Sep 29, 2008

Found: Video of Kamilah's Early Training?

From these humble beginnings the Protector of Caledon was born.

1 - be able to hide in the wide open places
2 - stalk and get closer to your prey
3 - attack him from out of thin air - as if a ghost
4 - job done? put on hyperflight and head off to the next thing.


Happy Rosh Hashanah to My Jewish Readers

L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu




And because I believe that any good day - let alone good Year - includes some humor I give you:


The Top Ten Rosh Hashanah Pick Up Lines

10. Today must be Yom Hazikaron cause I'll never forget the day we met.

9. You are a 10 on my scale of judgement.

8. I need to make a Shechianu--cause dang--you are my new fruit.

7. The only book I need opened today is my little black book, of life.

6. When I see you I fall to my knees like bowing at Alienu

5. Our New Year Resolutions should be "Haari At Mikudeshet"

4. Are you a Pomegrante? cause you just left a stain on my heart

3. Is your dad a baker? Cause you got the roundest challahs in town!

2. Lets skip the apples, and get straight to the honey.

1. You had me at Malchios

reposted from Bangitout.com


Blessings on all of you, my friends.

Sep 28, 2008

The Wedding of The Dragon and The Nightingale

I hope that you will enjoy the storyboard created from the pictures taken at the ceremony today.

Despite some technical issues, including one sim crash, it was a very lovely proceeding. I wish you both many blessings. And welcome to the family, Azul!

If the slideshow/storyboard does not play fully for you, please click the picture and you will be taken to my Koinup site.


<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Koinup</span>: Your &<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">lt</span>;a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">href</span>="http://www.koinup.com/">Virtual Life&<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">lt</span>;/a>

By Jove! It Finally Worked!

The New Red Rose of Caledon look is here! Now all I must do is get the gadgets repaired. Yay!

And I have about 3 or 4 posts brewing in my head. Need to find the spice....must be able to expand and fold time......

*grins*

Sep 26, 2008

Note to self: Next Time You Want to Make A Change to the Blog - DON'T

Yep - I needed a change.

Tried to get something new. Will keep trying. But OH - it did not look good. Until I have time to edit as I need to and make it look good....we're back to the old look minus a lot of the widgets.


Please be patient with me.

O-0.

Sep 24, 2008

The Hunt Is On!

You know me. I love to work on events with folks. So when TotalLunar Eclipse asked if I would like to collaborate on another event with Steelhead, I did not hesitate. This time, he said, they would like to hold a fox hunt. Several versions of said event were tossed about in the brainstorming session. In the end, we thought this might be the most fun:


Starting on Friday from 1pm SLT the hunting begins on Loch Avie.
Find all 20 foxes, collect their pelts and bring them to me (at the evening dance event). The top hunters will receive a prize. Fox hunting season ends Saturday evening at 7pm.

Then put on your 'Foxxy' outfit for a dance in Steelhead. Starts at 7pm SLT at the Kokopelli Stage.

See you there!!!

Sep 19, 2008

Becaaarrrrrrhhhhhse It's International Talk Like A Pirate Day

and because it brings a smile to my face.....

Perhaps with this fabulous sampling (OK -it's an ad - but so fun) of the Virginia Opera (on the stage in Norfolk, VA where my typist sang on a number of occasions) production in 2007, I should call:

International Sing Like A Pirate Day


What could be more Caledonian than Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance on such an holiday? Enjoy!





Be sure to listen all the way to the end of the video despite no moving picture to hear the presto agitato. :-)

Virginia Opera's hilarious production of Gilbert & Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance," one of the most enduring topsy-turvy comedies to ever land on the musical or operatic stage, starred Gary Briggle as The Major General, Dominic M. Aquilino as The Pirate King, Alicia Berneche as Mabel, and native Richmond, Va. tenor William Ferguson in his Virginia Opera debut as Frederic, the dashing pirate apprentice!

Conducted by Joseph Walsh, directed by William Theisen.

Orchestra provided by the Virginia Symphony.

