The Tainted Love Hunt: Stops 1 to 20

The Tainted Love Hunt, hosted by Woeful Wednesday, is a hunt for the darker side of the Second Life Valentine Soul - not the hearts and flowers and chocolates, sort, but rather the bleeding hearts, headless flowers, and ...well, chocolates still apply for this sort. It has Sixty One stops, which makes it manageable, and there is a hint page with SLurls for the stores, so if you get stuck you can move on. There are also sometimes men's and women's prizes, and I'll be dragging along a long-suffering male alt for the purpose of showing off the guy stuff in style. You're looking for a three dimensional heart (pictured above) and I'm planning on showing the prizes in sets of twenty so that I don't completely overwhelm myself.

Stops 1 to 20 -- Stops 21 to 40  -- Stops 41 to 61

1. The Woeful Wednesday Headquarters

Yellow Jester: A Bloody Chef's Knife, A Tainted Heart impailed, 

Tainted Love Juice, a Tainted Hunt Bag, "Be Mind" pin for Girls, Heart Lantern

2. Yellow JesteR
Careful, you might trip…

Cannibal's Kitchen Date Night

3. .: Stone Misery :. Prefabs & Furniture
It’s cold in here

Armchair and Table

4. Sn@tch
I hate it when people sit on my heart

Annabel Lee in Wine

5. Del’s Odd Shop
You hold my heart in your hand, even in death

Eye Love You Dolly

6. The Elegant Goth
It’s written in black and white that you are very important to me

Fatal Attraction Bloody Victorian Stove

7. :{MV}:
Lucky for me the rug was there to cushion my fall

Underbust Corset

8. Chaos, Panic, & Disorder
Women: “Uh oh, should I have studied for this?”; Men: “Oops! *squish*”

Women: Pierced Heart Pendant; Men:

9. Whims&Wishes
Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end?

Women: Till Death Do Us Part; Men:

10. The Little Bat
Use your head, not your heart!

Women: Heartless Valentine; Unisex: Necklace

11. Dragon Magick Wares
Mr. Llama wants a heart of his own…

Apology Accepted Wall Picture

12. Grim Bros.
Armed but not dangerous

Margaret and Mortimer, the Insulting Crabs (plus giftable crabs)

13. .::ODB::. Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine, I keep my eyes wide open all the time. I keep the ends out for the tie that binds. Because you’re mine, I walk the line.

Tainted Love Tongue (Nine Colors Included)

14. Dimma (formerly A Netherworld)
Go stand in the corner!

Ligeia's Skybox

15. Czarny Kanarek
I’ll cut your heart into small pieces…

Heartless tattoo

16. Black Tulip
A trip, you say? I don’t know how we can have a trip in a store. It’s not that big.

Classic Vanity (2LI) which tells a story

17. Clutter for Builders
If you need a hint here, it’s a sign you should look around a little

Tainted Love Word Clouds (textures full perm)

18. ^v^DRBC^v^ Deathrocker Bettie Crocker
It shouldn’t be too hard to drum up a heart, right?
On the battlefield a corps of these would play, But in a corpse, I do not beat.

Good Morning Duo: Womens - Dress and Mens - Sweater

19. {Witches&Rats}
Doughnut !

SLink Nails

20. ImmateriA (2 hearts)
Where do witches work when they practice to deceive? 
Meditate to medicate…where is the oils to boil?

Bird Hood 

Wants and Wishes for Second Life

I made a new alt in Second Life recently - I wanted a second guy for some hunting picture purposes and I was reminded anew of how altered the alt making business is now that we don't have last names. It was incredibly difficult to come up with a name - I ended up using a name I'd originally thought up for a google alt email, to give you a sense of the dearth of reasonable names. You an still make a unique name without numbers, but names are essentially phrases now in Second Life, like elsewhere on the internet. It feels a little like beating a dead horse, but late last month I met someone who was newly made and had a last name - who said he was a Linden - and it made me wonder how much they had altered the code since they took away last names; clearly the last names are available under some circumstances, why not for everyone? There's never been a clear explanation for why last names were take away; some people speculated it was for the business crowd, but by the time it happened those business leads seemed to have dried up. Its a baffling sort of thing, and I'm not sure we'll ever truly have any answers at this point.

