Grid Talk: My 7 sl Facts Meme

I kinda love Strawberry Singh's meme posts even though I haven't participated in any of them.  But since I've been in a blog slump of late (I seem to write about my blog slump in every post.  oh well), I decided to write seven things about my avatar.

1.  This isn't my first avatar.  Wow-big surprise there, right?  I used to be into the whole alt thing.  I had several.  All looked different, all acted different but in the end, they were all just me.  All are gone now-sent to wherever dead avatars end up.  Today, all I have is Epione, and another female and a male (both are used mainly for blogging purposes).

2.  I came on sl to to join a specific support group.  The support group dissolved. I stayed.

3.  I never owned land.  I currently rent a plot.  I love to live up in the sky.  My biggest sl renting pet peeve is to look at a gazillion other platforms in the sky especially right above me.  I've actually moved twice because of that.  I just don't want to look up and see your ugly skybox (they're probably thinking the same thing about my sky platform)! 

4. I have one of those furries.  I bought it because I thought it was cute.  I even had some furry friends once upon an sl time.  I found out a couple years ago that furries are kind of, not thought of very well in some sl circles.  And why should I care?  I don't really.  I bought the furry coz I thought it was cute.  I mean, come on, a pink leopard?  What could be cuter!?

5.  I don't IM people.  I'm afraid to.  Friends list.  creators. people I see just hanging around.  I just don't do it anymore.  I'd rather risk not making a friend vs. bothering someone.  Also, most of the time I don't answer if someone IMs me.  If it's someone on my friends' list, I will.  But with random people, I usually never answer.  Sometimes, I even mute them after the first IM.  There are reasons I do this-it's not because I'm mean or bitchy.  I just can't. anymore.

6.  This kind of goes with the above.  Sometimes I get lonely in sl.  I see all these people with best sl friends and every once in awhile I think...I would like that.  When I first came on sl, I was rarely alone and always talked to everybody.  Nowadays, I come on in the early hours of the morning mainly just to blog, or feed my cats or pay my rent.  So I can't complain about being lonely when it's my own choosing.

7.  I tend to be a bit of a hoarder.  It's usually houses but sometimes I go through a skin faze.  Several times I have gotten the same house, or skin that I already have in my inventory.

This is probably one of the most boring 7 avatar sl facts you will ever read.  I could have been more forthcoming but this is what I ended up with.

One last thing.  Does anyone know how I can get rid of those jagged edges in my images?  They appear every time I use shadows.  I changed my antialiasing but they still appear.  Maybe it's just my computer (macbook pro) which is kinda old. 

skin:  Curio, vintage-New Skins coming!
hair:  Truth,  teddy
dress:  lassitude & ennui, patience dress @Zodiac-Taurus
horns:  LouLou&Co, libertad @Zodiac-Taurus
pose:   aDORKable, sunny pack@Zodiac-Taurus
handsAndfeet:  Slink
place:  Tales from the Ghost Forest

Clear

Warning:  Walking Dead spoilers below.  DO NOT read if you're behind on Season 3.

I'm a huge Walking Dead fan and I've wanted to do something walker/dead inspired for awhile now.  I wanted to post this right after the episode "Clear" from several weeks ago but blablabla, I never got to it until this morning.  Now on to Michonne and Morgan.

I love Michonne but it took me awhile to warm up to her.  There was so much hype about the Michonne from the comic but I was kind of disappointed with the Michonne from the show (I haven't read the comics).  At first I wanted to make Michonne look exactly like she is portrayed by Danai Gurira but I kind of gave up on that because I couldn't find exactly what I needed.  So this is my version of Michonne.  And btw, aren't you glad she's talking more?  Michonne (the character) seems like someone you could have interesting conversations with at some dive bar or at Starbucks.

"Clear" is my favorite episode so far (the other being "Seed").  I've been waiting for Morgan to come back ever since the first season (I think we all have).  What do you think 'Clear' meant to Morgan?  He kept saying throughout the episode, "I have to clear", and literally he meant he had to clear up the dead walkers that were killed either by his hand or by RickMichonneCarl.

But digging a little deeper, I think Morgan felt that he needed to stay in the same area where his son and wife died.  In the first episode of Season 1, Rick tried to get him to come with him but Morgan said he just wasn't ready to leave, just hadn't worked up to it. Rick once again tried to get him to come to the prison but no, Morgan will probably never leave that town.  In order to clear his mind, he needs to stay and continue to clear all the dead walkers.  Maybe to lessen the pain of losing his family.  Sad.

For Rick, I think he needed Morgan to snap out of the state he was in because if Rick can come back emotionally from the death of his wife and his friends, than Morgan must come back too.  

I think there comes a time for all of us (probably several times) where we want to, need to 'Clear'.  Sometimes we do it in very unhealthy ways and sometimes we choose the long, sometimes painful path to having a clear mind and heart.  I always have to bring it back to rl but that's my thang.

What do you think of the season so far?  Do you like Michonne?  What about Daryl and Merle?  Do you think the Governer is going to get his due?

