Apologies for not updating for a while. A few RL issues have been taking priority recently, but rest assured I’m still here. You will notice that this post’s picture is a RL one. The reason? It occurred to me that the only time you come across a vaguely SL-like situation with the full diversity of “avatars” is the situation I find myself in tonight - the fancy dress party. Pictured here we have Dangermouse talking to a Smurt, Waldo talking to a Wispa bar and just out of shot on the right, Chuck Norris. You should see what I look like. :) Back to more semi-regular SL blogging this week.

Apologies for not updating for a while. A few RL issues have been taking priority recently, but rest assured I’m still here.

You will notice that this post’s picture is a RL one. The reason? It occurred to me that the only time you come across a vaguely SL-like situation with the full diversity of “avatars” is the situation I find myself in tonight - the fancy dress party.

Pictured here we have Dangermouse talking to a Smurt, Waldo talking to a Wispa bar and just out of shot on the right, Chuck Norris.

You should see what I look like. :)

Back to more semi-regular SL blogging this week.

Comments (View) posted Saturday 02/28/2009 Permalink
This pic is called “She Stole My Heart” and features myself and Rylan Carling in one of 5ifth Order’s Payne and Despair poses called, aptly enough, “Heart”. I’ve had such an overwhelmingly positive response to this picture today that I thought I’d post it here too to commemorate the fact. It’s interesting. Halfway through putting this pic together I was going to throw it out because I thought it looked crap. But I persevered and it ended up being one of my favourite pictures - and a favourite of many other people besides, it seems. Thank you again to everyone who said nice things. I like! :) See the full-size version on my Flickr photostream.

This pic is called “She Stole My Heart” and features myself and Rylan Carling in one of 5ifth Order’s Payne and Despair poses called, aptly enough, “Heart”. I’ve had such an overwhelmingly positive response to this picture today that I thought I’d post it here too to commemorate the fact.

It’s interesting. Halfway through putting this pic together I was going to throw it out because I thought it looked crap. But I persevered and it ended up being one of my favourite pictures - and a favourite of many other people besides, it seems.

Thank you again to everyone who said nice things. I like! :)

See the full-size version on my Flickr photostream.

Comments (View) posted Monday 02/16/2009 Permalink
Just wanted to share this pic ‘cause I’m really pleased with it. I was happy to finally meet the very lovely Rylan Carling in-world tonight following a bit of chat over on Plurk and a few exchanged IMs in-world. She graciously agreed to pose for me for some photos, and towards the end of our session we decided to try out some of 5ifth Order’s “Payne and Despair” poses originally shown to me by Faery Sola. 5ifth Order’s poses are, according to Faery, not as well known as they should be. I’m inclined to agree - they’re poses that are full of drama and emotion that are really eye-catching and striking, and any photographer who’s looking for something a little out of the ordinary should definitely check them out. This is just one of several that I intend to make full use of as soon as possible!

Just wanted to share this pic ‘cause I’m really pleased with it.

I was happy to finally meet the very lovely Rylan Carling in-world tonight following a bit of chat over on Plurk and a few exchanged IMs in-world. She graciously agreed to pose for me for some photos, and towards the end of our session we decided to try out some of 5ifth Order’s “Payne and Despair” poses originally shown to me by Faery Sola.

5ifth Order’s poses are, according to Faery, not as well known as they should be. I’m inclined to agree - they’re poses that are full of drama and emotion that are really eye-catching and striking, and any photographer who’s looking for something a little out of the ordinary should definitely check them out. This is just one of several that I intend to make full use of as soon as possible!

Comments (View) posted Monday 02/16/2009 Permalink
Loneliness is a terrible thing, both in real life and in Second Life. To miss out on human interaction is to miss out on something that can make you feel wonderful. I’ve been lonely before, and it’s an awful feeling. I feel fortunate now that I have a wonderful wife in RL who loves and supports me, a circle of RL friends and similarly, a circle of SL friends (who, if I’m honest, I’m probably closer with than the RL friends). (There’s also a circle of what Jennatar calles “real-life not met friends” whom I’ve met elsewhere on the Internet, but if we start getting into all that it all gets terribly complicated.) I met a new friend a few nights ago, almost completely by chance. I was going along to a discussion group at The Village - this one was a rather more freeform “sit and chat” group for mutual support with, among other things, issues such as depression and anxiety, rather than the more structured discussions I’ve taken part in in the past. This new friend (whose name I’ll be leaving out of this post in case she doesn’t want any “publicity”) was one of those people that you click with almost immediately and feel at ease with, being able to engage with them in conversation about personal issues close to both your hearts. We had a lot in common in terms of the way we felt about things - depression, loneliness and social anxiety have been a part of both our lives, so we had an immediate connection there… which by extension meant that neither of us felt pressure from the other to make unnecessary “small talk” - the bane of the socially anxious’ existence. Despite this, we were able to talk at considerable length about all sorts of things, from the more personal things above to more general things that I guess were, in fact, “small talk”. It’s strange how some people immediately make you feel at ease, and you know it’s the beginning of a long and close friendship. When this happens, it’s awesome. It’s happened many times to me in SL over my time on the grid, and it never stops being a wonderfully pleasant feeling. So I thought I’d take the opportunity to say “thank you” to all the wonderful friends who have made my life - both real and Second, whether I’ve met you in “reality” or not - better. Thank you. :)

