Mini Challenge no. 2 - Looking Silly

Ali's Mini Challenge No. 2 - yes, I reversed 2 & 3. Somehow this weekend after just getting back in the door after days away, I couldn't bring myself to look silly.

I put on the bling that flashed like a lighthouse last thing right before I logged off for the night with the intention of sashaying out first thing when I logged on next. The flash doesn't show up well in the pictures, but it was painful.

"HI! Everybody!"

That's how I started my time as a fashion retard. I decided to do it up big, hopefully get responses I could blog about and escape back into anonymity as quickly as possible.

Well, it failed. I was so awful, no one wanted to talk to me, although I'm sure they were talking about me among themselves. Some people did seem to move away from me, like I would rub off. I was really uncomfortable. I toned it down by switching back to my usual skin, but it didn't help. The nice fluffy white wolf looks uncomfortable to have me standing next to him too.

I did come across a lady with a name parents shouldn't give their children. Since we choose, I always wonder why they picked it and read their profile. She was a newbie. My first reaction was to offer her my newbie folders of LMs - then I took a look at myself! Anyone in their right mind would turn me down flat.

In answer to Ali's question "Why have you made your avatar look the way it does? What does it mean to you? Do you think people respond to you differently if you're attractive?" Cas is as much me as I can make her (height, build, eyes, makeup, stands, hair color & even style much of the time) the whole bit. I had already seen SL in action and decided I wanted to see myself having fun. But I'm pretty happy with myself and how I look - so why not? If I were unhappy with how I looked in FL Cas would reflect that, but not fully. For instance if I weighted more, she would be plump, but not really heavy. People have told me they react to how I look and dress. People also respond to conversation and personality. Think about it - if your friends were originally attracted to you because you were drop dead gorgeous, how many would you keep if you couldn't string a cohesive sentence together?

Challenge Completed!

Mini Challenge no. 3

Ali's Mini Challenge wrapped up and I'm behind.

If we started our first/real lives as adults with empty closets and an empty piece of land, we would spend months shopping just to fill our real needs and desires. In SL we are dropped into a world with incredible variety where everyone looks better than we do and they don't waddle. We have to shop. It's necessary - down to finding a skin and hair (choices we don't have to make in FL/RL) and stands and...and...to discover who we are and what we like and where to find it and how to buy it and how do I move anyway??? I have to buy a walk??!!

By the time we have an AV that looks and moves the way we are comfortable with, we are totally hooked on shopping. It's recreation in SL.

Each change of seasons my first year brought new gaps in my wardrobe that needed filling. A skybox, and then a house meant shopping for furnishings and landscaping. Getting into role play as a fae meant shopping for totally different clothing and wings!! As the seasons go around now, I look through what I have in my treasure chest of a wardrobe - 15,790 includes house&garden&poses&stuff&junk - and toss some of my earlier purchases. My inventory is organized and needs constant work to keep it that way. I'm currently working on putting copies of times in storage so if I ever lose massive amounts of inventory that I can't recover, I'll have some backups.

When it comes to fashion, I am a blog & announcement shopper, having discovered Linden Lifestyles right away. I sometimes shop sales for certain designers. I do hunts when the mood strikes or if someone blogs a hunt item I really like. But my shopping has slowed way down. I have a much larger budget, but most of it is going to tier, then comes decorating and fashion.

With other things I can be diligent. I'll search like crazy for just the right furniture or drapes, holiday decorations, or accessories for my home etc. I'll go to every animation shop when I'm tired of my stands.

I'm a lucky shopper much of the time. Right after I decide I need/want something, someone will release their design and it's just the thing - or - someone I'm chatting with will know where to find it. I have gone for days just enjoying friends and dances and role play without spending a linden. But when my purse is empty or I'm saving for a big purchase (I make Cas stick to that budget), it can be tough. I make a note of whatever it is and look at it again later. My SL bf complimented me on my new red shoes the other day. I had waited for a sale and they were perfect!

Favorite shops that's tough. Miriel's for jewelry, Fancy Fairy for the depth of shading on her wings, Reaction Girl for sports wear and my surf board. Because I love decorating for holidays the one I look forward to is PondLife's Holiday Shop.

I think I'll head down to the beach and catch some waves.....*smiles*

51 Meme Questions

I copied this from Jennidia’s blog


What time did you get up this morning?
7:00 wonderful! – usually it’s between 6:00 & 6:40

Diamonds or pearls?
Pearls; although both is nice :D

What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Wal-E, a very touching romance between robots recommended by my SL bf :D

Favorite TV show? TV?
Project Runway – actually appropriate to work!

What do you usually have for breakfast?
Oatmeal with fruit & spices. An egg on Sundays, fruit, bagel.

