we've tried the goodbye so many days

I...I can't even.



First line on her profile?

I am a redeemed child of the one and only living God and driven by my Christian faith.

I just can't.

From another random profile:

- I started putting in the same effort reaching out to you that you have to me. This is why we don't talk anymore.

That's fair in a lot of cases. I know people who unfriend when those friends stop initiating contact. For me, there are scores of people on my friendslist that are there because I used to talk to them. I'm the one not good at reaching out in many cases.

- Always beware of the fox being in charge of the hen house.

I get what they mean, but in a lot of ways, this is needlessly obscure. Just state it outright.

- If your presence can't add value to my life, your absence will make no difference.

See first point.

- When someone shows interest and passion for you and it suddenly disappears, they've already moved to their next victim.

A reference to the fox again.

- Someone's true colors will come out when you need them most and have nothing to offer in return.

Oh, always. A very old bumper from MTV once said, "If you truly want to know someone, and you don't have a lot of time, throw a glass of milk in their face." Because by doing that, you'll figure out how they deal with anger, hurt and shock all at once. It's valuable information in under a minute, if you really need it.

- Someone who has to be owned and controlled by another will never be loved.

Again, I know what they mean, but...obviously, I don't always agree. On the other hand, it's my choice to be owned. I know the parameters of that ownership. I accept the good--and the bad--within those parameters. And if I ever choose to walk away, I can do that too.

Not that I'd want to, but I am still an adult with choices. Choices I take responsibility for, choices I share responsibility for with another person. D/s, in this sense, is very symbiotic--both partners in the arrangement supporting each other.

Or at least, it should be. If one is owned in this sense, and it's only one way, that's not chosen, that's not submission under domination, that's just abuse.

- Love always takes time. You can't learn about somoene in an hour.

"Someone", and of course we can't. Second Life at large, though, falls into this trap quite often. I've told people in the past that SL is life in the spin cycle. People fall in love in an hour, marry over a weekend, divorce after two weeks. Every experience is more intense, more emotionally vital, and more emotionally devastating when it ends.

And I don't think, largely, that will change, because I see the same patterns of behavior in people who've been on the grid for a decade, that I see in people that just joined the grid. It's easy to be attracted to someone. It's easy to experience that first rush of infatuation. So of course it's as easy to get married, move in together, and, when something occurs that explodes that perceived level of connection and understanding, to storm off, unpartner, and move out.



In other news, running the advents again, I came across this lass. And I swear, when I first saw her, all I could think of was The Handmaid's Tale. I thought it was a scarily bold move to walk around in that particular attire. What a statement she was making.


That's when I realized no, it's just a holiday-red cloak and a white bonnet. Oh. I thought it made a bigger impact when I viewed it as political protest, but there you go. It's just fashion.

if this is what we are, then I gotta move on

Ah, the days of yore, back when we had wood-burning cats, spindle-wheeled carriages were still popular, and Lolas Tangos were the newest Big Thing:

[11:13] Cxxx Mxxxxxx: I am looking through some old inventory and I am seeing things called "Lola" appliers. Does anyone remeber what they go with?
[11:14] Rxxxxxxxx Rxxxx: with Lola Tango boobs
[11:14] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Those were bewb addons, in the days before mesh bods

Back in the annals of tiiiiime...

[11:14] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yeh lol
[11:15] Cxxx Mxxxxxx: how did they work? Should I keep them?

Weirdly, I still have my Tangos, even though I've thrown out all the clothing I saved to wear over them, and routinely toss out the Tango layers in new items of clothing. I should just throw them away, too.

[11:15] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: old mesh boobs
[11:15] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: huge lol
[11:15] wxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thank goodness for them too. System boobs are an abomination
[11:15] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol
[11:16] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: they can work with mesh bodies can't they?

Yeah, and people still make appliers and clothing for them.

[11:16] Cxxx Mxxxxxx: can they?
[11:17] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Remember, let's not denigrate others' decisions on their avatars, please.

