Nation, by Terry Prachett
Come join us at the Winterfell Library, at 12 Noon, Sunday the 14th December, 2008 to discuss this interesting new book!

From the author widely known for his Discworld series, Nation is something new and stands alone in it's own universe. A non-Discworld novel that Terry said he felt he had to write over the last few years. Such a departure from the expected continuation of the Discworld related "Tiffany Aching" series has already caused some serious deliberation and discussion about the book without even looking at its content.

Opinions seem very polarized, and I feel that those familiar with Pratchett's works will have a lot to say about how it differs from the usual. However the book, while written in a Pratchett style is something apart, and has a timeless depth to it. Those who have never read a Pratchett book before will really enjoy this one, and need no introduction to any of his other work beforehand, and be able to add some great insights into his writing from a fresh perspective.

The book starts out in the Pelagic Ocean Islands and follows the course of a young Islander boy, a young English lady of noble birth and their attempt to cope with the devastating effects of the tidal wave that brings them together. As the survivors come together on the island, a great many questions arise, and not just about where the next meal is coming from. Many of the people wonder why the gods allowed this to happen, and there is a real depth to the questions that Pratchett's characters ask in this book as they seek to rebuild a Nation.

Come join us at the Winterfell Library, at 12 Noon, Sunday the 14th December, 2008 to discuss this interesting new book!

I LOVE THEM!!!

Uni took many long hours of figuring these trees out, they are two prims each and have amazing textures that change when you (the owner) touch them. There are 5 sizes, seven seasonal leaf/branch textures and five seasonal bark textures... Did I mention they are COPY?

1000L for the pack, you will get a 250L refund if you are a Winterfell resident, make sure you wear your tag! You can find them here!

Comes with a bonus unscripted "Ray of sunlight" to further accentuate your trees.

The pack is set to No MOD due to the use of mega prims for sizes. this
is so you as the owner does not inadvertently resize and break a tree. If you have a specific size you would like, please IM Uni Ninetails and she will make you a specific size for a small fee. Tho I can't imagine needing a custom, the sizes included in the pack are really versatile.

ENJOY!!

Well gosh then its time to give thanks to all of you who have held my hand when I was sad, giggled at me when I was being a goof, stood up for me when I was the victim, cheered for me when I was successful and rooted me on when I was ready to quit.

It’s been a wacky year, which I will recap in my New Years post…. But for today, I want to thank you all for sharing your second life with me!!

Much Love,
Miss Serra

Bloodlines Sanguinus has finally been delivered and is in the final stages of set up.

I have to cut a few more plots, set up the tier meter and set up the shop meters.

I believe I will have this done tonight, if I don't get hammered with IM's or emergancies. *crosses fingers*

Much love!
Miss Serra

I was glancing at the BareRose site found myself wondering "how in the hell does anyone keep up with this level of output?"

I counted at least 10 new outfits I want... boy is it a good thing that she doesn't have a way to shop her things while I am at work. Bad things would happen.

Besides Pink Mist as referred to on the previous post, I will be getting these:

Ethnica
Duet
White Mist
Minoan
TRADurian
Colored Karra
Nocturne
Pirates Queen
Dressage
Elisa

Gotta love me some BareRose

Does ANYONE know who makes this jacket???



Image found on Second Look Studio ... really quite a lovely blog.

Sunday, November 23, 2008 at 1pm SLT, The Victorian Ladies' Society will be hosting their "Farewell to Fall Victorian Carnival" at the Winterfell Taure En Lor dock.

Come play the duck hunt game, or venture into the burlesque tent. The tarot card reader can tell you your fortune, or dance the night away with someone you love.

Come one come all, if we have at least five people, I'm sure we would be willing to start a game of musical chairs!

IM Maiya Writer for more details or visit the Victorian Ladies' Society in world.

The OpenSpace sims of Winterfell Requiem, Winterfell Mithras and Winterfell Haven have been taken away to convert Winterfell Morigion into a full sim. Jace and his team are working feverishly to get the island back up and functioning, and I suspect that with the speed of Jaces whip... construction will be complete by the mid weekend.

I have been promised a grand reopening party to celebrate - keep your eye out for the invite.

The schedule for conversions are as follows:

Move Winterfell Libris to its new home east of Reverie

Convert Winterfell Sonnet, Winterfell Dark Sea and Winterfell Eventide into Winterfell Maldoror (full sim) and place it in its new home north of Morigion

Move Winterfell Harbor to its new home east of Sanctuary

Convert Winterfell Breakwater, Winterfell Eidolon and Winterfell Serenity into Winterfell Amaranthine (full sim) and place it in its new home north of Winterfell Laudanum

And finally move the remaining OS sims into place and figure out how to convert Winterfell Undertow into a full sim. I am short one OS. Do I let it just poof or do I pay for the extra OS to convert? And if I do convert, is there any demand for more Dark Victorian land?

*EDIT* I have taken the plunge and bought an OS sim off a friend who had an extra from his conversions. So that OS sim along with Winterfell Fathom and Winterfell Elysium will be used to convert Winterfell Undertow into Winterfell Anodyne.

Much Love,
Miss Serra

Yes yes I know... I go through templates like no ones business...

