raftwet jewell goes on and on

I often wonder why so many of us take the time and money to participate in virtual worlds like Second Life. In the last five years, I have been diligently learning how to build, how to sell, how to get land stats, how to manage groups, how to be a resident and how to cope in here. If anyone ever told me, before I created my avatar, how hard this place could be for anyone, I might have run away from this project completely.



So much has happened in here including friendships, love, broken relationships, bad business deals, and the rest of the shenanigans in here, that I can not believe that I am still here on this grid! It's been sometimes a rocky road and sometimes smooth sailing. But... it has never been boring. Well, until now.

I don't want to expand on that thought just yet, but all of you old avis on the grid probably know what I am talking about. The grid has become... ahem... rather sanitized. Kinda. Maybe it's just because I have been here soooo long that nothing surprises me anymore. I play in here and build. I explore places and write. I go and listen to so much virtual live music that my head spins. And, when I go clubbing, I am usually bumped to death, and it is rare to receive a hello anymore from even the hosts. (Gee, you would think I wasn't registering on the grid anymore...)



But, I am ready to tackle all the stuff that gets thrown at me. I will take breathers more frequently and sometimes I might not be on the grid at all. But, I do want everyone to know this... I love this place, Second Life, more than any of you will ever know. The wonder is still here no matter how sanitized it gets, the grid is alive with imagination and artful fantasy.

Now, here I go... about to start my fifth year in 2012... raftwet jewell signing off... but only until tomorrow.

raftwet jewell = rafee jewell = me!

RAFTWET Jewell in Second Life



raftwet jewell = rafee jewell = me!, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.



OMG! Was I bored? LOL!


RAFTWET Jewell making faces in Second Life. This photo was taken on WETLands in world one day when I was goofing around with my SL animations.


I must apologize to everyone! I have been gone much of 2011 with projects in real world gaining much of my attention. I did try to network all the projects together, though. I never did forget all of you out there in the virtual world of Second Life. I really got waylaid from doing most of my duties that a lot of you have grown to know.


Everything this year was rather sporadic. I know this. I will try harder to be on the grid regularly. Maybe not everyday, but I will do my best to get here. My hat goes out to each and everyone of you... now I am heading over to THE A LIST! blog to write something over there...


RAFTWET Jewell Resources:
raftwetjewell.blogspot.com
facebook.com/rafeejewell
twitter.com/raftwetjewell
youtube.com/raftwetjewell

Raftwet Jewell in Virtual Metaverse
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in facebook
raftwet jewell in twitter
the a list! in second life

raftwet jewell virtual world

RAFTWET Jewell in Second Life



raftwet jewell virtual world, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.

Raftwet Jewell in Virtual Metaverse
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in facebook
raftwet jewell in twitter
the a list! in second life

butterflies, rafee, firefury, xavi in second life

butterflies, raftwet, firefury & xavier at happy clam island


butterflies, rafee, firefury, xavi in second life, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.







A new year is coming, and I've been on this grid forever! As all things pass into the memories of 2010, we begin anew with a promise of bigger and brighter things for 2011!



Tonight, we are with old friends and new over at Happy Clam Island. Organica is the outdoor gathering in the grassy meadow nestled in between the particles and psytrance music.



DJ Barbs Kurka is at the helm spinning her brand of music, and it is a never-ending dance party like no other.





2011... may things change and never change! Woot!

Raftwet Jewell in Virtual Metaverse
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in facebook
raftwet jewell in twitter
the a list! in second life

Conservancy of the American River

This is why I am here. This is why rafee is an avatar for outdoor recreation and the protection of water, streams, rivers, oceans and wetlands. Listen carefully and apply these concepts in your own backyard.



These are the champions who dedicate their lives for a singular cause to protect one river in their community. Protect the land, rivers and oceans in your community by volunteering your time and efforts. California American River is a jewel of a river that stretches from the high Sierra Nevada to the urban cities in the valley. The river gives us drinking water, agricultural water, power, recreation and beauty and is worth protecting for all.

