Depart

Hello.

17 days ago, I wrote an entry with this same title, "Depart." But I decided not to publish it because I've been torn about and hesitant to own it. Instead, I published seven more entries on top of it, I guess, sorta ignoring what was obviously staring me down.

That entry was about saying farewell to blogging and SL in general. I've not made it secret that I am in a tough financial spot. Money isn't everything, as they say, but its absence sure makes life difficult. I've been unemployed for over six months, and I am losing everything. I have already lost health insurance, something I had for probably five or six years straight, and thus, something I really hate that I've lost. If my car is repossessed, I couldn't get back and forth to work, if I was lucky enough to find a job. Thus, I have to do SOMETHING to stop that from happening. My phone service has been suspended, and my unemployment benefits have been expended. Thus, if a hiring manager attempted to call me right now to arrange a job interview, it would not be a good outcome. Need phone service ... which requires money ... which requires job ... which requires phone service (to set up interview). It's really unfortunate, and I'd be bald from yanking out my hair if I had less restraint.

This situation takes a toll on my relationship, my happiness and my ability to do anything other than fret nonstop. Thus, blogging is just not something I can do at the time. I figure that I should dedicate the energy and effort that I put into SL fashion blogging, into the job search. More than that, my will is depleted and I'm hardly able to enjoy the things I once did.

I hate to detail the situation so... graphically. My story is no different from that of anyone else who has been unemployed in the long term. I'm definitely not special, so I'm hoping it doesn't come off as "waaaahhh poor me." I just mean to be honest about why I can't do this anymore, or at least for a good while.

To the few readers, I appreciate you and your readership very, very much. In fact, I'm pretty sure, if not for you (and my love of fashion and what I did), that draft would have been published when I wrote it on October 26th. Believe me, as evidenced by my 17-day hesitation, this is not something I really want. However, I'm relieved by the fact that 1) it can't get much worse, thus I hope to be back someday and 2) you've got TONS of excellent blogs to read, some of which are to the right. I've really enjoyed blogging and hope you all have the time of your [second] lives.

I'm planning to stay online for a few more days just to tie up loose ends and everything. But it's "au revoir." after that. Thank you all very much.

Inferna

Elle and Saga

WHAT I'M WEARING:

(on ze left)

SKIN: Saga, Tone 4.0 (LAQ) - from Essential skin line! NEW!!!

EYES: Enchanting Eyes, Dark Brown (Nana Minuet)

EYESHADOW: Smokey Eye (LAQ) - add-on for Essential skins! NEW!!!

 HAIR: Stasia in Black 04 [of Blacks pack] ([BURLEY])

NAILS: Drop Dead Red Manicure Prim Nails (*Sexy Mamas*)

TOP: Autumn Shimmer, Dusk (justB) - store closed

JEANS: Nora Skinny Jeans, Deep Blue ({mon tissu})

SHOES: Mia Wedges, Tan (SLink)

HEADBAND: Flower, Black ([IREN])

BRACELET (right): Simple Polished Cuff, Texture Change (Whippet & Buck)

RING (right): Bonbon Ring, Texture Change (LaGyo) -  previous TDR item!

RING (left): Scream Queen, Gold (::Rekless Ambition::) - previous fi*Fridays item!

BAG: Roman Bag, Rusted Teal (House of Fox)

POSES: Marukin and (pda)

WHAT I'M WEARING:

(on ze right)

SKIN: Elle, Tone 4.0 (LAQ) - from Essential skin line! NEW!!!

EYES: Brown 01 [of Realistic Eyes Set] (Vanilla C.Designs)

LIPSTICK: Elle Lips, 04 (LAQ) - add-on for Essential skins! NEW!!!

LEG TATTOO: Flowery Vine Tattoo / Black, Faded (flaunt) - Available NOW at Tomorrow Today Fundraiser!

