Gift, Exhibit, Orange

No of items found in inventory when search "pumpkin": lost count after 50 (bad); No of gifts: 1 (v. good); No. of free prims on Infolit iSchool: 526 (bad); No. of times neighbour's security orb attempted to eject me from own land: 18 in 3 minutes (bad)

Tis the season of mellow fruitfulness and halloween overdrive, so am stuffing inventory with floating candles, spooky houses, spooky greenhouses, tombstones, poisoned cauldrons, and some v. questionable items, namely a noose pose set and a burn-the-witch bonfire. Latter is great fun as you stand at the stake with flames licking round you, making unrealistic shrieking noises.

As usual have set up Halloween house on Infolit, this year in a shack on the hill. New items include aforementioned cauldron (dispenses apples which cause you to fall dead) and v. good ghost in form of flying pumpkin, from New Trails. Pancha has contributed an animated skeleton and some freebie candles that she created for a Day of The Dead project. Also had tombstone that dispensed ghost that followed you round saying she wanted her mummy. Spooky.
However, when visited tomb just now, the GHOST HAD DISAPPEARED, and was no longer to be seen in the Contents tab of the tombstone. That is even spookier, frankly, and also means product no longer works. Could ask for replacement, but on the whole that is just too much effort.
Meanwhile have a pumpkin for all purposes: pumpkin heads, pumpkin lights, pumpkin chairs, pumpkin to look like cats' heads; pumpkin soup; pumpkin pie; pumpkin gun; pumpkin earrings; pumpkins that come and hit you if you click them; static pumpkins of every size and hue; not to mention pumpkin-coloured boots, necklaces, shrugs etc. etc.
Am trying to show restraint, as it tempting to just pull everything out and Paint The Island Orange. Is easier since am fighting continual prim war. Students have been populating their mini islands, and I have been encouraging them to fill islands with stuff, but has now reached stage when really want to say DO YOU REALLY NEED YET ANOTHER PALM TREE but is easier to just keep zooming round trimming prims here and there.

Latest things to go were an old barbie (40 prims, see pic) and the cardboard house that was lurking under the Farradane Centre. Have fond memories of getting drunk with Pancha and Ishbel over that barbie, but is four years old, so postively vintage.
Autumnal colour added to by a) my final "52 weeks of colour" frock, which have selected from Caverna Obscura and b) v. pretty set of marigolds in vase on cute rustic stool which was unexpected gift from Hanaya's owner. Have got v. few blogger gifts to date, in fact think has only been 4 of which 1 (set of shoes) was v. useful, 1 (jewellery from Magpie) was pretty, and 2 were useless as were short dresses of kind do not wear.
At once opened box and tried to take pic to show gift-giver. Was thwarted for some time
1) Went to Fantasy Woods corner of Noyo. Was immediately bombarded with messages saying that was about to be ejected: neighbour must have set his security orb thoughtlessly wide. Loathe security orbs. IMed neighbour and await response.
2) Crashed
3) Logged in and went to autumn house and started to rez marigolds,
4) Crashed
5) Rezzed marigiolds
6) Crashed
7) Crashed again. Perhaps was Curse of the security Orb.
8) Tried logging into Infolit iSchool instead. Success!
9) Noticed Quilt was missing. retrieved her from under building. How DO they get down there.
10) Posed with Naomi. (see pic)
11) By this time had forgotten why had gone into SL in first place and started playing with Quilt.

Will use marigolds in final 52 weeks of colour post, as harmonises so well with dress. Am sad 52 weeks challenge is almost over. However, at approx 2 hrs per post x 52 weeks = 104 hrs, means have spent 3 working weeks on blogging virtual clothes for not many people to look at. Hmmm. Still, it was fun.

Home and abroad

Utopias visited: 4 (good); Artwork discovered near my land: 1 (good); Amount of land still held in Harms Way: none (good, but not exactly profitable)
Recently discovered four sims which are Art, namely the four Utopia sims which have been created by Bryn Oh. Dimitrova visited Utopia 4, and then a couple of days ago I did a Utopia hop of the other 3. Spent most time on Utopia 3 where there is a spooky statue (see pic) and a very creepy building.
When I got there, realised that it had been blogged by a couple of people on the fashion feeds: one of the features is a tree that turns slowly into a column of shopping trollies. Anyway, there is lots to see and do. Can buy the spooky statue (huge) for 15000 Linden, and is a bit tempting. Coincidentally then discovered that have another artwork by Bryn Oh on my doorstep: next door but one, so to speak. Was created for Helen Keller day last year and seems to be on Linden-donated land. Bit embarrassing that didn't notice it before, in fact.Anyway, adds further to general desirabilty of location.
Location is too desirable if anything; old land was just too laggy and busy to enjoy being on it, but now is very pleasant calmly to do tai chi overlooking the river and cherry blossom, or clamber around the mountain top tweaking the odd pine tree, or sit indoors contemplating view.
Also has distinct zones so am plannng to have some areas stable aand others which can play around with. Was reflecting on fact that thing am most pleased with is the "What Information/Literacy means to me" exhibit, and should really experiment doing more installations with words and visuals.
Have finally said goodbye to all old land in Harm's Way. Following useful conversation with neighbour on old land (who turns out to be friendly and nice, bit late to discover that) parcelled up land small and lowered price. She also said if land set to 0.5 Linden per metre would be picked up by bot and sell instantly. By tier date had only sold two plots, so set all the rest to low price and indeed they all immediately converted to Linden, not that many Linden, but still will keep me in shoes and artworks for a few weeks. Unless I buy the statue, that is.

