look at him. It was then I noticed his name. I have never met anyone yet with the same last name as me; I was delighted.

I think he was distracted with IM or RL, because he didn't respond when I talked to him. I photographed him and IMed him to let him know. Later, he got back to me and I believe he was interested to see his name and photo in Savoy Cabbage Journeys. Our relationship will probably end up like mine with my RL brother, busy in our own little worlds and perhaps we'll see each other once a year. He is much younger than me, I would guess. We probably won't find much in common; he is hip and I am plaid.

Party All Night

2009-03-13T08:12:00.003-04:00

Typically (in RL), you will find me on my couch in the evening after work and dragging Qz to classes and my multitude of meetings and squeezing in grocery shopping and working on special projects for folks. I am truly a home-body. I don't care for partying; I dislike crowds and noise and I drink alcohol only rarely. And in SL, you will usually find me in a quiet garden chatting with Les about the meaning of life or exploring the wilderness with whoever happens to wander by.

Last night promised to be such a quiet night. I went to HPI, hoping to run into Mac or Stacy. Stacy was there and proposed a beach party...on the plaza. After some discussion of whether bikinis were allowed, Stacy and Kitty put their bikinis on and I put my shorts on. A couple of the guys put their trunks on. Stacy passed out clown noses to everyone and we put them on. Then, patyinka (sorry, I don't think I spelled that right) passed out Groucho glasses, which I thought looked much better on me than the red nose. Aden had to put on his scary muzzle wolf head! The plaza was very busy with people coming and going. I decided to wander a bit and do a bit of research.

As soon as I teleported away, Di IMed me. She TPed me to shopping, but we ended up just talking until Wildfire showed up. I posted this pic of us to show how small I am, although it doesn't show adequately. No wonder people keep asking me why I'm so short and don't I want to be taller? In fact, Di asked me if I meant to be so short. I told her I liked it.

They invited me to go listen to guitar music and I agreed. A man was playing beautiful guitar music on the beach, very relaxing. We conference-chatted, something I didn't know you could do. Wild passed out absynthe (and something else I can't wait to try on jp and mick) and our avis started acting silly. He ended up falling into the ocean, but managed to get back out. We started dancing so I put my drink away; I didn't know you could dance and drink at the same time. After that, we got really silly with Di falling down "drunk" and Wild telling me not to stop dancing or he would fall too. But, it was way past bedtime and I said good night. We agreed to get together soon. They are too much fun; I laughed so hard I was afraid I would wake up the whole household!

You make me smile

2009-03-12T07:33:00.004-04:00

Where in the world would I be able to talk to two Italians and a Japanese lady in the morning before work and, when I come back home in the evening, talk to Canadian friends and possibly even Mick? Today, I could meet someone new; I am surprised every day. I feel incredibly blessed right now!

[Qz sketched me as I worked early in the morning.]

You are very interesting folks and I enjoy hearing about your lives. I am fascinated. Take me to your hometown (in SL) or your favorite garden and I'll share mine with you. Take me to the jungle and introduce me to your friend Di. Next time we'll all go together to a new place.

As we get to know each other, I will be glad to share your sorrows as well (Les) because the first day we met you encouraged me more than anyone ever has.

Head to Head

2009-03-11T07:34:00.002-04:00

How could it be that someone would put a cabbage on this remote island? And how did I get here? Well, question #2 I can answer...sort of...I was in Elfhame and the scene had not completely rezzed but I saw a wedge-shaped object. I right clicked on it to see what options I would get. One of the options was "go here." Go here? Go where? Without allowing myself a second to think, I clicked on it. Se7en immediately started walking determinedly down to the ocean and into the ocean and walked and walked and I thought this could take all day. What would happen if I click "fly"? That was the best thing I had done so far; she flew swiftly to a small island named Asayake.

There was no one around and not much of interest to look at except a cabbage. I guess I am probably the only one in SL who could be interested in a lonely cabbage, but I would love to hear the story of this cabbage.