The starting area has changed, too, since the last alt I made. I had one lurking in the starting area about six months ago, when the style was cartoonish and it was a series of doors one walked through to get dropped somewhere from the destination guide. Now and then I'd run across one of these poor unfortunates, dropped randomly and having no idea what to do. It reminds me strongly of my first arrival in 2006, where I didn't last a week because I couldn't figure anything out. This time, there's a path to follow, but neither instructions nor aid to any of the poor orange ghosts on the beach. I overheard one woman talk about how she was told to log in for a psychology class - she needed to make a representation of herself - and I wondered how well she would do. It didn't sound like she'd been given any guidance on how to find some of the free resources on the grid, and without that it can be difficult to get a complete or attractive avatar.

In honor of thinking about new things, like the beginning time of a new CEO Ebbe Altberg, who has already started interacting with the more enthusiastic residents in Second Life through his twitter, I thought I'd make a short list of the things I'd like to see in Second Life.

1. Last names back. I know it's been years, and things are different, but seriously people want this a lot, including me. The biggest advantage to it is that it allows more than one person to be Jane or Marcus, and people often become very attached to their names. Also, who doesn't want a joke alt?


2. "Dressing Rooms" for residents that allow us to rez things and get some privacy while interacting via Group Chat and IMs with other people in Second Life. This is probably harder, but it would be a real boon to the economy (since people would have a reason to want to buy furniture and the like), and if they only exist when the person is logged in than I bet it wouldn't take up too much server space.


3. "Message boxes" of some sort which takes in and organizes objects given while someone is not in world. Lets you set settings for how you get notecards versus IMs versus group messages. A lot of times people end up making redundant systems to try to get messages out, which only adds to the strain on the servers.


4. Some kind of Subscribo-like group people could join with infinite capability.It doesn't need group chat or land influence, but just the means to send out messages and perhaps set a title so that one can get in-group specials. Right now, all of the work-arounds have flaws that could be fixed with something hard-coded into the system.


5. Smaller minimum sizes for mesh/prim items. (Stolen from Inusweets on Plurk)


6. More prims per meter on sims. Other grids have shown that a sim can support more, and computers have been increasing in size and capability exponentially. This will also enable more subdividing, and more being built on different sims. Yes, mesh is adding a lot of detail and adding to what people can have, but a pure rise in sim capability would be a welcome thing.


7. More useful search, which allows for Boolean searches and checking for similar spelling, a la Google. Search right now is all but useless. Similar search capabilities on the Marketplace.

So, pretty please Mr. Altberg. I know that you are just the CEO, and there's a board and everything, but I like thinking of you as a grinning, dark haired Magic Pixie to bring me everything I want, so I'm asking as nicely as I can: please make all my dreams come true.

( More pictures here. )

The Domination of the Frost

We're entering one of the hardest months of winter, when all of the fluff and shine has begun to harden to ice and sleet; when months of icy cold have frozen spirits; this is when Jackie Frost, the younger and in some ways crueler spirit of winter, comes out to play with people who thought her big brother Jack was bad enough. February was always the whinging month, when what was once fresh and clean, turning the world to a land of clouds, became hard and gray and enough already. Jackie Frost is made of stone, her heart a barren rock formed in the palms of Fallen Gods (now with SLink appliers), impervious to the frost sliding silvery white fingers along her curves and sprouting out curling tendrils of ice which catch the wind and flow in the breeze. Besides the frost, the only nod to clothing she wears are filigree bands holding jewels gathered from the farthest reaches to the north, the shapes inspired by her filigree wings and all bearing the touch of Sax Shepherd Designs.

She's marked her face with frost in narrow bands, like those created by Nuuna, long stripes interspersed with small dots of ice. Cupping her heels are the long fingers of winter made real - disembodied hands from ieQED whose spikes touch the ground and cut through any pretense. They are Surreal (Event) in their formation, unearthly in their function; surely only the stone of her body and flutter of her wings make it possible for them to support feet impossibly high. And yet she walks, her hair (from Wasabi Pills) edged with frost and held up by the breath of icy winds itself. She summons rime out of still waters, and where she steps crystals and death itself are left behind, panting for the warmth of unsuspecting mortals. Fear her when she stalks the nights, taking ever wider routes and seeking doorways that haven't seen her footprints for centuries. Keep windows tightly shut, fire burning brightly; beware the kiss of Jackie Frost.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: Fallen Gods, Materica - Black Marble
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Christy
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Cosmetics: Nuuna, Aza White
Wings: Sax Shepherd Designs, Filigree Fae Wings (Soon to be Released)
Hands & Feet: SLink, Rigged Mesh Hands & Feet
Jewelry: Sax Shepherd Designs, Winter Fae (Fantasy Gatcha Festival)
Bracelets: Sax Shepherd Designs, Frills ~ Ione Diamonds
Nails: Fallen Gods, Materica Frost
Clothing: Fallen Gods, Ice Crystal Outfit
Shoes: ieQED, Hand Spike (Surreal Event)

