So much hate in the world today...

     I usually like to keep my SL life lighthearted affair.  Why drag my RL issues into the world.  I am not looking for therapy but just some time to relax and enjoy myself for awhile.  Sometimes RL just keeps getting in the way of your thoughts and your enjoyment of SL.
     A few days ago, Paris was attacked by ISIS. Again, we see innocent people hurt due to some radical agenda.  A day before that, Beirut attacked and the week prior, a Russia plane shot down.  Though that would bring enough sadness, I have read endless threads on my Facebook from my so called Christian friends requesting that we do not allow refugees into our country.
     The stereotyping of the people of Islam is appalling to me. Radical Christians do not reflect the actions of true Christians.  We as Christians know those do not reflect our teaching of Christ.  It sickens me when Westboro Baptist Church uses Christ to spread their hate.  So called Christians have bombed abortion clinics and killed doctors.  So why do we hold Muslims accountable for these radical Muslims yet we don't hold Christians accountable for radical Christians?

      Americans have been home for years for immigrants and refugees.  I am merely third generation American.  Throughout my life, I have watched Cuban refugees come into Florida.  They were not welcomed because they may bring their "Communist" ideals. After the Vietnam  War,  we had an influx of Vietnamese refugees.  Did they bring gloom and doom to the USA?  No, they brought more diversity to the USA.  By not allowing Syrian refugees, aren't we letting the radicals win?  Don't you think if the Western World denies a safe place  for these people to live, they won't start believing what the radicals are saying about us?  The radicals want want us to live in fear.  They want us to strike out against American Muslims;The one group they hate as much as American Christians.    They don't want us accepting their fellow countrymen because they will be proven liars. 

   Stay Safe James.  My partner had to travel overseas for business this week.  Luckily, it wasn't Europe this time but was unaware of what happened in Paris until he landed.  He was able to contact me so I don't worry and wish me a Happy Birthday. 
             I promise next blog entry:  Mesh hair..is it really a step forward ?

RIP

   Since my significant other was gone on one of his business trips, I decided to revisit some old places in SL. It was kinda one of those ...I wonder what ever happened to..... I have been doing a lot of revisiting of places to see that most of my old SL doesn't exist instead they are sex sims or just empty lots.  Here is my list of SL dead but not forgotten:

Last Call

         This was one of my favorite stores of all time.  Every time they would have a new release, you could not get into the store fast enough. They truly had a sense of style and one of the fashion icons in SL fashion  Unfortunately, one of the designers died in RL and the remaining designers did not want to carry on as Last Call/Dazzle.  They did reopen as the store, Archange, but never put the same effort as they did with Last Call. Even after all these years, I still will slip on one of their outfits and it will still be stylish as the first time I bought it.

          Store closed March 31,2008
           Archange closed soon after



Stiletto Moody 

          This place was the place to get very beautiful but very expensive shoes.  I rarely bought any of these shoes at full price (800-1000 L for shoes). Once the store called a sale, you had to fight to get into the sim and hope you didn't crash once you got there. 

What happened?  I am not really sure to be honest.  I stayed in the group until recently and noticed no action in that group for a long time.  (Last huge sale was Valentine's day 2012)  I went on the sim last year to look around and it was a ghost town.  The new shoes were the summer of 2011.  I read later that Stiletto was known for not paying his/her people in the creative process.  Its final nail in its coffin?  The horrible skins they developed.  In my opinion, she males in SL looked better than this.

Store closed Dec 2013 ??

Insolence

        Another store of mine that I spent a lot of time in.  In SL, there is a fine line between trashy and a classic sexy.  Most lingerie stores in SL like that trashy, whore look.  Insolence was that classy sexy look that many could not achieve. For over six years, she kept us beautiful. The owner decided to stop creating, closing her store and leaving SL.  She does maintain a little store in a popular freebie place but hasn't added to her collection.  She keeps selling her items on the marketplace (Insolence)    RIP July 2012

                  

*Shakes my Head*

Oh its be awhile........

     I really don't know why I do not write as much.  I actually enjoy writing.  I guess I lack a motivating factor that compels me to write.   I was reading a profile of a person I used to know and saw she was writing a blog. Of course, I just kinda think that I could do so much better.   So what has happened to Lola since I wrote last?

• Lola still has the same SL partner.  (Really, I do)  Before you think it, he still visits me daily unless he has a business trip overseas.  (Which was the reason I did start writing a blog, keep me entertained when he was away)  It isn't always easy and some days I think about detaching his only mesh part.  In the end, you just have to work things out and remember what is important.
• Browns still haven't made the playoffs since 2002.  The best thing is my partner's team is just as bad.  (He wouldn't say the "best thing") Our current competition is who is getting the better position in the draft.  
• I am now known as a "classic avatar" or like I would say " refuses to buy into the whole mesh body thing".  Shapes have become so unrealistic.  Women's boobs can poke eyes out and asses can now have their own area codes.  Clothing ads will show avatars with lower parts that should appear on the back ends of horses.  (6 inch gaps between thighs...really is that realistic?)  
• The GOP is looking for a new nominee for president.  Right now, Donald Trump is currently in the lead.   I will let that sink in for a minute.  I hope to get a good laugh from this a year from now.
• The Christian Right is upset that Starbucks' holiday cups are just red this year.
• I still live on the same sim.  James and I are just creatures of habit I guess.
• Duran Duran and Adele released a new Cd this year.  The new Star Wars is a month away.  

             Duran Duran Pressure Off
             Adele Hello  

  So a lot has changed and a lot stayed the same.  Lola must write more often.  (Well, should easier this week, James will be overseas this week.)  So more random thoughts to come.....
                          