HAIR: Kiss Me, Sin [of Blacks pack] (::Exile::)

NAILS: Classic Nails (Izzie's)

DRESS: Knotted Dress, Lines (- piccara -) - NEW!!!

SHOES: Studded Boot, Brown (- piccara -) - Available NOW at fi*Fridays!

RING (left): Hades (- B L E  U-) - NEW!!!

WATCH (left): Savior, Black&Gold ([DDL])

BRACELET (right): Tungsten (::Amorous::)

CLUTCH: Mexican Clutch, Red (Lapin Rose)

POSES: Model Poses and pr!tty

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Did you all know that you could easily find the RGB code to any color under your cursor? It's a great tool for matching your gloves layers for nails, body parts and perhaps other items to your skin color! However, I'll tell you what; you do NOT want to leave it on when you are taking pictures. Yours truly FORGOT to uncheck the option, and it was all over the pictures I'd taken. If it weren't for the clone and healing brushes in Photoshop... Sigh...

ANYWAY, there's some deliciousness for you! Let's start with the new LAQ skins from the new Essential line! Oh my goodness, where to start!

I've always loved LAQ skins for, not only the beauty, but how realistic the face and textures are. I could totally eat Elle's nose and Saga's lips. I remember my first LAQ skin, Phoebe. I wore that thing out, and I believe I'll be doing the same for these two.

I'll mention the cost because it will naturally lead to a discussion of the skins' additional features. There are seven skin tones, from 1.0 to 4.0 (1.0, 1.5, 2.0, etc.), each 0.5 upgrade darker than the one before. Each tone costs 1,990L. Now, before, 1,990L bought you 10 skins, each with different makeups (or, actually, 20 skins - ten makeups, hairbase on/off). This time, however, you get only one skin inside the pack. But BEFORE you think, like I did initially, "WHOA! No way!" let me explain why this will be a 1,990L well-spent.

It's LAQ, so you know the quality is going to be insane. In fact, Mallory Cowen (LAQ owner) has made some modifications to the body in the interest of matching real skin even more closely than before. Here's a picture of the mods:

Secondly, the new Essential line brings lots of new options to customize your skin. First, The hairbase are on tattoo layers, instead of being painted on (inseparable from) the actual skin. And there's four hairbases included inside the pack (black, blonde, brown and red). A [non-modifiable] shape is included, which I don't think was the practice before. There are also cleavage layers (undershirt and tattoo layers), an eyebrow shaper, prim eyes, and two eye makeup layers (eyeliner and smokey eye makeup). And I haven't gotten to the most exciting thing about the Essential line! 

Inside each tone pack - and, believe me, I am so happy to tell you about this! - there are what I'd like to call "interchangeables." Let's say you buy Elle in any tone. On top of the aforementioned add-ons, also included in the pack are five "interchangeables" in tattoo-layer form. Those five layers are: eyebrows, eyelids, nose, mouth and lip gloss. If you later bought Saga and decided that you wanted Elle's mouth on her, you could go to your Elle pack and wear Elle's mouth (the tattoo layer) on your Saga skin. Thus, Mallory's given us tools to change our faces! This is such a cool thing. You can believe that I will be playing around with both Elle and Saga, having them sample each other's faces! /mad scientist laugh.
Plus, Mallory indicates on her blog and elsewhere that these interchangeables are the first but not the last. Thus, we might be offered, in the future, even more "virtual plastic surgery" options. Got your scalpel ready?

Also, I'd read that Mallory had received feedback that customers wanted the makeup on tattoo layers, as opposed to included on the skin. Thus, eye makeup and lipsticks can be purchased for $100 each. The eye makeup can be applied to both skins, while the lipsticks are specific to the skin.

Thus, although it may seem as if the cost is a bit steep, you really do get to enjoy benefits of the new Essential skin line that you will not see in other places. Here's where you can go and get your own Elle, Saga or both! Make sure you also read LAQ's blog for more information on the new Essential skin line.

