Again with the neglect!

     Well, I've been neglecting this blog, but for good reason.  As you all know from my last post, my RL mother had a kidney removed, due to finding cancer in it.  She is doing well, but has been staying at my sister's house, which is all on one floor.  Mom's house has 13 steps just leading up to the front door, due to a raised basement in the front, so it's just not been feasible for her to be home.  I've only been able to see her once in the last month, when she had to come to our hometown to see a couple of her local doctors, and my sister brought her by my work to see me for a few minutes.  My work schedule doesn't allow me to go out of town to see her, as it's almost a two hour drive each way.
     As some of you know, from my very brief forays into SL over the last two months, I've not been feeling well.  It started as a what seemed to be a congestive lung issue, but gradually spread to dull pains in my chest, my arms, and my lower jaw.  I was pulling 55+ hour work weeks (salaried management position... woot... heh.) in order to accommodate letting my assistant managers have needed days off around college schedules, personal issues, etc..  However, this all culminated in me having a really bad spell last Tuesday.  I left work, having fortunately scheduled myself a short day that day, and went straight to the ER.  I'd been putting off doing that, since I haven't had insurance in a long, long time, and am just now starting to get back on my feet financially from losing the last good paying job I had almost three years ago.
     Anyway, the hospital here determined that my troponin levels were slightly elevated.  Troponin is a regulatory protein that the heart "leaks" if there is damage due to some trauma to the heart... i.e. a mild heart attack.  They performed a heart catheterization on me, and determined that I had blockages in the arteries in my heart, but they don't have the facilities to perform either angioplasty or stents here, so I was taken by ambulance to a hospital in the city the next morning, where they performed a second heart catheter, but were unable to get to the blockage.  A third, successful attempt was made Wednesday night last week, and I now have a stent in the right coronary artery, which was 99.9% blocked, and in the left main coronary artery, which was 85% blocked.  Had the third catheterization not been successful, they had a team standing by to do a coronary bypass surgery.  BOY, am I glad it didn't come down to that!
     The doctors at the hospital said the damage was minimal to my heart from the actual heart attack, though, which is a good thing.  I feel better than I've felt in a long time, due to the stents, and with exercise and proper eating, should actually be healthier than I've been in years, over time.  I won't return to work, officially, until next Wednesday, but I went over today for a meeting with the corporate franchise representative.  My doctors and nurses told me that since I know my own body best, just to do what I can, and rest when I need to..... advice I've been following.
     I've mentioned before that my bosses were great guys.  I just want to reaffirm that.  Both called me numerous times at the hospital, and neither mentioned work, other than that they missed me in my capacity there.  They were/are genuinely concerned about my health, and about me as a person.  That's a nice departure from the last "real" job I had, where I was  merely a cog in their personal financial gain machine.
     Anyway, apparently, if I take a little responsibility for my own health now, I'll live.  I'm in such good spirits that I told Derren we could already start decorating for Christmas in SL.  Heh.  Must be the drugs.  *winks*

*Peace and love to everyone, and I miss everyone very much*
    Tel
P.S.   Hopefully, I'll get to catch up with several of you that I don't talk to on Facebook daily on my RL account in the near future inworld, as I have a whole week to kill before being released to go back to work!
YAY!

Ah, it's been a busy late summer.....

    First off, I want to apologize to everyone for not being around SL much.  I guess Derren and I both have kind of gotten bored with it.  Since we have daily RL contact on FB, and the occassional Skype session, it's been enough, most of the time.  We do log in occassionally  for this and that, and I'd like to have more SL time to build, but things have been very hectic in my RL.
     First, they made me the General Manager at work.  Well, this included a hefty pay raise, but also a hefty increase in hours worked/week.  This is a good thing, all the way around.
      Now for the bad news.  My mother has not been feeling well for several months, and when I finally got her to go to a specialist, and not her usual doctors, we found out that she has urothelial carcinoma of the kidney, which is basically a type of bladder cancer.  It's been a whirlwind of doctors, tests, etc., resulting in her having surgery next Wednesday, with an extended stay in the hospital afterward, then perhaps an assisted living center for a while.  While her urological surgeon, whom I refer to as "Dr. Doogie McDreamy Houser"  (His real name being Becker... heh, but he looks to be about 24, though he is pushing forty, and adorable!!!!), is positive he can get the cancer, since it's in the very early stages, he is worried about Mom's heart condition, and possible side effects from that, or even another major stroke during the surgery.  As most of you know, I'm not one to get overly publicly emotional, so lets just say that I've gone into total Scorpio coldness, emotionally, and have my nervous breakdown scheduled for the first Monday after all this is over.

