Author: xeriko

Xeriko enjoys exploring and landscaping in SL, and welcomes a nice chat anytime.

Frankenlandscape…

Right now I’m practically full time in mainland, but I’m still holding onto my remaining plot in Lionheart Estate for the time being. I don’t know exactly why, but it feels like it’s a peaceful and safe little corner to be if I’d need to escape from anything or anywhere. The estate has a better sense of “neighborhood” too, with regular town meetings and committees to organize local events.

Larch islet

Landscaping in this little corner is different from doing it in other places of this estate, because the parcel is located in the heart of the tropical strip, where sandy beaches dominate the scenery. And frankly, these new Larch conifers from 3D Trees needed something better as substrate for a healthy growth, so I’m using Studio Skye’s Land Forms Building Set to give parts of the islet a more suitable look. Call it a frankenlandscape (grins).

The larch set is quite nice, as is usual for a 3D Trees product. The conifers are still made of sculpts instead of modern mesh, and each one has an equivalency of 2 to 3 prims. On the contrary, The Loft’s Watcher’s Cabin (red version) is a mesh construction and materials ready. I bought this house during October’s The Garden event, but I guess it should be available in store right now (I haven’t checked, though).

Watcher's Cabin

What is nice about his cabin is that it’s a one-room building (and includes an animated chimney–no way to set the fire on and off, that I know of) so it’s easy to decorate. Here I’m using Cheeky Pea’s Quinn sofa and chair, (currently available in this month’s FaMESHed),  CP’s Deconstructed table with bowl planter, tray candles and tea cups; Zigana’s Red carpet, Mimmi’s Little tree, and Trompe L’Oeil’s Hanging lane with photos and Baybrooke framed print (Pond) on the chimney. Take a look at the fire’s reflection on the floor: it’s not painted, that’s the materials thingy at work, it makes that glow dynamic!

Desk and closet

From another angle, you can see the cabin’s closet, where I have placed Cleo Design Daybed, in case I need a quick reboot, and Standby Inc.’s detailed Huckleberry Desk, available at this month’s Collabor88 round (if you’re at it, don’t forget to pick up Sawyer Shelf as well).

From the daybed

Here’s a look of the living room from the daybed’s solitary space and…

Chimney

…a weird view of the same room from Santa Claus’ perspective.

Spiderman look

And to finish the post, a spider privileged view of the same scene. (I just wanted to do something with these extra shots, lol).

Open letter to my dear neighbor

My dear neighbor,

How are you doing? I hope everything’s ok.

Back in the old days, it was a common, but stupid, practice to build a huge wall around your property to pretend you had some privacy. But since day one it’s just been an illusion that was as pointless back then as it is today. So for me it’s simply incomprehensible when this week you decided to erect that wall to isolate, I’m not sure if yourself from the rest of us, or the rest of us from you (there’s a subtle difference between both statements, I hope you can figure it out). I would understand your action if anything of what we built around your place were kind of fugly; that would justify the shunning. But I don’t think this is the case. I can tell you, I’m pretty picky, and from my point of view it is your property the one needing some remodeling; the rest of us have done quite a nice job on our plots, really. Actually, your house is quite pretty, but frankly your yard –those walls included– need some redesign work. Look around, and you’ll agree the rest of the neighborhood looks good… Well, I admit that plywood building to the north needs demolishing, and that rental service… alas, it’s been there from day one. If those are your fears then your wall is facing the wrong side.

My guess is you’re just trying to force us out by demoralizing us with that behemoth. Maybe that’s why your previous neighbors left not long ago. I’ve just been here for a month; the others may have moved in a month and a half earlier, so we’re all new. We’re not as bad as, it seems, you think we are (or you wouldn’t have rezzed that big wall just now). These plots were up for sale and we paid for the right to be in them. I’m sorry that you don’t agree with that. Actually, the plots could have been yours: If you didn’t want anybody near you, why did you waste the opportunity to acquire these parcels when they became available 2-3 months ago? Don’t answer me, just think about it.

It’s quite difficult to find a nice plot in Linden’s mainland, and thrice as hard if you’re looking for one suitable for sailors, as all of us are. So let me tell you that, right now, I prize this protected waterfront parcel as much as you value your privacy (if that’s what’s up with you). But you know what? Your wall doesn’t scare me as much as your egoism does. Besides, at least me, of the five neighbors your fiend is adversely affecting, I’m quite used to be around old city walls as big as those in RL. I think I’d just hang some ivy on my side to compliment the view and leave the rest to time.

Best wishes,

Xeriko

 

Sailing in my Loonetta 2

Cruising chaos

Chaos in Loonetta

Human beings are weird by nature, that’s for sure. Take for example SL sailing. There are two main activities any enthusiast can “pursuit”: racing and cruising. The first one is a little bit “complicated” because it is expected to be a competition, and as such it requires skill and speed (not to mention a lag-free internet connection) to cross the line first. It’s an exciting activity I have yet to master, and in order to get to that point I’ve been taking noob lessons at the Triumphal Yacht Club every Saturday at noon. (Hmm, that sounds as if I’ve already taken 10 of them, when the truth is I’ve only at my second class). To participate in these races, you need to use a specific type of boat, follow a course at a set wind speed and direction, and pray to the silicon gods you won’t be caught on a lag fest anytime along the path.

The second activity –cruising– is for leisure and relaxation. You don’t have to worry about anything at all: you can use any boat, set any speed and wind direction, or even use a motor boat if it pleases your nerves. The goal, as in the previous case, is to follow a course and get from point A to point B at some time, but you don’t need to beat anyone or be the best at anything at all. I’m taking these cruises to practice my sailing maneuvers, so I stick to the suggested 11-15 knots wind and rarely change the proposed wind direction. It surely takes a hell of a lot of time to finish the course sometimes, but that’s the way it’s done in RL, no?

Boat

So it’s kind of funny when these leisure cruises start, and suddenly almost everybody, including non-racers, act as if they were in a race, going at 25 knots speed, spinnakers in full bloom against a wind that comes from every direction imaginable (roll eyes). By the time I cross the first few sims, they have already covered half the track. I’m probably doing it wrong, I guess, but well…

Yesterday, during Sunday’s cruise, I took the chance (and it was a long chance since I crashed like five times) to practice my photography skills as well as my tacks… and be the last to get to the party. Actually, I was a little bit disappointed and frustrated at how the cruise went on that I even skipped the last mark and set course somewhere else. The pictures are simple and plain because I just wanted to find out if my computer could hold the boat on course and handle higher graphics settings. I’m surprise it managed both.

Sand dunes under the sea

If half the people turning cruises into faux races were willing to participate in real ones it would make the world of SL sailing a lot more fun than –according to experts– it is right now.