tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21971622517577015762024-03-13T13:02:19.412-07:00Emerald's EyesFashion, freaks, fun and faux pas in Second Life®Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.comBlogger338125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-23189059998920182332022-09-26T18:19:00.000-07:002022-09-26T18:19:46.179-07:00Pics and babbling and creepy dolls and BOO!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/creepy_doll.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="703" height="518" src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/creepy_doll.jpg" width="455" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Today I heard a lot of people in a group asking where to get the creepy doll on the right. (She's on display at Uber.) You can get her from the Haunted Family gacha at D-LAB <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/D%20LAB/82/221/3001" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>.<p></p><p>So hey, what've you guys been up to? I've been getting my parcel ready for Halloween. I'm glad I have a landlord who lets me keep my 'EXTRA' flag flying during holidays because you kids know I like to use up ALL my land allowance for ALL the things.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/halloween_2021_019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="800" height="323" src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/halloween_2021_019.jpg" width="620" /></a></div><br /><p>WOO! And that's not even all of it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/halloween_2021_022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="800" height="315" src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/halloween_2021_022.jpg" width="606" /></a></div><br /><p>Remember the old days, when this blog was just pictures of me standing around gaping at things in SL? I miss those days.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/dolls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="800" height="511" src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/dolls.jpg" width="609" /></a></div><br /><p>They're watching me.</p><p>I checked the Destination Guide and went over and checked out <a href="https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Silent%20River/216/11/21/" target="_blank"><b>Fear - Lana</b></a>. It's a pretty surreal place with a lot of great places to take photos. I didn't capture the full experience here because my Windlight settings are always on Nam's Optimal Skin 2. Props to all the skilled photographers out there who can make magic in any setting. </p><p>I'm wearing the bloody Bridget Dress by <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Beauty%20Factory/116/119/21" target="_blank"><b>Beauty Factory Store</b></a>. If you hurry, you can probably still grab it for 75L. They have non-bloody versions too. The garters are from <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dolls/152/124/27" target="_blank"><b>Michan</b></a>. The bloody Chiara hair is from <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/MINA%20Hair/63/178/25" target="_blank"><b>Mina</b></a>. It's almost Halloween - <b>GET YO BLOOD ON!</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/ghouls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="800" height="366" src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/ghouls.jpg" width="614" /></a></div><br /><p>These dudes were hanging out by a creepy gazebo. Anyhoo, it was a nice little stroll through an artsy sim. I recommend a trip there if you're bored. (Yeti Boots by <a href="https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/MOGUL%20Flagship/113/134/40" target="_blank"><b>Mogul</b></a>, 75L - still available at Saturday Sale prices today. LOVE TO THE CREATORS!)</p><p>OK, I'm running out of things to say and feeling kind of blah. I'll close with a pic of this red Loro puffy vest and headscarf from <a href="https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Azur/233/197/185"><b>Bjorn</b></a>. Pretty much everything I wear is from the weekend sales. I'm a cheap-o like that. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/red2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="800" height="485" src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/red2.jpg" width="583" /></a></div><br /><p>I'll be back later when I'm feeling more peppy. Big hugs to you. ❤</p>Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-39508345149522976422022-06-09T12:03:00.003-07:002022-06-09T12:06:22.235-07:00Big damn ballgowns and such<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/hairhairhair.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="773" height="529" src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/hairhairhair.jpg" width="511" /></a></div><br />Does anybody remember this <b>The Baby Construct</b> hair from retro creator <b>Crimson + Clover?</b> At the time in 2010 it was all the rage because it had an alien FETUS in it. I still love it, although I can't get it to work perfectly on my (I finally got a) mesh head. <p></p><p>And oh, <b>HELLO! </b>It's been a while, huh? If you caught my now-deleted last post a couple years back -- mainly a YouTube video -- I apologize for being so obnoxious in it. I wasn't myself back then. That's my excuse. </p><p>Meanwhile, I realize Blogger is so yesterday but I got the urge to dust mine off and blab a little, so here we go. </p><p>Let's throw in a photo of this are-you-kidding-me FABULOUS <b>Lora</b> ball gown from <b>Belle Epoque</b>. LOOK AT IT! I've been wearing it everywhere, probably much to the annoyance of everyone around me in stores. <b>DAT TRAIN THO!</b> I love the ruffled details and the whole "here I am" vibe of it. I was originally going for a steampunk Cinderella look, but anyone who knows me knows that I can't hold back from adding ALL THE THINGS to my AV when I'm getting dressed, so the final look turned out to be a hodgepodge of, well, all the things. Oops.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/ballgown1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="800" height="387" src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/ballgown1.jpg" width="611" /></a></div><p>Yes, those are wings because of course they are.</p><p></p><p>I'm trying to rediscover the joy of writing, if only in meaningless blog posts, and I'm failing a little. If you're reading this post, thanks for bearing with me. </p><p>Here are some random thoughts:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>After being gone from SL for a while, returning was a big learning curve for me as I navigated the ins and outs of mesh bodies and mesh heads. It's interesting that we created all these mesh things just so we could slap the equivalent of system layers back on everything, but whatever, SL. You do you. :)</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>So much has changed, but one thing has stayed consistent: People still irritatingly stop and loiter at landing points in stores. I still TP in and land on people and flail around awkwardly until one of us manages to move. <b>STEP AWAY FROM THE LANDING POINT WHEN YOU TP IN, KIDS!</b> </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>And on that note, naked dudes keep TPing into my parcel and acting crude. Some things never change. Freaks me out every time.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>If you've followed this blog for a while, I'm still hanging with my beloved Bunny. </li></ul><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/halloween_2021_007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="800" height="396" src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/halloween_2021_007.jpg" width="613" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Speaking of blogs (kind of), I'd like to thank Blueberry for keeping me on their bloggers list after all this time. I'm working on a Blueberry post, Blueberry - I swear. I'm scared that they'll see my non-stellar photography skills and finally boot me out.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>And speaking of photos, I'm so upset that Photobucket and/or Blogger have turned this entire blog into an eyesore. They've replaced a bunch of photos with BIG DAMN ADS. It's gross. I hate it. I need to move this blog to somewhere else, but old habits die hard.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We're a little late, but can I show you guys my Halloween ensemble last year? I can never have too many big damn ballgowns. I'm not sure what I was trying to be. I guess something sinister and purple.</li></ul><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/halloween_ball.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="760" height="673" src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a277/erinn27/halloween_ball.jpg" width="639" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I've noticed that this blog is still getting some traction from my <a href="http://emeraldwynn2.blogspot.com/2013/02/did-elisa-lam-have-second-life-av.html">Elisa Lam post</a>. If I would've known so many random people were going to be reading it, I would have made it a little more comprehensive. Oops.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I love creators who include a picture of their products in the folders. It helps so much when I'm digging through my 282K inventory and trying to decorate a place or get dressed. </li></ul><p></p><p>And on a final note, I've missed everybody. If you see me, please say Hi. I'm pretty shy and keep to myself mostly, but I'm still happy to see everyone. </p><p>Signing off for now. Big hugs to you. - Em </p>Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-60560105871027491252017-07-02T14:08:00.000-07:002017-07-02T14:08:38.392-07:00Thank you, SL14B!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know most of you are probably at Hair Fair today, but in case you're not paying attention to other stuff, it's the last day to visit <b><a href="http://www.slcommunitycelebration.info/get-me-to-sl14b-slurls/">SL14B</a></b>. They're gonna <a href="http://www.slcommunitycelebration.info/the-final-countdown/"><b>blow up that magnificent cake</b></a> (**sniff**) at 4 p.m. SLT. So get over there and have some fun! (If you feel so inclined, I mean. I'm not one to boss people around.)<br />
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I love that lady in the background of that pic up there. I waited patiently for her to leave ... but she wouldn't. So I finally said "to hell with it" and let her photo bomb this pic. You're welcome for the 10 minutes of entertainment, lady. I bet she was fascinated by my mesh jeans, prim shoes and system shirt. Me too.<br />
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Here's a throwback to the early days of this blog, when no one was reading it (kind of like now!) and all my pictures were of my AV's back as I stood and stared at things in wonder:<br />
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I'd love to hang that thing in my RL bedroom.<br />
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One of my favorite SLB exhibits this year was <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL14B%20Beguile/28/243/22">this merry-go-round where you ride PEOPLE</a>:</b><br />
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Nice! I know it probably has a deeper intellectual meaning, but meanwhile I'm just like, <b>"YEEHAW! RIDE ALL THE PEOPLE!" </b><br />
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They talk to you while you ride them, too.<br />
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On a side note, I love how a few posts ago, I was all, "Hey, I got a computer with the <b>BEST GRAPHICS CARD EVER!"</b> and yet my high-res photos are still kind of jaggedy and crispy-looking. I blame this one slider in my graphics card driver control panel thingy. It asked me if I wanted optimal graphics or optimal performance. At first I said, <b>"GRAPHICS, BABY! I WANT TO SEE!"</b> but then my games kept crashing and stuttering and blah blah blah. But everything's peachy now that I've scooted that slider over to "performance." I guess I can only ask so much from a LAPTOP, even if it does call itself a gaming laptop.<br />
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But enough of the tech talk.<b> I have a new boyfriend now! ...</b><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S00D-nfLAFo/WVlYVMD6zuI/AAAAAAAAASQ/pdZAGsWT3zUKvKmtFzODsBOyJ90I9lT0wCLcBGAs/s1600/laugh_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="811" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S00D-nfLAFo/WVlYVMD6zuI/AAAAAAAAASQ/pdZAGsWT3zUKvKmtFzODsBOyJ90I9lT0wCLcBGAs/s640/laugh_001.jpg" width="518" /></a></div>
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*parade wave!*</div>
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Now that's my kind of man! Strong with a nice hat.</div>
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This exhibit is called ... well, shoot, I forgot to write down the name. My notes just say "weird merry-go-round." But it's by the group <b>Aequitas</b>. </div>
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Their notecard says: </div>
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"Aequitas is a non-profit multinational conglomerate of dada intellectuals involved with the exploration of biological impulses and their effect on modern psyche through the medium of anti-conceptual physics and minor abstractions."</blockquote>
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Uh. OK. So much Googling to be done now. *shame* </div>
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Suddenly I feel like such a mental lowbrow. But hey, Aequitas, your merry-go-round is cool!</div>
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OK, I'm signing off now. I have to catch up on some Better Call Saul episodes. Have the loveliest of days, kids!</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cpMbg44tMPo/WVlaQHrKzTI/AAAAAAAAASc/vjo_pYa8Fyoi8tfM5PLWq7JhxMV3-dmmwCLcBGAs/s1600/fin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cpMbg44tMPo/WVlaQHrKzTI/AAAAAAAAASc/vjo_pYa8Fyoi8tfM5PLWq7JhxMV3-dmmwCLcBGAs/s640/fin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(And the pink elephants say: "When will she stop with the Windlight settings? And where is her FOOT?")</div>
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<b>LINKS:</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.slcommunitycelebration.info/">SL14B Official Website</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL14B%20Beguile/28/243/22">Ride some people</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.slcommunitycelebration.info/the-final-countdown/">Watch a cake explode</a></b></div>
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<br />Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-30473249029144713642017-06-27T20:48:00.001-07:002017-06-27T21:10:26.917-07:00Bento, Catwa, WAA-WAA-WAAAAAAAAA!<b>HELP!!!!!</b><br />
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I need a mesh head mentor. It's all Greek to me.<b> I'M SCARED!</b> Do I start with a body and then get a head or vice versa?<br />
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As for the heads, do they make a girl-next-door looking one? Because that's me. Or are they all sultry supermodel-type heads? Because that's not me. I couldn't deal with that look (on me) without laughing.<br />
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In real life, I look like an aging muppet. I have to stay somewhat true to myself in the AV version or I'll feel like a phony. A girl's gotta have a code.<br />
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Oh ... wait, you want pics with this post? Ummm ... OK, hold on ....<br />
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<b>First, a disclaimer:</b> I am not making fun of this designer or these clothes.<br />
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That said, ready?<b> GO: </b><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--J9MI-Vbv3c/WVMY9eE498I/AAAAAAAAARU/vIk6gYyKHuMEz4WT6a09sT7aWBGqSaTnACLcBGAs/s1600/WHOA_NELLY_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--J9MI-Vbv3c/WVMY9eE498I/AAAAAAAAARU/vIk6gYyKHuMEz4WT6a09sT7aWBGqSaTnACLcBGAs/s640/WHOA_NELLY_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In real life, I live in Redneckville, Tennessee. <b>I am not lying to you</b> when I say that I recently saw a woman walking around the <b>MALL</b> in a getup like the one above. It was acid-washed. (All you youngsters will probably have to Google "acid-wash." Sorry.)<br />
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So, first, yes: I hang my head in mild shame when I admit that I was at an all-American, middle-American MALL and not shopping on Rodeo Drive or in a chic boutique somewhere. Don't tell Anna Wintour.<br />
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But anyway, that's a bathing suit, right? If not and I'm just woefully behind in the SL fashion scene, I apologize. Regardless, it still doesn't matter. We're pretty much all members of The Beautiful People Tribe in Second Life (meaning, I have yet to see a cellulite tattoo/skin layer) and, as such, we could all wear this thing anywhere inworld, no problem. But in the food court at a Tennessee mall ("MAWL")? Not so much.<br />
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<b>Part 2:</b><br />
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I am <b>SO JEALOUS</b> of this chick's virtual butt, I want to weep. If I had a butt like this <b>IN ANY WORLD,</b> I feel like all my problems would be solved. I would just parade up and down <b>ALL THE STREETS</b> with it -- except I'd also wear a T-shirt that said, <b>"JELLY?? Yeah you are!" </b>on the back. </div>
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Meanwhile, people all around me would gasp and drop to their knees and worship my glorious <b>BOOTAY! </b>They would chant, <b>"BOOTAY! BOOTAY! BOOTAY!" </b>and give me a unicorn.</div>
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It'd be the closest I'd ever get to being a princess. </div>
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Maybe if I eat more tacos, it'll still happen someday. </div>
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But so speaking of, we do have <b>ACRES AND ACRES OF WOMEN</b> wearing leggings/jeggings/pants like this in Tennessee. I try not to stare. And before you get all excited and make plans to move here, I should clarify that -- like a cheeseburger on a fast-food restaurant menu -- it usually doesn't look like the picture. So I'm just gonna say that I commend those gals for their fierce, um, pride and bravery. Rock on with your bad-ass badonkadonks, ladies! (But a tunic or an oversized shirt over those painted-on stretch pants would look cute too. *cough*)</div>
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Everything I know about the female anatomy, I learned at Walmart.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>ANYWAY ...</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Back to SL: I wanted to buy those leggings up there, but -- just like RL -- I think my butt is too flat in SL. Are we buying mesh butts now too? Plus, I'm assuming those are worn with appliers. Which brings us back full-circle (see what I did there?) to my<b> "WTF MESH" </b>dilemma.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I need a mesh body/head stylist. I could even pay you for your time if you catch me on Payday Friday.</div>
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<br /></div>
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OK, I'm still sprinting through the almost-empty SL14B sims, so I'll wrap up this babbling Even though the birthday performances are over, the sims are still open <b>through July 2 </b>and, blessedly, there's almost zero lag now, so if you haven't checked it out over there, you should go. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I feel kind of bad for people who don't get <b>EXCITED</b> about the annual SLB festivities. I love the creative exhibits and the fun free gifts (that I love to snatch but almost never unpack). It's amazing how far SL has come.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Thank you, Creators! I bow down before you.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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love, Em</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>LINK: <a href="http://www.slcommunitycelebration.info/">SL14B Official Website</a></b></div>
Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-77790446588192558462017-06-24T15:31:00.003-07:002017-06-27T20:54:40.387-07:00Me and my shadows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Us3SanU0dtc/WU7cEDV2lSI/AAAAAAAAAQc/0KGh5mFFNwc8hjyTN-WXubl1Kn8bR0-sgCLcBGAs/s1600/Land%2Bof%2BE_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1488" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Us3SanU0dtc/WU7cEDV2lSI/AAAAAAAAAQc/0KGh5mFFNwc8hjyTN-WXubl1Kn8bR0-sgCLcBGAs/s640/Land%2Bof%2BE_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I joined SL in 2008. I don't know if I should feel accomplished or like an absolute dweeb. Mostly the latter, I think. But that's OK.<br />
<br />
Nine years later, thanks to a decent computer, I can finally see things like Windlight settings. And shadows. And other people. And landscaping. And things don't look as jaggedy. It's like seeing this place for the first time. I can't get over how gorgeous the water looks.<br />
<br />
I'm impressed, SL! What a difference a graphics card makes!<br />
<br />
Anyway, switching topics:<br />
<br />
A couple of years ago, my friend Pay was SOOOO generous and gave me a place to live when I was homeless. The land has changed hands since then, but the new owner was nice enough to let me come back and rent my former parcel from her. I'll be sharing it with a friend, but it's still, um, rather spacious at the moment:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz2D4Zx8exU/WU7eE9UB9EI/AAAAAAAAAQo/7VtRklAFc1g-k9VaQ74DUT667FR6ctBqgCLcBGAs/s1600/cool_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1600" height="331" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz2D4Zx8exU/WU7eE9UB9EI/AAAAAAAAAQo/7VtRklAFc1g-k9VaQ74DUT667FR6ctBqgCLcBGAs/s640/cool_002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Woo.<br />
<br />
(Yeah, bear with me while I screw around with <b>EVERY</b> Windlight setting ever made. Sorry.)<br />
<br />
I guess I need to put a<b> BIG. DAMN. HOUSE</b> right there in the middle of it, but that's never really been my style (except during the holidays, when my ice castle goes up). So it's still a work in progress, to put it mildly, but at least there are chairs now.<br />
<br />
You can find<b> "The Magical Land of E"</b> <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lithe/100/228/21" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>.<br />
<br />
For now, I've set permissions to allow everyone to unpack boxes there and stuff, although my landmate and I are still working out our respective living areas. I think she's going to be up in the sky. If not, obviously I won't have as much room on the ground, but until then, if you happen to be an SL wanderer and you need a place to organize your inventory or you just want to chill out on my deck or hang out up on the moon or ride my balloon or whatever, please feel free to swing by and make yourself at home. I'm hardly ever there. If I am, please don't laugh at my standard AV body and -- holy cow -- today I'm wearing a system shirt. Don't tell anyone.<br />
<br />
Oh, and no SLexing please, unless you absolutely get caught up in the throes of passion. In that case, please try to keep it in or near the water. I'd really like the place to stay free of bodily fluids for a while. And I hate logging in and being shocked by virtual genitals that aren't mine.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hrsuHeeklaA/WU7gCP1jQMI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/w-EZpIOwt7sMytsLl7kB_-YkjXnEIizswCLcBGAs/s1600/shadows2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1541" height="356" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hrsuHeeklaA/WU7gCP1jQMI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/w-EZpIOwt7sMytsLl7kB_-YkjXnEIizswCLcBGAs/s640/shadows2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There's an old-school pose stand (and privacy) in that gazebo over there if you need to change clothes. Please be nice to Bunny. He's getting up there in years too.<br />
<br />
(Haha, even the most supreme graphics capabilities can't make up for the fact that I still suck at taking pics. Sorry. I'm more of a words person.)<br />
<br />
And oh yeah, there's booze and cake on the deck. <b>Because OF COURSE!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AHF-CwQcZ4s/WU7rsM2gqjI/AAAAAAAAARE/BANodZnbPWcIFymo22mqeVYIevtgzGXFQCLcBGAs/s1600/cool_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1382" height="412" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AHF-CwQcZ4s/WU7rsM2gqjI/AAAAAAAAARE/BANodZnbPWcIFymo22mqeVYIevtgzGXFQCLcBGAs/s640/cool_003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Cake and margaritas for<b> ALL THE PEOPLE!! WOOOOOOOT! </b><br />
<br />
<b>Info:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Complete <b>Palisades Bar</b> set from <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hodgepodge/127/100/32" target="_blank">What Next</a>.</b> I think it was 550L. Includes 2 stools, drinks, drink giver and garnishes. A non-alcoholic version is also available, as is a less expensive version without all the accessories. </li>
<li>The interactive cake/slice/sugar spill in the background is a <b>What Next</b> group gift.</li>
<li><b>Aries</b> hair in <b>Colors 1</b> pack from <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Alexandria/111/89/2002" target="_blank">Blues</a>;</b> includes HUD for the texture-change ram horns.</li>
<li>"Chill" system shirt from my 2008 inventory folder. <b>Long sleeves courtesy of "I Can't Match My Slink Hands to My Arms Today."</b></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
OK, now that I've made my parcel somewhat presentable (cough), I'm gonna go out into the world and check out <b><a href="http://www.slcommunitycelebration.info/" target="_blank">SL14B</a></b>. (I say that every day. Tonight I'm DOING IT!)<br />
<br />
Have a fabulous and colorful day! ♥<br />
<br />
<b>Links:</b><br />
<b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lithe/100/228/21" target="_blank">The Magical Land of E</a></b><br />
<a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hodgepodge/127/100/32" target="_blank"><b>What Next</b></a><br />
<a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Alexandria/111/89/2002" target="_blank"><b>Blues</b></a>Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-49540370283465120102017-06-23T21:43:00.000-07:002017-06-23T21:51:38.014-07:00Well hello!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7vzpFpojIHY/WU3qQMhhI1I/AAAAAAAAAQI/DQxxYYIm7OkQotJDRjssr1hKKGpyFd0NACLcBGAs/s1600/whut_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="537" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7vzpFpojIHY/WU3qQMhhI1I/AAAAAAAAAQI/DQxxYYIm7OkQotJDRjssr1hKKGpyFd0NACLcBGAs/s1600/whut_003.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<strong>HAY THERE!!! </strong>I've missed you guys!!<br />
<br />
So it's my first time logging in since 2015 (I think) and I log on to <strong>THIS</strong> hot mess.<br />
<br />
<strong>NICE!!</strong><br />
<br />
You can't really tell in this pic, but my hands are sticking out of my back. <br />
<br />
Anyhoo ...<br />
<br />
I finally got a computer with decent graphics. I never knew SL had so much color. I always thought it was just a jumble of vague gray shapes. But <strong>WOW,</strong> kids! Everything is so <strong>FABULOUS!</strong><br />
<br />
This is my first time trying to navigate <strong>ALL THE THINGS</strong> on a PC (sorry, Macs, but your graphics are so yesterday and I wanted a VR headset), so please bear with me while I try to figure some things out.<br />
<br />
Like how to work this computer. And mesh bodies. And heads. And probably many, many other things. My AV is the now the official Queen of Throwback SL, I'm sure -- particularly since my feet are backwards and my hands are sticking out of my butt. <br />
<br />
But whatever, youngsters. I've been around for almost 10 years. <strong>RESPECT YOUR ELDERS!</strong><br />
<br />
And on that note ... <strong>HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SECOND LIFE! WOOT WOOT!!! </strong>I'll be hanging on these SLB sims for the next few days. <strong>LOVE THEM.</strong><br />
<br />
More later!<br />
<br />
**picks up my floating shoes and hobbles off to the giant birthday cake**<br />
<br />
XO, EmEmerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-6679211296514949172016-10-13T12:56:00.003-07:002016-10-13T12:56:41.769-07:00What the hell has happened over here??None of my photos are showing up anymore.<br />
<br />
Perfect.<br />
<br />
Thanks, Photobucket.Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-6016038309621336812015-11-14T12:58:00.001-08:002015-11-21T16:11:05.689-08:00None of my words are working today (Free 'Pray for Paris' T-shirt)<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Paris T_zpseg6bxn9i.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/Paris%20T_zpseg6bxn9i.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Not responsible for my avatar's Resting Bitch Face.)</span></i></div>
<br />
There are people out there who will write deeply moving and possibly comforting things about Paris today. I'm not one of those people. All I can say is "I'm so sorry."<br />
<br />
For those who are also at a loss for words, here are a couple of options:<br />
<br />
– <b>Chopard Couture</b> has a free mesh "Pray for Paris" T-shirt (shown above), including versions for men and women, on the SL marketplace <a href="https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Chopard-Couture-Ladies-Men-T-Shirts-PRAY-FOR-PARIS-Mesh/8053538" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HERE</a>, as well as at the <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fashion%20Island/112/194/30" target="_blank"><b>inworld store</b></a>.<br />
<br />
– A lot of people are hanging out over on the <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Paris%20Eiffel/7/87/23" target="_blank">Paris 1900</a></b> sim, where you can grab a free "Je suis Paris" sign in the gazebo:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo je suis_zpslxi8nkuj.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/je%20suis_zpslxi8nkuj.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
That's about as far as I got in SL today before I crashed. My graphics card couldn't handle all the action, but here's a <b><a href="https://youtu.be/Cdo3LgNGby0" target="_blank">YouTube video</a></b> that'll give you an idea of what's been going on over at that sim, courtesy of <b>Grange Wood</b>. (I don't know Grange. People were shouting about this video in open chat. I scanned through it and I don't think anything X-rated is going to pop up, no pun intended.)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cdo3LgNGby0" width="560"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'm sure someone will organize some kind of structured event soon. When I was there, it was mainly just a sea of people standing around talking – which sometimes can be pretty comforting. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My faith is a little shaky these days, but yes, in case anyone's listening, I too am praying for Paris – and all of us, actually.<br />
<br />
<b>Additional credit:</b> Hair – Louisa by <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Truth/158/27/34" target="_blank">Truth</a></b>. I love this style because it looks like an updated version of his now-retro Emerald hair, the naming of which remains a highlight of my SL life. ;)</div>
Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-12611734654696135212015-10-31T17:23:00.000-07:002015-10-31T17:42:17.356-07:00I'm an intellectual witch. With antlers. And wings. I don't know.<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo boohoo_zpsuhorge2z.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/boohoo_zpsuhorge2z.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>HAPPY HALLOWEEN, Y'ALL!</b><br />
<br />
That pic up there is called "Play a gacha scavenger hunt game, put on <b>ALL THE PRIZES</b> at one time!"<br />
<br />
Wow, my boobs look like they could use some perky slider adjustments. I just wanna grab them and shove them up a little. Maybe I'll crack one of these days and go completely mesh like the rest of the grid. I feel all lonely in my original shape.<br />
<br />
And yeah, I floundered at matching my Slink hands to that (older 50L Friday) skin, so I tried to cover up the wrist lines with long gloves. I can see from this pic that I failed. Nice try though!<br />
<br />
Aside from that sudden attack of body neurosis, this has been a fun Halloween in SL. I want to thank all the creators who gave out tricks and treats during the <b><a href="http://taggacha.com/how-to-play/" target="_blank">TAG Gacha Halloween game,</a></b> which ends ... well, tonight at midnight – so as usual, this blog is helpful. <br />
<br />
You do, however, have through Nov. 21 to visit and play the stunningly visual interactive game at <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Snatch%20City/37/34/29" target="_blank">Carver's End</a></b>, courtesy of Pulse Games and Snatch City. I played it three times last night, mainly because there was so much to see that I had to check it out more than once, but also because at first I had no clue there were tons of fantastic prizes from 21 fabulous designers hidden in those rats all over the place. Check out the website <b><a href="http://pulsegamessl.blogspot.com/2015/10/carvers-end-help.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> and the Facebook page <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PulseGamesSL/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> for the skinny on all of it.<br />
<br />
I wasn't the only one who was slightly clueless last night. I kept getting messages from other players wailing, "Hey, what are we supposed to be doooooing??" I got a little weary answering them. <br />
<br />
Put on the radio HUD. Walk through the gates. Click "Yes" when you get a message asking for permission to teleport you at random times, etc. Listen to your radio HUD for clues. Read messages like this:<br />
<br />
[2015/10/30 19:45] CARVER'S END RADIO HUD: : What the HELL....? It looks like a massacre in here. So much blood...but where are the bodies? Hello....?<br />
<br />
Awesome.<br />
<br />
Start by walking down the first street and trick-or-treating at all the houses. Knock on every door. If you happen to get sucked into a scary room, use your SL smarts and figure a way out. Go into all the public places. <b>TOUCH ALL THE THINGS.</b> Get to Mayor Carver's house. Look around in there. And maybe I'm not supposed to tell you much more. Is this cheating? I don't know. At one point I used Wireframe in the SL Advanced menu to get myself out of a maze from hell. And yes, that was cheating. Sorry.<br />
<br />
<b>AND DO TOUCH AND BUY ANY RAT YOU SEE!</b> Don't figure that out <b>AT THE END</b> like I did. <br />
<br />
Anyway.<br />
<br />
Here's my costume tonight.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo samara_zpswubjnpnw.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/samara_zpswubjnpnw.jpg" height="640" width="587" /></a></div>
<br />
This Samara AV (movie: "The Ring") from <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Boudoir/162/136/21" target="_blank">Boudoir</a></b> (400L) is a little old-school, but it's still cool. The dress and socks are mesh. You'll have to strip down to your original AV for the rest of it, which also includes a shape, skin, eyes, hair, a creepy AO and a VCR tape (not pictured). I switched out the included eyes for some other ones by A.S.S. and added some bloody tattoos to the face, along with some black-and-bloody fingernail GLOVES, and MAN, it's been a while since I dug those out of my inventory. Sometimes being an SL hoarder comes in handy, no pun intended.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo close_zpsqjjojqdt.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/close_zpsqjjojqdt.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>BOO!</b><br />
<br />
Speaking of creepy, much thanks to my friend Serenity Semple for posting this Slenderman doll on her <b><a href="http://serenitysemple.blogspot.com/2015/10/party-prediction.html" target="_blank">blog</a></b>. I saw it and screamed, <b>"GIMME!"</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo slenderman_zpstnnccygn.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/slenderman_zpstnnccygn.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Get it at <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lost%20Boys/136/131/1001" target="_blank">Trunk or Treat</a></b> through Nov. 18. (200L, includes rezzable and holdable versions)<br />
<br />
And if you're out trick or treating tonight, feel free to swing by my <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lithe/149/43/21" target="_blank">Wonderland of WTF</a></b> and grab a cupcake, spider ring and candy and get your fortune told. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo wonderland_zpsec1vwtsx.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/wonderland_zpsec1vwtsx.jpg" height="468" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm sure that stuff'll be out until I feel like putting up Christmas decorations. (Apologies to my new neighbors.)Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-82241321463007818392015-10-20T16:33:00.000-07:002015-10-20T16:51:07.008-07:00Gratitude<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo land_zpsbytlyaka.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/land_zpsbytlyaka.jpg" height="359" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This post is waaaaay overdue, but I want to give a heartfelt thanks to my friend <b>Paypabak Writer</b> and her friend <b>Ghanie Lane</b> for letting me use one of their parcels to call home for a while.<br />
<br />
I'm trying not to horrify them with my typical amusement park style of decorating, but it's <b>MY FAVORITE HALLOWEEN TIME</b> so it's hard.<br />
<br />
I became a fan of Pay's waaaaaaay back in the day when I lurked around regularly on the former slFIX/Moonletters blog. Through that blog, she and writer <b>Shauna Vella</b> helped me immensely in getting my bearings when I was a noob. I was always too socially awkward to introduce myself in person though, beyond leaving occasional comments.<br />
<br />
You can check out Paypabak's Tumblr blog <b><a href="http://paywriter.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. It's awesome.<br />
<br />
OK, so HALLOWEEN!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo cheap halloween stuff_zpsixjgzrus.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/cheap%20halloween%20stuff_zpsixjgzrus.jpg" height="538" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Even though my inventory tops 200K, I didn't have the energy to dig around in it for some of my older Halloween stuff, so I hunted on Marketplace for some cheapies. I found that <b><a href="https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/RE-Pumpkin-House-Set-FantasyCabinForest/888975" target="_blank">pumpkin house</a></b> (actually, it came in a set of two – one with a wide door, shown, and one with a smaller door) for 50L, along with that <b><a href="https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Stumpy-The-Spooky-Tree-wRickety-Platform-Fun-Halloween-Treehouse/2692200" target="_blank">Halloween treehouse</a></b> for 50L, both by creator <b>Rod Eun</b> of <b><a href="https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/31931" target="_blank">RE Blueprint Designs</a></b>. Sure they're a little old-school, but they're cute and they work for me. All the rest of the stuff scattered around is stuff I acquired during recent 50L Fridays. <b>JACK-O-LANTERNS GALORE!</b><br />
<br />