                                                

 

I am tired of winter.....

      My closest friends in SL know that I live in a very crappy place during the winter.  I may see snow from October to end of April..(Yes, the end of April.)  This year I am living in the city with the highest snowfall in the USA.  I guess if you are going to deal with the snow, you should be the most.  (As of yesterday, I am at 133 inches or a little over 11 feet )  I guess I could deal with the snow if it wasn't so "fricken" cold.
                                                                                                                                                               




   So I tend to be crabby more on SL during this period because I am so tired of the weather.   (Also jealous that my SL partner lives in a very sunny and warm Southern California city)

    So my friends in SL that think I am just unbearable to be around right now, I apologize with all my heart.

The only thing I can look forward to is the fact that....

8 more days until the first pitch

(Granted the first month, we will watching from the stands in parkas and mittens)

Just for fun for the baseball fans:  Top ten closer entrance songs

Profile whoring...I feel like I need to shower with a Brillo pad

   When I am bored in SL, I love to sit somewhere crowded and just read profiles.  I like to think its kinda like facebook.  People try to create an illusion or use their profiles to sometimes to set an agenda.  Well I complied a list of things that should be banned because of their overuse:

     1.  The 14 year old girl holding hands with her 3 year old son, the one you just called a slut... She was raped at the age of 11.  The girl you just called fat...shes overdosing on diet pills.  The girl you just called ugly... she spends hours putting makeup on hoping people will like her.  The boy you just tripped... he is abused enough at home.  See that man with the ugly scars... he fought for his country.  That guy you just made fun of for crying... his mother is dying. 
                                         Put this in your picks if you're against bullying.

       Don't get me wrong....I am against bullying for several reasons BUT when you see the same message 50 million times, it kinda loses its impact.

      2.  IM me, I don't bite but may nibble a little

       UGH......I don't even have to explain this but if I do, you have it in your profile.

      3.  The separation of RL and SL...

        I never really understood that one.  What do you talk about in SL.  Now I am not saying, you need   to give out every personal detail of your life to put yourself in some potential harm but not sharing anything about yourself.. *rolls eyes*

      4.  I am a submissive....I am not a doormat, stupid etc.
       
          I hate, hate (did I mention I hate..) this one.  *Pulls you closer and whispers in your ear*  "If someone is treating you this way, maybe you are allowing them.."

                                                            See you all later

AND SCRUBBING YOU WITH  A BRILLO PAD...

The unromantic Lola ...

        My last post was actually written during the past month, but I never posted.  I really did not know what direction to go with it.   It made me sound slightly pessimistic,which I guess I am at times.  In fact, I know many people in the SL world with very successful online relationships. Even the unromantic Lola is currently in one.

        I know I can feel the "eyes rolls" as you read that last statement. Yes, even I have caught the SL "love bug".  No, we did not have a big fancy wedding with wedding videos.  (Ok, I found a Las Vegas wedding chapel for fun...We got married by Elvis)  We didn't have an elaborate collar ceremony with me kneeling at his feet as tears fell from my eyes.       
We just became "we".  (This is actually true..we debated on an anniversary date because we just happened)
       Am I an expert in relationships....not even close.  I just know what has worked for us. Quite honestly from a realistic stand point, we should not have worked as long as we did. We both live on separate coasts.  He is married to his rl job and as I remind him, I am merely his "mistress".  In the end, we just make it work.  So sometimes we argue (We don't talk about last year's Superbowl) and sometimes, one of us falls asleep but the most important thing, we try.  We both realize we have a RL and things that take priority, but nothing puts a smile on my face more than a little im from him at work.  I like reminding him that lunch at his desk is not always a healthy option in the long term.  I like to think we just take it one day at a time..1825 + days so far. 

Love me for forever...or until you are bored?

    The Second Life experience can be very much a "second life" or even a "first life" for many people that log into SL daily.  One of those aspects is relationships.  What I noticed in SL is that people are either trying to establish one or avoiding one.  I have read several profiles of members that are in relationships on SL.  How can you tell?  Oh.... here are Lola's observations:

1. Several pictures of them together
2. Many..many youtube links of  "their songs"
3. Romantic poetry,either written by SL member or copied from someone.
4. Group ownership so they can write "cutesy" tags as "Lola's Love Muffin"                                      

     Partnerships in SL can be simple or complex.  It all depends on the way a person perceives SL.  I read once that an average relationship on SL lasts 6 months. It is a long standing joke that within the month of partnering, they will be done.  Weddings in SL can be as expensive as RL ones.  (check out Youtube for SL wedding videos...I am not joking...).  I have been to gay weddings, threesome weddings and of course, the traditional ones,  I have heard some incredible vows and some that made me laugh. Out of all those weddings, none of them survived longer than a month afterwards. 

     So what about me?  I think I am a very down to earth.  I have a few people call me cold hearted and aloof.  I think I am just realistic.  I do not believe that you can fall in love with a person at first sight or even two weeks later.  In my world, that is called LUST.

                    Lust: 

     1.  intense sexual desire or appetite.          

    2.  uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite; lecherousness.

    3.  a passionate or overmastering desire or craving.

       

     If you look at my handy, dandy definition courtesy of dictionary.com, it seems like a temporary condition.  Yet, so many people on SL rush to write poetry and look for their "song" on youtube to post in their profile.  So when this phase runs this course, what happens next?  Does the relationship become an "open relationship"?  (That is code for my partner doesn't come on anymore or has an alt so that she/he doesn't have to talk to me).  Should we just assume in SL a relationship is just something two people do until you are bored?