Oh Tannenbaum; Winter planning

Xmas trees bought; zero, so far (good); Items in "November 2018" folder: 180 approx. (bad)

Possibly favourite event of year is Tannenbaum, not so much because of items on offer, but because atmosphere in Tannenbaum event is super-calming yet rich with Xmas promise (i.e. presents, food, real Xmas trees, soulful walks through the woods, more presents, more food). Whoever landscaped it and set the sim windlight deserves prize as would swear that can actually feel the crisp air and smell the midwinter forest. Not that in physical world actually go for that many Xmas walks in woods, but IDEA of walking in winter woods is always attractive.

So first pic shows me pretending to buy Xmas tree at Tannenbaum. In centre of gacha area is cute collection of Botanical Xmas trees, with vendors. Bought one of these trees several years ago, so no need to repeat, but found ancient and v. primmy tree by AM Radio in inventory, which has integral carrying pose, so there I am. Spent some time on this photo, to hide other customers, who were mostly not Winter-appropriately dressed (mini skirts! crop tops! with snow on the ground!) and thus would spoil mood of picture.

2nd picture shows Tannenbaum vendor booths with me deciding not to buy something. However, despite certain amount of restraint have still managed to amass wealth of new items as evidenced by fullness of "November 2018" folder. In fact, memory of visiting Tannenbaum event was of buying practically nothing, but now see indulged in 22 items, including bear ornament, kitten stocking, "winter scene", hanging icicles, paper snowflakes, and rustic fireplace. Had better get going on decorating asap or won't have time to put all this stuff to good use. As is evidenced by examination of "November 2017" folder where rediscover cute items such as "Joyeaux Noel 2017" Tea & Macaron Service Set and seasonal cupcakes which am pretty sure never even got unpacked.

On professional front, had been congratulating self on having booked sessions for virtual worlds discussion forum well in advance, only to find events falling through. Think there is a lesson to be learnt here: EITHER that if make arrangement with someone need to check up on it more than one week before actual event to avoid misunderstanding OR it is not worth bothering arranging things well in advance.

Second lesson seems to be one involving least effort so think will adopt that one.

Winterfell; Goodbye Juicy: Primful for Xmas

No. of extra prims on Infolit iSchool: 5,000 (v.v.good); No. of extra prims on Noyo: 1,900 (v.v.v. good); Cottages rented on Winterfell: 1 (surplus to requirements, really)

During past month got v.v. excited by advent of prim bonus as Linden Labs upped the quota for mainland by a heady 7,250 prims per region, and 5,000 prims per region for islands. Is so many prims that actually haven't used them all up yet, though with Infolit there is reason for this, since extra prims for non-mainland regions have only just been released today. Unfortunately (or should perhaps be FORTUNATELY) have not had spare time to decorate out full prim allowance on Noyo so will have plenty of space for Xmas trees, Xmas baubles, Xmas signs, Xmas gifts, skating rinks, animated penguins, hot chocolate givers and so forth.

Will have extra place to decorate since had fallen in love with v. cute cottage on Winterfell, a 512 type plot with cottage already in place. Costs 300L a week which is exactly what have been paying for shop in Juicy for more years than care to remember (ok appears to be 8 years OMG, am not even going to try and add up how much that means have given to well-deserving Juicy sim landlord). Juicy shop was vanity project creating zero income from word go and has latterly been Cat Cafe with no pretence at money making. Was suddenly right moment to leave Juicy so packed up everything and in the first pic you have me and Hestia saying farewell.

In 2nd pic see new Winterfell cottage. It is book lined retreat, though now I look at 2nd pic have actually replaced that map cabinet and set of shelves with classy antique 4 prim dresser. However, still a lot of books on other side of cottage that you can't see.

In fact is not first time have rented Winterfell land. 3rd pic shows rather larger plot that rented for short time in 2011. Apart from fact that current Winterfell home is good deal cheaper to rent, is also nice to have something with novely of restricted size plus close neighbours who are guaranteed not to put up banlines, set up a casino or fill plot with giant revolving polar bears. (Was really thinking of other giant revolving things beginning with p, but don't wish to get flagged by Blogger for unseemly content, which seems to happen at drop of mildly challenging word.)

4th pic gives idea of what is like outside cottage, this is neighbour's house and my identical one is to left. There is sim policy which means outside should be decorated with things that might have been around in Victorian times, though at Halloween I think people were not observing this strictly since as far as I know Halloween  in Victorian England did not feature tableaux of animated zombies and self-stirring cauldrons, which is what my neighbour opposite put out (BUT STILL BETTER THAN GIANT FLYING Ps).

