Twenty Years, but no Celebrating!

Today is Rudh's, and therefore MY, 20th Rezday in Second Life... Hard to believe that I've been coming into the crazy world today for 20 long years. Normally I'd be all excited, celebrating and treating the day like my second real Birthday, but this year I don't really feel like celebrating especially after the news of the last few days... 
So this year I'm doing a little reflecting, a lot of thinking and a fair bit of how will my future look going forward... Will I be in Second Life next year when Rudh turns a legal drinking age for America?! 

Over the last two days we have had the announcements that two of the world's greats have left us... Dolly Parton was an Icon, even if you weren't into country music it's not possible to have missed her. EVERYONE has jammed out at some point to a little Jolene, or a bit of 9-5 when the work day was terrible... Tim Curry was one of MY personal Icons, he was a pirate, a blob of evil tar, the world's most twisted clown and many other things but for me, he was the best "Sweet Transvestite" that ever lived... There will be no other 'real' Frankenfurter although others try, so can we do the "Time Warp" and bring them both back?! 
These losses on top of losing Mum last month, and I'm positively NOT in a celebration kinda mood... Although Rudh turning 20 isn't something I can and should ignore... We're not only in double digits now, we're in our second decade... I started when we didn't even have more than prims to play with and flexi was becoming a new thing. Now look at us, we're deeply in our mesh era back to adding clothing layers and have more choices than ever before, yet still people make it a competition and a reason to fight with each other. I love Second Life, it's brought me some of my best things in life, but it's also caused me a LOT of heartache too... Do I miss all the people and things that have left my life? No, not really, not all of them at least... Would I change the way my SL has been? No, not at all, though maybe in hidsight I might have avoided one or two people I knew... Do I think I'll be here another 10 years? By that time I'll be 50, who knows where I'll be?! 
Happy Rezday Rudh... Thank you for being my doll for all these years and putting up with all the crap I've made you do LOL... 

What is she wearing;
Hat & Hair: [monso] - Soph Hair in Black & Red
Skin: amara beauty - Freya in Ivory
Necklace: Kibitz - Ivy's Collar in Silver
Jacket: Pseudo - Leo Leather Jacket in Black
Top: The Kiwi Co.  - Graphically Unhinged Tanks
Tights: Psycho Barbie - [Nox Stockings]
Shorts: miss chelsea - Jaci Shorts
Bracelet: SEKA's - Punkette Wrist
Pose & Props: [piXit] - Punk Much?, Pose F1
Cat: JIAN - Cat Deco Collection in Static Stretcher Up (No Longer Available!)
Backdrop: PALETO.Backdrop - Nagoya 

Fancy Dinners at the Velvet Nocturne

It's my turn to cook dinner today and I'm really not in the mood for anything special... You know how some days it's "I'm really craving...", then there are the days when no one in the house can decide what they want for dinner and it becomes again of "I dunno, what do you want?", today I'm having one of those "I'll make something easy" kinda feelings... Something that reminds me of home and makes people in Holland look at me like I'm bonkers until they taste it! Nothing fancy though like I said...

Rudh on the other hand is going to one of those super fancy, masquerade dinners held by the local vampire elites... They've provided the most decadent of starters for our little sea monster... Pearls in the shell with caviar and oysters... 
The theme of the night is that of decadence... A party fit for Midas and his touch of gold, a place where the Greek Gods of old would feel welcome. Rudh is dripping in pearls, wearing the hands of Hermes - from Tentacio - as her mask and a dress of spun golden roses - which is actually the Rose Dress from AsteroidBox at this month's round of Collabor88, I'll admit as much as I loved the front, the BACK was just *chef's kiss* and I feel we need to give the back of garments more love sometimes LOL - and it's a perfect look for an evening at the Velvet Nocturne - from Synnergy.Tavis - don't you think? 

What is she wearing;
Hair: TRUTH & FAGA - Clarity in Redhead
Mask: Tentacio - Hermes Mask in Gold and Black
Skin: amara beauty - Freya in Ivory
Necklace: (Yummy) - Pearl Cascade Necklace
Body Pearls: Insomnia Angel - Body Pearls
Dress: AsteroidBox - Rose Dress (Available until August 30th at Collabor88)
Pose & Glass Prop: piXit - Ivory Whispers, Pose 3
Table Decor: [lilp] - Glitz n Glam, Fancy Decor - Open Caviar Tin in Orange (Past Gacha Item), DISORDERLY - Pearlized in Bowl (Past Gacha Item) & BROKEN ARROWS - Santorini in Shell & Pearls
Backdrop: Synnergy.Tavis - Velvet Nocturne {360} Backdrop

Puppy Dog Beach Days!

I started back at work this week after a month of mourning and I'll be totally honest, it's drained me of energy but it did feel kinda good to start finding my "normal" without mum around... Having a routine, being around friends and colleagues that care, getting out and seeing things outside my house, so many things to distract me has actually been pretty ok. The worst part was talking to people that knew what happened, about what happened... Customers that had no idea, it's easy to play a part in front of... 
Today though I NEEDED a rest and a chance to feel happy again... 

