Scenes From The Relay Track: Rememberance

 

 From the Sunbeamer camp at RFL Win, a moment to remember friends and family who passed from cancer, Luminaria lit in their memory. 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Announcement: World Autism Awareness at the Premier Business Center

 

 

Autism Awareness @ PBC

Dancing with Donny and The Panda Dance Crew!

Please join PBC and the Baptiste Family Foundation this Saturday at 12:00 PM SLT at the PBC Performance Hall for Dancing with Donny and The Panda Dance Crew for Autism Awareness!

Meet the Panda Dance Crew after their dance performance at the DJ Afterparty Meet and Greet with UrbanKing Burner!!

Bring your entire family! This will be a great show with SL Children choreographers, great food, and lots of family fun!!!!  

Come support the  cause!

Saturday, April 15,2023~ 12:00 PM SLT
Attire: Casual

 

 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/PBC/54/30/1503

 

SL Video: "Wishing You A Happy Holiday With Your Second Life Friends!"

 

 

 (Click here if the video does not play)

From Linden Lab on December 24, "Tis the season for family, friends, and feasting! Spend this holiday season surrounded by loved ones. Happy Holidays!"

Interview With Melly Callidora (MelainaGodness)

 

Several years ago, the Newser interviewed Hope Dreamscape as one of the co-owners of the Full Circle Club. Since then, her life, both real and virtual, has taken a number of turns, some good some bad. Eventually starting anew as Melly Callidora (MelainaGodness). she eventually became the matriarch of a clan in this virtual world. But unfortunately in real-life she faces a number of ailments, including cancer. She requested, and got, a chance to tell what's been happening with her lately.

Read Melly's story in People.

 

RFL: My Mother's Caregiver

 

Today I'm deviating from my usual writing about something in Second Life, although it is about something that will affect my time here in the virtual world. Lately my real life has gotten less predictable as someone in real life close to me is now in need of help, and it's up to me to do so.

More in Extra.
 

"Your Mother Has Cancer"

Deaflegacy told be recently it was her mother's birthday. It was a happy occasion in the past, but today it was a sad reminder as she had passed away almost five years ago, from cancer. In her article today, she writes about her last time with her mother, and goes on to say the cause of her death is why she supports the Relay for Life in Second Life.

Read Deaflegacy's story in People.

Safra Nitely's Christmas Party

On December 11, Safra Nitely, a friend of the SL Newser, held a small Christmas party for some of her Second Life friends and family. She also wanted to celebrate her sim, Devon Dream, having it's prim capacity expanded to 30,000 prims.

Safra has been decorating her sim for a festive Christmas look, which she has been doing every year. No doubt the place is full of holiday cheer.

A fun time was had by all at the party.

"Your Mother Had Cancer."

Deaflegacy's story today is a personal one.  It was almost three years ago in which she faced one of the saddest moments of her life, the passing of her mother from cancer. Here, she describes a little of what happened, including on the final day in which they told each other goodbye.

Read Deaflegacy's story in People.

Misty Acres Amusement Park to Close, Sim to Be Sold

RacerX Gullwing yesterday contacted the Newser with some sad news. Tindallia Soothsayer, a valued member of his Giant Snails Racing team, would be losing her sim. And what a sim it was, having been in her hands for a decade, "Another long time sim is about to be gone. Misty Acres by Tindallia Soothsayer is in the process of being sold after 10 years. It's the home of an amusement park. Tindallia could tell you stories of when Lindens came in and made a ramp to get the bumper cars loose."

I contacted Tindallia, and she confirmed the place was indeed being sold, "I just can't afford to keep my sim any more. But after 10 years, (it) had a decent run. Lots of places in Second Life don't last half as long." Of it's origins, "I bought the sim in 2006, mainly as a home sim for myself. But after building the house, I had a ton of land left over. So I built a park. But still had room left, so I built the amusement park. (I) set everything there to free, because when I first started Second Life, I saw all this amazing stuff I wanted to do, but most were pay to play. And back then I had nothing. So when I built my park, I figured, no matter how much or how little anybody had, they'd have a place to come and enjoy. ... Plus I'd started sl as a child av. And back then, there weren't a lot of places like it nor safe places. So in building the park and amusement park I wanted to provide a safe place for children, families and all visitors to come and play in."