Lest auld acquaintance

No. of months without blogging: 1 (bad); No. of friends selling homes in SL: 1 (bad) (but good for friend, hopefully)

Have been v. lax on blogging front due to various things including Xmas and RL visit to snowy Moscow. Was also hampered by curious fact that whilst using mobile broadband dongle with Internet Explorer was able to view blogs, order books online, Google, play vids on Youtube, do SL etc. etc., but not LOG IN to blogger.

Whenever attempted it, got minutes of "contacting blogger.com" followed by that enigmatic error page that appears "user friendly" but in fact gives you no more clue than ye olde error 404 (which internet veterans will remember fondly). Was probably punishment for using IE browser, since when tried Firefox today, was no prob at all. Curious.

Anyway, first couple of pics show of winter wonderland that is Infolit iSchool. As usual, conference platform has been turned into skating rink (first pic), with snow emitter, Xmas trees, free skates, skating poseballs, tankards of warm punch, festive cake and so forth.
Woodland area near Farradane centre is also fully snowed in (see 2nd pic). By now can find lots of stuff in own inventory by searching for "frosty" "snow" or "christmas", indeed have whole seasonal folder bursting with cheer. However, but did indulge in a few extra items, mostly trees.

Had a couple of presentation sessions to finish off year on Infolit iSchool which may blog seprately. Ishbel came along and was able to have a chat with her. 3rd pic shows us on the Info Literate sky platform.

She is giving up her home, Windygates - when last looked her lot was cleared up and offered for sale. Felt quite nostalgic - remembering first days with her and Citril, when we all lived within flying distance of each other (see early months of this blog). She isn't giving up on SL altogether, but isn't spending recreational time here so is sensible really, but still felt a bit melancholy.

Last picture shows Ishbel's plot: actually can quite understand need to move as has Acid House night club at end of garden, never exactly no. 1 on the favourite neighbour category.

Joy of moaning

Tree encroachments: 1 (bad); giant walls erected: 1 (bad)

Noticed recently that another new neighbour had started to erected yet another dull plywood house and on inspection saw that, as usual, my trees are poking through its wall. Here you see them encroaching, with view of edge of my property and next door's building on the left.

Decided that should forestall requests and move the trees away. Required a good deal of tweaking since there is a bank at the edge of the property and needed to be jiggled right and down. However, the building on my side there is a Ruined Palace so doesn't matter too much if a few twigs poke through the walls.

Ruined Palace wasn't bought as such and indeed was not intending to install it Ruined, but due to inexpert handling it ended up borked. Having seen effect, decided it was actually rather pleasing and Ruined it a bit more. Then added romantic foliage etc. as featured in various previous blog posts. It forms part of Bosky Glade which at different seasons has bluebells, snowdrops, giant pumpkins and so forth.

The top of the palace is unborked and have a couch on it, for decorous reclining and posing. As can be seen in 3rd pic, the spreading chestnuts still successfully block out the plywood monstrosity.
Are other undesirable developments in area. Fourth pic shows giant wall that someone a few plots away has erected. Not sure if is connected with some kind of night club situated nearby.

So here I am moaning about neighbours again. However, have decided that probably enjoy this. Is part of rich tapestry of being on SL mainland that neighbors come, build featureless, hideous or intriguing constructions, and then depart. Gives something to check as soon as get home, adding excitement to a dull day. Have also had a couple of very nice neighbours, and ones who WEREN'T nice have gone away quickly.

At present, people who want to depart are taking a while, it being a buyer's market. Can see the "for sale" sign on the right of the fourth picture. This has now disappeared since the owner has Abandoned part of the land, presumably to save on tier payments.

Suddenly occurs to me that have never exchanged a word with the only person who has been there as long as me, the owner of the smoked glass house on the left. She used to own a very large chunk of land, but has sold some of it off. Her profile is quite melancholy and hints at a sad love story. Perhaps I should invite her round for tea.

