I am quite blessed to know some amazing people in Second Life, and to have some of my most treasured real life friends as, also, a part of my second, virtual existence. If you'll give me leave for a moment, I'd like to give a little bit of space to them.

Rosie Barthelmess - pictured here - is my best friend in both worlds. She has been a constant in my life since we first met online years ago - connected through our rl-blogs - and I simply cannot imagine either life without her as a part of it. Rosie has been my go-to person for personal crises, a shoulder I lean on when life brings me down, and one of the very few people in this world I will - and can - truly open up to. She understands me, innately, and even still likes me. In fact, she loves me to pieces; as I do her.

Rosie has really taken to Second Life; doing things I could only ever hope to imagine. She has opened her own jewelry store, Sable Rose Jewelry, where she creates some of the most beautiful, one-of-a-kind, high-quality pieces in Second Life. She has a few stores, Filataponic, Sn@tch City, along with her main shop at Gallinas. She also has work up at Xstreet. I do suggest checking her out, and I don't just say that because she's my best friend. Her work is truly lovely and unique, and deserves to be seen.

As well as being a content creator, Rosie has recently begun tentative steps towards becoming a live singer in-world. I am amazed, truly, for the thought of singing live in front of anyone makes my toes curl in nervous apprehension. Nervous or not, Rosie belts out tunes with her powerhouse voice and everyone is charmed. Some people are simply born golden-throated and with a natural ability to sing and Rosie is one of these. If ever you get a chance to see one of her shows, I do suggest you make it a point to stop in. You won't be disappointed.

Rosie amazes me every day. Whether it's her Mama Bear-approach - an iron fist in a velvet glove, to be sure - helping run Lounge of Dreams, where we both work, or her tireless efforts to raise money in-world for cancer research through Relay for Life, spinning tunes as a well-renowned DJ, pursuing her dreams as a singer, or spending hours piecing together beautiful jewelry pieces for SL residents, she always has time for a friend. She's quite the powerhouse, but you'll never hear her act like top dog or thinking she's better than anyone else. She won't put up with any shit or be taken for a fool, but she also deals with each person honestly and openly, with a shy smile, a flirty wink, and a pithy comeback. She's brave, intelligent, warm-hearted, funny, down-to-earth, silly, business-minded, fair, and all around beautiful - inside and out. She is, quite simply, one of the most awesome people I have ever met and anyone who knows her is quick to exclaim how much they "love Rosie!"

I know so many beautiful, wonderful people in SL and I'd be here all day trying to name each and every one of them. Many I know from Lounge of Dreams, others I share a home with at the beautiful Four Corners. Still others I have simply met in my travels, or knew them before they ever stepped into the metaverse. All are special to me; each makes my life better for having them in it.

One that stands out is my dear, dear friend, Belmont Roux. Bel and I have been rl-friends since 2000, when we met at the apartment I had just begun sharing with my childhood best friend. Quirky the both of us, we hit it off immediately and - throughout the years - have remained good friends. We became especially close right before he left Louisiana for Nashville, TN to pursue his Master's in Music, and I urged him to get back into SL (where I'd had him dabble a bit before - both of us, also, being total geeks) so that we could continue to hang out and do things together, even if it was just virtually.

Eventually, Bel got back into SL full-force and was recently hired as a new host at Lounge of Dreams, for which I am so excited for and proud of him. I know he'll be a great host; anyone with a sense of humor that keen and side-splittingly funny is sure to keep a club full of avatars in stitches. Bel is, hands down, one of the funniest people I know. He could be a stand-up comedian, for he has no qualms taking on any subject and being "politically correct" isn't even in his vocabulary (which I love about him). He is a sweetheart, and I do adore him - my Mom and sister are two of his biggest fans, and we even created a "fan club" for him when he lived down here in Louisiana and was on television and the radio doing traffic reports. His quick wit and big heart make him a special guy, and we are in talks to be married in SL - I would be quite proud to be Ms. Izzy Roux-Graves (or Ms. Izzy Graves-Roux, I'm still not sure which sounds better).

