Second Life Bay City 6th Birthday Celebration

Dahlia checks out a temporary free Vespa to drive around Bay City
with from the Docklands (206,110,25).

Daniel Voyager had been telling readers of his blog for weeks that the Bay City 6th Birthday Celebration was nearing. I counted down the weekends as it approached, eagerly awaiting my opportunity to see their parade and join in the festivities. On the day before the celebration, I took a friend to the Bay City New Citizens Incorporated (NCI) station to provide him with information about the area and to talk up its virtues. I was hoping to see him there the next day too...maybe even with another friend or two.

After he left with his information, I stayed around to make some calls to other friends. While there, I wandered down a block or two and found myself at an old gas station that provided free temporary Vespas to ride. I was delighted to see this because I love driving around on little Vespas. I find them easier to handle than most big old motorcycles. So I pulled one out, hopped on, and fired up the engine. I drove around streets in and south of the airport area, passing by plenty of retail shops and a cute  toy shop called Bay City You Know For Kids Fun Toys. 

Bay City was a virtual ghost town while I was there. Since the streets were so empty and I was having such good luck driving, I decided to take the Vespa out further to find the location where the birthday celebration party would take place the next day. I headed due east past the industrial shipping Docklands district area and along the trolley line toward the Ahern InfoHub.

Half way between Docklands and the Ahern InfoHub, I stopped on the side of the road to check my map. Beside me was a road sign that read: "Channel Island Mental Hospital. Linden Department of Medical Welfare." Underneath were the names of Governor Linden as Governor, and Cyn Linden as Director. I never knew the Lindens ran a mental hospital, I thought to myself. Just then, a woman just inside the gate said hello and asked if I knew anything about the hospital. I said I didn't about the same moment a man walked up behind her and led her away from the gate and back toward the hospital. 

That was weird, I thought, as I watched them walk in the direction of the hospital building. I revved up my Vespa engine and drove off, peering back over my shoulder as I went. The next sim over had an InfoHub in it. Still having my chat window open to the woman asking about the hospital, I called her to let her know that she might be able to ask one of three people who were at the InfoHub. She thanked me and I sped off, continuing on my way to Ahern which was visibly right up the road from where I was. 

The paved road ended where the grass of Ahern began, the InfoHub only steps away. It was full of people, so I stayed where I was and watched from afar. It had its usual number of people crowded together, some entirely too chatty and others forever silent. I guess it was a good thing; a good balance was struck that way. I turned the Vespa around and drove back the way I came, then veered off in the direction of where the birthday party would be the following day. Once I reached it, I hopped off the Vespa and made a landmark for returning the next day.

When the next day arrived, I rushed around in my usual manner: jobs to perform here, newly learned about shopping, gallery exhibits, and nature locations to check out and landmarks to make there, and friends to continually be calling along the way. I planned to go when the parade began. But as usual, I got caught up in my own routine, and before I knew it, I had missed most of the parade. When I finally reached the location where I made my landmark to the party, the last parade float had just pulled in. I stood with the editor of the SL Newser paper and another reporter at the end of the road waiting to see if any more floats might be plodding along down the road. My friend Ben5 Turbo joined me just as Daniel Voyager arrived himself as a great white flying dragon. 

We all converged on the nearby outdoor party space where a dance was fully underway. I learned later that my friend GoSpeed Racer had DJ'd part of the celebration events, but exactly when and where I never entirely understood. I didn't see her at the party I was at, but I did see Sylvan Mole (one of the Linden Mole helpers). I was also very happy to have my photo taken with Angela Seale-Poultry, the newly crowned Miss Bay City Queen (I looked in tatters when standing next to her, I might add). 