I haven't checked out any of <b><a href="http://secondlife.com/destinations/haunted" target="_blank">SL's haunted attractions</a></b> yet. Right now I'm playing the <b><a href="http://taggacha.com/how-to-play/" target="_blank">TAG! Gacha</a></b> Halloween game and trying not to go too nuts with the whole gacha thing. Gawd damn, it has drug habit potential though. Feed those machines money and mainline <b>ALL THE CUTE LITTLE THINGS!</b><br />
<br />
I have no other news. The other day I read through some past blog posts here. They all seemed so full of a juvenile sense of joy and discovery. I don't seem to have that these days. Maybe I'll get that mojo back. Maybe not. I guess if the mood strikes me I'll write something. I write so much drivel all day IRL just to survive ("Five Things You Should Know About Seeing a Chiropractor!") that the keyboard seems kind of nausea-inducing when I have a few free moments to NOT write something.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I hope everyone's having fun during this Halloween season. I am. No matter how far I wander from SL, it'll always suck me back in during the holidays. ;)Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-49559566253451783802015-08-31T11:30:00.000-07:002015-08-31T11:42:24.816-07:00Slumming it<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo ugh2_zpspscko05k.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/ugh2_zpspscko05k.jpg" height="376" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm over the sappy emo-drenched post of yesterday, although the sentiments remain. Let's chalk that one up to hormones and exhaustion and RL stress. Unlike other overly emotional posts in the past, I'm not going to delete that one, though. Moving off Bluebonnet is an SL milestone for me, albeit a sad one. It needed to be chronicled, angst and all. <br />
<br />
Anyway, moving on now with an attempt at a sense of humor and all that:<br />
<br />
For a few years, I've been seeing that <b><a href="https://secondlife.com/land/lindenhomes/member.php" target="_blank">"Your own private home in Second Life: A new benefit for Premium Members</a>!"</b> ad on the Second Life website.<br />
<br />
I've been a premium member since I joined SL and have never really taken advantage of any of the premium member stuff (except the linden allowance). So all right, <b>FREE LINDEN HOME!</b> Let's do this! Gimme my 516 square meters and let's ... oh, LAWDY:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo FML1_zpsugabzkg9.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/FML1_zpsugabzkg9.jpg" height="348" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Can you guess which house is mine? <b>BRINGING THE MOON TO YOUR JAM-PACKED SIM SINCE 2015, BITCHES! </b><br />
<br />
I wonder if they're going to let me keep that "Sitting on the Moon" prop up there? The land covenant says (loosely), "No building things in the sky," but what about, um, just throwing things up into the sky? I guess we'll see.<br />
<br />
Anyway, wow. Just wow. <b>LOOKIT THIS PLACE!</b> I can't stop laughing. It's so ... like, I could reach a hand out my window and slap my next-door neighbor in the face. If there was a next-door neighbor, that is. The place seems deserted. I cammed into some nearby houses (don't tell anyone) and saw nothing. Hell, if that's the case, could I pleeeeeease have some breathing room around my house, Linden Lab? I give you all my monies. I barely ask for anything.<br />
<br />
At least I'm up on a hill and not down amid all that squalor. Did that sound snobby? Sorry.<br />
<br />
And I can see the ocean, if I climb up on my moon. As such, I put my "ocean sound effects" rock on my porch. We can always pretend the ocean is right there, as long as we don't look out the ... oh, actually those windows are fake. You can't look out them. Maybe that's a good thing.<br />
<br />
I have soooo many things to say about these Linden homes, but I have actual work to do today, so let me just share some key observations:<br />
<br />
<b>1.</b> Perhaps if this idea ever goes back to the drawing board, they could think of a more economical use of land impact and space? These houses take up the entire parcel and leave residents with a mere land capacity of 117 to play with. And oh, ZERO YARD SPACE.<br />
<br />
Granted, if you're prone to fugging up your yard with bizarre sh*t, maybe the lack of a yard is an intentional blessing for the strangers around you.<br />
<br />
But seriously, I don't need this much living space in a house. It looks like a scene from The Shining in here.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo the shining_zpsjrnzz5fh.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/the%20shining_zpsjrnzz5fh.jpg" height="350" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Redrum.<br />
<br />
I did not adjust my camera lens, and I did not even back all the way up against the opposite wall. That is seriously what it looks like in there.<br />
<br />
Couldn't they have a "tiny house" option for those of us solo-dwellers who are gardening enthusiasts and like to, you know, plant our own trees? As in, trees that don't look like sad 2010-era paper cutouts?<br />
<br />
<b>2.</b> Choosing one of these houses is a dice roll. Fortunately, you can abandon and reclaim a new house up to five times in a 24-hour period. Then you have to wait 24 hours. Then you can try again.<br />
<br />
You can choose your theme: fantasy dwellings, rustic cabins, modern suburbia or traditional Japanese homes. Each theme has a choice of several house styles. Unfortunately, you can't choose the location. And many of these locations are ... I'm sorry, Lindens, but I'm just going to say it ... sketchy.<br />
<br />
Case in point: I started with one of the Elderglen fantasy-themed homes. (My friend Deoridhe managed to do some awesome stuff with hers: check her far-more-positive blog post <b><a href="http://primdolls.blogspot.com/2014/02/linden-homes-thoughts-opinions-and.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>.) I chose the same one she did, actually, because it had several rooms.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, you don't get to see the actual houses you're choosing: You do it all from your SL dashboard and then you get a SLURL to your new home. But when I got there, my house was crammed up against a hill on one side, so much so that grass was sticking through one wall.<br />
<br />
And then the rest of the sim: So many residents had put up those privacy barriers/no-fly-zone things around their homes that the whole place looked like a giant crime scene.<br />
<br />
I've been around in SL long enough that I don't care who the hell walks in my house or sees me naked. I just don't. And it's not like they're going to steal my stuff. I did walk in on a couple SLexing in my skybox once when I was a noob. It traumatized me back then. Now I'd probably try to take a picture first before telling them to get out.<br />
<br />
Anyway, this post could go on forever with the failed attempts at finding a house that wasn't in a weird position or hanging off a cliff or slammed up against someone else's crime scene tape that jutted through the window or flashed on and off like a disco nightmare.<br />
<br />
<b>3.</b> In terms of pleasant-looking sims, I had better luck with the Japanese-themed homes. The one I finally picked, pictured up there at the top of this post, is on a sim called Daylily. (I can't seem to get away from the floral thing.) It's bearable. I don't spend a lot of time inworld anyway these days, so whatever.<br />
<br />
That Japanese symbol on the front says, "You're too broke to own decent land."<br />
<br />
I still have my eye on this fantasy-themed version:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo shireshear_zps4lcjb4id.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/shireshear_zps4lcjb4id.jpg" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo stolen from Jack Linden on the SL Community Boards. Sorry, Jack. Let me know if it bugs you. I know you read this blog avidly.)</span></i><br />
<br />
Mainly because it has GRASS on the roof to make up for the lack of a yard and <b>OH WHAT FUN</b> I could have with that. The dinosaur wants out of my inventory!<br />
<br />
But those official SL pictures lie. No way is there that much space around these homes. They might as well name the sims SardineLand, CrowdedHouses, JapanCram and GetOffaMyLawn.<br />
<br />
I don't have the time or energy to keep spinning the Linden Home roulette wheel right now. At least the house I have at the moment has open space on one side. That seems like kind of a rarity among these things.<br />
<br />
I have to go. In real life, I'm writing an article on "How to Have Great Sex When You're Also a Cancer Patient" for a health magazine. It's having a rather bleak effect on my mood, to put it mildly. Can you tell?Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-86360947701982519762015-08-30T19:58:00.004-07:002015-08-31T15:17:58.801-07:00Goodbye, Bluebonnet (A love letter to my SL home)<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo BluebonnetLast_zpshvk6amoe.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/BluebonnetLast_zpshvk6amoe.jpg" height="376" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I knew this day would come someday; I just wasn't expecting it to come, well, now.<br />
<br />
I have about 24 hours or so to pack up my stuff on Bluebonnet and relocate, probably to one of those free Linden homes for a while. That'll be a different post, I guess.<br />
<br />
I've lived on Bluebonnet since, wow, 2008, I think. But the sim is changing and my friend and soon-to-be former landlady <b><a href="https://aliciachenaux.wordpress.com/">Ali</a></b> has new plans for it, so it's time for me to go. I'd like to thank her from the bottom of my heart for giving me this safe haven, for finding me when I was lost, for introducing me to so many wonderful friends, for letting me express myself in so many creative and often cringe-inducing ways through my yard and house decor, for letting me call this place home for so long and for all the friendship, laughs and fond memories that came with it. It sounds silly, but I will hold this place in my heart for a long, long time.<br />
<br />
I take a meditation course in real life. During the first class, the instructor told us to close our eyes and imagine somewhere peaceful and lovely and safe. Funny, but I immediately thought of my SL parcel on Bluebonnet. The instructor wanted us to create a beautiful place in our minds, a place where we could build a big sturdy box and put all of our troubles and "negative stories" and stressful thoughts in that box, lock it up and leave it all there, knowing that the positive power of the place we created would transform everything in that box into things that could no longer harm us, but could only make us stronger.<br />
<br />
So throughout that meditation, I hung on to that image of Bluebonnet. The instructor didn't have to know it was pixelated. Because really, what better place could there be to find shelter from all the drama, people, bills, cluttered junk, perceived failures, deadlines, screeching editors, financial woes, family fights, health concerns, frequent bouts of self-loathing and soooo many "thanks, but no thanks" job interviews that seem to define my life right now? Second Life, with all its quirks and hilarity and extraordinary creations, has always been a place where I could escape, take some deep breaths, laugh with a few friends, create something beautiful or funny if I felt like it, be a slightly upgraded version of my real self for a while and then, finally, once I felt recharged, close the laptop and return to the real world, feeling better, feeling stronger, feeling happier, feeling loved.<br />
<br />
I think Second Life works that magic on a lot of people. I feel fortunate that I've had one fixed place where that magic could live for so long, somewhere I knew I could always go if I needed to reconnect with the real me – happy, creative and, in those moments, unburdened by all the ugly troubles that seem to hang around my real neck like roadkill these days.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo happyplant_zpspw6kk0pi.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/happyplant_zpspw6kk0pi.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
(Me and my apparently really happy, sparkly PlantPet, back in the day.)<br />
<br />
Before I leave there tomorrow, I will go to a deep, quiet place in my mind one more time and think of Bluebonnet. Once again, I'll try that mental exercise my New Age instructor is always pushing on us. In my mind, I'll dig a hole in that backyard by the ocean, and I will fill that hole with all the ugly self-talk that occasionally sneaks up on me when I'm at my weakest: "You are a complete career failure." "You are not worthy of love." "Nothing will ever change." "There is no hope." "You're all washed up." "You've screwed up your life." "There's no way out of here" and on and on and on.<br />
<br />
I'll put all those words down in that hole and bury them. Then I'll plant a pink shimmery tree – the kind you can only find in Second Life – on top of that makeshift grave. Its roots will wrap around the words, separate them and shape them into new sentences, maybe: "You are complete." "You are love." "You are worthy." "There is hope." And then I'll say my final goodbye, but I'll leave those painful thoughts behind me, where the soothing sound of the waves and the benevolent rays of a painted sun and the kind work done by deep, magical roots will hopefully soften and change them or at least hold them tight so they can't find their way back into my head.<br />
<br />
And then one last time, the Bunny and I will say, "Goodbye, Bluebonnet! Thank you for all the fun!"<br />
<br />
I promised myself I wouldn't cry when I wrote this silly post. I lied. Crying sentimental tears over a fake place in a fake world. Those harsh inner voices are having a field day with that one.<br />
<br />
Oh well. Enough of that. Now please excuse this self-indulgent parade of photos of the many faces of Emerald's Iceland at Bluebonnet. I've chosen some of the more extreme stuff, because well, the boring ones are boring:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo yardfromhell_zpsxsetim9w.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/yardfromhell_zpsxsetim9w.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Jesus is coming ... to take your cows. The octopus looks nervous.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Jesus1_zpscubbggap.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/Jesus1_zpscubbggap.jpg" height="577" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Eventually I ditched the UFO and cows, but kept the floating Jesus. This photo was my last artistic attempt at anything before I logged out for a while.<br />
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But in the beginning, there was a simple beach house, provided by my landlady, on a sandy parcel. I added a trampoline for kicks. Really, really high kicks, that is:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo trampy2_zpsyxcnuo1e.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/trampy2_zpsyxcnuo1e.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Sometimes there were pranks.</div>
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo bigturkey_zpsmlrukqvz.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/bigturkey_zpsmlrukqvz.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Happy Thanksgiving. No, that is not my glowing platter of turkey, but yes, it delighted the hell out of me. And I don't know if that chair is supposed to look like a strip of bacon, but OK.<br />
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I would always deck that house out for the holidays:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo myhowse_zpsfd6wisst.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/myhowse_zpsfd6wisst.jpg" /></a></div>
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Eventually I started experimenting with new houses:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo newyard_zpswo8i2v0u.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/newyard_zpswo8i2v0u.jpg" /></a></div>
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Oh wow, yeah, and chickens. Those were the days before KittyCats. These are all photos taken from old (realllllly old) blog posts. I'm guessing that "OMG" is either referring to the fact that the breeding of animals had gotten so extensive that it required a stable or the fact that the stable is a little, um, large and unsightly. My poor neighbors.<br />
<br />
I tried a treehouse for a while and learned I'm not really a treehouse-dweller type:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo effingtreehouse_zpssme3nqkv.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/effingtreehouse_zpssme3nqkv.jpg" /></a></div>
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At least that's what I'm thinking, because when I dug up this photo, it was called "effing treehouse."<br />
<br />
And then there was this monstrosity, which lasted for about a day:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo myhowse-1_zpsfjjv3ajl.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/myhowse-1_zpsfjjv3ajl.jpg" /></a></div>
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Wow.<br />
<br />
In fact, there were times when I fugged up my yard with so much bizarre crap, I'm surprised I didn't get booted years ago:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo oops2-1_zps3wz87zks.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/oops2-1_zps3wz87zks.jpg" /></a></div>
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Yeah, that's my gigantic, gnarly tree.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo kraken_zpsma08c90h.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/kraken_zpsma08c90h.jpg" /></a></div>
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And my kraken.<br />
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo peacock-1_zpsxcbechlo.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/peacock-1_zpsxcbechlo.jpg" /></a></div>
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I had a threatening peacock for a while.<br />
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo walken-2_zpsrwlpjhnp.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/walken-2_zpsrwlpjhnp.jpg" /></a></div>
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And a creepy Christopher Walken that wandered around my yard.<br />
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo LOLhair_zpsn21qa26t.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/LOLhair_zpsn21qa26t.jpg" /></a></div>
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And hair that would not fit in my house.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo trailerpark_zps1qybbhbx.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/trailerpark_zps1qybbhbx.jpg" /></a></div>
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And a swimming, realistic mermaid that kept keeling over and really didn't didn't work out so well. <br />
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Winter was always my favorite time on Bluebonnet. The other night I did a halfhearted search for parcels for rent on "winter sims" because, damn, I'm really going to miss the changing of the seasons and all the holiday festivities. I couldn't really find anything. Maybe I'll keep trying. Maybe I'll let it go. But in that spirit, some Winter at Bluebonnet pics:<br />
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo emscastle_zpscicyhbfk.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/emscastle_zpscicyhbfk.jpg" /></a></div>
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My friend Aisuru's ice castle remains one of the favorite things I own. She left SL a while ago. I wish she would come back. She has always been one of the most talented creators and wonderful people I've known. She was my next-door neighbor for a long time, God bless her. She had to put up with so many oddities.<br />
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo myyard_zpsn7maup4k.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/myyard_zpsn7maup4k.jpg" /></a></div>
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And of course I had to violate that thing with as much Christmas cheer as my "prim allowance" (that's what we called it back then, kids; none of this "land impact" stuff) could hold.<br />