I am blessed to have such special friends; truly I am. Be sure to tell the people in your life that you love them and how special they are to you, for we are not promised tomorrow. In the last year, death has visited my family twice in a short span and it reminds me how each moment should be treasured and that you can never say "I love you" or "I am so happy you are in my life" too often.

I have slowly been easing my way back into the metaverse, poking around, doing some shopping, and posting over on Izzy Chic, my fashion blog.  I was in-world this weekend going through my "away" messages when I saw one from the Lounge of Dreams employee group; Petra Paderborn needed someone to cover for her the coming Sunday's 6-8pm shift.  I considered for a brief moment, then fired off a notecard to Pet (who was no longer online) offering to take the spot if no one else had yet stepped up.  I figured if it was meant to be, the spot would still be open and I could resume my hosting duties in at least some form.  Petra came back with an excited and thankful note and that was it - I would be hosting again for the first time in many months.

Before I knew it, Sunday had arrived and I logged in with about 30 minutes to get ready for my come-back hosting gig.  Getting ready is one of my favorite parts of any SL event; I love going through my inventory and putting together the "perfect" outfit for the occasion.   It was Gender Bender for the theme, so I put on some gray slacks, black button-up shirt, and dark gray blazer.  I kept it simple but sexy, silver hoop earrings, but some sexy, spiky black boots.  I completed the look with a very short, sleek bob cut and a make-up with blackened eyes and red, red lips.  I opened up Notepad and typed up a few general, host-worthy text statements (about tipping, contributing to tier, posting to the LoD Flickr group , etc.) for ease of cut & paste, carefully worded the group notice to send out to our VIP members, and affixed my "Dreams Host" tag firmly above my pretty, virtual head.

I wasn't nervous, instead I was quite psyched.  It was my first time hosting in the new build at Baylor's Haunt (which is amazing, go now and check it out if you haven't yet) and I was excited to get up on the spotlighted, ultra-cool hosting stage.

What can I say?  It was amazing to be back and the warmth and genuine excitement I got in the many "welcome backs!" and "we missed you, Izzy!"s thrown my way made me smile.  When Guen - who was temporarily DJing until our resident tiger DJ, Phant Nabob, made it in - welcomed me back over the stream and said how much I had been missed, I'll admit, I got teary-eyed.  Silly, no?

I suppose one might think I am not as dedicated to my secondary, virtual life because I am not as invested in it as some of my friends.  My attention wanes frequently from one interest to another, but I always come back to my favorites.  Before my grandfather passed, I was really getting seriously back into SL with my fashion blog, Izzy Chic, and (so far incomplete) photo blog, Izzy Pics .  Leaving was not really my choice, but I simply did not have it in me to be social or interact with anyone.  I even rarely talked to my beloved Rosie over instant messenger during the past few months.  It does not mean I love her - or any of you - any less.  Just that, as I know you all understand, I needed some me-time to go in, reflect, and begin to heal.  Death affects us all differently and I regret receding into myself instead of reaching out to those that care and would want to help me; yet, that is how I deal with traumatic events.  I internalize.

I know I don't have to explain any of this or make excuses; rl > sl, as we all know.  I know that you all understand; perhaps, and sadly, all too well.  I don't want to be a gloomy-gus and bring this post down so I'll stop right there.  What I am really trying to say is that I am glad to be back and I have missed all of my beloved SL friends very much.  You are all very special to me and I feel so honored to be associated with such amazing, creative, and beautiful people.  I have asked Petra to tentatively put me back on the schedule (looking at Wednesdays), and I hope they have some openings that I can take.  I really do want to come back in and be a part of the LoD family again, and a part of SL period.

Thanks all of you for caring and being just so totally awesome!

I bet you thought I'd gone all Izzy-M.I.A. again, eh?  Not a chance; I'm loving the fashion world entirely too much for that!

