WETLands by raftwet jewell

A long and winding road... that's the road I took in this virtual world. I could have made this so much easier on myself if I would have taken building and scripting classes. But, noooo, I had to do it the hard way. Shyness is an affliction. It has waylaid me several times. Too shy to even IM someone sometimes, unless I had a specific question or info to give. I am braver now. Thanks to the encouragement from others. I remember Tasty telling me once, "...just ask!" And she was right... I just had to ask.


Produced by FMF Videos





My sims, WETLands and RiverLand are essentially done... at least for now. I already want to tear out a section and replace the build with something else. I am sure that will go on forever... the building, the de-construct and rebuilding again... you see something somewhere on the grid, and you want that on your sim. Building this place will go on and on.



I opened WETLands with no fanfare. I just clicked the public box one day. I am still adding things and subtracting, but it is finally opened to the public. It's a relaxing place, because I built it for myself. There are lots of rivers and streams to float and raft or kayak. I even put in a cool waterslide. The slide has inner tubes and you can just hit the ocean and keep lazily floating around the entire sim. I'll be opening RiverLand sim this week...



Tu Dae, over at Northland scripted my rafts. Just jump in and take off through all the rivers and waterways. Lastping Asp from Ground3D created the pedal boats for couples to just ride all around the sim and ocean. Guiles Tidewater's GT Whitewater system is so cool for the kayaks. It's so real that I got dizzy with vertigo while paddling the whitewater. I gotta practice some more.



So many people helped me throughout the past couple years. I want them... no I need them to know how much I appreciate their work, their creations. Their encouragement and their own sims were inspirations to me. And, of course, in real life, the rivers have always been a constant in my life and in my art.



Eventually, I will have a party... if I ever get around to planning one! Enjoy WETLands with a friend. Cuddle a while and play in the water. I welcome everyone! I'll see you on the river!



BIG UP TO:
Tu Dae, Northland sim
Lastping Asp, Ground3D
Guiles Tidewater, GT Whitewater System
Damen Hax, Optikal
Ulrico Hax, UHS
Neil Protaganist, sculptures RiverLand
Elros Touminen, sculpture RiverLand
Glyph Graves, sculptures RiverLand
Olympia Rebus, sculptures WETLand
Chuckmatrix Clip, sculptures WETLand
Bryn Oh, sculpture WETLand
Cherry Manga, sculptures WETLand
WET Builders, luv to you all <3 FMF Videos
Xavier Thiebaud, my partner, my muse

Love you all! <3 Rafee <3

we have total betty fun!

rafee in total betty fashion, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.

dress by : Total Betty

Site : The Sanctuary

We are definitely a crazy pair of fun loving avatars. Xavier Thiebaud and my avi, Raftwet Jewell have been running non-stop across the grid partying at new places and meeting new friends.

Jacket by : Sey 

Site : Blackhearts

We both love to dance, explore and shop at the best places. And our friends are supportive and nice to us so we love them, and we send them back our support, too.

Site : Immersiva

The virtual world is fast pace and sometimes overwhelming, but all we do is focus on our love for each other... and that's a nice focus, indeed!

Site : !be Design

Raftwet Jewell, the first whitewater rafting avatar in the virtual world!
raftwet jewell in myspace
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in koinup
raftwet jewell's the a list! in blogger
raftwet jewell's the a list! in myspace

cherry manga sculpture at parc des arts

RAFTWET Jewell in Second Life



cherry manga sculpture at parc des arts, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.

I met Cherry Manga a long time ago in early 2007. A consummate artist, she creates her vision using several mediums. She has always inspired me and has had quite an influence on my own personal life. I have a photograph that she did a long time ago that has given me strength in times of need. It speaks volumes about the strength of women, and how we relate to the virtual world here in Second Life... and it speaks to me even in real life.



Today, I visit her latest sculptures at Parc des Arts high in the sky. I spent a couple hours here just walking around and experiencing the installation. Very beautiful work... and I now have a new sculpture on WETLands.

Raftwet Jewell, the first whitewater rafting avatar in the virtual world!
raftwet jewell in myspace
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in koinup
raftwet jewell's the a list! in blogger
raftwet jewell's the a list! in myspace

whitewater kayak derby

RAFTWET Jewell in Second Life



whitewater kayak derby, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.

