League of Extraordinary Dorks January Book Club

Hi Everyone~

I am back home now, but still in vacation mode and am gradually easing back into time spent in front of my computer. I've been in world just once or twice in the last few days, and everything seems peaceful on the sim. So, let me take this opportunity to pass on this announcement from Catalina Mistwallow regarding the League of Extraordinary Dorks Book Club January meeting. Catalina writes:

"Hi bookworms!

Our next book club meeting will be on Monday, January 11. Some people have requested an earlier meeting time because of time zone issues, so please let me know what is the earliest time you could meet that day.

In January we will discussing Owly Indigo's pick, "Angel Time: The Songs of the Seraphim," by Anne Rice. Some of you who have started reading it got me super excited about the book. I have been told that it is both shiny and pink, and that it has awesome possibilities for costumes and discussion. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Here is Anne Rice talking about it, if you have a couple of minutes to check it out.

A few of us are having difficulty getting the book, but Ms. AngieBabe Perl has kindly offered to provide us with the PDF version of the book in the meantime, since that is the format she downloaded it in for her reading device. Oh how I love techy people! Make sure to let me or Angie know if you want the PDF.

As usual, we would still love to see you even if you haven't read the book. We'll meet at home, just like the last couple of times. Ask for a TP when you are ready or take this taxi.

Also, here is our updated calendar:

Monday, January 11 - Owly's pick - Angel Time, by Anne Rice

Monday, February 8 - Coyote's pick

Monday, March 8 - Samantha's pick

Monday, April 12 - Gwen's pick

Monday, May 10 - Polly's pick - Flatland, by Edwin A. Abbott.

Polly recommends the annotated edition, although it's not necessary. She says there is a super-cheap edition available from Dover. Moreover, Polly mixes things up by sharing that the book provides opportunities for SHINY COSTUMES. Woot!

June - ChatBrat's pick

July - Skarat' pick

If you already know what book you want us to read, please let me know so I can add it to the book club update. If you are in the book club and you don't have a month yet, please pick one!

Cat"

There you have it! First of all, just so we have a little art in this post, here is a picture of me in the official League of Extraordinary Dorks Book Club T, designed and distributed by Ariel Wingtips. Ask her for one and I'm sure she'd be willing to share.

I feel a bit shy modeling the shirt for you, since I haven't fully participated in a book club meeting yet, but I am a great supporter in spirit, if not in practice. I love the T and the owl poofer that comes with it!

Second, I'm not sure *exactly* what "shiny" and "pink" mean in regards to an Anne Rice book, so I am eager to find out. I actually come late to the canon of Ms. Rice, but I understand she has created an entire mythology/paradigm/world view/what have you, so if there is anybody out there who wants to bend my ear and fill me in, I'd be happy to hear it. I am also intrigued by the May selection, "Flatland," a book which was required reading for me in 10th grade geometry class and which I believe was recently made into an only narrowly released animated movie with one of my all-time-favorite-actors, Martin Sheen, doing voiceover. Ok, so I just checked imdb.com and "recently released" in my book seems to actually mean 2007. Um, /me needs to get out more. So, on that note, I'm off to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie with Robert Downey, Jr. I'm not sure exactly what to expect, but *not* shiny and pink, I don't think! How's that for taking a tangent and bringing it home?

See you in world!

~Gwen

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Merry Christmas Everyone~Happy New Year! What else can I say at this time of year except "Hallelujah!"

I wish you a joyful and peaceful holiday. I miss you all and hope to see you all soon in 2010!

Love,

Gwen

Away for a bit

Hi Everyone~

Just want to let you know that I have been away from home for a couple of days now and will be for another week. I've heard a couple of reports about stuff happening on the sim -- I hope you are enjoying tha good and will be patient with the bad until I can get back in world to fix it. If any business items can wait until after New Year I would certainly appreciate it. Oh, and careful on the steps down to the pond...they get slippery this time of year :)

Cheers~

Gwen

Finally - Hallelujah on Ice pics

Hi Everyone ~

So, our winter party Hallelujah on Ice took place on Friday, and it was pretty awesome if I do say so myself. I expected the fun, of course, and other things, like our guest DJ Alicia Chenaux setting a fantastic mood with a set of festive jazz and holiday tunes. I even expected some launching to take place during the evening, knowing that Ariel was providing some party favors for us. Things I did not expect, however: (1) tigers, and (2) motorcycles. But more about that later. At about 6:00 PM people arrived and began to dance, skate, and generally make merry. The party really got underway though with the arrival of Santa, who was there to hear what everyone hoped to find under their tree that year.

Santa (aka Syd Straaf) also had a little elf-helper with him, tiny hippo Yaya Bingyi, who made her own costume and parts of Santa's, like the hair, beard, and hat. Thanks Yaya!

Santa Syd and Yaya:

When Yaya arrived, she quickly alighted to the the top of the snowman's hat and used it as a dance floor for most of the evening. It was actually a perfect little platform for her and I'm glad she was there to enjoy the festivities.

Salonika Boa was one of the first to hop up into Santa's lap:

Then my good friend Maeva Juliesse took her turn:

DJ Alicia Chenaux, of Ch'Know fame, who asked for, among other things, a tiara.

Me in Santa's lap, asking for a diamond ring. "Coal, clear coal," he duly noted. The man has a way of making a girl stop and think about what she really wants!

Foxie Moxie wasn't shy either about sitting on Santa's knee and asking for a pony. Santa agreed, but wasn't sure that Foxie's parents would be up for the care and feeding. "I'll bring it to you, Foxie," Santa Syd promised, "so if you don't find it under the tree on Christmas morning, your parents probably killed it." (I *died* laughing. If that gets you, then don't even ask FOS (friend-of-sim) Rowan Masala how Santa suggested they handle the pet zebra she requested.)

