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!

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 :)

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.

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. 

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

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.

The butterfly flutter

 When you see a butterfly, it’s like watching a creature get a fresh start in life. 

I love how butterflies show up in Second Life just like in Real Life it means new beginnings. Are we all ready for Spring? The groundhog said it was coming and I hope he was right. If Winter is still bringing you down you can warm up right here in Second Life. 

“Of which those butterflies
Of Earth, who seek the skies,
And so come down again
(Never-contented things!)” Edgar Allan Poe

Butterflies have fluttered through stories and myths for a long time. They’re not just insects; they’re characters in tales that have been told for generations. I love to watch them. Many people believe butterflies have meanings and are some kind of symbol, either way, they are pretty and amazing.

So, when you are down and depressed and feel that you are worthless, stop right there and think of the amazing butterfly. Just like her, you can transform yourself into someone new. You can do it. It takes some work, yes. The butterfly had to do this in too. Never give up. Keep going.

If you need someone to talk to then come and see me at the Retreat. I am always there in the evening and I can be a listening ear. 

Have a wonderful day, night, or season. You are an amazing creature just like the butterfly.

“Butterflies can't see their wings. They can't see how truly beautiful they are, but everyone else can. People are like that as well.”
― Naya Rivera

Virtual love: is your Valentine an avatar?

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as possible. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

"Virtual communities, such as Second Life, recreate all aspects of the relationship cycle, including pregnancy and birth. In fact, there are now multiple guides on how to have sex in a virtual world, which perhaps suggests that physical skills are not necessarily transferable to our avatars. (Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic)"

These days it is no longer science fiction that people have a relationship with an avatar. Avatars may be able to offer emotional support and companionship to individuals who are isolated or who may have difficulty forming and maintaining relationships in the physical world. It is obviously something people talk about and do.

I cannot say that I never tried it because I have and when I told people about it that I have real love but only know him as an avatar, they quickly changed the subject. It is not something that the common person understands and they may often think that there is some mental dysfunction within yourself. 

Virtual dating can also reduce the level of conflict or fighting. Unlike dating people who often have meetings, there will be many things that trigger conflict. Of course, virtual dating also has several shortcomings, especially for those of you who love language and physical touch. You definitely don't feel at home and aren't comfortable having love relationships online all the time. There may also be an issue with truth and honesty. As an avatar, you could be anyone behind the screen and you could perhaps trick those who are vulnerable.

Don't give out personal information to anyone unless you have learned to trust them. You really don't know who is behind that screen. If they gave you their real name and you are serious about them then do some research to verify the information. Schnugglebun69 might not be the guy who is single with an office job at the bank, he may be a married man or even a woman in disguise. 

I am not saying it is all bad to have a virtual Valentine, there are many relationships of couples who have met in Second Life and those who have worked out in Real Life, and maybe an even bigger amount of relationships that didn't work out at all.

"Love not with your eyes but with your mind
Obvious really because true love is blind
Who cares what you see, it is what you feel
True love my friend is very hard to conceal"

Love can be truly blind so be careful out there, always protect your heart, and love yourself first. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.