STAY IN THE KNOW

Keeping You Up To Speed.

Be Involved In The SL Community

Awareness is Key to Positive Change.

Explore Your Options

Get your REAL experience points HERE!.

CREATIVITY

The Possibilities are Endless.

Find Your Inner Peace

Ground Yourself and Discover New Things

SLE Ticker



18 Years and counting...Got SL News? Get it Published! Contact Lanai Jarrico at lanaijarrico@gmail.com
Showing posts with label Autumn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Autumn. Show all posts

Monday, September 25, 2023

Corn Maze! Stacey Cardalines Reporting...


I grew up in a suburban part of New England, and a major rite of Autumn was to go to a corn maze. 

Autumn is unique in that there is no major participatory holiday like the 4th of July or Christmas between Labor Day and Halloween. Many people therefore use Autumn as a sort of minor, extended celebration that ranges from pumpkin patches to apple cider donuts to hay rides. This gets them through the end of October, where they can hang ghouls off the house and dress like a Scary Nurse.

The town I grew up in was not immune to this, so every year would see a bunch of us- sometimes drunk- head out into the farm country to wander through a corn maze. I only say "sometimes drunk" because I was both doing mazes as a child (not drinking) or taking the kids to it (drinking after), which balances out my teens, early twenties and going-with-friends part of my life where one would have to be drunk to go to one.





About half the time, we never finished the maze, backtracking our way out and vowing to whip the maze next year. This happened every time we went after drinking, and a lot of the times where the children wore out easily. I can't actually remember beating the maze, to be honest, although I suppose we probably beat it a few times as children and I just can't remember. 

There are corn mazes in every county where I live, and where I live is only semi-rural. I can't imagine how many there must be in somewhere like Iowa. I recall reading that driving through there was basically "corn corn corn Walmart corn corn corn Gas Station corn corn corn Burger King corn corn corn..." They must have mazes everywhere there, and it would be cool to connect them all into an Iowa-sized maze and trap like 3% of America's population there during Tourist Season.

Corn mazes came into vogue in the 1990s, although no one knows who the first genius to try this out was. The idea sprung from the fact that you have to grow acres and acres of corn to make a profit, and the stalks have to be cut down after. Some great human figured out how to make a maze from this, people showed their interest with their pocketbooks and a new tradition emerged. Many farms rely on this part of the year to stay in the black.

With the bleedover into Halloween season, many mazes are also "haunted," and feature various goblins and serial killers. At least one horror movie- Chlidren Of The Corn- is set in a cornfield, and I am probably forgetting others. A corn maze is closely related to a hedge maze, and even an amateurish corn maze somehow looks creepier than the hedge maze at the end of The Shining. That's not easy to do.

They are best as a rural thing, however. Not many people farm these days, and a corn maze is often the only time a lot of people get close to a way of life that almost everyone practiced at one time.




I went to French Farm on SL to check out a SL corn maze. I was not disappointed. The sim is wholly decked out for fall, and I plan to get several articles out of my visit there. I must have took 100 pictures. They did a really nice job with the season, and I advise you to check it out for yourself. I don't know if they are French or just named French.




Their maze is easy to navigate, and has lots of surprises. There are enough dead ends (each with something cool in it) to make it so you have to at least concentrate a bit. I only took pictures of a few things in the maze, leaving the rest for our readers to discover on their own. It doesn't take long to go through, but you can stretch that out by looking everything over real slow. There are other activities on the im to keep you busy if you make it out of the maze. 



French Farm must be running this through Halloween, because they have a haunted maze, featuring various spooks and haunts and He Who Walks Behind The Rows. It's more cutesy than terrifying, and is a lot of fun either way. If they are smart, they will run it through Thanksgiving. Harvest Season sort of runs, at least in American imaginations, from the day after Labor Day until the end of November.... even late December, if you throw in Christmas tree farms


Please note that I included a picture of me finishing the maze, just in case you think I cheated my way out or anything.

French Farm:

Monday, September 11, 2023

MONIQUE’S MATCHMAKING BOOTH: A GUY’S GIFT GUIDE TO CUFFING HIS CRUSH THIS FALL - Moniques Chapeau Reporting...


Hey Lifey Babes, this is your girl Monique coming to you with the hottest advice when it comes to dating in the fast-paced world of Second Life. 

Autumn is right around the corner and my favorite of the four seasons. There is something so special about the changing colors of the leaves, pumpkin flavored drinks, knitted sweaters and football (even though I have no idea what is going on in the game LOL). 

Cooler weather conditions are perfect for keeping everyone staying indoors and logged on to Second Life. And guess what, it is Cuffing Season! 

