A Little Bit Country at Rainbow Gardens

The Bluegrass Country Band performing at Rainbow Gardens

On September 9, Rainbow Gardens hosted the Bluegrass Country Band, for a Hoe Down country music concert.  The event was well attended with folks coming in casual dress, cowboy/cowgirl outfits, and everything in between.  Besides some nice country music, the Hoe Down featured bull riding, farm animals, barbecue and beer. 

September's Noah Wish Exhibit

Rainbow Gardens Pet Memorial Center is a non-profit memorial in Second Life dedicated to providing consolation to those mourning the loss of real life pets.  Rainbow Gardens has a Second Life and Facebook group.  Events, such as the Hoe Down and previous Scottish Dance, as well as exhibits related to pets and animals are scheduled regularly, and announced on these groups. Upcoming events will include a Halloween dance, Salsa, and Beatles Nights.  The current exhibit is "Noah's Wish" created by Francesca Alva, a Noah's Ark-like exhibit with information on an animal charity,  http://noahswish.org/.

Garden Gift Shop will help to raise funds for Rainbow Gardens

The new Garden Shop, located at Rainbow Gardens, sells low-cost items with a pet or memorial theme.  Currently, our cat and dog rescue t-shirts are available as well as a personal memorial that can be customized and set on one's own land.  More items will be available soon.
Slurl to Rainbow Gardens: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cybrary%20City%20II/225/117/22

 

Virtual Arguments Cause Real Pain

These last few weeks have not been good for me.  Besides learning that a very good friend from library school whom I hadn't seen in years passed away (She called me a few days before she died), I also lost a very close virtual friend but not through death but through something I truly regret saying.  I've tried to apologize.  I admitted I was wrong.  I asked for a chance to talk.  I wrote an email explaining how life is too short to be angry at friends and telling him how badly I felt about what I had done.  No response.  I'm hoping this just means he's busy in real life or just not ready to make up yet and not that our friendship is over.  But all I want is to know one way or the other.  It's so true that the worse punishment someone can give you when they're mad is to ignore you.

As I grieve for my girlfriend from library school, I also grieve for my virtual friend.  We had some really great times together, and we used to talk in Facebook as well as in Second Life.  We worked together, explored together, danced together, and, sure, we had arguments, but I never expected it to end this way.  There were times I thought things weren't working, but I couldn't just walk away.  All friends have fights.  That doesn't mean they don't care for one another.  And just because you meet someone online and never "see" them in person, doesn't mean you can't develop feelings for them, doesn't mean you can't be real friends as well as virtual friends.  So when something like this happens, the pain is very real.  Believe me, it's as real as my apology.  I truly hope my virtual friendship isn't over.  I still mean what I wrote in the poem below that I shared at a Poetryfest in SL.

Virtual Friend

We met in a virtual world
a place created from fantasy
yet the friendship we formed was based on truth and reality
I can't fully grasp all that you've come to mean to me
I can tell you things that I can share with no other
I have no fear that you will hurt me, and you know your confidences are safe with me
You see me clearer than those who see me every day
even though you've never laid eyes on me
You touch me deeper than those who are always by my side
even though you've never laid a hand on me
Your support strengthens and encourages me
I am glad to share your sorrow,
You can heal my pain
just by listening.
And when we laugh together, it's at the same jokes
the ones written in the same books
but we read them from miles apart, worlds apart, and yet they are so close
as close as we are virtually.

Where does one find a friend? Not just an acquaintance but someone true, someone honest like you?
Age doesn’t matter, sex doesn’t matter
and distance matters even less
I guess
we never would've met years ago
before technology gave us a way
Today
there are so many ways to stay in touch online
You're always there for me
and I am thankful I found you along the path
It's a lonely walk otherwise
And when we walk it together, it's the same path
the one we follow that leads the same way
but we walk it from miles apart, worlds apart, and yet we are so close virtually.

Goodbye, InfoIsland!

