We're at three days and counting 'til trip time. :) (And yes, the closer it gets, the more people have to listen to me squee!)

Latest SAESL post-- http://ping.fm/wibSD

I've spent the majority of the morning reading up to get ready for Friday's workshop--still need to run through this a few times though!

Wow--just spent the better part of the day, staring at a screen, trying to find broken links and inaccurate content in a uni website.

Did captioning training w/ the ILC staff today--they now have a better appreciation of slower speaking narrators for our tutorials! :D

Is it wine time yet?

Wow--busy day today! Designed tomorrow's staff training, started on the latest COE website project, and met with my dissertation chair!

Yet another vet visit today--this time with Merlyn and Doc. Both will be fine (I hope) but they're not happy with me right now.

Wow--that hasn't happened in a while. Had to end a guided meditation session early because I was just tensing up something fierce.

I didn't get nearly enough done today--so why am I so sleepy?

How can fur babies be so destructive? I spent the better part of the afternoon, rebuilding part of the outdoor kitty hangout. Splinters anyone?

I know all the buildup seems silly to most people but I'm really a road trip kinda girl--all this flight stuff is foreign to me.

The date is finally set in stone for the CA trip--ordered the tickets today! Everyone say a little prayer for Wrath--he's going to need it!

Wow. The message cap in SL gets on my nerves but I just spent waaaay too long going through old notices in Inworldz!

Another lazy day. Saw a bunch of vintage cars from Cruisin' the Coast today--so awesome!

Drat! My Sakai Ecesis Daily at Paper.li is showing no content--methinks their system is buggy at the mo.

Latest SAESL blog post--27 Mile Bluff Library Growing Slowly http://tinyurl.com/3cu4ew8

Bruiser's spending the night at the vet. Somehow the munchkin got himself out of his cast, so tomorrow he gets a new one.

I've been rained on WAY too many times today! Time to curl up in a dry cushy robe with a cup of German Chocolate Cake flavored coffee. :)

Sounds positively yummy! RT @Southern_Living Today’s QuickFixSupper : Southwest Shrimp Tacos-hot sauce adds a kick http://ow.ly/6hBZX

RT @chronicle Buzzwords that make me crazy: http://chroni.cl/pDy3F4 New grads need to read this B4 interviewing & trying to "speak buzz"

I wish I remembered the name of the town I dreamt about last night, just to know if such a place existed--it was such a cool locale!

Goofy plans, considering all that there is to see out in CA, but I'm looking forward to watching Harvey with my own 6 ft. bunnehguy :)

Latest SAESL blog post--Medical Education sites tour this week-http://wp.me/pWZyO-4n

Don't know why, but I feel awfully empowered today--off to battle the evil to-do list! ;)

This made me smile this morning-- http://tinyurl.com/3hlt7yp

Just had to go "rescue" my dad's cat from the drive--he would NOT move while dad was trying to pull in! Talk about stubborn!

Took a route home that I haven't taken in about a year. It was fun! Felt like exploring while, at the same time, seeing an old friend.

Hungry Howie's cheesy bread to the rescue today--I've got to stop running off and leaving the lunch I've prepared!

Bruiser's sporting a new teal covered cast, but the vet says he's coming along just fine!

Got up way too early to have Bruiser at the vet first thing this morning. Not even 10am and I'm wanting a nap!

I do hope everyone will "show Garth some love" as Burroughs reaches it's final days--his absence from the Firth is going to leave quite the gap.

"Goodbye to Burroughs' Builds" event at Caledon Burroughs-- http://ping.fm/oH253

White House Targets Innovative Educational Technologies-- http://tinyurl.com/6guc63z

Something tells me I'm going to go against my night owl side and go to bed early tonight--ate dinner and now I'm sleepy!

Looks like I have a full house signed up for this afternoon's Sakai workshop--I hope I made enough handouts!

I'll just miss being at Berkeley for the Chopra/Mlodinow debate Oct 12, but it looks like it's going to be excellent! http://tinyurl.com/3pt6oaq

Haven't been in the mood to do much today other than nap. Everyone else in the fam has a cold, so I'm takin' it easy, trying to avoid the sickies.

Just spent an hour working on the "kitty-airy"--gotta bunch of 'skito welps, but the furbabies can now play in the fresh air, so it was worth it. :)

I'm wondering why the "PTB" seem bent on making me have icicles as accessories--the A/C in here is waaaay too low! brrr Where's my coffee?

