Shopping Trip April 14, 2008

Sometimes, I have one of those days where, I just can’t stop myself. I’ve been trying, okay struggling, to ignore the siren call of Laura Fauna’s Chai Skins, but OMG. I already own several and I thought about, okay considered, okay actually typed up and deleted, a shameless plea for a sale on the fashcon cafe group chat channel. But of course, you can’t ask an artist to willfully discount their work. You can hint of course, but you can’t really ask. The fact is that this woman owns my butt. Oh and my nose. and of course the lovely ears, oh and the freckles, my god the freckles. I HAD to go buy more. Her last release, of the ‘undine’ and ‘lavender’ skins had me, well, at hello ❤. I managed to hold off for 24 hours, cause I had work to do, ya know?

The only question was should I buy three skins or five LOL!

Truth is I’m a skin whore. There I said it. Remember that contest to see who owned the most skins in their inventory? I was too embarrassed to enter! A friend asked me how many skins I’ve purchased (or grabbed a freebie of) and I honestly did not know. Do I own most of the CS skin make-ups in Champagne? Well yes, I do! Do I own more than my share of Naughty, erm yes.

There may come a day when the hearts of men must fail and I move to a new skin maker, but today is not that day. (egad, did I type that out loud - snicker?)

I apologize if my photos are not up to snuff of the skins - I’m still windlightless. Please take my word for it, these skins are fabu!

Oh, and I sorries if no nekid pictures of me are here, I’s shy.

Credits and slurl’s after the picture.

Skin - LF CHAI Skin -Nutmeg - From left to right, Undine, Valencia, Antique, Cassandra, Lavender

Hair - ETD Lynne II - Strawberry Blackened

Necklace/Earrings - Whimsical Creations - Spring Flowers in Yellow

Tanktop - Acetone:mouthplay

Cannot complete pending attachment April 12, 2008

Wow - how much longer must I wait to complete pending attachment! This is just crazy. You know I love SL™ as much as the next person, maybe more. I dunno, I’m addicted. So much so that I continue to work on my computer that’s not making the grade. BUT WTF! The series of blogs over the last few days have been frightening. I work in public relations and marketing. The blog at SL™ is a disaster. Using the blog as a help wanted advertising in the middle of a technical meltdown, shortly after announcing a reduction in pricing, along with chirpy ‘how to’ videos. I’m frankly astonished. Hey - I’m working on these new glasses. I would LOVE to show them to you, but I cannot complete pending attachment.

Feeling Blue April 10, 2008

So I’m in dilemma about what computer to buy. I was GOING to buy a MAC - I had dither syndrome, and actually stopped my order. Now I’m dilemma girl. So I went shopping to think about it. Oh a made a new jewelry set. Just to piss and moan about how crappy my computer is running while I did it. I’m calling it, ‘feeling blue’ cause I am. I=suck at windlight, so pictures don’t do it justice ;(. Anywho - I need to make a decision. Here’s the results of my shopping and building (credits are below), oh and the slurl to my store, Whimsical Creations.

Credits from top to bottom

Hair-Calla Niphredil Red Frosted (Dirty Blond)

Jewelry-Feeling Blue Set Dark Mouse at Whimsical Creations

Shirt-MG Fashion Gigi tank top (baby blue)

Belt-Goes with everything belt (Black) Dark Mouse at Whimsical Creations

Jeans: ~Digital Knickers~ Comfortably Worn Jean

Shoes-ETD T-strap Peep Wedges

Skin-LF Chai - LF CHAI Skin -Nutmeg- Becca Freckle

Tattoo - Tattoo Wired Garden GoK

What’s a virtual girl to do? April 5, 2008

Why do I stay in SL?  In the last two weeks, I’ve asked myself this question ALOT.  I catch flack from friends and family members about the amount of time I spend online.  As most do, I started my business with the intention of being able to cover my tier and fees.  I started building houses though for myself.  I only had a 512, so I wanted a nice house that I could still have furniture in.  Turned out other people liked my house too, so I sold it and started making more.  Over the past year I’ve taught myself how to build (with a lot of assistance from good friends at the Ivory Tower), I’ve taught myself photoshop (does anyone ever really learn every single thing you can do with photoshop?), I’ve studied magazines and online sites for ideas on color and fashion. I’ve made friends - people whose talents and skills never cease to fill me with awe.  I love building.  I love creating my own textures. I never realized how much it would please me to create. Second Life has given me that opportunity.