Michonne
skin:  [Rockberry], Apple K-dark
dreads:  Discord Designs -dDx-, Jocasta and Athena
leather jacket and tee:  Blueberry
hood:  Remy, BeastHood
cargo capris:  Apple May Designs
boots:  Sn@tch, Mosh Pit Combat Boots
poses:  *MP*, Katana (comes with sword), and FocusPoses, Warrior Girl

Walker Girl
skin:  Miasnow, Zombina
eyes:  Miasnow, Zombie
hair:  booN, AIA466
dress:  [Corvus] or @Marketplace, Plain Black Dress
tights:  *Sheer*, Tights 12-torn vines
collar:  ..::Delicious::.., Chic Collar
pose:  *MP*, Brains!

place:  The Wastelands

All these Places have their Moments

Ahern, Morris

I've been in a bit of a blog funk.  Actually, I've been in a bit of a SL funk, not really wanting to log in much anymore.  I mainly come on to feed my kittycats (and yes, I still bread even though most of what is born goes straight to the menagerie.  I guess I still don't get the whole breading thing.).

So I logged on early this morning and thought I would visit some of the places I went to when I first came on sl.  Most of them are gone but I did find a few that are still around. 

Morris or Ahern

Back in the day there were many welcome centers (as there probably are today).  I spent the first couple of months of my sl life in welcome centers.  The hubs I went to were always filled with people but some of the ones I visited this morning are practically deserted.  Nothing like I remember but maybe it was due to the time of day.

I don't know how I ended up at sunshine therapy Garden-maybe I looked up gardens in search.  Or maybe I looked up therapy or sunshine.  My memory eludes me but I do remember I met my very first sl friend there.  Jee is the one that explained to me how to offer friendship to someone.  She was so sweet.  We kind of lost touch when I took a break from sl (one of many).  Maybe I'll look her up someday.  Maybe.  Sunshine Therapy seems kind of old school to me in terms of sl creations but that's one of the reasons I still have a soft spot for the place.  I think they do offer therapy there but I don't know the people who do the counseling and if it's good or bad or anything.

Sunshine Therapy Garden

I always thought Calleta's Hobo Village was the coolest area.  Lots of weird, interesting, quirky people there and I'm weird, interesting and quirky so I always fit right in.  Another place I rarely go to anymore.

Calleta's Hobo Village

Straylight really amazed me in my early days.  It made me realize what can be created in second life.  I love it there-so beautiful.  I get a lot of my landscape stuff from Botanica too.

Straylight

da Vinci Gardens is somewhere I still go to where I can just be quiet.  There's always a lot of people around but you can find secret little corners here and there.  I usually go and sit on a bench while I message people (well, I used to anyways).

da Vinci Gardens

Oh look!  I found an old pic of me and Emerald (I'm the one with dark hair and the hideous dress).  Does anyone remember the name of this coffee place?  It no longer exists but it was one of my favorite places to hang in the early years of sl (my early years I mean).

What are some of the places you used to go to?  Do they still exist?  Why do you still have a soft spot for them?  Do you still go there today?

Places
Morris, Ahern (I think they're actually the same place or they've merged into one area)
Sunshine Therapy Garden
Calleta's Hobo Village
Straylight
da Vinci Gardens

Fashion
dress:  (NO), ivy drape dress @Collabor88
hair:  -LaViere, sonia @Collabor88
tights:  *GF*, basic color tights
boots:  Lassitude and ennui, lazy boots
pose:  Purple Poses

Year of the Snake

The year of the Snake officially arrived on February 10.  Technically, it's the year of the water snake or black snake but I didn't know that until after I took these pictures.  I still would have gotten a blue snake regardless.

Chinese wisdom says that if you find a snake in your house it is a good sign because it means you and your family will not starve.  Hmm, I'm all for not starving but I don't think I want to find a snake in my house.

The year of the Snake will be a time for you to focus on your goals with a close attention to details.  All those years that passed you by where you had no set direction or path is about to change in 2013.  It's time to get serious and be very disciplined.  You will surpass the goals you have set for yourself if you have a course of action.  It won't be easy but it can be done.  I believe in you!

If you were born in the year of the snake you are thoughtful and wise and you face obstacles with a clear mind, sorting out problems rationally and logically, never by instinct (in other words, you are not a Fool) which leaves me out.  Snake people are often seen as egocentric, however, this may be due to the fact that they rely heavily on themselves, not seeking assistant from others.  On a positive note, snakes appreciate beauty and are often stylish and fashion forward.  (I'm not making this up.  I read it on the internet which makes it true!).