Loneliness is a terrible thing, both in real life and in Second Life. To miss out on human interaction is to miss out on something that can make you feel wonderful. I’ve been lonely before, and it’s an awful feeling. I feel fortunate now that I have a wonderful wife in RL who loves and supports me, a circle of RL friends and similarly, a circle of SL friends (who, if I’m honest, I’m probably closer with than the RL friends). (There’s also a circle of what Jennatar calles “real-life not met friends” whom I’ve met elsewhere on the Internet, but if we start getting into all that it all gets terribly complicated.)

I met a new friend a few nights ago, almost completely by chance. I was going along to a discussion group at The Village - this one was a rather more freeform “sit and chat” group for mutual support with, among other things, issues such as depression and anxiety, rather than the more structured discussions I’ve taken part in in the past.

This new friend (whose name I’ll be leaving out of this post in case she doesn’t want any “publicity”) was one of those people that you click with almost immediately and feel at ease with, being able to engage with them in conversation about personal issues close to both your hearts. We had a lot in common in terms of the way we felt about things - depression, loneliness and social anxiety have been a part of both our lives, so we had an immediate connection there… which by extension meant that neither of us felt pressure from the other to make unnecessary “small talk” - the bane of the socially anxious’ existence.

Despite this, we were able to talk at considerable length about all sorts of things, from the more personal things above to more general things that I guess were, in fact, “small talk”. It’s strange how some people immediately make you feel at ease, and you know it’s the beginning of a long and close friendship.

When this happens, it’s awesome. It’s happened many times to me in SL over my time on the grid, and it never stops being a wonderfully pleasant feeling. So I thought I’d take the opportunity to say “thank you” to all the wonderful friends who have made my life - both real and Second, whether I’ve met you in “reality” or not - better.

Thank you. :)

Comments (View) posted Saturday 02/14/2009 Permalink
As expected, I had a most pleasant time exploring the island paradise of Quiet Thunder (SLURL in my reblog from Thaumata below). As many of the gorgeous-scenery sims in SL tend to be, Quiet Thunder is a glorified shop… a shop where you can buy waterfalls, sculpted rocks and caves. It sure beats going to the garden centre to buy bulbs with my parents when I was a kid! There’s loads of water around the sim, and it’s arranged in a pleasingly simple-to-explore layout that you can wander around quickly, or take your time and marvel at the gorgeously-sculpted cliffs and waterfalls. There’s also a number of places to sit, and some dances and romantic poses for couples. So, uh, check it out. :)

As expected, I had a most pleasant time exploring the island paradise of Quiet Thunder (SLURL in my reblog from Thaumata below). As many of the gorgeous-scenery sims in SL tend to be, Quiet Thunder is a glorified shop… a shop where you can buy waterfalls, sculpted rocks and caves. It sure beats going to the garden centre to buy bulbs with my parents when I was a kid!

There’s loads of water around the sim, and it’s arranged in a pleasingly simple-to-explore layout that you can wander around quickly, or take your time and marvel at the gorgeously-sculpted cliffs and waterfalls. There’s also a number of places to sit, and some dances and romantic poses for couples.

So, uh, check it out. :)

Comments (View) posted Tuesday 02/10/2009 Permalink
thaumata: Quiet Thunder (via Liqueur Felix) SLURL Looks like an interesting place to explore. It does indeed! (Posted this to wrong blog earlier. Oops!) I love nature-themed sims, especially ones with plenty of water. They may cripple my framerate but dammit if it isn’t worth it for some great photos.

thaumata:

Quiet Thunder (via Liqueur Felix)

SLURL

Looks like an interesting place to explore.

It does indeed! (Posted this to wrong blog earlier. Oops!) I love nature-themed sims, especially ones with plenty of water. They may cripple my framerate but dammit if it isn’t worth it for some great photos.

Comments (View) posted Tuesday 02/10/2009 Permalink
An attempt at a new look. Actually, it wasn’t entirely intentional. I certainly didn’t log in tonight with the intention of logging off looking entirely different, but I happened to IM a new friend who immediately offered to teleport me to her location where she was taking some pics. Within moments I found myself standing bewildered in front of a white backdrop while I had my photo taken. The photographer invited me to try the skin you see before you on, and everyone agreed it looked good. Shortly afterwards, a couple of others in attendance at the shoot, who had also been photographed, asked me if I wouldn’t mind trying on a shape that they’d made. That too looked good, particularly once I shed my long leather coat that I’d been wearing since yesterday. By the time I was done I felt like a different person, and in a good way. It’s bizarre how a change of appearance can change the way you look at yourself. I’m going to try living in this new look for a little while and see how I feel - and how people respond - and then decide whether or not “old Narshe” - the skin and shape I’ve been wearing for nearly two years - will finally retire. The reason I hesitate is that “old Narshe” has attachments to me personally - I feel he looks a bit like me in RL, albeit rather fitter and with better hair than me. New Narshe is cool, though, and the ladies love him. :)