Poses: Long Awkward Pose

Location: Winter at Icewater Village
Light Settings:
Water Settings: Mirror Water

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Wolf in the Garden

The Red Ridinghood Story is a mixed one - the original is extremely dark, with no respite for either Red or Grandmother, and even modern recitations and re-imaginings of the story make much of the frightening experience of girls just becoming women and the predators which pursue them. Once most likely a warning to children, some women have recently embraced the story but shifted the power dynamics so that the wolf, the predator, the danger is the one in the cloak, not the one covered in fur.This idea carries through the the latest Enchantment Event, which is centered around the Red Ridinghood story and contains many indications that Red might have won over her furry attacker. In the original, Red was a trusting child who did what her Grandmother told her, though in her innocence she forgot to follow every rule her mother dictated to keep her safe. The angle of the story often lays blame at her door, but I think it's a heartless thing to blame a child for picking wildflowers, and even the firmest pathwalker will stray now and then. If there had been no predator in the woods, then no amount of leaving the path or picking of flowers would have led anywhere. Likewise, if Red had a sense of her own boundaries, if she did not automatically do as her presumed grandmother told her, than the story would go a very different way. It's understandable why later storytellers added in a huntsman to save her, but I've always been partial to the stories where she saved herself.Most women know what it's like to have a predator stalk us and to deal with covert predatory behavior; Red Ridinghood gives one narrative within which to understand our own experiences and perhaps with time it may shift the narratives of all of us.

I picked up several things at the Enchantment Event. This dress from Luminary with it's unique neckline and ruffled overdress caught my attention immediately, and I'm really glad I picked it up. The plunging dellcotage and cut-out shoulders are striking, and I love the gray-lined belt of the jacket over the patterned gray skirt. There is some awkwardness with the skirt rigging - it catches here and there awkwardly and the texture on the front can be pulled depending on the pose - but this is more than made up by the thick, luxuriant texturing of the top, and the really fun, interesting silhouette of the dress. I paired it with a dagger necklace from AZE which highlights the triumph of Little Red Ridinghood around my neck, complete with a few wolf-fangs. It really fit the angled neckline beautifully, and was highlighted by it. On my finger is a gorgeous, luminous ring from Bokeh, a simple design which also comes in a necklace, and in a wide variety of colors. My basket is my favorite of all of the baskets available, a fun and complex design from ANC which is tied with ribbons and has large, circular handles. I especially love the butterflies hovering above it, like the souls of the flowers Little Red Ridinghood gathered on the way to her battle. Finally, my poses are a series by Ilaya which were made specifically for photographing with a large basket or purse in ones hand, and which came with a basket, though I substituted my own. There are a lot more striking items in red and gray, for wolf and girl alike, available at the latest Enchantment Event, and I highly recommend checking it out if blood is a favorite accessory for you.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: Izzie's, Irene
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Kira (Gatcha)
Hat: Purplemoon Creations, Cora
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: Mock, Liz Shadow
Blush: Adore & Abhor, Star Blush
Lipstick 1: Adore & Abhor, Shreveport Lips
Lipstick 2: Mock, Mizu Venetian Red Lips
Wings: Deviance, Sidhe Wings
Hands: SLink, Rigged Mesh Hands
Necklace: AZE, Baneful Wolf's Eye (Enchantment: Red Riding Hood)
Ring: Bokeh, Enchanting Red's Ring (Enchantment: Red Riding Hood)
Nails: A:S:S, Dragon Scales
Dress: Luminary, Ylva (Enchantment: Red Riding Hood)
Bag: ANC, Rattenbag (Enchantment: Red Riding Hood)
Shoes: Lassitude & Ennui, Flutter Boots

Poses: Ilaya

Location: Organica Specialty Trees
Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Second Life Event: Mingle Guide and Walkthrough

I have had the devil of a time figuring out the Mingle Event, which is going on for the month of February, and so I figured I'd make a small FAQ that can help other people along the way. There is a group associated with it which is rather difficult to find - use the in world search for "Holiday Appreciation" and look for the group owned by Mingle (HolidayAppreciationAssociation). The starting point is on the Mingle Sim. The instructions say you will be given a HUD, and there is also a box you can click which works no matter which group you are in; I tested the event using the HUD but not in the group for those who are grouplocked, and it works well, so you can follow these instructions. 

