Sunday, March 17, 2024

What's the craic?

In the middle of all the Irish festivities in Second Life, the Basement Club is always ready to have some craic (fun). We don't really need a holiday for that. 

Fun can be described differently depending on the person. What might be fun to you, might not be fun to someone else. For example, when I show people pictures or videos about Second Life and tell them how much fun it can be, they look at me like I have lost my baloobas. 

Yes, that could be true, but only the real Second Lifers understand what we do here and why we keep logging in. I have been here for 12 and 1/2 years and that is a long time and now we are ready to celebrate the anniversary of the Basement Club.

Eight years ago, the Basement Club opened and went through many style and design changes. However, a few years ago, its final look was established. The Basement Club is relatively small, but it is a popular club for all who visit. You'll only know it if you've experienced it firsthand. This year, we're adding an Easter egg hunt, so you can also explore the Retreat. The Retreat has been around a little longer than the Basement Club, and we want to ensure that it's open to all Second Life residents. Therefore, come and explore the Retreat, take pictures, and have fun.s. Therefore, come and explore the Retreat, take pictures, and have fun.s. Therefore, come and explore the Retreat, take pictures, and have fun.
 

Happy St. Paddy's Day!!!
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig ort 

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Happy Leap Year Day!!!!


Leap year happens mostly every four years and it is because of some mathematical madness most of us never even think about it. It's a correction to counter the fact that Earth's orbit isn't precisely 365 days a year. The trip takes about six hours longer than that, NASA says. The reasoning behind it is a little complicated. For example, most people believe that leap year occurs once every four years, but that’s not always the case. If you are a mad scientist you can figure it out. 

There are many traditions surrounding the day of leap day but however you want to celebrate
 Don't feed the big frog. 
you can come on down to the Basement Club and celebrate with us with some live music by our very own DJ Casey.

Jump to it! 

(This poem works once every 1,461 days)

Jump and prance!
Dance and sing!
Hop and caper!
Spring for spring!

Frolic and bound!
Vault and cheer!
It’s 29th February –
This leap year!


Sunday, February 25, 2024

Sheeted Memories of the Past

 

By each spot the most unholy --
    In each nook most melancholy, --
    There the traveller meets aghast
    Sheeted Memories of the Past --
    Shrouded forms that start and sigh
    As they pass the wanderer by --
    White-robed forms of friends long given,
    In agony, to the Earth -- and Heaven. ~Edgar Allan Poe




Here at the Retreat, I like to keep things mostly the same except for changing seasons. There is a certain melancholy that I feel here and that keeps memories. The Retreat is an open place on the mainland that I purchased many years ago and expanded through the years. 

For me, it is a magical place I come and visit daily, a place of joy but also a place of sadness. All of it is a good thing, just like in real life. You must have both as a balance to experience life. 
I know Second Life is an escape from real life for many of us, but if you have been here long enough it is part of your life as well. Here at the Retreat, weddings have occurred, hunts and special events have happened, and where music is being celebrated at night. And yes, it is a place for art, whether you like to look at paintings or you like to indulge in digital photography, it is all here.

I am often amazed at how it all came about and how ideas came to life. I love the part where I can take pictures here and then reflect back and see the same tree standing at the same spot. The cemetery has been here for years with many memories of loved ones. It is a quiet place. 

The Retreat is a poem but created in the virtual world for all to enjoy. It inspires you to create something or to just sit back and take in the beauty. You do not have to be a poet or artist to enjoy it. 
Stop by and make some memories of your own. It is all here in the virtual world, in Second Life at the Retreat. If you see me there just say hello :)



Thursday, February 22, 2024

Vanished into thin air

Many of us who have been in Second Life have some friends we have known for years, but we only know them in Second Life, not Real Life. We may not know their real names or where they live, which is very common because of anonymity.

What do you do if the person you know in Second Life all of a sudden does not show up anymore and you know they had some medical problems? How do you deal with this kind of grief?

I created a little cemetery to help cope with the losses of people who are no longer logging in here at my Retreat.
Maybe the person has passed on or something happened to them. You develop that connection to that avatar and it is real just like in the real world, but now they have vanished into thin air.

When grieving someone who you didn't really know in real life, you may feel abandoned or unloved by the person, regret not taking the time to get to know them better, cheated, and resentful that death stole your opportunity to have a relationship with the person, and so on. Then again you do not know the details why they are gone. 

Perhaps someone else knew the person and they found out that the person has passed on. How do you grieve over a person you never really knew?

To be honest you have to use the same steps for grieving as you would if it happened to a close person you knew in the physical world. This is still a loss and when something is gone it creates a certain pain. Grief is a very personal process, handled in a variety of ways. Some need time to themselves and turn inward while grieving. Others find comfort in surrounding themselves with friends and loved ones and talking about the person who has died.
Consider this a virtual hug from me to you. It will be ok. You were lucky to have met this avatar and they always will be part of your virtual experience just like in the real world, because the virtual world is also the real world.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Valentine's Day is over, now what?

