Another Year with Phin!

Phin and I have been together ever since he stumbled out of my shop two years ago. We also celebrate being partnered inworld for a year today as well. We went back to the SL Botanical Gardens where we had our first long chat two years ago and were glad to see the chairs were still there. There's a comfort in familiarity, isn't there? Even inworld...
He is very funny, smart and sweet and has become a great friend to me in both lives. Thanks Phin...You are my favorite squirrel...

Relationships & Family in SL

I have fussed in this blog before about how the press focuses on the negative, especially when it comes to relationships in SL. Yesterday, Newsweek released a really nice positive story (for once!) about a couple who met and fell in love and have made it work. If you read the comments on the SL main blog, it'll make you smile with the stories. Thing is...that's not news to me! I have always heard stories of folks with positive relationships within SL and/or in RL as well. For me for instance, yesterday marked my being with Phin for 1 1/2 years in SL. We've been together in here since Oct '07, and partnered for 6 months now. He makes SL a joy and is my favorite squirrel...Let's take Steelhead, for example. Its managers Tensai & Lunar are married in RL. Hawc & CeAire DeCosta have been married in RL for 24 years (Happy Anniversary!) and like Remington Pinion & Krystine Qinan--who are also married in RL--have a great time together in SL doing things as a couple. Rem & Krys are my neighbors and I remember watching Krys swim by in mer form as Rem followed nearby in a small boat. How often can you do that in RL?

Riding the log flume w/Baube (front)

But it's not only about partners and marriage...Family too! Phin, for instance, is Zoe Connolly's RL brother and they have a great time exploring everything aviation-related. My own RL sister (Baube Laval) comes in from time to time. In Steelhead, Tensai's dad has come in and so has Lunar's sister and mom. The Davies Sisters (Myfi & Tanarian), separated by distance in RL, have a great time together inworld. People have also made great friends inworld as well that have come to mean a lot to them in RL. I know the same is true across SL. SL is more than the stereotypical destroyed relationship stories. It's also about love, caring, friendship and family that transcends both the real and virtual worlds.

Elle's First Year: Reflecting Back

On the eve of my first Rez Day, I thought I'd think back on sticking out a year in SL and what it has been like:1. I love Torley Linden and his optimism. He once said SL should be a "complement" to your real life. If you come here thinking it's all about sex or making money, hey--maybe that's your "thing", but there is so much more. Chances to learn, make friends from around the world, try new things, be creative, explore and visit interesting places...Like RL, SL is what you make of it.

2. Lag and bork happens. Sure, some of the tech-y things could be better, but hey, as long as the grid doesn't implode, I'm going to continue to have fun. I mean really, where else can I be a flying ferret or purple hottie?

3. Drama sucks and we all get it, even in here. I'm in here to enjoy myself. Keep your drama and mess away from me. RL is drama enough. I don't need it inworld.

4. Yeah, some noobs are idiots, but there was a point when you were just a dumbass noob too. I am grateful to the older residents who helped me learn basic things. Take pity on 'em, especially when they are not jerks. Besides, you never know who you are meeting!

5. It may be a virtual world, but the folks behind the AV aren't. You can hurt people's feelings and who needs that crap, really?

6. Relationships happen. You fall in like or lust or love, and you can fall out. Like in RL, all you can hope is that too much damage wasn't done and move on. Be clear w/the other person from the get-go about things as it is harder to read folks inworld. Enjoy the moments and experiences you have with them for what they are.

7. "Breathe...you're just an avatar" a friend once told me, but once you've been in here long enough, your AV becomes like an extension of yourself. But you know, I "get" it. Enjoy yourself. Don't worry and have a good time.

See you inworld!

Heartache? What Heartache?

Despite my dancing and generally cheerful self, I have been a little sad lately. I rarely talk about my relationships, but one in particular got to me recently. Seeing that I was down, Marcell had the brilliant idea of taking me to Avilion last night to cheer me up--somewhere I haven't visited in a long, long time. He put on his bagpiping tartan and off we went. Sigh...Everyone knows I'm a sucker for a handsome guy in a kilt. I forgot how beautiful it is there and wore my gorgeous medieval dress and white hair as we danced...And there's nothing quite like well-placed kisses to help you forget...

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

I called it off with a very close friend that I've known and cared about ever since I was a noob here in SL. I realized I just couldn't be what we had contemplated for our future.

It really hurt how it went down and I know I hurt him. It sucked and was really ugly...

Theory
Into love, and out again,
Thus I went, and thus I go.
Spare your voice, and hold your pen--
Well and bitterly I know
All the songs were ever sung,
All the words were ever said;
Could it be, when I was young,
Some one dropped me on my head?
--Dorothy Parker

I'll never forget your falling off the deck of my first little house by the water and wish you well in life, both real & Second...this really really hurts...