Autumnal Passings

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October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came –
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
~George Cooper, “October’s Party~

 

Yes, Autumn is upon us… but in my real life location, the leaves have not started to change much and I am missing the colors that paint the earth so beautifully as we prepare for the bareness of Winter.  I lived many years in Florida and one of the reasons I was open to a move was to once again experience the seasons of change – primarily Autumn and Spring.  Living in the United States Mid-Atlantic region now provides much more opportunity to be greeted by the colors, smells and sounds of each season.

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth
seeking the successive autumns.
~George Eliot~

 

In Second Life, we can create any season at anytime in the year.  We can build Spring in Autumn and Winter in Summer.  The creators of the trees, the flowers, the grasses, the ground textures, the animals and all ensure that we have the materials that allow us to live within the beauty that we choose.  One sim that provides the color of nature is Alirium Gardens.  I was there recently and truly enjoyed the beauty that the sim creator Alir Flow has put together.  This “garden” is a natural garden that appears to be guided by a gardener, but allowed to run wild concurrently.

In my garden there is a large place for sentiment.
My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams.
The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful.
~Abram L. Urban~

 

Alirium Gardens is just that… a garden of thoughts and dreams… and it is a beautiful place to walk through the grasses and see the colors and wetlands.  To see the butterflies and animals hidden in the trees and to listen… yes, listen… the sounds here are those of birds, crickets and the wind rustling through the trees.  It is a lovely spot to visit…enjoy nature in the Virtual World.

Look at the trees, look at the birds,
look at the clouds, look at the stars…
and if you have eyes you will be able to
see that the whole existence is joyful.
Everything is simply happy.
Trees are happy for no reason;
they are not going to become prime ministers
or presidents and they are not going to become rich
and they will never have any bank balance.
Look at the flowers – for no reason.
It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are.
~Osho~

 

 

To bring a needed bit of happiness, meditation, reflection, or just to add some color to your SLife… spend some time in the soft and lovely forested gardens of Alirium…

 

Enjoy each day, cherish and grow 🙂

~Sunshine

 

Awareness…

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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  During this month, people come together to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research, Treatment, Awareness Programs, etc.  We are reminded to schedule mammograms and encouraged to do self examinations.  We hear phrases like “Save the Boobies”; “Squish a Boob, Save a Life”; “Save the Ta-Tas”.  We wear Pink Ribbons and other things pink.  We are offered even more pink related items in an effort to raise funds for the cause.  Is it important?  I say, HELL YES!  It is estimated that 1 in 8 women (around 12%) will have breast cancer.  In 2010 alone, the American Cancer Society estimates that over 204,000 women in the US will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, with another 54,000+ diagnosed with the non-invasive carcinoma in situ.  And… over 34 thousand women in the US will have died of breast cancer in 2010.  Early detection is KEY!   Though breast cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer, the death rates have been in decline over the past 20 years.  It is thought that increased awareness and early screening as well as better treatment have contributed to this decline.

So…I am sure while most everyone has had a family member or a friend or a co-worker who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, we still need to bring awareness to all.  In my real life, the company I work for holds info sessions and raises funds for Breast Cancer Research during October, as I am sure many others do.  Well, Awareness Campaigns know no boundaries and in Second Life the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign is going strong.  Currently there are two events this week raising funds for the BCA that I want to encourage you to visit.

One is the BCA Art Auction which has been extended until the 10th of October.  This event held by the Pool of Hope Charities along with the art community in Second Life is being held in a fantastic build high above the sky.  There are pieces up for auction by artists such as Bryn Oh, Fingers Scintilla, Meilo Minotaur and CapCat Ragu, Don Hosho, Stephen Venkman, Rebecca Bashly, Sira Abizu, Del May, Sennaspirit Coronet, Feathers Boa, among many others.  It is a great place to experience top-notch artistic creativity of Second Life residents in one place…while possibly bidding on an awesome art piece that you just can’t live without!  All the while knowing that the linden raised will  benefit the Susan G. Komen, 60 Miles in 3-days, walk for a cure.

BCA Art Auction 2010

BCA Art Auction 2010

BCA Art Auction 2010

Also this week… until October 9th…the “Fair for a Pair” – SL’s Top Designers for Breast Cancer Awareness is being held by the Garden of Absentia Pool of Hope on Mystic Atlantis.  This event is being held on a beautifully built sim with a castle in the sky and trails through a magical forest.  As you follow the pink cobblestone paths, you will find vendors from some of SL’s top designers/shops such as Geryn Sloane, Sanura Snowpaw, Callie Cline, Donna Flora, Miel, Exposeur, Exile, Just A Pose, Wishbox among quite a few others.  The walk through the forest and across the ‘bridges’ is so pretty that you just can’t wait to see what is around the next bend.

BCA Fair for a Pair 2010 at Mystic Atlantis

BCA Fair for a Pair 2010 at Mystic Atlantis

Check out both of these events this week.  And anytime you are in SL and would like to find out more about cancer and what you can do to help, visit the American Cancer Society sim.  There is info about cancer prevention, statistics, support groups etc… you can also find a kiosk or two here to donate to the ACS campaigns as well.

Be Aware, Be Supportive, and don’t forget to Tell Others too!