Sep 18, 2008

For Love of W.G.



The sun that faded too quickly into night.

**

Sep 15, 2008

Reflections

I find myself sitting at the end of a busy RL day thinking through some of the things that are going on around me. Some relate to my typist directly - others do not. All cause some sort of stress - good or bad. The same may be said for those of us who exist here in the Metaverse.

Today, it seems, there are many things swirling about us. Griefers. Former friends and colleagues who would (and often do) threaten us. Exhibits to be completed. Businesses to be nourished. Clients. Landlords. Friends. Lovers. Even just the "what to wear to the theme night dance" question.

I have today learned of stress that a couple of my friends have been dealing with as gracefully as possible. In fact, with more grace than many could muster.

That reminded me of a conversation that Gabi, Soliel, Dia, and I had on Sunday afternoon. I was in world only briefly, but had an invitation to come dance in Gigglesford. (What a lovely sim, Soliel.) I found that it was only the four of us dancing. But that small number was just perfect for conversation.



We spoke of many things, not the least of which was our concern over friends - the HUMAN friends - who had or were feeling the effects of Hurricane Ike. We learned that some of our friends had made contact with folks in world to let us know they were safe if perhaps without power or water. I, though, then expressed my thoughts on how difficult it is knowing people as well as we do some of our good friends in world (for as many of us have expressed from time to time and certainly after CaleCon, our characters in world are generally who we are in RL and TRUE friendships form) and not always having a method of checking on them if one of us is suddenly without power or computer access. I have often considered the helplessness I would feel if I did not see or hear from close friends for days unexpectedly. I would be very worried that all was not well. And I would wish that I could speak to my friend - or at least inquire of him/her with family. For some friends that is or would be possible. For others it would not.



I draw no conclusions for you as I write this. Suffice it to say we had a very good discussion about relationships, keeping in touch - and many other things. It was a lovely time with three good friends (in the Metaverse or out).



And then I heard this song on the radio.........seems appropriate.


I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

(chorus)
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

(chorus)
Lee Ann Womack




Blessings on you, all my friends.

*

Sep 13, 2008

Announcing the Boobie Ball to Benefit Breast Cancer Charities




Boobies. Breasts. TaTas.

They are called many things and although they come in all shapes and sizes (large, small, saggy and perky), they have one thing in common: The ability to develop cancer.

Even though there is no cure yet, the annual Blogger Boobie-Thon is doing its part to make cancer a thing of the past. As she has for the past 3 years, Her Grace of Loch Avie's human will take part in this event.

www.boobiethon.com

During the first week of October people from across the globe can submit pictures of bare and covered breasts to raise money for breast cancer causes.

Founded in 2002 by Florida blogger Robyn Pollman (www.shutterblog.com,) the Boobie-Thon has grown into a well-known event, raising tens of thousands for breast cancer and blogger-charity causes, with over 1500 people contributing pictures. The Susan G. Koman Foundation has, in the past, been the largest recipient of the funds.

Both founders and participants are hoping to generate exposure and donations for a worthy cause.

Males and females can submit pictures of their breasts. The covered boobies are featured on the free area of the site. The price of viewing the bare breasts is $50.

Come join Serra Anansi and me as we host the first ever Boobie Ball. This will be held in Winterfell at the Taure En Lor Ballroom. This is not a formal event. Please just come ready to have some fun and be generous with your Lindens.

Wear Pink if you like, and you may dance topless if you dare, in honor of the breasts and lives we are working to save.

There will be donation kiosks and vendors with items for sale. All proceeds will be donated to BoobieThon.com during their annual campaign. Miss Serra and Miss Eva will match all donations. So come see your donation to this worthy cause tripled.

Donations will be listed on the site as coming from Winterfell and Caledon's Boobie Ball.

Please contact Miss Serra or me if you have any questions.

Sep 12, 2008

Ooooo Steampunk Style - Who could resist the latest meme?

Your result for The Steampunk Style Test...

