Monday, June 30, 2008--Tech Issues (Again) and Virtual Peer Pressure

This entry probably won't be as exact as it should be--as the events happened on Friday and its now the wee hours Monday morning--I'm just now getting to write down a few thoughts.

Friday afternoon, I finally broke down and logged into Second Life.  I'd managed to avoid it all week, trying to get as many of my OLL responsibilities accomplished as possible and setting aside Friday as my "Second Life Day"--but only if I was "good."  Shortly after logging in, I received a reminder for Science Fridays and I promptly transported in.  But there was a problem, I couldn't hear the lecture.  I knew that the lecture wasn't in the chat because of the mostly incompetent drivel being discussed there (I'm sorry, but folks need to figure out that trying too hard to be cute usually ends up looking stupid.)  So my coworker Angela came over and tried to work on the problem (she was introduced to Second Life a few months ago, so I ask her all my stupid questions).

While Angela was working on my computer with my Second Life persona Aevalle Galicia, I got bored.  (It happens, a bit too easily.)  On another computer, I created--tada!--another avatar, MississippiJuniper Bookmite.  I figure MJ can be my fiction/author/Southern Belle anti-hero avatar and Aevalle will be my academic one.  There was additional problems, though.  MJ couldn't do hardly anything.  The lag on the computer I was borrowing was absolutely horrendous.  I kept ending up underwater because I couldn't help overshooting absolutely everything.

Finally, Angela figured out the issue with the sound.  I went back to my own computer, but the Science Friday meeting was over by that time.  So I went visiting some of the places I'd found the week before, including an island dedicated to all kinds of various religions/beliefs.  I love their main building and the library there.  However, I was greeted by one of the officers of the place.  I feel fairly sure that she was just trying to help, but she offered assistance in my shedding my "newbie look."  I have to admit that it embarrassed me.  I actually liked what my avatar was wearing!  After a few false starts on changing (looks that really didn't fit my personality, avatar or otherwise), I realized that my guide and the few others who were around had, indeed, gone on their merry ways. 

I found my way to Pan Shamana (basically my Second Life home, because if I'm honest, that's where I usually end up).  I finished my transformation, ending up looking much like an Autumn angel/fairie of some sort.  I saved my old "stiff suit" just in case I need it for attending lectures and not sticking out too much, but I rather like my new gold wings, poety shirt and earthy tie-die long fingerless gloves.  I celebrated my new look by flying up to the island's tree house and doing a fire dance, complete with the flaming spears, as the virtual sun set.  Its my favorite way to end a virtual day.

Getting a feel for my new wings while watching the sun set from Pan Shamana's Treehouse.