I couldn't stay longer to enjoy the dance, and after having also missed the parade, I'd really missed pretty much all the festivities for the Bay City Birthday Celebration. But all was not lost. I at least had a few moments to enjoy it, and I had the Vespa ride the day before to remind me what a wonderful place it was...that there were still things to discover there that I hadn't seen before, like that mental hospital! Last but not least, I could say that not all was missed, because I did have a chance to enjoy a prized Bay City Flop Dog from one of their mobile Flop Dog vendor trucks!

I took time enough to take Ben back to the Vespa shop in Docklands so he could see it for himself. We both tried to pull out Vespas to ride, but I crashed whenever touching the seat to get on my ride. Ben crashed too, so after the third time of unsuccessful trying, we called it quits and vowed to return another day when there was more time. 

For those of you who have not yet been to Bay City, I do recommend it. It is a vast area of multiple sims all working together to create an integrated and active community of residents. There are all manner of events held throughout the year to enjoy and to meet others at. The parades are a unique feature of Bay City; few other places I have been have such events, so they are fun to see. I also like taking the automated balloon and trolley rides for sightseeing through the area, and for country music fans interest, I have seen a Grand Ol' Opry country music hall there as well.

Dahlia stops on the roadside to check her map when she notices she
has stopped in front of a Linden run mental health hospital.

Why Do I Blog Meme

Dahlia writing her blog while at Dahlia's Journey Garden Gallery in Lenora.

A great challenge was developed by Strawberry Singh to answer questions about blogging about Second Life which has started a domino effect across the SL blogosphere. I don't know what the word "Meme" means, but whatever it is, here is my Blog Meme to answer those same questions. =)

1. How long have you been blogging? Since 5 May 2009
2. Why did you start blogging? As indicated on my very first blog post: "My intention in this blog [is] to share with my friends, family and other interested people, some of the highlights of my experience in SL. Over time, you will see some of the most interesting places I have traveled to, meet some of my best friends, and learn of the jobs I busy myself with." Just as importantly, I also wanted to chronicle some of my Second Life memories because I expected that I wouldn't be in it forever and having a blog and photo albums to look back on someday would be a welcome walk down memory lane for me.
3. How many times a week do you post an entry? I don't post weekly or even monthly. I post mostly when I am inspired to—time willing, of course.
4. How many different blogs do you read on a regular basis? My RL time is much more limited now than when I first came to Second Life, so I don't read any blogs with regularity (and thankfully most don't even post regularly). When I open my own Blogspot page, I look at headlines, first paragraphs and photos from blogs I have subscribed to. I also receive email notices from other blogs I have signed up to follow. When these emails arrive, I also read the headlines and first lines. I open links to posts that I want to continue reading from there. I also follow a variety of friends on their photo pages such as Flickr.com.
5. Do you comment on other people’s blogs? I usually comment on blog posts I find particularly interesting to show my appreciation for writers who have taken time to share their information. When I do comment, I like for my messages to be sincere and meaningful...something more than a single word or two of praise.
6. Do you keep track of how many visitors you have? I don't keep track because my goal for blogging was never to see what kind of numbers I can rack up. I am, however, impressed by the numbers I see some of my friends reporting about their readership and I'm excited for their success. I like to encourage them to keep writing/sharing when I see they connect with so many people!
7. Did you ever regret a post that you wrote? I haven't so far, but I do have some in my head I ache to write that I KNOW I would regret if I did! LOL
8. Do you think your readers have a true sense of who you are based on your blog? I'm a multi-dimensional person both inworld and out. I'm sure readers have a general sense of my inworld interests from what I post about, but I think it would be too difficult to have a complete sense of who I am unless we spent a lot of time together. I'd like to think that I'm MUCH more than a few blog posts here and there and a handful of adventures and activities I manage to squeeze into my Second Life. 
9. Do you blog under your real name? I blog using my Second Life name because that is the name I expect people will use to look for me. That's real enough for me. 
10. Are there topics that you would never blog about? Yes. I don't care to blog over issues that seek to unnecessarily cause a lot of drama or are intentionally disrespectful to others. I also prefer to keep my blog within the scope of my Second Life, so I don't blog over real life events, although I might occasionally intimate about how my real life intrudes on my Second Life time and experience.  
11. What is the theme/topic of your blog? My blog covers events and activities I engage in while in Second Life. Large portions of it are dedicated to my more organized adventure travels, but other less structured topics are also occasionally included.
12. Do you have more than one blog? If so, why? I only have one blog, just like I only have one Second Life. Both are plenty enough for me!
13. What have you found to be the benefits of blogging? I enjoy sharing with others in many different ways. Blogging has been one pleasant way to make that connection. Blogging has also allowed me the opportunity to develop my writing and language skills. I like to take photos too, so I enjoy including those as part of my narrative. 
14. So, why do you continue to blog? As mentioned in the first question, I look forward to having a journal of sorts to have and look back on from time-to-time. Someday in the future when I'm either not as interested or not as able to continue visiting Second Life, I'd love to look back on my time there with fondness and nostalgia, remembering how things were back then! 

