BBBC Day 5 - Blogger's Choice

Today's BBBC Topic is Blogger's Choice.

So, I'm gonna choose to not blog about anything in particular. Here's a random picture. I went to check out Bon Temps after seeing a pic of Winter Jefferson on the roof of Merlotte's.

Random

I didn't meet any vampires there and no one tried to bite me. The last time a vampire tried to bite me, I had to explain that since I'm a ghost (boo!), I'm already dead and they won't be able get any blood out of me.

Credits:
Hair: Truth -Tilly Streaked - Crow
Skin: Frick - Rosy - Peach - Dk Brows
Dress: Sn@tch -Marie Corset Dress Pink
Socks: Sn@tch -Dauphine Socks Black with Pink Sock Top
Shoes: Sn@tch - Runway Stompers (Black)
Necklace:  Wretched Dollies - Fleur De Lis Black Diamond Necklace
Pose by Everglow
Location - Bon Temps, LA

BBBC Topic #4 - Age (Beware! This Post is Haunted)

Today's BBBC Topic #4 is "What's my age again?"

Alicia asks,
SL Bloggers - Is your avatar more or less your current biological age? Do you portray a younger avatar, or older? Why is this?
RL Bloggers - Do you lie about your age? Do you think you act your age? Are you where you thought you'd be at your current age?
In SL, I have no age.  I am a ghost. Boo!  So, I suppose I portray an old dead person.  I don't know why.  It just seemed to be closest to who I am.  I never really thought about age in any context other than thinking that some skins make my av look younger and some older.  I have no preference for one age over the other.

Ghost

As a RL blogger, I never discuss my age because it is not relevant to anything I write about. I do act my age, and although I never imagined my life would turn out the way it has, and I am content with where I am at my age.

Credits:
Dress:  Studio Sidhe - Victorian Lace Nightgown
Skin:  Gala Pheonix - Moonbeam [Light] Cupid-Allure 1
Hair:  I Love Olive - Betty Hair in White
Haunted Piano from Vooner
Pose - from the "Come with me" poseball from Pulling Strings

BBBC Topic #3 - Relationships

Today's Big Bad Blogger Challenge question:
SL Bloggers - How hard do you think it is to find a relationship in SL? If you have an SL relationship, have you met in the physical world? Would you meet them? Do you think it would change your SL relationship if you met?
RL Bloggers - Would you start a relationship with someone you met online? Would you have a problem telling people that's where you met? Do you think it's easier to meet someone online rather than at work or at a club?
Alicia, what the heck are you trying to do to me?  1st you make me try to think positive, and now relationships?  Do you WANT me to end up in the mental ward?  (LOL).
BTW - the hat I'm wearing is new from Wretched Dollies and I absolutely love it.  Star Fairymeadow posted a picture of it on Plurk, and I saved the link to remember to go buy it, but before I could get online, she had already passed a copy of it to me. I just want to give her a special thanks.  I look up to her so much.  She really has a wonderful shop, and is one of my favorite designers in SL.

Stella

I know nothing about SL relationships.  I've never had one and probably never will.  I'm far too much of a hermit to meet people.  I wouldn't even know where to go to meet someone, and I'm very shy.  In fact, I wrote a blog post awhile ago about how to not get picked up in SL.  It's worked very well for me so far.  I'm not opposed to the idea of meeting someone, it's just that when you have a habit of running away whenever someone talks to you, it's kind of difficult.

Stella

Now, RL is a whole other story.  A long time ago, I met someone online. We lived 500 miles apart, but we would drive to see each other as often as possible.  The long distance part sucked, and the relationship didn't exactly end well, but it's a long story that no one would be interested in hearing.

Stella

I'm pretty much a failure at relationships.  I broke off an engagement over a year ago (which I seem to have a habit of doing), and I have no one in my life now.  There are no available men at work, I don't go to clubs, I don't meet people online, so I'm pretty much doomed to be that crazy cat lady spinster that chases small children off her lawn with a broom, and I accept my fate.  If someone wants to meet me, he's going to have a lot of walls to knock down to get to me.

Credits:
Hair - Fashionably Dead - Sparks - Nothingness
Skin - Launa Fauna - {Lapine . Pale 1} [Eve]
Hat - Wretched Dollies - Little Stella Hat Color Changing Rose
Dress - A Netherworld - Shining Star Dolly Dress
Choker - A Netherworld - Rose Choker
Shoes - Shiny Things - Hyasynths Black
Poses by [doll]
Location - Utopia4

BBBC Topic #2 - Being Positive

Today's BBBC challenge is to write about three positive things going on in your Second Life.  Well, now, that is a challenge.  I'm fairly curmudgeonly by nature, so this is going to take some effort.