SL dating can be challenging for guys. It’s hard to separate yourself from every other guy in your Crush's inbox. Lucky for you, I have a solution, we can get her the perfect gift. 

REMEMBER: 

The objective of cuffing season is to Woo your crush into being your Cuff for the Holiday Season at least up until after Valentine’s Day. Meaning, she is not your girlfriend yet. Therefore, we will need something a little less X-rated and something a little more flirtatious and thoughtful to win her heart!

A HOLDIE DRINK: 

GET TO KNOW YOUR CRUSH 

The Holdie gift is the safest casual choice in the Second Life gift realm. Holdies can be a cute accessory that always fits. Most importantly, a Holdie drink can be an introduction to role play, a quick coffee date to get to know your crush; it’s natural and effortless. 

She will enjoy the gesture and always remember you when she is holding it. Small gestures can create the best memories. A great casual coffee date can lead to future dates! 

The pick up line: 

● “That (Insert X-Drink Name) would be perfect for (Insert X-coffee shop/ X-juice bar), let me Teleport you there!” 

Where do we buy the gift: 

MOVEMENT: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/HYPED/240/39/3002 

● One of my favorite Holdie/Holdables stores. They have many creative options, they look realistic and have many Weekend Sales! 

In the pictures below I am at the MOVEMENT store. I am holding the “Autumn Evening - Coffee and Cinnamon” on display. I also have the” Donut Strawberry Shake.” 





AN ADORABLE PET: 

TO SHOW HER YOUR CARING SIDE 

Women are nurturers, it is in our DNA. Research shows men with cute animals in their dating profiles get more matches. Using this knowledge, we know she will love the perfect little creature as a gift. 

For the girl you already know, ask her in casual conversation what animals she likes and dislikes. Make sure her gift is not an animal she has a phobia of (that could end up to be a disaster). 

If she already has a SecondLife pet, you could get her something similar. If you two are on a personal level, you could ask her for a picture of her real life pet and you could get her the SecondLife version of that exact one. Her heart will melt so be prepared for all the Awes! 

Another thing to consider is your Crush’s overall aesthetic before you get her a pet. Example: 

● If your Crush is a girly-girl you might want something fluffy like a bunny/kitten ● If your Crush is edgy and likes black maybe a reptile/ bat 

● If your Crush is a mythical being she might like a fairy/dragon instead The Pick up Line: 

● “Your pet matches you perfectly, we should do a photoshoot of us and your new pet!” ● “I saw this (Inset X-pet type) that reminded me of (Insert her real life Pet’s name) and I thought you’d like it in Second Life too!” 

Where do we buy the gift: 

REZZ ROOM: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Paris%20City/170/139/26 ● REZZ ROOM is a great standard place to pick up the standard common pets along with a few exotic ones! 

In the picture below I am at REZZ ROOM hanging out with Lions, the cub is so cute! 

CUTE PAJAMAS: 

FOR A ROMANTIC NIGHT IN 

Cute Pajamas are a step down from the risque nature of lingerie, but still romantic. The perfect introduction to propose a late night movie date or snuggling by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. 

The pick up line: 

● “You look cute in those pajamas, you should wear them to watch a movie with me later.” ● “You look so cozy in that, you should wear it by this fireplace at (Inset X-location) while we talk and gaze at the stars.” 

Where do we buy the gift: 

GOSSIP: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ELEVEN/146/135/30 

● The store is full of nighties, sleeping shirts and other cute sets I have been eyeing. 

In the picture below I am wearing pajama shorts and a top set with adorable pizzas on them from Gossip, they also have an avocado and cow version if you like! 


JEWELRY: 

TO SHOW HER SHE’S SPECIAL 

Jewelry is for the woman you already have a deep romantic connection with.The gesture will make her feel special. You can present the jewelry on a romantic date before proposing the idea of spending the Holiday Season together. 

Simple earrings or a bracelet that matches your crushes style should do the trick. The benefit to Jewelry is it fits, and ideally should be able to match many outfits. Everytime she looks at it, she will feel adored. Remember, diamonds ARE a girl’s best friend! 

She will have something to show her girlfriends while she talks about how exciting and thoughtful you are. 

The pick up Line: 

● “I really enjoy spending time with you, my family lives far away and I was wondering if you’d like to see eachother on (Inset X-holiday).” 

● “There’s a party and I would like you to be my plus one if you would like to join me!” ● “I was thinking you could wear this. We could both dress up for a photoshoot for (X-holiday) if you like!” 

Where do we buy the gift: 

VOBE: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VOBE/141/133/504 

● An amazing location to pick up a little trinket or chain of all metals and a variety of styles. 

