call me any name you like, I will never deny it

So, I'm irritated by this. This is currently the Dark Spa at work:



It doesn't look great, no.

This is inside:



I'm still not sold on the purple.

Why, you may ask? Well, I'd willingly tell you, in EXCRUCIATING detail, but as upper management pointed out, even anonymizing conversations I have in most work situations does not really cover things. And is indiscreet. And they're right, I agree.

But.

I HAVE both notecards, both the rant to a fellow Blossom, and the rant to me, and that fellow staffer has their full UUIDs in case they decide to show up and rant again, because we are so over people whining that they can't do what they want on a free sex sim.

PRO TIP, YOU IDIOTS, WE ARE NOT A FREE SEX SIM. "Adult" does not equal "free sex". My gods, there are sims that are rated Adult because they're violent RP sims, where character death occurs. THOSE sims do not equal "free sex" because they're Adult rated, either.

A comment from that fellow Blossom:

[14:02] vxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Now, I refuse to believe that either of them are children. How is it okay to wander into your neighbour's back yard and get nekkies at poolside? And your rationale is that the gate's latch was easily overcome?
[14:03] Emilly Orr: I know!

And that, essentially, is the problem.

So for now, this will be the Dark Spa:



Yeah, I found another brocade that matches things better.

I've sent out the appropriate notices to the House VIP group, and to the staff group, and as mentioned, sent the notecards in question to the sim owner, our Duchess, and the Sakura management, our dear Lynn. And we WILL solve this, but for now, it is VERY frustrating that some people just can't conceive of polite behavior.

We want to be a place people can feel comfortable, where our patrons can relax in discretion and relative security. We want to make our club inviting, warm, and pleasant.

Random naked people "because it's free" and "because it's Adult" does not make the environment inviting, warm, pleasant, or discreet, and I for one am beyond tired of it.

This will change.

The 12th Anniversary Sakura Masquerade Ball!

I know. That's a lengthy title. But seriously, it's coming up:



So, it's another Thursday party, which means I likely won't be in world for the evening portion. It's also another two-stage party, which means I likely won't be in world for the evening portion. But I'm going to try to attend the morning ("morning", flexible in this case, being the 1-3 pm SLT one) dance.

Costumes are highly encouraged, but if you don't have one--or don't want to wear one--formal wear is acceptable. It's a masked ball--that means all the Blossoms will be masked, but guests can choose with or without. (We'd prefer with, but again, we'd rather have you there than be nitpicky about details.)

I admit to a slight conundrum--the traditional Blossom mask color is red, but as my costume's mostly blue...but I'll work it out. I'm sure I'll find something.

Music will be provided by the amazing DJ EllieMae McGinnis; if you've heard her, you know. She'll be playing a mix of big band and swing hits with some scattered Halloween festive songs sprinkled in.

Now, the one thing we are not sure of: we'd planned to host this by the reflecting pool in the back garden. As far as I know that is still the plan. But our Duchess has sent out some queries for themes, which tells us she's thinking of throwing up a set piece somewhere. So I will keep you updated once the location is nailed down!

Remember: October 24th! Dress up! 1-3 pm SLT for the first one, 7-9 pm SLT for the second! We hope to see you there!

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.

and the five o'clock show, hello hello (part one)

Rest in peace, Vonda McIntyre. She was one of the founding voices of science fiction, and she will be missed.

In other news, I went to the opening of the latest Art Divas show, a little gallery in Diloba.

I took...a lot of pictures, that's why this will be split into two parts.



Downstairs, when one enters the gallery. Just past this standing easel, is a small seating area and the pictures of the core group of four artists who belong with this gallery.



Up to the second floor. Ms. Caldwell chose, as her representation of spring, a series of heavily filtered poppy pods. This one, I'm not sure if it's digital or actual photography--as in, are these in-world poppies, or real ones? I can't tell.