Positive thing #1:  Operation Squeegee.  I am very excited to get to take part in Operation Squeegee.  One of the hardest things about disasters like the BP oil spill is that there is so little that one person can do about it.  But, if each person does their little bit, together we can all make a difference.  So, having the opportunity to take part in this worthy cause is something that means a lot to me.

Nothing

Positive thing #2:  Ok, curmudgeonly Isa is already having trouble with this challenge.  I'm sitting here thinking, "Well, I have friends in SL and they're a positive part of my SLife, and I really like my little shop, as lame as it is, and um, I like making stuff and blogging stuff" and all I can think is, "OMG! that all sounds so dorky, goofy, sappy.  Barf!"  So, yeah, I guess positive thing number 2 is all this sappy stuff.   It's all positive.  *barf*

Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow

Positive thing #3.  Bite me!  I'm not going to even attempt a 3rd positive thing.  My mind just doesn't work like that.  All of you fluffy, butterfly, sunshine, happy, woo hoo type people with your high 5s and your squeals of joy can have your positive stuff.  I'm going to stick with my curmudgeonly ways.  You can't change me!  *shakes fist*

Credits:
Skin:  Launa Fauna - {Lapine, Pale 1}[Eve]
Eyeshadow:  Moonshadow - 2.0 Face Tattoos - Shadowy
Hair:  Ploom - Kewpie - Coal
Dress:  A Netherworld - Layered Dolly Dress
Collar:  Dreams - Skull Buckle Collar
Shoes:  Animas Designs - Lady Biker Boot
Location:  Macbeth
Poses by Everglow

Big Bad Blogger Challenge 2010 - Day 1

Alicia Chenaux is challenging bloggers to answer one question each day for a week for the Big Bad Blogger Challenge of 2010.

Today's question(s): Why did you become a blogger? How has it enriched your life?

BBBC 2010

Before joining SL in January of last year, I had already been blogging for about 3 years.  I have a RL blog that I still post to occasionally, and I began a SL blog within a week of joining.  I joined SL as an academic because the academic community was all a-buzz about the possibilities of teaching in a virtual world, and as a sociologist/criminologist, I saw a lot in SL that I thought was fascinating.  I felt like I needed a place to record my observations, and my 1st post was within a week of rezzing.  I am a little embarrassed by those early entirely, horribly, shamefully newbish posts.  I haven't deleted them, but they are hidden.

I had no idea at the time that there was a blogging community, or feeds, or anything of the sort.  The 1st other blog I found related to SL was Lizzie Lexington's blog and much of what I learned about SL, I learned from reading her blog.

Since it's beginning, this blog has morphed from basic notes on the discovery of SL to fashion and random ponderings.  But, at it's beginning, I started blogging just to record my thoughts, nothing more.

I wouldn't say blogging has enriched my life.  No.  Not blogging.  I don't even know that SL has enriched my life.  It provided an escape during a tough time in my life.  I went through a bad break up last year, and I found that being online took my mind away from my troubles.  Blogging and making stuff give me something to do in SL.  It's all more of a diversion than an enrichment.  Without SL, I'd probably just be watching TV, so at least it's something mentally active.  When I think of life enriching things, I think of my beautiful daughter, and my wonderfully affectionate little doggies, I think of how lucky I am to have the family and the job that I have and how lucky I am to have a safe, warm, loving home.

Credits:
Skin:  Tuli - Jade(tone1/bl) ::07a
Hair:  I Love Olive - Lucy Hair/Jet Black
Dress & Shoes:  A Netherworld - Black Floral Halter Dress
Necklace: A Netherworld - Oh My Broken Heart Necklace
Leggings:   SE Designz - Lace Leggins Lowrise black
Pose by Everglow
Location:  Creamshop

Lolapop and Blue Blood for Etheria

~ Etheria – When Jeweler’s Dream ~ is a special collaborative fashion event.  Lolapop! and Blue Blood, two of my favorite shops are participants.  Lola79 Heinricks and Ghanima Uriza collaborated on this wonderful Fleur De Lis themed creation in four colors.

Lolapop & Blue Blood for Etheria

The dress comes with sculpted sleeves, ruffles around the neck, and a prim skirt with sculpted sash and two attachment options.

Lolapop & Blue Blood for Etheria

The jewelry set comes with bracelets, earrings and a necklace.  The necklace, too, has two attachment point options.

Lolapop & Blue Blood for Etheria

This lovely collaborative outfit comes in four color options; red, purple, black, and pink.