VEXIIN: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/XODOHTRONU/128/129/3152 ● Firstly, the store is very aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The store reminds me of a Casino, a great place to actually bring your crush to pick out the gift herself. Vexiin has great classic pieces or pieces that are more blingy your crush likes that look more! 

In the picture below I have on a double butterfly chain from VOBE called “Valentina Necklace Silver ''. I think it’s so pretty. The watch is from VEXIIN and called “Merit Diamond Watch (Platinum)” I wear it all the time as a timeless piece. 


CONCLUSION 

Autumn is one of the most eventful Seasons and in our down time indoors it is a wonderful thing to be able to spend it with people we care about, especially your Crush. As a guy, you can always show the girl you care about affection and treat her with a special gift to make memories that will last longer than a Season. 


Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving From the Sports and Leisure Desk at SLE- Stacey Cardalines Reporting...

 

Gobble Gobble!


Thanksgiving and Halloween are sorts of the co-anchors of the Autumn season. Autumn starts in September, but September and early October can still have some nice days, at least where I live (Massachusetts). Halloween and Thanksgiving fall (no pun intended) is a time of year when there is no doubt that Summer has left the building. I've bundled my children up in winter coats to send them trick or treating, and I've sat at a Thanksgiving football game where it was 12 degrees outside.


This cold dichotomy may lead some people to hate Autumn, but not this reporter. I love the change of seasons, I love the fall foliage and I love all the harvest stuff going on at local farms. One of the reasons that I haven't written here in a while is that I spent a lot of October and November driving around to look at trees changing color or roaming through pumpkin patches like Linus. There are other reasons, but they are sad ones, and this is supposed to be the Enquirer's funny column, so no need to drag that all up here.

I was looking to write about Thanksgiving and especially Plymouth. Plymouth is the birthplace of Thanksgiving (Jamestown had the real first Thanksgiving, but Virginians need to argue with their underperforming public relations staff, not me). I live deep enough in real-life Plymouth County that I can see the Mayflower II across the bay from my house. Seeking to capitalize on this unearned Dad-bought-a-house-here expertise, I hunt incessantly for Plymouth-related sims every November so that I can let the people know my wisdom.

Only once in my years working for this publication have I found Plymouth on SL, and- to be frank- it looked more like northern California... and I say that in the "Sacramento is not California" sense that Rush Street Reggie made famous. They had a Mayflower, a few colonial-looking cabins, and some turkeys running about. I was very pleased, and Lanai got a Thanksgiving article out of me that year. That sim is something else these days, and I could find no substitute for it any other year I looked.

This year also failed to net me a Plymouth, but that doesn't mean my deadline goes away, so I had to hunt me up some Autumn somewhere.

I found Autumn in spades at the Mieville Thanksgiving Street Fair. This is a very nice sim that is all set up for the Fall season. as you can see from the pictures, they have turkeys, fireplaces, fall foliage, November-blooming flowers... all that good stuff.  The sim is cleverly constructed so the visitor walks around a pastoral autumn scene, but as they do, they go by little sales kiosks where they can purchase seasonally-themed products.



It makes for a very nice walk and is a good setting for some cute pictures. I heartily recommend it. They have the autumnal theme running through the 25th, so hurry on down this long weekend. Much like real life, there isn't much time for you to see Fall things... it will be December before you and I speak again.

People take things in SL for granted. If you go to a sim where it is done up for Autumn, you should rightfully praise whoever set the sim up. You should also, however, appreciate the infrastructure which provides the things that you see at that sim. You have to find someone who sells Autumn trees, turkeys, horns-o-plenty, Mayflowers, and what have you. SL is funny like that- many people play SL just to have cyber sex, but there are people who log on to SL and spend the day making Pilgrim hats. Because of them and the sacrifices they made, the sim you get laid at has a nice, comforting Autumn look. A timeless Norman Rockwell background takes some of the shame out of av-fucking a stranger.

Because there are designers who make turkey tailfeathers and Pilgrim costumes, my sister Courtney and I have seasonally-themed outfits for our job as dancers. Being from Plymouth, I was a natural for the Naughty Pilgrim costume. Not being from Plymouth, my sister ended up having to be a turkey. I didn't think to include my costume, which is just black lingerie with a Priscilla Alden bonnet, in this article. There was no way in Hell I was going to forget to highlight my sister with goofy turkey feathers attached to her lower spine. 

I won the next season, too... I get to dance as Mrs. Claus, while Courtney will spend December wearing reindeer antlers with blinking Christmas tree lights on them. Much like her tailfeathers, she loves when people ask about her antlers, why she has to wear them, whether she lost a bet or not... go on down and say hello.