Then to the other side of the second floor, where Ms. BittsyBoo's exhibit featured a series of photos she'd taken for Sakura, featuring the Blossoms. Yes, that's me on the right.



On the left, an alternate image of Ms. Violet Scrivener, I think, from the one that's in the foyer along our portrait walls. I also adore the cherry blossom wall decals.



On the left, Ms. Lynn Mimistrobell, in the utterly impossible dress. It's even more stunning in person--it looks as if a single breath will drop it in a silken slide to the floor.

(Continued in part two.)

strange how the scale forms, in tiny patterns on my antenna

Boston Dynamics strikes again--this seems like a really good robot design.

I wanted to make an entry on the handfasting I officiated at today, but...the lag was so intense, pictures were impossible. Thankfully, others with sturdier computers saved the day, so if you're interested in medieval (ish) handfasting shots, check out this Flickr for some as-it-happened shots. I'll update in later entries if I find out more links. This was a lot of fun, though I might have been more nervous than the couple I handfasted!



I like this dress. It comes in about six colors, all accessed by HUD, but I was feeling the green. Found makeup, lingerie and heels that all matched close enough, and then...went to work. And matched the furniture.



I could lay down on one of the couches and disappear. That isn't good. Does that mean I should ditch this dress entirely, or just never wear it in green again?



I mean, how big a fashion faux pas is blending in with your environment? I'm like a chameleon!

so get your armaments out, she’s always looking for trouble

And then this happened:

[22:06] mxxxx Gxxxx: plz 20L$
[22:06] Second Life: mrjoj Ghost paid you L$1.
[22:07] Emilly Orr: Plz get a job
[22:07] mxxxx Gxxxx: ok
[22:08] Emilly Orr: Wait. Why did you send me a Linden?
[22:08] mxxxx Gxxxx:
[22:09] Emilly Orr blinks

So, pulled the profile, as is my wont. Eight years on the grid, so that's at least seven years and eleven months past the time he should have figured out begging doesn't work. And I have no idea what language he speaks, but it's definitely not English. No, really--this phrase was on his profile picks: "mzh 7 arta7 lha 7 klna n7bha". I can't even take that into Google Translate because of the numbers. If anyone has any clue, feel free to let me know.

In other news, this bit of oddity:

[13:25] vxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx:

[13:02] Nxxxxx Bxx: [Zxxxx] 101: True Touching @ 2PM SLT ...an intellectual discussion on an M sim.

There are many forms of erotic interaction, ranging from "AFK sex" thru fantasy rituals involving space shuttles, opaque argot, and exploding incense.

Can we have intimate meetings with our authentic selves, not as fictional characters, while maintaining safe and sane boundaries?

In RL, similar challenges. Join us as we look at the measures they use to embrace clients while protecting themselves, their families, and their livelihoods.

[13:26] vxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: BEHOLD! How the sausage is made.
[13:26] Vvxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: wtf?
[13:26] Emilly Orr: "Opaque argot"?

Also..."exploding incense"?

[13:26] Vvxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I'm still reeling over the whole sausage recipe-women's studies in SL Thang going on
[13:28] Emilly Orr: Yeah, true.
[13:31] Emilly Orr: Especially as so many of their womens' studies classes center around ways to get money from the men they can't stand and are evil. Because, y'know, icky men.
[13:31] Emilly Orr: Baffling.
[13:34] Vvxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I just - honestly, WHY are you offering up the sausage recipe? Thankfully, I can't think of any CLIENTS who'd want to go to that.
[13:36] Emilly Orr: Well, the Sakura Academy seems to have died again for a bit, because [Ixxx] was running that, but back when it was, it was a ten-part course.
[13:38] Vvxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Packed full of feminist discourse?
[13:38] Emilly Orr: Appearance and Style, which is important; an Art of Conversation class, also how to keep it going; Building Client Relationships, though most of us come in knowing how to do that; Teamwork and Collaboration, which is also encouraged on the job; "Sharing Experience", which is our only iffy woo-woo sounding one; Business with Sensitivity, which was sort of how to mix business with a sensitive touch; Managing Difficult Clients; Technical Skills of the Trade; one class on 'Bringing It All Together', which I believe was supposed to be an overview; and the last one was the 'fast track' which just hit the high points of the other nine classes.
[13:38] Vvxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx is already packed full of feminist discourse, but she's learned to get play nice with others.
[13:40] Vvxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Also - [Ixxx]'s classes? I'd totally take.
[13:41] Emilly Orr: Oh, absolutely.
[13:41] Vvxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Did she advertise them on AC?