Lolapop & Blue Blood for Etheria

Credits:
Skin: Imabee - (red) Pale - Vivian - Vivian In The Red Garden / Freckles / (purple) Vivian Grins Like A Chesh / Freckles /(black) The Red Queen Killed Vivi / Freckles / (pink) Vivian Is Running Out Of / Freckles
Hair: Ploom - Ellia - Black Out
Dress: Blue Blood for Etheria - Fleur
Jewelry: Lolapop for Etheria - Fleur Fantasy Set
Shoes: Shiny Things - Hyasynths - black
Poses by [doll.]

Taking Time

I've always thought it was interesting that, while some argue that virtual worlds are future of the internet,  SL residents, seeing the limitations of the medium, flock to other social networking sites to build the community they so crave.  If you want to be in the know in SL, there are a few places outside of SL to go (and you HAVE to go outside of SL).  I have networked with other people in SL via blogs, forums, Twitter, Facebook, Avatars United, and Plurk.  It seems that Plurk, though, is where the action is.  In Plurk, residents vent their complaints, offer suggestions, support each other during tough times, advertise their creations, get recommendations for just about everything, and create, invent, fan the flames of, and stifle drama.

Taking Time

So, while SL has the virtual world part in it's pocket, it's always lacked the means to assist residents in building community.  Now, with the downsizing of the company, and the loss of so many dearly loved members of the Linden family, there is talk of a new direction for SL.  A sort of online, Facebook/Farmville, virtual world in a browser type thing.  I think SL is missing the big picture here.  They already have the virtual world stuff pretty well down, they have a huge user base with creative talent, and they have loyal customers who like things the way they are (they just want the bugs fixed).  Linden Lab just needs to get the social networking side of it down.  So, why don't they look to where the residents go, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel?

Taking Time

For avatar connectivity, SL residents don't like Facebook, and there are many reasons why.  I don't think they like Farmville much, either, although I could be wrong on that.  We do like Plurk.  In fact, many of us are addicted to Plurk.  I'm so addicted, my Plurk karma is 100!  And, most of the people I now know in SL, I've met via Plurk.  Why do we like Plurk?


Taking Time


We like it because it maintains our privacy and allows us to be avatars.  It allows threaded communciation.  We like threads.  Unlike in chat, where comments and ideas get lost, threaded communication allows us to complete a thought and allows others to respond to that thought.  It allows us to freely - at NO COST - share pictures.  It allows us to meet new people that we might never run into in SL.  It allows us to fan our favorite people, and maybe, just maybe, they'll be interested in our timeline, too.  We can see who the friends of our friends are and see if maybe we might have something in common with them.  ALL of these features are absent from SL.  Even when we have groups (which you can have in Plurk), we have to rely on group chat, which has NONE of those features I just mentioned.  Plurk gives you the ability to form your own community, in the way that works for you.  And, community is SO important - for so many reasons.


Taking TIme


So, rather than focusing on recreating a new browser based virtual world, perhaps SL should focus on bringing the features of social networking sites like Plurk into their already thriving world.  That's just my 2¢, but what do I know.  I'm just a sociologist.   I'll just be over here taking time to smell the roses and talking about fashion.  BTW, isn't my outfit fantastically smexy?  It's new from A-Bomb.  The shoes are color change.

Oh, and I took super duper high resolution pictures today.  See - no jagged edges anywhere.  I used  Ana Lutitia's "AvatarOpt2 whiter" windlight setting, graphics setting on "ultra" with 8x anti-aliasing and 3200x3200 pictures.  Guess where I learned about all this stuff?  That's right - PLURK, baby!

Credits:
Dress:  A-Bomb - Into the Fire - purple
Shoes:  A-Bomb - Chic wedges
Jewelry: Violet Voltaire - Heart Container Set
Skin:  Garage - Beatrice skin tone 1 - makeup - 2
Hair:  Clawtooth - Lovely Liz - Black beauty
Eyes:  House of Ruin - Painted Tonic: Orchis
Bag:  Boom - Take it Easy Tote-Sparkling Death
Location:  Arcachon II
Poses by Everglow

Always After the Fact

Out of the many recent new releases from Sn@tch, this Swirl and Swing outfit is one of my favorites.  The skirt has a sculpted inner piece, with flouncy outer layers.  The velvety top has a wonderful texture to it.  The outfit comes with the top, three different skirts, and the stockings.


I'm also wearing "Oh Darling" from Posh.  It was part of their 50L weekend sale.  Ticky Tacky earrings and bangles complete the outfit.


Credits:
Hair - Posh - Oh Darling: Marshmellow (sic)
Skin - Gala Phoenix - Moonbeam [Dark] Cupid-Allure 1
Eyes - Pulse - Le Mystere Eyes - Sapphire
Earrings - Ticky Tacky - Per la principesa Earrings - Zara
Bangles - Ticky Tacky - Tempted Bangles - Ghost
Shoes - Tesla - High Oxford Black
Outfit - Sn@tch - Swirl & Swing Silver
Pose by Everglow

And why is it that I don't notice the glaring errors in my pictures until after I've already edited them, uploaded them, and finished blogging them?  Doh!  Seems to happen to me every time.