Meanwhile, back on VWER, the gravestones, poisoned apples and so forth have magically disappeared. Have erected small chapel, since, you know, Christmas is coming, and have hidden favourite tombstone-monument thing behind that. Could also not bear to part with witch broom generator, on which educators had jolly fun at end of Halloween VWER meeting. (see last pic)

Still will be very surprised if isn't a Santa sleigh generator or Rudolph Red Nose generator to replace witch broom in due course.

Am rolling up virtual sleeves to cover all available surfaces with Christmas cheer. And people had better enjoy it.

The season of goodwill

Advent gifts collected: 3 (good: well, 2 of them were good)

Advent in SL is a time of rushing round gathering baubles and clicking frantically on giant advent calendars and/or parcels. Could in fact spend whole day going round trying to collect advent freebies of varying quality (with pompoms, stars, candles, mugs of hot chocolate, silly hats and ill-fitting skater dresses featuring prominently). In rare burst of altruism am sharing 3 lists of advent gift events, namely

http://primdolls.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/2015-advent-season.html
http://devinvaughn.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-mania-2015.html
http://chicatphilsplace.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/second-life-advent-calendar-list-2015.html

Am restricting self to usual favouries i.e. Sways and Kittycats as both have decent prizes. For Sways you have to wander round sim spotting baubles representing each day of advent and clicking them to add to a HUD. Then you go to the parcel pile in the middle of the shopping mall and click on the parcel corresponding to today's date. You don't get the gift unless you found the bauble with that date on it.

Swayland is a pretty sim, and happily spent, um, well suppose it was about an hour in the end, going round (see 1st pic) and eventually finding all but 4 of the baubles. Inevitably, one of the missing ones was 1st Dec so will have to buy that gift if I want it. With Sways you have to get the gift ON THE DAY or pay. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SwayLand/187/168/32

Kittycats' advent calendar (see 2nd pic) is more forgiving - you can turn up on any day and get any of the previous day's gifts. Also, all you have to do is TP in and click the date, so easy-peasy (though correspondingly, less fun). In past years some gifts were for you and some for your kittycat. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/KittyCatS/129/40/25

So far have got pair of candles (Sways) and sparkley nails (Kittycats: there was also hair+eyes, but the hair was the wrong colour i.e. not blue, so junked it)

Ah! This is what Christmas is all about: frantically collecting piles of gifts, and then throwing some of them away.

Not writing; Christmas; Transmediation

No. blog posts written in digital writing month: 1 (bad); No of stories written in digital writing month: 0.5 (could be worse); No. of items on shopping list: 35 approx. (bad)
Have failed singularly to increase amount of Yoshikawa blogging during digital writing month, as month has flashed past oozing with teaching, family emergencies, storms, meetings and cute SL items that SIMPLY HAVE TO BE BOUGHT.
In fact had decided that thing wanted to do more of was not digital writing but uninterrupted sustained writing (USW), as in getting into flow of writing for a couple of hours so imagination can take wing and so forth. In fact managed about 1.5 hours of USW on train between London and Sheffield, so partial achievement. Have also peered through window at digital writing activities, so to speak. Would have been fun to join in, but v. time consuming. One digital writing challenge was doing something transmedia, and was pondering extent to which SL is transmedian in itself. Could argue that is just one environment, on other hand have sound, pictures and movement and can zip about between different locations and import things in and out of SL. Is probably substance for whole, dull, peer reviewed article in debating this.

Anyway, did find time for some Christmas shopping as deluge of cute Xmas cheer kicked in as soon as the pumpkins and scary Halloween skeletons had been collected up into inventory. Thought that might be able to limit Xmas expenditure by going through all the events and making up a shopping list in advance, so am not tempted to buy anything extra. However not sure that this will work, e.g. for Lost and Found event my initial advance list ran

Lost and Found
Kalopsia - sewing table, crackers box or present pile 90 Linden each
 plaaka - kitchen cupboard? Linden 300

Kalopsia and plaaka are familiar puveyors of cute things, and although cabinet was on expensive side, all the items on cabinet shelves are v. cool e.g. artisan japanese ceramic bowls and tea whisk.
When tp-ed to Lost and Found was still impressed by cabinet. Decided that already had enough piles of presents, but the crackers were nice and the sewing table reminded me of the old treadle sewing machine that we had when was young (though it has to be said that nostalgia has already led me to buy 2 different SL reproductions of this treadle sewing machine, however don't have table without machine, so obvious gap in inventory).1st pic shows me stoutly resisting urge to also buy decorated Xmas chair, watering can with artful bauble tree in it etc.
However was drawn inexorably to the display of boots by Deadwool. They are v. realistic all wrinkled leather and laces. Suffice it to say that they cost 450 Linden and am now wearing them with my new Go! dress and Atomic woollen legwarmers. All very boho.