The Aristocrat

71% Elegant, 52% Technological, 40% Historical, 24% Adventurous and 20% Playful!


You are the Aristocrat, the embodiment of steampunk elegance and poise. For you, dressing steampunk is first and foremost about simply looking good, with accessories and details to follow. However, this does not mean that you ignore the demands of creating a “steampunk look.” Your outfits weave together a balance between technology and style, and between period accuracy and beautiful anachronism. While your fashion inspiration may come from anywhere across the Victorian social spectrum, you always find a way to make your outfit beautiful. You will probably be found in the clothes of the steam age elite simply because of the greater elegance available to them. Chances are you dress this way because you like it, and you would still dress in this manner even if steampunk was not a popular interest.




Try our other Steampunk test here.

Take The Steampunk Style Test at HelloQuizzy

Random Thoughts With Eva Bellambi

As opposed to Deep Thoughts With Jack Handy (TM)

In no particular order:

Upcoming Events

  • September 26th - Co-sponsoring a rawther fun Fox Hunt in Steelhead. (Really Lunar and Tensai are running this one. I'm just here to help as I can.)
  • September 27-October 5 - Burning Life. The Wrath Fleet has a fun build put together. The Oasis in the sands - complete with RC controlled ironclads. :-D. Given that this is Burning Life there will be nothing for sale, no branding, just lots of community fun.

In 1999, an innovative man made a long trek from San Francisco to the
sun-baked playa of an
enormous, flat, dry lake bed in the Nevada high desert. He went to attend the
renowned Burning Man festival where, for one week each year, 50,000 people build
art, camps and communities and celebrate being who they really are. This man
came back with new ideas for the virtual world he was planning; ideas about the
nature of reality, creativity, identity and community. He worked some of these
ideas into the very fabric of "Linden World" which eventually became what you
and I know as Second Life. That man was Philip Linden.
What happens at
Burning Man is something phenomenal. This real-world city built by its citizens
has roads, street signs, an FAA-approved airport, a power grid, a hospital, huge
public plazas, street lights, processions, rituals and spectacles. It has
fabulous fashions, ridiculous situations and artworks so raw they are dangerous.
BUT - It's all temporary. At the end of that week, every last last speck of
what was brought there is taken away again, leaving no trace of the city that was just there. When the winter rains come, even the footprints vanish. Til next year....

Burning Life is a mirror in spirit of a real life event, albeit with the unique
and creative twists only Second Life can offer, we follow suit. Together, we
will build a city, and we voluntarily accept many of the same restrictions that
Nature imposes on the real thing. We do this to see how creative we can be with
the same palette of materials and to revel in the beauty of simplicity. We use
the same blank, desert landscape, and many of the things we build are naked or
primitive in structure, easily revealing to the casual viewer how they were
constructed. Just pretend that you're bringing everything you need with you in
your car or truck and you're going camping. Extreme Camping. Really Extreme
Camping.


The other thing you need to know up front is this: Both Burning
Life and Burning Man are completely non-commercial. There is no buying or
selling in this city...no sponsorships, no logos, no advertising, but acts of
unconditional gift-giving that play a large part in Burning culture. It's all
about about the radical inclusion of participants, it means welcome and respect
— with no prerequisites for participation. It's all about us and what we have
made for each other to enjoy.

Excerpted from: http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Burning_Life

  • October 4 - Co-Sponsoring the Boobie Ball with Serra Anansi. Many more details to follow shortly. This will be a great time. Non-formal fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research and Support. This fully relates to BoobieThon, which you have heard mentioned a few times on this blog.
  • October 25th (I think) - Co-Sponsoring the BardHaven Ball this year. More details to come on this one. We'll hold it in Loch Avie, where the Royal Society are already planning to dig into some strange underground areas, which have been detected on Professors Krogstad's and Nicholas' fabulous scientific equipment.

Have discovered the technical issues with my video from CaleCon. Am working through that now, but my typist will likely end up returning the blessed new HD Camcorder this weekend. Never fear. We WILL get the footage converted into a Mac usable format and will bring some motion pictures to a video stream or viewer near you.

