SLife Goes On

I’ve gone nearly another whole month without updating the blog, my apologies to those of you who read this regularly. I have no excuses. My Slife has been hectic and fun. I am still dancing at Parrot Bay on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights from 7 to 9 pm SLT. I am also dancing at a club called Rumours on Saturday nights from 7 to 9 pm SLT. I have become involved with a publication and website called MOFSL, but as yet, have not been contributing much to that effort. My real time has been spent with writing, both in real life as well as inworld. I am involved in a Second Life group called Inksters, which has daily writing contests. The beauty of these contests is that the submissions must be 500 words or less, which really forces the story down to the most basic elements. These daily challenges have been lots of fun for me. I’ve thought about putting them out here on the blog for all you readers to see, but as yet I haven’t. If any of you would like to see them on the blog, please drop me an email or an IM inworld and let me know. If I get more than one request, I’ll likely start posting my Inkster’s submissions here.

Boog and I are doing fine. We are still talking about opening a shop, but haven’t done so as yet. Still getting lots of people wandering thru our house, despite the security system, and still having a great time exploring Second Life together. Updating more today, with pics. Until then…

Quick Update on Major Developments

Wanted to let all the readers here know that I've created a group for you and others who enjoy either reading my words, hanging out with me, or attending events that I'm involved in. The group name is Lorelei's Liaisons. It is free to join and I won't be spamming the members at all. Just the occasional update letting you know of events and parties I'm hosting, as well as when I make a significant update to the blog. Also, since one of my pet peeves are unimaginative, even embarrassing tags, you get a cool tag! When you join my group, your tag will be "Dangerous Liaison" which is fun and one you will hopefully enjoy wearing.

The other development is that I have become affiliated with a new publication and website called MOFSL. You can find the website at MOFSL.com. It stands for Ministry of Second Life, and will include pics and info about most every aspect of Second Life. It is a way for new and old members to get to know the world a little better. There is also an account on Flickr where our pictures will be posted and accessible. Look for the distinctive logo, it is new now, but I suspect you will be seeing it more and more as time goes on.

More updates soon on surfing, shopping and relationships going on in the life of Lorelei Larsson. Remember, go to groups and search for Lorelei's Liaisons and join! Until next time....

Let's Go Surfing Now... OR... In Search of the Perfect Wave

Boog and I have been working hard in SL lately. I currently am working at a club called Parrot Bay on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 7 to 9 SLT, and I also work at a club called Rumours on Saturday nights. In addition to this, Boog and I have been taking lots of classes, learning a lot. We’ve purchased a photo studio and are soon going to launch a business together.

All work and no play… well, you know the rest. Boog and I were in serious need of some fun and relaxation, so we went on a quest for fun. At first, we tried snowboarding at a place called Salzburg. The sim was gorgeous and the facilities top notch, but unfortunately, the snowboarding equipment was severely lacking. So, we dropped our heavy clothes in favor of swimwear and went searching for a beach and surfboards. By the way, I'm back to being a neko. Note the ears, spots and tail. Boog and I are a pair of kitties.

First stop took us to a nice sim called Bishara Island. We couldn’t use their surfboards there without a group tag, and though we clicked and made the request, many hours later we still had not received an invite. Despite the fact that we never got to surf at Bishara, it was a lovely place, and I intend to go back and explore it more thoroughly again soon. One thing they had there which I’ve not seen yet in SL was a mini-golf course.

They also had a gorgeous and very well done under water grotto. Swimming underwater and seeing all the coral and colorful fishes, hearing the whales singing, was something that I will certainly go back and experience again soon. A restful, soothing experience, but not what we were needing at the moment.

Undaunted, and still in search of surfing thrills, we went to a personal favorite of mine, Junkyard Blues, which now occupies a full island sim. Being a group “Dawg”, I was immediately able to use the public surfboards, and was having a great time, but Boog didn’t have a tag. Not a problem, we just flew over to the dance floor and jammed to fine blues, danced on top notch dance balls and talked until I saw one of the Junkyard Dawg hostesses, whom are on duty for the most part 24/7. I asked Shellie for a tag for Boog, and she graciously supplied him with one immediately. We spent the rest of the evening riding the waves of Junkyard Beach.

This was one of the best times I’ve had yet in SL. Boog and I are already shopping for our own surfboards. Who knows, maybe we will give up the luxury of Tales of Desire and go become full time Junkyard Blues Beach bums. After all the fun we had last night, it is a tempting proposition. Here are some shots of Boog and me having a blast surfing the waves.

Readers of this blog have been riding my ass over the last month or so at my lack of updates. The first question they always ask me, after the general how-do-you-do’s in IM is always, “How’s Boog?”.

Well, dear readers, Boog is fantastic. Believe it or not, he and I are still together and haven’t spent more than a day or so apart in the last two months, we see each other every day. In SL terms, I think it is some sort of a record.Sure, we have our moments, but we seem to be doing just fine. I don’t know where we are going, but we are enjoying the ride, exploring and learning this world together. More updates soon…

Some Words of Warning for New SLitizens..... OR..... Lola

It has been about six weeks since the last post to this blog. I had a major drama in my SLife, and I survived just fine, learned a lot. However, there was an action that I wanted to take, but my love for another made me reluctant to do it. As a result, I froze, unable to act at all. Finally, here is my action, my latest update on the adventures of Lorelei in the wonderland of Second Life.

