Relay for life western weekend event

BBA Hotshots Western Weekend, originally uploaded by IshtarsKiss.

Of all the various events in second life ive covered for relay for life i have to say this one was one of the best ones I have had the pleasure to cover. This Saturday and Sunday the BBA Hotshots put on their western weekend to raise monies for the Relay for Life.

I didn't get to cover all of the event this weekend but from what i got to see it was a very well done event. There are two sims Central Texas and West Texas that this covered. Total they had various events such as pie throwing, horse riding, skeet shooting and even horse riding. All of these were so so neat looking, but what blew me away was the raft ride between both Central and West Texas sims. Ive never been on a raft ride in real life but this was a blast to do. At one point the raft capsized into the water and it was so funny. I just wish i got a picture of that moment.

Just seeing all the work and detail they have put between both of these sims really shows the potential of something like second life. Showing you the possibility of the human imagination. Using your know how and imagination to help raise funds for cancer research what more can you ask for.

What was a great topper for both nights was getting to do line dancing and listen to country music. I met some great women here who know how to put on a great event. My hats to you all for the great event and good time i had covering it.

when you lose a bet.

Relay Racers 1970s Prom through the decades, originally uploaded by IshtarsKiss.

For a while i thought it would be fun if i made a bet with my friend Chelle Moore. Shes one of the nicest people ive met in second life. Last year when i started taking pictures for Relay for Life by accident i would take pictures of her bald. If it wasnt on purpose heeheh or when her hair would not res while at an event.

For kicks i made a bet with Chelle that if they made more then a certain amount of money for Relay for life i would go human for a week. At first the amount was to high so last night i made a bet if they made over 50,000 linden dollars in this case a little over 100,000 linden dollars (Around 380.00 u.s. dollars). It was a pretty fun event and i love how they decorated the gymnasium for todays prom. I have to say ive never been to one when i was in high school but i have to admit, this was pretty fun.

Of the various relay for life events i have to say this is the most fun ive had. Whoo hoooo.

Well if your in second life for the week ill be human you can verify i keep my word. Now you may ask why am i still wearing the dragonfly wings. A dragonfly is my totem and holds special meaning for me. But my SL body will be human for the week. Now Chelle my turn to try to take a spontanious picture of you bald for this years relay. Hehehe

Relay Roadies Relay Live Event

Relay Roadies Relay Live Event, originally uploaded by IshtarsKiss.

If you've never been to a Relay for Life event in Second Life you do not know what you are missing. Every week various teams that have formed to raise money for the Relay for life have had various events. If it comes to live music, community fairs, or art exhibitions, there are many different events to see in Second Life.

Last night we had a major fund raising event at Urbanity where i work in SL. For 6 hours every half hour we would have various performers play live on stage to a very big crowd of fans or music lovers. Of courseI am a little biased in this case since I am on the Relay Roadies team and this was one of our events. :-)

If you missed out on the event. Let the following pictures tell the story. Till next time.

2008 SL Relay for life so far

2008 Salsa for Hope , originally uploaded by IshtarsKiss.

Well its been a few weeks into this years relay for life but its been going off with a bang. Of course theres the occasional SL hiccups or it acting up very strangely (you try not to laugh when you see a microphone stand up someones butt)

Beside hiccups this years relay has been great and my first full year of relay as well. Last year when i began taking pictures it has already started but for seeing it from the beginning, wow.

Last night i went to an event sponsered by the Relay Hope team that was a salsa dance night. Seeing a wide mix of people in their avatars shows the hope we all have for curing cancer. One part really hit home. I didnt realize this at first but the team Captain Alexandra is the Second Life sister of Stori Knopfli. I never got to meet Stori last year since she had passed due to her cancer, but from all the stories I've heard of her, she is an influence.

Its hard to imagine a person you've never met as an influence of why you volunteer to Relay. I mean i never got to meet her or say hi but, its hard to describe. Her spirit does live on in the relay and the family and friends she left behind here in SL.(Yes I am using SL or Second Life - the copyright rule changes cant stop me from using them)

One part that always gets me is seeing child avatars. I know they are piloted by an adult somewhere in the world but, one of the pluses is that you let your inner child out. What i mean by what gets me is that it reminds me as a whole that anyone could or can get cancer, from your smallest kiddo to bravest adult out there.