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Sometimes I opted for simpler seasonal houses. *cough*<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo yardchristmas2010_zpstqgy05ih.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/yardchristmas2010_zpstqgy05ih.jpg" /></a></div>
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Two of them, I guess. And a magical Christmas whale, apparently.<br />
<br />
And then there was a time when we entered The Age of the Dinosaurs. It started with a cartoonish one:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo landscaping_zps1lj4sufb.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/landscaping_zps1lj4sufb.jpg" /></a></div>
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(I guess it was Halloween.) (And the whale!)<br />
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But then things got real with this thing:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo myhawseeeeeee2_zpsr4wmjegw.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/myhawseeeeeee2_zpsr4wmjegw.jpg" /></a></div>
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Yeah, don't ever let anyone tell you that you cannot put a tree on a balcony, kids. <b>YOU CAN.</b><br />
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I used to sit up on that dinosaur and get all contemplative about life:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo mine_zpsxnmte5wz.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/mine_zpsxnmte5wz.jpg" /></a></div>
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But then to my delight, it began to serve as artistic inspiration for some of my friends:<br />
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo deoridhe1_zpsfu2nnvzh.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/deoridhe1_zpsfu2nnvzh.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo deoridhe2_zps2ousgvzo.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/deoridhe2_zps2ousgvzo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo ali_zpsljyqtru5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/ali_zpsljyqtru5.jpg" /></a></div>
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I was mainly all about the yard at Bluebonnet, but occasionally I did try to do something with the inside, which could sometimes get just as painful to look at. I spent my first year as a noob living in skyboxes that looked like low-rent sets for amateur porn or weird little rental houses in strange beach communities full of bikini-clad women with lots of bling and body oil. Regardless, those early homes were always furnished, so moving to Bluebonnet was my first opportunity to buy my own furniture and try to do something with it. I kept it really simple at first.</div>
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 4thebed_zpsvvxhd3h9.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/4thebed_zpsvvxhd3h9.jpg" /></a></div>
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Eventually I added a little more character:<br />
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo new_zpspskjo4gc.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/new_zpspskjo4gc.jpg" /></a></div>
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Occasionally there was a fish tank:<br />
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo koi_zpsumgo9yzv.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/koi_zpsumgo9yzv.jpg" /></a></div>
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And sometimes my friends would come in and add their own decorations:<br />
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 7closer_zpstbfigsaz.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/7closer_zpstbfigsaz.jpg" /></a></div>
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And so speaking of friends:<br />
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo couchfort_zpsqwqsbris.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/couchfort_zpsqwqsbris.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo porta_zps2ocunpwb.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/porta_zps2ocunpwb.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo taco_zpsw3r3rutr.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/taco_zpsw3r3rutr.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo drag_zps1zcolzw5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/drag_zps1zcolzw5.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo goodbunnies_zpsnxisajof.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/goodbunnies_zpsnxisajof.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo dork-1_zpsxfm8h4pp.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/dork-1_zpsxfm8h4pp.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo tableshot_zpscytyhfx8.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/tableshot_zpscytyhfx8.jpg" /></a></div>
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Thank you for the memories, everyone! ♥ </div>
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Goodbye, Bluebonnet! Thank you for all the fun!</div>
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo goodbyetree_zpsdinpfm2w.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Bluebonnet/goodbyetree_zpsdinpfm2w.jpg" height="581" width="640" /></a></div>
Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-52812153234076251902015-08-02T16:34:00.000-07:002015-08-02T17:08:46.567-07:00Social Media Pariah: What is Second Life Doing Wrong?This post is going to be kind of lengthy. I don't expect many people to read this thing, but it's stuff I've been thinking about. And I'd rather write about this topic ATM than my current and rather depressing freelance assignment: "The Plight of Tennessee's Animal Shelters." So buckle up and let's go with "The Plight of Second Life in the Grand Scheme of All Things Social Media-ish" instead. (I should probably break it up into two parts, but then that'd most likely be two posts you'd skip.)<br />
<br />
But first, here's a picture, because who wants to deal with giant blocks of text and no art?<br />
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Mermaids prize_zpsrnfshuf2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/Mermaids%20prize_zpsrnfshuf2.jpg" height="385" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
If you're into scattering kitschy-cool little things around your house and yard, get these mermaids in fish bowls as the prize in the <b><a href="http://funwithhunts.blogspot.com/2015/07/atg3-hints-slurls.html">Around the Grid in 80 Days</a></b> hunt at <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Blue%20Heron%20Island/242/175/3504">StoraxTree</a></b>. (Look in the plant garage there.) I'm into them. Thank you, StoraxTree!<br />
<br />
There you go. News you can use. Now moving on:<br />
<br />
Several years ago, I worked as a national PR director for a multifaceted, multi-property wellness resort brand. It was (and still is) a haven for people with way too much money, a place where a guest could get a pricey facial and massage, then hike out into the desert and embark on a guided shamanic journey, come back and eat a guaranteed-healthy gourmet meal, get their chakras realigned during an evening energy-healing session, hit the sack in a luxury $800/night room and wake up the next morning and reunite with their inner children by interacting with horses.<br />
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Yeah, that kind of woo-woo place. (Oprah liked it. So did Martha Stewart.) You see a person out in the world running around wearing that resort's T-shirt, they might as well be proclaiming, "I have a lost, empty soul and TONS of money!"<br />
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During that time, the executives were employing a team of pricey graphics artists and techie types to create 3D imaging models of our properties in efforts to continue to "elevate brand awareness" and "attract strategic business alliances." They thought a virtual walk-through type experience would not only engage potential business partners during professional presentations, but also attract future filthy-rich guests.<br />
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I was pretty active in-world at the time, and I admit that I wanted a great excuse to spend even more time in world AND get paid for it! So I suggested they create this virtual experience in Second Life, rather than lug it around the globe on computer software.<br />
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During my pitch, I explained the potential here (in Second Life); created an alt; showed them some examples of existing beautiful and impressive builds; demonstrated the chat functions (typing and voice); and further explained how they could gather people from all over the world to host lectures and virtual tours, showcase their wellness experts, conduct meetings, etc., in this one very visual and very accessible place.<br />
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They balked.<br />
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Too labor intensive, they said. Wouldn't work in business presentations. A Second Life presence would require already harried professionals to download a "foreign program" to their computers, create an avatar and quickly learn "video game skills" in order to function in this particular virtual environment.<br />
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"Who has time for all that?" they asked? "Doesn't this place have a website they can just log into instead?"<br />
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Well OK, it takes a little effort, but also consider the existing "audience" here, I rebutted. Many of these people are talented, engaged professionals in real life who invest a great deal of money in owning virtual land, running businesses and selling content in Second Life. They like cool things to see and do. You could create a true-to-life replica of one of our scenic, back-to-nature style resorts in Second Life and offer services such as mini meditation classes, virtual yoga demonstrations, virtual healthy cooking classes, virtual "shamanic journeys" using interactive HUDs (they were big on shamans at this place), not to mention the infamous "horse therapy experience" (which, hey, people breed, buy and sell in SL, BTW) and you might actually entice people – who do have money – to come visit the place in real life. Plus, you'd be doing something not many other resorts are trying at the moment, thus further advancing your "cutting edge of everything" brand point.<br />
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In the end, they told my PR team to go back to posting peppy, upbeat status updates on Facebook, complete with lots of lovely photos that people might want to share with their friends.<br />
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"Just keep thinking viral social media content," they said.<br />
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I tried again: But this type of presence – which, yes, would take a little work to get rolling, but then the company could even find an relatively inexpensive customer service employment base WITHIN Second Life to then keep it running – would live on as a perpetual "viral" existence, so to speak. The marketing potential – provided we keep the experience authentic and visually, creatively and intellectually engaging – seemed almost limitless, if executed correctly.<br />
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"Facebook, Facebook, Facebook!" they responded. Pinterest wasn't big then, nor was Instagram, or I imagine they would have added those two to that chant as well.<br />
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Let's pause and cut to another bad picture. Don't look at my butt:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo backpack_zps4bostlkp.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/backpack_zps4bostlkp.jpg" /></a></div>
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(Kawaii Circle Backpack in Black by <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LUXORY%20PRIME/230/29/2135">[KRAVE]</a></b> from the Crazy for Kawaii Hunt. Prize also includes blue and pink versions.)<br />
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Anyway, as a real-world PR and marketing professional, I can't help but stop and think about this scenario from that perspective and wonder what Second Life could be doing better, not only to make it a more viable force in the realm of professional outreach tactics, but also in the overall category of social media as a whole. No, we don't want the whole place cluttered with logos, obviously, but there IS a niche market for companies that have something beyond the tangible (such as "life-enhancing" knowledge and wellness tools, which is what this particular company was selling) to offer. We do have a few of them in world. We could have more though.<br />
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If you happen to be in the real-life PR industry, you know that many businesses are more concerned with the impressions they're making on social media than good old-fashioned traditional media coverage these days. It's one reason why former journalists and now "media relations specialists" like myself are doing our best to keep up with these trends and add "social media outreach" to the top of our lists of marketable skills.<br />
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When I sit down with PR clients, their wish lists of social media successes are always the same: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram. Most of them have never heard of Second Life, a place for "meeting friends, doing business and sharing knowledge," as you'll read on almost any Second Life maps page.<br />
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Photo break:<br />
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<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo ocelot_zpsgrpdkqfg.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/ocelot_zpsgrpdkqfg.jpg" height="500" width="640" /></a></div>
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(I like it when you throw down a hunt prize in the yard expecting it to be a box to open and instead it's a <b>BIG MESH POND</b> complete with trees and wildlife. It's a serious "Woah!" moment. Get this Ocelot Pond as the Around the Grid in 80 Days hunt prize at <b><a href="http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dewey/48/225/50">Heavenly Bacon</a></b>, which wins my award for best store name ever. And if you can see my feet in this spontaneous photo, don't look at them. I'm hiding.)<br />
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OK, so all that said, I've also been thinking about why the mainstream population doesn't consider Second Life to be a more credible social media vehicle, when in fact it's one of the most vivid and engaging forms of social media I've encountered. I've made just as many friends here and have been introduced to just as many new ideas and experiences – if not more – as I have on other social media platforms.<br />
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Here are the reasons I can gather. Feel free to add your own in comments, if this discussion inspires you. (If not, just wait a while and I'll get back to meaningless chatter in the next post.)<br />
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<b>– The "Catfish" Factor: </b>Because we're all using avatars, we often have no idea who the hell we're really talking to and hanging out with in many instances — so thus giving it a slightly seedy undertone? I don't know. Many of my SL friends have crossed the bridge into becoming my RL Facebook friends, but some of you remain a mystery. That's cool. I get the fantasy factor here and I'm fine with it, as long as we're not swapping fake bodily fluids. But maybe that's why SL seems to be more of an online fringe society, rather than a more commonly adopted thing. People would prefer to interact with real faces (even though many of them also highly exaggerate their joy and successes on places like Facebook) than virtual masks.<br />
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<b>– The Time/Effort/Creativity Factor:</b> Let's face it, SL takes a little work. You have to download a viewer. You have to create an avatar and customize it so other residents will accept you as an equally invested member of the community. (YES. You do. Feel free to disagree though.) You have to learn the ropes. And you'll probably even have to spend a few bucks to get the most out of the experience. For many of the busy uninitiated people out there, these things take way too much time. I've tried to introduce friends to this place. The usual response is "SHEEEEEEEZUS, too complicated and way too much work. Retreating back to Facebook, but thanks for trying."<br />
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<b>– No Kids, Pets, Vacation Photos or Recipes Here (at least not real ones): </b>Sorry, but there's really no place to proudly post 900 pictures of your new baby, cute kitten videos, your real-life home DIY projects, your enviable spouse or what you cooked/ate for dinner last night. For many people, the elimination of these bragging rights equals "What's the point?" (Do I sound cynical? Sorry.) But yeah, that's what FB and Pinterest are for. And most people are perfectly content with keeping it at that. And that's cool.<br />
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<b>– Conversations. You Have to Actually Have Them:</b> It's more than just blurting out every little thought or witty observation that comes to mind via a stream of status updates or tweets ... unless you subject others to it in public outbursts while you're wandering around the grid, I guess. The only exception to this rule I've seen was <b><a href="http://emeraldwynn2.blogspot.com/2009/06/please-rewind.html">the day Michael Jackson died</a></b>. Many of us were at Hair Fair. And suddenly people were yelling out updates in public chat. It was surreal.<br />
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<b>– The "I Don't Play Video Games" Factor:</b> Sometimes when I get brave enough to mention that I have a presence here, a common response I get is "Oh, isn't that like a World of Warcraft thing? I don't play video games." You know the responses to this argument: Yes, there are games here, but as a whole, it's not a game. You can talk and meet new people. You can hang with your friends in a more creative manner than merely typing words on a chat screen. ("But why can't we just Skype then?" "Because you can wander around and see and do cool things while you're talking." "So ... it's like a video game?" Sigh.) Sometimes I try to entice people with the fashion angle — you can dress up your AV in ROCKIN' clothes! That usually leads to some kind of mention of the <b><a href="http://www.covetfashion.com/">Covet</a></b> fashion game app. (I do have to concur there: Many SL fashionistas would probably love this app, in which you go head to head with other players, a la "Who wore it best?" Try it!)<br />
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<b>– The "This is Not Healthy" Attitude:</b> I've had a few friends check out this place and give me a stern "This is not healthy" lecture. You've maybe heard the key talking points: "You should be out interacting with people in the real world, not from behind a computer screen" or "You should be going to REAL places, not pretend ones" or "You should be spending your time and money on real things, not imaginary stuff." Sometimes I tell them if that's the case, they should probably stop reading books and binge-watching TV shows. And put down the smart phone that's usually glued to their hands. Or sometimes I just wander off with my tail between my legs. Depends on my mood.<br />
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And to that point:<br />
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<b>– SL Lacks a Mobile Platform:</b> Or maybe it has one now? I've been away for so long, I have no clue. But these days, if something doesn't allow many people to stay attached to their mobile devices, they want no part of it.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo goth.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/goth.jpg" /></a></div>