Love to all, and I miss everyone horribly,
*Tel*

*update*

Well, the surgery went better than expected, and they did most of it robotically.  Mom is still outta her mind on meds, which is both sad and hilarious at times (like the HUGE  man, also on meds, that asked her to dinner, while she was giggling like a school girl... heehee!). All in all, it was a success, though they are keeping her in the heart telemetry unit until her release, due to her susceptibility to heart attacks.  Thank you one and all for the kind, supportive words inworld (I get them via email, when I can't log in), and in person, through personal email, and on Facebook.  Love to everyone!

*Tel*

I had no idea Barney was gone......

Suaimhneas síoraí phíosa, Barney. An t-imreoir bainseó mó riamh.

A reason to come back time and again.....

     I've been wandering around SL for many a year, alone, and with dear friends and lovers.  Recently, I've been rather bored with it all, since Derren has moved in RL, and his internet is spotty to say the least, and he's not been able to be inworld for weeks now.  (His 'net is supposed to be back up and running by the 16th, though, and I can't wait!  FB hugs just aren't the same!)  I usually just log on to build, since I have to pay tier on a mostly unused homestead, and my builds seem to be taking off on MarketPlace, as they are covering most of the tier. Our favorite club closed after many years, with a LOT of unnecessary drama, due primarily to a downturn in the RL finances of one of the principles, which is happening more and more I've noticed all over SL.
     All that whining aside, though, there are those bright moments that remind me of why I love SL so much, even when I'm on hiatus from it.  Mistletoe Ethaniel, one of my oldest friends on SL, and a very dear RL friend as well, now, had a personal RL emergency (I won't go into details, but you can link to her blog from mine is you wish to know them.), and Derren and I offered the club as a venue for her to do an emergency fundraiser.
     It worked.  BOY, did it work.  Not only was the goal met, but, amazingly, most of the donations came from people that couldn't even GET to the club.  The generosity and love of the folks on SL is what keeps me coming back time and time again.
 
     With the deepest heartfelt thank you, and admiration for all my SL peeps,
   
      Tel

 P.S.  Got another new build up for sale on MarketPlace.https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/66814

 P.P.S.   On a bet with myself, after a convo Derren and I had the last time he DID get to be inworld, I                                       attempted to make Tel into a twinky elf.  LOL!  It was fun, but will DEFINITELY be temporary!  D:

And, that should about bring us up to date, class!
Peace and love to all,

Tel

New build for MarketPlace!

Well, I've not been inworld as much as I'd like, due to RL time constraints (and Mom's health, and yardwork, and... and... and.... everyone knows the summertime in SL drill, right?), but when I have been in, I have been working on some Star Wars themed sculpted builds for a friend's Onderonn sim (with which I've been having problems concerning the sculpts "reverting" to a different type after I gave them to her... strange.  I need to see if I can fix that, and soon!  She gets a bit temperamental about that stuff, seeing as she's a Sith and all!  LOL!) and working on this little critter.  I'm rather pleased with this one, as it is not only "land ready" with a fairly small footprint, but also can be a stand alone skybox.  Now, to just find the time to get it all linked and uploaded to MP, as I KNOW everyone is just waiting with baited breath for my next "great thing!"  "Shut up, and GIVE ME YOUR MONEY!"  Heeeheeheeeheeeeeheeeee.........

*Peace and Light to all*

Tel

Wow, so it's been a while!

