20K

For so many reasons I have been obsessed with taking pictures and writing things here in my blog. And yes I have more than 20 thousand pictures taken in Second Life over the past 8 years. 

I even or more or less used to take pictures in real life everywhere I went. I have annoyed family and friends without ever thinking about it. I cannot promise not to take any more pictures because that would be a lie, but I can maybe take more of what I came into Second Life in the first place.

Something for nothing?

There are not many things you can get for nothing. Maybe the air you breathe. Everything costs money and prices are going up for less product and service. The average price for a Big Mac in 1968 was 49Cents and now it will cost you an average of $5 but the golden arch offers it now for 2 of $5.

Now if Linden Lab would offer a deal like this 2 for the price of one, the residents would be happier, but for whatever reason, they all have to pay now more of what becomes less. I understand the cost of living even in Second Life is going up. I wonder if those of us who have been premium members for years get any refunds for the time the beloved Second Life was down? Certainly, my Internet provider would give me something when the system was down.

When residents least expect it, the wolf wins. Always does and always will.  

This reminds me of a story: A Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt. He said, "I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one." The grandson asked him, "Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?" The grandfather answered: "The one I feed."

No permanence is ours

“No permanence is ours; we are a wave
That flows to fit whatever form it finds” 
― Hermann Hesse, The Glass Bead Game

“I don't know whether my life has been useless and merely a misunderstanding, or whether it has a meaning.” 



People come to wonder about the purpose of life for a number of different reasons. Maybe they’re just inherently curious, or they’ve recently experienced a family tragedy, maybe they’re questioning their faith, or they’re going through a depression and are looking for a renewed sense of meaning.

“Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer.”

Some crumbs is better than no crumbs? NO!!!

There are crumbs, we don’t want to let go. It’s the “some crumbs is better than no crumbs” mentality. We don’t want to get real with ourselves in case we find that we have something difficult or painful to look at. We don’t want to admit that we’re often creators of our own pain, and we certainly don’t want to admit that we’re letting go of something that didn’t exist (or that didn’t exist to the degree we imagined).

Have a good talk with yourself

Just remember this: You always deserve more than crumbs. Don't settle for a fantasy or half-assed relationship. Make the changes and get what you really want.

In order to get there, I beg you—I am really begging you—to stop being mean to yourself. Please, please, please find a way to love yourself. Be gentle to your body, as it spends every second providing you life and shelter. Appreciate what your system has done for you and your well-being. Stop starving yourself. Stop using food as an escape. It’s not fair for you and your body. Instead, start eating healthy. Think healthy. Start being positive about yourself and the people around you. Live healthy!

Sunday afternoon laziness

You only have one life , live it to the fullest.

The simple things

Pink Floyd once said, “the memories of a man in his old age are the deeds of a man in his prime”.  There is no simple pleasure more satisfying than recounting the greatest moments of your life with your closest friends who lived these moments alongside you.

Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

There are too many people 

Planning your downfall 

When your spirit's on trial 

These nights can be frightening 

Sleep transports sadness 

To some other mid-brain 

And somebody here 

Will not be here next year 

So you stand by the board 

Full of fear and intention...just stop and see the simple things in life and fear and sadness will understand that you have so much...you have more things that matter.

How I love all of the very simple things of life(God's good air).
How I love all of the very simple things of life such a little thing
fumbling politeness the difference it saved me.

The graveyards

I don't want to rest in peace
I want to dance in joy
I want to dance in the graveyards
The graveyards
And while I'm alive,
I don't want to be alone
Mourning the ones who came before
I want to dance with them some more
Let's dance in the graveyards.

Just a perfect day
You made me forget myself
I thought I was
Someone else, someone good.
Oh, it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spent it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on

As a child, I always loved going to the cemetery and look at the gravestones. I would read all the names and wonder about the people who lie there underneath me. In my hometown, the famous man who discovered the X-ray machine was buried in the old cemetery next to his beloved wife. It was actually an accident, but we all have benefitted from this great discovery.

Great discoveries are made accidentally less often than the populace likes to think.

The purpose of art

The purpose of art is not to produce a product. The purpose of art is to produce thinking. The secret is not the mechanics or technical skill that create art – but the process of introspection and different levels of contemplation that generate it. Once you learn to embrace this process, your creative potential is limitless.