Once worn, look in your local chat for the HUD's instructions. The conceit is that this is a series of calls and text messages, and I thought it was really a charming framing for something which encourages people to interact with each other. Tasks may involve two or more other people, and the tasks are timed - so rushing through it isn't an option. I found the location extremely laggy, so I dropped my graphics standards down to Medium and kept my Draw Distance down and it helped immensely.

Once you finish the twenty tasks, then you can get the prizes. You can stop between tasks if you need to do something else and the HUD will remember where you were. I recommend going with a group if you can; I saw one family doing it and it was simply adorable. 

With those basics laid out, lets get on with the game!

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: Look down and follow the white arrows to begin your Mingle journey!

Follow the arrows and you will, Alice-like, fall into the event. When you hit the ground, Mr. Faust Steamer has sent you a text with an attachment from your mom. I really adore the cell phone effect; it's such fun and having the creators as our texting buddies is adorable. 

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Walton: I told your mom you were going out tonight... she told me to give you this, LOL. (Click to open file in notepad app attachment)

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: Find 5 things that will help you make a good first impression!

And the first task begins! When you click on an inappropriate thing (like a cigar), there a "Whap whap whap waaaa" sound and the HUD says: "I really don't need that to get ready!" Freaking adorable. When you finally find something which works, you get whistled at and the item gets checked off your list form your mom. Thanks mom! After five things you can go out, but I have to admit I had fun getting whistled at by a HUD and went over the five a little... ok, I checked them all off. I wanted to make a good impression! Breath Mint?

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: All set, let’s head into town!  Head downstairs and click on the door to start your evening!

When you successfully click on the door, you get cheered for. Best pick-me-up ever. The next stop is a store, and you already have a text from Charming Meiler reminding you to bring flowers with you for your special someone. You can pick up some of the low price gifts around you or head out the door looking for a flower stand.    

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Charmy: I just took a jog through town and passed the most beautiful flower stands. Everyone was gushing at all the beautiful colors! Pick 5 different color flowers for someone special.

This is purely a matter of taste, but I made a simply gorgeous bouquet. There are a ton of colors to pick from as well, and then you get your next text message.

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Cae: Someone is holding a 'Free Hugs' sign near the movie theater, you should get them to give you a sign and offer some hugs, too!

Down the block a little, by a drive in theater, you'll find a couple hugging with a big "Free Hugs" sign. Click on the sign and yay, poseballs.

Mingle Free Hugs: Find someone to hop on the pose balls with you to complete the task!
Mingle Free Hugs: Relax a bit!  You've got 30 seconds until you're done here. :)

You're looking for someone to hug you and also to linger for thirty seconds, so be patient. I got snuggled by the most adorable little kid - so it's worth the wait.

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Rose: I heard you're having a fun-filled day and meeting new people! Why don't you capture the moment with someone in that old photobooth on the pier we love. I'd love to see the picture when we meet up next! :D

Now a text from Naminaeko - wanting pictures. Nothing risque, of course, but it means hunting down a photobooth for some snaps. I ended up bringing in my doppelganger, Deoridhe Starr, for a pretty picture, and we lingered for fifteen seconds before the pictures were finally done, making faces.

Mingle Photobooth: Find someone to hop on the pose balls with you to complete the task!
Mingle Photobooth: Relax a bit!  You've got 15 seconds until you're done here. :)

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Charlotte: Hey, buddy! Just wanted to let you know that they're giving away free Valentine's Day cards at the Flutter Gift Shop! I grabbed 5. Why don't you do the same and spread the love to 5 people.

This is heading back where you started, to that perfectly charming little gift shop. There's a table of free cards, and when you wear them your arms go up above your head, waiting for people to click on them.

Mingle Event Valentines Task: Please attach this item and find 5 people to click the Valentines cards from you.

I ended up walking over to the restaurant nearby where a family was more than happy to take my riches, and then i headed outside and got some cards form some other people, too. This really is a cooperative game where everyone works together to win.

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Tegan: They got a new jukebox at the Lemon Drop. I hear it's a great place to meet people. Pick a song and ask someone to dance!

