My Retreats In SL

Over the past 10 months or so, Jyllie has been able to acquire an approximately 8,000 square meter plot of land at Beachcomber Isle, the first place she landed when she began SL in 2007. Argos Hawks owns the Beachcomber sim and has been a wonderful and kind host even though he is always busy with builds, grid physics experiments and just plain taking care of business. Most of the sim is composed of casinos and, as the name implies, is beach-themed. On Beachcomber, you will find Coyote Ranch, Legatos Grotto and Magic Tree Games, and my favourite place Sand Dollars Beach Resort on the opposite corner from my land, Templador Estate. These are some photos from around Templador, feel free to stop by and relax with your SLove or just chill and watch TV. Do /1 show to reveal all possible dances and cuddles in the immediate area and enjoy :)

Also, if you do like the areas I've created in an attempt to bring Mother Nature back to SL in a drama-free zone, please do tip the bunny on the beach. My tier is wicked high on this private sim and I've put a lot of work into it for you to have a relaxing place to enjoy.

The Chill Room (features seating for 6 for brainstorming or chatting, an interactive Japanese wish stone to make all your wishes come true, and two seats for watching the currently streaming Indy Movie Channel). SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Beachcomber%20Isle/179/31/3002

Sky Sands (I couldn't think of a better name lol but new suggestions are very welcome! This skybox features a large area out front for opening boxes and building if you are part of the group and the prims are free, and a quaint front porch to get out of the parching desert sun. Inside, you'll find two areas to lounge with friends amid richly textured decorations. Over the front curtain is Taliesin, an AI bot who will actually hold an intelligent conversation with you, and inside the back left corner is Loki, my older AI bot who has gained more of a sense of thought and conversation. You may have to "tickle" them to get them to speak [touch to activate if needed]. Venture into the back room for some privacy and kick back on the pedestal of cuddles. This spot with its breathtaking colors makes for a beautiful couples photo spot.) SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Beachcomber%20Isle/199/22/2001



On beach level, you'll find an array of poses and activities from group-synchronized tai-chi or meditation in the pagoda or reading on the bridge in the Japanese garden, cuddling and enjoying the view in the treehouse (use the green teleporter at the base of the treehouse to enter), making out in the garden, paying homage to the gods at the altar, and dancing and cuddling on the beach in front of the house. There is also a place to picnic, a lovely gazebo with a panoramic view of the *gorgeous* sunrises on the island, and a tree swing for those young at heart :) The old Victorian house is also usually open. It's nothing special inside really, just our residence but check out the bathroom if you want to see a very strange toy *winks*. SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Beachcomber%20Isle/178/21/22

(Photos in this article taken by Jyllie Nightfire at Templador Estate using "Ultra" graphics setting at sunrise and sunset. Modeling: Jyllie Nightfire and Nairieth Rexen.)

Friends Through the Electronic Veil

While my SL hasn't stopped happening, it has gone through some major changes since my last post. A trove of people I thought were friends (many from RL that I introduced to SL) have come and gone, yet a few have stayed true and I have a feeling that these people will remain in my life as real friends even though I may never meet them in RL, and those that I do know in RL have proven that online drama is not a part of who they are and they have been there for me no matter what.

One person in particular I was ecstatic to get a surprise visit from this week as I was watching my partner build. Replecator Tigerpaw is a RL friend - more than that really. He makes my spirit sing and if you believe in soulmates, well he's what I would define as one. He had to disappear abruptly last May due to military and family obligations and other personal issues, but this week he reappeared looking for me and it was like we'd never missed a beat. He was as taken aback by my upgraded skin and hair as I was by his own avvie, whose hair seems to have actually gone *backwards* in time LOL! We went directly to voice and had a very long talk to catch up and reunite -- it was amazing to see him again. While his SL time is still extremely limited, we have other ways of keeping in touch, and now that he is retiring from the Navy this year (22 years!), it may be a lot easier to get together.

Another good friend, Chipipon Clip, has been through his own hell recently in-world and in life and is just as grateful for me as I am for him. I've known Chip since I began in SL and we've developed a friendship that goes beyond the grid as we share each other's life stories, happenings, joys and let-downs and always have a shoulder free for the crying-on. Last night he was bored and lonely in SL (it happens often, even to me) and was looking for something to distract him, so I suggested totally at random to go to a carnival and have some fun. He hit the Showcase, found one, and as soon as he landed, some asshole started in on him, accusing him of IM'ing his girlfriend and trying to pick her up, then violently physically and verbally attacking him for no reason. This guy really took griefing to a new level. Chip, not the fighting type, quickly caged him and retreated to my Sky Sands skybox at the Estate, where he found comfort in a snuggle and a good long vent. (My avvie looks different by the way because I was on my alt at the time, picking up some new clothes for her in the Greatest Love hunt.) Sometime this weekend, Chip and I are supposed to get together to do a photo shoot with me modeling. He does some really amazing work in Photo Shop with his SL pics.

Most importantly, now that we have added a router to our (RL) home, Nairieth and I are finally able to get together and dance again on SL. Out of all the things to do with loved ones on SL, dancing remains my favorite. I'll be blunt -- I can't dance to save my life. If life came with pose balls, I'd be set. Til then, my movement skills will remain on the grid LOL... But Nair and I are both ecstatic that we can be together in-world again. It is both sad and funny as well as a sign of the times that we will sit in the same room together in RL while dancing and chatting together in-world. People think we're sick and we love it ^_^ Just proof that good things CAN come from SL.

When I'm not spending time with friends, I'm busy running around for Lucky Chairs and hitting the Midnight Mania boards, in many of which are some nice high-quality prizes from jewelry to clothing and more.

From one I got an entire living room set which I put in my Chill Room (not pictured here, but this is the TV set-up which I finally got the stream working for woot!).



So that has been my SL lately. Thankfully the majority of drama has been risen above thanks in great deal to a little help from my friends. Now Nair and I can settle in and enjoy our Estate, enjoy building and texturing and dancing and all those other little things that make SLife worthwhile.