I’m sure this has happened to a lot of people, but I was working on a necklace.  It’s gone.  Oh not completely gone I suppose.  Lost somewhere in the region of Taber.  The prims for it still appear to be on my land.  But essentially, it’s gone. My joy of creating it is gone anyways, I can’t find the initiative to look for it.  The frustration of playing SL right now is so high that I’m planning on turning off my computer for the rest of today.  I think I’ll go shopping in RL.

The point is - something is terribly wrong.  I know this has been said before,  I’ve read it in all the blogs myself.  Lately I’ve caught myself trying to determine, when is the best time to try to work on something in SL?  Late at night, when the lowest concurrency is occurring?  This is a akin to trying to determine when to leave for work to beat traffic.  I’m no longer concentrating on creating something I like and am proud of, I’m trying to figure out how to work with a broken tool.  Why do I stay in SL? How much longer for the flame of dissatisfaction to grow into an uncontrollable wildfire? How much longer for us all? I’m sure some will say, well, if you don’t like, leave. But cut me some slack, here - the reality is, I desperately want to stay. But will I be able too?

 

SL Blues March 30, 2008

Oops, I forgot to put the ® symbol in the title.  Could you just ‘imagine’ it’s there for me….

SL is being ugly today.  Actually been ugly all week.  I went back to the Nicholas client - and while I’m a bit slow, at least I’m not unable to move. Nicholas, oh Nicholas, woo hoo - could you do another one, please, pretty please?

I dunno what they are doing in that great lab in the sky, but to me, a person who loves to shop, the biggest indicator of a problem is an inability to complete TRANSACTIONS.  Leading me to think, um, ‘it’s the economy, stupid.’

I was in Bewitched for the secret sale.  You see they have this really cool style that I LOVE.  I don’t know why I love it, truthfully it’s not my usual style - its just sooo pretty.  It’s called ‘Whisper’ and I have it in ‘tropical’ which is a light blue color - which I got for free (yes! the freebie worked!).  I want it in another color. I could not buy it.  I tried. Twice in one day.  It’s ON SALE for god’s sake.  I’ll go back again today, of course - never say die when it comes to shopping!  But still.  I could not buy it.  This should simply not be. Okay, rant over.

What will SL look like to you? March 28, 2008

I was using the 18.3.5 client for the longest time, but the lag had become almost intolerable, so I decided to bite the bullet and do the upgrade to 19. I had also been using the Nicolas client, but it seemed to grow increasingly weird with the upgrades to SL, so I stopped using it.

Of course, as most people have discovered, 19 was no picnic. I held onto my 18.3.5 client, and started this random game of flipping back and forth between the two. Anyone else do this?

So, tonite I was buzzing around SL. I decided to try the release candidate (the current experimental client that will ‘become’ the official version of the SL client. Version 19.1.3 is the release candidate and I guess it incorporates features of Windlight. After uploading I took a deep breath and logged into SL. Hey - this is not too bad I thought. Of course I was at 700 meters in my open air work studio. Not too much to render. Last couple of times I had tried the windlight client, I couldn’t move and crashed immediately. So this was like wow - I can use windlight. Schemes of redoing all my photo boards start going through my head - better pictures -woot! I open up the preferences to look at where I’m at. But it’s changed. I get one choice - graphics. I learn it’s ‘preset’ to optimal levels for my computer. I am at the lowest settings of everything. But hey I can MOVE!

I suddenly realize what is happening. My computer which was pretty cool 2 years ago, cannot handle the SL client anymore - my graphic card sucks. When the new update is forced, I may not even be able to log in. I need a super duper new computer.

But. That’s not in the budget for my family. We’re hit as hard by the recession in the US as any middle class family living here. Then I think, wait, not everyone in SL can afford a super duper wow wee computer that can handle the SL client. Who exactly is playing SL anyway? How can they afford a computer to handle this awesomely huge and computer life sucking client? Hmmmm. If they keep adding all these bells and whistles and features, I will eventually get to the point where I can’t feed my addiction (hey - it IS an addiction) and have to stop playing. Or suck it up and get a new computer. I wonder how many other players are starting to see this? The client is being upgraded, but soon alot of people won’t be able to run it.

This is what the Ivory Tower looks like for me on the release candidate client.

I’ve made it! February 27, 2008

Sooooo, I’m flying around the Ivory Tower Sandbox (my second home) and what do I come across LMAO but a person trying to resell one of the freebies from my shop!  After a moment of stunned disbelief (OMG), then rage (5 stages of grief anyone), I’m overcome by this feeling of…wait for it…pride.  Wow someone thought my stuff was good enough to steal! I will of course be giving this away for free (only the chair was originally free) the whole lovely french country dining set, at my store in Taber.  It’s also available from NCI and at the Stillman’s Bazaar next to the Ivory Tower!!!