I headed over to the candy shoppe nearby and indulged in a soda while I waited for someone i knew to come by... but in the end it was my darling doppelganger who came to my rescue, and as a reward I got her dressed up in something nice. She always has my back.

Mingle Jukebox: Find someone to hop on the pose balls with you to complete the task!
Mingle Jukebox: Relax a bit!  You've got 30 seconds until you're done here. :)

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Anya: OMG, my sister and I just took the silliest pic in one of those face in a hole things on the pier. You HAVE to find someone to try it with.

Somehow my friends always know when I need something to do, and this time its Anya Ohmai with another suggestion for another set of pictures on the pier. Man, next time I hope they talk and give their suggestions grouped by local! I bring my doppelganger with me and treat her to some funnel cakes while we look for the faces in a hole boards.

Mingle Shark Face Photo Wall: Find someone to hop on the pose balls with you to complete the task!
Mingle Shark Face Photo Wall: Relax a bit!  You've got 15 seconds until you're done here. :)

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Aime: Are you at the pier? I heard that balloon game is rigged! Try to aim for the red balloon.

Yay, Anya must have checked in with Aime, because this time the suggestion is a pier based one - one of those really fun balloon games, only it might be rigged. I put on my deerstalker cap, grab a pipe, and go to investigate. At first I think this might be the challenge to beat me, but a few minutes concerted clicking and that red balloon is mine - and so is the pretty blue bear I pick up.

Mingle Carnie: Nice shot, Deoridhe Quandry! Pick out a bear prize!
Mingle Carnie: Psst, hey buddy.. make sure you pick which bear you want quickly!  The guy's forgetful, you don't want to have to do it again!

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Zuzu: Have you tasted the chocolates at the candy store? They're having a sale, you should grab a box! Share them, though... they're too addictive! :)

Back to the candy shop, this time to check out the chocolates on the bar. I picked up an enormous box, and right away they wanted ot be shared with everyone - so off I went to find people who had a chocolate craving.

Mingle Chocolate Box (Wear Me): Please attach this item and find 9 people to click your chocolates.

This was probably my biggest challenge. I walked up to a few people offering chocolates, but they were caught up in their own things. I ended up passing off a bunch of them to my dollelganger, who was surprisingly voracious. In her defense, they were delicious chocolates.

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Maylee: The beach is so beautiful at night. Why don't you invite someone to enjoy it with you on the sand.

I initially thought that this was some sort of walking HUD, but actually this was a lovely little blanket set with a twig to draw in the sand with. On my way down to it I met a couple of friends who were deeply amused by myself and my doppelganger hanging out together - I was glad to give them a giggle.

MingleBeachBlanket: Find someone to hop on the pose balls with you to complete the task! MingleBeachBlanket: Relax a bit!  You've got 30 seconds until you're done here. :)

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Kaz: Kat just texted me. They got new prizes at the dunk tank game! You should try your luck and see if you can score one.

This is really a wonderful date event to do - it kind of makes me wish I had someone long-suffering to drag along and dunk in a tank. Like you might expect, the dunk tank is on the pier and sit and clickable, and either someone else can send you into the depths, or you can do it yourself. The prize is an adorable kitty - I'm really getting a ton of prizes for these games.

MingleDunkTank: Find someone to dunk you to complete the task!
MingleDunkTank: Pick your kitty prize off to the left!  Choose quickly or the operator might forget you won something!
MingleDunkTank: Pick your kitty prize off to the left!  Choose quickly or the operator might forget you won something!

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Zen: I once carved initials in a tree for this chick and she loved it. It's better than a pick up line... you should try it. The biggest tree in town is near Jenkel's.

Jenkle's is this adorable beach mini golf with an enormous tree next to it. Sit on the tree and bam - endless rewriting of names without overly damaging the tree; it's like magic.

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Emery: I just ate the most amazing dinner last night at Kapika. You should treat someone to a nice meal there!

Kapika Hostess: Table for two? Please pick any table and have a seat.

Waiter: Welcome to Kapika, let me know when you’re ready to order. Please have a look at the menu in front of you. Click the menu to make your selection!

The next step is surprisingly difficult when you're two people - you have to click on the menus and then the waiter - who has been standing patiently by - complements you on your choice and vanishes, leaving you staring at your dining partner (who must also be wearing a HUD, or you cannot continue). This is also the point where I realized that unfortunately this hunt isn't open to the sight impaired. My doppelganger was on Radegast, a common text-only browser, and not only couldn't she wear the HUD while on it, she also couldn't click on the menus. I ended up running double computers briefly to get us through.