What is your middle name?
RL: Jean

What food do you dislike?
um..hmm...brussel sprouts (my RL brother likes them)

What is your favorite CD at the moment?
hmmm….a celtic harp one that is actually my RL husband’s

Favorite sandwich?
Chicken phily w provolone

What characteristic do you despise?
Blatant, backstabbing dishonesty (total agreement w Jenn on this)

Favorite item of clothing?
RL: cami’s w the shelf bra – I have at least a dozen – and – a supper soft orchid top that barely covers my tush and looks like a peasant blouse with tiny cap sleeves – I lounge around & sleep in it.
SL: when Human: evening gowns w jewelry & nice heels
when Fae: pastel chiffon dresses w jewelry & my wings *smiles sweetly*

If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be?
Ravenna, Italy to view Byzantine art

What color is your bathroom?
RL: Disgusting pink tile (3 shades)
SL: Blue and white :D

Do you make friends easily?
RL: yes, I am shy, but I am on many people’s friends list - lol
SL: I’m still shy, I have several good friends

Where would you retire to?
Tough – mountains, ocean, mild climate. The Blue Ridge Mountains if they were bordered by ocean. Talk about a spot that cries out for water colors. I was outdoors almost all of the time when I wasn’t at work and spent several hours 3 or 4 days a week painting outside even in the winter!!

What was your most recent memorable birthday?
A surprise party a few years ago that my husband hosted!!

Favorite sport to watch?
The Olympics & The America’s Cup (yachts)

How many towns/cities have you lived in?
Ten I think – Oregon (1), Kansas (2), Missouri (3), Massachusetts (2), Virginia (2), Florida (2) – nope twelve. I was born under a wandering star.

What's on your bedroom floor right now?
Ballet slippers, yoga strap, tote bag w handsewing projects and PhotoShop book, basket with feast gear.

Favorite saying?
Not sure I have one

When is your birthday?
July 19

Are you a morning person or a night person?
Morning, but I function reasonably well until I hit the wall and crash at night. Then I get really quiet and don’t chat much, or stop making sense.

What is your shoe size?
10 narrow (AA) Generations of long narrow feet on both sides of the family; it's hard to find shoes I like.

Pets?
I have a male cat named Boots (named as a stray we didn’t think we would adopt). My husband has a female cat named Cwnn.

Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?
I wish, but things are going along pretty well :)

What did you want to be when you were little?
A teacher, like so many other little kids. I did teach – art. I wanted to run away and join the circus. My current best friend (opposed to my growing up best friend) worked a carnival for one summer in high school (she had a very unusual mother)

Which talent would you most like to have?
To Sing. My brother sings quite well; he always wanted the art talent I have.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Okay

What is your favorite flower?
Old English Roses

What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
I always look forward to Fridays (my day off) and Sundays (my weekend) more time to be creative, and hang in SL (my name is Casandra, and I am an addict)

What color are your eyes?
Hazel, RL and SL. I am a total addict of Miriel’s eyes. However my SL boy friend made eyes especially for me with the gold burst around the pupil which I couldn’t find in SL at the time. They are almost exactly the right shade, so of course I wear my eyes *grins*

What was your favorite toy as a child?
Books – mom limited me to one a day and then I had to go outside and play. And a pair of white galoshes and a baton – I was so upset when I outgrew them and couldn’t pretend to be a drum majorette anymore!

Summer or winter?
Summer – the beach is cold during the winter. brrrrrr
But really Autumn – I grew up walking the fields at home. My RL husband and I walked the beaches in Florida. I walk often. Autumn is the leaves turning color and rustling as you shuffle/kick you way through them. The sky is a clear, clear blue without the haze of summer. And decorating for Halloween is just fun without the pressures of gifts and entertaining that Yule brings.

Hugs or kisses?
Yes. I’m pretty physical
RL: I hug. I hug all of my friends of both sexes and exchange a friendly kiss with a very few men; note that my husband is okay with that :)
SL: I would like to be able to hug my male and female friends in SL too, so I just bought a really good couple’s hud. If you would like/or need a good hug, please tell me so.

Chocolate or Vanilla?
Vanilla; more interest in the unsual ones such as rum raisin

When was the last time you cried?
Yesterday at work. We hear a LOT about our customers personal lives and sometimes it's very sad. I have a tender heart.

What is under your bed?
Plastic storage tubs for fabric.

Who is the friend you have had the longest in SL?
Other than the person who introduced me to SL, Emily Beaumont.

What did you do last night?
Work, go out to dinner with my friend Kelly, watch Project Runway, check my RL & SL email and favorite blogs. Not home yet = no logging into SL.

Favorite smell?
Gingerbread

What are you afraid of?
Becoming incapacitated and dependent upon others or losing my mental capabilities when I am old. Next would be really serious illness or a horrific accident. Ditto for anyone I care about.
After that would be various political or economic scenarios for my country or the world.