People should also not take Autumn for granted. Autumn gets a bad rap, basically because it is Summer's pallbearer. Never forget that Autumn stands between Summer and the ice/cold/snow of Winter. Winter's main holiday- Christmas- is all about snow and cold. There will be months where you'd be thrilled to see a forecast for the day as "highs in the 40s, lows in the 30s." People in western New York right now wish it was 48 degrees.

The key is to see the bright side. Go out even on SL- and see some trees changing color. Get an apple cider donut. Watch some farmer harvest something. Remember, in about a month, it will be too cold to go out. Go down to the Mieville Thanksgiving Street Fair and see some Autumn. Otherwise, once you go down the list some, you'll end up at Divas, watching a stripper journalist dressed as a Pilgrim... or her sister Courtney, dressed as a turkey.

The positive part of journalism is informing the public, sharing your adventures, helping someone who needs help, promoting good causes, blah blah blah... the negative but fun part of journalism is using your column to humiliate your sister, who might have to dance for all comers dressed as a turkey.






Sunday, October 24, 2021

This Year, Falloween Fell On A Weekend... Stacey Cardalines Reporting...


Who doesn't like fall foliage? It's one of the few non-syrup reasons I go to Vermont. Autumn colors are my favorite colors, and I even like the air best in fall. I have turned down pretty good jobs in real life that would move me out of New England, partly because I would greatly miss the change of the seasons. People from Maine or Cape Cod often joke about how the tourists all bail before the best season comes, and fall foliage is a big part of that equation.

I'm easy to please with Autumn. I'll be upfront with you that this applies to SL as well. Looking at leaves while playing a game like SL- where you can do virtually anything that can be animated- may seem dull, but if something brings you enjoyment RL, why not check it out in SL? That is actually a pretty good policy to follow, as long as you keep an open mind for new things, or even things you just may not have thought to check out. That's why the gods gave us the SL Enquirer, we do a lot of the leg work for your imagination.




You lose a few things between RL and SL when leaf-peeping. You don't get the crisp fall winds, the smell of falling leaves, the sounds of leaf blowers, the cooling air... the whole October aspect. Some of this can be offset by leaving the window open in your office when playing SL, at least if you live in Massachusetts. We can't add "three hour drive into the mountain forest," but they have driving sims in SL, so you could just go to a few of those to recreate that part. You can even drink some cider or eat some pumpkin pie as you play SL. I can't do all the thinking for you, but I have done enough to kill this paragraph. I have like seven pictures to frame this story around, and tangents are both a writer's best friend and her worst enemy.

I drag my husband along checking leaves if I can't talk any of my girlfriends into driving to the Berkshires in real life. He goes, and claims to enjoy it, but I think he enjoys it like I enjoy going to things that he likes, such as monster movies or car races. "Yes dear, it's wonderful." He knows I'll at least feed him at some point, so it all works out. On such things are happy marriages built.



I went to Falloween by myself, but I usually work solo if I don't need a model. I do my dirt all by my lonesome, as the song says. I'd recommend that for serious Fall folks. A yapping friend or a disinterested spouse are distractive variables, and I don't care if "distractive" might not be a word. Hardcore leaf peepers know of what I speak, and they know that I speak words of Truth.

The good people at Cherished Melody must be fellow lovers of Autumn because they turned the sim out in full fall foliage regalia this year. The sim is known as Falloween, at least for this month. I went through it this morning, and it is lovely. I'd guess that the sim owners are New Englanders, but you never know. I went to a Plymouth sim once, and the owner turned out to be from friggin' Germany.

They have a path that winds through a fall forest, and there are little surprises along the way. Said surprises include a scary graveyard, a witch house, a castle sort of building, and perhaps a few other things. They also had an Autumn-themed art exhibit with pictures of girls in various orange and black. You could spend a good amount of time just checking that stuff out. The graphic artist was quite talented. In fact, whoever put the sim together is pretty talented his or her bad self. They hit Autumn out of the damned park.



Falloween is not a massive sim, you'd have difficulty getting lost in it. However, it was laid out cleverly, and you can kill some time strolling through it. If you need a temporary chill spot to do some messaging or chat to a friend, this would be good for it. If you own spooky clothing, this would be a good sim to go to and just pretend to be part of the exhibit. I do it now and then, people get spooked if the exhibits start talking to them. I didn't do that here, I was there in a bathing suit- as much as I love Autumn, I tend to let go of Summer with great difficulty. Stacey sometimes goes to her SL Enquirer job straight from the beach, player.




However, the real reason you go to this sim is to stroll around and enjoy the various leaves. You could conceivably do this on SL in July or January, but October is when you should be doing it. I don't know how long they keep this sim up, but there is a season for everything, and you should already be heading to this place. I don't write these articles for exercise. I actually write them for money, but helping out my readers is an added bonus.


 
cookieassistant.com