Overdue Post

It was so busy getting my daughter through the end of school year that I haven't had a chance to post until things have finally calmed down somewhat.  I'd like to catch up on our June activities. 

Before Holly finished third grade, she performed in five Ella Marie ballet dance recitals.  It was a very busy but enjoyable weekend.  On the last night, she was called up on stage for having completed her fifth year of dance.  The following week, she received her fifth-year trophy. 

The day after school ended, Holly and her girl scout troop had a bridging ceremony as they moved up from Brownies to Juniors.  The ceremony took place at Old Westbury Gardens and was followed by a picnic and activity.  It was a beautiful day, and Holly was also able to participate in the Midsummer fairy hunt later that evening.

Also, during this time, we adopted another cat - my mom's siamese, Oliver.  He and Holly had always gotten along well, and she was thrilled to add him to the family.  Although Stripey was a bit upset initially, he has come to accept Oliver as an older "brother" even though they still occasionally have some brotherly spats.

Neither "hair" nor There

I don't change my hairstyle in SL often, change it less in RL, of course, but sometimes I like to try out something new.  I got just the opportunity during Truth's hair sale that is running until May 3.  I almost didn't get the chance, though, because it is terribly hard to enter the sim.  It seems people are still spending Lindens because there was a waiting line on the rooftops outside the store.  When I finally got in, I went a little crazy figuring I was saving 125L each hair color pack.  Here are some of the styles I chose. 

Briony

Caprice

Clara

Cynthia

Kitty

Nina

Tatiana

Brandi
 

Slurl to Truth Hair:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Truth%20Hair/116/40/27

Six in SL

Dulcie's with her 6th rez day cake at Rainbow Gardens

On March 6, I celebrated my 6th rez day in Second Life.  That's a long time to be a resident of a virtual world.  I started as a reporter for the Metaverse Messenger Newspaper and then began writing articles about the librarian's activities in SL.  I was also Associate Publisher and then Publisher of Rezlibris, an online magazine for librarians. Unfortunately, that publication is no longer being produced.  I also volunteered at Mystery Manor for a short time.  I created and opened the Rainbow Gardens Pet Memorial Center after my real life cat passed away.  The memorial center will be celebrating its 5th anniversary this April.

Dulcie as Metaverse Messenger Writer

Dulcie at Rainbow Gardens opening, April 2008

I've lived on Renaissance Island, Info Island, Seahorse Isle, and Friends Island.  I've had a multitude of homes and a few skyboxes.  Currently, I spend less time in SL but am still active with my work at Rainbow Gardens.  I've seen a lot of changes, some good and some bad.  The loss of the education discount saw the exodus of many educators and librarians. 
The Community Virtual Library had to give up several islands including its first, Info Island.  They are now relocating to Imagination Island and hoping to scale things back but still retain the educational exhibits and fun events within their community by sharing space. 
Different viewers were introduced as alternatives to the SL viewer which many people find challenging.  Clothing, skin, and other avatar appearance options as well as environmental affects to make the virtual world even more graphically appealing are now available.  Although many sims close, new ones open all the time.  The Destination Guide and SL events calendar are always full of places to go and things to do.  There have been several attempts to make newcomers adjust to the learning curve inworld, although Linden Labs continues its history of minimal support while creating new projects beyond SL.

Dulcie with staff members of RezLibris Magazine

Dulcie with SING friends on Seahorse Isle

So I celebrate 6 years, the good and the bad.  I look forward to the changes that are always a part of SL, as it is of RL.  Will I stay another 6 years?  Will SL still be around?  No one knows.  Life is short and virtual worlds come and go.  We need to enjoy them while they last, although, most importantly, we need to focus on the reasons we are there in the first place - to meet people.  After all, a virtual world is nothing without real people.  If I stay another year or six, it's because of all the great members of my Rainbow Gardens group, the volunteers and the performers, who have been so supportive since we opened five years ago and continue to contribute toward the continuation of the memorial center.  It is also because of the friends I've met in SL -- the SING group and other "virtual" librarians.   

Cheers to my rez day, and thanks to everyone who wished me a happy one.

Farewell, Info . . . Hello Imagination

 

A large group of oldtimers (and newcomers) dropped by to see InfoIsland off

On Sunday, February 24, I attended the farewell party for InfoIsland.  The festivities, like all well attended SL events, featured major lag and a sim restart, but once things got underway, it was a perfect sendoff to the place CVL librarians have called home for 7 years.  With creative and funny skits put on by Abbey, Rolig, Biblio, Puglet and Bud and library themed music played by Derry, the place was jumping (and dancers flying).  Many old-timers showed up, and  even a Portuguese Poet (aka Clark Abismo) dropped by. 

Below are some photos from the event.  While InfoIsland is gone, its memories will live on, and the CVL will continue making new ones on Imagination Island.

The first number, All that Jazz,  was put on by Abbey and Puglet

 

Next up was Rolig and Biblio in pretty white dresses



Camoes the Portuguese poet (aka Clark Abismo) joined Dulcie in dancing to Derry's great tunes

Bud and Abbey did a great skit with a library backdrop

 

This chorus line challenged the Rockettes


 

It's No Mystery - Mystery Manor is Gone

Last night, I attended the farewell cocktail party for Mystery Manor in Second Life.  Although some places on Info Island are moving to Imagination Island next month, many are closing for good.  Unfortunately, unless someone steps forward to volunteer, Mystery Manor will be one of them.  This is sad, but it's also quite common in SL.  As the cocktail attendees agreed, it is very hard to maintain builds in SL because of the time and money involved in keeping them going.  I remember Mystery Manor from when I joined SL nearly six years ago and did some work for it with Max Batra until we both left for other pursuits (Max for rl family reasons and me for Rainbow Gardens).  That's why I had to attend last night, and I give credit to Hyacinth Cortes and others who have tried to keep MM going with programs and events after us.  I know firsthard what it's like, and I only hope that Rainbow Gardens can continue in its new parcel on Mythica in March.  Below are photos from the cocktail party, and some very old photos from when I worked at Mystery Manor. 

Cheers to Hyacinth for her work at MM

Many librarians came for a farewell toast to MM on 2/16/13

 

Early shot of MM prior to 2008

Mystery Manor 2008