Ariel was a late arrival, and by the time she asked for her puppy I think Santa finally found a pet he felt he could deliver safely, provided she promised not to launch it. The "Hallelujah Mind Control Hat" pictured here is available in Ariel's box of party goodies :)

Night had fallen by the time a tragically hip Nine Warrhol decided to bend Santa's ear. I asked Nine what he asked for, and he told me "nothing. Santa was afk." Haha, just goes to show, everyone's got rl needs!

My friend Shadrach Priestly visited the party to try out his skating moves, and brought with him his lovable dog, Lucy. Lucy made nice with all the party guests, following them around and begging to be petted. I, however, was a little skeptical, as Shadrach had once let me know that Lucy is actually short for Lucifer.

Shadrach and Maeva chatting while I take account of Lucy's presence:


Me, still not all too sure about this dog everyone seemed to love.

Lucy's presence though encouraged other guests to bring out their animal friends too, and soon we had a couple of tigers roaming the ice, thanks to Rowan and Mariko. I guess that sparked the wild impulse in the partiers, because next thing I know, Nine and Foxie have their giant bikes out and a motorcycle ramp is erected in front of my lovely little church. (I unfortunately did not get snaps of the tigers or the motorcycles, but if anyone has any to share, please send them my way! Editorial note: See Ariel's blog for additional pics featuring tigers, a stressed out squirrel, and Nine riding not a motorcycle, but a dog. Diagrams included.) It was about this time that Ariel & crew broke out the launchers - two holiday themed ones - and started blasting out marshmallows and sugar cookies lol. The Marshmallow launcher was especially designed for Hallelujah on Ice by Ariel Wingtips, and is still available for free in the box of goodies she left out on the back deck of the Junco. Thank you Ariel! (The sugar cookie launcher is a hunt gift in her main store).

A seemingly sweet and harmless cup of hallelujah cocoa is the guise for the marshmallow launcher.

The snow baby outside the church, his hands up in the air under an onslaught of pastel marshmallows.

Some people did actually get some skating done too though. This is one of my favorite shots of the evening - cute and carefree:

Those are the highlights of the evening. If you were there I hope you had fun, and if not, then I hope you can join us next time. The pond will stay frozen for a while longer yet, so at the very least come and enjoy some skating under the stars.

Happy Holidays all!

~Gwen

Hallelujah on Ice, Tonight at 6:00 PM SLT! Fabulous!

Hope to see you all there!

Don't Miss: Hallelujah on Ice (Thursday 12/17)

Hi Everyone - I'm having a party on Thursday and you're invited! A theme, you ask? Why yes, there is a theme...

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*****Hallelujah on Ice*****

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Yes, it's an ice-skating party out on the frozen pond behind the Jittery Junco. Arrive at 6:00 PM SLT Thursday evening, dressed in your fabulous, festive best for a spin on the ice! Bring your skates or pick some up here at the sim. We'll have a guest DJ, Alicia Chenaux with a set of jazz favorites and holiday tunes and fun gifts for all.

All are welcome - old friends and new~~ I hope to see you all there!

~Gwen

Monday Night Music

Hi Folks!

I know last week I said that we'd be scaling the Monday Night Music schedules down to two shows a week, but it looks like loegan has come through for us with a three headliners for tonight.

The line-up goes:

7:00 PM Strum Diesel
8:00 PM Blues Heron
9:00 PM Lizaday Solo

All three are regular faves at the Kasbah, but it will be each of their first visits to the Hallelujah Stage, so please come out and give them a warm welcome!


Strum Diesel
Strum Diesel, rl Sean Kagalis, (myspace page) began songwirting and performing at 13 and soon began to realize that was his destiny. Personal experience is the primary source for subject matter in Strum's work. When he's not lamenting his heartbreak, or the heartbreak he has created, his voice is dedicated to explicating socio-political issues that are constantly perverted or altogether ignored by mainstream media. While Strum is primarily a songwriter, he has an extensive list of covers as well, including songs by U2, Ani Difranco, Coldplay, Green Day and Radiohead. In 2008 Sean entered SL as Strum Diesel upon the recommendation from a friend. Within three months of participation at open mics and live shows on the virtual reality commerce game he has amassed a devoted following with fans hailing from California to Germany.

Blues Heron
Blues Heron was born into Second Life in April of 2007 and was performing on stage within a month. His real life alt (aka: Scott Hursey) is a little older and taught him all he knows. Blues is known for his strong vocals and guitar style in a variety of genres, from old blues to contemporary and his set includes his own compositions as well as covers by a wide range of artists. He streams live into Second Life from his home studio on a small island off the coast of Alaska. Blue has four tracks posted on his myspace page and more of his music can be heard here.

Lizaday Solo
According to her myspace page, where she's got 7 tracks available for listening, Lizaday Solo -the rl Liz Aday, is from Tacoma, which rocks, because you all know how much I love and miss the pacific northwest, and how much great music has and still comes out of the Seattle area. A multi-instrumental vocalist, songwriter, and actress, Liz is also a published writer and an award-winning member of ASCAP. She's had her songs placed in film & TV, and has performed across the USA on various tours as well as ‘jet setter’ one nighters in Asia. Liz has shared stages with icons Pat Benatar, Micky Thomas (Starship), Big Brother and the Holding Company (as a vocalist), & Rick Derringer to name a few, and has has worked in the studio with Steve Smith (Journey), Mick Mahan (Benatar), Paul DeLisle (Smash Mouth) and many, many more.