I'm very happy to report that the account in IMVU pretending to be me has been disabled by the staff there. Phew!

Just discovered the online collaboration tool Trello and I've got to say, I like it already--it's teal!

Something's missing from my late lunch of cajun crab and crackers--a glass of merlot!

I hope I didn't scare off our ILC newbies with today's venture into SL. Of course, they left off playing with their hair. ;)

I wonder if anyone has done a sociological study on how rumors start and are spread within a virtual environment? I'm watching one get started now.

I can stop worrying so much about Dad's recovery--today he drove himself to and from his meeting to prove he's fine. :)

Fair winds to Charles Hickson, who put Pascagoula on the map for a while as a UFO hotspot http://tinyurl.com/6j9h8qm

Bruiser's continuing to show progress--now that he's totally off the pain meds, he's really wanting to play.

Just discovered somebody's taken my SL av name in IMVU--that's a wee bit disturbing.

Prepping this week's SL training for the new staffers--I'm hoping to help them see the connections between the viewers rather than overwhelming them.

This week's Jagland SLed tour takes us to Delphi Self Assessment & LMU's Dream World Museum. Th,6pm cen/4 pm slt, http://tinyurl.com/45xkorj

Okay, so making the bed with the fresh linens has been put on hold--at least until the cats give up the laundry basket.

I've spent the majority of the day avoiding news broadcasts--I don't need to relive the day I thought I'd lost part of my family.

Bah, that last link was for a 9/11 meditation sponsored by the Chopra Center but the text didn't go through!

http://ping.fm/TYkgY http://ping.fm/sDiWu

Made tuna steaks tonight--only used a bit of salt-free Tony Cachere's, but they were yummy! (Maybe I really am turning into a cat!)

I'm going to have to remind myself to throttle a certain "bewm bunneh" for introducing me to Dominic Deegan--like I need another webcomic addiction!

Could not resist the call of Chef King's shrimp and broccoli today!

Bruiser came home late yesterday afternoon. Kudos to the folks at the Cat Care Clinic for going above & beyond to save the little guy!

Latest post on the SAESL blog http://tinyurl.com/4xggs83

Today's Etsy guide is Steampunk! http://tinyurl.com/3rgzfq2

Just finished setting up a small 9/11 memorial area at Jaguarland. Come by and light a candle. http://tinyurl.com/3o85xpa

On this Thursday's tour, we'll be visiting ROMA, Athens Academy, & Berkeley's Catalhoyuk sim! 6pm central leaving from http://tinyurl.com/45xkorj

Looks like I'll be heading back over tomorrow before work--Bruiser's earned himself an abscess so I'll be hauling him to the kitty vet.

Today was a gorgeous day for a short jaunt over through Ocean Springs. I really miss living there!

The cats are loving the windows being open--they're just not so good at taking turns.

It's feeling really nice outside right now--cool and breezy. Dare I hope that autumn weather has begun? *crosses fingers*

Happiness is a freshly laundered, freshly made bed. Of course, the scent of vanilla lavender is so yummy, now I want to get back in it!

Just cruising my old web haunt, AncientSites. In the era of soc med, placing low com limits on all but $$$ members is a good way to kill a community.

Attempting to walk the dog in between downpours didn't exactly work out as planned. I look like a drowned gerbil...with curly hair.

Our oak trees are amazing. The yard was swamped about an hr ago &, w/ a break in the rains, the trees have already "drank" the standing water.

Other ppl go out on Fri pm--I came home, nap'd & am now reading articles. Gee, you'd think I was working on a dissertation or somethin'.

Thanks TS Lee for the much needed rain, but hold off on the torrential downpours, will ya? New perm here!

CFP Virtual Worlds Graduate Unsymposium--Games, Play, and Community--nhttp://ping.fm/qsT0T

Woke up a bit under the weather this morning--I'm hoping it's allergies rather than anything "catchy."

Sending prayers to all those involved in the tragic pileup on I-10 this afternoon.

I think mom is trying to "de-veggie" me. 2nd time today she's offered me something claiming it's veg but it actually had bacon in it.

Just saw Gov. Barbour's release about the potential jobs package w/ Calisolar and HCL CleanTech. Yay for new cool jobs coming to the state!

Finished the Peasters Castle Hunt, even with the bum computer. I really liked how they worked in the narrative (plus the goodies!)

Really don't like the look of Katia spinning out there in the Atlantic--her name sounds a bit too similar to Katrina--bn thr, dn tht, k tnxbuhbye.