Second Life Airports: From Miami to Hollywood

After a long and exhausting day of travel, Dahlia naps while waiting for her
out-bound flight from Hollywood International Airport.

Not long ago I went back to Terric, Satori to see the location of Netera Landar's Coffee Lounge where she hosted for over two years the successful weekly interview of some of Second Life's notable authors, musicians, and entertainers. Unfortunately, real life and other Second Life commitments had stretched Net's time thin, so she chose to continue her coverage of such talent as an entertainment writer for the SL Newser publication. Meanwhile, I'd heard that Terric had been sold to someone else who had turned it into another major airport called Miami International Airport which inexplicably was right next door to the SLPG Prague International Airport in St Diabloux and in a region of no less than eight others.

I wanted to go see how things had changed in Terric because—as you may know—when I first visited Terric in August 2009, the commercial property built overtop of the water there extended all the way out to the sim edge, not allowing room for sailors or other water vessels to pass by so they could reach other destinations along the eastern shores of the Satori continent. At the time, mall owner Patric Rotunno was kind enough to physically LIFT a portion of his Period & Quality Merchandise shopping mall up in the air high enough so that my little Linden freebie sail boat mast could pass under it, allowing me to pass a major hurdle on my way to completing The Great Sailing Adventure and resulting book published at www.issuu.com/dahliasweet. Because of his extremely kind act, Patric went on to win an award as a "Most Impressive Person" after I completed my six-week adventure that circumnavigated me around the five Second Life mainland continents connected by a common body of water.

Back to my current visit, I landed in Terric at what had become the Miami International Airport. None of the old Terric construction existed any more. No mall, no Netera's coffee lounge. It was an entirely new view. I strolled through the expansively long "L-shaped" terminal building, past rows of counters for various airlines while I peered through its floor-to-ceiling windows out at the tarmac. There, a few airplanes and helicopters were out and in the process of being boarded or parked.

Because there was so much available space out on the tarmac, I decided this would be an ideal time for me to dig through my inventory and set out some air vehicles to see which of them I might want to keep or throw away. I went through my list, pulling vehicle out to examine before making my decision. I was happy to throw away a variety of very old planes, helicopters, space ships, and even a few crazy contraptions such as a flying donut and top hat. 

Since I was there, I considered I might as well enjoy a flight out to another airport while I was there and decided to take a flight out to Hollywood International Airport in Santa Catalina which bordered the expansive Blake Sea. I was eager to try out an old open cockpit airplane I'd never used before, so I pulled it out and gently practiced handling the controls for a few minutes before gingerly heading out to the runway. The throttle and risers were a little sensitive to the touch, but I considered if I could get it up in the air without incident, the rest should be smooth flying until I reached Hollywood to land.

So up I throttled the plane and raced down the runway picking up speed until I gained some altitude and rose up into the friendly skies. Okay, that lasted for all of about 1.3 seconds before the plane went crazy, spinning wildly and dropping right down into the water alongside a building in the adjacent sim only meters away from where I started. My flight was a total flop! I dragged my plane back into my inventory and unceremoniously dumped it into the trash.