My heartfelt thanks to this crew of volunteers, artists and filmmakers for a job well-done!
<3 rafee <3

xavier and raftwet at university of pacific

xavier and raftwet at university of pacific in northern california


xavier and raftwet at university of pacific, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.







University of Pacific is in the heart of the Great Valley in California. In close proximity to San Francisco and the State Capitol of Sacramento, UOP resides in Stockton.




A beautiful brick campus, it is a lovely place to hang out and just meditate on the brick walls or near the library.



In Second Life, UOP is a strong presence. We met Pacific Tigerpaw, the administrator and manager of the sim.






Go check out this virtual university!
slurl.com/secondlife/U%20Pacific/166/141/22

Raftwet Jewell in Virtual Metaverse
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in facebook
raftwet jewell in twitter
the a list! in second life

Silly Girl and Musical Noize

Giggles... some real life silly for the crazies in all of us... LOL!

Thanks to terroreyes.tv for their ridiculously fun castle take on Zach's latest musical noize!

Enjoy!


Zach Hill - The Sacto Smile from Sargent House on Vimeo.




We love music!

Oh, that silly girlie..... hee hee!

second life mixing with real life

So hard to believe that I have been on the Second Life grid this long. I still remember 2007 when I arrived on the color sims near the a popular sandbox. Building and creating my waterfalls... trying to mimic the world I really live in with the rivers, streams and natural places near my home. I have learned a lot here in Second Life. I learned how to build and though I am still a rudimentary scripter, it's amazing that I can even do that now!

My two regions have been so fun create. Like others, the passion we put into our land is the vision inside our heads. Some builders create fantastic fantasy worlds while others like me try to copy Mother Nature. It has brought a profound appreciation to the real world that I experience.



I am lucky. I travel, I see beautiful places on this earth and I try to bring that experience into the virtual world here. Without any fanfare, my regions are now in Second Life's showcase. I am so proud to have been chosen to be on that list. Look for WETLands in the Parks and Nature category; we are at #4 now. Wow! And, as a co-owner of THE A LIST! my actual land is actually on LL's list!

I have taken thousands of pictures and they are uploaded to my avatar,  rafee's flickr and koinup. I created several RAFTWET Jewell youtube by myself and with my friend,  Aoshi. And, the blogs... gawd, do I ever stop blogging? LOL! But, I needed something more.

A very good friend was on the Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch videography team that finally won the Emmy. After a few years of being nominated, this death-defying team won this year. So, I talked to my friend and asked him if he would film a whitewater sequence in real life and incorporate my avatar rafting on WETLands. He was intrigued by the idea and enjoyed visiting both my land and SL.

Enjoy the video and then come on over to WETLands and try the rafts... or just bring a date and hang out in a natural park-like setting and just chill. There's an outdoor ballroom next to the bay area, both romantic and casual at the same time. Have fun!

maximillion kleene as cyber warrior in second life

Maximillion Kleene as Cyber Warrior in Second Life


maximillion kleene as cyber warrior in second life, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.

Speaking of silly... we're we? LOL! I stopped off at The Herban Pipe club to catch Maximillion Kleene do a live music concert.








Hmm... he was wearing a purple and lime green cyber warrior costume. Explaining that this was an oldie but goodie outfit, he talked about his early days of Second Life.






His concert put a smile on my face as I listened to his tunes. I still remember the first time I heard him waaaay back in 2007. He sounds even better now than ever before! Love ya, Max!

Raftwet Jewell in Virtual Metaverse
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in facebook
raftwet jewell in twitter
the a list! in second life

wetlands second life virtual land

WETLands in Second Life


wetlands second life virtual land, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.

wetlands

in second life

is a reflection of the beauty of oceans,

rivers, streams

and magnificent natural landscapes

in california.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Old friends in Second Life are precious gifts.