I'm sure that mum is somewhere my pets are, probably playing with Izzy right now on the beach and enjoying the Summer Sunshine... Apparently it's going to get MUCH hotter here again, and maybe that's why I'm feeling so drained, the weather cannot make up it's mind and people are getting colds! 
I'm going to spend the day at the beach with them, mum and puppy and me... Well puppy me anyway! Puppy me is far too cute, a little like Mum's "dog" - which was actually a fox that was born in my parents garden that always came back to visit for something delicious! - with some very hairy, soft ears! 

What is she wearing;
Hair: everfaery - Pupperette Hair in Full Pack (Available until September 8th at ACCESS)
Skin: amara beauty - Freya in Ivory
Mouthie: [Krescendo] - Rope Toy
Collar: Kibitz - Emma's Collar in Silver
Top: AsteroidBox - Elowen Set in Top (Available until September 8th at ACCESS)
Shorts: AsteroidBox - Willow Shorts (Available until August 30th at Collabor88)
Tail: HAZEL - CANINE BUNDLE in Tail
Pose & Ball/Glasses Props: piXit - Summer Vibes P1, Pose F5
Backdrop: SYNNERGY.TAVIS - Beachfront [360] Backdrop

Closing Away the Midnight Order!

Today is the 20th of August, WHERE DID AUGUST GO? We're nearly done, it's nearly over and there is SO MUCH that has happened I feel like my head is spinning a little bit... Today is also the day that the Midnight Order closes it's doors on this visit, and so it's time to start locking the dark little monsters away before they can continue to wreak havoc in Second Life... 

The team is slowly rounding them up, locking them in their specially designed cells and discussing the possibilities of them coming out to play in a few months for Halloween... Can you believe that it's ALMOST Halloween season?! 
Lots of these monsters are being "housed" in the LAB FIK - a backdrop from Paleto - where they can be constantly monitored... The guards are protected by the latest in Tubed Gas Mask Technology - thanks to the ERG release for Midnight Order - as if the locks fail, the area will be filled with some very strong knock-out gasses. Failing that, each staff member carries their own Waffle "Toothpick" knife for added safety... If they lose it, that's their problem, all staff are issued with these daggers! 
We do have one other way that the duards can communicate with the central offices... Each guard is provided with a Mood Board - from Boutique #187, available now at Ouh LaLa until September 18th - so they can communicate through the cameras in the eventuality that communications go down!! 
We at the Midnight Order like to keep our staff safe from Monster Rage! 

What is she wearing;
Hair: Exile -  Signe in Fantasy
Skin: amara beauty - Freya in Ivory
Mask: (:ERG:) - Tubed Gas Mask (Available until August 20th at Midnight Order)
Outfit: AZARAN - ROSE OUTFIT (Available until August 20th at Midnight Order)
Sign: Boutique #187 - Mood Board (Available until September 8th at Ouh LaLa)
Knife: [WAFFLE] - Toothpick  (Available until August 20th at Midnight Order)
Pose: [piXit] - Melanie, Pose 4
Model: H&C - Crazy
Pipes: Petrichor - Kerethan Pipe
Backdrop: PALETO.Backdrop - LAB FIK 

Glamorous Monsters of the Deep

I guess I'm feeling a bit better, I mean I'm not great, no where near back to normal, but tomorrow I've decided that I'll attempt working again. It won't be an all day thing yet, I'm prone to crying a lot and I KNOW tomorrow is going to be hard... The last time I worked, Mum was still alive, but I'm with colleagues that I will look after me and I'm just trying this out... Wish me luck tomorrow... 
For right now though, I'm going to have to do something that distracts me, and tries to remove that nervous energy I have... The best way to do that is to slip into a little fantasy world, right?! 
The best of those seems to be fairy or, if I'm really needing time away from the real world, Mer.... Today We're under the sea, in the ruins of an abandoned, yet haunting city... 

I love being a mermaid or something monstrous under the sea... I dunno why, I guess it's just my favourite of the fae folk... This time I'm a little more of the sea monster variety, but one that is adorning herself in a million different treasures of the deep... 

What is she wearing;
Tiara: cinphul - Salacia Crown
Hair: [monso] - Tsuki Hair in Black & Red (Available until August 30th at Collabor88)
Head: BeSpoke - Ani Head
Dress & Sleeves: ERSCH - Sedna Dress  (Available until August 20th at Midnight Order)
Tattoo: Lilithe' - Ashiok Tattoos in Faint [FULL]  (Available until August 20th at Midnight Order)
Body Paint & Pearl Fins: Faunus - Merfolk in Teal
Gold Scales: Izzie's - Body Mermaid Scales in Gold
Body pearls: Insomnia Angel - Body Pearls
Bubbles: MoonAmore - Ocean Lover in  Bubbles
Pose & Necklace Prop: [piXit] - Athanasia, Pose F2
Pillars: Amadeus - Pulse of the Sea Pillars in Pillar B Obsidian (Available until August 20th at Midnight Order)
Lighting: Botanical - Underwater Caustics Projector CLUSTER v1 (Available until August 20th at Midnight Order)
Backdrop: FOXCITY. Photo Booth - Aquaria 

Darkness and Magic at the Midnight Order Show

Escaping from reality at the moment seems like a Really good idea, but I'm sure you've picked up on my desire to do that already. I did that yesterday when I had some Ice Cream, and today for some reason I'm feeling a little macabre in a good way... I mean if you've read what I have to say at all by now you'd know that the darker I get, the happier I tend to be, so this is a good sign right?! 
Today I decided to go back to one of my favourite Happy Places... The Carneval... For some reason, killer clowns (SL versions of me ONLY lol) and dark, macabre carni-types make me happy... Let's go play with them shall we?! 