Just tried SL's V3 to get ready to train the new ILC staff--total no-go. It's a gray, non-rezzed SL. Bah! Back to Firestorm.

On this Thursday's SL Edutour, we'll be visiting AECT, ISTE, and EdTech Island! We'll head out at 6pm central-- http://tinyurl.com/45xkorj

Four stoned kitties, all laying on their backs lookin' at me like "You got a problem with this?"

So I come in from walking the dog and one of the cats had shredded the catnip packet, spreading catnip all over the floor.

I'm dying from the cuteness! http://ping.fm/A1kp5

I haven't gotten nearly enough done today. The to-do list for tomorrow is astounding!

bah. Scooter got to the basket full of clean clothes and scattered them all over the laundry room--guess I know what I'll be doing this afternoon!

Just got back from the Sakai 101 Part 1 workshop over in the Sociology Dept. Really good group today--you guys rock!

Rewatching Peggy Sheehy's presentation from last year's SLCC--lots of ideas and motivation for educators in there! http://tinyurl.com/3hnoz86

May have to go buy more cherries from Fresh Market tonight. They're on sale this week and they're huge! (and addictive!)

Sipping on Gevalia Cafe Sperl while catching up on email/social media and planning for tomorrow--coffee makes everything better. ;D

Sometimes it doesn't take much to make me giggle, but I adore the fact that so many shops are getting teal stuff in for fall--and purple too--yay!

This week's BBB with DJ Mitsu Figaro at the Iron Cloud in Caledon Middlesea! http://ping.fm/6avZB

I'm loving this Chopra Center 21 Day Meditation Challenge--Day 9 into it and I'm buzzing!

Oxbridge tours are still on hold until I can get my quad fixed.

Fall 2011 SL tours from Jaguarland is now posted. http://ping.fm/7VpLL

Score One for the Caledon Garden Tour

Well, we had a first today during the tour.  I've lost people on simlines, buried folks while trying to fly over full parcels, drowned tourists while trying to cruise the Firth but today's the first time ever for a tour group to crash a sim.  It was nearly Biblical!  (literally)  The last thing I saw before being logged out by SL was one of our tourists, MatthewMarkLuke John walking out over the waters of the Firth.  It's one of those perfect SL moments that I will commit to memory.

Once we had everyone back on virtual solid ground, the remainder of the tour went according to plan (or as according to plan as a tour can go).

Our stops today included--

• Caledon Victorian Garden sim
• La Petite Jardin des Fauves in Steam SkyCity
• Brideswell Estate Gardens
• Blind Faith Manor Gardens, both of Rothesay (this is where we crashed the sim)
• Carl Metropolitan's Mayfair Maze
• Galicia Park in Morgaine
• LillieJay Mills' Riverside Mill in Stormhold
• Garden of Fables in Caledon Prime

The tour notecard will be available in the new Aether Education and Tourism Bureau once we get that up and running.

Language Learning Tour a bust today...

We've just finished the Language Learning sites tour out of Oxbridge and, I must say, this thing needs to either be trashed or totally reworked.  It was one headache after another.

Before each tour, I go through all of the landmarks if it's an older tour and preferably talk to the people there to make sure it's okay to bring a group through--that we won't be interrupting anything.  In the vast majority of the cases, if there is an event, those in charge will suggest another time to visit.  But by and large, the owners of the tour spots seem to be appreciative for visitors and publicity.  Today, I found that was not always the case.

I'd gone to all the locations and chatted with the people working at the locations prior to us visiting.  That part is normal.  What wasn't normal was when we visited our first location, ESL SL, I was confronted by a rather rude and angry private IM from a worker there.  Boiled down, he said that they were a private school in SL and if we were not going to pay them for lessons, we should leave.  This is after another worker had given me the all clear for us to visit.  Given our experience today, ESL SL is not a true group of educators and is only interested in money.  Educators do not treat potential students the way we were treated today.  I will avoid ESL SL in the future on any of my tours and I apologize to anyone who may have visited them because of one of my notecards and been rudely treated.

The second location, LanguageLab greeted us much better though I think we overwhelmed the worker there.  The two who had been on duty during my initial "swingthrough" earlier in the day were not on duty by the time the group got there.  Also, English City (part of LanguageLab) is undergoing changes.  The person there told us that they've just revamped everything as of two weeks ago.  Once it's all completed, I'm hoping to give Aviano Gears (my contact from before) a poke and see if maybe I can tour it, since right now, most of the sims appear to be locked down to non-group members.  I just wish more were open to visitors, as the whole set-up is pretty ingenious--allowing students to rp in everyday situations in order to learn the English that would be used in those situations.  (Actually, even though I know my tour group didn't feel like they got to see enough of the place, I'd like to interview some of the top folks from LanguageLab in the future.  I think the lessons they've learned in teaching language in SL could be applicable to other subjects.)