I don't think anyone was, specifically? But of course, you know best, you're a mod of the increasingly restrictive group this chat arises from.

[11:18] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i'm not sure, i seem to recall something about how they can work with mesh bodies
[11:19] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Can they? Yes, technically, because they are just another mesh addon. Not sure if they're even sold anymore. But if you put them on you'd have to alpha out the chest section of your mesh bod. The lines would be very visible
[11:20] Cxxx Mxxxxxx: hmmmm. Could they be covered with clothes so the seams don't show?
[11:21] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Probably? But I'm not sure why someone would want to use both.

Me, neither, because most mesh bodies "expand", if that's what's desired, far better than any applier system ever did.

[11:21] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: actually, i have some breast 'deformers' that i use to make lara more natural, but they can be sized to where the old lola's look like flat chested lol
[11:22] Jxxx Gxxxxxxx: Ummm, I have some that i don't use anymore, but, I did put them on, and I didn't need to alpha out the chest...maybe bcuz I'm BoM now
[11:22] Cxxx Mxxxxxx: so I should probably delete them?

Entirely up to you. As I said, some people still make Lolas layers for outfits.

[11:23] txxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Thank you all for all the info on mesh bodies. i have been at a loss of even where to start. that helped alot.
[11:23] Cxxx Mxxxxxx: I am always at a loss. Welcome to the club, [Txxxxxxx] ;)
[11:24] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Not the appliers [Jxxx], the bewbs themselves
[11:25] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: The meshbodyaddicts blog is no more, but the group is still around and very active. A good place for comparison questions

True. Plus, running a search for Lolas Tangos and Second Life would probably turn up some articles.

[11:26] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: eh I hear they have gotten infiltrated and are no longer unbiased as a source.

Infiltrated by whom?

[11:27] Pxxxxxxxxx Exxxxxx: There are also videos on YouTube comparing various bodies. I think Strawberry Singh /Linden has some

She does, as well as a very informative blog.

[11:28] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I tend to see the omega using bodies as the best options unless you want a specialty body. so the omega blog is useful. though demoing and asking around and such can be useful and there are likely random blog posts you can dig up about the mesh bodies.
[11:29] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: sl forums are always a good place to skim through for current thinking as well
[11:30] yxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i seen once addons called cherrybombs... they are giant...

Not as big as the Overfilleds. With some lasses wearing Overfilleds, they couldn't see their knees, let alone their feet. Or the ground. Or their arms around each massive breast...

[11:31] yxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I wonder it isn't possible wear mesh clothing with those accessories?

Asked and answered.

[11:31] Vxxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxxx: remember, all designers are created equal in the eyes of God, even though some are major banking than others

There is no need to bring religion into this, thanks.

[11:32] yxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: this side of the plane, please ...

Exactly.

[11:32] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: all designers may be created equal, but talent is certainly not distributed evenly
[11:33] yxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but we don't complain about ti here... specially if they are generously giving away gifts.
[11:35] Jxxx Gxxxxxxx: You would need appliers for those, I'm pretty sure

And then the conversation drifted away, and likely a good thing. The upshot remains the same: any implant system won't look as good as mesh bodies do now, but it is possible to still use them.

I really should have seen through the airwaves

Just...why? Seriously, if your breasts are so large you can't see anything beyond them but head and thighs? Give up, they're too big.

While we're on the subject...OMG WHYYY??? Same company, and those basically obscure you from shoulders to ankles! No. Just no. Go outside and get some air!

Quote I found on a profile:

"If you love a flower, don’t pick it up. Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love. So if you love a flower, let it be. Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation."
~Osho

He has a definite point.

In the meantime...