The number of visitors, "varied from time to time. Sometimes a lot would come, sometimes just a few. There were always people visiting though." The biggest gatherings were, "usually when I had changed the season on the sim to winter, changed everything to snow and ice, had ice skating and such. Or after I'd decorated the sim for Christmas, but it's generally around the same time and more people showed up then." No events in particular stood out, "just had ones centered around seasons and holidays."

The sim itself will not be vanishing as she has an offer. But the park will not be remaining, "completely changed, nothing I've done there will remain. ... There has been some reaction. Most are sad to see it go, as am I. It has had a definite positive impact on those that have visited. n the years I've had it, I've enjoyed providing a place people could come and play, I hope they enjoyed it too. I think they did. That I put a lot of work, a lot of heart and a lot of love in to it, and I will most definitely miss it."



(Click here if the video fails to play)

RacerX Gullwaing did a 25 minute video of the place, but you can still drop in until the place is transferred to see the park for yourself.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Misty%20Acres/240/42/25

Bixyl Shuftan

Reaction to Nydia's Tragedy

After the announcement of the passing of Nydia Tungsten's mother on Tuesday Night, friends from around Second Life have given her messages of condolences on her Facebook account. Among her Angels group in Second Life was this announcement by Ranchan Weidman:

I have been asked to pass this along to all Angels. Nydia's mother has passed on.  She expresses her love of all the angels, and cherishes every one she has met.  

In this time of full mourning, please remember to keep Nydia and her real life family in your thoughts and prayers.

We are here for you Nydia. 

Next to Nydia's home, Mouse Hold Manor Sora Anubis Kraditzio Shizuka (jamestkirk2323) and Umbra75 Bigbear erected a cross for the mother of their friend and her real-life family. Several people left candles and flowers at the base. The memorial is at Sunlight Bay (230/51/24).

Nydia's problems have only grown recently when her mother's funeral insurance suddenly told she and her family they would not be paying for the actual burial, threatening an expense they can barely afford. With this latest development, talk about how to send flowers has turned into how they can help their valued friend and neighbor.

Bixyl Shuftan

Sad News About Nydia Tungsten

Nydia Tungsten has made a name for herself in the Sunweaver community over the past several years. Part wild child, part wise woman, one wasn't always sure which side they'd run into, or a little bit of both. Her mixture of naughtiness, wisdom, humor, and a willingness to always listen to one's friends in their moments of need, has long earned the "little white vixen" a place in the hearts of many. Because of her name and steadfastness, she's sometimes been called the "Steel Vixen."

But even the strongest of steel bends when the weight is just too much.

In recent months, her mother has been in poor health, and recently it has taken a turn for the worst. Days ago, the doctors sent her home so she could face the end with family. She was not expected to survive much longer. Circumstances that have left Nydia in tears. To complicate matters, her pets knocked her computer off her table, breaking it. She has been keeping in touch with friends via Facebook, email, and g-chat though an old laptop that simply can't handle Second Life.

Finally on Tuesday night, her mother passed away, leaving the family in mourning.

Between these events, she has told her friends that she does not know when she will be back.

The Sunweavers, and the Newser, wish Nydia all the luck and strength in these most trying of times.

“What Is Christmas Really About?”

Locke Esgal posed a certain question for his latest article: "What is Christmas really about?" Is it the giving and receiving of presents? Is it going to church for the special Christmas services? Locke had his own opinion on the issue.

Read Locke's article in Extra.

King Izzy's Camping Adventure

By Bixyl Shuftan

I was recently contacted by Mysti77, who invited me to take a look at her sim. She had something out of the ordinary for Second Life: a campground. Mysti was the owner of "King Izzy's Camping Adventure" at the Salty Sands sim. The place gets it's name from KingIzzy, her partner.

