I took a day off of my world travels to visit a familiar location, It all starts with a smile. I have loved this sim since I first saw it about a year ago. Owners Kaelyn Alecto and Maxxster Resident have generously opened it to the public and it is refreshed seasonally. It is a lovely, whimsical place with rolling hills, paths to wander and all sorts of adorable and surprising vignettes around every corner. I thought about doing a full photo shoot of the sim, but to be honest, I was tired and that just taxes my little brain too much. I do love taking landscape photos, but it is not an easy task for me. Too much thought has to go into camera angles and lighting for it to be relaxing. So in order to just kick back and enjoy myself, I just shot a couple of selfies 😉

Before I started shooting I had sent an IM to my blogger mate, Cougar Sangria, who had mentioned she had been trying desperately to get the black hair pack from Exile in this round of The Arcade. Being a redhead, I naturally had it tucked in my inventory, gathering dust and in need of a good brushing. I offered it to her and we ended up trading – she got her coveted black hair and I ended up with the dark reds. We chatted a bit, discussed the need for a Gacha Anonymous group in world and then parted our ways, both intent on finishing work on our blog posts.

That got me to thinking. I have become friendly with several bloggers in Second Life, but with very few exceptions I have only met a few in person, and then only when bumping into them while shopping or when doing a blog-related photo. While I continue to have conversations with many of these amazing people via blog comments, I haven’t yet really gotten to know them well in the world we all call home and report on pretty much daily.

I admit that I have become more solitary while I am in Second Life since I started blogging. Or perhaps I started blogging in part because I had begun to spend more time alone. While I used to be at home pretty much just to change clothes before hanging out at a club or going shopping, it is now where you will find me most of the time. I do visit other places more frequently now, but I am almost always on my own and there for the express purpose of taking photographs.

Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. I DJ two sets a week which forces me to be social and I almost always have fun. The times I enjoy it less are when the crowd is quiet, more content to keep their conversations in private. I like to entertain – to get the group involved in local chat, laughing and teasing, picking up on a song that they might like to keep them involved. So I can’t say that I am an isolationist. But my days of just hanging around with a lot of people for the sake of being around others has passed.

Last night was one of those nights when I had a really fun time DJing. The crowd wasn’t big, but they were engaged and I laughed and chatted all night. There was rarely a pause in the chatter, which was quickly filled by someone making a joke or comment which started the group talking again and I found myself grinning all evening.

I have rambled a lot in my post today. I didn’t have a clue what I would write when I sat down to blog. But like so many others I publish, it all started with a smile.

Pretty stuff I’m wearing:

Top: Tee*fy Basic Tucked Tank Sand by Azure Electricteeth
Jeans: Maitreya Zipper-Skinny Jeans * S #3 by Onyx LeShelle
Boots: {Sleepy Eddy} Engineer Boots (Brown) by Metro Moonwall (gacha prize)
Necklace: Cae :: Promise :: Necklace by Caelan Hancroft
Earrings & Ring: Cae :: Promise :: Earrings & Ring by Caelan Hancroft
Holster bag: ANE Holster Bag Brown 01 Leather by Anemysk Karu (available at The Chapter Four)
Headband: *LODE* Headwear – Boohoo [dry grass] by Chirzaka Vlodovic (gacha prize at The Chapter Four)
Hair: *ARGRACE* MIZUKI – True Red by rika Oyen (New release)
Skin: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE SK Peach Lips MEB C2 by Hart Larsson
Eye Makeup: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE SK Smokey Eyes by Hart Larsson
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Hand applier:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink HandApplier SK by Hart Larsson
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Pose: Eternal Dream Poses – *ED* Runway Love 09 by Fata Boa

Location: It all starts with a smile