My crash landing placed me fortuitously at the end of a runway at the Prague International Airport. Maybe this was the reason for having the two airports side-by-side afterall, I mused, seeing some logic to it now. They knew I would be coming. I swam over to the Prague runway and took out my hot air balloon this time. At least I know I can complete my trip in this, I rationalized, not wanting to end my day on a sour note. 

It seems I was more destined to fly a slow moving balloon, because I flew all the way to Hollywood Airport without any incidence. When I arrived, the airport was its usual busy self, with a constant flow of in- and out-bound traffic. Instead of trying to use the runway for a landing, I dropped down to pin-point place my basket at the end of a stone walkway on the south side of the airport. At that location, I could walk to the west side facilities where I secured a ticket for an returning flight, then back to the walkway again where I could relax on some outdoor furniture with a good view of the traffic as well as the setting sun while I waited. 

It would be a long wait for my connecting flight. As many passengers frequently do, I too had to spend the night at the airport before my flight would depart. So I spent my time reading and writing, looking around and occasionally stretching the hours away until I finally dozed off in the chair, under the constant din of arriving and departing planes, helicopters, and the occasional passing boat.

When morning arrived, I woke and looked at my watch. "SH*T! NOOOO!" I exclaimed, totally out of character, scrambling to gather up my gear and race to the runway, only to arrive in time to see my out-bound flight rumbling down the runway and lift up into the air. I had missed my plane. I don't know why it is, but I seem destined to not be a passenger on commercial flights.

Second Life Cruise Ship MS Mercuria

Dahlia stands in the Boarding Office waiting to board the MS Mercuria cruise ship.

Second Life cruise ship enthusiasts no doubt already know of the three-sim long mega-cruise ship, the Galaxy. But move over, Galaxy, because there is another smaller and more nimble cruise ship in the Second Life waters. 

Enter the MS Mercuria, with its boarding office located at Mercuria 12,15,692. 

The Mercuria is a single-sim cruise ship, but you'll find no lack of accommodations or amenities here. My friends Nya Silverfall and Hikaru Epsilon went to check it out together and thoroughly enjoyed all that we saw. We arrived the morning after it celebrated its opening to the general public and expect to see a full grand opening offered in the near days to come. 

After being on the Galaxy, one would think nothing else could feel as expansive and accommodating but upon entering the Mercuria, I was reminded me of just how big a full sim is. To my surprise, this ship seemed just as spacious and luxurious as the Galaxy and left nothing for want aboard its multi-level decks.

Of course it had the required grand lobby, upper deck swimming pool area, heliport, indoor fitness club, and meeting and state rooms. But I thrilled to see other unexpected things, including but not limited to: 

> a beautiful walking track and gardens that circled around the submerged portion of the swimming pool on the deck above it;

> a shopping district that took the form of a small village main street;

> a roller skating rink for parties;
> a library;
> a wedding chapel;
> a ballroom;
> a medical office;

> a nicely appointed night club with illuminated dance floor;

> a large theatre for films and live entertainment events

While Nya, Hiroku and I danced in the nightclub, the ship builder and owner, Eline (Rihanna Irata) joined us to talk about how development of the ship was going. She told us of more things in store, such as putting in a teleporter for sending people to their cabins, a dining area for all that great food and drink all cruise ships tempt us with, and other amenities.

Clockwise from top left: Dahlia passes through the gates in the Boarding Office to the
ship. Diagrams placed throughout the ship make it easy to find your way around.
A beautiful wooded level built around the basin of the top deck swimming pool serves
as a beautiful nature area and exercise track. One of the shopping sections had shops
built to look like they were located at a small outdoor shopping mall.

Where is Dahlia Jayaram?

Travel bags at the ready, Dahlia works out plans for getting organized 
while visiting an onsen in Beppu.

