I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this endless fight
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days
Goo Goo Dolls, ♫Better Days♫
Decidedly I took some time to think about this year and the holidays and I wanted to do a blog that didn’t focus on the struggles I deal with specifically during this time of year. What I wanted to do was find something that had meaning and “Better Days” by the Goo Goo Dolls was my way of doing that. It’s not a Christmas song but applies to the holidays and is as applicable now as it was when it was released twelve (12) years ago.
Humankind sometimes fails to forget the little things like wanting the best for their fellow person (be it man or woman) and often times people can come off as snarky, unkind, or devoid of feeling. Yes we all have our own battles going on in our lives whether it be our own or those closest to us but more often then not we dismiss what other people are going through. The veteran who might have lost a limb, the person that lost their job and has to resort to living on the streets, or even the child that is in the hospital with a severe disease.
There are people out there that need help in many ways and not all of us can afford to donate money, those that can I applaud you greatly. For the rest of us who may not have that option we can donate our time and our ear or shoulder to a person that may just need five to ten minutes to talk about their day and to see that what they are saying isn’t meaningless.
Lately it has felt as if the world has become more bitter than I remember and I am not going to point a finger at this or that because that won’t solve anything. As the year comes closer to a close I hope that we all can start to prepare to be our best selves in 2019 and help even one person on that past to be their best self because the world can be a great place (I’ve seen how good it can be without rose colored glasses).
It’s something to think about and I hope that anyone who does happen to stumble upon this blog post takes it to heart because as the song says “Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days”.
There is still a few days left to shop the December round of The Men’s Department and after having made several trips there for things (and there may be one more stop before it closes up for the final time of 2018), I went back because I happened to get an awesome gift of credit to the Deadwool store. Fortunate for me the Deadwool vendors at TMD allow you to use giftcards/store credit so I was able to bring home with me the entire pack of the “Deserter Jacket”.
When I first saw this jacket at the beginning of the month I knew I had to have it but other things were a necessity before I was to even consider getting even one of the single colors but I was spared by receiving the gift card. There are three parts of the jacket that you can color change in the FATPACK with the included HUD.
One thing that I truly like best about this jacket is that it isn’t pristine and it has a worn look to it like it’s been with me for ages…suppose it could be considered “vintage” perhaps? Deadwool has once again made me a happy customer and has me waiting to see what the brand will put out next.
Deadwool Deserter Jacket FATPACK:
- 100% original mesh
- HUD changes 3 parts (Jacket, Lining, and shirt)
- Many color choices to choose from
- Shirt can be turned on or off
- Fitted sizes for Belleza (Jake), Signature (Geralt, Gianni) and SLink Physique mesh bodies.
- Exclusively @ TMD until 12/30/18
The Man Cave event is currently going strong with a lot of great things to check out like the “Owen Hair” by Modulus. This mid-length side swept hair is definitely a style that I feel suits me well and I can also say it looks better on me in a color other than black as well. The way it flows down the side of the face without covering the eyes also is something I like as well (adding that I can wear it on either side of my face with mirrored versions).
One of my weaknesses I feel is talking about hair even though one of my brand partners is a hair store, I seem to let me photos do the talking for them more than I can type things down for all to see. My descriptions are probably not the best but it is something I’m working on and will continue to work on moving forward into next year.
To simplify things, I like this hair and I think many fellas out there will enjoy it as much as I do.
Modulus Owen Hair:
- 100% original nex-gen alpha mesh
- 5 color packs + integrated tinting in HUD
- 40 color FATPACK also available
- Exclusively @ Man Cave until 01/09/18
Even though I’ve finished my requirement this month for The Men Jail event I still have items I want to blog from it while it is still open (which is for another couple days). I really liked the idea of pairing the Deadwool jacket with the “Brush Wash” Jeans by CHEERNO because to me they really fit well in the fact that they both have a vintage and worn look. Ever since CHEERNO started making clothing again there has been a lot of items that I’ve enjoyed blogging and this once fits in that category.
I can’t say exactly why I like distressed jeans with fraying holes other than it reminds me a bit of the grunge rock era that was essential to my formative years. It’s where I discovered the music that would inspire me with writing and also the films and shows that would play a role along with several teachers in school to help mold me into who I am today.
At the event there are also plain and muddy versions of the jeans which I think are just as cool and well worth checking out if The Men Jail hasn’t been a part of a planned shopping excursion (because it should be).
CHEERNO Brush Wash Jeans [Pack]:
- Original mesh
- HUD contains 6 different distressed denim colors
- Fitted sizes for Belleza (Jake) and Signature (Gianni) mesh bodies
- Exclusively @ The Men Jail until 12/28/18
The holiday beverage that is in my hand comes from the Anti-Event and is made by Flair ‘n’ Style. The “Creamy Christmas Drink” is the caffeinated beverage I needed to help me get through several long days and also the photo taking for this blog. It is holiday themed with a straw (I’ll say it’s paper and not plastic) as well as a candy cane which everyone knows (except those who do not like them) are delicious.
Included with the drink are both wearable and rezzable versions of the drink along with resize and texture HUDs, the former has 6 different types to choose from all with festive cup designs. I may be just a tad cute for the overall feel of what I have done with this scene but in a way it fits too because the protagonist walking down the street has clearly been out probably looking for last minute gifts or somewhere to donate (like the Salvation Army for example).
Flair ‘n’ Style Creamy Christmas Drink:
- Original Mesh
- Left and Right Holdable versions
- Rezzable version for decor use included
- Resize and Texture HUDs (6 different styles to choose from)
- Exclusively @ Anti-Event until 01/07/18
Before I end this post I saved a one of the crucial parts of this scene for last. The “Dickens Street” Backdrop by Paparazzi is something that I felt really clicked with the idea and also the song choice that I made to correspond with the blog. The distressed clothing and walking past Ebeneezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley’s office which is famously from the literary classic “A Christmas Carol” felt right because perhaps maybe it was a future Tiny Tim walking by and remembering his childhood.
I love the detail of this build as it has a good feel to it and the built in lighting from the street lamps is just perfect (which I was hoping along with my chosen lighting would really make this scene magical). The backdrop was first a part of the Tannenbaum event which has since closed but luckily Drew puts out her items in her store after they’ve moved out of events. It’s certainly worth taking a look at to see what might inspire other photos or could be saved to do something with next year but either way it is an inspired piece.
At least for me it was.
I‘ve gone on long enough and there’s always work to be done so I’ll part for now with the style credits in my wake and feel good about what this post means personally and hope that it has meaning for others out there too.
Until our paths cross again down the road,
– B
BACKDROP: Paparazzi (Store / MP) – Dickens Street
POSE: Ana Poses – Lajubljana
HAIR: Modulus (Store / MP) – Owen Hair @ Man Cave ✦ NEW
BEARD: DossiEr – ReppoC @ Man Cave ✦ NEW
JACKET: Deadwool – Deserter Jacket @ TMD ✦ NEW
JEANS: CHEERNO – JEANS Brush Wash [PACK] @ The Men Jail ✦ NEW
BEVERAGE: Flair ‘n’ Style – Creamy Christmas Drink @ Anti-Event ✦ NEW
These Conversations Kill 