The Holidays and a flurry of activity

Such is life, always something going on.

I had a nice Christmas holiday. I hope you all did too. It's nice to have family and friends to spend it with. Plus, I was glad  that it didn't snow a lot in my area. I have never liked snow. I always manage to get wet, my socks or my pants....whatever. LOL.

In SL, on Christmas Eve, I got engaged to my friend and love Roo who I've known since late October. I met him at Morris, where I first rezzed as a newbie. I was missing my mentor, so I went to visit. I was standing around just watching people talking and walking by me. Brinda would watch people in Morris, to see which ones looked lost or kept to themselves, kind of standing in the corner. Anyway, I see a quadroped Alaskan wolf avatar walk by. He asks for the time, saying he wants to see how long he'll be in SL until he crashes. He had computer issues, something to do with hardware. I forget the specifics. Roo was the one who told him the time and I offered to help keep track of time as well. Roo then asks the wolf man how he can walk on four legs. Roo had a fox avatar that only walked on 2 legs. I started listening and eventually, I was standing near where the wolf and Roo were talking. Eventually the wolf crashes, but I keep talking to Roo and I friend him. And ever since that day, we've been friends. That was a great afternoon, though at the time it felt ordinary.

I love the ring he got me. It's not the most expensive one and it's not on the first page of the engagement section, thankfully. The ones on the front page are too flashy, too lavish, and too expensive. LOL. In any life, I don't like to spend a lot on things like jewelry or clothing.

Just weeks before, I had unpartnered Lrak and was feeling so lost and desolate. Lrak is a good man, but his real life was keeping him busy. I realized I just wasn't happy with him. We hardly communicated.

Days before I unpartnered Lrak, I realized that I had feelings for Roo. Roo made me feel valued and that he cared and wouldn't let me fret for weeks on end, not know what was going on with him. Life just seems lighter and happier with Roo. It feels great to be appreciated. My hope is that he remains in my life for a very very long time.

In terms of animating, I've been working on some AO stands and walks. One client is happy with a set of Babylon 5 stand and walk I made just for him. It was a challenge loading the animations into the hud, having never done it before. Then I needed to explain it to him. But, I managed okay and so far, I have not had any complaints from him. The other client is working on a Steampunk AO. I am working on a walk for him then he has other animations he needs. I should have the other animations for him in a few weeks.

Be safe, warm, and happy this winter season! Be you!

On that note, I wish you all a Happy New Year 2012!

Vic

Honesty, Morality, and Caring

I'm always amazed at how easy it is to befriend and connect with others on the Worldwide Web. I tend to think of it as a good thing, but it isn't always so.

Online relationships and friendships can move so quickly. Emotions run high.

And then something happens that makes you doubt them and yourself.

Last night, I unpartnered. I had been considering it since last month. He just hadn't been there much for me. I felt out of touch with him. It felt like a sort of abandonment or like I didn't really matter. He did tell me he wouldn't be around much, and I thought I could tolerate it. But at some point I started to think, he has a PC and he works on it at least once a week. So why can't he take a few minutes  to compose an email to me at least once a week? I don't know. It seems like he didn't care enough. Even if I have a million things to do, I'd always keep in touch with those closest to my heart.

And so, I'm moving on. I want to focus on the things I love the most and the friends who I love and the friends who can make  time for me. The ones who leave you feeling empty....those aren't your true friends. Not a thought or tear should be wasted on  them.

Here's to hoping...

Vic

About using alternate accounts in SL

I remember first learning about alts from my mentor. She told me she had about 20. I was shocked. I even got to meet a few of her alts. But I realized that she had alts for work and so she wouldn't be as distracted so she could do work around her sim or get pictures for her blog with few interruptions.

Today I finally took pics of my main alt, Angelina. I use Angelina to help with building, exploring, and for holding some lindens. I used  to use her for a photo model back when I worked for Wonderful Evenings. That was my first SL job and I met my first editor in SL. I will never forget him and I hope to talk  to him again soon. He is truly a wonderful friend to me. He wasn't just an editor to me, he was someone I felt like I could talk to.

Thanks to Giancarlo, a friend of mine, who owns LIM, Less is More, for the cyber eyes. The ones I wear are the prototypes. Now, he has 2 versions out that can be altered through a HUD. It's so much easier to use than those HUDS for shoes. LOL. I find that funny. I own the V3 deus ex version. He's a great scripter and a great builder too. Here's his store in marketplace.

I took these at an Elven glen. I thought it was a nice place to change my windlight settings in.

The night before, I took part in a photohunt.

I'm having fun taking pics. My friend Graham has been giving me tips to improve my photo skills and I've been experimenting on my own too.

Lest I forget, happy thanksgiving all of you! Enjoy the turkey, stuff, desserts, and being around the ones you care about.

Best regards,

Vic

Friends and letting go

It's been awhile since I last wrote and I'm sorry. I wonder how my mentor was able to update her blog so frequently and yet, she was so very busy. She was really amazing. I can still feel her spirit in me. She touched me like an angel and she is never gone from my life, just not as near as before.

So much has happened since I last wrote. I want to say first off how grateful I am for friends. I am blessed to have friends that stick by me through the fun and rough and tumbling times. I know I have good friends who will stand by me and put up with me. I know I'm not the most easygoing person to be around, but I try my best to be fair and kind to those I appreciate and love. That is what counts in the end.