Enmeshed

Trees moved: 1 (irritating); Wire fences erected: 1 (bad)

The SL blogs I follow are producing thoughtful and sane postings, but I will take the opportunity, being on my personal laptop, with a good network connection (in Reading for a RL conference in a student bedroom: free broadband!) to post some pics that are on THIS machine.

Yes, it's neighbours. Got a polite IM a couple of weeks ago, asking me to move a tree. In fact person even said how much tree would need to be moved (3 metres approx) so it no longer overlapped new neighbour's land. Apparently tree was causing anxiety, though is perfectly well behaved tree from the Heart Garden Centre.

Tped in and found - a a sort of compound.

You see here the offending tree (which I duly moved) and the compound. This is a beach with unrestricted view of protected water. So why would you want to spoil your own view with wire mesh and a bunker-like house? Oh well, at least it only spoils MY view if I look sideways.

In fact has been a lot of buying and selling going on around me: well, actually, more, land being put on the market and NOT selling. One chap IMed me to ask if I was interested and when said no as am maxed up to tier limit, he IMed me AGAIN only 5 mins later, obviously (to judge from the message) under the illusion he was IMing another neighbor. Interestingly, he was asking for more money from the neighbour than he did from me.

Neighbour on other side is also selling up 2/3rds of her land - the rain soaked graveyard scene has been turned into a cute house, as I'm sure any Relocation Relocation show would have advocated. Though of course the graveyard might have been a big selling point to goths. Perhaps she should get a holodeck so people with no imagination of their own can see it with the ambience of their choice. That would be a jolly useful feature when selling RL houses.

Land, Land, Sales

Amount of land sold: 4048 m (v. good); Amount off land bought: 2048 (v. good); Amount of land to sell: approx 6000 (bad)

Am selling up in Cove (one with lots of water and beach) and consolidating in my first sim (one with various houses, grassy slopes AND beach). Above pic shows how the Cove plots look now they are bought by others. Pic ONE shows state of one of the plots 2 days ago, and pic TWO shows it yesterday when all buildings had been removed. However a few rocks have now appeared back. Buildings and land are volatile things in SL, but I sort of like it.

House shown in middle is on plot which was bought by someone for immediate resale at slightly higher price (not yet sold, tee hee). Bottom left see some more new purchasers, I imagine exclaiming what an excellent deal they got. Background is also rather bleak since nice neighbour (Van Johin) also sold up. He is shown in separate pic conversing with me before he left. Must now put up rest for sale but is all very ennervating, though exciting when you see the Linden clicking into your inventory and the odd bit of foliage winging its way into Lost & Found, indicating that the land has been sold.

In bottom right of main pic you see me celebrating since the next door neighbour who put up the brick warehouse & complained about my trees has put up his land for sale. Hurrah! Of course, whoever buys it might put in worse than a brick warehouse, but will keep my fingers crossed. Land that have bought is from another nice neighbour and is prime stuff directly overlooking ocean, so now have long stretch of beach with lagoon and infinite sea view.

Brick wall

Brusque IMs received from new neighbour: 2 (bad); Huge brick warehouses erected next door: 1 (v.v. bad); Elven bands as neighbours: 1 (good, I hope)

Came into work yesterday to 2 emails redirected from SL from new neighbour. Both demanded that I move trees from neighbour's house & 2nd message all in CAPITALS indicating some strong feeling I presume. In due course go inworld and discover that said neighbour has purchased land next to seaside house and covered entire plot with windowless brick barn (see pic). Am not sure this qualifies as "house", however shift trees so leaves no longer encroach through walls, though frankly such is bleakness of barn that would think would be grateful for sign of life.
As can see in 2nd pic now have total brick wall view from some windows of house, though obviously is neighbour's inalienable right to do what dreadful things he likes with own land.
Fortunately rest of land on that side has been bought by Elven band, who (as one might hope) seem inclined to grass, trees and Elven dwellings. Hope will maintain pleasant relations with them since fear that Brick neighbour is unlikely to be someone that want to invite round for afternoon tea.

Mitsy, Squirrel, Cockatoo: 3 kinds of animal noise

Cats moved to new office: 1 (v. good); Squirrels moved to snowy forum: 1 (cute); Shop displays mounted: 1 (v. good); Cockatoos purchased for new shop display: 1 (noisy)

Regular readers of this blog may have been asking "Where is Mitsy? Has she gone to join her spooky dismembered clones in the sea?" (see previous post)

In fact Mitsy has been safe in Inventory ("Animals" folder). Was bit hesitant to introduce her to new home, as cats well known for disliking change. However, when introduced her to office in Sakura House she settled in straight away, pacing, mewling and pushing people around as per normal.