Good friend and fellow paddler, Guiles sent out a shout in the SL Paddlers Association for the first ever Whitewater Kayak Derby taking place on June 27, 2009 at his site over on Tidewater Canyon River on the Wilder Keys sim. I met him over a kayak while paddling the river on his whitewater course. Guiles has scripted a cool kayak that navigates over scripted whitewater prims. I got the system over on WETLands and I have been refining the layout using his product. It's way cool.

Guiles will be selling his kayaks at a kiosk on RiverLand. I got him set up in the sushi house complete with Japanese maples, udon noodles and a broad beach area where you can grab one of his kayaks, surf the ocean and paddle towards the whitewater course.

He just announced the first ever Whitewater Kayak Derby! The derby will take place on June 27th at 11:00 am. Prizes and cash awards total over $3,000L. Just IM Guiles Tidewater for a registration and/or more information. I got my whitewater kayak ready and I've been practicing daily. Woot!

whitewater kayak derby and fishing tournament

tidewater canyon river
wilder keys

june 27, 2009 : saturday
11:00 am slt

$3000L in cash and prizes

Second Life

Raftwet Jewell, the first whitewater rafting avatar in the virtual world!
raftwet jewell in myspace
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in koinup
raftwet jewell's the a list! in blogger
raftwet jewell's the a list! in myspace

organica

RAFTWET Jewell in Second Life



organica, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.




It's Friday night and we always gotta check out the psy tunes of dj Qee Nishi, one of the best dj's in Second Life. It's been a ritual for me ever since I dropped in on that little green meadow at Organica long ago...




I saw Thomtrance O'toole, master of the goa and Barbs Kurka, another great Organica dj who also spins at Dorian Gray.



Xavi and I couldn't call it a Friday until a psy set with Qee!

Raftwet Jewell, the first whitewater rafting avatar in the virtual world!
raftwet jewell in myspace
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in koinup
raftwet jewell's the a list! in blogger
raftwet jewell's the a list! in myspace

james isaak live music

RAFTWET Jewell in Second Life



james isaak live music, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.

Montana Laurasia sent out a shout for James Isaak today. James was playing at the oldest live music venue on the Second Life grid, The Lily Pad. I love this venue with it's cute froggy chairs. And it also has a great texture store.

James Isaak is pure Americana singing blues and folk. With his harmonica and guitar, his sound was an edgier version of the blues or folk genre. I sang along while I listened to his ballads. "My girl, my girl... don't lie to me... tell me where did you sleep last night?"

I remember hearing this song sung by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Appreciating our roots... our origins will help to understand the more modern music today. All cultures, all societies have the ballad to rely on for preserving stories. James sang about lost love, murder and life itself.

His voice has pathos and purity of emotion. Each soulful vocal nuance almost brought tears to my eyes as each story unfolded. Sad ballads, melancholy songs expressed by a true Americana musical artist. I enjoyed it very much. Thank you, Montana for the heads up!

Raftwet Jewell, the first whitewater rafting avatar in the virtual world!
raftwet jewell in myspace
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in koinup
raftwet jewell's the a list! in blogger
raftwet jewell's the a list! in myspace

dj zap hax at electro smog

RAFTWET Jewell in Second Life



dj zap hax at electro smog, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.

Lazy Sunday morning with a cup of tea in my hand, the cat on my lap and 100 degrees blazing outside on a gorgeous California day... I just left a fundraising party. I needed a chill pill or at least a little R&R.

Zap Hax sent a shout just in time for his minimal electro tunes. I headed for his club Electro Smog on the New Berlin sim.  

On top of the sim is a collection of buildings and cityscape that fools the viewer into thinking that the community is a corporate one. But, underneath the clean sidewalks and neatly arranged city trees lies the most underground club of them all... Electro Smog.  

This little club adjacent to the railroad tunnel lurks a collection of the best dj's of the electro genre. Stop by for an hour or two to absord the tunes and meet the friends there. Besides, Zap is here and that's all I need.

Raftwet Jewell, the first whitewater rafting avatar in the virtual world!
raftwet jewell in myspace
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in koinup
raftwet jewell's the a list! in blogger
raftwet jewell's the a list! in myspace