At the July 29 CVL meeting that followed up an earlier meeting to address the future of the Community Virtual Library in Second Life, Abbey Zenith and Rocky Vallejo announced that InfoIsland would be closing as of February, 2013.  It is also very possible that Cybrary City II, currently under management by Rocky and not part of CVL but where many libraries and librarian-run groups reside, will also close if no one is able to take it over by February. 

While this news was not exactly a surprise, it was no less disappointing.  For the CVL volunteers who have spent countless hours working, playing, building on InfoIsland for the last six years, it is a tough pill to swallow.  The only plus side is that the Community Virtual Library, while downsizing, will not disappear.  It will be moved to a smaller space on Imagination Island that it will share with Rachelville and Seanchi.  There will be monthly exhibits and a meeting space.  The new location was shown on a map that those attending the meeting were able to copy.

Dancing Up a Storm

Last weekend was my daughter's dance recital.  She's been taking dance classes the last four years since she was 3 at Ella Marie Dance School.  In all her previous recitals, she performed once on a Sunday.  This year, for her ballet recital, she had to perform in three shows -- one on Friday night and two on Saturday!  For all of this, she received her first trophy (in the last three years, she just got a ribbon).  Now I think I am eligible for a trophy, as well, for attending each performance, getting her ready for each performance, toting along all her touch up supplies, etc.  But, in the end, it was all worth it.  Below are some photos of her in her costume before and after the show and also of her receiving her trophy.

Exploring the Atlantis Aquarium on a Field Trip

On May 29, I went on a field trip with my daughter's class.  Despite the hot weather and the bus ride with a group of second graders (an experience to remember), it all turned out nice.  The Atlantis Aquarium (recently renamed the Long Island Aquarium), has many sites to see, shows, and exhibits.  Holly especially enjoyed feeding the stingrays and bought a stuffed one in the gift shop. 

One of the best exhibits, besides the fish, sharks, sea lions, penguins, and monkeys was the butterfly and birds exhibit.  Set in two wonderland-type rooms, the children enjoyed seeing the beautiful butterflies and were actually able to feed the birds (using hand sanitizer).  My daughter was a bird feeding expert from her time at the White Post Farms bird area.  Many birds landed on her and one took up residence on her head for a moment!

We had lunch in the cafeteria and then departed on the bus after a day of fun exploring.

My Daughter's Communion: A Day to Remember

My 7 year old daughter made her first Holy Communion at Holy Family Church on Saturday, May 12.  Although her allergies were acting up, and we were all suffering from a case of nerves, the event went smoothly.  We had beautiful weather, and it was great to see so many friends and relatives at the church and the party we had at Fanatico's Italian restaurant afterwards. 

Here are some photos from the Communion and party.  The food and cake were incredible.  Holly changed her clothes once we got to the restaurant to be more comfortable.  It was a truly memorable day. 

Goodbye Seahorse

I wrote a poem in tribute to a special place where I and some friends used to live.  I am also illustrating it with some photos from the two years we spent there.  While Second Life isn't a real world, I've found you can grow attached to the places, things, and people in it.  I don't believe that's wrong or crazy.  Just like in RL, you move on after saying goodbye, but it hurts for a bit, even though the memories are sweet.

Goodbye Seahorse (February 2010 - April 2012)

by Dulcie Mills

You weren't the first

or the last land I will own,

but for two years, you were home.

Through all the seasons

fireworks and fireplaces

visiting with friends

or just in my own spaces

In the sunset

and in the storm

sailboats crossing

by lighthouse glow

On swings and porches

by pools and lakes

waterfalls flowing

Your choice was no mistake

Over footbridges and horse paths

by gardens before the sea

where butterflies played

and cats and dogs ran free

Once there were four

sharing a treehouse with three floors

for parties, dances, and games

or just to meet or hang out with the gang

Skating and Sledding

Barbecues and teas

swimming and chatting

how hard it was to leave

rez days and birthdays

Weddings and holidays

special moments and more

we remember celebrating on Seahorse

Goodbye, Seahorse

so long