I do know a few people that have cancer or have had it. For you i volunteer my friends.

Current artwork and commissions

Sunset Memories, originally uploaded by IshtarsKiss.

Currently I've been working on two sets of pieces i have been hired to work on and doing relay work.

One of them is for Eros Designs. For the next issue of Second Style Magazine i have created an advertisement for their latest line Amorus. I will be displaying this once it is published

My second set of pieces i was hired to create ten pieces for her that have her as the main model displaying various clothing she has created. Once there done, well be displaying these pieces in an art showing whooo hooooo. This feels so good being hired to do artwork for another person. "YES YES YES"

Relay for life Kick off 2008

Nuala Maracas, Trader1 Whiplash, Jenn Hienrichs, Fayndria Foley and 57 Miles, originally uploaded by IshtarsKiss.

The time is apon us once again to raise funds for the relay for life. Yesterday i went with my team (I finally have a team helping me whoo hoooo) to take photos of this event. Now ive seen large auditoriums in sl but this was the largest ive seen. It takes up 4 sims total. For this event use of the space was provided by the group both Jenn Hienrichs and 57 Miles pictures above are in.

During this event we were given speeches by various relay for life officials such as David Jacobs and a speech by a cancer survivor Spaciva Ivanova.

For this years relay the entire Second Life Relay for life is being considered its own team due to the amount of money we have raised. "Go relay"

Highlights included the snail race trophies that will be given for first through third place and the winning kiosk designs for this year. I would type more about this, but the pictures we have taken for relay explain it all. http://www.flickr.com/groups/slrelayforlife/

Relay for Life Kick off Event 2008

Relay for Life Kick off Event, originally uploaded by IshtarsKiss.

Is that time of year again for the relay for life to officially start up once again. Whooo hooo go relay. Ok had to get that out . Whooo hoooo. Ok all out in the open.

This years relay kicked with a great start on ACS Island in second life. I have been impressed in the past with various builds around second life but the auditorium really impressed me alot. Since Windlight came out, I've noticed slight changes and details in how things look. In so many words. They look so great. Light sources are represented properly, shadows are cast and even real neon glow. In the Second Life before Windlight it was not possible to do this. If you don't belive me just look at the picture.

In case you don't know what the Relay for life is, this quote from their website at http://slrfl.org/ explains it all.

"The American Cancer Society Relay For Life began in May 1985 when a colorectal surgeon ran around a track in Tacoma, Washington, for 24 hours, raising $27,000 to support the American Cancer Society. Today Relay For Life is held in more than 4,600 communities in the United States and in 23 countries across the globe. To date, Relay For Life has raised more than $1.5 billion to help the Society accelerate the progress against cancer by saving lives, helping those touched by cancer, and empowering people to fight back against this disease."

I've been taken photos on second life for a little over a year now ever since i first created my art gallery. I was first approached by Fayandria Foley the co chair of the Relay for Second life those many months back before the 207 relay took place to take photos. Back then i had no idea what the relay actually did or what impact they had. Basically i approached it as a newb. Slowly over the months i started discovering what each linden (the dollar currency in second life) earned brought so much to actual real world money. Reading more about what the relay represents, i was hooked in helping anyway i can.

I know i can participate in a actual real world relay, and you may be asking why don't you. For me my participation in here means the world to me. With the time and energy and creativity each person gives in second life anythings possible. I want to see that possibility. With each contribution we can provide, we can help in our own little way.

I'm tired of seeing little kids die to young because their cancer got out of control. I do not want to see grown men and women be ravaged by a mere bad programming in their cells to cause cancer. I do not want to see another tumor in my dearest loved one. I want the light at the end of the tunnel to shine on us all and take cancer away.

I'm not sure if I've made any point about why i support the relay or why you should but please, join us all on March 17th as festivities begin with a Relay for Life fashion show.