As a matter of fact, my (sl & rl) fiancé - Cyth Hax - and I have just returned from a week-long vacation in (usually) sunny Destin, Florida.  If you have never been (or heard of it), it's a gorgeous, little place; all white sands and emerald waters.  Its beaches have been named some of the prettiest in the world.

That is, of course, unless you go during a patch of stormy weather as we did - where the constant churning of unusually large, wind-spawned waves made the water as murky as the Gulf at Biloxi, Mississippi (much closer to home and the ones we generally visit when we want some sand and sun).

Though the wind was hellish (beach time was filled with lovely wind-whipped sandblasts that pummeled your skin with fine and sharp-feeling sand), it often rained, and the sun decided to be shy and stay behind the clouds for the duration of our trip, we still had a fairly nice time.

A week, however, is just too long for me.  It was the longest vacay I'd ever gone on and I really didn't know how I would handle being away from home, our five cats (counting a new baby kitty!), and my desktop computer!  It was nothing short of hell, I'll admit.  I must just relegate myself to the notion that I am, simply, a homebody.

As well, since Rosie proffered the idea of becoming a fashionista in SL, I have been in-world and active a lot more; it was like finding my true calling and I - finally - had a purpose; a reason to be spending so much time in a virtual world.  (Without purpose or direction, I lose interest quickly).  I tried getting in-world on my laptop, even downloaded an alt viewer or two, but it just wasn't happening.  Even when I could get in for a few moments, I had to have the graphics turned down so low that trying to put together an outfit was simply not worth the effort.

So, I am back (yay!) and will be working on some new outfits to post this very evening.  I hope everyone has missed me as much as I have missed them & SL!

If it weren't for Rosie - and her cute, little Spot - I wouldn't even know anything about AIFriends.  In fact, if it weren't for Rosie, I would not now be sharing my virtual life with my new sweet, little baby Julian.

I really can't thank her enough for bringing us together.  He is the apple of my eye - I mean, look at all that cuteness!  The photo above was after I first brought him home and I gave him his very first bath.  He is not yet litter-trained because even though I have his box out, he still left a steaming pile of poo on my floor (maybe I'm sick, but even the poo was cute - and yes, it was really steaming!).

My sweet boy is a Bombay and though it was a tough choice between that and a Siamese, I had to finally settle on that adorable black bundle.  I have a thing for black cats (three of my four rl furbabies are black - completely by coincidence!) and omghessocute.  I just don't even know what else to say.  He's adorable and cute and has amazing vertical leap (seriously - we were all hanging out on Rosie's sky workroom and he was leaping over everyone's heads).

Yes, he loves to jump - and jump high! - and run around like a nut.  What kitty worth their 'nip doesn't, right?  Our favorite thing to do together, though, is sit on the floor in our bedroom and read together.

I almost got a Corgi, but how could I - the ultimate cat lover - not get a kitty?  It just wouldn't be right.  I'd like to get a Corgi one day and I just might, but for now I am just enjoying my time with Juju.

Isn't he just adorable?  Thank you Aunty Ro - Julian & I will be forever grateful that you brought us together!

One of the things I think that I can bring to the table in the vast world of SL fashion is not only my unique sense of style, but showcasing designers that are not on the top of many fashion lists.  I am not - never have been - a name brand kind of girl; in real life nor in my second life.  I buy what I like; I don't give a toss if it's by a hot designer or is a name brand of the moment.

Naturally, then, my SL shopping days have led me to a variety of personally-favored designers that have yet to get any real notice; I hope that I can give them some because they all certainly deserve it.  It is my hope that I can open a world of fresh outfits and accessories to the fashion-conscious; that I can help them discover something new that they may just love.

And so, without further adieu, I give you Izzy Chic at izzychic.isadoragraves.com.  Photos will be posted on my regular, pro Flickr account under an "Izzy Chic" set - you can get there here.  If you would like to copy any of the outfits you see on my blog, I'd love to see your version!  Please upload any such pics to the Izzy Chic Copycatz Flickr group.