Art is a human act. Art is Risky. Generous. Courageous. Provocative. You can be perfect, or you can make art. You can keep track of what you will get in return for your effort, or you can make art. You can enjoy the status quo, or you can make art.

I create Art for stress relief and anxiety. It helps because I am occupied doing something rather than have to think about the inner demons that want to control me. Making art – whether it’s painting, writing, composing music, taking photographs, or whatever – is an expansive act. It doesn’t allow us to hide away or shrink.

Making art demands our full attention. It’s like a mindful meditation in that respect. It requires us to turn up and be fully present.

You can’t make art when your mind is on something else – so making art is a wonderful way to remove yourself from the troubles of the world for a while. They will still be there, waiting for you, when you take a break from making art.

Tempura Painting by Anjelikka

Major Outage? Now what?

"We are continuing to work on the Second Life networks. Logins have been temporarily disabled. Second Life websites have been restored." reported by SL Grid Status.
So this happened Monday, May 13, 2019, and poof we all were logged out of SL. I saw the posts on FB and Twitter asking: "Is SL offline, can anyone get one?" 

This makes me wonder about people and why they get so upset when they cannot log on. I suppose it is a certain addiction we all have who use this platform to communicate with others. Some of us need the creative part of this as well. Think of the horrors of all the facebook uses who suddenly cannot log on and reach the world. Tragic isn't it? We have surrounded us with virtual everything and when that breaks down we are lost and cannot function.

Woohoo, lucky for us:
"The maintenance has been completed and services have been restored."
...and if you cannot go online, go outside and smell the flowers.

Why am I here...

We are here because we are...maybe letting go of all that is holding us back from happiness is the key...yet that is so simple.

Sometimes I feel better. 

Other times I feel down.

I just want to be happy.

But I hold an uncontrollable frown.

I don't see my point in living.

Each night I cry my eyes.

I feel so empty within.

If you knew the reasons I hide.

I know that I'm not broken.

Just ached and feeling torn.

All these things are overwhelming.

What could be the reason I was born?

To fake my smile to people?

To hope for no granted wish?

To hide myself from everyone?

Or to constantly cut my wrists?

I don't know why I am here?

To suffer or save those in fear?

How can I save those?

If can't even save myself...

I don't see the point

I don't see the point

And here falls another vulnerable tear....

Sakura

Diamonds are great and all, but if you ask me, dresses are a girl’s best friend. They’re versatile, comfortable and fun. No matter what your shape is, there are amazing dress options so you can feel like a million bucks.

Like this beautiful dress, I recently got in a gacha called: moon amore: BlossomTime/ Sakura Heaven Dress.

Sakura (桜) - Sakura means “cherry blossom” and is derived from saku 咲, which means to bloom, or alternately to smile/laugh. The 口 in 咲 indicates an open mouth. Cherry blossoms are a symbolic flower of the spring, a time of renewal, and the fleeting nature of life. 
The main way to celebrate is by going to see the cherry trees in full bloom! Parks in Japan are guaranteed to be filled with thousands of people at this time of year. Hanami (花見) parties, or cherry blossom gazing gatherings, are also very popular in Japan during Sakura season. At these parties, groups of friends and family come together with food and drink to celebrate the arrival of spring under the blossom trees. It is common for groups to reserve the best spots for their party in advance by laying their picnic blankets down on the spot they want - sometimes several hours or even days ahead of their party!

Funny German Words...you need to know :)

Du Bist das Gelbe vom Ei: I think everyone's favorite part of the egg is the yolk. It is no surprise then that the literal translation, “you are the yellow of the egg” means “you are all I’m looking for” in English.Hüftgold: Literally translating to “hip gold,” "Hüftgold" are love handles or a muffin top in English. So for those of you lucky to have a bit of weight on your hips, you have struck gold! 

Kopfkino: This one can cause us a bit of stress. Literally “head cinema,” "Kopfkino" is the act of playing out an entire scenario in your mind. Who else loves the logical reasoning of words in German? Of course, some shows in the "kino" are good and exciting and filled with fantasy, know what I mean?

Jetzt geht's um die Wurst: Literally translating to “now it’s about the sausage,” the English equivalent would be “all or nothing.” You know the Germans are serious when it’s about a sausage!