It's been on life support for a while, but I'm officially declaring the Wednesday Bikini Bash at Sakura deceased. Now we have a week to figure out what else we're going to do. Sad.

we talk about love, we talk about dishwater tablets and we dream about heaven

[19:34] Jxxxxxx Gxxxxx: feijoa, cherimoya, pomellos, are you all living in the rainforrest?
[19:34] Sxxxxxxxx Gxxxx: no
[19:34] Jxxxxxx Gxxxxx: we dont get that there fruit here in Maine
[19:34] Jxxxxxx Gxxxxx: we have apples, oranges and lobster
[19:35] Emilly Orr: ...lobster is a fruit?
[19:35] Emilly Orr: Since when?
[19:35] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I want a lobster tree
[19:35] Jxxxxxx Gxxxxx: yes, it is the national fruit of Maine! :-p
[19:35] Pxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: its a thing
[19:35] Pxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lobsterfruit
[19:35] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but things go better with coke

Let's just say Caledon chat was strange today, and leave it at that.

So, I had some other things planned, but kept finding myself dragging my feet over getting the entries finished and posted. I'm not uninterested in the topics, I will at some point finish those entries, I'm just still dealing with the last vestiges of prior heartbreak.

It takes me a long time to recover from things. You'd think a year-plus would be enough time, but...yeah. No. Not so much.

Plus, my mind is now trying to chew over effective ways to present the upcoming Aether Salon to which I was invited. clear back in....gad. February?? And while I'm still trying to figure out what I want to SAY, and if there's anything about steampunk music I want to update for this blog, I haven't mentioned it because it seemed....well. Impossibly distant.

This is why stress is a bad thing.

Anyway, my presentation will be in the Babbage Palisades district of New Babbage, the Sunday after next, 21 Aprille, at the nearly-ungodly early hour of two in the afternoon, SLT. (Hey. Professional night owl, and that's the law--go to bed during single digits; get up during single digits; and we nicely avoid most instances of the Nasty Bright Thing.) All I know right now is I will be there; I will likely likely be extraordinarily caffeinated; and I'll do my best to keep tangents to a dull roar.

In the meantime, welcome to our next edition of Shopping Naked: Why Is This a Thing?

(from the shopping album; censored because her 'dress' is pretty damned much openwork netting.)

This is a serious question on my part. All the various and myriad stores, maturity ratings, roleplay styles, fetish styles, looks, avatars, and structures on the grid: but unless you're a professional nudist, why would you--why would anyone--decide to shop naked? I don't get the urge, plain and simple.

(from the shopping album; censored because her 'dress' is pretty damned much openwork netting.)

And no, I don't know what was wrong with her hair. And believe me, she didn't port in and port out, so she didn't have time to rez. I watched her for a good ten minutes, trying to figure out whether she was wearing some mesh object that just hadn't rezzed in (she hadn't; besides, the Lola's Tango implants she's wearing are mesh), or if her hair was also mesh, and had just gone buggy around the edges.

But nope. Neither of those things were true. Maybe she just really doesn't understand how hair works on the grid. It's obvious enough she doesn't know how to stand...

Sadly, that may answer the first question, as well: she'd spent all of thirty-eight days on the grid.

[19:36] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok, this isn't a snipe hunt type of deal is it? The only lobster I'm aware of is the kind that is served on a plate with butter with a side of steak
[19:36] Sxxxxxxxx Gxxxx: its the fruit of the local land or sea in this case
[19:36] Pxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: crunchy
[19:36] Jxxxxxx Gxxxxx: oh a surf and turf....
[19:36] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: It is ISC After Dark [Mxxx]....
[19:36] Axxxxxx Gxxxxxx prefers it in tacos
[19:36] Axxxxxx Gxxxxxx: lobster, that is
[19:36] Pxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: fruits du mer
Yeah, still strange.

Apparently in the next coming update to Minecraft (currently in beta-like, "snapshot" form, there will be...leashes on chickens? But why? That's what I don't understand. Why do we need leashes on chickens?

who do you work for, baby? and does it work for you, lately?

New Babbage hit the Destinations page recently, which--as some of us have figured out over the last few months--is a double-edged sword. While such designations do hold (limited) honor, and can attract new, vibrant eyes to investigate your lands...mostly it's just a pain in the ass as every troll within hearing decides to come and play.