Since resuming classes at my real life university in September 2012, my time in Second Life has been greatly reduced. Even since 2010 when I started a new real life job, I had grown accustomed to squeezing in my once luxurious seven-day-a week inworld pleasures into 1-1/2 day weekends, but once school started, even weekends became increasingly squeezed while I tried to catch up on real life necessities pushed aside by work and studies during the week. 

As a result, my epic multi-continent hot air balloon adventure became grounded on my second-to-last continent to visit, Zindra, while I worked to complete my book covering the continent preceding it, Gaeta I. Stopping helped me to focus one one continent at a time and reduce the sometimes mixed-up of details between the two explorations in my memory, even though I do take copious notes while flying. Also, my weekend marketing work for MnM Designs eroded and became spotty, even though the requirements to promote new products and events were few. And finally, seeking out new inworld galleries to display photos from my travels all but ceased.

Despite these developments, I managed some notable progress during this time that I feel very good about: 
> I completed my book, The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Gaeta V and published it online for free reading at www.issuu.com/dahliasweet in December 2012. 
> I've began writing writing my book covering The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Gaeta I (although quite slowly). 
> I helped MnM Designs participate in its very first multi-vendor exposition at Second Life's first annual Sand & Sea Expo, in May 2013.
> Through the generosity of Angelwood Bay Gallery owner, Angel Kingmaker, I put together a decent exhibition of my photography that covers the complete (to-date) journey of The Great Balloon Adventure at her gallery in the Angelwood Savage Garden sim from March through April 2013. At the conclusion of the exhibition, Angel surprised me by offering to make it a permanent exhibition at the gallery, so there it will stay as long as she would like it. In addition to that, she also asked me to create a companion exhibition to cover my very first adventure and book, The Great Sailing Adventure, so I still have that work ahead of me to do as well!
> I managed to set two successful new long distance swim records, both covering the distances beginning from the far western shores off of the continent of Satori to the far eastern sims of SL Norway.
> I undoubtedly set a noteworthy Second Life long distance paragliding record by drifting from a starting altitude of 8,000 meters at the far eastern shores of the Gaeta V continent all the way to where I landed in the latter quarter of the continent of Corsica (I say undoubtedly because who else would try such a crazy thing?).

Out of Second Life, but still related to it, I managed a major reorganization of my online presence by creating additional places where I can share my photos with other Second Life enthusiasts:

> I opened a Pinterest.com account at http://pinterest.com/dahliajayaram/ to create photo albums covering these topics: Second Life People; Second Life Places; Second Life Things; Second Life The Great Balloon Adventure; Second Life Sailing/Boating; Dahlia's Journey Garden Gallery, Second Life Information; and Second Life Dahlia Jayaram. Occasionally, I look for other Pinterest users to follow their albums and to comment or share repins.

> I created new Flickr accounts starting with www.flickr.com/people/dahliajayaram/ so that I could contain up to 200 images in each of the following themes (each of these accounts are contacts to one another, so if you find one, you can look in its contacts to find the others):
Dahlia Jayaram (my general daily life, friends, events, etc.)
Dahlia Jayaram Travels! (general traveling, exploring)
Dahlia Jayaram Balloons! (hot air ballooning)
Dahlia Jayaram Boats! (sail, motor, paddle...you name it!)
Dahlia Jayaram Swims! (swimming, snorkeling, diving)
Dahlia Jayaram Dances! (dancing, clubs, concerts...let's go!)
Dahlia Jayaram Swings! (who will swing with me?)
Dahlia Jayaram At The Beach! (bikinis, lots of skin, and other associated beach fun!)
Dahlia Jayaram @ Crossing Currents Island (Lie Rang's beautiful and cherished island business home for MnM Designs)
Dahlia Jayaram | MnM Designs (my work for MnM Designs island lifestyle products)
Dahlia Jayaram The Great Balloon Adventure (images from my epic, multi-year hot air balloon journey to explore every Second Life continent)
Dahlia's Journey (my garden photo gallery, extension galleries, and limited engagement exhibitions)

> I updated my www.issuu.com/dahliasweet account which offers my online books for free reading.