She means the Aether Chrononauts calendar and group, and that's when the penny dropped. My gods, the Hydrazine Queen is advertising these woo-fests on the Aether Chrononauts calendar. And no, no no no no. One simply does not do this. Not only are these things we don't necessarily want clients to learn, but we're essentially giving out information, for free, that anyone could sit in on, take notes on, then set up their own damn competing house. Are they mental?

Wait, don't answer that, I already know.

[13:42] Emilly Orr: No, no, these were always internal classes, not open to the public at all. You had to BE a Blossom to take one, period.
[13:43] Vvxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: THAT makes sense.
[13:46] Emilly Orr: I hadn't caught on that she sent that through the Aether group. That's...insane. And really, really dumb.
[13:50] Emilly Orr: That means she's inviting both potential (or actual) clients, as well as potential (or actual) competition.
[13:50] Emilly Orr: One doesn't want the information, the other category is going to use it against her.
[13:50] Emilly Orr just shakes her head.
[13:51] Vvxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: But let us bow before her big brain
[13:51] Emilly Orr grins

Hey, more power to them. This is the one thing we can honestly say about [Zxxxx] House, that their classes in Feminist Empowerment While Hooking are things Sakura has never offered, and it's also the one thing they aren't just imitating from us, like shoestring relations. So...let them do their woo thing. Obviously they're after a vastly different clientele anyway.

I'll miss the winter

{Roleplay post}

We're going to be changing the bio sections on the Sakura house blog, so I thought I'd grab mine, because I'll likely be revising it.

She sat in her tiny mountain cabin, snow falling softly on the roof, and looked out the frosted window. She remembered when the Queen of the Unseelie plucked a little Phouka out of the woods and made her a court noble; and she did everything she could to represent the Sídhe to the best of her ability, and the Winter Court's core values of passion, instinct, and change. She was changeable by nature, shifting easily through various forms, but when the Court fled the realm, she was not allowed to follow, and wandered into the human lands for the first time.

She found a temporary home in Steelhead in the 1800s, turning catgirl to better adapt to the citizenry there. When she moved on, she moved to Caledon, and shifted freely between fox maids, bunnies, and cats, in addition to fanged humans (on rarer occasion). Another shift in place (and time) took her to Winterfell, where magic saturated her bones again, and she was able to hold to her fae form for the first time in decades.

But she found she'd grown tired with none of the Sídhe around her, and slowly, slowly, she withdrew, building her small cabin high in the mountains, far from friends and faces she knew. The snow fell, and she slept by the fire with her cats, and rarely left her refuge.

With all of these musing thoughts filling her head, she nearly missed the glimpse of a human through the snow-covered trees. She had reddish-blonde hair, a narrow, attractive face, and wore a heavy fur cloak in tones of gold and red, with rich fur lining the hood. *Who was this,* she thought, *who would fight the storms up the mountain to come here?* There was nothing here but trees, and snow, and her cabin...

She blinked, and as if the woman had seen her through the window, she nodded, turning and moving through the trees. Without another thought, Emilly left her cabin and followed, catching brief glimpses as they both moved down the mountainous terrain through the trees. Just as she reached the base of the mountain, the elusive woman disappeared, but a paper fluttered to the ground that Emilly bent to pick up. *House Sakura,* it said, *currently residing at Bellefleurs*...