And finally something I found today while watching the rain out my window:

Laughing in the Rain by Raymond A. Foss

No one’s timetable governed our steps

up with the first light long before the sun rose

over the slate blue ocean

Wandering between palm and bright blooms

in our own world together

Watching the humming birds high in the branches above us

camera catching the moments

Suddenly darkening clouds to snap the equatorial heat

Laughing in the rain without care or keeper

We were soaked and in love

alone together on the island

Sep 8, 2008

The Vicereine Arrives at CaleCon


And Sir JJ puts on his cloak of invisibility attempting to retain his title of the International Librarian of Mystery.


A group picture during the cocktail hour just prior to
the Simulcast of the Dinner and Dance

Participants in RL:
Pæony, Soliel, Kaye, Gabi, Eva
Elrik, Kamilah, Scotti, Otenth, and JJ

Sep 7, 2008

Gigglesford Weighs In

Soliel Snook has written a lovely entry in her journal about CaleCon and the days immediately following. I encourage you to visit her site, at this location.

Thank you, Soliel! It was so fantastic to get to know you and all the others better. (And thank you, Scotti Lyle for those impressions. I am humbled, but couldn't agree with you more as you described the others. )

Sep 6, 2008

The Duke of Murdann Shares a Glimpse of His Journal

A wonderful post regarding some of the CaleCon weekend events may be found here in Tenth Life.

Otenth, thanks for sharing these memories.

EB

A Short Diversion From the CaleCon Posts

Well, I have been experiencing some technical difficulties with video editing so I am working this weekend with my house tech support to get this rectified. I REALLY long to get a few short YouTubes created out of my large bit of CaleCon footage.

Puzzling over the video issues

I also have plans for posts about our workshops and the Simulcast Party, but this weekend is likely not going to see that happen. I have a birthday party for my youngest today, and likely a Ren Faire trip tomorrow after church services. So I fear my muse is keeping her distance. Probably a good thing since I have no time to write anything of substance anyway.



But I will echo sentiments that I have read elsewhere about the Thursday evening Fractured Fairy Tales event in Steelhead. It was fantastic fun. Elgia Underwood and Hotspur O'Toole shared some wonderful stories - both with text delivery styles that were quite good.


Sitting with Miss Underwood as tale of The Three Wolves was being spun.

Last night Steelhead hosted the Fractured Fairy Tales Dance. I had to bip out for a bit of real life about midway through the dance. Trying to get back in was -to put it mildly - infuriating. SL was having HUGE difficulties. So I watched a bit of 300 while I kept trying to log in. 25 minutes or so later, I made it back in. But the dance was pretty well over and most of my friends must have been in the same boat for few were in world. But we did have a rather fun ISC convo.

Well that's it for now. More to come on CaleCon in the next few days.

Muah!

Sep 4, 2008

Taking Time for Tea - CaleCon

A visit with Karen Hartwick, Canada’s Tea Sommelier.


photo courtesy of StratfordTeaLeaves.com

A perfect way for a group of Victorian Role Players to end their afternoon. Gabi, Otenth, Soliel, and I stopped by Tea Leaves, which is a tea tasting bar, located on the edge of Stratford, Ontario at 433 Erie Street.

We were warmly greeted by the proprietor upon our entrance into the lovely old Victorian home which was built in the mid-1800s. She had been in the dining room of the home, which serves as both showcase of teas and her handpicked tea specialty items as well as dining area for her Rosewood Manor B & B housed in this same building.

Karen took time to introduce herself and to get to know a little about each of us individually as well as us collectively. I am sure that most of my readership have experienced those moments in real life when answering the question of, "and how do you know these people?" becomes far too complex for the average person to understand. "You met through an internet game?" "But these are not your real friends." Now we know that SL -and certainly Caledon - is more than a game. We also know that very real friendships have developed. And in the case of at least one happy Caledonian couple has lead to real life romance, love, and marriage. So now imagine the looks that passed between us as we were asked the following series of questions by Karen, "Where are you from? So what brings you all to Stratford? How do you know each other? What kind of convention?"