> And of course, I have continued to add some entries at my blog here: dahliasweet.blogspot.com

Back inworld, aside from my regular activities described above, I continue to display a kiosk of my books and photography to promote travel and exploration of Second Life at the Helping Haven organization; to enjoy visiting friends whenever and wherever I can; to support friends by attending their gallery exhibitions and other activities; and to do smaller explorations and activities that require less time. I am also within gaining my last 47 acres to reach the maximum allowable 2,000 total personal acres in the Tiny Empires game I joined in 2009, after which I plan to retire as a princess in my Kingdom of Heros. The kingdom is ever so thoughtfully and strategically managed by the tactful hand of my TE mentor Bear Morgwain. So if you wish to join Tiny Empires or change to be in a really nice kingdom, call Bear...she is great!

My near time personal plans include: 
> Continue to promote MnM Designs products and Crossing Currents Island via direct customer service, group messages,  associated Flickr photo albums. 
> Complete and publish my book covering The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Gaeta I.
> Resume my hot air balloon travel adventure to make any additional progress I can in Zindra, then later the continent of Necera (I still can never remember how to spell the name of this continent!).
> Do a little development of the Dahlia's Journey Garden Gallery in Lenora.
> Develop the Angelwood Bay Gallery exhibit that features The Great Sailing Adventure.

So if you're looking for Dahlia Jayaram, now you know where you can find her…or at least traces of where she has been! =)

Dahlia Gets Lolas Tangos

For maybe over a year I had noticed more and more women in Second Life were sporting some incredibly shaped breasts. They were mesh "prim boob," attachments added on to the body to enhance a woman's figure. By wearing these breasts overtop one's basic avatar shape, they created a very nice female silhouette and replaced the jaggedy outline appearance created from regular avatar shaped breasts when they were enlarged beyond their ideal proportions. 

I had seen these new prim breasts being worn at all sizes, from the rarely seen perky little breast size, to the ginormous, overly exaggerated size that made my back ache just looking at them. Some breasts were fuller and rounder, others more perky. Some blended in exceptionally well where they joined to the rest of the body, while others joined more awkwardly with visible seams where basic body and prim breast skin tones didn't match perfectly. Some had a plastic looking skin sheen to them, while others had a little more natural skin looking texture to them. I could tell there was a certain "art" to matching up prim breasts to one's body. "Shaders" packaged in with the prim breasts would do their best to blend together the seams of attached prim breasts to one's existing avatar skin. Some prim breast makers even created complete body skins to help match those two together perfectly.

On top of simply matching the breasts correctly, there was then the added issue about how to cover them up with clothes. From what I understood, one's old clothes would not fit over the new breasts, which meant all one's old clothes would become obsolete when wearing the new prim breasts. Only clothes that came with an "applier" could be worn over the breasts, which meant more clothes shopping if you wanted to wear something over your breasts. I also understood that the appliers could either be purchased as an item already included with a new clothing purchase or separately for application to a wider range of clothes by the same maker. It was reassuring to know that every clothing purchase didn't also require the additional purchase of a separate applier.

I went over to the main store of the brand I liked best, Lolas. They made three different kinds of breasts. My favourite was a model called Tangos. Lolas Tangos had a decent, not plastic looking skin sheen, and had a nice, natural shape to them that I found appealing. I was plenty happy with my own basic shape and breasts, but the women who wore them looked so womanly and voluptuous. And like any woman who put on a beautiful dress to go out on an evening date, I too wanted to look like a voluptuous woman myself sometimes. 