She went to an information hub, and tracked down the address of Bellefleurs, scheduling a transport, for time had advanced while she'd been pinioned in the snow. She appeared in the courtyard by a fountain, and a lovely Egyptian woman with Nilotic eyes behind oval glasses came out of the house to greet her.

"We're having our annual ball for Sakura," the woman said, smiling. "Would you like to attend?"

She thought for a moment before nodding.

"Yes," she said softly, her lips curving in an answering smile. "I'd like that."

And when she'd attired herself, she hoped properly, in human garb and human guise, she saw the elusive woman again. At the end of the ball, the woman approached her.

"I'm Duchess Canning," she said. "But you can call me Indy. Would you like to know more about House Sakura?"

She smiled, looking around. She already loved the place, and it had felt like an alternate home from the moment she'd walked through the doors. She looked back at the Duchess, waiting patiently.

"Yes," she said. "Yes, Indy, I would."

The Duchess merely smiled, leading her by the arm back to the lovely Egyptian woman she'd met earlier.

"Let me introduce you to Lynn," she said. "She'll help you fit in. I think you can learn a great deal here."

She smiled at Lynn, and then at Indy. Yes, she thought. She would learn more about the humans, It could be a grand adventure, indeed...

The story won't end, I'll just be revising that bio. Probably making it a lot shorter, I was in heavy roleplay mode when I wrote it!

But the Duchess was right, I have learned a great deal, and I'm thoroughly enjoying myself at Sakura. It's a good place to work.

crawl on me, sink into me, die for me, living dead girl

The dream started out in a way that should have been shocking, but for some reason, wasn't. A vision of a bloated, limbless, headless female corpse, floating naked down a river. Slow drifting of this...thing...through the summer sun in my mind's eye. I have no sense of smell in dreams, but considering I was just "seeing" it, not actually standing there "experiencing" it, the smell of rot and decay would not have come up.

I have strange dreams. I have a lot of nightmares. The nightmares I have off and on, but in all fairness, I haven't had the easiest life, and my subconscious does like to play with the generated themes.

I see this thing behind my eyes off and on, and while it is confusing, it is not horrifying. What becomes horrifying, the slow creep of dread as is often in dreams, is watching the people around me--I seemed to be working in some sort of law enforcement capacity in the dream, so family members, friends, and co-workers I was dealing with--slowly start to...turn. Lose aspects of their personalities, change from what I knew of them and their behavior, into...fairly mindless, shining-eyed drones. Cult members. Talking about the wonderful words that they were hearing. Every time I heard them talk, their eyes fever-bright, I had that strange vision of that bloated, floating corpse in the water again.

There's a lot I don't talk about, mostly because I still try to keep some distance between my "real" life and my Second life (though anyone who knows me, knows I talk about my RL a fair bit if I feel comfortable). That being said, some of my dreams just seem to be a collection of random events. This seemed...lyrical, but direct.

And then they started changing their names. To Story. Instead of Lisa Carlton, say, she began to insist that her name was Lisa Story now. That she was a listener to Story, so she would become a part of it. That was the direct corollary, and they all started sounding the same. "I listen to Story. I am a part of the Story. I will take Story's name, it will be mine, as I am hers."

There are also things I haven't shared about my work. About drama and painful events that have taken place behind the scenes at Sakura. Staff disputes, firings, viscerally emotional rumors being spread about us simply because the rumor-spreader can. I've tried to keep a great amount of this private, because I felt we didn't need any more drama and derangement than we already had.

And that's when the penny dropped, in the dream. I knew what this dream meant. I knew who Story was.

And I'm not going to address it now, but I do know what the dream symbolism meant. I still don't know why the storyteller's corpse was headless, yet speaking, but I absolutely know why she was female, and why others fell under her sway. I know exactly who she represents.