Plain, sweet, or salted Popcorn?
Lightly salted and buttered

How many keys on your key ring?
Six plus two in my bag as backups for other people

How many years at your current job?
seven

Do you have any scars?
Two – On a picnic at age 12, I fell breaking a bottle while chilling it in a stream – gouged my leg in two places. Not that noticeable now, but my mom was soooo mad; she had told me not to do that.

Have you broken any bones?
Oh yes, nothing major though. The ones I remember the best:
- a finger at age 6 when dad let go of the screen door when we were moving and it swung shut
- a toe when my brother was chasing me and I ran into the personal safe at home
- a finger playing basketball in high school
- cracked ribs was falling off a fence that was wet with dew as an adult.

Favorite day of the week?
Friday – I usually get together with my best friend.

What time to you usually get to bed?
12:50-1:10 am

How many people will you be sending this to?
Whoever is reading this...

Whose answers are you looking forward the most?
YOURS! Please answer here or on your blog and post a comment with a link. :D

My Favorite Places

I'm displaced this week. Our originial metal breezeway and stairs from the 1960s are being torn out (boy, did that look strange) and replaced with nice new wood. This is the first opportunity I've had to check my email and post to my blog. I am not able to log into SL.

So, I'm going accept Ali's challenge, but I won't be able to take pictures.

My Favorite Places are the ones where I like to relax at the end of my day, or sit while I work in PhotoShop or RL things:
- My bit of beach: both Sai's Platform Bed under the palm trees - and - the hot tub with it's built in canapy of brick and ivy
- Aglarond: the peaceful poolside of the Balsidhe Household. I want to talk Creag into a bit of garden in his yard and good spot to sit off the ground (as befits a fae *grin*)
One that is gone: the Fae Circle at Gamilia/Velgarth with the mushroom that let us float in the air currents.

The Kingdom That is No More

Pictures:

- Court, my first night in kingdom

- Soaring on the currents above the fae circle

- Gamilia burning - most of the buildings incuding the castle, the docks and the ship were on fire

- New castle of Velgarth

- One of the mountains being dismantled

I started role-play this summer. Gamilia was a well thought out fresh build. A medieval kingdom with areas I was very comfortable in and a few that were well done of a darker nature. In August there were earth-shaking changes in the fair kingdom. Both of the castles shattered in the quake, and one even larger was erected in their stead. The land became a darker place called Velgarth.

This sheltered fae did not find it pleasing and made the decision to depart from her first home. Two things stayed my hand from the “leave” button and I continued on. Primarily I wanted to be available to support my friends still there when they needed it.

And so I stayed, the sun did not shine as brightly with a pall over the land, there was no dancing, and fewer friends, but I stayed.

Last night came the notice that Velgarth had died and I knew at least one dear friend would need support as he picked up the pieces of his heart and his large contribution to the enchantment that was fae in the kingdom.

When I arrived the demolition had already begun with part of the village and the pier gone. I took the opportunity to say goodbye to my favorite places before they disappeared. I flew to the fae’s enchanted dance circle. The Fae Fests had been held here led by Lady Emy, House Zephirus’ talented choreographer; good fellowship for all races. My House, Zephirus, is no more and I have since laid my coronet back in its padded box.

Another memory quickly came to mind. As I floated in the currents of air overhead the circle one evening, a great lycan with a huge club lumbered up. I remained safely aloft until I was sure he wouldn’t grab me and eat me. Thus I met my friend Everoth. He gave me the second reason. A silver tongued warrior, he told me that “if the faes leave it, one less graceful shine of sun will be on this forsaken land...”

I flew to the mountain in search of my friend Creag. I walked down the stone paths and looked a last time upon the pools in the heart of the mountain. As I approached the entrance again, he flew in to join me. The fascinating huge mountain with the beautiful underground garden, twisting paths, and traps for the unwary where we searched when King Creag set Challenges for his people, is no longer.

Many of the people I knew from there are citizens of Aglarond as am I, so I won’t lose touch with them completely. However Ag is huge (nine sims) and it is impossible to know for certain if someone you would like to see is in kingdom by simply looking for them as you could in the kingdom that was and shall never be again.

A part of me will forever regret the loss of Gamilia.

My Pirate Name II

The first one was with my RL first name. This one is my SL first name. I was curious how the first name would change the outcome. Same last name for both. It went from passionate to pessimistic - lol.

My pirate name is:

Black Charity Rackham

Like anyone confronted with the harshness of robbery on the high seas, you can be pessimistic at times. You have the good fortune of having a good name, since Rackham (pronounced RACKem, not rack-ham) is one of the coolest sounding surnames for a pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

My Pirate Name

My pirate name is:

Red Mary Rackham

Passion is a big part of your life, which makes sense for a pirate. You have the good fortune of having a good name, since Rackham (pronounced RACKem, not rack-ham) is one of the coolest sounding surnames for a pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Aarrgh Matey!

