Reflection on RFL 2015

I ran my first RFL of SL in 2008, doing the caregiver lap. I felt it was important to give back and be a part of something to help raise money to fight against cancer, something that has affected so many that I love and care about first-hand...

This year I lit my luminarias at our campsite, thinking of Uncle Jack, Uncle John, Aunt Rose, and Bev, and also thought of my SL friends Nix Sands, Denver Hax, and Soliel Snook--all who lost their fights. I lit one at the ACS inworld HQ sim for Robert, who is still fighting. I thought of Denise, who is in remission, and most of all...

The reason I even came into SL and the reason why I relay... 

This is my mom. She has been in remission for 7 years now, which has allowed her to not only meet her first grandchild (my 4-year old son), but also her second...my 5 month old son, and in a few months she will meet a third (my niece). There was a time I was scared this would never happen, but look! It did! It is touching to me that so many out there give and care and participated in this inworld, and there's a possibility that some day, cancer doesn't have to affect any of us. My team, the Steelhead Salmons, raised $1,212 and SL's total amount raised was L$65,848,115--$263,392!! Thank you all so much.

 

RFL of SL 2015 Recap

It was RFL of SL weekend...

I tried to make it around this year, but had to give up after one too many crashes and returns to the Steelhead campsite...

I did cheer folks on and come in for the Luminaria ceremony, and finally made my way through when everything was over...

 

There were some really special things to see like Luna Barak's build in RFL Pledge...

And Beq Janus' star-filled one in RFL Stars...

And oh...be still my tiny squirrel waffle-loving heart! GIANT WAFFLE TOWERS! 

RFL of SL 2015: The Mysterious Egg

There was a huge mysterious egg at the campsite next door to Steelhead's at RFL of SL. What would it do?

It hatched dreams! 

Lupus Awareness Fair

My friend Cleopatra Kellman is the head soror of the inworld sorority Sigma Upsilon Nu. They are holding their 5th Annual Lupus Awareness Fair all of this month with lots of events such as tonight's Carnival-themed party. In RL my husband and his mother have lupus so this is a cause that is near and dear to me...

 

That is Cleopatra on the right. I loved their beautiful costumes. Look up "Lupus" in SL Events and you can find more info...

Please go to http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Zen/118/158/22 to check it out!

RFL Day 2: Dancing at Alice

I missed the closing ceremonies in the morning, but came in later on to a post-relay celebration at Lunar and Tensai's stunning Alice sim, which has great things like this sculpted neon dragon...
Like an Asian Steampunk surrealist painting, Alice is filled with mindbending imagery such as windmill blades and floating tiles and, of course...flying trout!
And even a mecha-caterpillar smoking an electro-hookah...I spent most of my time dancing with my very good friend, creator and builder Eclectric Breitman, catching up as we talked about creativity and life...
But of course, I always have a dance saved for my favorite elf...
A lot of Alice's build will be incorporated into Steelhead's sims. If you haven't seen Alice, go ASAP as it has to come down on Wednesday.

RFL Day 1

From 4pm to 5am EST I ran the SL Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society. My RL husband actually suggested Pinocchio as the theme for what became Steelhead's fun "Pinocchio the Automaton"-themed campsite...You can see my "Island of Lost Clanks" in the foreground of the pic above, but I also created this whale airship surrounded by flying trout...So many old friends came back just for today, like Lapin and Darkle, who I talked to for at least a half hour before hitting the track!
We always try to have someone at the campsite to cheer folks on as they go around--like Hawc here in his "Purple Cancer Eater" avatar...I think the organizers did a wonderful job with the track's design this year--a simple oval--and they had great TP stations and sim status markers so you could jump to the next one easily. Sure, there was lag, but nowhere near as bad to me as the past 3 times I've run this...I ran most of the track alone. While I actually enjoyed the group chats for the "company", I use the time to reflect. I will not deny that by the time of the luminaria ceremony I was feeling a bit emotional. I sat down by my Uncle Jack's luminaria at Lunar & Tensai's beautiful Alice sim and they played some pretty song on the main RFL stream and I cried...I got back on the track afterwards and when I finally made it back around to the Salmons campsite, I joined Lunar, Tensai and Denny Kozlov in some walk and talk laps...I love the walk n talk as you don't need to direct yourself (Lunar was the puller) and the conversations as we walked were fun. We made it back and was greeted by Softpaw...80731.7m and 13 hours later I needed to stop. We all raised over $200K USD and should be so proud of that. There is purpose for this as so many of us have been touched in some form by this disease. For those who are currently going through treatment...have hope. For survivors and their loved ones...stay strong. I love you Mom, Denise and Robert. I miss you Uncle John, Uncle Jack and Aunt Rose...