Waiter: Fantastic choice! I will be back shortly with your meals.

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: Spark a conversation! Try asking this icebreaker to the person closest to you:
What's the most recent movie you've seen? Did you like it?

This is when you click your HUD and are given a question to ask. You have to ask it in open chat, and have it answered by your dining partner, and then both of you win. Cheering again.

Deoridhe Quandry: What's the most recent movie you've seen? Did you like it?

Deoridhe Starr: I was just watching Campion, which is sort of like a movie. I love it dearly and wish they'd made more of them.

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Milan: YOLO, DUDE. JUST GOT A SWEET TATTOO FROM JIM TATTOO. I HEARD IF YOU BRING A FRIEND THEY GET THEIRS FREE. YOU SHOULD TOTALLY GET MATCHING TATTOOS!!!1$#

I was not exactly looking forward the the pain, and then I remembered these are Second Life tattoos - painless, removable, and awesome. The lady behind the counter wasn't much help, but when I and my friend sat down we got matching D tattoos - D for Awesome. And then we were unceremoniously asked to leave.

Mingle Tattoo Chair: Sorry buddy, I ain't got all day to tattoo you both!  Try to figure out what you want done and then go for it again!

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Jim: It’s couple’s night at the movie theater! You should find someone to go with. They're playing that movie you love!

That talk earlier about favorite movies gave my doppelganger ideas, and so when Jim let us know about a movie deal, we went off together for the movie theater, bypassing the hug girl this time. It was a good movie, if a bit short.

Mingle Drive-In Seat: Find someone to hop in the car with you to complete the task!
Mingle Drive-In Seat: Relax a bit!  You've got 60 seconds until you're done here. :)

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Halogen: Have you ever seen the town from up high? The view from the ferris wheel is amazing, make sure you grab a ticket first!

This one is really tricky - you need to look for the ticket, though of course you can ride after. I can only imagine how difficult it might be to program and entire ferris wheel, so I don't begrudge them the work around.

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Flutter: The bonfires on the beach are so cozy on a chilly night like this. You should sit by the fire and snuggle up to someone.

We wandered along the beach after swinging up high in the air and came across the coziest spot - a fire already burning and some blankets handy. We snuggled under to warm up on a night growing increasingly chilly when another text came through.

(no name): Find someone to cuddle on this log with you to complete the task!
(no name): Relax a bit!  You've got 30 seconds until you're done here. :)

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Kat: They opened up the tunnel of love again for Valentine's Day! Go check it out!

The Tunnel of Love is right near by, a pretty little ride for two through glowing displays of love and light. You get dumped unceremoniously in the water, cheering, which made me giggle like anything.

Mingle - Swan Buggy: We hope you enjoyed the tunnel of love!  Please make your way safely to the exit.

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Biblar: Hey! My work shift just ended at Jenkel's, I left you two free tickets at the ticket booth. Why don't you bring a friend?

Even though my poor doppelganger was yawning - this was quite the most eventful date she'd ever been on - Biblar texted me saying he left us mini-golf tickets. We checked them out and - thank goodness - they were good for the next week. Weekend date for mini-golf; yay!

H.A.A. Events: Mingle HUD: New Text Message from Pizza: Where r u? There's an awesome party going on uptown, you have to join us!

I was about to take her home when we hear about a party and she simply insisted - Pizza threw the best parties ever. I clicked on the map and it was like magic - suddenly my doppelganger and I were flying across the sky to a party in the clouds, prizes falling around us like dew. Somehow, we had mingled our way through.

There is a bunch of people seeking dates up here - I thought about putting my hat in the wing, but honestly I don't think I have much to offer - as well as the presents. You clock on each bag to get the prize, and there is an image of the prize on the front of almost all of them, which is very handy. I really had a ball with this set of games - even if I think I might have had more fun going through it with a friend rather than a doppelganger. I recommend setting this up as a date for you and someone you like to spend time with, as there's loads along the way to do in addition to the central hunt tasks. There are also some donation spots along the way for people to support more of this sort of thing, and I highly recommend it - I hope they do more creative and fun things like this in the future.