Enjoy - and wish me luck in this new venture!

First, we made our way to Subversions for the SLag Magazine Release Party. Though touted as a "burlesque" show, it was a good deal more. Each act was unique, and obviously a great deal of work went into every last little detail. I had fun snapping pics, as always, overall enjoyed the joy except for the emoting (more on that later). Stephen Venkman was even in attendance and I about melted in my seat when he spoke to me (longtime readers will remember that I have an innocent, secret-SL crush on Mr. Venkman). Some of his artwork was on display and it was as powerful and sensual as ever.

NiNi signed on for a bit to help me choose an outfit to wear to the Relay For Life benefit gala at Organica that Rosie and I were going to. Codie and Gabby and Eshi and all of the other coolest-of-the-cool SL folk were in attendance. We were about to die from the name spam, 'til Marx showed up and - before you know it - we were all dancing around a shining, burning effigy of Richard Simmons (pictures as soon as I get them uploaded). I got to meet Mayo and Neko, two of Marx's friends, and we had a really great time.

It was, overall, an amazing day back in SL. I can't tell you how much I have missed it, and missed my friends. I always have such a wonderful time and am always left wondering why I don't remember that it is the perfect escape when real life is overwhelming me. Instead of avoiding SL when I'm down in the dumps, I should be embracing it!

Let's just hope this time I can remember that lesson.

The first few times I logged in since we moved onto our new island home - Four Corners - things were just getting started. Due to many harried, real life constraints, I was unable to join in the first forays that went into changing an expanse of water into a beautifully delightful  isle.  Now that I have been able to log back in to my much-missed second life, I am in...awe...of what my friends and neighbors have done in my absence.

I suppose I should back up some.  Ensuing the great and now infamous open space controversy, we - that is Rosie and I - unfortunately lost our home at Rosadora.  I logged on just quick enough one day to pick up all of my things and quickly - without looking back - teleported away forever from what had been Ikebana Cove.

Yet when one door closes, another is always preparing to open...

While I was busy fighting my real life stresses, Rosie and Marx put their heads together and figured out a way for us and a few special friends of Rosie's to purchase an island.  It was aptly named "Four Corners", and each of us took a corner of the large space to make our own.  At its center is a large mountain that the Four Corners Social Club is perched upon; a central and shared meeting and hang-out area for us all.

Eager as I was to log on and set up my new home, real life had other ideas in mind.  While I fought through 12-14/hour work days (ot - not paid, mind you) and the impending holidaze life became all work and no play for Ms. Izzy.  In the meantime - back at Four Corners - Rosie and the gang, most of whom - at that time - I'd only ever had the pleasure of meeting in passing and brief parlance, were hard at work on their individual paradise corners.  When I was finally able to log back in, I was simply blown away.

Four Corners is beautiful.  The talents of my new friends and beloved neighbors - Rosie Barthelmess & Eirik Haefnir (f.k.a. Daman Tenk), Bonibaru Navarathna, Jael Finesmith, Helix Constantine, and Raeyn Sirnah - have transformed our home space into a sort of paradise on the grid.  It's lush, fun, charming, and relaxing; everything a home away from home should be.

Even more special, to me, are the people that I share my home with.  I had met a few of my new neighbors before - Rosie and Eirik were friends of mine, Boni and I had bonded over a shared love of Def Leppard, and Rosie had introduced me to Raeyn on a few occasions.  If I had met Helix and Jael previously, it had only been in brief passing.  Yet, since I have logged back in-world, I have come to know each of these special people a bit more and I look forward to spending hours and oodles of time and fun with each of them (they really are a silly lot).  Each of them is special and sweet, and I truly do feel honored to call them neighbors and friends; I just don't think I could've found better people in all the metaverse to form a clan with.