I’m Three!

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Looking Back...Charging Forward

In Second Life, we celebrate the years as they pass with a Rezz Day.  My 3rd Rezz Day in SL is today, September 27th, 2010.  I’ve never actually had a party or celebrated grandly on my Rezz Day as some others do.  It always coincided with another friend’s real life birthday, and to me that was more cause for celebration.  Perhaps as we are in “world” longer, the significance of the year passing lessens…though in some ways, I do not think so.  We might feel silly when our feelings are a little hurt because only one or even none remembered to send a greeting acknowledging this anniversary.  I’ve had the day off from work and my avatar has been in SL most all day.  Funny part is that I’ve not talked to anyone, even funnier might be that this really hasn’t bothered me.  The solitude that I can find in SL often is welcome.  It allows me to explore, to find places to take photos, to go AFK without worry, and even to dress myself up for photos…


November 2007 - First Avi Appearance

Over the past three years, I’ve seen a few things change in SL… the content creators continue to amaze me.  The tools have improved, things look more realistic – less flat.  Our virtual world offers more visual depth in many ways.  The skins are so much more rich.  The hair textures have improved greatly.  The clothes with so much more shape/design and texture.  The animations are more and more motion captured which offer more realism as well.  The flora and fauna come more and more to life within this virtual space.  The water effects, the waves, the waterfalls…all provide visual pleasure.  The sports and activities – surfing, football, sim boarding, kayaking, boating, sailing, driving, flying, golfing, etc – all offer more and more options.  The creators continue to build, script, texture, create environments, design clothing, grow flowers, breed animals, etc… all in an effort to appeal to residents of Second Life.


Goth Me in late 2007 (Alternative Look)

All in all… why do we come to Second Life?  There are many reasons and each of us has our own.  Some come to build and create.  Others come to roleplay and are very passionate about that.  Still others come to explore, learn, and share.  And many of us come in to socialize, to play, to enjoy the company of others, etc.  And then there are those that log in to do it all.

Sunshine at Sunset - 1st year in SL

My three years in Second Life have provided a bit of all kinds of things.  My first year was one of trying to figure it out, meeting great people and getting involved with Relay for Life in Second Life.  I worked as a host for clubs and an event company.  Relay for Life even brought a change in my living experience as I bought a huge home built by Patch Thibaud in an auction and still use this home today.  As I moved into my 2nd year, I started working for Costa Rica Sims Estate…meeting more and more people – some great, and of course, some not so great.  Planning and working some great events and helping photograph these and write about them too.  Nearly halfway into my second year, I found myself in a relationship with someone special which turned into a partnership … one that is now nearly 18 months strong.  That person, Jac, became my partner, my best friend, my buddy, and someone that I could share my second life with more fully.  He introduced me to surfing in SL, to creating environments, and shared his love of music and fun with me.  We moved from Costa Rica Sims Estate and bought our own full sim along with a homestead to ensure we could surf –  Sol Mañanero was born!   The remainder of the 2nd year included Relay for Life, Surfing, Dancing, and building our sims…most of which continued.  Spending time with friends, getting to know new ones, parting with a few, seeing a few return… all part of the life I have here.

September 2008

 

September 2009

In this third I have been further blessed with happy moments.  Surfed in my first competitions.   Built more.  Created more.  Learned more with Photoshop and won my first photo contest.  Jac and I celebrated our 1st anniversary of partnership in April.  Did more with Relay for Life.  Held parties, sponsored parties and took part in several events.  Made more friends… and have been truly blessed with some amazing new friends.  Experienced my first gallery showing of my photos from Second Life and actually selling some… amazing!  Continued to be active in Flickr, rejoined Plurk; spent time with friends dancing, talking, playing, being silly, running around, shopping, creating, etc…

 

September 2010

Second Life is still fun for me, it is a way for me to socialize with all sorts of people from all over.  To share their happiness, support when they have needs, to laugh together and to create together.  Yes, I do get bored and lonely sometimes in SL; but when I do, I just try something new…explore a new place or get up and walk away.   To my friends – a very heartfelt huge thank you for making my Second Life special – from my partner, Jac, to my oldest friends to my newest… Thank you for being there, for making me laugh, for lifting me up when I’m a bit down, for helping me realize that I am blessed in so many ways – real life and second life.  Thank you for helping me stay young at heart and also for putting the stress of my work behind me…

 

Happy Rezz Day to Me!!!

So…happy rezz day to me.  I look forward to my fourth year.  I hope to be a better blogger, take more photos, maybe show at other galleries and set up my own, learn how to create something, deepen my friendships, make new ones, explore, and continue to be charitable via Relay for Life and other organizations as I can. And for those that indulge me here, in my blog… thank you too!

~Sunshine…on her 3rd Rezz Day in Second Life

Credits:

Current Photos Only:

Hair – Fri.- Raina in Jealous Red

Eyes – MADesigns – Nature in Green Heat

Dress – So Many Styles – Blooming for DU4

Shoes – Glow – Narcissus in Silver for DU4

Earrings – SANU – Pearlescence Pink/gold Earring

Skin – Curio – Sunny in Acorn Frex

Taken on Brackish and Zweet Zurroundingz