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(The absolute mess of an AV I made at what was then known as Orientation Island when I logged in for the first time.)<br />
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I started thinking about all these things when I looked at my inventory the other day. <b>My inventory dates back to 2008. I am that old here.</b> And yet during that time, I haven't seen much proliferation of awareness or, for that matter, acceptance of Second Life as a valid social media space. In fact, there's still something of a shame factor involved. I'm selective about the people to whom I "come out of the Second Life closet," due to some of the antisocial and dysfunctional perceptions some people still associate with it: A fantasy world where you pretend you're someone else and interact with virtual strangers doing the same thing? No thanks.<br />
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But hell, maybe that's the way we want it. For instance, I wouldn't want my mom — who is now <b>ALL UP IN EVERY CORNER OF FACEBOOK</b> — to be in Second Life, nor would I want many of my professional associates to be here. There's a lot of freedom in the fact that Second Life is kind of like a social club, and you have to be a certain type of open-minded, progressive and creative person to be a member. You can look and even act a certain way without worrying about how it'll affect your professional or even personal image. This isn't the place for baby photos, recipes, ongoing attempts at wit and commentary on current events. This is a place where you get to show your true creative colors, play, create and share parts of yourself that you wouldn't normally share on other online social platforms. And for those reasons, I'm still excited to be a part of it, even if I only log in once every few months now.<br />
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I just wish it didn't sometimes feel like a weird little secret. I recently read a Washington Post article about <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/when-you-have-an-addiction-to-salt-and-pepper-shakers-you-cant-shake-it-off/2015/07/19/8e7ad8c8-2e27-11e5-8f36-18d1d501920d_story.html">people who collect salt and pepper shakers</a></b>. Some collectors had 40,000 pairs. Some of them went to great lengths to hide this hobby from friends and family members. Paraphrasing: "People don't understand it," one guy said. "It's not something I'd discuss on a first date." Yeah. Kind of like that. SL is my secret salt and pepper shaker collection.<br />
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But in case we want to touch on one last reason as to why, after all these years, Second Life still lacks a significant mainstream presence in today's social media arena:<br />
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<b>– Second Life Needs a More Appealing PR Campaign.</b><br />
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And to that point, hey Second Life honchos, I'm in between jobs, I love this place, I win bright shiny awards for my RL work and I'd love to help you out on that front. *wink*Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-46882791877086798972015-08-01T16:30:00.000-07:002015-08-01T16:46:09.543-07:00Me and Audrey Hepburn, we got those mean, mean redsI have no idea what the hell is going on in SL these days. Am I supposed to have a mesh face?<br />
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*shrugs*<br />
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Meanwhile, this shirt is cool as long as you don't move your arms around much and you're not picky about the way straps fit.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo wah_zpsqgtyyylk.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/wah_zpsqgtyyylk.jpg" /></a></div>
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Yeah, I spent 100L on it. I'm a sucker for whimsy. Maybe you are too. If so, get it at <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ryukyu/109/141/24">The Okinawa Summer Festival</a></b> through Aug. 24. But if you get it, walk with your arms really, really straight. And walk fast so no one can see your strap-gaps. (Strap-gaps. That should be a real thing. Let's all get on that phrase and make it viral.)<br />
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There you go. That's my contribution to the SL fashion scene. You're welcome, beautiful people.<br />
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Oh wait ....<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo fingernails_zpszpfuufn9.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/fingernails_zpszpfuufn9.jpg" /></a></div>
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These nails are courtesy of A.S.S. They're called <b>"LOOKIT MY GAWD-DAMN RAINBOW FINGERNAILS, BEEEEEEEETCHES!"</b><br />
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OK, no they're not, but they should be. Consult with me before you name your stuff, designers. I'll make it that much more fun for the <b>WHOLE WIDE WORLD</b>. <br />
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(Rainbow Gradient Nails for SLink, 98L, eight variations, also available for Belleza, at the <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Touch%20of%20Decadance/105/230/24">A.S.S. Nail Appliers store</a></b>)<br />
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"But wait, what about that tattoo?" you ask. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo tattoo_zpspourmxla.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/tattoo_zpspourmxla.jpg" height="438" width="640" /></a></div>
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My yard looks like Trailer Park Disneyland, as usual. Pretend I have arms and I'm doing something interesting. <br />
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That Ouija Tattoo is (was) a prize in last month's Body Art Hunt, from <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Excalibur%20Serendipity/157/121/21">Aberrant</a></b>. (Thank you!) The hunt ended yesterday, but I checked and the prize is still here, right here, look, look at this here:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 6407f1e2-83cd-432e-9737-0be7c14cf3a1_zpsbdem8l4f.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/6407f1e2-83cd-432e-9737-0be7c14cf3a1_zpsbdem8l4f.jpg" /></a></div>
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That purple bottle of ink. <b>QUICK,</b> go grab it. That tattoo is cool! The prize includes a version for just about every kind of body that exists now, even natural ones like mine.<br />
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Moving on ...<br />
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Sorry, I'm in a weird mood. I'm in between full-time jobs again in real life. Sheezus, this is so not how I pictured my adult life back when I was a swoony, daydreamy kid. I'm pretty sure that fantasy included basking in the warm glow of a funny, adorable husband, wearing an apron and baking pies in a modest-yet-tastefully decorated home, surrounded by kittens and puppies and 2.5 kids. Not this solitary, frenzied scramble for survival.<br />
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The good thing about being forced into self-employment is that it's not a devastating thing anymore. The first time I got laid off from a job, it knocked me on my ass emotionally and I freaked all over the place like the sky was falling. Now it's such a common thing that I don't even flinch when it happens. I just do a semi-graceful swan dive back into the shadowy, uncertain realm of freelance writing, write enough stuff to pay a month's worth of bills, then start writing enough stuff to pay the next month's bills. It's fine, but I worry about what's going to happen when I'm an old person. Like, will I be huddled in a large box under an overpass somewhere, maybe with a scraggly stray cat on a string keeping me company, still trying to shovel off my mediocre writing skills on obscure publications while I eat canned meat and let old homeless guys grab my boobs for an extra 25 cents? Will I be in a filthy, state-run nursing home filled with other equally destitute little old ladies, huddled in a corner and mumbling to myself? These are the questions that keep me up at night.<br />
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Anyway, whatever. But yeah, the amount of time I spend in world is directly proportionate to the sheeeeeety state of my real life. So if you see me around the grid, you can pretty much bet that I've royally effed up something as a real and apparently not-so-functioning adult.<br />
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(I like hyphens.)<br />
<br />
That was a long way of saying I've been logging in and wandering around a lot lately. And because I am an SL child of the year 2008 and can remember when they were a genuinely cool thing, I still like SL hunts. So I went over to this <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Michigan%20Bay/78/147/25">Hunt & Hunters Resource Centre</a></b> because the SL Destination Guide told me to. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 9c4e2066-ef0e-4ad4-a2bb-1bd80465b146_zpsjancfyzz.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/9c4e2066-ef0e-4ad4-a2bb-1bd80465b146_zpsjancfyzz.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I have no clue who that guy is. I was like, "Dude, either hurry up and rez or get the hell out of my picture." Neither of those things happened.<br />
<br />
I don't know. A lot of the hunts look strange and not for me. Don't get me wrong – I'm not bagging on the quality of the prizes. My thanks will always go out to the generous creators who give away stuff for free. But for instance, there's a hunt called <b><a href="http://huntforyourinnerslut.com/">"Hunt for Your Inner Slut"</a></b> in which we find ourselves searching for a golden penis. And as much as I would love to post a pic of said golden penis, I have to keep in mind the fact that <b>ENTIRE FAMILIES </b>gather around the campfire at night to read this blog and, as such, I cannot show you a penis made of pixelated gold. Sorry.<br />
<br />
Plus, gross. <br />
<br />
I guess I don't have an inner slut right now. Check back with me when I'm 60 though. <br />
<br />
Speaking of people I'd like to sleep with, let's end with this photo of Liam Neeson:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo liamN_zpsv1nee8ls.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/liamN_zpsv1nee8ls.jpg" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: Action Press/REX Shutterstock)</span></i><br />
<br />
I'd hit that.Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-393411240445469722015-07-26T15:46:00.000-07:002015-07-26T15:46:02.922-07:00AwesomeWatch for my award-winning fashion blog coming soon to a feed near you.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo awesome2_zpsth9mylsl.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/awesome2_zpsth9mylsl.jpg" /></a>Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-6848452076242145662015-07-26T14:00:00.000-07:002015-07-26T14:04:34.762-07:00Last-minute loserOh damn, it's the last day of <b><a href="https://hairfair.wordpress.com/">Hair Fair 2015</a></b>.<br />
<br />
Predictably, I'm scrambling around at the last minute trying to check it all out, but the sims are full and I crash every time I take a step, cam around or try to snap a photo.<br />
<br />
Good times.<br />
<br />
See that "Em's Starbucks Fund" button over there on the right? Yeah, feel free to drop $900 in there if you happen to be filthy rich. It will promptly go towards a new laptop that was made during the past decade. Some people fantasize about sex. I dream of a decent graphics card.<br />
<br />
Maybe I'll blog something every time I crash. Or maybe I'll eventually give up and take a nap. Meanwhile, forget about hair. I want this <b>BIG DAMN RAWKIN' STATUE</b> in the <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Iridium/155/112/23">L&N Signature Hair Designs booth</a></b>:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo big rawkin statue_zpsw3sjlail.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/big%20rawkin%20statue_zpsw3sjlail.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I miss those old days when women wore bras that made their boobs look like bullets. "My chest is also a deadly weapon." Somebody work on bringing back that look IRL.<br />
<br />
And as usual, all the people who're wearing mesh outfits (meaning, everybody) look like their clothes are sticking sideways out of their stomachs on my viewer. It's surreal. Like that movie "Alien," except with fashion. ("A dress is exploding from my abdomen and soon it will EAT THE WORLD, bitches.")<br />
<br />
Don't worry, it's not you. It's my vintage Mac.<br />
<br />
The whole effed-up scene does make me feel somewhat grateful for the surprisingly high number of women who are running around in thongs with HUGE oily (glossy? shiny? radiant?) butts. You keep it all about that bass, ladies! At least those boo-tays are in the right places.<br />
<br />
OK, I'm gonna try to get back in. Wish me luck. Maybe we'll bump into each other.Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-29831415105505990602015-07-08T14:34:00.003-07:002015-07-08T14:46:03.446-07:00Well HOWDY!Holy cow, it's been almost a year!<br />
<br />
<b>A YEEEEEEEAAAAAAR!</b><br />
<br />
Let's see if I can even remember how to write a blog post.<br />
<br />
We'll start with an ode to Callie Cline. (I'm not being an ass; I'm being serious.)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 2df4d930-432f-4675-b73b-4e7afcef3c42_zpspsowczt4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/2df4d930-432f-4675-b73b-4e7afcef3c42_zpspsowczt4.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I always have to log in for the SLB celebrations. <b>HAVE TO. </b>I love them passionately. Unfortunately I missed the whole damn thing this year but managed to scoot in on July 4, the last day the sims were open for people to check them out. I logged in at 8 p.m. SLT. I thought maybe they would cut the slackers some slack and hopefully let us stay there until the wee hours of the next morning, but <b>NO</b>. At exactly midnight I got unceremoniously booted out of the sims and landed on my ass on a Visitor's Island somewhere, which always scares the hell out of me. People in dark, unrezzed clusters, playing all their gestures at one time and usually talking about sex and porn. <b><i>*shudder*</i></b> And of course, you always land on about 50 other people when that happens, so on top of everything else (no pun intended), it feels like a seedy orgy.<br />
<br />
Anyway.<br />
<br />
I did managed to see a few things first. Like the aforementioned Callie Cline exhibit. I love Callie's annual exhibits because – speaking as a RL person in the PR industry – she gets a <b>BIG DAMN GOLD STAR</b> for building a brand and marketing the hell out of it. This year she built a Tower of Flower Power. (I named it that. It seemed appropriate.) It was fab. The music mashup in there though, WOOOOO! Callie, I love you but it felt like a mushroom trip after a few minutes. Maybe that was the goal. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo flowerchildlol_zpswrp2gul7.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/flowerchildlol_zpswrp2gul7.jpg" height="640" width="564" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>YOU GO, GIRL!</b><br />
<br />
Now let's move on to my bad clothes, bad shape, bad everything and the shame I feel when looking at the post before this one. I can't keep up with the SL trends. I try and try, but when you only log in about once a year, you're bound to make a fool out of yourself regardless. Not only that, I see that I've been kicked out of 19 blogger groups. Whoops. (What? <b><a href="http://truth-hawks.com/">TRUTH?</a></b> NOOOOO! ... wait, is he gone? His blog is kind of outdated like mine, though not as much.)<br />
<br />
Anyway, kidding. I don't blame those groups. Bad graphics + once-a-year blog posts = Blogger fail.<br />
<br />
So it looks like it's just <b>mesh-the-hell everything </b>now, huh? So much so that my vintage MacBook Pro screams in agony whenever I log in. You can't really tell in that pic up there because I'm so small next to the Tower of Flower Power, but I'm wearing vintage League jeans with (gasp!) prim attachments. And weirdly, SL kept replacing them with "New [system] Pants," so most of the time I looked like a chick wearing white stretch pants in Wal-Mart.<br />
<br />
Changes aside, I see many people are still going for that "grumpy face and five-inch thigh gap" look. Sigh.<br />
<br />
So I fixed some things. I grabbed an old gift skin from Belleza (because I'm broke, FLAT broke; shocker) and sexied-up and standardized Emerald Wynn's shape a little. I passed on the thigh gap though. Curves are sexy, kids. No one wants to bang a bag of antlers.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo new em_zpsqac04xfe.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/new%20em_zpsqac04xfe.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
"Hey, baby."<br />
<br />
Looks JUST LIKE ME in real life! (No it doesn't.)<br />
<br />
I went over to the <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Foundation/174/55/2017"><b>SOU by Creation.jp 1st Anniversary Event</b></a> (runs through July 25) and picked up some relatively inexpensive mesh duds by COCO (suede fringe vest in Brown, 150L; wide-leg jeans in Dark, 190L; flower bustier is a <b><u>free gift</u></b> at that booth). Then I grabbed some Mykonos Beach platform sandals by Your Skin Your Shape for 70L at <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Imogen/190/152/27">The Dressing Room Fusion</a>.</b> (Hat tip to the <a href="http://seraphimsl.com/"><b>Seraphim SL</b></a> blog for the heads up on all this stuff – I wouldn't know where the hell to go without that blog).<br />
<br />
Then I checked in with The Bunny in our shared trailer. Because, you know, we need an annual pic with The Bunny, just to mark the passing years.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo bunny_zpsywa72xoy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/erinn27005/bunny_zpsywa72xoy.jpg" height="405" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
"Hi. Uh, remember me?"<br />
<br />
He is raggedy and so NOT mesh, but I will always love him passionately. If I could suck him into the Real World, I'd do it in a heartbeat.<br />
<br />
OK, so meanwhile, all this time I kept getting these in-world messages: "Your SLink hands need to be updated!" "Your SLink feet need to be updated!" over and over until I finally yelled, <b>"OKAAAAAAAAY! SHEEEEESH!"</b><br />
<br />
The hands were no problem because I bought those myself. The feet were a little trickier because I got those as a generous gift from <a href="http://thesecondlifewhisperer.blogspot.com/"><b>Whispers Magic</b></a>. I sent SLink Resident a notecard asking her (him?) what to do. She (let's assume it's a she) told me to go leave my feet in a little sandbox by the store so she could update them. This disturbed me a little. <br />
<br />
<b>LEAVING MY FEET ALONE, ABANDONED AND DISMEMBERED, SO FAR AWAY FROM HOME!</b><br />
<br />
It was unsettling.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo feeeeeeeet_zpskvlrmzlw.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/feeeeeeeet_zpskvlrmzlw.jpg" height="531" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>"I'M SO UNCOMFORTABLE!" </b><i>*sniff*</i><br />
<br />
So yeah, my feet are over there behind the store if you want to swing by and say hello. Fortunately, they're not alone. There were several other body parts lying around. In fact, there was a whole body just standing there, which was freaky as sh*t. And hands. Soooooo many hands.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo hands_zpsodqnc5kz.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/hands_zpsodqnc5kz.jpg" height="303" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I like that one dark tattoo though!<br />
<br />
