Favorite Reads of 2014

I know it's been ages since I've written this blog (and it's a bit past New Years) but life has been busy. I did want to post an article about my favorite books of this past year. As a librarian, I love to read, and it helps me with my job. I order the fiction titles for my library, and I also edit a monthly staff picks newsletter to which I usually contribute one or two reviews. Below are a list of some of the books I've reviewed and my ten favorite for 2014.

1. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - This is a different type of book about a woman who falls in love with a paraplegic. The characters were portrayed realistically, and it made me cry at the end.

2. I've Got You Under My Skin by Mary Higgins - a suspenseful read that keeps you guessing who-dun-it.

3. Watching You by Michael Robotham - Another suspenseful read with an intricate plot with a twist.

4. Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg - a feel good book about finding the true meaning of life and living it to the fullest.

5. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton - historical debut and a fascinating tale.

6. I Remember You: A Ghost Story by Yrsa Sigurdardottir - This will send shivers up your spine.

7. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - Popular missing wife story that has become a movie.

8. Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult - This book features themes of animal wildlife, elephants, romance, and the paranormal.

9. The Girl Who Came Home: A Novel of the Titanic by Hazel Gaynor - Fictional tale based on the true events of the Titanic disaster.

10. The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson - Cozy Christmas romance about a man who must find homes for six cats and how he finds love along the way.

And, for the books I'm reading to start off 2015:

1.  Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (so far, it's not what I expected but still a good story of what would happen if a flu wiped out most of the world.

2.  The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan - This book tells 5 different stories taking place at different time periods with the theme of engagements. The history and lore of the diamond ring is scattered throughout. Looks like this one will be a movie, too.

3. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - This is being compared to Gone Girl, so advertising is targeting it as the next BIG book. I have only just begun reading it, but I feel a good twist coming already.

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

 

2012: A Mix of Good & Bad

As life gets busier, it's been hard for me to keep up this blog, but I wanted to try to end the year with some updates.  2012 was a very eventful year in my daughter, Holly's life.  She made her first Communion in May and took her first plane trip to Disney World in November.  Just a week before we left for Florida, Hurricane Sandy hit the LI/New York area.  We were lucky to have only lost power for less than two days, while many lost it for two weeks or longer.  We also had no significant damage to our home.  The day after we arrived in Orlando, a Northeaster hit causing snow and more damage to the northeast.  Our flight home was equally uneventful, although we left a day later due to having come down with stomach poisoning the last day of our trip.  Otherwise, we had a wonderful vacation and one worth remembering for a long time.  Below are some photos from our trip.

Holly's favorite part of the trip was meeting the princesses and Tinkerbell and getting all their autographs.  She also loved dressing up as Aurora, her favorite princess, and received the royal treatment at the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique.  Afterwards, she got to ride on a balloon!

Another favorite part of the trip was the Animal Kingdom where she took a safari and explored the wilds of Africa.  There was even a petting zoo of less wild animals.

The Hawaiian luau was a lot of fun, and the whole family got a photo together.

The airports were fun, too, especially the shopping.  But baggage claim was also cool.

 

 

It will be interesting to see what adventures await us in 2013.  Happy New Year!