Caged

Nightshade has just released the Delilah dress.  It's a different kind of cage dress with sculpted swirlies making up the skirt.  Underneath the cage are sculpted bloomers.  The outfit comes with gloves, stockings, and a neck brace.  It's an amazing creation.  I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it.


I'm wearing Tuli's new Jade skin, and *sigh* I love it.  ♥♥♥  House of Ruin eyes, and W&Y hair complete the outfit.  I suppose I'm "back in black" after my short hiatus wearing pink.


Credits:
Outfit - Nightshade - Delilah - Black
Shoes - Nightshade - Carpe Noctem
Hair - W&Y - Model Hair 16
Skin - Tuli - Jade (tone 1/bl) 03
Eyes - House of Ruin - Spectrum: Velvet, hollow
Tattoo - Moloko - Stardust Tattoo
Poses by Everglow

We Love Our Kitties, Don't We

Pets add so much to our lives.  They comfort us when we're feeling down, they love us unconditionally, they entertain us, and they become an integral part of our family.  This post is inspired by all the pets out there, and to their humans who love them so much.

"Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections,
predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. Difficult
standards for people to live up to."
- Alfred A. Montapert


This post is dedicated to Cajsa, who inspires me.  All the best to you and Mariah.  You are in my thoughts.

Credits:
Dress:  Vesna - Kitten Dress
Hair:  Kik - mode-catC(black)
Skin: Gala Pheonix - Moonbeam [Dark] Cupid-Allure 1
Collar: Dreams - Diamond Full Paw Print Buckle Collar
Tail: Dreams - Fluffly Tail Purrfectly Plain in Black Night
Stompers - Nek-o-licious - Black Leather Neko Feet (old hunt gift)
Face Tattoo:  Dreams - Paw Print Face Tattoo
Tattoo: IrUrU - Cat Paws (old hunt gift)
Shoulder Kitty:  Animas Designs - Black Shoulder Cat
Eyes:  House of Ruin - Simple Tonic: Sapphire
Pose by Everglow

Bellissima - Cool find!

I was just shopping around and found this really sweet outfit from Bellissima for only 10L.  It's upstairs.  Check it out!


Credits:
Outfit, including shirt, skirt, boots, collar, and cuffs from Bellissima - Rock'nRolla - Black Leather - 10L
Fishnets - Blowpop - Seamed Fishnet Tights w/Panty Black Rip
Skin - Plastik - Lionheart[Elven] - Porcelain - Evel
Hair - Ploom - Ellia - Black Out
Peircings - Garage - Piercing set 03
Tattoo - Moloko - Stardust Tattoo Female
Eyes - House of Ruin - Simple Tonic: Deep
Pose by Everglow

OMG! Isa's Wearing Pink!

I know.  I know.  It's pink, but it's Sn@tch and it's free.  I will wear pink for Sn@tch any day.  You can get this dress at the new Second Style Island sim as an opening gift.  The hair is new from I Love Olive, and of course, I'm going to pretend it was named after me, even though I know it wasn't.  I mean, so many bloggers have hair named after them, it's only fair to let me pretend, isn't it?


Credits:
Hair - I Love Olive - Isa Hair/Black
Skin - Imabee - Pale - Vivian - Vivian is Running Out of Time
Dress - Sn@tch - Far Away - for Second Style (free!)
Boots - Dilly Dolls - Danielle Boots Dark - for the Black and Blue Fair, location TBA

Dilly Dolls for Black and Blue Fair

For the Black and Blue Fair, which starts on Thursday and runs through July 3rd, Dilly Dolls is releasing these two cute new dresses.  They come in, of course, black and blue.  The boots are new from Dilly Dolls, too and are color change.  The boots are really unusual.  You may not be able to tell from the picture, but the boots on the right have little bows on the front with little skulls.  The skulls are color change, too and you can set them to invisible.  I made mine blue.  Click the picture for a larger view.


The location for the fair is secret until it opens.  Check the official blog for more information.

Credits:
Skin - Imabee - Pale - Vivian - The Heart of Queen Vivian/Freckles
Hair - Dilly Dolls - Melany II (The Darks)
Left:
Dress:  Dilly Dolls - Evan Blue
Boots:  Dilly Dolls - Pansa Boots
Right:
Dress:  Dilly Dolls - Corrin Blue
Boots:  Dilly Dolls - Danielle Boots Dark