Obviously she understood that we were from all over the states and Europe. She also had little issue understanding that we were here for a convention. The beautiful thing, however, is that when I replied that we had all met on the internet (seemed the easiest way to begin the conversation) and we desired to meet in real life, she immediately related. "Oh. My son has met a number of folks on the internet and one or two of them have come to visit us here in Stratford."
She did not bat an eye. It made perfect sense to her. And then when through further conversation she discovered our love of Victoriana her discussion with us became even more personal.


Karen poses for my iPhone camera in front of her wonderful selection of loose teas.

Karen is a true professional. She studied and has top certification with the Specialty Tea Institute in New York, and is one of only 14 Tea Sommoliers in the world. She also frequently conducts lectures, tea tastings and is a published writer and tea consultant. Her business has expanded to include blending and tea programs for restaurants, bed and breakfasts and spa/yoga studios. You may view the remainder of her bio at the website .



As we had animated conversation around her tea bar, she began to develop a sense of each of our current tea tastes, and then suggested some things that we may wish to sample with her. As each selection was made, she gave us the history of the tea, the method of growing, harvesting, and preparation. Timers were set for that perfect brewing time - and we kept talking.

Just then the grandfather clock in the hall struck 4:00pm. Tea Time.

We sampled the teas and described what we tasted and felt with each. Other suggestions made. We moved on.

In the end, Otenth and I purchased quite a few selections of her wonderful tea, and I will likely be ordering from her via email. Karen was very excited when I asked her if I might blog about Tea Leaves and our experience under her expert direction. I received her permission to use a pictures that I took in the tea house that day and said that I should let any interested party know that she will be starting e-newsletters soon. Simply email her from the Website - www.stratfordtealeaves.com.

My selections:
Earl Grey Supreme
an herbal blend for my mother-in-law
and Canadian Breakfast Tea

Earl Grey leaves

At the end of the visit, I was very well satisfied with the personal care and guidance we had each received. And certainly the home was beautifully appointed - a quiet (almost sacred space) created. Even as several regular local customers arrived during our tasting, she was able to see to their needs (filling many a tin for them) as she continued conversation with us bringing in the locals' experience to bear on our discussion.

I encourage you to visit Tea Leaves website - and the house should you ever travel to Stratford. Let her know Eva sent you.

Lapsang Souchong smokes over pine needles such as these.

Sep 3, 2008

Pictures at an Exhibition

For the last two days now as my mind has wandered back through the incredible events of the weekend, this phrase - this title - has run through my head. Pictures at an Exhibition. I am not sure that I have yet discovered the why of this. But perhaps as I write to you now, we will unearth the reasoning together.


So I have a little time to write as the woman you have all now met - the woman who animates me - is taking a break from the mind-numbing work of project documentation. The first thing I did was to Google the phrase above. I know the music well, but it's history was unknown to me. (I have the music playing in the background at the moment by the way.)


Modeste Mussorgsky created his Pictures at an Exhibition to perpetuate the memory of a friend, Victor Hartmann, who was an architect and painter. There does seem to be a drive that humans have to memorialize people, events, places. Some grand. Some simple. Mussorgsky was an ardent Russian nationalist, but he was far more interested in folk art than in the grandiose ornamental designs of the aristocracy. (Or, as Tchaikovsky put it, “He likes what is coarse, unpolished and ugly.”)


How odd for me, a member of Caledon's aristocracy, to find some level of inspiration in the music of a composer such as this. Perhaps not. I enjoy the simple things of life - often much more than the complex. ~Being loved and loving, caring for and playing with my children, a good book, walking through the snow on a clear winter night hand-in-hand with my beloved -the silence surrounding us, friendships - new and old.~ I have ever tried to be first and foremost a good citizen of Caledon (of any world, I occupy).