I will remember them forever.

Their souls are etched in my heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Old Friends"

old friends,
old friends
sat on their park bench like bookends.
a newspaper blown through the grass
falls on the round toes
of the high shoes
of the old friends.

old friends,
winter companions,
the old men
lost in their overcoats,
waiting for the sun.
the sounds of the city,
sifting through trees,
settle like dust
on the shoulders
of the old friends.



can you imagine us
years from today,
sharing a park bench quietly?
how terribly strange
to be seventy.
old friends,
memory brushes the same years
silently sharing the same fears

a time it was
it was a time
a time of innocence
a time of confidences.

long ago it must be
i have a photograph
preserve your memories
they're all that's left of you


Words & Music by Paul Simon
Sung by Simon and Garfunkel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Raftwet Jewell in Virtual Metaverse
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in facebook
raftwet jewell in twitter
the a list! in second life

raftwet and xavier in second life

raftwet jewell and xavier thiebaud


raftwet, xavier on valentine's day, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.

raftwet and xavier at japan tempura ballroom

the a list! at fogbound blues club

raftwet and xavier at wetlands ballroom

raftwet and xavier at substance club

playing in a homemade psy ball at riverlands sushi pavilion

xavier and raftwet on easter bunny on wetlands outdoor ballroom

2010 and half the year is almost over. The pace of the grid just marches on...

After all these years, we both have a lot of fun on the grid. Despite the group dynamics, despite the drama on the grid, despite everything... we still enjoy this place called Second Life.

Enjoy this wonderment... this place of imagination and beauty. It is a fine place to find yourself, to discover who you are inside and to share your dreams with the rest of the grid.

I still love it here no matter what comes my way. And, our avatars, raftwet jewell and xavier thiebaud will live forever in our hearts.


wetlands moon

wetlands outdoor ballroom

riverland ocean party zone

raftwet at japan resort event area

raftwet jewell at wetlands ballroom

raftwet jewell at muzik haus

dance island party w/ djvoyager

energy club party

chip takacs at japan resort

kitty cat dance at fresh asses

raftwet jewell meditating on riverland surf zone

raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in facebook
raftwet jewell in twitter

Summer is Almost Here!

raftwet jewell in second life
Summer is coming so fast. It's already May. We are almost half way through 2010 already. Everything about the grid moves like lightening speed and every year I am full of "I shouda, I coulda, I wanna."



There is never enough time here to accomplish everything I want to do. My building skills are still amateurish and lacking. My scripting is very rudimentary. When will I have time to focus on my favorite things? Real life is always a priority, but the lines blur and I feel that my Second Life is just as important to me.



THE A LIST! group takes most of my time as I flit around posting blogs about the places that I visit or the music that I hear. Then there is the administrative tasks which are never ending. Luckily I have a trusted partner who handles the schmoozing part as he spends most of his time in IM making connections across the grid. I am too shy to reach out like that, so I spend most of my time on the blogs, network and strategy.



We have been reviewing several new contacts who are now blog contributors to the information highway we have created with the group. Some are serious producers while others send info when they can. I appreciate their efforts very much as I know how difficult it is to balance RL, SL and their own business interests.



I told my partner recently not to worry if other entities are sabotaging us or making concerted efforts to hurt us in our attempt to unify the grid. This is a normal progression for any growing network. Sometimes, it is an emotional turmoil to face the negative aspects, but mostly this will strengthen us. We really do believe in this platform called Second Life. We really do think that this is the future of the digital and internet world. And, because we believe this strongly, we know that we can keep moving forward and doing the best we can for our members.


xavier thiebaud and raftwet jewell in second life


I gave him the analogy of the old story, "The Hare and the Tortoise." We are the tortoise... we move slowly, but we keep moving ahead. Let the hare fly by us with guns a-blazing as we just keep moving to the finish line. But, in our case, we will never finish because there is so much more to do.