Avatar Blogger Month

Like Herding Cats

Image PeepSideshow Darkward6 Comments

1 ABC Bloggers Stars
Seated: Vaneesa Blaylock Left to right: Strawberry Singh, Peep Sideshow, Anarya Elderslie, Lizzie Gudkov & Ravensong Merlin

Vaneesa Blaylock set probably one of the hardest challenges possible – to try to get all 24 bloggers participating in the Avatar Blogger Month together in one place at one time! Since we’re scattered across the globe in heaven knows how many time zones, I don’t think it was possible, even for someone as energetic and positive as Vaneesa. She did, however, manage to gather six of us for a quick photo shoot to mark the completion of the first week of the challenge. For those of you who don’t know, ABC stands for Avatar Blogger Crossfit – if you missed my earlier post, you can check out our training work stations and more about this challenge here.

I was thrilled to meet these amazing ladies who share their views of Second Life with the rest of the world in their blogs. To be honest, I hadn’t read any, other than Strawberry Singh’s, prior to this challenge. It’s been a marvelous opportunity to find these new bloggers (at least to me).

Please take the time to get to know them. Their blogs are all worth a look. And reading them sure beats the hell out of herding cats!

Vaneesa Blaylock: Vaneesa Blaylock @ iRez
Strawberry Singh: Strawberry Singh Blog
Anarya Elderslie: Stuffery
Ravensong Merlin: Chaotic Virtuality
Lizzie Gudakov: Lizzie is currently publishing a 12-part story on irez.me, It Takes A Village. When she completes it, you can catch up with her on her personal blog, lizziegudakov

You can check out the full participants list here.

PS to Berry – please note, we got our gold star 😉

Unexpected Unicorns

Image PeepSideshow Darkward11 Comments

1 Pink Fuel Harley Peach Arcade 2

This was going to be yet another fashion post. I shot and processed the photos to be about the shoes and my skin. I had even started writing the entry. But something kept going through the back of my mind, and I decided to share it instead. So no, the pictures don’t illustrate the story. But I’m not going to apologise for that.

I suppose this is what I would classify as a “Mood” post. Normally I write those when I’m sad or upset. I’ve had a few knocks in recent months, but this blog, and more importantly, the people in my virtual life, have helped me to weather them. I see so many people complaining, whinging and moaning in Second Life, on Facebook and other social media platforms. All. The. Time. And it does make me sad, which in turn makes me angry. I know that a lot of people feel the need to express their hardship with a torrent of emotion to anyone within earshot (or viewing distance, as the case may be). But when all you hear from a person is vitriolic spewing against their partner, family, circumstance or whatever (perceived) injustice may have been dumped upon their head, it’s easy to become immune to the suffering they may actually be experiencing. It becomes a bit like the boy who cried wolf. Or being trapped in a cave with a never-ending echo.

Now, before you start giving me a hard time about being cold or insensitive, hear me out. I am not without compassion. I am not without empathy. And I am not without fault. I, too, have carried on about some horrible occurrence(s) in my life. But I do try to confine it to one or two people. Preferably, those who are directly involved. And if not, to a confidante whom I know I can pour my heart and soul out to, and he or she can do the same with me. I’m a private person, and I try to shield all but the closest to me from any outpouring of emotion.

So here’s the skinny…I’m happy. I’m smiling. And I’m so blessed to have those few wonderful people in my life. And I have this blog where I can express myself freely. My wish for those of you who seem to have nothing but one horrible thing after another happen to you is for peace. And the ability to see that there are silver linings and unexpected unicorns everywhere, just waiting to be discovered.

1 Pink Fuel Harley Arcade 2 FL

You just have to be willing to look for them.

Credits:
Skin: [PF] Harley – Arcade 02 (The Arcade)
Hair: tram C407 hair / maroon (size40)
Top: DN Mesh: Bodysuit
Skirt: DN Mesh: Pleated Skirt
Shoes: [Gos] Mae Platform – Polka Dot (FaMESHed)
Necklace: MG – Necklace – Summer LadyBird – White (The Arcade)
Earrings: .:* LOULOU&CO *:. – Earring :: HESPERIDE ::
Eyes: Mayfly – Liquid Light Eyes (Glacial River, w3)

Poses:
Top photo: Glitterati – Backed Up 10
Bottom photo: [Ca.co] Lusty 10F

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting – What Others Imagine

Image PeepSideshow Darkward26 Comments

1 Alirium Fleeting

I always anticipate the Weekly Photo Challenge. Often with trepidation, but always with the intent to complete it. I check the other entries each week – maybe not all of them, but on my Saturday, I go through all that have been posted. This is usually between 50-100 blogs. And during the months I have been participating, I have never seen another post from Second Life. Maybe they’re out there, but I just haven’t stumbled across them. I get a lot of views from other bloggers taking part in this challenge. I wonder what they think, seeing our virtual world instead of the corporeal one. Perhaps they fleetingly wonder what the heck this is all about, or perhaps, for a moment, they are tempted to join themselves. Whatever their reaction, I hope they take a moment to read my ramblings and understand my appreciation for their work – and for stopping by to see mine 🙂

The challenge this week is “Fleeting”. The instructions are:

IN A NEW POST CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PICTURE THAT MEANS FLEETING TO YOU.
Some ideas to get you started:

– Observing nature and capturing a quiet, special moment.
– Experimenting with shots of movement.
– Taking a snapshot of someone deep in thought (or alternatively, in mid-action).
– Exploring a place that’s transient in nature (airports, stations, streets, etc.).

For my interpretation of “Fleeting”, I went back to my photos of Alirium. This sim, with its display of the seasons, exemplifies the word “fleeting” to me. As does Second Life. I’ve mentioned before the ever-changing landscape of SL that is our virtual world. Although Second Life is celebrating its 10th birthday this month, it has changed so drastically in that time that I’m sure that an early pilgrim who left after a fleeting visit in 2003 wouldn’t recognise it if they came back to see it today. I’ve been a resident for not quite five years, and I am amazed at the changes and advances I’ve seen.

So for one fleeting moment, suspend disbelief and just immerse yourself in a world where there are no limitations beyond what you can imagine. Or better still, what others can.

Please stop by The Weekly Photo Challenge post to see what other other bloggers have presented.