My personal corner - the SW one to be exact - of Four Corners is under construction; I have named it Izzu Picchu.  With homecoming and housewarming gifts of wonderous willows from places such as Organica, Salyx, Garden of Dreams, Relic, Tesh, and Heart from Rosie, Raeyn, and Jael, there is no doubt in my mind it's going to come out gorgeous.  I have so many ideas and just can't wait to have it all done and finished so I can concentrate on spending time with my friends.

A last note as I wrap this up...my time in SL has reached a new level of special with the addition of a very dear real life friend.  I finally convinced her to give the metaverse a try and I am pleased as punch that she has decided to stick around.  I would like to welcome Serenity "NiNi" Firecaster to Second Life, and wish her as many laughs, special moments and people as I have been blessed with in my virtual travels.

With that, I'm off to design and decorate Izzu Picchu...it's good to be back.

I own half of an OpenSpace with another resident; we each have a home and some landscaping and rarely is there more than 1-3 people (if that) on the sim. After this hike, we will likely lose the place we have made our home.

Obviously this is upsetting and I have to wonder what the PR people over at Linden Labs were thinking - surely they must have considered they would be angering an enormous portion of their user base and possibly even losing hundreds of customers over this. Was it really worth it to go ahead with this decision in light of this?

We can never know what the heads over at LL discussed, but we see what they have decided and it seems - for all intents and purposes - extortionist in the extreme; in fact, one could even call it the old "bait 'n switch" scheme (which is actually illegal).

Working for a large agency and being in i.t., I can see some of the problems the misuse of OS's might have caused and a need to do something about it. However, I cannot imagine sane people (or even the legal department!) allowing this to be the decision that was reached to fix the problem.

Surely there had to be another way. Some have suggested monitoring OS's and reprimanding the problem users, or even disallowing scripts and imposing a limit on the number of av's that can be on the OS at one time. Either of these are viable solutions and - especially together - would have worked wonderfully without alienating the client base and screwing loyal customers out of thousands of dollars.

I just cannot seem to wrap my mind around why LL has decided on this course of action; the "no grandfathering" is like adding insult to injury. Its really hard to understand how a company could make a decision so left field of what would be good or acceptable for and to their customers.

I think a better solution could have been found, and I hope that one - after this boisterous outcry - is reached. I hope that LL decides to listen to its loyal customers and passionate investors and works with them to come up with a new solution that will benefit or at least work for everyone.

I love SL, and I want to believe in LL. I hope that I am given that chance - much more disillusionment, and I can't see myself desiring to be a resident for much longer.

<--- Take Action -->

If this angers you too, be sure to let your voice be heard.  Vote on the JIRA and leave a message on the official forums.  Visit Homeless?, a blog set up by Marx Dudek "discussing the fallout over the openspace rate increase."  Join the Openspace/Void Sims Flickr group and share photos of your own OS.  Consider Botgirl's very relevant query in her post, A question for protesters with the courage of their convictions.  Jump on over to vintfalken.com and read over her wonderful, informative post on this issue - appropriately titled - Linden Lab has it's business model ass backwards.

People care about this issue.  When I first read the JIRA it was around 3pm on October 28 and there were about 400+ votes.  This morning, on October 29 around 7am, it had jumped up to over 2,000 votes.  Don't think that your one, small voice won't be heard or doesn't contribute to the whole.  It does!!  For as Margaret Mead so wisely said:

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, commited citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

** Addendum **

You'll get a kick out of reading Vint's newest find/update...seems the whole "sim overuse" excuse LL gaves us was just as bogus as everyone believed it to be. See for yourself at Raymond Conspiracy Theory - Is LL gaming us?

(I have crossposted this over at Snark Attack, and added the comment I made on Vint's Linden Lab has it's business model ass backwards post, which expressed some more of my thoughts/feelings on the issue.)

It isn't that I don't posses my own unique style in real life; I do.  Yet I have never - and quite likely may never - have the resources to dress and bejewel myself as I do in the metaverse.  I do not live in a flashy city filled with name brand stores, and even if I did, I could never afford to shop there.  True, too, I am not a "name brand" type of girl; I try to avoid them as much as possible.