 Maybe you did not have a Valentine this year and that is ok, but what to do now the day after or weeks after?

Valentine's Day at the Basement Club
There are many other parties you could go to that are out of this world, at least here in Second Life. You could educate yourself about space and learn about some of the planets and the galaxies close by. You are always young enough to learn new things and everything is possible.

Second Life has many out-of-this-world creatures
You may want to travel to other sims and look around, there are many to see just like the universe holds many stars and planets. Or say hello to a complete stranger you see who holds some interesting facts in their profile. You never know who you will meet this way and may secure a Valentine for next year.

One thing that you may want to do is to do some Spring cleaning in your inventory. You know those hundreds of items you pick up at the Shop and Hop events. In my case, I have tons and items I find items I never knew I had. That is like shopping for free things in your inventory. I also find lots of junk that gets deleted, because that inventory gets pretty heavy. Organize it before it gets out of hand. How many items do you have? Let me know in the comments or send me a message world.
If you do a little every day then before you know it the inventory is nice and clean. (well maybe).

Take a deep breath go outside for a while and then come back to Second Life, things look always better after you soaked up some sunshine.

Aw! True love (Eric and Jolie)
Alright, time to put all these Valentine's things away and get ready for the next holidays.
St. Patrick's Day coming next month and that is another story about how it is celebrated here in the USA compared to Ireland, a story for another blog entry.
Notice the pattern of holidays all start with St.? Like St.Nicholas, St. Valentine, and St. Patrick. There is also All Saints Day, which is followed by the Day of the Dead. And before we end the month of February there is President's Day which again means more shopping. Remember to keep that inventory clean and get rid of duplicate items. You could also get rid of things in your real-life home if you are bored. 

Monday, February 12, 2024

The year of the Dragon

Chinese New Year is another indication that Spring is coming and to leave the old behind. Since ancient times, Chinese people have used the Chinese Zodiac animals to represent the years. Each lunar year is related to a zodiac animal, beginning at Chinese New Year. The 12 zodiac animals recur on a 12-year cycle. The 12 animal signs in the order are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

If you have yet to figure out what Chinese Zodiac sign you are, you can easily search the internet with your birth year. This year we are celebrating the Year of the Dragon and it is supposed to bring luck to many of us.
Lucky here in Second Life I can stand next to a dragon and he will not hurt me. I love that you can interact with animals here.

Wishing you all the luckiest new year...
may all your dreams come true and come and see me
at my Retreat.
新年快乐
Chinese New Year
Dragons, lions,
Red and gold.
In with the New Year,
Out with the old.
Banners flying,
Bands playing.
Lions prancing,
Dragons swaying.
Fireworks crackling,
Lanterns swinging,
People laughing,
Dancing, singing.
Dragons, lions,
Red and gold.
In with the New Year,
Out with the old.
By Wendy Larmont

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Weiberfastnacht (Karnival for women)

As Americans are starting to celebrate Mardi Gras (which is different than Karnival) in Germany, the Karnival (Fastnacht or Fasching) starts as Weiberfastnacht, a Karnival for women. I try to bring this into Second Life to educate people about this tradition. 

Weiberfastnacht takes place on February 08, 2024. Weiberfastnacht is a popular day for women in Germany during the Karnival season. Among other established customs, on that day women cut off the ties of men, which are seen as a symbol of men's status. The men wear the stumps of their ties and get a little kiss as compensation. Depending on the region, the day is also known as a "Fat Thursday", which refers to the consumption of fatty foods at Karnival. Weiberdonnnerstag marks the start of the street carnival and always takes place on Thursday before Ash Wednesday.

The men here at the Basement Club agreed to have their neckties cut in exchange for a little kiss. They said it was a fair trade.
But beware: If the tie wearer has not agreed to the cut, there may be an infringement of property. Only some people who wear a tie at Shrovetide are also immediately jeckisch and benevolent on the way.

The Basement will celebrate Mardi Gras and Fastnacht until Fat Tuesday and then we will go right into February 14, 2024, Valentine's Day on Wednesday. Wednesdays will be a special Blues Night starting at 4PM SLT. Come on over and wear your favorite costumes and they don't have to be the traditional Mardi Gras colored ones with feathers, they can be any costume.

All other DJ sets start at 6PM M, T Th, and F with a variety of music. No matter what traditions you celebrate or what language you speak, music is for everybody. Smile be happy and leave the worries behind. At least for a few hours.

Why do we celebrate Karnival? 
Karneval ('Carnival') is a very old tradition in Germany, which was originally celebrated to scare away winter spirits. After many months of frost, the old Germans were tired of winter. To spook the winter spirits, people wore scary masks. They also sang and danced in the streets to welcome spring. This is much different than Mardi Gras, which is celebrated at the same time but based on religious beliefs.

Depending in what region you are in Germany you can either say "Alaaf" or "Helau" to wish people a happy beginning of Spring.