And what was this first CaleCon weekend about if not about inclusion - of learning about one another and our alternate selves. Our real selves. Putting the themed role play off of center stage. Discovering the motivating factors that lead us in world in the first place, that forged the path to Caledon. Those things that keep us there (at least as a place to belong in a world filled with exploration).



What is the common denominator? What bonds us all together as a community?


I believe we discovered that and more. So much more. And we did not desire this to be the experience only of those who were able to attend a convention in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Nay! We wanted to be able to share that with all of Caledon: Guvnahs, Shipwrights, Chivalric Groups, Pilots, Peers, Shop Keepers....all citizens of the Realm.



This is why it was so important to me, and to the CaleCon Planning committee, to be able to offer video and audio streams of some of the events. It is also why I hope to blog in some detail over the course of the next several days now that my human is home and is ready to assist in this process. (Side note - we all did discuss at our first meeting the pros and cons of revealing our human selves to the greater world at large. Some desire to remain more mysterious than others. These wishes are entirely respected and protected. So if you did not, and do not, see pictures, videos, or hear audio of some of our inaugural group, do not ask for them. They will not be shared.)



So maybe we should start with some of those pictures and I will fill in some details as I can.

A welcome sight indeed after 10 hours on the road.

The group agrees that the Stone Willow Inn in St. Mary's, Ontario did a nice job accommodating our group despite a few issues with the net connection (particularly in my suite *shrugs*). However, there were two staff that particularly assisted us with the internet issues and a few other items. Brian, in particular, went above and beyond the call of duty several times and assisted us while keeping such great good humor about him, that our group determined to let him know how very much we appreciated his efforts.
Brian - we hope that you got our note and our gifts of thanks! And perhaps you'll join us in Caledon some day soon. :-)

(yes - I know you've seen this pic before if you read this blog regularly..but it's a good one)
The first grand surprise of the night: getting to know each other better as our human selves.

I really did enjoy having everyone gather in my suite for cocktails. The surprises -the revelations great and small - were such treats for everyone. What an experience!
**
In the morning we all gathered outside on the patio for breakfast and conversation. Happily, Desmond was able to join us for a little over an hour via phone and skype. It was fantastic to be able to share part of our experience with the man who is the beginning of our nation - who is the heart and who allows us to be the body. Everyone laughed and shared experiences with him and each other as he did with us. What a treat!



The four of us engaged in that age-old SL and RL activity while the others of our group went to Taming of the Shrew in town. Shopping!! Soliel and I got some nice additions to our closet, too.
Here we are at the Down the Street Pub for a late lunch.

We went to a fantastic tea tasting prior to returning to the hotel, but I will blog about that in great detail tomorrow. What an experience as we tried a variety of black, green, white, and blended teas with one of fourteen certified Tea Sommoliers in the world as the clock struck 4:00pm.


By the way - never, NEVER go AFK when I'm around. Not even in Real Life. I have large cocks in my inventory at all times. *rolls eyes* No - CHICKENS, you naughty things. NOT Xcite attachments. Hrumph!




After these three "woke up" we headed back to the Stone Willow to rest up, clean up, dress up and prepare for the Dinner/Dance with music and video simulcast. I sincerely hope you were able to be part of it!

I am working on editing a couple hours of footage from the whole of the weekend. But a few screen shots from the simulcast may be found at Hibernia on the Skids.

Other blogs with CaleCon posts:
The New Observer
Meet the Petermans
Musings By Happenstance

Please send me other URLs if you are aware of any containing posts related to/about CaleCon.

Future CaleCon posts planned for this site:

  • Tea Time
  • The Big Party - stepping through the looking glass
  • Workshops - Listening, Learning, Doing
  • Pub Crawls
  • CaleCon 2 Plans Begin
So perhaps I have discovered a few reasons that the title is an apt one. I think I have also begun to chip away at the answers to those questions. Even at Day One the participants began to have an understanding about our similarities and our shared experiences which have brought us together as a community.

more to come...