Monday Meme: Black & White Portrait Challenge

Strawberry has given us another meme to do, this time a Black and White Challenge. I considered trying to make it in-world black and white, but I'll leave that for a later time when I have more time to play around with skins. In this case, I rushed home to do a studio shot, picking through my inventory to find things which were bold, simple, but which I thought would look well transformed into grey-scale. When I did photography, ages ago in high school where we did everything manually, I worked exclusively in grey-scale. It's much easier to get white whites and dark darks in graphics, though; when working with film, my pictures always seemed to end up washed out and dirty in some way.

You can see the original color image on Flickr, but I hope you like the black and white here; I didn't bother as much with matching colors since I knew the colors would be gone in the final image.

Credits: 

Skin: Izzie's, Irene
Hair: Diva, Lili
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeliner: R.icielli, The Eyeliner collection I
Blush: Adore & Abhor, Star Blush
Lipstick: Mock, Fruitilicious Gloss
Wings: Deviance, Sidhe Wings
Hands: SLink, Rigged Mesh Hands
Jewelry: Eclectica, Artifact
Nails: Adore & Abhor, Sheer
Dress: Purple Moon, Aria Gown (Group Gift)

Pose: Glitterati, Jewelry 2

Location: Photostudio
Light Settings: AnaLutetia - AvatarOpt whiter

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Shimmers in the Snow

For the first time in a year, I have no real challenges; no real prompts for what I'm going to look like or try to emulate. So much of last year was task driven - trying to meet the Disneybound or Twisted Color Challenges - that it's been novel trying for inspiration from other sources. In this case, I started with the dress from Sn@tch and simply fell in love with the black and silvery gray combo, though like all Sn@tch clothing it's available in a ton of colors. The quarter sleeves are unusual in mesh, and I really like the collar line as well - it's almost horizontal which gives it a classy edge. It cut in a little on the shoulder depending on how I moved. The skirt was very ruffly and sits well out from the body; it moves very well and hangs naturally for a whole lot of different poses; I added some bloomers underneath, though, because whenever I sat down it was up at my chin! I love rigged mesh and fluffy skirts, but we still don't have real gravity in Second Life. That got me going distinctly monochoromatic, and this recent release from Adore & Abhor gave it a slightly Lolita vibe while keeping the classy shine of silver. The bow is actually white, but the texturing makes it look distinctly satiny, and I really love it. I tried a few different hairs and ended up trying on this Mina hair with a loose, flyaway style which I really like. The bits of hair flying over the front makes it look like I'm constantly moving.

I went for a simple, sunny pink cosmetic look which ended up being surprisingly complicated - the cheeks with little white stars in it also come from Adore & Abhor, and I paired it with a simple lip gloss from Mock and a black and gray liner from R.ichielli. I was trying for a slightly orangey pink, which is challenging in a world of icy and purpley pinks. I'm also trying something new in terms of layout - trying to highlight accessories a bit more than is possible with my usual three image layout. I'm not sure what I think about it - and I'd love to hear feedback in the comments if anyone has any. That being said, I really did want to show off this awesome ring from Little Boy Blue, which is light reflective and gorgeous. I ended up fitting the band for my finger, and I think it looks really awesome. It was made before SLink was a dream in the eyes of fashionistas everywhere, but it withstands the test of time. My other jewelry, bracelet and earrings, are from Eclectica, and are a gorgeous set of floating pearls. And finally the shoes - these shoes; I can't say enough wonderful things about these shoes. A recent release from Sax Shepherd Designs, I simply adore the jeweled straps which criss-cross the foot beautifully. I picked up the leather fatpack, and it has an astonishing number of options - fifteen jewel or pearl colors, two metals, and seven shades of leather. I went for a fairly simple diamond and onyx combination on black leather, but these are so versatile and add such oomph to an outfit that I can't wait to play with them some more.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: Izzie's, Irene
Hair: Mina, Nikky
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeliner: R.icielli, The Eyeliner collection I
Blush: Adore & Abhor, Star Blush
Lipstick: Mock, Fruitilicious Gloss
Wings: Deviance, Sidhe Wings
Hands and Feet: SLink, Rigged Mesh Hands and Feet
Jewelry: Eclectica, Spring Pearls
Ring: Little Boy Blue, Endurance
Nails: Adore & Abhor, Sheer
Stole: Adore & Abhor, Fur Stole
Dress: Sn@tch, Simone Retro Dress
Panties: Sn@tch, Bloomers
Shoes: Sax Shepherd Designs, Mata Hari

Poses: Grafica

Location: Trace
Light Settings: Phototools, Dream Book 4
Water Settings: Mirror Water

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only