An attempt at a new look. Actually, it wasn’t entirely intentional. I certainly didn’t log in tonight with the intention of logging off looking entirely different, but I happened to IM a new friend who immediately offered to teleport me to her location where she was taking some pics. Within moments I found myself standing bewildered in front of a white backdrop while I had my photo taken. The photographer invited me to try the skin you see before you on, and everyone agreed it looked good.

Shortly afterwards, a couple of others in attendance at the shoot, who had also been photographed, asked me if I wouldn’t mind trying on a shape that they’d made. That too looked good, particularly once I shed my long leather coat that I’d been wearing since yesterday.

By the time I was done I felt like a different person, and in a good way. It’s bizarre how a change of appearance can change the way you look at yourself. I’m going to try living in this new look for a little while and see how I feel - and how people respond - and then decide whether or not “old Narshe” - the skin and shape I’ve been wearing for nearly two years - will finally retire.

The reason I hesitate is that “old Narshe” has attachments to me personally - I feel he looks a bit like me in RL, albeit rather fitter and with better hair than me. New Narshe is cool, though, and the ladies love him. :)

Comments (View) posted Sunday 02/08/2009 Permalink
This is a shot from my own visit to Miriel, mentioned by Thaumata (complete with SLURL) in the reblog below. It’s certainly a beautifully-sculpted island… and the idea of the treasure hunt based there is intriguing… but I think I must just be too dumb to figure it out. I picked up the first clue and have no idea where to look! I will try again later. If anyone feels like dropping a little clue my way I certainly wouldn’t object though. Especially if I just happened to overhear it. :)

This is a shot from my own visit to Miriel, mentioned by Thaumata (complete with SLURL) in the reblog below. It’s certainly a beautifully-sculpted island… and the idea of the treasure hunt based there is intriguing… but I think I must just be too dumb to figure it out. I picked up the first clue and have no idea where to look!

I will try again later. If anyone feels like dropping a little clue my way I certainly wouldn’t object though. Especially if I just happened to overhear it. :)

Comments (View) posted Sunday 02/08/2009 Permalink
thaumata: crag a licious (via Torley) There has been a lot of chatter about this sim since Torley added this photo to the login screen.  The sim is called Miriel, and it’s well worth a visit! It’s a gorgeous build.   The creator, Miriel Ensfield, made all of it, from the trees to the ground textures, the stones and of course, those gorgeous sculpted cliffs.  (I saw on another site recently that she is selling them in a package now, but via IM only, in case you are curious.) While you’re there exploring, look for the quest!  It starts at the little store there and takes you all around the island with a wonderful Myst-like story.  It was pretty hard, actually, but well worth it. SLURL I’m reblogging this so I remember to go and check it out later. Looks awesome, and I love sims that give you an incentive to explore like that.

thaumata:

crag a licious (via Torley)

There has been a lot of chatter about this sim since Torley added this photo to the login screen.  The sim is called Miriel, and it’s well worth a visit!

It’s a gorgeous build.   The creator, Miriel Ensfield, made all of it, from the trees to the ground textures, the stones and of course, those gorgeous sculpted cliffs.  (I saw on another site recently that she is selling them in a package now, but via IM only, in case you are curious.)

While you’re there exploring, look for the quest!  It starts at the little store there and takes you all around the island with a wonderful Myst-like story.  It was pretty hard, actually, but well worth it.

SLURL

I’m reblogging this so I remember to go and check it out later. Looks awesome, and I love sims that give you an incentive to explore like that.

Comments (View) posted Sunday 02/08/2009 Permalink
This is a photo from Rustica, whose SLURL I have temporarily misplaced but will add to this post as soon as 1) I find it and 2) I’m not about to go to bed. I love this chair. It makes me look badass. I dubbed it “The Vampire Chair” because it makes you want to wear lots of leather and bite people… or at the very least make an evil finger-pyramid and go “bwahahahaha” a lot. Rustica has some awesome furniture and items with some great poses and animations embedded. It’s well worth a look, particularly if you’re into the Gothic or medieval kinda looks.

This is a photo from Rustica, whose SLURL I have temporarily misplaced but will add to this post as soon as 1) I find it and 2) I’m not about to go to bed.

I love this chair. It makes me look badass. I dubbed it “The Vampire Chair” because it makes you want to wear lots of leather and bite people… or at the very least make an evil finger-pyramid and go “bwahahahaha” a lot.

Rustica has some awesome furniture and items with some great poses and animations embedded. It’s well worth a look, particularly if you’re into the Gothic or medieval kinda looks.

Comments (View) posted Sunday 02/08/2009 Permalink