Wow, so it's been a while!
     I thought I'd better update this, before it dies of sheer entropy.  Heh.
Derren is back in SL, for the most part, though both of our RLives are hectic as hell, and keep us both from spending as much time together as we'd like.
     My RL job hours have changed, which makes it even harder for me to get inworld before totally ridiculous hours for him, but we manage, somehow.
    Inworld, he's busy, busy, busy... he's been working on the new Elven part of our homestead, with fantastic results!  I can't wait to see what he does with it next.  Also, our friend Mistletoe Ethaniel and her sister, Clover Windlow, are working on an area for the SLB9 party, and Derren is making a video of it for her, and Tel and Siddhana (my female alt) are in it!  Woot!  I'll place the LM after it's open, but for now, it's TOP SEKRIT! (Though I'm gonna post pics, of course!  Heehee!)
Anywho..... just wanted to update for anyone that might be interested.  Happy SL and RL to everyone! <3

My "sister", Siddhana.  She's the REAL looker in my little bunch of heathens!

Just a sneak peak at the "Top Sekrit Lokashun"!

Sooooo, it's been a while.......

   ....... and when I do blog again, it's with some rather unhappy news.   I'll simply post my FaceBook update to let y'all know what's going on.


"For the few of you not friended to us both on here (or inworld), I'll let Derren's words speak for themselves (to anwer the barrage of questions I've been getting.....)

"First, I want to thank everyone for my birthday messages. Love you all very much. Second, I want to just say that I'm going to be taking a hiatus from SL. I have a lot of sorting out to do in my RL so SL will have to take a back seat for awhile. Tel and I will still continue to be married and our friendship lives on in our real worlds. Take care everyone and all the best for your friends and family, be them real or virtual. ♥"

I'll still be around, the club is still functioning, and he'll be putting in an appearance on SL when he possibly can. (We still maintain daily contact in our RL's) We love you all, and nothing has changed except his ability to be inworld as much. ♥"

Indeed, the club IS still up and running, though I am not inworld as much as before, either, due to the warming weather, increasing yardwork (trust me, with rheumatoid arthritis, and some other health issues, over half a city block of land to tend is getting more and more time consuming.), and work hours picking back up again (back to working four back to back 10-11 hour shifts), a new owner at work (goodness knows what THAT will entail over the next few months!), I just don't have the time to devote to SL that I used to.  

 

That being said, though, I'm usually still inworld to check messages, reset the sim, and pay tier, and have time to play on Sunday/Monday/Tuesday for a bit.  Derren and I are in daily contact still, and other than our "presence" inworld, nothing has really changed.  I'll be sending out group notices about dances at the club, etc.  Oh, and our one year anniversary (for the wedding!  :D) is coming up next month, so expect invites as soon as we can work out a date when we can BOTH get inworld!  LOL!

Peace and Love from both of us,

Tel and Derren

Tonight!

If you didn't get an invite, don't be offended!   All are welcome, just remember that it's a formal party, and the club requires clothing at all times!  *grins*  

Here's the Location!

*Nervous as hell, but glad THE DAY is finally here!*

Tel

The picture says it all.....

*Smiles and love to all, past, present, and future*

Tel

Almost there!

   With just a few more poses needed, and some tweaking of prims, The Cat's Meow will be ready far ahead of our target date of Valentine's Day for the Grand Opening!  Here's a few more "teaser pics"!

    Babydoll, this is all for you!  You are my inspiration, my hope, and my love....  *big ol' hugs!*

Speaking of relationships.... Derren entered us in an SL photo contest for Valentine's Day.  Go there.  Vote for us.  DO EET NAO!!!!!   *please?*  :D *voting actually opens on Feb. 14th at 12:00 AM* (It's not for a cash prize....  it will be blogged on the SL blogrolls is all, but we want the world to know that SL is NOT just for heterosexual couples, who always seem to be the winners of these sorts of things!)

*Excitedly looking forward to opening the club, and the future*

Tel

Coming soon!