Found: Wayward Shoe, Lost Landmark and New Friends

2009-03-10T18:57:00.005-04:00

I did wear my skirt today after I found my shoe (right there in plain sight), but half way through the day I wished I had my long johns and wool socks since the temperature dropped and it started raining.

This morning I decided to clean the multitude of photos out of my inbox and clog up my hard drive with them. As I looked at them, it dawned on me; each "postcard" has the name of the location. All I needed to do was find the right photos. It was Elfhame (!), the place I took photos of Se7en suspended over the plant. I "searched it" and soon I was back in the plant, happily snapping photos. Someone said, "What is that?" and then someone was speaking Italian. I put on the universal translator and it took me a few minutes to figure out how it worked. I climbed out of the plant and with the translator on asked them if they wanted to get into it. "How?" xart asked. I explained that you had to right click on it and choose "sit on." The pair climbed up into the plant and tried to activate it. "My friend doesn't understand your words." Puzzled, I asked him what language she spoke. "Italian," he confirmed. I told him the translator wasn't very good. Since he was on the plant, I told him to look for the poseball in the center. A few moments later, he had figured it out and was floating over the plant. Then, he helped samara to do it. She allowed me to photograph her before they left.

Soon, Ririka teleported into the plant. She asked me what I was doing and told me she was taking pictures also. Once again, the translator was barely helpful (her language is Japanese), but she did speak some English. We talked for awhile and she gave me her Flickr page address. I offered her friendship and she accepted. I hope to see her page after she uploads some photos.

I noticed you smiled...or is that multiple sensitivities?

2009-03-09T08:14:00.002-04:00

I have been taking too many photos of Se7en. I feel like a mother with a new baby. I open the album and say, "here she is sitting on a globe in DaVinci; she was bellydancing today; here she is in her new outfit..." My RL friends and family are probably thinking "shut up about it already!"

This is Se7en sending a photo by email. She always gets that smirk on her face and raises her hands to her head. I'm sure she is supposed to look like she is taking a photo, but it reminds me of Drax when he was younger. He used to do this when he became overwhelmed; he has Asperger's syndrome and has been affected by multiple sensitivities, loud or unexpected noises being one of them. Qz does this to this day, still being affected by loud dog barking or Mom's music being too loud.

I am hyper-aware of behavior "glitches" like Se7en's hand-raising gestures due to my experience with my children. It's difficult to switch that off, but I realize it's my peculiar perception. Se7en's social skills seem to be pretty good, so I think I can rule out autism in her case. Maybe she is just getting ready to sneeze.

Turning Girly

2009-03-08T22:13:00.003-04:00

Guess what I got!

"sexy walk"

Velma says now I don't walk like a duck. To me, Se7en's sexy walk is hilarious as it in no way resembles how I walk in RL. Although she may not seem very girly, she is much more girly than I am. She wears skirts alot. Her face is perfectly made up and hair nice.

I thought I would to wear a skirt on Friday after not wearing one for at least a year. I managed to find a skirt, a matching top and a pair of stockings that fit (I recently have lost about 30 pounds) and weren't moth-eaten. I defuzzed, showered and dressed. Then, after rummaging through my entire closet and bedroom, I could only find one shoe. I put my bootlets on, but I didn't like the way they looked.

You know I have very little patience with girly stuff to begin with and by this time smoke was blasting out of my ears. I took my clothes back off and chucked them back into the closet, which brought my anger level down somewhat. I dragged out some hounds-tooth-checked pants and a blouse to put on. By the time I buttoned the pants (I had not been able to about two weeks ago), I was almost completely mollified by the fact that I could actually button the pants.

And so my day began with me looking not more girly but a bit more professional.

Really?

2009-03-07T08:44:00.003-05:00

Do I even have to tell you that people in SL may not be who they say they are or even who they look like? I am about the most gullible person in SL, but I hope I am developing some healthy skepticism. I usually figure if something doesn't quite ring true, it is because the person is a little different as some of the people are in SL (or for that matter in RL). Well, some of them turn out to be very "different"-PD 911 and Alberta-I'm on to you! And don't think because I'm not mentioning your name specifically that I don't know you're scamming me.