Finally, we hit Paris 1900 which I hoped would rescue the rest of the tour.  On a good SL day, Paris 1900 is a lot of fun--pretty builds to explore, high fashion shopping, fun streetcars, French speakers to converse with in text or voice, and an Eiffel Tower to plunge off of.  On days like today, though, the rubber banding was fierce.  Only three of us actually made it to the elevator to go up to the Tower.  Everyone else gave up.  I lost my last two "tourists" at the top of the Tower when I crashed for a 5th time in an hour.  By the time I managed to log back in, they'd already taken the plunge, followed shortly by being hit on by a Bloodlines player (which is illegal on any of the Paris 1900 sims, but that doesn't mean that they stay away).

Basically, the tour overall was a bust.  I'm proud of the two ladies who stuck through it to get to the end.  (Shows that some Oxbridge women have true grit!) 

The future of this particular tour notecard is in definite doubt.  I don't care to ever darken the doors of ESL SL again, nor will I send anyone their way.  The way we were treated there was anything but professional--and if that's the way they think a "school" recruits new students, they really have a lot to learn about both education and marketing.  The staff at LanguageLab is certainly professional--I just don't know that without an "official" tour given by one of the higher ups (which would take more than an hour on its own)--there's just not enough there to see at this point for one of these "overview" type tours.  And Paris 1900?  I usually love it.  Today was just a bad day leading in and the lag on top of it there made things worse.

Perhaps I should've just called in "sick" for today's tour....

But next week, we're going to places I know appreciate visitors!  Yay!

Starting the blog over...

I can't believe it's been nearly a year since I've written in this thing.  Last night, I was speaking to Desmond a bit after the big meeting about Oxbridge.  I mentioned to him that I'd noticed a major slow-down in the blogs.  People aren't writing about their activities in Caledon anymore--or GoogleAlerts aren't picking it up, anyway.

It hit me that instead of complaining about the lack of posting, perhaps I should take some initiative and restart my own blog.  I'd dropped this thing long ago, figuring that others could tell about events and activities in our little virtual corner of the world much better than I.  Perhaps, though, it's time for me to add my voice back in, especially during this time of transition.  Now, more than ever, Caledon needs community and narrative.  We will survive--what our little nation looks like on the other side of the survival is the question.

Caledon Harvest Festival

The autumn season has officially been kicked off with a wonderful start in Caledon with this weekend's Harvest Festival. The event was such a success, it's been extended through October 31st (for the walking tours and such).

Though Wrath and I got caught up on a simline and missed the fireworks, we did get to see the scarecrow and steampumpkin building competition.



The builds will be left up for the duration of the extended Festival, or so I'm told.

Winners were as follows...
Steam Punk-in
First Place: Bodhisatva Paperclip - winner of 1000 L + award ribbon
Second Place: ambiant Kukulca - winner of 500 L + award ribbon
Steampunk Scarecrow:
Grand Prize - deyanira Yalin - winner of 1000L & Jayleden Miles fabulous carousel + award ribbon
First Prize - Martini Discovolante - winner of 1000L + award ribbon
Second Place - Cutea Benelli - winner of 500 L + award ribbon

Distinguished Awards include:

Jacquelin Seisenbacher - Most Unusual
Jayleden Miles - Most Playful
Sauce Sorrowman - Most Whimsical
Balpien Hammerer - Most Steampunkish
Garth Goode - Most Amusing
Cutea Benelli - Most Frightening
Martini Discovolante - Most Beautiful

Swing by and see all of the entries at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Oxbridge%20Village/54/180/1001.


We discovered that the walking tour was pretty extensive this year.  It took us two nights to cover everything, but it was very enjoyable.  With Caledon being as big as it is, it's often difficult to know which neighbors are putting together truly impressive builds.  Events such as this highlight worthy spots throughout the nation and are a rather fun way to pass the time (even if they do tend to fill your head with decorating ideas). :)




Hanging out in front of Xeriko Melnik's Twilight build in Mayfair



We found the giant in Perenelle! Well, don't look at me, I didn't kill him!