Up on the stage, that has been known to be used for everything ranging from comedy nights to burlesque - a backdrop from Paparazzi by the way - one of the Carnival Freaks has a magician's show to perform... This one may go wrong at any point, hence the leftover body parts, but she's trying, what more can you expect?! 
Least if the magic trick goes wrong, her adorable little Jester Rat - from Tardfish, available until Augusut 31st at The Men's Department - can provide a brilliant distraction for the crowd, whilst the cleaning crew come in to help!!! 

What is she wearing;
Hat: Moon Amore - Circus Gacha Item in Insane HAT Coal
Hair: Wasabi - Postcard Hair in Offbeat
Skin: amara beauty - Freya in Ivory
Collar, Halo & Veil: CUREMORE - Freak Circus Items (No Longer Available!)
Shoulder Pet: Tardfish - Jester Rat (Available until August 31st at The Men's Department)
Necklace: Oblivis Solem - Secret Bastion Key in Gold Pack (Available until August 20th at Midnight Order)
Dress: AsteroidBox - Lenore Dress (Available until August 20th at Midnight Order)
Socks: AsteroidBox - Lenore Shoes & Garters (Available until August 20th at Midnight Order)
Saw: LEMME - The Magician Saw in Blood
Pose: -Extra- - Wildflower, Pose 2 (Available until August 23rd at Smokefest)
Table: ANTINATURAL[+] - Carnival Freaks Gacha Item in Magician's Secret (No Longer Available!)
Body Parts: LOVE - Unfortunate Guests PACK 2 in Bits and Pieces
Sign: ANTINATURAL[+] - Carnival Freaks Gacha Item in Joyful Sign (No Longer Available!)
Backdrop: Paparazzi - BACKDROP - Burlesque 

Happy Making Ice Cream

Last night, we had a funny moment at home... The hubby came running down the stairs, shouting at me that he needed to go to the store before it closed... He was having a MASSIVE craving for Ice Cream, and as our new fridge freezer arrived yesterday he knew he could put some ice cream in it... 
I guess, for the first time in a while, that it inspired me to do something a little fun and a lot silly... Maybe I'm on the healing path, and finally able to let go a little?! I was inspired, I ate Ice Cream... The Fairies came back out to play... 

I am not a huge fan of Ice Cream, that's always been Hell's thing but granted I do like it occasionally and I couldn't really resist considering how warm it has been recently. 
While I was making a mess in the kitchen with all of the different options in the American Classic range - from Lucas Lameth - HellBone decided to show me how much he truly loves Ice Cream by presenting me with an Ice Cream Topiary - this one from the Patriotic Set, but there are other combinations available too at Simply Shelby - which ALSO lead to two things happening... 
One, the pug managed to get up on the counter and get his way into an Ice Cream tub - this pug is from Jian and I am both happy and sad to hear that Jian will be closing. It's great that new directions will be taken but Jian was ALWAYS one of my favourite places for the cute animals in SL! - and Two, the Ice Cream attracted a fairy who was desperate for something sweet and cold... I totally agree with her excitement... 

What is she wearing;
Hair Accessory: kotte - Face Pack in Sprinkles Icing Mess
Hair: Moon. Hair - Cupcake
Glasses: Suicidal Unborn!- Pastel Sunglasses
Wings: Doe - Dragon Pixie Wings 01 in Rainbow Neon
Boa: Moon Amore - Melted Boa in KITSCH BOA (Available until August 30th at Collabor88)
Body Paint: Izzie's - Rainbow Powder Explosion & Ladybird - Rainbow Body Glitter
Skin: amara beauty - Freya in Ivory
Outfit: CUREMORE - Melty Love OUTFIT
Pose: [piXit] - Manaram, Pose 2
Topiary: Simply Shelby - Patriotic Ice Cream Topiary Set in Ice Cream Bar Flower Topiary White
Ice Cream Decor: (Lucas Lameth) - Ice-Cream, American Classic
Dog: JIAN - Sneaky Snacker in Ice Cream Pug
Melted Ice Creams: random.Matter - Ice Cream Bar in Melted Cones
Melted Ice Lolly: random.Matter - Ice Cream Bar in Melted CreamPop Strawberry
Plant Pot: vespertine - Large Potted Chrysanthemums (Flowers Derendered)
Table Top: KraftWork - Carolean Round Table