For any residents of New Babbage, specifically the ones surrounding the direct area mentioned on the Destinations page:

• keep build off your lands, or restrict build to group only
• make sure the group your lands are under is a group you control, or an invite-only group
• consider turning scripts off (obviously, if you're a merchant, you can't do this)
• turn on auto-return (or if you don't feel right about doing that, turn on auto-return for anyone not a resident of New Babbage)
• be polite and courteous, but don't be afraid to bounce (ban temporarily) or mute for the extraordinarily offensive

With any luck, there will be few incidents and fewer folks going to New Babbage just to hassle the dwellers there, but based on what's happened on other sims in the past, I hold little hope.

Also, I have to wonder, who does their press release work? This from the blurb under the picture:

This vast Victorian steampunk area is full of airships, clockwork devices, submersibles, and other amazing technology. It's an ideal place to explore life as it was in the 19th century.

I admire that they managed to insert both "Victorian" and "steampunk", but...an "ideal" place to explore "life as it was in the 19th century"? Seriously? None of the Victorian lands, or the steamlands for that matter, are perfectly accurate according to 19th century standards of the day. Oh, there are some architectural marvels that are recreated as perfectly as can be managed, but even then, they're surrounded by things which aren't, so...does that balance out? And while Babbage has more strict restrictions on builds, even there things go a little haywire now and again.

And trust me, as much as we all love to dream about days gone by which include airships, clockwork citizens, air kraken and "other amazing technology"...that's not how life was in the Victorian era.

But then, it is a press release, I suppose outrageous hyperbole is just standard operating procedure.

and thirstily from the dew I drank 'til my veins became a running stream

(And this one's been moved as well. Cheers! Come read it over here.)

lost souls in the hunting ground

(Why yes, this entry's been moved. Find it over here.)

within the casket called myself, my soul yet moves

(There's no here, here, anymore; instead, look over on the new blog for this entry. T'would be a kindness.)

and dragon ladies now talk that talk about who loves who, who loves best

(This is another one that's just plainly missing. Find it over here. Thanks!)

he stretched me out on a mossy bank and sang to me my name

(This entry entirely left! You'll find it over here. Thanks!)

I toss and turn, I'm losing sleep

(The non-Stiv portions of this post have been moved over to the new blog.)

God still has this odd habit of popping up unexpectedly:

butts: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
butts: ENERGY
butts: JUST GOT OFF WORK
butts: TIME TO
butts: P
butts: A
butts: R
butts: T
butts: Y
Emilly: Wau. I haven't gone to bed yet.
butts: Ditto, kiddo
butts: NYTE SHIFTTZ
Emilly: So, how is life treating the former god who's now working...where are you working, anyway?
butts: PSYCH WARD
butts: Fitting, I know
Emilly: But of course you are
butts is now Offline.

But of course he is.

gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket

(Wau, this entry's been trimmed into invisibility. But it's been moved over here, so go look for it there.)

And Happy Valentine's Day.

what I never did is done

Remember a few entries back, I mentioned a radically new power source under development? Well, soon there will be liquid antenna technology on the market, that impressively boosts signal strength for just about anything. They're seeking funding for launching the product now (though of course, the military is already using it, with apparently fantastic results).

Do you enjoy making quirky electronic gadgets? Do you play roleplaying games, and get tired of carting all those dice around? You're in luck--there's a tutorial designed just for you.

And I'm not entirely sure this is a good thing, but Star Trek: the Next Generation and Doctor Who are joining forces in a comics crossover. Ooookay...

(Also, I've moved! Just this lower section, not the top bit. This blog is still active, I'm just moving the prim breast discussions off.)

put on the collar of roses, and bite upon the silver chain

Cats can fit anywhere.

(I moved to the new blog! Find me there!)

(And, just to reinforce--no, not EVERY entry is moving, just the more salacious content, and/or solely prim breast content.)