Eye was also caught by SariSari upcycled Christmas tree, a snip at 299 Linden. Well, in fact not PARTICULARLY a snip, but v. well made.Was more charming than in advert and could immediately see it being an amusing conversation piece in my new Fallingwater House art gallery. In fact had thought it came with a nubbly cotton rug (see 2nd pic) which proved not to be the case, but  am not too disappointed.

Can see from this account that future does not look promising for list approach, since started out intending to spend max of 480 Linden and spent nearly that on unplanned boots. Oh well.

3rd pic shows me with the acquired consumer items. Am wearing boots but also have displayed one on top of cabinet.

So, this is the kind of thing I was doing instead of digital writing.

I must say, it seems pretty transmedia to me.

Merry Xmas

Journeys outside house in RL in last month to visit hospital/nurse: 6 (bad); Other journeys outside house: 0 (v.v. bad); No. of vists to SL: 4 (sad); No of dresses bought in SL: 2 (good going, considering)

In RL am recovering from appendix operation but taking ages to heal and therefore still pootering about like lame duck. However last time nurse said wound was granulating, which appeared to be positive thing so soon may be hey-ho for non-medical perambulations (hurrah) and then hey ho for return to work (hmm).
Have had a few brief forrays into SL and in last ones purchased 2 Christmas dresses, a set of antlers and a flopsie shoulder rat plus grabbed a freebie Xmas stocking. Here I am in one of the dresses and clutching the stocking (from Schadenfreude, v. good value and when you or anyone touches it it gives v. jolly gifts, and it is colour change too).
So, a slightly belated Xmas to all, and a happy 2009.

Happy New Year

Calories consumed over festive period in SL: 0 (v. good); Calories consumed over festive period in RL: 1 trillion zillion (estimate) (v.v. bad); SL Friends met in RL: 1 (good)

Am struggling back into RL work mode after extended holiday us academics enjoy, as all uni buildings traditionally shut for c. 10 days and only those with strange experiments requiring constant access allowed to cross portals. Do not, though, (as some seem to think) only resume activity when students return and start making strange demands on ones time, namely lecturing, marking etc etc. Indeed Jan seems already month packed with various meetings, reports to be written etc etc, not to mention all stuff that was supposed to be done in 2007, ahem.

Have decided must make new year resolutions. This not normally something indulge in as generally reckon that if want to do something probably will and if don’t probably won’t. However this is doubtless defeatist attitude. One of resolutions will be to catch up on blog entries so will do a few of those whilst pondering remaining resolutions.

Although did not spend all festive SL time chasing freebie outfits (unlike Dimitrova) did pick up nice jewelery every day from Second Mirage, did a quick bit of treasure hunting in the Cherry Tokyo sim (my first garments were Cherry Tokyo kimonos so is nostalgia element here) and also dropped into House of Zen for fetching free Snowman kimono.

Thus am shown in first pic in Cherry Tokyo’s winter wonderland before unpacking goodies and in Second pic am on one of my properties, post unpacking, sporting Second Mirage jewelry plus the C Tokyo parasol and said wintertime kimono.

Suppose will have to start Taking Xmas trees, sparkly lights, skates etc. into inventory soon, but will wait for 12th night before doing so.
One interesting RL event was meeting Marilena, when she was visiting London. All v. exciting esp. as she treated me to tea in Liberty’s, one of my favourite shops in the RL world. This did not exactly decrease calorie intake, but Christmas comes but once a year, probably just as well.

Merry Christmas

Xmas celebrated: 1 (good)

My first Christmas, during which my Second Life is somewhat rationed, although with the weeks of crunchy snow, revolving coloured Xmas trees, open fires, twinkly lights and freebie clothes (lots) already enjoyed this does not seem like such a loss.

Here is a pic of me wearing antlers which are just one of the things you get from free Christmas stocking (as clutched in arms in pic) from Schadenfreude, the shop which is just round the corner from mine. Also wearing Demon hair (in purple) which was gift harvested from tree in last pic, I believe.

In second pic you see Ishbel (right) and me enjoying contents of Divivty (not free) Christmas crackers i.e. in particular Hats, which unfortunately completely replaced Hair, but I suppose that is just one of the merry penalties of Xmas fun.

Benefit of SL crackers is that you can pull them as many times as you like and they still go Pop. We are also holding jolly Xmas lollipops from crackers, sitting in the snowy platform after Ishbel had done her Discussion


Final pic is one characteristic of Xmas season, namely scrabbling to harvest gift from tree in Mau's (home of nice Undine hair also). Since most of time recently has been spent sim-hopping in search of Xmas booty it is hard to remember where particular booty came from. Hey ho, now have enough seasonal earrings (snowmen, xmas trees etc.) to wear different one each day of week.

Anyway, Christmas cheer to all from Sheila Yoshikawa