Don’t you hate it when people aren’t nice? Sometimes I wonder. Sometimes it seems like some people just want to be hateful and don’t give two squats about what others want or need, or what is right or wrong. They live on the “me” level. And I find that SO disconcerting. It is NOT that I have never “visited” that level, not that I have never put my thoughts and desires above other, because I have. . .  more than once. But I am not proud of it. And I hope that I don’t do it too often and that I learn what a great price you pay when you put your own needs ahead of others.

It happens even in the virtual world. You see it all the time. You unwittingly open a profile and feel the skin melt off your face from the venom that is spewed forth. . . and I always wonder. . . why? Or you go to one of your favorite “designer boutiques” to shop the sales and pick up many many WONDEROUS goodies. . . only to find that there is a group of griefers stationed at the landing point. And it seems their sole purpose is to make you feel bad about yourself, to ridicule you, to harrass you to the point of almost leaving. (You notice I said ALMOST. . . who could pass up some of those bargains???? Not me!!) And again I wonder. . . why? WHY would someone want to spend their spare time doing that to people?

Recently I have become aware of some kind of “war” going on between two groups of people in our virtual world. I am not even sure WHO the two groups are nor do I really want to know, for then I might be forced to take sides. . . something I am hesitant to do. But they seem to be fighting about. . . name calling. OK. . . it is more than that. . . it is ideas and principles and measures of respect. I understand being upset by it. I just wish there was a productive way to solve the conflict. It seems like there is so much hate being spread by BOTH sides. WHY?

And I think of the feeling that I get sometimes that some creators are really resentful of bloggers and wish that they did not have to deal with them at all. It seems they view us as “bottom feeders”. . . only looking for freebies. I don’t know of bloggers that DO that kind of thing. That USE creators to get what they want with NO intent of ever blogging it. But that idea creates some kind of “us against them” mentality that is hurtful to everyone. I wonder why it has to be so? I just wanna shop and play dress up and tell other people about the wonderful creations I find. I take it seriously. I really DO think about the creators and the longer I blog fashion, the more I learn and the more I find out what it is that the creators are looking for and the more responsible I feel.

Sometimes when I look at all these things it is easy to feel down. It is sometimes hard when you realize that your precious virtual world is really nothing more than a recreation of the world that you sometimes wish you could get out of! And then I think about all the WONDERFUL things I have found here in SL. I think of my wonderful husband that I never would have found without Second Life. I think about my SL sister and how she put her REAL life on the line for me, her VIRTUAL relative. Without her I could not have made the changes that were SOOOOO necessary in my life. I truly do not know where I would be today had she not wandered into my virtual life!

I think of the recent project of which I was privileged to be a part. It is kind of a long story and one that I am not sure I can reiterate correctly, but to the best of my understanding Cajsa Lillihook learned that one of our beloved designers, Squinternet Larnia of Donna Flora had become quite ill. Cajsa had herself in the not to distant pass fought a life threatening illness and won. She KNEW how important love and support can be to someone going through such a thing. So she embarked upon “Donna Flora A to Z” in which any resident that desired could blog a Donna Flora item, just to let her know how much she is loved and appreciated. And I must say, the results are phenomenal! Over 60 residents came forward wanting to blog for the project and the compilation can be found at the Donna Flora exhibit at FFL. . . or here, for those of you that wish to see it online. Either way, it is a powerful statement of the love and caring that we residents of SL have to offer one another. Please take the time to look it over.

With all that in mind, I have to say that I met a most kind and gracious designer the other day. It is Ever Courtois, designer for Ever an’ Angel. Ever An’ Angel is a new “find” for me. I stopped by their store and found a large range of clothing, from casual, to formal, to classy, to even items with a gypsy or elven flair. There were also shoes, jewelry and handbags there. I am glad to be sporting one of their cocktail dresses today. The jewelry and shoes are ALSO from Ever An’ Angel.

This look was almost complete from one store, with the exception of the nails. I just HAD to do a close up of the nails for you. These are once again, from WTG Jewelers. This is their French Nail and even though I chose NOT to wear the french tip with it, it is an option in the HUD, along with BUNCHES of other nail colors, pearls or diamond gems and with or without rings. I know I have been preaching about the goodness you can find at WTG for quite some time now, but if my words have not convinced you, perhaps the pictures will!

So there you have it. I am not going to go into every tiny detail of who and what I am wearing. I have pretty much covered it and there are styling notes below. I would prefer to spend this time saying: Thank you Ever, for your kindness and patience with me. It has restored my faith in creators and the working relationship that we can have together in a virtual world, doing what we love. You will never know what that means to me.

Thank you Cajsa for allowing me to be a part of Donna Flora A to Z. I TRULY feel privileged. I am an ex-nurse by profession. I cannot nurse here in Germany, but I still feel the need to reach out and help those who are ill. When I saw what you were doing, I felt like it was some small way that I could do that. Thank you for allowing me to feel that again.

As always to my dear sister, if you read this. . . remember how much I love you. Remember who you are. Life can be good again. I wish I had a magic button to make all things right or at the very least to ease the pain. But all I can tell you is how much I love you, how grateful I am to have you in my life and that it is ok when you feel frail. You do NOT have to “be strong” all the time. It is ok, love.

To my most beloved Vanish. . .thank you for listening to me rant and rave when I don’t understand something. Thank you for wiping away my tears when I cry. Thank you for taking such good care of me. I am yours. . .immer.

P.S. . . special thanks to Veenya Venter, who agreed to “share” her oft used photo layout with me. (I am not as good at it as you are yet. . .LOL I am afraid that I will have to work on it some. Yours just looks SO classy!) If you have not read Veenya’s fashion blog, take a look at it here. She is new to blogging, but you would NEVER know it judging by the class and quality of her blog. I look forward to each new look she puts together! You will too!

STYLING NOTES

*Shoes: Ever An’ Angel –  Redoute Shoes –  Antique
*Dress:  Ever An’ Angel –  Redoute Cocktail Dress Antique
Skin: *YS & YS* –  Cara Pale Preview 4 TDR with Pale Breast
*Nails:  +:+WTG+:+ **French** nail
*Hair: A&A –  Kelis Hair Rust (top) Blonde (bottom)
*Jewelry: Ever An’ Angel –  Grandma’s Cameos Set –  Antique Earrings and Antique Necklace
Eyelashes: *REDGRAVE* -37- Extended
*Eyes: IKON (previously  FASHISM) ‘Sunrise’ Eyes –  Pale Blue (L)
Poses: The Art Body Store