But I almost choked when I saw the price tag: $L1750. And there was no free demo available to test with to see if they would work for me or not. As beautiful as they were, that was quite a steep investment for something I wasn't even certain I could get to work with my existing skin, a skin I surely didn't want to change just for a set of boobs. I decided to hold off making the purchase to think about it a little longer and more seriously.

For over two months I thought seriously about whether or not I should get a pair of Lolas Tangos for myself. I re-visited the shop a few times, and sought out friends and even strangers to talk to about all the technical parts of matching up skin tones. People were very encouraging to say that they thought I'd be able to fairly successfully match my skin tones, thanks to the range of colours and blending available in the appliers. My nervousness about whether or not I'd be able to match them well enough kept holding me back from making the purchase.

Finally—as it is with other purchases I put off until I'm sure I want them—when thinking about them began to keep me from having a good night's sleep, I knew I wouldn't be able to satisfy my curiosity until I purchased a set of my very own Lolas Tango breasts. I broke down and marched myself back to the store to buy a set, then eagerly took them home. Despite my excitement to have them, I was still so nervous about trying them on only to find out they didn't work for me that I didn't open the shopping package immediately. Instead, I left the unopened box on the living room floor for an entire week, sitting there in the middle of the room, taunting me out of the corner of my eye. 

On the Saturday morning following, I finally opened the box—slowly and delicately like a surgeon, fearful of damaging any part of it and making it fail. The package was full of folders for skin shade appliers, a hud, instructions, and the breasts themselves. I spent the next hour and a half putting on the breasts, resizing them and my own basic shape forms, trying on shader layers, exploring nipple options, looking at myself at all angles in changing lighting, and critically looking at myself with every tiny change until I found something I could happily live with. It was quite an effort, but I felt I'd done pretty well, even though I thought I could still improve on tweaking some details later. In the meantime, I didn't have a thread of clothing to cover them up with, so I'd have to do some serious shopping next!

In the end, I was pretty happy with the results. I was happy I purchased my Tangos and think I look pretty good in them. But like having a certain favourite dress to wear on special occasions, I already know I won't be wearing my Tangos all the time, everywhere I go. I still prefer my basic avatar skin and shape much more for every day use and love that body physics applies to it—unlike Tangos—to give it a more natural motion. And you know me…whenever I'm inworld, I'm always a body in motion!

PS: For those of you who were wondering, I don't currently plan to show myself wearing my Tangos breasts here on my blog because it is rated for General audiences. Just in time too!, because just last week Indigo Mertel suggested I take off my Restricted for Adult audiences rating because I never posted anything of that nature here. So if you want to catch a glimpse of me sporting my Tangos breasts, you'll have to find me inworld for that!

Great Views & Products For the Taking at the Sand & Sea Expo!

This week I took multiple trips to visit Second Life's 1st Annual Sand & Sea Expo held May 2-5. The event was organized by Oceanic Breedables and featured 40 vendors selling all kinds of things related to beach and aquatic environments.

There were two convenient landing zones where you could find interesting vendor displays right away with little lag to slow you down. The first was a ground level entrance and the second an underwater arrival point. I spent my first few visits at ground level before I visited the underwater displays. When I realized how incredible the underwater displays were, I was very happy I didn't overlook them completely. They were certainly worth the visit. There was a large variety of wonderful ocean plants to see, some beautiful whales and other fish, and a really incredible giant metal octopus with a head made out of a diver's bell helmet that you could actually walk into.

Rising up out of the water, I arrived at the sea front which was lined with docks full of boats and boating gear. I found a very tiny sailing boat from Motor Loon Marine that was sooo cute, I fell in love with it. Unfortunately, it was still being built and not ready for sale. I promised myself to go to their shop until I could get it and use it for a future adventure.

Another thing that I immediately fell in love with was something that seemed made only with me in mind: a large tree that had decorative illuminated hot air balloons hanging from it. I couldn't help myself; I simply had to get both the tree—which also included a wooden bench seat and pillows on it that surrounded the trunk—and two boxed sets of the decorative balloons (there were four sets to choose from). I planned to place it in my outdoor garden gallery at Dahlia's Journey in Lenora, where I display photos from my hot air balloon adventure exploring each of Second Life's mainland continents.