Snakes are great with finances and always seem to have money.  *note to self-make friends with snakes*.  2013 promises to be a good year but focus on detail will be the key for success in business and personal matters.  Most importantly, the snake needs a safe place to work and for meditation or reflection.  So if you were born in 1917 (if you born in the 1917 and are still alive, IM me in-world.  I would like to know your secret!), 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, and 2013 this could be a very good year for you.  

dress:  ArisAris, Red Flower Qipau-New
hair:  Vanity Hair, the Cotten Club
skin:  Dutch Touch, MegAn
make-up:  Nuuna's Skins, Tila-New
snake:  Zooby's, Blue Snake
pose:  Purple Poses
place:  Chinese Bamboo Garden

Love is all Around

dress:  Sn@tch, have a heart/mixed mesh-New, snatch and grab this week!
hair:  Truth, ursula-kinda new
necklace:  LouLou&Co, nemo@Zodiac-kinda new
tights:  Secret Store, grey wool tights
shoes:  lassitude&ennui, sugarskull (yeah, I know I wear these in almost every post but I love them!)
skin:  Glam Affair, lilith-artic
pose:  Purple Poses
place:  X-Zone

Single Frame Stories-Four Prompts

So, I'm still doing Single Frame Stories.  This is a weekly challenge which you can read about it here.  Basically, there is a new prompt each week that will hopefully inspire you to create a fabulous single frame story.  There is an optional 150 character limit.  Most of the images are from SL but feel free to use any form of expression- drawing, painting, rl photos etc.

I really enjoyed the challenges when they first started back in August but then I felt my inspiration slipping away after the sixth prompt.  I wasn't really happy with several of them.  The ideas were probably good but the execution seemed off to me.  I've only included the stories that I like here.  And btw, I'm on flickr.  Add me.  I'm interesting in seeing your images too.

Challenge 4:  Positive
"At least I have fabulous shoes." 

This was inspired by a flash fiction piece I wrote (and that I'm now submitting to various contests) about a homeless woman who always manages to look at the positives in her life.  In the image above, I showed a young girl who is homeless or obviously down and out.  However, she has one thing in her life she loves and that makes her happy:  her shoes.

Challenge 5:  Little did he/she know
"Little did Vincent know that his paintings
would sell for millions 100 years later."

This is my favorite story that I've done.  When I found out the prompt for this particular week, the above images immediately came to mind.  Van Gogh is someone I admire. He had a pretty sad life and was never appreciated during his lifetime.  I think that if her were alive today he would be shocked to see how much he is admired and respected.  

Challenge 6:  On Top
"It can get Lonely at the Top."

Sometimes fame, money, public adoration is not all it's cracked up to be.  It can indeed get lonely at the top.  

Challenge 8:  Objectification
"A nip here.  A tuck there.
I think I'll just get the full body reconstruction.
Photo taken the day after surgery." 

I did a couple objectifications pics and I didn't really care for any of them.  This one was my take on how women (some women) in our society feel the pressure to always look good, look young, and look thin.  A few of those women go to extremes with plastic surgery.  The pic above is of a woman who decides to get her whole body redone.  It's extreme but we live in extreme times blablabla.

I'll be posting my other four prompts in the next couple days.  Have a happy Sunday!

Positive
bodysuit:  Willow (closed)
shoes:  Ison, Miraya Open toe Bootie
hair:  Wasabi Pills, Zoey
skin:  Izzie's, Estella Asylum
homeless box:  Dirty Boxes

Little did Vincent know
pants:  [JP]:dsg, Typhoon
sweater:  (CM):  Timothy Sweater
hat/hair:  *Argrace*, Straw Fedora/Crosby
sunflowers:  *KoW* Flower Garden Shop
painting stuff:  The Occult Shop
van gogh painting:  Bright Corporation

On Top
I have no idea what I'm wearing in this pic.  I think the hair is from Exile though.  I don't know the location either.

Objectification
bandages:  Wunderlich's Historical Garb (I got this on marketplace but couldn't find it again)
hair:  Clawtooth, Wave Goodbye

One Last Holiday Post

I decided to do one more holiday post before I pack up all the trees, ornaments, presents, snowmen etc.  I hope everyone had a great Christmas or whatever you celebrate this time of year.  I had a pretty good day-the highlight being that I met 3 infant goats.  They were adorable and it is true what they say, that goats really do frolic.  My friend said they are going to make cheese out of them-the goat milk I mean.  I asked her if she was going to do the milking and she rolled her eyes and pointed to her husband.  I figured because she can't stand to break her nails or have one hair out of place-I can only tolerate her for a couple hours at a time and I'm sure the goats will grow to hate her (I'm so nice!). Anyways, I digress...I thought it would be appropriate to rez the goat from Neon Frog.  

I have a feeling of dread because my computer has been acting up.  SL has never run well on my mac but tonight especially...I couldn't get any good lighting which is why most of these pics seem dark and grey looking (which is nothing new with my sl photo skills). Please save me windlight settings!  And please don't die on me macbook pro!

Yay!  We've almost made it through the holidays!  I plan to hit all the sales tomorrow.  Are you?  I hope I get some great deals.

dress:  *GF*, Group Gift!

hair:  Exile, Sway my Way@Together for Sway

boots:  Schadenfreude, Pitch Leith Boots @Collabor88

pose:  HopScotch, Attitude

tree:  [LeLutka], Very Merry Tree-Group Gift!

chair:  MudHoney, Meredith 

Bah Humbug:  tea soup, Group Gift!

painting:  Remembering Narnia by Chiana Oh @Gallery Gift Shop

vouboo dolls:  Schadenfreude @theArcade

various gift boxes:  Trompe Loeil and Lisp

goat!:  Neon Frog