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!

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!

My bestest friend, the ever-amazing Rosie Barthelmess, hired me on to be part of the Lounge of Dreams gang over at Trapper (213, 37, 318).

I hosted 80's Night last night with DJ Rosie and then DJ Madisen, and I had a blast doing it (I also made quite a bit of L$ for my first night!). Everyone was fun and friendly - co-workers and patrons both - and its probably the most laid back job I've had to date.

I seriously can't wait for my next chance to host.

The Thrist: Bloodlines, created by Liquid Designs is, according to their website:

...a complete vampire system and multi-player interactive role-playing game based in Second Life.

And so it is. I was delighted to try out my new fangs, situate my "bite marks", and play around with the HUD that comes with The Thirst package (which Rosie bought for me - thank you, my girl!).

I spent an hour putting my outfit together. When I do my "vamp" look, I like to be original. I don't use any clothes sets or outfits; every piece is different and comes from Goddess-knows-where. I find that most female vampires in SL are rather cliché and/or over-the-top. Sure, I like black leather, spikes, and long hair, too, but moderation is key. Damn near every female bloodsucker you pass is going to be decked out in swatches of black leather or latex (they're usually half-naked), have big, long hair, and be dripping in blingy spikes and chains.

My vampire "look" is usually a bit more toned-down. Sometimes I like to be kind of cyber-punk with it, others I want to look dark and sexy but not gregarious. Vampires are sensual creatures; the very nature of the beast is sexual. To me, you don't have to go overboard in making your outward appearance overtly sexual (especially to the point of "slutty" as I often see). You are a vampire; be sensual in your speech and actions, be alluring and mysterious in your dealings with others, be unique and daring in your dress.

Alas, like in many other aspects of SL, people tend to prefer "slutty" over "come-hither sexy" and "half-naked" over "enticingly classy". It's the difference between dressing like a stripper instead of dressing like a bombshell, if you catch my drift. I see it all the time, all over the grid, and the same holds true - unfortunately - for vampire rp it would seem.

Regardless, my classy, sexy self got dressed and applied my fangs + HUD and teleported over to the Liquid Designs Region where the stores and rp-area reside. I was, at this point, a mere human hoping to be turned into a vampire before night's end.

As this rp-system works, you begin as a mortal. To become immortal, you must, first, be drained of your life's blood (which begins as 100% Humanity); this can take some time! The first person to bite you takes your soul - forever. Vampires in Bloodlines collect souls like most people collect baseball cards. After you are drained of your humanity and blood you are a Revenant and "Cursed"; you must bite another and drink their blood to become fully "Embraced".  I couldn't wait to begin.

I had barely made it into the store that leads to the rp area when I was approached by a friendly and flirty vampire named VladDracula Vlodovic.  He asked if I needed any help and invited me back to his castle; an enormous and impressive facade that required a flight feather to visit.

When a vampire invites you back to his personal castle, it's a fair assumption that you're going to get bit (and hopefully turned).  VladDracula took me and another peasant, LOL Michigan, high atop a tower inside the castle walls.  There sat a large Blood Tank, almost full.  He laughed, putting us at ease, and explained he was going to turn us with some help.  There suddenly appeared two female vampires; Wetta Hurst and Chrissy Seliger.

Wetta asked VladDracula, calling him "King", if she could work on her list of potential victims as she apologized that it would appear she was "away".  He assented, and then left himself to attend to other (rl) business, promising to return shortly.

Chrissy then began instructing LOL and I on what we needed to do to prepare to be turned, and to join ourselves to VladDracula's clan, Dracula Ragnarok.  After this was done, and we had sworn allegiance to our new king and the rest of the clan, it was time to begin.

Chrissy bit LOL, and began to drain her blood.  It was, I found, a much more lengthy process than I had first thought.  One bite does not drain all of one's life blood, unless that one is already very low on the blood-level scale.

As I was watching this and waiting for my turn, Wetta finished with her project and walked up to me.  She informed me that our king had instructed her to turn me.

"Then let it be so," I responded.

Wetta bit me, and as her teeth sunk into my flesh, I felt my soul rush out of my body.  Wetta Hurst had collected my soul.  The arrival of another member of the clan and a potential victim who had a little problem turning his Smoke Screen off made things a little hectic, so Wetta whisked me off to a private location - the empty room of the house she was soon to be moving out of.

I appreciated this immensely, and the rest of my draining - and turning - was done here.  Of my becoming Embraced, I will not speak only to say that it was amazing and special, and I thank Wetta - forever my "Mistress" - for taking the time to make it so.

After becoming immortal, Wetta instructed me to drink of her until I'd had my fill.  As she became weak, I would pause, and she would drink heartily from her cask - only then would we commence.

In this way, I became a vampire; Isadora Graves of Clan Dracula Ragnarok, sworn allegiance to my leige, our king VladDracula Vlodovic.

From here, who knows where the night will take me...