OK, the unveiling of our new club's logo!  (Yeah, well, that's all you're gettin' for now, because it's ALMOST, but NOT QUITE, finished!)  *grins*

So, the back story:
     Derren and I went looking for a gay or gay friendly ballroom.  While there are some like Frank's Place, which while very welcoming, is overwhelmingly hetero-oriented, and a few others, we only found ONE that was truly gay, on all of SL, that played romantic music, but wasn't attached to a meat market atmosphere in some way or another....and there was no one there but us.  I've known for a while that for those "quiet evenings", to bill a club as gay, or heterosexual, or "Furs only", or "Humans Only" or whatever limits your attendance, and besides, many of our friends are as diverse as the AV's that D and I run around in.  Yes, we like clubbing, but sometimes, we just wanna dance with others, have good conversations, and relax.  So.... long story short, we discussed openly on FB whether there was interest in such a place, welcoming to all, gay and straight and everything in between, and the response was, to say the least, a bit overwhelming to us.  So I built one.
     I've been involved with clubs off and on for years.  They are a royal pain in the ass, no matter how wonderful the staff's, patrons' and management's intentions.  Egos, money issues, etc.  To allay all this, we are simply streaming music, mostly WWII era tunes, and a mix of blues/jazz, except for "special events", for which we already have a slew of (mostly) volunteer DJ's who say they will work for only tips, and look forward to DJ'ing in our "theme style", since most clubs are either modern, meat market, EBM, whatever, and this is different, except for just a handful on SL.  (Gotta love friends, motivated DJ's, and those who are blackmailable!  LOL!)
     While the build is Art Deco, and rather formal, the attire and atmosphere won't be.  We primarily want a place where his friends, my friends, OUR friends, can meet, hang out, dance, chat, and just relax.  Derren and I call Club Industry our "second home"... and we LOVE our family there, but I've been amazed at the number of them that have expressed an interest in having a "get away from it all" place, where the music is quieter, the conversations perhaps less "silly", etc., to hang out with their significant others, or just their buddies.   The club is open to all, and there will be NO intolerance tolerated, be it based on AV style (human, fur, alien, you name it), sexual orientation (lord KNOWS those are plentiful on SL!) or any other reason.  Besides, like my friend Gisele said... "OOoooooo... I'll have someplace to wear my PRETTY dresses!" :D  The main rules are simple:  Relax, have fun, make new friends, and WEAR CLOTHES!  *grins*  I know some of my friends ALL to well.  No nudity.  The club will basically be open to the public 24/7, as it will be streamed music, and Derren and I will be there when we can, but most of our friends are quite capable of entertaining themselves, and usually, a whole sim in the process!  LOL!
   We are not doing this to compete with the big, paying clubs, but just to have a place to entertain our friends, to be honest, though, of course, there WILL be a tip jar handy for those who just INSIST on helping us pay the sim tier!  LOL!
      I have a three day "weekend" (which those of you who work in the restaurant industry like I do, know means "any three days *mostly* off in the same week) starting tomorrow, and hope to have it finished before Valentine's Day, if not sooner, for the grand opening.  We'll see.  I have already picked up a three hour shift at lunch tomorrow in order to make up some hours.
       Expect some teaser pics before then, though... basically the club is finished, except for decorating the skyplatform that it sits on above our sim.  We'll be in touch!

I think some updating is in order......(amended)

OK, I'm not usually one to go all emo and shit, but you'd think, as long as I've been on SL, at least ONE person out of the dozens on my friends list would have remembered or noticed my rezdate.  Perhaps it's time to do some rethinking on that list.

On a brighter note, expect big news here soon!  Derren and I are working on a project, that we think everyone will enjoy!  *happy face*


*Love to all,
               Tel*

*Actually, that first paragraph was MUCH funnier when I was writing it under the influence of three kinds of sinus medicine, but in the light of day, just sounds bitter and snartky. Honestly, I really should stay OFF the 'netz when under the influence. 
This post was just to give a heads up that while I haven't posted here in a while, it's because Derren and I have been very busy with our "project", and not for any other reasons. (I actually had someone IM me to ask if something was wrong with our relationship, because I hadn't posted "any sappy love crap" lately. LOL!) 

http://sopastrike.com/strike/

For someone very special........

*With Love*
       Tel