Relay for Life: Final Recap

37 sims...Almost 2000 participants...
and 130 teams supported by friends, community, team leaders and captains and RFL organizers such as Event Chair Fayandria Foley...Raised $62,114,357L, which is $270,388 USD for the American Cancer Society as of today! For more information about the SL Relay for Life, click HERE.

SL Relay for Life: Day 2

When I woke up this afternoon, I realized I had slept through my alarm and missed most of the laps for today. I came inworld in time to cheer on folks going by and get ready for the team lap...Genie finally made it around after her epic all night lap running. She laid down in a heap at my feet as Lunar and Elegia Underwood look on. She ended up being 8th out of the 15 folks who ran the most laps. ..
Last night, I lit luminarias by pretty flowers that blossomed and changed color as you went by. One of them was for my husband's Aunt Rose, whom I liked very much. I showed my cousin (her son) the luminaria. He was quiet for a moment before he hugged me, saying "Thank you so much for that! That is really great."When all was quiet Lunar and I chatted a bit with Caladon Rae, a Steelhead citizen who is a survivor and had her first chemo last week. I told her that my mom is a patient navigator now who helps other cancer patients not have to be alone in this. I also told her my mom said to try to stay strong and positive and know that folks in her RL and well as her virtual one care about her and are rooting for her...
After all is said and done, whether survivor or caregiver...you don't have to feel alone in this...
Thank you all for your support, help, and/or relaying. My mother wanted me to tell you all "Thank you so much for what you are doing. That is fantastic!"

SL Relay for Life: Overnight

There was a special luminaria ceremony around midnight my time. We quietly sat at the campsite as the sims were all darkened as dedications were read for survivors and those lost over the main radio...
I don't know. Towards the end of it, something in me triggered...snapped a bit. I have been truly thankful for my mother's recovery and remission of almost 2 years now, but this knot of pain surfaced and all I wanted to do was run. Me, who in RL believes that I'm running only for if I am being chased, needed to. I needed to run. I got out on that track and didn't stop again for another 7 hours. I even changed my look such as being fae for a while after the magickal beings lap.. Lunar joined me at one point towards the end and we did the last few laps that that we could that evening together, as birds (he's the peacock, I'm the eagle)...And even snow leopards. By then I was so half-crazy with sleep that I imagined chasing people (like Wrath Constantine, who is the bunny up ahead) to keep me going...We finished out finally around 7 am my time (4 am SLT) back at the Steelhead campsite where Fuzz, in his Fuzzwolf form, was there to greet us. Caledon's Vicereine, and builder of the stunning RFL Metropolis sim, also joined us as all tired kitties laid down on the track in front...
The pedometer's not my final lap meters as I had to restart it a few times due to crashing. It wasn't about competition of any sort or anything, but supporting those who need it. For what it is all worth, I am glad that I did this. I just felt like I needed to run. This was for my Mom and Robert, and in the memory of Rose and for Uncle Jack. I love you all.

SL Relay for Life: Day 1, Part 1

The Relay was finally here. I had preregistered for the first lap--the Survivors and Caregivers one--a while ago. I didn't want to walk alone or without someone I knew, so Kara Timtam walked along with me until we got separated due to lag...Next try I was able to walk with Tensai, Fuzz and Lunar. I love the Walk and Talk system as it's nice to have friends with you as you go around...
A Stay Puft man thought he'd walk too. There are times that I truly love SL...There were many themed laps. I put on my Steelhead headwrap for the "bald is beautiful" one...This time Tensai thought she'd do walking handstands around...

Get Ready to Relay

Well, the actual RFL Relay is finally here. Yes, I know that I have fussed about the long relay season before, but as I said in that previous post, I would still participate and I have. To Steelhead's credit, they were pretty low-key about their activities and still managed to raise over 189K lindens as of tonight, which isn't too shabby for a small team such as ours. It was a community effort and I hope folks will come visit our beautiful site at the RFL Wellness sim...Lunar created a beautiful Pacific Northwest forest sim, with re-creations of Oregon's Vista House, a lake for swimming and 7Seas fishing, and lots of trails to explore. I personally plan on spending some quality time in the lake as a mer. See you at the Relay tomorrow!