In fact Mitsy seem to prefer new home since even with Set Cat Range Very Small, this was not small enough for Eduserv office, thus her frequent plunges out of the side of the office to a watery doom.

Can see in these pics that looks v. content, making herself at home on her Mitsy Mat and on Dimitrova's skirt (no errant cat hairs in SL). Am looking forward to next meeting in lower room enlivened by her friendly howls from upstairs (note to self: may have to explain this, do not wish visiting educators to think Unmentionable Activities going on).

Elsewhere on the animals front, have moved squirrel from under oak tree to snowy forum where is disporting itself under Frosty Willow (XL) on Crunchy Snow. Since squirrel miraculously generates own acorns does not seem cruel. As can be seen here is perky enough and merry chirping may be welcome distraction if meetings in Snowy Forum prove dull.

Also put in new exhibition in shop, featuring RL Australian pics. Have put in pic which is all blue sky plus 2 v. small cormorants as background on 3 walls, water on floor, plus driftwood, deckchair, tropical-type tree, pina colada and sulphur crested cockatoo.

Put up some Aussie photos for sale, with no great hopes of income. In fact have RL pic of RL sulphur cockatoo in Sydney botanic gardens, so should put that up sometime, thus further confirming RL globetrotting credentials. This however is SL cockatoo. Makes almighty squwawk noise which unable to Modify out, am afraid neighbours may complain.

More land, neighbours, money

Land bought: 1024 sq (bad, in a good way); Night clubs erected by neighbours (v. bad); Tents erected by neighbours: 1 (good); Houses bought: 3 (but they are so cheap!)

Have been trying to ration SL which of course means that as soon as get in have mad splurge. Also have had legitimate reason for being in SL, namely that had discussion in office. However will keep this brief post to more weighty matters.

Giant plank in next door garden turned into tent wittily created from cardboard box plus neighbour planted extra trees so OK there. However neighbour towards sea has built night club, in enormous box with revolving neon sign. Dreadful!

Have responded by buying up surrounding land as if no tomorrow. Planted trees and purchased assorted tea houses which in due course will illustrate here in loving detail. With extra land (and land means prims) have been able to exercise antelopes and animated rabbits freely.

However had to put down herd of antelopes in order to use enormous flying creature that hatched from free egg found at same place where bought antelope (see 3rd photo). With both antelope and rabbits turns out can clone them infinitely so a few culled is neither here nor there.

All this means that am spending less on clothes, which suppose is good thing. Although picked up v. good cheap yukata (light summer kimono) whilst shopping for tatami mats (Harumi and I are wearing them in 2nd photo. The yukata that is. Whilst standing on tatami mats.).

Final pic shows Citril on my duck-ride (i.e. duck that you are supposed to put in water but oh-so-amusingly have placed it 23ft above ground so is like fairground ride as moves backwards and forwards.) Citril dropped in whilst was preparing office for discussion which Maggie Kohime was leading today. Citril is now journalist for new SL freezine, namely Freelife http://www.freelifemagazine.com/

I cultivate my garden, visitors, plank, block

Hours spent on new land: too many (bad); Visitors: 2 (good); Housewarming gifts: 2 (good); Free outfits shared: 15 (good); Neighbouring houses turning into giant planks: 1 (bad); Days blocked from buying Linden$: 1 (bad)

Have realised that am not SL explorer, but SL home body, since I seem just to create nests, buy clothes and have occasional forays to conference venues. Meanwhile others are exploring virtual Rome, Amsterdam etc.

Anyway, have now even larger Japanese tea garden with multiple water features, various viewing and meditation points and 12 named goldfish. Also bought animated antelope and picked up free Chokabo, but that's another story.

Have encouraged Sabine Littlething into SL, and here she is with me in the hot tub. Also showed her office and shared some of the freebie garments that I picked up at the NMC conference venue. They turn out to be good stuff, though too many wedding dresses. I also show myself and Miss Gibbs trying some of them on.

Citril gave me v. nice Japanese light and Ishbel a pretty musical windchime, and they are both incorporated into the garden ambience.

Only blight (apart from the fact that am behind with everything else in RL because of time spent in SL) is that attractive large Japanese house in neighbouring plot has suddenly turned into a giant square wooden plank. Presumably they are rebuilding. Hope they don't turn to brutalist architecture in reaction to my twee japonaisarie.

A blight with a silver lining (ie that havve less incentive to spend time in SL) is that credit card provider blocked payments last night because of some automatic trigger thing that detected all the micropayments as suspicious. (And I was just about to buy an animated rabbit!)

However still having problems - Citril mentioned trading limits although a cursory glance had indicated my limit was now 2, 500 US$ and certainly have not spent anywhere near that amount, even with current extravagence.