I'm supposing a few of you have noticed that I seem maybe a little distracted. I hope that's what you're supposing. There are other things you could suppose but ...

The truth is I've taken on something new – a new experience. New, for me, always means an initial time of immersion. Something about me seems to insist that the new wear off as quickly as possible. In general, I do not like surviving new experiences – especially new experiences that are largely up to me. Beforehand: I read up, ask a bajillion questions. After I'm into it: I keep reading and I keep asking a bajillion questions.

So ... the new experience is Second Life. I am a body of one wandering into areas where I know nothing and no one. One can wander around blindly like this for months on end or one can take the bull by the horns and tame it. So. I've been working on taming it. Reading. Exploring. Shopping.

Hey ... your image in Second Life speaks as loudly there as in First Life aka Real Life. Trust me. Shopping is essential and it's tedious. I've purchased outfits and shoes. I chose an appropriate hairstyle – a French braid, of course. And I've picked up a few free skins. And I've paid $1L ea for many demos.

And then my husband started shopping. OH NO! He's worse in SL (Second Life) than in RL (Real Life). He pops into a place and before it's ever completely rezzed in (meaning the walls, floors, ceilings, stairs, and the merchandise shows up) he's already decided that there's nothing to be had. He's ready to use the "poof machine" aka "teleporter" to pop into the the next store. Today, I took his avitar shopping for skin demos. Tonight, he can try them on by the beach or by the campfire.

I'm ready to find a place to rent ... maybe buy. I am ready to find some ladies who would like to meet me at the coffee shop and chat ... or ... there's a few museums (I haven't seen yet) or we could attend classes together ... or ... we could teach classes.

OH! Last Sunday I went to church in Second Life. I missed the main service so I sat down in one of the areas where I could watch a re-run. Way Cool!

So, I know you're wondering ... what about all that s e x and stuff? It IS actually possible to mostly avoid it. That said ... I would NOT consider running it with children around (although there is an under-age, teen grid). Nor would I run it around anyone who is easily tempted – and you know who you are.

Look. Here's the deal – how I see it. Second Life is not just my playground. It's also a potential workplace and mission ground. This is what the whole Internet will look like at some point. Okay. If the Lord tarries, it will ... ... so ... do we Normal People ... people who believe in right and wrong ... regardless of our religion or non-religion ... Do we give the territory over early or go in and stake ground? I'm for staking out my plot of virtual land and virtual culture ... and virtual friends -- and we all know they become real. The lady in the picture is Jade Lily. She has a group in SL called Counting Sheep. Why? Because she is part of The Electric Sheep Company. Electric Sheep has built some rather nice spots in Second Life and I hear tell they're involved in There.com (for teens), as well. Jade and I had a quick chat about building community. She is a very considerate and compassionate lady.

So is anyone else out there in Second Life? Wanna join me for a cup of tea or coffee? It's MarillaAnne Slade, there.