Even if shopping and money were not a problem, there is the issue of my body.  I have yet to find a fashion brand that specializes in 4'10" gals with curves.  Petite clothes are usually grandma-ish looking and children/teen clothes don't have room for my ample breasts and bum.  Though I've slimmed down my waist (back in a size 7, and sometimes a 5, woot!), what's above and below that area simply makes such clothes a non-option.

Don't even get me started on shoes!  My sister has a bit of a shoe fetish; I have never seen a woman own so many shoes - some she has only worn once.  I wish I could share her joy in footwear, but I cannot and never could.  I have had a "bad knee" since childhood, so boots were out and - as I grew older - so were heels.  Now my shoes have to not only be stylish, but have good support for my "bum legs".  Try finding all of that, and in a size 5!

My point in sharing all of my fashion woes is to point out this other aspect of SL that is so special to me.  The chance to be a fashion-conscious, stylish woman without worry of money, ill-fitting clothes, or "the impossible to find" shoes.  In SL, I can wear heels to my heart's content, I can sashay around in knee-length skirts (which would be ankle-length in rl, remember!), I can feel like a fashion goddess even if I'm just hanging out at home.

In the virtual world, I have the resources (L$) to spend and the body to display my wares on.  It has opened up a whole new world to me; a very fun one, I might add.

I am not - likely never will be - a fashionista.  I will never follow trends, shop at "the right" stores, or buy something simply for the name brand or designer.  This aspect of my personal "style" has not changed.  What has, however, is the ability to own a vast wardrobe of awesomeness from which to drape myself in.

To be blunt, I enjoy dressing myself in SL almost more than anything else I do.  Why?  Because there is a hidden, cool, and funky plethora of styles that have been hiding inside of me for all of these years that I simply never could realize in the real world.  Now, I can.  Whether I'm being "grungy, comfortable" Izzy in a cool hoodie and a favorite pair of jeans, or I'm being "kickass cyberpunk" Izzy traipsing around a post-apocalypse sim, I am getting to express a side of myself I might never have had a chance to in real life.

Clothes may not make the person, but the person can certainly use clothes to express themselves in so many ways.  SL cuts out the real life blocks that exist in reveling in your own personal style(s) - whether it be finances, career, culture, or reality that stop you from being that you, those boundaries simply do not exist within SL.

I can't imagine not being Izzy now that I've walked in her (sexy, stylish) shoes for over a year.  Through my avatar I have discovered and been able to explore so many aspects of myself that I might never have had a chance to touch on in the natural world.  One of those is the ability to have fun with fashion, and be myself - all of myselves - through a myriad of personal styles.  What more can you ask for?

It was with utter disappointment and not a few tears that I made the decision to miss seeing my favorite band, Def Leppard, perform live in Biloxi, Mississippi this past August on their 2008 tour representing the latest album, Songs from the Sparkle Lounge.  The simple truth was that we could not afford to go, and instead of putting us in a bind to make it happen, I made the grown-up decision to forgo my first nearby Def Leppard concert since becoming an adult.  It was not, I promise you, a decision made lightly; regardless of the fact that this would have been my fifth time seeing "the guys" live.

Perhaps a bit of back story is in order here.

We all rebel in some way during our teen years - especially those of us that had a rough up-bringing.  Some skip school, do drugs, have sex, party hard, etc...and some of us become obsessed with rock bands.  I couldn't be more proud to have been firmly affixed in the latter category.

You may think "obsessed" is a bit of a harsh word.  It isn't.  I had a job and every penny went into my very vast - and very impressive, according to some older collectors I rubbed elbows with - Def Leppard collection (I totaled it up once and it was worth, in the early 90s, over $2,000).  My bedroom was wallpapered with over 250 posters; all Lep.  My best friend and fellow Lep lover in high school - I'll call her by her nickname then, Blondie - lost friends over our Lep obsession; it was all we ever wanted to talk about.  Weekends were spent at one or the other's house watching Def Lep videos (and slow-motioning the part of Rock of Ages where Phil is shaking his butt), requesting Lep on the radio, and pouring over our vast collections.  To this day, I squeal seconds before a Def Leppard song starts on the radio; I know it's Lep within the first breadth of a beat or string.