Lately I have been unfriended a few times. I will not get into details here. It is unsettling and could get longwinded. My point is that in all those cases, I meant well...my heart was in the right place, but the listener  took offense and decided to walk away. A wise woman would tell me that it wasn't my fault. I was honest and said what I could. But in the end, you can't control how people accept your words. As a writer, I should know that. But I let my helpful/protective instincts blur my reason and I came on too strong. I was even accused of causing "intentional" hurt and being too domineering. I never meant to come off like that. I am truly and deeply sorry for that.

I can only hope that someday, all will be forgiven. And if those friends truly love me and forgive me, they will come back.

Y asi es la vida,

Vic

Updates from Lady V?

Hi lovelies!

Sorry for not updating, busy in RL with work.

I am getting ideas for new poses.

In the meantime, I will start work on a male AO, my first ever! I am so excited about it! It was originally for a client, but he didn't want to pay my rate. So with the help of my friend Amon, I will get started and get it out as soon as I can!

Finding Value Around us

As some of you know, Benares will be off the map soon. Brinda's account has been locked by Linden Labs. So tonight, I headed back to Benares and teleported to my old parcel. I walked to the back of the lot, Benares 20 (yes every parcel has a number) and I looked at the stone waterfall head. I remember the night brinda rezzed it and created sprays of water under it and made a small stream of water for me. It always fascinated me to watch her build and create. She always knew what she was doing. And had she had the time, I think she would've been a great scripter.

Wanting to know where the waterfall head was from I clicked Edit and clicked to view the profile of the Creator. Her name is Ante Flan. Her store is Toasty Subject. The landmark is below.

Ante Flan's Toasty Subject http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ryder%20Haven/228/29/28

Since she left, I've had a hard time settling my mind about some things. I've finally realized I don't need a home sim. Well I need one to build or escape, but it's not my home unless there's love around me. I only want to be where I feel happy. Now I realize that there's value in every person, whether we like them or not. Even if we hate that person, they're still valuable. We shouldn't judge them if they're unpleasant or spiteful, not that we have to love them either. I was talking to a friend and it suddenly became clear. I feel really empowered whenever I talk to him. I really do feel lucky to be his friend. Thank you, Lucky.

I took these two pictures while I was at Toasty Subect. I think brinda must've gotten a good laugh out of the sign outside.

In case you can't read that the sign says "We are open if you like Free Shit - MGMT." heh heh

This is a bit of the inside view. If you'll notice the floor, you can pick up some cute freebies here like a free inflatable raft. Won't you just float along and see the value in others?

It's a Brand New Day

Yesterday, September 24, my dear friend and partner, Lrak, celebrated his first Rez day! I was fortunate to have been able to spend some time with him. He was with me when I celebrated my first Rez day too back in July. He has been so good to me and he means so much to me. I once thought Benares was my home and maybe it still is. But now, I feel like my home is with the friends I love and care about. Home really IS where the heart is. And Lrak is one of those special, close friends.

We partnered on September 2nd, 2011. We would have partnered sooner but circumstances over which we had no control, delayed our plans. I don't regret delaying the partnership. We've kept in touch and now we're finally really a couple in SL.

Wherever I go, wherever my journey leads me to....I know that Lrak will always have a place in my heart. We'll always be close friends. We'll always love each other.

And now, I give you "Brand New Day" by Sting, the song that inspired this post of mine.

Changing Ways

In life, there are things that move us or cause us to move.  It could be something as simple as changing a hairstyle or something major like relocating to a new place. Either way, we all have a journey to proceed by.  It is never easy to take those initial steps away from the comfort and safety of the old way, but it is necessary in order for us to flourish and discover who we really are, to find and reach our potential.

Last week, I made 2 changes in SL. I quit as a sim manager and I quit as a blog manager and writer for Rez magazine. Neither task was easy for me, but it was something I felt like I had to do. Will I return to those positions? I don't know. All I know is that I need a breather from those jobs. I need time to settle my emotions....a tangled web of emotions that is sometimes crippling. I try hard to fight them, but it's not something easily defeated. Those 2 positions were starting to drag me down, just the frustration I felt in the end. So, I'm on an indefinite hiatus.

I'll still be inworld though. I have friends I want to talk to and spend time with and I have some animations to make for a few people. I really enjoy being with friends and animating. I know it'll do me a lot of good.

Also, I intend to start learning Wings 3d and Blender. I've started with Wings first. Wings will help me to learn how to use keyboard shortcuts, tweak sculpts, and get used to working on a 3d plane. Blender is a bit more complex, but I think I can learn it.

Until soon,

Vic

It has been ten years

Ten years ago, 9/11 ocurred. It shook me to the core as well as the world. Life has never been the same for any of us. I know my world perspective has changed. I attribute that event to my need to learn more about Politics, World affairs, and being willing to be open to other cultures.

While there is still anger and fear for terrorists and suspicions that anyone around us could be a terrorist, there is also concern about how the United States is acting as a player on the World stage. Are we acting with respect, integrity, and honesty towards other countries? Are we trying to get along with others? How do we want future generations to remember us? These are just a few questions I can think of right now, this morning.

Time goes on, but the mind always remembers. And I do hope that 9/11 has changed all of us for the better. We should all strive to be upright and true to our morals and standards of life.

No matter what, we must not be blinded by hate, paranoia, or pain. It is a wonderful life and we should live safely and happily.

Here's to hoping we'll succed in our endeavors to that effect,

Vic