I'm not even going to start about PD, not his real name by the way. But Alberta, how stupid do you think I am? I know who you are and I really don't care if you hang around while I'm dressing. Had you kept your mouth shut (Rohit), you could have stayed there all day and I would have been oblivious.

And you can't see anything on my avi because my underwear are crazy-glued to my body.

So you are wasting your time.

Now that I've got that off my chest (LOL)... I do actually enjoy your crazy stories, as well as your real problems and joys (hmm, I guess those I perceive to be real). I have found people will tell me ANYTHING in SL, as in RL. Even though your story may not be quite true (you really have a wild imagination), I can enjoy the interaction. However, don't think I like your hyperactive or drunken drama; it gives me a headache.

Aeon: Your Everyday Hero

2009-03-05T23:20:00.003-05:00

I'm not going to put him on a pedestal; I will just say that I admire him because he always puts a smile on his voice even though things aren't going so well for him.

Staying Out of Trouble

2009-03-05T08:22:00.005-05:00

This is where I met Les. We found that we had some things in common and ended up having a lovely conversation while trying to find bellydance and then some peace in DaVinci.

Communication in SL is a challenge for me. I am not familiar with some texting abbreviations so I feel almost like I'm learning a new language. "Speaking" my actions (like ***se7en hugs mick***) is strange for me. I have already mentioned the issues with the translator. The most difficult problem for me is not being able to see the actual expression on your face or hear the tone of your voice. I am missing half of the message. I feel what it must be like for autistic people, as they have difficulty interpreting your facial expression and sometimes speak in a monotone and/or have a halting speech pattern.

I think these challenges frustrate jp; he thinks I am scolding him or I think he thinks I am scolding him. Add to that the gender differences in thought process and you really have a mess. With women, the issue is competition; many women won't start a conversation with me. When I take the initiative, often they will chat and when they realize I am not interested in stealing their man, they relax, sometimes even befriending me.

We could hear each other's voices if we each have microphones. That is sometimes the case and I enjoy connecting your voice with your avatar. I know other people like to hear voice as well; jp wants to hear my voice. My voice seems grating to me, but I have spoken on occasion. I spoke with "love" one day and now when we are talking (text) I can imagine the way he sounds. He is Italian; he speaks Italian and has great expression in his voice.

There are some people I am reluctant to ask "do you have a mic?" not because I don't want to hear your voice; I very much want to hear you. But what if I hear you speak and fall in love with that voice, not Se7en but me-I fall in love with your voice? ***se7en feels apprehensive***

(Do I Want) Virtual Love?

2009-03-03T08:39:00.004-05:00

I have been puzzling over this from day 1 in SL. I have met so many guys and many of them are quite nice. I have even had an offer to be someone's girlfriend, not that I have been looking for that. In fact, I told him no and we're still friends.

Those of you who know me well know that I typically have no use for men in RL. I really think people who get married in this century are unrealistically optimistic. I have found that boyfriends like to control me, "manage me at the cellular level" as Martha says. They like to tell me what to wear and how long my hair should be. And I should be waiting by the phone or preferably at his house to perform all the necessary duties like cooking, cleaning and sexual acts on demand if I hope to keep him as a boyfriend. Because there are lots of girls out there just begging for him.

Well, that may be true, but I am so over it. I don't need a boyfriend in any way, especially not one with an attitude. I enjoy being alone; I enjoy not having the pressure to conform to some guy's idea of what a girl should be like (which is unattainable without major plastic surgery). That is why I don't date in RL.

So what does it mean to be a girlfriend in SL? I guess what it means in RL, except for the cooking and cleaning. What does that leave? If I am unwilling to have a sexual relationship outside of marriage in RL, why would I do it in SL?

But is sex love? For me, no. The answer is a question. Is there virtual love? For me, no. There is real love and some may find it through SL. Will I be one of those people? I have really bad luck so I wouldn't bet on it. : )

Some of You Guys are Geniouses

2009-03-03T07:32:00.002-05:00

Check out Borneo; he spent the afternoon going from one girl's lap to another. How sweet is that?