Accepting her teleport request, I arrived, and was surprised to hear the roar of a cougar leaping at me, which I dodged. "Hi Bix - look out!" Mysti shouted, "This wildcat is trying to bite you!" Fortunately I managed to slip away from it. Then a bear appeared near Mysti, but made no aggressive moves. "Do I need a gun or a bat?" I asked Mysti. She laughed, "That's part of the hunting contest, wildcats, bears, things like that. You could win 500L if you are the top hunter of the month. Monthly contest." Then we saw a deer appear beside us. With a grin, I remarked, "Well, guess the buck really did stop here." Mysti had a good laugh, "Hahahaha!" One joins the hunting by clicking on the stump next to the rules about it, "Any Second Life gun will do. But, if they don't have a gun or can't afford one, there is a free gun giver about the instruction sign. If they don't like guns, they can use a paintball gun." She explained there were some SL kids who like to camp, and she didn't like the idea of mixing kids with firearms.

The campground had more to offer than just hunting, "We have 4-wheelers, biking, hiking, fishing, row boats, kayaing, canoeing and even hang gliding. ... We have a beach too and paintball. ... And we offer cabins or campsite to rent for taking vacations." Renting a cabin for a week costs 250 Lindens, and you're able to place up to fifty prims worth of objects there, "All cabins are fully furnished." There are also campsites one can rent for fifteen Lindens a day, and can rezz about five prims worth of objects, "like a cooler or something small. The campsites have everything they need already." She told me one could stay at a cabin for as long as they wanted as long as they kept paying the rent.

Mysti showed me the boating area, a pier next to a beach where one could rezz a canoe, kayak, or rowboat, "and we have inner tubes and bumper boats." Besides the hunting game I encountered at the start, there was also a duck hunting area in the northwest part of the campground. One can hear the quackers before seeing them, swimming from a bush in the water. There was also a playground and picnic area, "This is a community area. Families have picnics here." There was a climbable rope "net," as well as swings, and a pile of leaves one can jump around in. Just walking through it rustles up a few stray leaves.

Mysti then took me to one of the cabins. This particular one had three main rooms, a living room with a couch and a "table" made from wooden pallets, a kitchen with a stove and refrigerator as well as a sink, and a bedroom. "We can add different beds for families," she told me, "or sleeping bags if they prefer."

Next was the largest building at the campground, their music club "Club Izzy." Mysti called it a "small club," though being in a wilderness area made it look a bit large. It was a bit dark inside as there was no party, but one could see music and band posters on the wall, as well as an American flag, plus a bar at one side where one could get a beer. Mysti explained they hadn't used the place much, and were thinking about remodeling it into an outdoor style club. It is currently, and will be after remodeling as well, available for weddings and private parties.

Before the campground, Mysti told me she and her friends were DJs. She explained her SL grandaughter Jules Fetuccio was the one who built the sim, "She did it for the family and now we decided to open it up to the public. It was started about a year ago and just finished last month." Designing the place took time, "Jules wanted to have everything perfect so people could experience a camping vacation in Second Life."

Lastly, I took a look at the "fishing hole" as Mysti called it. Mysti sat down at one of the chairs and took out a rod and reel, giggling, "I fish while I work in real life," saying she was lucky to have a job where she could do that. This wasn't the fishing game I'd seen in other places in Second Life, but something different, Fish Hunt. Mysti explained, "You earn Lindens and experience points doing this." People could start off with a free fishing rod, "You can get one off the marketplace, just look up 'Fish Hunt.' And it's always better to invest in some worms," she gestured to four crates of worms behind her, Small, Tasty, Enchanted, and Magic, "You'll catch bigger fish and get more Linden per fish."

It was there I ran into Jules. Talking to her, Jules explained it had been fun building the campground, "This sim is my first big build so it's been a work in progress. I've been with Mysti and Izzy for five years this year in their family, so it has been a labor of love for them." Building the place, the club and the overall landscaping her favorite parts. The trickiest part was the trails, "They were the hardest part for me to lay out on the sim with all the hills and turns." Another spot she enjoyed creating was a small pond and waterfall near one of the cabins for rent. Jules also took the time to iron out some bugs, some more amusing than others, "I was trying to adjust the kitchen in those little cabins and I ended up outside the window with my arms folded on the sill. I looked like a peeping tom," she chuckled, "Took me a while to figure out how that happened."