That's really all I've got right now. Sorry this post is so short.<br />
<br />
I'd like to spend more time inworld because I'm working from home as a freelance writer and it's a nice escape. Unfortunately, it's kind of like playing "Minute to Win It" whenever I log in. I have to hurry like hell to teleport, shop, chat, anything, because I crash every few seconds. I've tried playing around with Avatar Skinning and some other complicated preferences to take some weight off my ancient graphics card but nothing helps. <br />
<br />
And for those of you wearing mesh (which is, like, all of you), on my viewer it looks like you have pants sticking out of your chest and hair sticking out of your butt and random arms and boobs jetting out all over the place. It looks like a house of horrors, actually. If anyone can suggest a decent viewer for an ancient (we're talking 2009) MacBook Pro, please let me know. I'm trying to save up to buy a more modern refurbished Mac.<br />
<br />
Oh, and so yeah, if you're chatting with me and I suddenly vanish, I'm not being rude. It just means I've crashed and given up all hope for the night. <br />
<br />
Love to anyone who's still reading this thing! ♥ I'm bracing myself for crickets. :) :)Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-63549551068815766142014-07-27T15:19:00.003-07:002014-07-27T20:23:48.809-07:00Mesh bird poop not includedI bought some Slink hands. It's weird having attractive SL hands. It makes me want to run around and point at everyone and everything. "Hey you! Yes you. Look at that over there. LOOK AT IT! Who me? You talking to me? Her? Whatever. Look over there!" That kind of thing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo blown_zps1951c08f.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/blown_zps1951c08f.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Skin:</b> Erin in Aurora, Sunkissed by <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Duende/154/129/39">League</a></b>. (AWESOME name for a skin! *wink*); <b>Eyes:</b> Arcane Eyes in Angel by <b>Buzz</b> at <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sapphire%20Skies/119/128/29">The Seasons Story</a></b>; <b>Shirt:</b> Criss T-shirt by <b>Kitja Cherie</b> at <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sapphire%20Skies/119/128/29">The Seasons Story</a></b>; <b>Hair:</b> Blown Away by <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Osmium/136/165/51">Exile</a></b> at <b>Hair Fair 2014.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anyway.<br />
<br />
Check out this Blown Away hair by <b>Exile</b>. It's cool, but if I were a hair creator, I would skip the melodic and poetic hair names and use names like <b><span style="font-size: large;">"BIG DAMN RAWWWWWWWKIN' HAIR!"</span></b> instead.<br />
<br />
And speaking of hair, there are only a few more hours left to visit <b><a href="http://hairfair.wordpress.com/">Hair Fair 2014</a></b>. For a list of all the participating creators and their individual Hair Fair SLURLS, click <b><a href="http://hairfair.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/hair-fair-is-now-open-to-the-public/">HERE</a></b>.<br />
<br />
I would sum up this year's theme as "Long hair, more long hair, even more long hair, long layers, some token dreamy braids and ...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo birds1_zps669c7389.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/birds1_zps669c7389.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Skin: </b>Celestial Femme Fairy by <b>Al Vulo!</b> from a previous <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Imogen/211/158/28">The Dressing Room Fusion</a></b> (with some random eyelash tattoo I found in my inventory); <b>Eyes:</b> Luminous Eyes in Pacific Blue by <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fairy/116/60/802">OTR</a></b>; <b>Hair:</b> Sopha with Tweeters by <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rhodium/38/154/51">Ohmai</a></b> at <b>Hair Fair 2014</b></td><td class="tr-caption"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"... birds ...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo birds2_zpscab90b34.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/birds2_zpscab90b34.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Skin:</b> Cannes by <b>Essenz</b> from a previous <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Imogen/211/158/28">The Dressing Room Fusion</a></b> (with eyelash tattoo); <b>Eyes:</b> Ancient Eyes in Fern by <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fairy/116/60/802">OTR</a></b>; <b>Hair:</b> Sue with Nesting Tweeters by <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rhodium/38/154/51">Ohmai</a></b> at <b>Hair Fair 2014</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
"... birds ...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo birds3_zps198b9e30.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/birds3_zps198b9e30.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Skin:</b> Erin in Aurora, Sunkissed by <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Duende/154/129/39">League</a></b> (with eyelash tattoo); <b>Eyes:</b> Herbalist Eyes in Rosemarinus by <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Touch%20of%20Decadance/158/176/24">A.S.S.</a></b>; Hair: The Birdhouse by <b>Bizarre Hair</b> at <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rhodium/92/90/51">Hair Fair 2014</a></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
"... and <b>MORE BIRDS!</b>"<br />
<br />
My thanks to everyone who makes this annual fundraiser for <b><a href="http://www.wigsforkids.org/">Wigs for Kids</a></b> possible. Also, thank you to the many creators who generously offer fun Hair Fair gift bags. My favorite freebie this year is <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rhodium/38/154/51">Ohmai's</a></b> Companion Tweeters, available in two sizes, both in wearable and rezzable versions. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo tweetercompanions_zpsf9849cbb.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/tweetercompanions_zpsf9849cbb.jpg" height="580" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
They even sing. :)<br />
<br />
("I'm Nr. 1!")Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-41274102041384987792014-07-24T09:29:00.000-07:002014-07-24T09:29:05.304-07:00That. One. Damn. Thing.<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo damnyou_zps6da6d1c0.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/damnyou_zps6da6d1c0.jpg" height="518" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Only the people with crappy computers will understand the sheer agony of standing around for hours waiting for That. One. Damn. Thing. to rez.<br />
<br />
I zoomed in and out on it, moused over it, clicked it like I was gonna buy it, slammed my AV up against it, spun around in a circle, cammed somewhere else for a while, danced a jig, backed up, moved forward, scooted left, scooted right, sat on the display for a while, jumped off, sat down in the grass and waited and waited. Nothing. Finally I crashed.<br />
<br />
The mystery will probably haunt me until the end of my days.<br />
<br />
Oh well.<br />
<br />
(I'm Nr. 1!)<br />
<br />
<i><b>Kitja Cherie </b>mesh T-shirts at <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sapphire%20Skies/119/128/29" style="font-weight: bold;">The Seasons Story</a>, 100L.</i><br />
<br />Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-39041225510317667322014-07-21T12:28:00.001-07:002014-07-21T13:07:35.775-07:00Just don't<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo bigbutts_zpse007bae4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/bigbutts_zpse007bae4.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Chicks who walk into booths at Hair Fair and then stand there for hours blocking the door with their gigantic asses and booty-swinging, hair-flipping AOs.<br />
<br />
(Yeah, it's a sentence fragment. Why waste words.) <br />
<br />
At first I thought she wasn't wearing pants. Then I realized her shorts were being devoured by <b>DAT ASS.</b><br />
<br />
I didn't snap her from the front, but dang, she was <b>SPECTACULAR</b> in all her glory.<br />
<br />
I will never understand this blangin' thug-life girlfriend look, but then again I'm a boring middle-aged woman trapped in the suburbs, so what the hell do I know? At least she went that extra mile (or more) to give her AV some character.<br />
<br />
To her credit, she might have been wearing shoes. SL holds all kinds of wondrous possibilities that never get around to rezzing on my computer.<br />
<br />
Go ahead and call me mean names, but damn, I love fug-watching. I don't mind admitting it. Hell, I'm the poster child for fug these days in my 2012 retro wardrobe, so just wave at my glass house when you walk by and let me keep throwing my little rocks once in a while. I miss the fug blogs, too. I feel like I've earned the right to make that statement since I've been featured in them myself a few times. Plus, in better days I would have been the first person to give you the fugly shirt off my own back or lindens or whatever you needed if you were suffering. You can laugh at fug and still be a good person. <b>YES YOU CAN!</b><br />
<br />
Speaking of alms for the poor, much love to <a href="http://thesecondlifewhisperer.blogspot.com/"><b>Whispers Magic</b></a> for her gift of Slink feet. (When you gonna blog again, Whispers??) I'm looking forward to trying them out and finally having sophisticated feet like the rest of you.<br />
<br />
I'm gonna get back to trying to wade through Hair Fair now. Even on a weekday, I crash about every seven minutes. Some things never change.Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-16759958645554918322014-07-15T22:21:00.002-07:002014-07-15T22:21:49.261-07:00Let's be modelsThis is a bad post for me to be writing, considering the fact that the last folder in my inventory right now is "2012 Clothes" (subdivided, of course) and I'm still running around in system jeans with prim leg attachments, which I'm sure is not that hip these days, but whatever.<br />
<br />
Here we go.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 39509b42-deee-4299-b912-a9c4dda45c5f_zpsf58217b7.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/39509b42-deee-4299-b912-a9c4dda45c5f_zpsf58217b7.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I'll explain this picture in a minute. (And oh hey, I standardized my shape to Medium mesh size and I feel like I look a little thuggish with no neck now. Wah.) <br />
<br />
Anyway, so I was logging into SL the other day and I happened to see this "event" in the Events calendar. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
--------------</div>
<h3>
<b>"WE PAY $800/hour HIRING MODELS-no experience need-NEW RESIDENTS WELCOME- event to hire</b></h3>
Time: 07/13/14 12:00 pm<br />
Duration: 2 hours<br />
Location: DreSS To ImpreSS-mODELS~CatWALK-fAShIONS- LiVE mUSIC on Loon<br />
Host: [Name omitted for privacy]<br />
Category: Nightlife/Entertainment<br />
Cover: FREE<br />
<br />
~WE PAY $800/hour HIRING MODELS-no experience need-<b>NEW RESIDENTS WELCOME</b>- event to hire- <b>look for blue box at store for instructions</b> -gowns,casual clothes,low prim furniture,body paint,tattoes,bathing suit,costumes,carnaval mask,new avatars look,pretty flexy hair,pretty avatars, models house, fashion clothes,men clothes, men hair, women clothes,women shoes, stilletos, wedges, pijamas,party clothes,land orbit,land security system"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
--------------</div>
<br />
I'm not living an RL that affords me a steady flow of lindens anymore, so I saw this ad and thought, "Oh REALLLLLY??! 'New residents welcome,' huh? 'No experience need,' even? YEEHAW! Count me in!"<br />
<br />
I thought it was a thing, you know? Like, you show up to this place, meet at the aforementioned mysterious blue box, get handed some "pretty flexy hair," "body paint" and "tattoes" and prance around somewhere for two hours at 800L an hour.<br />
<br />
Wrong. Oh, so wrong.<br />
<br />
I flew into <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/loon/229/232/108" target="_blank">DreSS To ImpreSS-mODELS~CatWALK-fAShIONS</a></b> and it was a deserted wasteland — a vast, bright blue deserted wasteland. But <b>LO AND BEHOLD! </b>There was a giant display with a blue box over in one corner – right next to a badly textured catwalk – so I wandered over to it. I thought maybe it was "camp modeling," like you log into a spot and stand there posing for two hours until you get paid.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 6441b86d-8f9e-4b39-8b8e-9665ad402b40_zpsc4646bc4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/6441b86d-8f9e-4b39-8b8e-9665ad402b40_zpsc4646bc4.jpg" height="580" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>(WHOA, NELLY! My, what big hair and pink lips you have!)</b><br />
<br />
I clicked the box for "model instructions" and got this notecard:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
------------</div>
<br />
<b>"FOLLOW THIS INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLY FOR MODEL JOB </b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>TIRED OF APPLYING AND NOT BE SELECTED? HERE IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY</b>.<br />
<br />
- <b>WE WILL PAY YOU $800 PER HOUR AS A MODEL</b>-<br />
<br />
<b>ALL MODELS THAT APPLY CORRECT FOLLOWING THIS INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE HIRE, GUARANTEE.</b><br />
<br />
- read careful to apply correctly or you will not be selected. <br />
<br />
- <b>DO NOT SEND NOTES ASKING QUESTIONS SEND IM</b> - <b><u>If you send IM asking questions that are clear in this note you will get disqualify for this position.</u></b> So please read all instructions first before ask. <br />
<br />
NOTE: WORK WILL BE FOR FASHION SHOWS AND ALSO EVENTS. <b>WE NEED MANY MODELS</b><br />
<br />
- pictures need to be taken by yourself- <b>professional pictures or pictures taken by friends will be rejected.</b><br />
<br />
-get some clothes you think will look good on you for the picture to apply. <br />
<br />
<b>STORE CLOTHES ONLY</b>- <b>if you can't buy clothes you can't apply-if you don't like my clothes enough to buy why should i hire you?</b>- you have to like my clothes and buy them because you liked not just to apply for model. If you don t like my clothes to wear them. Don't get it. <b>I'm not interesting to increase my sells with your purchase. This is not scam i need to increase my models team.</b><br />
<br />
- Take your picture at any place of your preference. make your picture 512x512. full body picture showing the clothes.<br />
<br />
- Don't send pictures inside notes. send picture texture only.<br />
<br />
- Tittle your picture: ' MODEL SEARCH' and your full SL name-not screen names- (please full rights, modify,copy and transfer). -drop the picture to my profile <i>[NAME OMITTED] </i><br />
<br />
- (please ONLY ONE picture PER DRESS will be accepted. but, <b>you can take and send as many pictures as you want with different clothes from the store.</b> If you send more than one pic with same dress you get disqualify).<br />
<br />
- you need to showed the full attire you're wearing (also try to set the light for your picture correct so the picture is not to dark. <b>force midday is good way.</b> you are welcome to edit the picture before you send it). <br />
<br />
Note: If you send a picture without correct tittle is going to be rejected sorry. <br />
<br />
Please be sure you have mark in your profile 'show on search'- otherwise we are not going to contact you.<br />
<br />
<b>-- If you do not get contact between one month. please reapply again with same picture."</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
------------</div>
<br />
Whenever I read "This is not scam," I think, "This is scam."<br />
<br />
But whatever. I was curious to see what would happen if I sent one of my legendarily bad pics of myself in a 2008 dress, particularly since <b>"ALL MODELS THAT APPLY CORRECT FOLLOWING THIS INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE HIRE, GUARANTEE."</b><br />
<br />
I figured if I heard back and actually had to DO some type of modeling thing, it would make for an amusing blog post — and if I DIDN'T hear back, it'd at least make for a "Hey, new people, beware this scam" post. So either way, all five of us who still read this blog still win, right?<br />
<br />
I wandered around the store looking at the massive collection of oh-so-retro fashions. Many of them reminded me of my old favorite *cough* Lemania Indigo Designs, circa 2008. (Is she still around?)<br />
<br />
I considered this White Butterfly Gown, in honor of my now-gone-from-SL (I think) friend Random Calliope:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo butterflygown_zpsa7cf860c.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/butterflygown_zpsa7cf860c.jpg" height="593" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>That's not hair on my back. It's a lace-back tank top.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
WOOOOO! That is SOME GOWN, kids!<br />
<br />
And the price?<br />
<h3>
<b>395L</b></h3>
SERIOUSLY??!! I was expecting 99L, at most. With $395L I could buy a boatload of stuff in The Dressing Room Fusion, including mesh jeans.<br />
<br />
With a crushed heart, I kept browsing. NOTHING in that store was less than 395L, although many things were 495L and even 595L.<br />
<br />
I cammed up and saw more fashion upstairs, including a "discount fashions" vendor. <b>BINGO!</b> Surely I could find a masterpiece for my career-launching portfolio shot there. <br />
<br />
Still on the butterfly theme, I honed in on the "Erotic Goliath <i>Butherfly</i> Body Paint":<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 440013f2-9c99-46f8-99a4-e27f13d92721_zps034430c2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/440013f2-9c99-46f8-99a4-e27f13d92721_zps034430c2.jpg" height="640" width="637" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Let's see if Photobucket will let those painted nipples fly.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The hilarious truth is I would have been <b>ORGASMIC</b> over this getup as a noob. I <b>LOVED</b> stuff like this back then. <br />
<br />
I got out my 25L, clicked "Pay" on the vendor and stopped in my tracks at the <b><u>295L</u></b> price tag.<br />
<br />
Um, I guess I'll pass.<br />
<br />
(Hey, remember bellybutton bling? I had some that flashed!)<br />
<br />
Plan C was the store's lucky chair. Scroll back up to the top and check out that flirty little red dress. It retails for 395L. But hey, if the store owner is "not interesting to increase my sells with your purchase" through this gig, she won't mind if I apply with a photo of me wearing her lucky chair gown, right?<br />
<br />
My AV stood by that chair for two hours. IRL, I read a few chapters in "A Dance With Dragons (Book Five, Game of Thrones)" and goofed around on an app I'm obsessed with called Covet Fashion.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile in the virtual world, the chair kept cycling through every letter in the alphabet except mine every five minutes. There were no wildcards. I got bored as hell. The funny thing is, ladies kept TPing in to check on that chair. They were all rocking "pretty flexy hair" and retro clothes. I wanted to ask them if they really WANTED that dress or if they too were dreaming of a modeling gig at Fifth Avenue Fashions / DreSS To ImpreSS / whatever-the-hell-the-place-is-called. But I was too shy. <br />
<br />
Finally I gave up and left. Sadly, I doubt I'll keep working on this experiment. It hurts my eyes and makes me feel kind of sad. I'm inclined to chalk it up as a scam to get money out of new people, though. The whole "If you do not get contact between one month. please reapply again with same picture" smells bad to me. It makes me wonder about other ways people try to scam the innocent out of lindens here. When I was new, occasionally people would come up and beg me for 1L, but that was about it. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo flexy_zps631d4874.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/flexy_zps631d4874.jpg" height="640" width="585" /></a></div>