But I figured with the upcoming Bloodlines project that my personal blog can't really be only about Winterfell, so a new look and title was in order... so back to my "head" companies name In Perpetua Designs

I hope it's not too disturbing to your delicate sensibilities.

On Sunday October 26th, literally the day before the new OpenSpace policy was announced by Linden Lab, I had finalized talks with Liquid Designs about creating and running their land development for The Thirst: Bloodlines.

The Thirst: Bloodlines is a complete vampire system and multi-player interactive role-playing game based in Second Life. It's based on the popular vampire system The Thirst that's been available in Second Life from Liquid Designs since the beginning of 2007.

I have known Mars Bracken for a few years though the Winterfell shops and have always admired his style and business sense. When he came to me for advice on land management I was more than happy to answer his questions. After a few hours of talking it became clear that the best option for Mars was to have someone run the Bloodlines land development for him. I offered my self up for that possible role, and after he talked to his business partner we had a deal!

My plan had been to get the ball rolling and order the land on the 27th, but we all know what happened Monday. So all my time has been trying to get Winterfell under control and figured out before I even gave myself the okay to start thinking about Bloodlines. As of yesterday all the service tickets have been placed with Linden Lab to get the Winterfell OS’s converted or moved to their new homes, so now I can start working on the new Bloodlines Estates!

The first Bloodlines Estates island (Bloodlines Sanguinus) will be located off the north coast of the island named Liquid Designs, and will be like Winterfell in the fact that there will be residential land as well as commercial land and a small boutique located at the TP hub. Theme will be medieval vampiric fantasy, and the covenant will be released soon.

I am very excited about this new project, I hope you all will come and celebrate its opening with me… when it gets here!

Much Love,
Miss Serra

I feel like my face is forever stained with tears and this knot in my throat will never go away... but I am trying to get through this with my head held up and an optimistic outlook. I am clinging to the dream that is Winterfell, clinging to the dear and cherished friends I have made, many of which have found a permanent place in my heart.

But much like the end of my grandmother’s life, countless scary diagnosis and endless complications, there was the moment that we just had to face the facts, she was dieing and she was dieing soon.

Now I feel the same way about Second Life. Outright denial and blind optimism is replaced with quiet acceptance and determination to make the best the inevitable end. The final diagnosis has been given; Linden Lab will do as they please when they please how they please. Second Life has become cancerous, beauty is being taken over by greed and substandard management.

Winterfell will not be closing any time soon… but you see that speck on the horizon?

*points to that little dot gleaming on the sunset colored waters*

That is where we are going. I can’t see what or were it is yet and I know it will be a dark journey … but when we get there we will be greeted with a brand new sunrise. We will take a deep breath of fresh brand new air and close our hands around each others hands and begin again as a family with a single vision.

So in my sadness I know there is a future happiness… and I thank each and everyone of you for standing by me in this terrible time, sharing in both my heartbreak as well as my joy.

I love you all.
Miss Serra

I haven't posted in a w while... I am sure I will have a crap load to say after this next announcement by LL regarding the OpenSim issue... stay tuned.

A friend came to me asking advice about some drama happening to and around her in Second Life and in the process of talking about what was happening she said this to me:

“You know, I’m just a woman, just playing a computer game, trying to be creative and crack wise with my friends... I never meant for things to get so out of hand. People in RL would NEVER treat me the way I have been treated, and I would have no cause to sink to such low behavior.”

People forget there are other PEOPLE on the other side of the screen. Our sense of self is so exposed that we are super sensitive to any comment or action. Like a rubber ball, an action is shot out, bouncing off of someone getting fired back and forth, gathering up all the negativity and anger growing bigger and bigger until real damage is done.

“I never meant for things to get so out of hand”

I won’t pretend to be immune from this. Just yesterday I got an IM from someone that was condescending and I felt entitled to bark and defend my position so I lunged out and acted totally out of character and with venom. About 30 minutes later I stopped and though “damn! I am so out of line” So I responded again, with care and sensitivity… I apologized for my words, admitted I was wrong and agreed to correct the problem. I got another IM back apologizing as well for the tone of the original IM… we were both suffering from not remembering there is a person on the other side of the screen. This situation could have blown up to catastrophic proportions, but it didn’t because of communication and care.

Back to my friend asking for advice…

After a good bit of floundering for a few good words to give her I finally spat these out:

“Sometimes peace means you have to sacrifice yourself… lay it all out... admit mistakes... ask for forgiveness… and resolve to change... and stick to it”

Lay it all out: make your perceptions clear, share your feelings and explain your actions.

Admit to mistakes: apologize for anything you regret, such as your actions, words chosen and tone used.

Ask forgiveness: Seriously, ask for it, be accountable. It will make you feel better.

Resolve to change: Spell out how you want to change and what you intend to do to make things right to the other person; this will let them know you are serious.

STICK TO IT! Nothing will undermine your credibility more than not following through with what you say you will do.

And lastly:

Acceptance: We can not control how others will act or react. If you follow the above suggestions and you are still met with drama and spite… let it roll off your back, just let it go. You have done your part to make things better; you have made yourself accountable. If the other person wants to harbor venom and negative feelings towards you, let them. Treat every single person you meet with dignity and respect and you will be respected and treated with dignity.

If you are neck deep in drama it might take a while to see results, but it will happen, I promise.