This dream has stuck with me for several days now. I'm hoping that by addressing it even in the terms of the nightmare, that it will begin to ebb now, dissolve into memory, become just another tattered shred in the dark.

That's the hope, anyway.

I will say this. As Laurell K. Hamilton says, you can't prove a negative, and I won't even try. But I am going to formally state some things for the record.

I am not involved in a real-life sex cult owned by the person behind India Canning on the grid.

I am not involved in a Second Life sex cult being run by Lynn Mimistrobell.

No one involved with Sakura in any capacity has ever reached out to my family RL and threatened their lives if I did not do something for either India Canning or Lynn Mimistrobell.

You draw your own conclusions. People will anyway. But I know these things are true. And I know the lies being spread about us, about Sakura are just that--ridiculous rumors, insane lies, being spread by someone who has no clue on who we are or how we operate.

And also for the record? "How we operate" involves solely the day-to-day operation of Sakura and Bellefleurs as businesses on the grid. No more, no less.

Hopefully I'll have a haunt or two to cover later, but I just wanted that out there, for whatever it's worth. Though I'm pretty sure that whenever I hear of one particular teller of stories from now on, I will see that rotting corpse on the river. Maybe it'll be a good image to reinforce how toxic she is.

I keep on having this dream inside the static

Heard from a lass I work with about a place.

[14:58] Mxxxx Axxxx: Hi Emilly, You would not believe where I ended up at and I really thought I was going crazy.
[14:58] Emilly Orr: Really?
[14:58] Emilly Orr: I've seen you on and off the sim today, do you mean in SL or RL?
[14:58] Mxxxx Axxxx: SL, Rl thats another story.
[14:59] Mxxxx Axxxx: Rl. I already think I'm going crazy.
[15:00] Emilly Orr: Aww. So what happened?
[15:00] Mxxxx Axxxx: I ended up what I thought was a Mirror world of Sakura.
[15:00] Emilly Orr: Really?
[15:00] Mxxxx Axxxx: Almost the same setup
[15:01] Mxxxx Axxxx: The landing is the same as ours.
[15:01] Emilly Orr: Where was it?

She gave me the landmark. So I went to go look.

PARTNERS, the landmark said. "Singles, couples, swingers adult orientated meeting place, cougar cuckold wife swapping, Bulls and cucks adult dating and more. No Escorts. Mama Allpa. Hedonistic, Swingers, Hedonism, Roman spa, wife swap, threesome". Huh.

So, swingers, trios, cuckolding (NSFW link, but some good information), casual dressed or naked dating, and...pregnancy? Ooookay...Let's go see.



Well, well. That's...disturbing. I mean, it's not exact, because we've done some work on the standard Abiss Living Room prefab to make it distinctive to us, but it is instantly recognizable as that build.



That's kind of...blatant, but I guess if people aren't reading a rules notecard...



Here's the first place that our layout shifts from theirs. The room to the right of our 'living room/lounge' space is where our burlesque stage is. Their room to the right is a sort of sybaritic spa zone, with pillows, and a huge, tiled square soaking tub. It's well decorated, don't mistake anything I'm saying, I'm just pointing out the differences.



To the left of their spa room is the Abiss Spa build. We used to have both the Spa and the Dark Spa from Abiss at Sakura, but we ditched the Spa in the rebuild--so few people used it, it just wasn't viable.

There's one more side room.



We don't have this room, and this, I think, speaks to the whole public-sex, wife-swapping, cuckolding lifestyle their club is designed for.



And they're not bad. I didn't test the animations--I wasn't there to join a new social group, and I'm not part of a couple who would want to be involved in cuckolding or pregnancy--but just as a visual, it's well laid out, well decorated, not at all sleazy or terrifying to look over.