They did have some special holiday events. In October, they had the fishing hole full of zombies. Also, "everyone loved the decorations as well at Christmas. We had a huge fish hunt event that lasted for hours and many DJs providing entertainment and music."

There are some plans for the future besides remodeling the club. Jules stated, "I've been thinking about putting in some skyboxes for the renters to have their privacy. Just a place to get away for private moments, you know." "This is a family/kid friendly sim," Mysti explained, "so those things must be kept in strict privacy."

"We plan on doing more events very soon," Mysti informed, "Another fishing tourney and maybe some kind of a contest or something. ... We were thinking of having a King Izzy's Camper of the month contest." She added they still need to work out the details for it.

Jules was proud of what they had accomplished,"I think we've put in just about every recreational feature we could find for the sim also so I don't see anyone getting bored here."

So for a fun camping experience, head on over to "King Izzy's Camping Adventure."

"People need to take a break from the ordinary in their Second Lives for a while and take a vacation."

Salty Sands (128, 124, 21)

Bixyl Shuftan

Happy Thanksgiving

Jasmine has a little Thanksgiving fun with Second Life family and friends at this holiday meal table, with Shockwave Yareach providing some entertainment with his turkey av with a table dance.

"We're having a Turkey dinner here at my place for a 'Shockingly' delicious gathering. ... Even though the food disagrees, we all think he's delicious."


Submitted by Jasmine Dawn Shuftan

Family Fun at Dreams of Hope

           

 One day I was invited to a fishing contest at Dreams of Hope. It was such a sweet looking sim.  I went back to check it out. Daviano Jack Constantine and Shelby Marie Constantine have created a playland for SL kids and their families. It is a safe place for SL kids and is  bustling with activities to suit all ages, but catering to the SL kids who know how to have fun!  

 

There are fishing contests, of course, and hiking, horse riding and biking trails through lush greenery. You can take a boat ride if you want. I liked the playground with all the toys to play with. Camp weekends are planned so families can get together.  I attended a story reading time that was great.  Daviano read a cute story to the kids who attended and had lots of comments to make about it. 

 

One morning I was able to get to a breakfast and met some of the kids. One had the most fun ribbing the others and hoping to avoid getting sent to “time out”!! I did notice that Daviano want off to make coffee while Shelby was left to be the ”bad one,” LOL! There was lots of burping and belching and giggles. 

 

I asked one of the kids, Brandon, what he liked about the group and told me,”I came on SL back in February. I found the camp purely by accident. It caught my eye right away. I loved the look of it. Holly did such a wonderful job. I started coming regularly. We had camp on the weekend and went on field trips, listen story, dressed up and had dance contest, colored Easter eggs and much more. Its one of my favorite sims and hope it stays around for a long time. Its changed so much but everyone there is very close. Like a family.“ 

 

The food was good too, bacon and eggs. There are parties several days a week in the amphitheater with live entertainers and also DJs with contests for “best in.“  Everyone who attends has a lot of fun. Take a trip over to see the sim and join the group. If you really like it you can rent a place there.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dreams%20of%20Hope/37/217/21 

Gemma Cleanslate

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Today is the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, or "The Day of the Dead. At first glance this holiday, celebrated in the US by some Mexican-Americans, may seem like a continuation of Halloween. But it isn't about pranks and scariness, but about remembering late family and friends. Grey Lupindo takes a look at how the Instituto Espanol describes the celebrations.

Read more in Events.

Adopt-a-Family’s Summer on the Boardwalk

Last weekend, Grey Lupindo went to a carnival, one for a good cause. The Lindens it raised went to the Adopt-a-Family, a charity helping Second Life residents whom have fallen on hard times. There was lots to do, including a dunking booth in which Grey took a try at.


Read more of Grey's story in People.