Needless to say, I left behind my head-over-heels, blind-to-everything-else Def Leppard passion with my late teens, but my love of the band, their music, and my true respect and adoration for "my guys" has not dimmed.  My Lep love is a very personal and special thing to me; I quite honestly attribute surviving my often bleak and dark teen years to Def Leppard.

So it was with much delight to learn there was a Def Leppard virtual-tribute band in Second Life and that they were playing a concert Monday night at the Metal Shop.  Around 7:45pm SLT last night, I threw on my Hysteria t-shirt, a fave pair of jeans, and a Def Leppard pin that Rykk Ferraris had given me at Freakheim Funeral Home the other night and TP'ed over.

There was already a surprising amount of people gathered and, judging from the friendly banter in main chat, a gaggle of SL Def Leppard "groupies" that had attended more than a few shows together.  I stood off on the left side of the stage - what any Lep fan worth their salt will tell you is "Viv's side", where guitarist Vivian Campbell always stands.  I really wanted to be on "Phil's side", aka the right side of the stage, but felt I could take some better snapshots maneuvering from this angle; especially important as there is an SL Def Leppard Photograph Contest I planned to enter my best pics from the night into.

The show was an actual taped, live Def Leppard concert (from Toyko...getting to hear Joe speaking Japanese was priceless), and SL Def Leppard performed the show for us onstage.  Speaking from the perspective of a once diehard and still true fan, the virtual counterparts of Lep really were amazing; it was obvious - to my eyes, at least - that a lot of work and thought had gone into every bit of this concert.  It was small nuances here and there, but - to a true Lep fan - they were enormous and I so appreciated that someone loved the band enough to pay attention to such small details.

As an example, during the tour for the Adrenalize album ('92-'93), The Seven Day Weekend Tour, (which I believe the live concert playing was from) Joe would usually get up on the drum set's stand and use a mike stand rather than his hand held mike - which he would periodically point out over the crowd.  Virtual Joe, last night, did the same during "Love Bites" (one of the songs Joe did this on during the actual tour).  It's small potatoes, sure, but it says something of SL Def Leppard that such small attention to detail was respected and followed out.

The SL Def Leppard members don't look exactly like the real Def Leppard, and in some cases not really at all, but it works.  I was quite impressed to note that they went to some lengths to make virtual Rick have one arm (which "held" except for some animations the drum kit he was using brought out his second arm).

The band was also fun and kept the crowd - which grew quite loud before the end of the evening - pumped up and having a blast.  For the last song, Joe told all of the ladies to get up onstage and dance alongside their favorite Lep.

Needless to say, I made a beeline for virtual Phil Collen.  The highlight of the night (which is saying something considering I'd just spent two hours dancing in my chair, clapping, and WOOOing out loud) was standing onstage next to Phil while he performed the last song.  /swoon  Yes, I know it was not the real Phil Collen but there was still something exciting about it nonetheless and I truly was giggly like a schoolgirl...especially when Phil - afterwards - thanked me for coming, said I ROCKed, and that it was nice to meet me. /swoon and fall down in a faint  Check out me and Phil.

The band will be playing another show on Sunday, October 5th, 4pm SLT on stage at The Prim Goddess Gardens, and I really do suggest you try and make it.  I can attest that Def Leppard is one of the most amazing-sounding live bands ever, so the sound quality is top-notch.  The atmosphere at the concert and the Metal Shop was fun and very friendly, as were each of SL Def Leppard's members.  Whether you're a Def Leppard fan, an 80's hair band fan, or someone who just enjoys a good rock concert, it will be well worth your time to attend a show.