I'd say, if you're into the things Partners advertises, it's a great place to join and investigate, and see how things go. But as someone who might be 'copying' Sakura's style? No, not really. I understand why the Blossom in question was thrown, but nearly all of that is because the Abiss prefabs are so distinctive, even when decorated--they're just obviously Abiss work, and nothing we, or Partners, or the various other stores and social groups that use Abiss pieces, can do will change that.

take it easy Arlene, don't give me no lip

Well, this is just a terrible friggin' idea. Listen--I know we're all paranoid since Teen Grid closed. I know a lot of sims don't want any possible connection to ageplay in any way. I get it, okay? But this is not the way. This is the worst level of tattletale coding, and from what I understand from the article, it's something I could be involved with without even knowing it, and that's a dangerous road to go down.

Think about it. Say I'm wandering--me, an RL adult, outside of some extremely rare occasions playing an adult, officially rated Adult for all sims--in my Kemono, and I found a cute little romper that I wanted to wear on the MP from someone. Unbeknownst to me, they've put this coding in, and since they tell makers to make it a no-mod script in a no-mod item (we'll save the no-mod rant for another day, thanks), I'm likely not even going to check to see what's in it before I put it on.

So I'm happily wandering and then suddenly POOF--no warning, I'm banned from someplace. I have no idea why. I try to go back, can't. I contact the owner, and if everyone's on a rational page that day, maybe I get back in to look that sim over. But in all likelihood, if they look at their "Agegate" system software, and see my name, then they're going to get their back up and say I was bounced for very good reason, and I'm some kind of low, illegal pervert for even asking to get back in. And if they're really in a mood, they go off and report me for being an ageplayer on their sim.

That threatens my account and I never did a thing. All I did was wear an outfit. THIS IS VERY BAD, PEOPLE.

Elsewhere...



The Manisha does not function.

That is all.

(Yes, there's a story behind this, but I just wanted to save the image, so...presented without context.)

lay back, this is where we are

(Continued from part one.)

Okay, so obviously, I went to the wrong place. Where am I supposed to be?



Untitled (Hands) by BittsyBoo.



Red Dancer by Timo Dumpling.



Bungalow Sunset by India Canning.



Unnamed (Lynn) by BittsyBoo.



Trasparenze siamo noi (We Are Transparencies) by Mistero Hifeng (® All Rights Reserved, Cammino and Vito Capovolto.)



Untitled (Back) by BittsyBoo.



This one was confusing. It's titled, "Bittsy at North (Red)", but...it's signed "Aleriah 2018"? I'm confused.

[16:19] Emilly Orr: So, Lynn gave me a landmark for a gallery exhibition that Bittsy threw together. It's not just her, it's shots from a lot of the Sakura women. But she set it up in a maze.
[16:19] Matthias Whiteberry: oh!
[16:19] Matthias Whiteberry: i would love to go
[16:22] Emilly Orr: It's...odd. There's a lot of different ways to display paintings, but in general, making them harder to see is uncommon.

It's good work. It's all good work, though there doesn't seem to be a single unifying theme in either the gallery, or the maze. Not that there needs to be. But the maze concept itself is...puzzling. I finally gave up on the maze as a maze, and simply stood on the deck at the far side, and cammed through, because if I relied on my point of view walking through the maze, I was going to miss everything but the walls, and what's occasionally in the walkway.

I don't know how long it's going to run; if I find out, I'll update this entry, or link it to a new one. But it's through this weekend, at least.

lay back, we are where we are

Let's talk a bit about the Rainbow Painters Gallery.



It's been a while since I went through an art gallery. I don't know why I stopped. They're fun, and the art is generally interesting.



Gallery, Busy Street by Byron Firehawk.



Liberdade, by Cullum Writer.



Have a Seat, by TooShy Tooshi.



Wet and Wooly by Mariposa Upshaw.



The gallery's interesting, but I was here to see BittsyBoo's maze. So...where is it?



Turns out I was in the wrong building, it's actually towards the left side of the gallery. Oops.

(Continued in part II.)

both hands with a heart to hold

[13:15] kxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Can someone transfer their boyfriend?
[13:15] kxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: to me

Um...no? Though at times, I'm sure many women, and not some few men, would be willing.

