The River Will Roll, Roll, Roll

Its time for another post. I have a lot to share. One thing I am learning is there are a lot of you out there reading this that i didn't realize - thank you for taking the time.

I've had a few major bumps in my life lately, but I've been so fortunate for some wonderful friends - especially in SL - who have been pulling me through, whether they realize it or not.

My dissertation is stuck. My site backed out, thanks to a woman who is not what she appears to be. I am struggling to find another place to do my research now. If you know of a secondary school that is interested in hosting a study on the effectiveness of SL as a learning tool for academic achievement, please let me know.

My friends in SL are coming and going, but those who are close to me are closer than ever. Shift happens. Love comes and goes, friends weave in and out, life moves on.

My own personal roller coaster ride is bumpy. I had a serious setback. Back to square 1. So here I am 10 months later - not much progress. Eventually. I was told this part would be trial and error - so be it. If you see me whizzing past you - slow me down. If I am barely moving, give me a shove. I'll learn how to walk steady eventually.

Thanks and love to my good friends who make me smile every day no matter what.

Obama Won the Nobel Prize for Lactating Hope

She's Baaaaack!

Well hello there - I feel like I fell off my bike and am afraid to get up (ok, maybe not that extreme). Its been way too long since I've blogged. I've been up to my eyeballs in writing chapters for my dissertation, getting my IRB approval, and reminding my family I still exist. And in between I am spending way too much time in SL, between playing, networking, and listening to good music. SL is my hell in a bucket, btw. And yes, I"m enjoying the ride. Just not sure where I'll land.

Some of the things that are going on in my SL world are fun, some are frustrating, and other are actually getting boring. I've been in SL for 2 1/2 years now. Since I've been here the music scene has exploded and I am branching out of my comfort zone and listening to a lot of different kinds of musicians. I"ve been especially loving the electric blues sounds of Edward Kyomoon, Noma Falta, Komuso Takagawa, Jimmyt49 and Jeffo Pelous. What an amazing collection of musicians. And then there are my always favorite folk/classic rock musicians like Kitzie Lane (my SL sister, so yes, I'm biased), Woodsong Zapatero (another bias), Montavious Peccable (might as well be family - oh, sort of is now), and Tallguy Kid, Gregg Collossus, Nick99, and Grateful Stryker. And most of them even know how to pronounce my name correctly! (ok, so for those of you not sure: Yay-mis) The music is ALWAYS the fun part of SL for me.

So are my friends. Kitzie and I have added a sister to our family, Dawnlyn Writer. I never thought i would meet such wonderful people and wish we didn't all live in different corners of the US. One day a trip is required. Soon. And I am meeting really great people in some of the educator groups I belong to as well. I am becoming more and more involved in them (ok, slowly, but surely) and am finding it fascinating to see the level of dedication people have to embracing virtual worlds as an emerging educational technology tool. You all rock!

So what is the boring part? I guess its the routine of what I do. I need to shake it up a bit. Maybe more time in the educational groups, just doing something different now and then is a good thing. I need to explore other sims more often to see people's creativity and get ideas for educational uses of SL.

So if you aren't busy this Friday night at 6 SLT, come out to my Butterfly Garden for a night full of music - Octoberfest American Style. I've got 6 musicians over three hours ready to rock you into the weekend. IM me for a limo!

Oh, and thanks for reminding me I have a blog ;-) ttys.

hugs

Life is Good

Pedals on wind

Wheels in the air

Fly with me

Ride with me

Come if you dare.

Life IS good :)

Muzzy and Me

Lying here next to me

your head in my lap

snuggled in tight

for your morning nap.

My buddy, my friend

your nose cold and wet

the sweetest one

I've ever had yet.

Bouncing with me

when I want to play

sitting with me

after a long day.

My puppy, my love

lets play in the sun

the fun of the day

has just now begun.

WTF???

OK, so most of you know that i have spent the last two years working to get a sim on the teen grid for my school.  With my superintendent's blessing (so I was told) I began training my teachers.  Like all other districts, we are financially strapped this year.  District support isn't an option.  Fortunately, I am getting very good at grant writing.  Then - BAM - deadline due for the grant tomorrow - and i can't get it approved to send - by the tech director who doesn't understand this technology.  WTF???????  frustration - anger- and a resignation that even the best technology resources will never reach their full potential.  So I am done.  Sarah (my teacher alt) is no longer needed.  So now...time to focus on what matters - one less thing on my plate, right?

Which Way Did I Go?

Wild thoughts racing through my head.  Stay, go, why am I here, where can i go?  How are you today?  I don't know. I can't tell where I am.  Up? Down? Both?  I'm definitely not in the middle.  Who needs me?  Who do I need?  Losing track of time, of stuff, of where the balance is.  It wasn't expected to last, the peace.  Guess i got a good stretch between.  Better than nothing.  Sleep comes to me now, thats good.  Lost in my other world, this one lets me go.  Floating, not grounded. Will you love me anyway?

When I had no wings to fly.....