Elder Elle in Eyr

I thought Eyr was really lovely and I like RPing. I'm a writer in RL and new to para RPing and could still use the practice at it! I had an elderly elf character I had created months ago and never used. I tweaked her costuming and hair and voila! Jungle elf elder Elle! I've decided to name her "Nasirah," which means "support" or "helper." I've got a whole back story worked out and everything.

I'm looking forward to participating in Eyr. As I said before, I had visited when the sims were the Realm of Mystara. They closed in March (the RP was that they were reclaimed by the mysts), but one sim was saved and the community kept intact with the creation of Eyr (look for the Mysts of Eyr when it comes up in search). Coming from what I just experienced with Steelhead, I appreciate that. Although the sim owner is a former Mystaran community leader, it still has the input of the original creator, which I think helps with continuity.

The story here is that the Mystarans, fleeing their land's reclamation, have made their way to this jungle island to eke out a new existence. Only thing is that the island was not empty and its indigenous inhabitants (the Moei Aising) aren't too thrilled about it. Everything is still new, so the stories are still being created and explored. Exciting!

Last Dance in Steelhead

A mainstay for pretty much as long as I've been inworld, this Friday night dance was the last to be held in Steelhead. Fuzz had asked us to help decorate the town hall with photos and I managed to find the ads for every Steelhead sim...

I also put up my faves from 2007-2009 such as my postcards, the time the bay turned to lava, the Great Tensainami of 2009, the Wrangler Cup horse races, the time I got arrested for tiny disorderly conduct, the infamous wood chipper, and my very first visit to Steelhead...

I think Tensai put up this group photo from about 2009? I'm towards the right in all black next to Lunar...

It isn't a Steelhead dance without daleks and trout. You can see me and Phin dancing away in the center...

 Goodbye Steelhead...Goodbye Steamlands...thanks for the dance.

Last Steelhead Town Meeting

Every Tuesday for over 7 years, I have tried to come inworld to be a part of one of the zaniest civic meetings ever: the Steelhead town meeting. Last night's would be the last. Fuzz presided over one of the best turnouts I've seen in quite a while. I think folks felt it was important to be a part of it... 

Afterwards, we got ourselves situated to take a group photo. It was like herding cats. Here I am sitting on the letters with Thad, Lumi, and Otenth...

 Up above us were folks like Genie, Fuzz, Tensai, and Phin...

 Here is the full shot of everyone...

Tonight was bittersweet for me. Our community will now be dispersed. Some people I might not see regularly again. No more Hooos. No more floppy dongs (One!). I don't know how I feel. Free in a way? Or...unmoored? Not sure. But thank you Steelhead community, for 8 years of being my virtual home. Hoooo!!

In the Water: Two Ways

I thought I'd take my sailboat out and caught this beautiful sunset on the Blake Sea...

I was then inspired to do so as a mermaid too, and afterwards visited the RP sim of Eyr. I really liked the way it is setup and all and I had visited it (when it was Mystara) as a dark elf. I think that now I'll look into RPing there or something...

Raglan Shire Medieval Ball 2015

One of the highlights of September's Medieval Fest in Raglan Shire is the medieval ball. I've been coming to these for years now. Lady Fluffytail has to make an appearance, you know?

 It's always nice seeing so many tinies there!

 And Zayn was DJing for us from on the Carrot Throne! Nom!

Out on the Water

I am still kind of reeling from the announcement the other night. Members of our community are so distraught, depressed, upset, lost-feeling, uprooted. It is such a sadness involved. Des (Caledon), Tenk (Babbage), and Selena (Winterfell) have kindly offered to take us in. After all, we have to go somewhere and not everyone's comfortable roaming the world like me. Even if it is a virtual community, it is still a community and that loss has a visceral feel to it. I thought I'd take to the waters, and brought Phin, who was brave enough to go along...

I named her the "Zephyr Too" after one of my original sailboats that I used to take out on the Firth of Caledon. The Blake Sea is much bigger and so interesting to sail on. I find it pretty calming just being out there, hearing the water, watching the planes go overhead, and other vessels going by. At one point, I dropped the anchor and we just talked. It felt good. It'll be OK...

What Now?

It has been 8 years since I have been without a home in a community. First, there was Caledon. Then Steelhead. When I first started SL I roamed the world more and explored. Even after I became more active in the Steamlands, I still explored. But there was something nice about being a part of something. Familiarity. Home.

I've always maintained a little mainland lot, as I've always had a premium membership and yes, I know that I have Raglan, but I am not a tiny 100% of the time. If anything, I can participate there more now.

I suppose I've been given a new outlook of sorts...to think about the things I enjoy inworld. Meet new folks. Take up old things I liked--like sailing again. That's me on my brand new Loonetta sailboat. Who knows what I'll get into next?

See y'all on the grid...

Farewell Steelhead

At tonight's Steelhead town meeting, Lunar announced that due to RL circumstances he will be closing all of Steelhead's sims by the end of this month...

I had seen this coming. Knew it. But it still didn't make hearing it any easier. I walked back to Harborside as I have done after meetings for years...

I have spoken so many times of the ephemerality of SL. This was my virtual home. This was where I came back to when I returned. So many years. So many memories. I took down everything and afterwards, just sat on a box at Laval Point with a pic of my original home on it. I just wanted to sit there for a while...

I know it was a very hard decision for Lunar to close down and by default, close a community. I stood and watched one of my most favorite things in Steelhead: the sun rising from off of the bridge.

Farewell Steelhead.