So, a little more on the raffle at Sakura. That SLUrl should (with any luck) bring you to the club, to see these:



So--theoretically, at least--if you pay the sign, you should receive some sort of chat confirmation, and you'll be registered for the raffle. And on Friday, as close to 9 pm SLT as we can manage, we'll be drawing the winner!

All you have to do then is be there, or wait--if you can't attend the lingerie dance, no worries, someone will contact you within twenty-four hours to tell you you've won!

I'm looking forward to it, though sadly, I'm going to miss the first hour...but I'll be there for as much as I can of the rest!

And in other news...um...okay, totally NSFW question, but...why does this exist?

let me remind you that love will find you

Friday, we're having our Lingerie Dance!



If you've never been inside the dark spa, it's just like the light side, only...well...more intense. There are little alcoves for intimacy, and while we usually have access to the pool and the actual spa, the cover's on in this shot, because that's going to be our dance floor.



These are the official rules:

Rules for the Private Valentine's Dance and Raffle:

The dance will be Friday, February 16, 6 - 9 PM SLT.

Attire for guests: Formal

1) You may enter as early and as often as you like, up until 9 PM SLT on Friday the 16th.

2) The drawing will be held as close to 9 PM SLT as possible. Notices will go out within 24 hours.

3) There will be only 1 winner.

4) The winner will be sent a special Sakura blossom token, which the winner (or designee if it will be an alt) presents to Lynn Mimistrobell, along with their preference of prize. Lynn and any other manager cannot be chosen.

5) The prize token may not be resold.

6) PRIZE OPTIONS: one hour with your Blossom of choice -- or 30 minutes with TWO Blossoms of your choice at the same time!

So get ready, get moving, get Raffling! And be there on the 16th!

in the circle 'round the kitchen table

I had mentioned a lingerie fashion show happening at Sakura sometime this week, and sadly, that's not going to happen. The first mention in notices was from Debi, a fellow Blossom:

"There was talk of a lingerie fashion show Sunday night after Salon. Left a message for Lynn letting her, know I could maybe do notices and stuff.

If we are adding a runway to the stage, I will hang a couple extra lights for the event."

And then, four hours later:

"Yes - there was talk of a fashion show, but I got the flu last week and am still fighting the effects of it. All of my projects stopped, and Kimi has been good enough to do Salons for me.

I was thinking of a lingerie dance this week, but no fashion show. We'll save that for a later event.

Lynn"

The CDC site tells me the flu--at least in the US--has gone pandemic, which is the first time I've ever heard of a pandemic disease not being automatically fatal. It's pandemic because it's so widespread, nearly everyone has had it, has it now, or will get it soon. Ack. But, because of that, there's been a lot of under-the-weather, which yes, can and does affect SL.

But don't despair! We're keeping the idea, it's just not going to be for Valentine's. We WILL bring this idea back around when everyone's feeling better, because it sounds too fun not to do.

And we're still planning a Valentine's raffle--the winning ticket buys the interested party an hour with the Blossom of their choice--but it may premiere later in this week, or next. (The raffle ball's at Sakura already, between the bar and the statues on the side table--AKA, our dance machine--but it's not active yet. Once it is, it'll run for at least one week to give everyone who wants one, a chance to get a ticket.) And we'll likely have a dance or get-together, either up at Sakura or down at Bellefleurs, the day the winning ticket's picked.

I'll keep you updated!

I wasn't lookin' but somehow you found me

Well, apparently I goofed yesterday when I put out the Bond event entry. It wasn't at the burlesque club. It's not even, strictly speaking, at the mansion at Bellefleurs. Instead, it's at the Wherehouse:



Which is apparently a new build on the grounds! So...there's that...Thankfully, there's a sign and a port at the front door to redirect people.



So sorry, everyone! Come dance anyway!