<br />
"Kimberly Modern Flexy Hair" with "extra shine natural flex" and "resize menu."<br />
<br />
Those were the days, huh? When I first joined the SL community, I had hair much like this style — although not as sophisticated — and it was <b>MY FAVORITE.</b> The funny thing is, I'm still too sentimental to delete that hair from my inventory:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo pinky_001.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/pinky_001.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>AWWWWWW, YEAH!</b><br />
<br />
That is all.<br />
<br />
P.S. So, if I don't have those new-fangled Slink feet, am I screwed? Does ANYBODY make shoes for normal feet anymore? :(<br />
<br />Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-11300470801721689842014-07-13T16:23:00.001-07:002014-07-13T19:35:22.169-07:00Little girl lost<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo c1bf3cff-4a19-4abf-bce8-0ff046ee725e_zps6eb45a2e.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/c1bf3cff-4a19-4abf-bce8-0ff046ee725e_zps6eb45a2e.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Let's pause for a second while I stand in a field <i>(skybox)</i> and pensively gaze off into the distance, dreaming of what it would be like to have a rockin' graphics card and not one of the first MacBook Pros ever made. <br />
<br />
OK, cool. Thanks for indulging me.<br />
<br />
Fantasizing aside, wow, I didn't realize Hair Fair started this weekend. No wonder it's so lag-a-licious right now. I'll check it out in a few days. Hair Fair has a weird significance for me: <b><a href="http://emeraldwynn2.blogspot.com/2009/06/please-rewind.html" target="_blank">That's where I was when I found out Michael Jackson was dead.</a></b> I was trying on some hair when someone ran through the pixelated streets yelling, <b>"MICHAEL JACKSON IS DEAD!" </b>It was a little surreal.<br />
<br />
But anyway.<br />
<br />
An extraordinarily kind person put some lindens in my account with a note that said, "Have fun shopping!" so that's exactly what I did. In the process, I found a new-to-me store that I like. I'm not sure when creators Caresia Adored and SonnetSoleil Resident came on the scene (if I weren't so lazy, I'd ask them) but I wasn't aware of <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Born/245/52/33" target="_blank"><b>LaNoir Soleil</b> <b>Designs</b></a> before my two-yearish hiatus. <br />
<br />
I discovered LNS Designs at the <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Emerald%20City/98/183/22" target="_blank">One Word</a></b> bi-monthly event (open through July 31), another thing that's new to me. <b>SO MUCH FRESH NEW SMELL</b> around here these days! The 'one word' for this round of the event is "Wonderland" and my eyes got all goggled-out when I saw this mesh Internal Wonderland AV (347L) with a <b>BIPOLAR HUD.</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo adb0a8c3-f95d-4420-9eaa-8faee6c14f91_zps0fe261fd.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/adb0a8c3-f95d-4420-9eaa-8faee6c14f91_zps0fe261fd.jpg" height="637" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yeah, I felt like we needed some sunshine and a handy arrow in this one.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>GET OUT!</b> That is <b>BRILLIANT!</b> I've spent my <b>WHOLE LIFE</b> feeling like I have a bipolar HUD attached to my brain. If only I could click it whenever I wanted! That manic side, for instance, comes in SOOOOO handy when you have a bathroom that needs to be cleaned and perhaps a closet or two that needs to be organized and even a whole damn neighborhood of houses that need to be painted ... and all in the middle of the night, too!<br />
<br />
In the case of this avie, that "Eat Me!!" slice of cake will get you Alice. But click the "Drink Me!!" bottle and you get magically transformed into ...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo eb3fb99c-a8b4-4767-b45b-a93308b38031_zps6c462ab8.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/eb3fb99c-a8b4-4767-b45b-a93308b38031_zps6c462ab8.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
It's Malice, bitch.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo darkaliceclose_zpse19890df.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/darkaliceclose_zpse19890df.jpg" height="640" width="599" /></a></div>
<br />
This one's more my style right now.<br />
<br />
(Um, yeah, I would totally suggest checking out this girl in world on YOUR OWN computer and not through the strained and struggling eyes of my hoopty laptop. Or you can check her out on the LaNoir Soleil blog <b><a href="http://lanoirsoleildesigns.blogspot.com/2014/07/mady-blogs-us.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>.) <br />
<br />
Really cool though – hair, dress, eyes, skin, socks, shoes, all of it changes instantly with a mere click. I want more mesh AVs that change with HUDs. Damn, that would make my SLife so much easier. I love buying clothes and hair in SL; I just hate the tedious chore of changing into them. Weird, huh? I haven't had that problem officially diagnosed, but it's most likely an attractive combination of compulsive shopping and hoarding.<br />
<br />
I went over to the LNS Designs store to check out the rest of their stuff. Looks good! Lots of cool hair, dreamy clothes and a section full of generous freebies and 12L gifts from past hunts. I ended up standing hypnotized in front of the <b>MAGNIFICENTLY LONG</b> row of lucky chairs until I won all of them, granted most of them on wildcards. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo luckychairs_zps5ad8b658.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/luckychairs_zps5ad8b658.jpg" height="258" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The 'E's never seem to pop up on lucky chairs. If I could do it all again, I'd give myself an SL name that started with 0-9.<br />
<br />
I noticed LNS had another AV for sale at <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sky%20High/60/143/23" target="_blank">The Co-Op's Nexus Event</a></b> (theme: space), so I tried out the demo and bought that one too.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo botgirl_zpscdb3812e.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/botgirl_zpscdb3812e.jpg" height="640" width="550" /></a></div>
<br />
This Eve Seven AV was an awesomely affordable 427L, and I want to again thank my friend <b>Deoridhe</b> for the shopping spree that made the purchase possible. If you haven't checked out her blog <b><a href="http://primdolls.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Prim Dolls</a></b>, you must do so now, and I'm not just saying that because she gave me money.<br />
<br />
On one final kind of sad note, I always forget that I own a tiny mangled mess of a 512 plot on the mainland. I went over there the other day to check it out, mainly to see if I could ever bear setting up a house there should the day ever come when I can't pay the rent for my beloved parcel on Bluebonnet. (I'm freelancing IRL these days, so every month is filled with suspense when it comes to my ability to pay bills. Kind of like being trapped in a horror movie. That. Never. Ends.)<br />
<br />
Anyway, I think the answer to that question is "NO." Back in the day, I named that parcel <b><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Reverie/143/132/51" target="_blank">Emerald's Chicken Wonderland</a></b> because chickens were the only breedable thing we had going on and I had a little egg stand there. It was kind of a marvelous place to visit because it was surrounded by fug in all its SL glory. Acres and acres of tiny parcels crammed with every kind of eyesore you could imagine, not to mention my own. I tried to terraform it and failed and now it looks like someone threw up a bunch of land in the shape of a square. At least there was a lot of enthusiastic, noobish hustle and bustle going on all around, though.<br />
<br />
But now ...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo abandoned_zps2e5357aa.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/abandoned_zps2e5357aa.jpg" height="402" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Holy crikey — everyone's GONE! I flew around and it just said "Abandoned Land," "Abandoned Land," "Abandoned Land" in every direction, as far as I could fly. It was a little heartbreaking. Granted, I knew we'd all have to grow up and leave Neverland eventually – I just never expected a mass exodus. <br />
<br />
Speaking of everyone leaving, when I look over at the blog roll on this page, I see that a lot of my favorite bloggers over there haven't blogged in years either.<br />
<br />
Damn. I hope everyone's doing OK.<br />
<br />
Think I'm gonna go fix a drink now. :-\Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-12865297211036728122014-07-05T17:55:00.001-07:002014-07-05T17:55:14.820-07:00Stranger in a barely familiar land<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo clawhandonbooks_zpsd5b26483.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/clawhandonbooks_zpsd5b26483.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just call me Claw Hand.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Wow, kids! How do you even <b>BEGIN</b> to write a blog post about a place after you've been away from it for sooooooo long? <b>IT FEELS WEIRD, Y'ALL</b>, but here it goes!<br />
<br />
I logged in the other night and left my parcel for the first time in years. I felt like a stranger in a barely familiar land. I don't even know what the hell's going on in SL anymore. Usually I log in once a month or maybe once every few months just to pay my rent and that's it. I pop in, throw some money at <a href="http://aliciachenaux.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>my landlady</b></a> ("Hi! Here's some money! Sorry it's a little late! *cough* Bye!"), pet the PermaCat, water the plant and then POOF! I'm out.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo porch_zpsf2535e7e.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/porch_zpsf2535e7e.jpg" height="640" width="613" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've downsized to an Artilleri trailer these days. Cute pink though! See it in all its glory on the SL Marketplace <a href="https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/artilleri-Waterford-trailer-pink/2297746"><b>HERE.</b></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Back when I left, I felt like I needed to pull away from SL for a while so I could concentrate on fixing my mess of a life. (It's <b>STILL</b> kind of a mess of a life, BTW, but at least I OWN it instead of avoiding it.) But a few days ago, I had kind of a rough night. It felt like I had hit an all-time low and I was having a <b>REALLY</b> hard time keeping my demons on their leashes. So I thought, "Hey, I know a place that feels like my <b>NARNIA</b> and makes me happy, so I think I'm gonna push my way through the back of that magic wardrobe and see what's going on." Kind of like a Band-Aid for depression. (Granted, it's more like one of those generic band-aids that doesn't stick very well and just barely covers your raw, oozing sore, but it still takes your mind off the agony for a few minutes.)<br />
<br />
Plus, I'm a sucker for the SL birthday celebrations, so the timing was perfect.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo centaur_zpsa40d3118.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/centaur_zpsa40d3118.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Hey baby, what's going on? I like your ... ponytails."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I haven't changed out of those jeans and that stylish trench coat since late 2012.<br />
<br />
So yeah, it's weird, stumbling around, trying to get my fingers to remember how to work camera controls and stuff. It took me five minutes just to dust off my memories of how to take a <b>PICTURE,</b> let alone more complicated tricks like Debug Settings. Things have changed and there's a lot I feel clueless about — maybe I should swing by one of those centers for noobs and scream, <b>"SOMEBODY HELP ME!"</b><br />
<br />
Some things have stayed exactly the same, though. Like my graphics. They still suck. It still takes <b>FOREVER</b> for things to rez and sometimes things just don't want to cooperate, period. An overload of textures, for instance, will make my computer throw up its imaginary hands and scream, "NO WAY, HONEY."<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo pezhead_zpsbace112c.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/pezhead_zpsbace112c.jpg" height="600" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>GOD HELP US ALL, THAT'S A GIANT CALLIE CLINE HEAD IN THE AIR!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Take that grey shapeless mass, for instance. That's me on an elephant that never completely rezzed. Good times. And hell yeah, that's a cupcake on my face. I got my face painted at a booth at SLB11. If you haven't been over there, you can still go check it out until ... well, um, the end of tonight, I think. (Yay for procrastinators!) You'll have to sprint through all the exhibits, but I think it's worth it. There's a lot of cool stuff to see — as well as a few eyesores. (It's funny that we're celebrating 11 years, yet some people are still using textures from 2003, but whatever. It's all good.)<br />
<br />
My heart is a little broken that the SLB11 Linden Bear vendor isn't giving out Birthday Linden Bears anymore, but there are still a lot of great gifts to be had at the various exhibits if you're in a "gimme gimme gimme free stuff" kind of mood.<br />
<br />
<b>ALSO, </b>I'll have you SLB11 exhibitors know that I read <b>ALL YOUR NOTECARDS</b> and try to participate in <b>ALL</b> your exhibit activities. I'm that much of an enthusiastic dork at these things. And wow, I had no idea we had such intelligent and productive groups in SL. I'm always shocked to discover that people are actually doing things here besides shopping. <br />
<br />
Granted, because of my crappy graphics, there are bound to be some occasional misunderstandings when it comes to reading all the signage at these types of events:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo rice_zps224ffa7f.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/rice_zps224ffa7f.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Where is this enjoyable rice of which you speak and will I need chopsticks with that HUD?<br />
<br />
All that aside, I guess this year's theme for SLB11 was <b>"Big Damn Scary Heads on Parade."</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo bighead_zpsc6541cbc.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/bighead_zpsc6541cbc.jpg" height="475" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Yep, this is SL through the eyes of my ancient computer, kids. Doesn't it look like a blast? Eventually that thing rezzed. It still made me run the hell away, though. (After I poured myself a tall frosty beer with a lemon in it.)<br />
<br />
Let's look at some more.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo anotherdamnhead_zps7969a103.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/anotherdamnhead_zps7969a103.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
I believe this one belongs to a group that helps new avatars. Insert your own joke about eating them afterward here. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo anotheone_zpseee1fd9d.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/anotheone_zpseee1fd9d.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
I have a Chia Pet that looks like this, albeit not half as serene. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo guy_unit_zps8e760879.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/guy_unit_zps8e760879.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
KIDDING! She's lovely! (The head, not my Chia Pet.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo silvercolors_zps6421f152.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/silvercolors_zps6421f152.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Cool.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo eeeeeek_zps88b154d2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/what/eeeeeek_zps88b154d2.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Props for the lip piercings, but not so much for the nightmares I'm going to have for the rest of my life.<br />
<br />
That's about it. Those are my deep, meaningful pictures of the SLB11 Celebration, in case anyone wants to use them in the Chronicles of Second Life History someday.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I made a quick list of personal observations about SL after being inactive for a couple of years.<br />
<br />
<b>1.</b> I don't understand mesh boobs or how they work. Or mesh butts, for that matter. Or fake hands. Or fake feet. Clothing vendors say confusing things about tangos and shaders. Belleza has some kind of phat azz vendor thingy. The word "applier" is everywhere and c'mon, seriously <b>WHAT??? SO CONFUSING! </b>So actually, just make this item "mesh bodies in general." What's going on? Is everyone wearing mesh AVs now? Am I, like, old-school Ruth with my normal shape? **sad face**<br />
<br />
<b>2.</b> I'm way too poor to be in SL on a regular basis. Times are tight in RL. Buying lindens is a luxury I really can't afford right now. Hey, that $8 could buy five boxes of Lean Pockets OR 1/4 of a tank of gas. Sadly, that's how I think these days.<br />
<br />
<b>3.</b> It looks like I've been booted out of most of the blogger groups I once belonged to. <b>WHAT?!</b> You mean you don't want a member who hasn't updated her blog in almost two years? <b>I'M SHOCKED! </b><i>(My deepest thanks to A.S.S. and The Plastik for keeping me on their love lists though!)</i><br />
<br />
<b>4.</b> Even sadder, many of my friends are gone from my friends list. <b>(Prad?<i> PRAD?!!)</i></b> Maybe they left, too. Or maybe one day they looked at my name and thought, "Who the hell IS this anyway?" Or maybe they've gotten all New Agey and decided to simplify, simplify, simplify. Sigh.<br />
<br />
<b>5.</b> The death of Google Reader played a huge role in the death of my Second Life participation. Even after I stopped logging in regularly, I still used to cruise through my Reader frequently and check out all your blogs. Now that Google Reader is gone, I can't seem to find an RSS feed I like. Damn you, Google. Why'd you have to take a good thing and slaughter it?<br />
<br />
<b>6.</b> Despite it all, I can't deny that there's been a huge grin on my face the whole time I've been in world these past few days. It's good to be back. Hell, it feels like home.<br />
<br />
I think I'll stop now. Somebody fill me in on what's going on these days. You may see me in world from time to time now and again. It provides a little relief from some personal stuff I'm dealing with. Who knows, I might even start blogging again. <i>[Insert the deafening sound of two, maybe three people clapping here.]</i> I had forgotten how cathartic it can be! :DEmerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-91930111635145128702013-03-03T14:27:00.000-08:002013-04-03T15:36:39.713-07:00"The kid next door is dying"I've been popping in and out of Second Life to say hi to friends, but I'm pretty consumed these days with the real world and this new PR job, which is paying me nothing while it's kicking my ass. (Alone, I manage 10 clients, y'all. TEN.)<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, also in the real world, the 16-year-old kid who lives next door to me is dying. (Yeah, I didn't really have a smooth segue for that part. Sorry.)<br />
<br />
I write it here because I want to talk about it, but nobody in our neighborhood is talking about it anymore. It's the big awkward elephant on the street and we are all gingerly stepping around it. His house has become That House With the Kid Who is Dying. It might as well have a giant flag that says "CANCER LIVES HERE" flying in the front yard. <br />
<br />