The pirate party last night was Aisuru's idea and celebrated her birthday! The setting was a pirate ship with a plank, topsails, a parrot and jewels under the dance floor! The costumes were wonderful. It was really fun seeing what everyone came up with. And thankfully, Ali posted where to obtain a hat. I had someone's early attempt at sculpties and couldn't bring myself to wear it.

On to the pictures:
- Dyami looking out over the ship - note the peg leg!
- Crap surrounded by the gears of time, Sehra completing a dance move (she has great ones) and Bon
- Ali and Cen - very sexy. They look like the chorus line for Ari
- Everyone having fun aft
- Me - one of the pictures has to include me, so I can remember what I wore - lol

Bandana Day

I still have my favorite oriental black and gold scarf from last year. But I was delighted to see so many choices for Bandana Day this year at the Hair Fair. Red is my favorite color, so it was a must. Good jewelry is a necessity for bandanas. I'm wearing Miriel's new Fleur set. And then there was the find of the scarf from Studio Sidhe that matches her new fae outfit! I seriously love the playful fae on the hair pins!

So very many people are effected by cancer, it would be unique for someone to not have felt it's touch in some manner.

My boss, her husband and her mother have all had it!! My boss is a three time survivor and a wonderful role model, who is fortunate to have a staff of independent thinkers who can carry on without her daily presence for several months. At a business lunch a few months ago, I looked around the table and realized I was the only one there who had not had cancer!!

Newbies - Advice, What I learned, What I have to give - LM Folders

Tymmerie’s blog today poses questions she would like answered. So, here goes:

Best advice I received as a newbie:
- Deal with what you have brought into your inventory before you log off. I sooo don’t follow this, but I try to. It helps to keep your inventory under control if you organize everything that is under your recent items tab and shuffle them into the appropriate folders. If you go into “show filters” and increase the number of hours to cover your current time online, you’ll see everything you picked up/accepted.
- Make folders to group all of the pieces in an outfit together for quick changing. (I do LOVE this) My folder system is basically: Clothing > Dresses > 1 Outfits > RubyShirredChiffon-Decoy;Medallion-Miriel;hose;heels

I am much more likely to wear something I have made an outfit out of. It saves time trying on accessories to see if they have the right “look” for the clothing. If my choice of jewelry isn’t copy, the outfit description ends with “+ ______”. The plus sign is my clue to add that particular piece each time I wear it.

There are other folders under > Dresses – such as “Casual” and “mid-calf to long”. By no means is everything in an outfit folder. I’m not that organized. The “1 Outfits” name for the folder makes it the first sub-folder in each category.

My best advice for ladies:
- When you get a new dress, take the time to adjust the skirt to fit. That way it’s ready to wear. The first subfolder under > Shoes > L&E foot shape – sandal. Fast to find when I run around barefoot.

The first thing I do when I come in the door at home is kick off my shoes. I once left a pair of heels lying on the deck at my SL beach house for a few days. My bf asked it I kicked them off in route to the hot tub the night before *Cheshire Cat grin*. He currently has a lone shoe in the bedroom. (Fallingwater Cellardoor does such wonderful work)

For anyone:
- Delete all but one Bald Head
- Delete all but one pose stand – or – use the one with the Mysti Tool
- Use the search function at the top of inventory to look for things.
- Roleplayers: set up a sub-folder of “Add Ons” all of the stuff you need for your particular rp. I am a fae in two kingdoms, so mine has: fairy AO, faerie babbler, star skin, flight feather (the better to escape with my dears) and the foot shape.

Worse advice I ever received:
- Pick up every freebie you see. I still have boxes of freebies I’ve never touched! Need to chuck those. The mega boxes of freebies are overwhelming to a newbie and way overload an inventory. It took me forever just to weed through the ones I opened. Many had exactly the same items in them with the same or different names.

Learn on my own:
- How to group the chat window with private IM windows. The chat window was separate for me and I found it took too much space to have it that way.
- How to use Inventory > File > Show Filters to search for things when I can’t remember what the designer named them. Uncheck boxes for what you don’t want to search for and then if there is a timeline involved adjust the Hours Ago/Days Ago at the bottom of Show Filters.
- Closing a notice doesn’t delete it; it’s still in your inventory.

Newbie folders - I put together four folders of LM’s that I hand out to newbies - two for each sex. One contains skin offers for under 30 days old, and one is for freebies that work for any age. I reviewed all of these. The few that have tons of freebies, are named to indicate what I chose that LM for “good suit”. The second folder includes a notecard of some of the things I have found helpful. I am glad to share them with anyone who would like to pass them along.