Also, two other things to mention:

First, don't forget about Matchbook Monday's fundraiser, Tomorrow Today! Because she is such an appreciative, unassuming person, she's really thankful for what she's raised thus far. I am also thankful to those who have come out and shown support. However, I'm convinced we can all do so much better for her! Thus far, she's only raised 244,817L! That's a LOT, but considering where she needs to be, we've got some work to do! When Gala had her One Voice fundraiser, the amount raised was phenomenal; it should be the same for this fundraiser and for this cause. I know it can be! So make sure you tell your friends and anyone who will listen! Go to Matchbook's blog to keep up with the going-ons of the event.

Finally, I have updated, added and deleted landmarks and added events to the "Markin' up the Calendar" section. Next, I'd like to add, to that same section, the recurrences for each event.

Have fun shopping!

A demain...

EDIT: I knew I forgot something! I forgot to tell you how to get to the RGB code-thingy. Enable your Developer menu (this option is in the "Preferences" window. Preferences --> Advanced --> "Show Developer Menu" (tick the box)). Once the Developer menu is enabled, it will appear along with "Avatar," "Comm," "World," etc. at the top of your window. Then, enable Develop --> Show Info --> Show Color Under Cursor.

Also, I recently learned of some "problematic," I'll say, opinions on the Tomorrow Today fundraiser. Oh, the bravery granted by Internet anonymity. Some are making a distinction between Gala's fundraiser and Matchbook's fundraiser. Gala's issue is characterized as a "legal fight," while Matchbook's is simplified down to ... "teeth." If it were a fair discussion to begin with, in that case, it would have been "legal fight" and "hindrance to well-being" OR "virtual skin" and "teeth." But it wasn't compared fairly. Thus, I cannot even take that argument seriously. Second, as in the case of Gala's fundraiser, buyers are not giving away money; they are getting something in return. Want a fatpack of new Truth hair? For 300L, you can have it. Why one would care about anything beyond that baffles the mind. Third, I've seen claims that information provided by Matchbook is not thorough enough. You've seen Matchbook's blog by now; it is replete with information about this situation. Need more? Ask. (In fact, she's planning to add more). Need a picture? Ask. Don't care? Well, don't donate or buy. And certainly don't publicly blast the girl for seeking help.

I can even understand and respect the decision to not donate on the grounds that one does not find the cause worthy (or explained to their liking). But to question Matchbook's "ethics" (dictionaries are our friends) publicly is far too much, especially considering nay-sayers can just IM her and satisfy any burning questions or concerns.

It is hard for me to fathom drawing some meaningless distinction between one person's fundraiser and another's. It doesn't hurt less because one sees it as as less severe / important than another's struggle.

I'm disappointed in those particular responses, sure. But that is certainly not to take away from what has been given and/or purchased so far. We want to keep that up! Great job, and thank you to all those folks! :D

Change My Mind

WHAT I'M WEARING:

SKIN: Indy in Dark ({.essences.})

EYES: Realistic Eye Set, Brown (Vanilla C. Designs) - store closed

LIPSTICK: Marina Lipstick, Hard Purple ({Handmade})

 HAIR: All I Am, Wedge [of Dark Browns pack] (::Exile::)

NAILS: Drop Dead Red Manicure Prim Nails (*Sexy Mamas*)

DRESS: Born to Die, Red Stripes ([DDL]) - NEW!!!

SHOES: Ladies Lunch Mesh Bootie, Royal Blue (::Kookie::) - previous TDR item!

SHOULDERS: Anja Fur Shoulders (House of Fox) - current store gift!

NECKLACE: Eternal (::Amorous::)

BRACELET (right): Ninna Bracelet ({me.})

RING (right): Ethnico Ring in Silver (SuPerBia Accessories)

RING (left): Amen! Chained Ring, Black&Silver (-B L E U-)

POSE: Magnifique and Model Poses

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