I also liked a garden bungalow from 3Design that contained a small hot tub in it. It also didn't seem ready for market because it didn't allow one to sit on its nice furniture or in the hot tub. But it looked like it could be a big hit once sitting animations, fabric changing chair menus, and hot tub steam effects were included.

While I was admiring the hot tub bungalow, I talked with Jarnz Dench and Rya Nitely, two exhibitors from TUFF. They agreed that it looked like a very nice idea and build. I showed them where the company I work for, MnM Designs, displayed its land and seascaping products next door to the bungalow. Rya said he had just been admiring it earlier, thinking that it all looked very high quality, which I appreciated. When also talked about a small toy boat they had made, Rya gave a free copy to me which was unexpected and so thrilling. I was delighted to receive it and I assure you, Rya and Jarnz, I'll be placing it out for sailing!

All over the expo there were a lot of freebies that vendors offered. I scooped up all that I could whenever I was there, and I'm dying to unpack and enjoy them all—things like scuba gear, mermaid wear, beach huts and supplies, furniture, boats and more. 

There was only one problem I had with the expo: that it didn't last longer! I felt the organizers did a really fantastic job to secure the location, coordinate the plans and participants, and to ensure there was little lag or functional problems with the the event. Bravo to you all and I certainly hope to return again once the SECOND Sand & Sea Expo begins in 2014!

MnM Designs to Display at Second Life's 1st Annual Sand & Sea Expo

Dahlia stands with signs placed at Crossing Currents Island to announce MnM Designs participation at the expo.

I'm excited. Very excited. I'm excited in the same way I would be when I am on my way to see a new beach for the very first time. Why am I so excited you ask? Well, it is because I am going to a new beach—of sorts—from May 2–5. This is when Second Life holds its very first annual Sand & Sea Expo, where a sim full of some of Second Life's most talented designers will converge to show many of the fabulous things they make especially for residents who want to enhance their island lifestyles.

Another of the reasons I'm excited is because the expo organizers invited MnM Designs—a company I work for—to participate. In 2006, master builder Lie Rang founded MnM Designs with the mission to create the highest quality natural landscaping and seascaping products possible. I believe she has done a fabulous job to achieve that, and as a result, she has built MnM Designs into one of Second Life's premier creators of island-related nature environments. 

Of course, I can't help but to be partial to cheer for Lie; I joined MnM Designs in 2009 as Lie's sales and marketing partner and I have enjoyed repaying her, you might say, by giving something back to her for the sheer pleasure she has given to me by creating such a beautiful and scenic showroom as Crossing Currents Island. This is where Lie puts her creations on display freely for the public to enjoy in a stunning natural island environment.

Another reason I'm excited is because this is the very first expo MnM Designs has taken part in. Being  on a showroom floor along with a variety of other exhibitors will be a new dimension for the company. In the past, we have only sold directly from Crossing Currents, on the internet through Second Life's Marketplace, and while at limited engagements on other property locations. Much of our customers come by way of word of mouth, exposure to the Marketplace or by visiting islands that use MnM Designs products. 

For residents interested in receiving notices of new product releases and associated news, MnM Designs offers a free user group to join that doesn't take up any inworld group slots. And for fun, Crossing Currents Island has a Flickr group album that residents can submit photos to of themselves taken while visiting the island.

The location of the expo is at Secluded Falls (16,195,21). Access will be allowed through May 2-5. Because most the expo will occur during weekdays when I cannot be inworld, I hope you will go, enjoy, take pictures to send to me or the Crossing Currents Flickr album, and tell me what you thought of the expo later. I plan to drop by in whatever time I can manage to squeeze in myself!

The MnM Designs expo display featured a central accent island ringed by mini models of its products.