I think in terms of Second Life age I am now fully a middle aged person, wizened and somewhat cynical from my experiences. What is striking to me, is the similarities to RL, but in slightly different manifestations. This world of SL is doing a lot of boundary crossing, on many different levels. It is making our world smaller allowing many who might never travel past their borders to meet and explore people on the other side of the globe. Most times, despite the differences in culture, language and economics, we find that we are all human, and when it comes down to the most basic natures and needs, very much the same.

While most people are good and kind, both in RL and in SL, there are also people who are dangerous and not what they appear to be. And even the good ones who would never intentionally cause pain to others, are weak, flawed humans. We all are. Sometimes even very kind people can hurt others very much.

One thing that bothers me about SL is the phenomena of men masquerading as women. This is rampant across SL. I worry about the psychological damage caused to young people who become emotionally attached to a person masquerading as a different gender than what they actually are. After emotional ties have been formed, THEN the truth is revealed. I know for a fact that this is happening over and over again in SL.

I personally am aware of a “woman”, initials V.C. who is, in fact, a man. This is just one example of the sort of devious and manipulative type that seem to have found a haven in SL. This person trolls sex holes looking for sexy but very young (in SL terms) people to prey on, and forms relationships with those people, lovingly creating a very manipulative environment. Only after the hooks are well set in the victim’s brain does the truth come out. This “woman” is actually a youngish Dutchman, so unsure of his sexuality that he can’t make his mind up between men and women, neither in the virtual world nor in the real one. But what he does do is manipulate and use people in SL, and I have seen it first hand. He may not know how to love, but he knows how to control, and that is where the thrill for him lies.

New people in SL need to be aware that there are predators trolling around, ready to insidiously worm their way into other peoples psyches, only to use and control them. There are many people in SL seeking the one thing that really gets them going, which is controlling others. The thing that puzzles me is why people willingly allow this to happen. Yet, I’ve seen how slow and subtle the process is, and most don’t realize what is going on until they are in too deep to see the situation objectively. So then, dear readers, guard your heart well on your journeys in Second Life. It may be a virtual world, but the emotional pain can be very real, and it cuts like a knife. More updates coming soon…

Take a visit to Australia at the Pond

My SLover Boog and I recently enjoyed a fun evening of exploration at the Pond.

This finely detailed sim includes plenty of activities and recreates all that is best about the land down under.

There are plenty of places to hang out and meet new people, lots of amazing scenery and jaw dropping builds. There is a race track, a cuddle park and shopping.

A re-creation of the Sydney Opera house is amazing from the outside, but sadly, only the basement can be entered and explored.

While we were there we discovered an amazing and mind blowing art experience in the bottom of the Opera House. Lights, sound and color react to movements of avatars thru the space. Invite your friends, go into mouse look and fly around bumping into each other and enjoy the effect you have on the environment, and feel the effect it has on you, reminiscent of mind-altering drug experiences.

If you enjoy detail of construction and have some time go on a walkabout and explore, the Pond is a must see in Second Life.

Come see me at Parrot Bay

I am now dancing at Parrot Bay in addition to my job at La Rose Nui. I love the crowd at Parrot Bay, they are such a tight knit SL family. It’s a real honor to be a part of such a fun bunch of people. If you ever want to stop in and say hello to me, I work at Parrot Bay on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights between 7 and 9 pm SLT. Enjoy different themes, Sploder nights, dancing and shops out in the courtyard, admire the pirate ship in the harbor and take a hit on the gigantic bong in the club. The people are friendly and welcome new people, so stop in and admire the scenery, and as always, remember to tip your lovely dancers and DJ as they are working hard for your entertainment.

More on Lorelei’s adventures in Second Life coming soon. Until then.

House Beautiful Second Life

One of the most enjoyable things about SL for me so far has been setting up housekeeping. Boog Nishi and I rent a lovely house called Tales of Desire, and he and I are Lord and Lady of Desire.

The owner and creator of this spectacular house, Luminus, came over the other day and told us that what we thought was ours was not. There is a little stone cottage that connects the Tales of Desire house with the big castle in back that belongs to Luminus and Fran. Boog and I had been under the mistaken impression that this little stone cottage was ours, but Luminus informed us that it was not included in the rent. I had asked this question twice in IMd queries to the owners prior to renting the house, but had never gotten a response. Being an optimist I’d assumed the little cottage was part of the deal.

This new disappointing revelation involved some quick rearranging and a little sadness too, because now, privacy in our home is really at a premium. In fact there is really none to be found at all. But, the place is lovely, and we don’t want to leave.

So in search of a little privacy, I went on a curtain buying adventure. Eventually I settled on a set of amazing huge red flexi curtains that blow in the ever present SL wind. (I am now an expert on curtains in SL.) But before I actually bought the curtains, I also bought a new sofa and ottoman for our living room, and a nice “ohm” printed flexi curtain for the uncovered window in Boog’s room.

As soon as Boog and I got the curtains hung, we went on yet another shopping spree to Bits and Bobs, outfitting the area in front of the fireplace with new toys and adding a new set of dance balls.

Our home just gets sweeter and sweeter. Boog and I are loving each other, loving the home we have created together and loving our perfect world in SL. More updates on the adventures of Lorelei in Second Life coming soon. Until then…