About eight months ago he was diagnosed with tumors in his liver and lungs. And so it began. As if in a Hallmark Channel movie, the neighborhood rallied. One day everyone showed up with rakes and collectively cleaned up the leaves in the front yard. Another day, people gathered in matching T-shirts, cheering, "We're gonna beat this!" before leaving for a fundraiser walk-a-thon. People bustled in and out of the house with food and good wishes. Everyone put up a brave front.<br />
<br />
Then gradually the activity tapered off. Reports came back from the hospital of more and more tumors spreading. The chemotherapy wasn't working. The prognosis got bleaker and bleaker. A big truck came and dropped off a hospital bed. He would spend days on end at a prominent pediatric cancer hospital here and then come home, withered and hairless and nothing at all like the kid who only a year ago was out there shooting hoops in the driveway and talking to girls on his cell phone. He helped me chase my dog once when she managed to get off her leash. When we caught her, we were both laughing so hard we were almost doubled over. Now he has to be carried up the stairs into his house. <br />
<br />
We've started to get the vibe from his family that they just want to be left alone. The valiant determination has turned to quiet resolution. They come and go in hushed solemnity. Some weeks, the newspapers pile up at the foot of their driveway. They don't want visitors. Our helpless "Is there anything we can do?" is always met with a polite "No thank you." We leave them alone with their grief and hope we're not being assholes by doing it.<br />
<br />
My (temporary, while I pay off some of this $35K in debt, don't get me started) room on the second floor of my family's home would be right next to his if we didn't have the outside world separating us. Sometimes I lie in bed and wonder if he's scared over there, lying in his own bed. Or in pain. Or asleep. Or on a laptop playing video games. Sometimes I lie here and think, "Only a couple of walls stand between me and Death," and I'll try to project thoughts over there, to Death, as if it really were a dark, cloaked reaper standing in a corner of the kid's room with a scythe in hand, silently watching a giant ticking clock. I'll think, "TAKE ME INSTEAD. I'VE HAD A GREAT LIFE. HIS IS JUST BEGINNING" as loud and as and hard as I can. Or I'll put my palm against the wall and imagine sending a blast of white, purifying light over there, like a laser. I'll imagine it engulfing his hospital bed and seeping into his body and burning away all the cancer that's eating him alive. I'll start thinking about how all this stuff about God and the miracle of prayer and the power of positive thinking and manifesting your destiny suddenly seems like bullsh*t, and I'll wonder if he's over there thinking the same thing.<br />
<br />
His looming death has become interwoven with our lives. We will inevitably mention him during dinner, we will text updates on his health when we get them, we will become suddenly quiet when we pass his house. Often I'll be cleaning or walking the dog or sitting here messing around on my laptop or getting ready for some big stupid thing at work and suddenly I'll stop and think, "The kid next door is dying" and feel, well, guilty I guess. And sad. And helpless. I would like to say something uplifting, like "his oncoming death is making me appreciate my own life more," but I'm embarrassed to say that's not true. I'm old. I'm jaded. I'm tired. I've been through this so many times with so many people. As cold as it sounds, the unspoken thought that often hangs here is more like, "So this is how his story ends." And if I'm lucky, someday someone will be watching my own story end and, in doing so, at least honor the fact that I had one in the first place. I feel like we are all on this journey with him and I hope he at least feels our silent presence, but besides that, if there is some great lesson to be learned here, it's being wasted on me at this point. <br />
<br />
I've noticed that even though his name is Maximillian – and he hates it when people call him Max – we always refer to him as "the kid next door," as if by refusing to use his name we are selfishly putting distance between us and the massive waves of grief coming from that house. Or maybe it's because if we refuse to use his name, it keeps its power – it gets to hold on to an identity that doesn't include dying. I'd like to think it's the latter, but I don't know.<br />
<br />
So anyway, I logged in today to screw around with my virtual SL house and, as always, out of the blue, I thought, "The kid next door is over there dying." Then I hoped that God or whoever is running the universe would at least accept that acknowledgment as some kind of a prayer. Because you can only get down on your knees and say, "Please God, don't let that kid die" or "Please God, help him not to feel lonely and scared" or "Please God, give his family strength" so many times before you start feeling like a broken record that nobody's listened to for a while.<br />
<br />
The kid next door is dying, and I don't really have a way to end this blog post. Sometimes I still cling to a tiny sliver of hope that his story will have a surprise ending. Until then, I take some small comfort in the fact that the cursor has stopped here, still blinking – that I don't have a sentence to write here yet.<br />
<br />
Sheezus this blog is becoming a real downer. Sorry 'bout that.Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2197162251757701576.post-42784522715383246542013-02-24T22:22:00.000-08:002015-05-19T17:00:17.877-07:00Did Elisa Lam have a Second Life AV?<div class="tr_bq">
(I swear this post will eventually get around to the topic of Second Life. Just bear with it.)</div>
<br />
<img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/erinn27/Elisa_zpsb564a093.jpg" /><br />
I've been haunted all weekend by the story of Elisa Lam.<br />
<br />
You've probably heard this story – or at least part of it – by now.<br />
<br />
In a nutshell: Elisa Lam, 21, of Vancouver, B.C., takes a solo trip to California. Her friends and family members say they're not quite sure why. A few friends say she told them she was going to take a job on a farm in Santa Cruz. Some of them find this reason strange and hard to believe – Who hears about a random job on a farm in California and travels from Canada to take it? Other friends say Elisa struggled with sometimes crippling depression – for a time she had dropped out of school because of it – and had wandered off the grid before. They assumed this trip was another depression-fueled wander.<br />
<br />
Regardless of the reason behind it, <b><a href="http://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/post/40401259146/planning-planning-planning-for-the-west-coast" target="_blank">Elisa mentions the trip on her tumblr</a></b>. She lists the cities she plans to visit – San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and possibly San Luis Obispo – and invites her tumblr followers to offer travel suggestions or plan a meet-up with her. Finally, she heads off to Cali on Jan. 26.<br />
<br />
She starts in San Diego, kicks around for a couple of days and then takes a bus to Los Angeles. She checks in to the unbelievably seedy <b><a href="http://www.thececilhotel.com/" target="_blank">Cecil Hotel</a></b>. It's a couple of streets away from Skid Row, where homeless people live in tents on the streets. It's filthy and dismal, with shared bathrooms and public showers. It has several floors of single occupancy residents. In fact, serial killer Richard Ramirez lived there for 14 months. Actually, I could devote a whole post to the hotel's dark past – so many murders there, so many suicides – but this post is about Elisa.<br />
<br />
Many of us who are now borderline-obsessed with this case wonder why in the world she would choose such a nasty hotel, particularly since she was traveling alone. Some us think she was misled by the hotel's website, which shows marble floors and ornate decor. Some of us think someone may have suggested it to her. Some of us think she picked it because she was on a budget and it's only $65 a night to stay there and close to a hip, artsy section of downtown L.A.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, she checks in with her family every day of her trip. And then one day she stops checking in. Her family gets concerned. Days go by. Elisa misses her Feb. 1 check-out date. Her parents and sister fly from Vancouver to Los Angeles to hold a Feb. 6 press conference with the Los Angeles Police Department about Elisa's disappearance. More days go by.<br />
<br />
And here's where it gets creepy and disturbing as hell.<br />
<br />
On Feb. 14, in the hopes that someone will recognize her, police release this Jan. 31 surveillance video footage of Elisa in one of the hotel's elevators. It is, hands down, one of the most chilling things I've watched in a long time:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3TjVBpyTeZM" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
Is she hiding from someone? High? Hallucinating? In the midst of a mental break? Goofing around with someone? Possessed? Seeing the paranormal? <b>I AM HAUNTED BY THIS VIDEO.</b> I had horrible dreams about this video. I woke up thinking about this video. I will probably think about it every time I get in an elevator now.<br />
<br />
On Feb. 19, in response to complaints of low water pressure from guests at the Cecil Hotel, a worker checks the hotel's water tanks on the roof and discovers the decomposing nude body of a woman floating in one of them. It is later identified "by body markings" as the missing Elisa Lam. Authorities later determined the body had been there for at least 19 days.<br />
<br />
The subsequent news stories were unfortunately not so much about Elisa as they were about the fact that the Cecil Hotel's residents had been drinking, showering in and brushing their teeth with water in which a decomposing corpse had been floating for weeks. It explained why some guests had complained that their shower water was black and their drinking water had a "sweetly, disgusting" taste to it. . . .<br />
<br />
OK, I have to break the serious tone of this post for a minute to say <b>SHEEEEEEEEZUS</b> that could be the grossest thing I've ever heard. I'm sorry, but <b>WOW</b>. I would probably puke for <b>WEEKS</b> if I was one of those people. "We're not well mentally," said British tourist and hotel guest Michael Baugh, 27. <b>YOU THINK?</b><br />
<br />
On Feb. 20, officials issue a "do not drink" order to guests and residents of the hotel. (Um, too late?)<br />
<br />
An autopsy on Feb. 21 was frustratingly "inconclusive." Now those of us who are emotionally invested in this story are waiting six to eight weeks for toxicology reports. And wondering. Was she murdered? Was it a drug-induced accident? Was it suicide? Was she in L.A. to meet someone whom she met online – someone who turned out to be a sicko?<br />
<br />
Anyway, so here's why I wanted to talk about Elisa and Second Life.<br />
<br />
So many people out there on various forums are speculating about this young woman's life, trying to find out who she was and if she'd be prone to suicide, drugs or weird, crazy gestures in elevators.<br />
<br />
As for me, one way I really got to know Elisa was by reading her blog <b><a href="http://etherfields.blogspot.hk/" target="_blank">Ether Fields</a></b>. In it, she talks very openly about her struggles with depression and her frequent inability to leave the house or get out of bed. When she did, it was an accomplishment. I know how she feels. She also talks about connecting with people online. A pretentious guy on one conspiracy theory forum described her blog as "boring, not particularly interesting." I wanted to tell that guy that a-holes like him probably contributed a helluva lot to her often-bleak outlook on life.<br />
<br />
Some excerpts:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
"<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I spent about two days in bed hating myself.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
Why don't I simply do the things that I know will make me feel better?</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">It isn't rocket science. It isn't that difficult. Get out of bed. Eat. See people. Talk to people. Exercise. Write. Read. </span>"</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Things are going fairly well in that I am leaving the house and got myself a part time job. My room is still a mess. I haven't actually done any school work and I berate myself for being such a lazy person.</span>"</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"I feel I am wasting my time compared to my fellow peers. I had a relapse at the start of the term and had to drop 2 of the 3 courses I was taking. Now I am down to one course and I have missed 3 weeks of classes since my sleeping pattern is completely reversed."</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"I haven't felt 'fine' in over 3 years. This relapse makes me feel as though I haven't made any progress at all."</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"I'm very disappointed in myself for breaking down during the term forcing me to withdraw from courses. I've been at university for 3 years and I've only managed to complete three courses. That means I've been a first year for three years and this September it will be for the fourth year because I require 30 credits in order for second year status."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"I just wish...someone around me could understand what it really means to be depressed."</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">"Bless the internet. All those who wish to find a way to express their sadness can go there and feel less alone. So many of the tumblrs I follow seem to carry the same grief as me in some way or another.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> . . . </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">I simply have no motivation to do anything, let alone leave my bed. My computer and the internet is my one lifeline, one link to the world and reminder to look beyond my immediate situation because there is always more. Always. "</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">On one hand this helps me deal with the sadness but on the other hand I basically become a potato. On the outside I look like a catatonic hobo on my bed in front of a glowing screen (no sleep schedule whatsoever but this appears to be a norm for the jobless and the people on the internet) and not eating/sleeping/functioning like any "normal" person. And I shout at anyone saying "Maybe.... you should try getting off the computer?" Leave me alone, I'm happy, this makes me feel better, I need this, this is the one thing that makes me sane, I can't deal with people, just leave me alone, this is something I can actually do, nobody is judging me, I feel less lonely because all these people think like me. "</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">". . . despite the overwhelming majority of tumblr-ers who seem to be your soulmate, the actuality is they are the minority of the world. And perhaps, they only exist on their computers and they are a muted version of their online selves in real life. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">And maybe I'm looking at them through the rose-coloured glasses (pixelated screens I think there's a funny analogy in there somewhere) and seeing the person they aspire to be."</span></blockquote>
Does any of this sound familiar? Doesn't it sound like so many of our blogs and conversations? I know it sounds like a lot of mine. Hell, I could have written these things – just substitute "jobs" for "courses" and change "not getting out of bed for days" to "years."<br />
<br />
People might disagree with this opinion, but I think she fits the profile of so many people in Second Life: dealing with depression or isolation, connects better with people online than in RL, sees the Internet as somewhere to escape, recognizes the power of expression and reinvention that an online identity can give.<br />
<br />
At one point in her blog, she talks about not wanting to blog under her real name:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Why am I writing about issues that I </span><em style="border-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">know</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> people f*cking freak out about? What kind of a narcissistic twit am I anyway to think my little voice will add anything useful to the blogosphere? Why do I feel the need to do this at all? What have I already published that people could use against me? <b>What if there are already crazies out there Googling me? </b></span></blockquote>
<br />
Oof, if only she knew just how much some of us would be Googling her. :(<br />
<br />
And her mysterious trip to California – well, it reminded me of so many of my SL friends who finally took that leap and traveled somewhere in RL to meet an SL friend or partner. You just can't tell most people in RL about a trip like that because many people wouldn't understand and many would think you had lost it.<br />
<br />
I think Elisa Lam would have liked Second Life. She was passionate about fashion and loved to express herself visually as well as verbally. It just makes me wonder if she had an AV here. I remember the weird panicky feeling I got when one of my SL friends up and vanished a few years ago. I remember just feeling helpless because I really didn't know who she was in RL. I sat around wondering if she had been in an accident or if she had just decided to make a run for the border.<br />
<br />
Do any of you have an SL friend who mentioned a trip to California and vanished? Do any of you know someone who recently went from being regularly active to suddenly gone (besides me, LOL)? If we give her name to Linden Lab, would they check? Probably not.<br />
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The problem with forming an online community is when you lose a member, sometimes you never find out why. And vice versa – when something horrible happens out there in the real world, sometimes you never know which, if any, of your virtual friends are affected by it. Sometimes people just disappear, and all the searching in the world never brings any clear answers.<br />
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Anyway, I can't get away from the word "haunt" here. Her story haunts me. I am haunted by the sickeningly ironic fact (sing: "Isn't It Ironic?") that when she finally managed to get out of bed and make an effort to get a fresh perspective on life, she came to a horrifying, gruesome end. I am heartbroken for her family – how horrible, not only to lose a daughter and a sister, but to lose her in such a macabre, public way. She's not Elisa anymore – she's a rotting corpse that contaminated a hotel water supply for days. She's a weird girl doing creepy things in an elevator. Depending who you ask, she's on drugs, insane, plain stupid or suicidal. Nobody's talking about the tragedy of a bright life that was suddenly taken. Nobody's talking the fact that she loved "The Great Gatsby" and Harry Potter, that she had a wonderful eye for fashion, that she was often bravely trying to find her way back from the brink and allowing so many people to share that journey, <b><a href="http://etherfields.blogspot.hk/2011/11/youth.html" target="_blank">t</a><a href="http://etherfields.blogspot.hk/2011/11/youth.html" target="_blank">hat she rejoiced in the feeling of being madly in love and loved back</a></b>, that her <b><a href="http://instagram.com/moulesmariniere" target="_blank">Instagram album</a></b> was pretty cool.<br />
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She has been reduced to a morbid mystery. :(<br />
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Elisa, I wish I would have found your blog while you were alive. I would have told you that so many people can relate to what you were going through. <b>SO MANY.</b> And if you didn't know about SL, maybe I would have told you about it. We take care of our own here. Or at least we try.<br />
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Rest in peace.Emerald Wynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142722314176962095noreply@blogger.com79