Dancing the rest of the evening away into the morn in the midst of the cobwebs and spiders in the Wellsian Morloch Valley




Below is the list of locations, directly from the Painted by Nature/Drawn by Spirits notecard....


Welcome to Caledon's Walking Tours for the Harvest Festival. Enjoy both tours Painted by Nature and Drawn by Spirits. Of course, some landmarks homes & shops share both sides of the autumn season. Find your best walking boots or even fire up the steampunk flier - enjoy the city streets and countryside of Caledon.


Drawn by Spirts
Jameson Despres & Jayleden Miles
Caledon Paranormal Society, St. Blaine Church, and Catacombs
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Brigadoon/205/54/23

Painted by Nature
LadyDawn Starbrook
Foxbury House
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Kittiwickshire/144/200/2

Drawn by Spirits
Xeriko Melnik
Thirteen Mists - Caledon Mayfair
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Mayfair/57/116/22
Painted by Nature
Xeriko Melnik
Caledon Mayfair, parcel #7-8: "Twilight"
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Mayfair/60/89/23

Walking Tours:Both
Autopilotpatty Poppy
Poppy Estate
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tamrannoch/198/213/23

Painted by Nature
Jacquelin Seisenbacher
Kleineschwein by Seisenbacher
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Eyre/28/127/24

Painted by Nature
Tanarian Davies
De Cymru Mwyaf-Newydd
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Brigadoon/192/69/23

Painted by Nature & Drawn by Spirits
Soliel Snook
Snook's Garden Centre - Caledon Morgaine
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Morgaine/188/218/23
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Giverny/200/154/27

Painted by Nature & Drawn by Spirits
Eleanor Anderton
Rosehill Cottage - Caledon Rothesay
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Rothesay/174/127/22

Debbie Ziplon
Ziplon Estate
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Oxbridge%20Village/129/187/22

Drawn by Spirts
Garth Goode
Goode Inventions and Sprockets
Caledon SouthEnd
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20SouthEnd/168/165/23

Drawn by Spirits
Martini Discovolante
Alice in Caledon Shop - Caledon Kittiwicshire
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Kittiwickshire/60/182/23

Waterside Cliff
Caledon Kittiwickshire
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Kittiwickshire/209/199/24

Drawn by Spirits
Piensl Illios
Caledon Mayfair, parcel #5: "PIENSL Information Competencies"
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Mayfair/229/214/23

Drawn by Spirits
Anna Darwinian
Caledon Perenelle
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Perenelle/36/198/22
Painted by Nature
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Perenelle/217/59/22

Painted by Nature & Drawn by Spirits
Sarah7000 Popstar
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Port%20Caledon/238/74/2

Painted by Nature & Drawn by Spirits
Peter2 Veliz
Queen Victoria Harbour
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Perenelle/63/124/23
Private Residence - Caledon Glengarry
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Glengarry/174/60/2
Cape Wrath - Affordable Skins & Elegant Shape
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Cape%20Wrath/105/40/39
Queen Victoria Square - Port Caledon
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Port%20Caledon/92/27/23

Drawn by Spirits
ambiant Kukulcan
Time Machine Shop - Port Caledon
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Port%20Caledon/153/71/23
Marconi Wireless and Steam
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Perenelle/153/141/27
Caledon Perenelle Pirate Haven
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Port%20Caledon/194/128/23

Painted by Nature & Drawn by Spirits
Gwynna Cleanslate
Lionshadow Literary Emporium at Hereinstead
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Cay/32/88/2

Painted by Nature
Monicahot Jewell
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Port%20Caledon/82/114/23

Painted by Nature & Drawn by Spirits
Thadicus Caligari
Silly Walks Estate
Caledon Rothesay
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Rothesay/176/184/2

Painted by Nature Tour
Miss Random Wezzog
Athenor House at Regency Park
Caledon Regency
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Regency/220/218/2

Painted by Nature
RockAndRoll Michigan and KateLynn Inglewood Michigan
RK's Heaven
Caledon Wellsian
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Wellsian/140/188/23

Drawn by Spirits
Belle Shepherd
Grandma's Graphics / Shepherd Estate
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Downs/172/184/2

*Tryst Doune
Doune Manor
Caledon Downs
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Downs/186/52/44


*Drawn by the Spirits
RockAndRoll Michigan and KateLynn Inglewood
Invictus Park
Caledon Moors
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Moors/143/68/23

Painted by Nature
Moonstone Eiren
Art of Eiren
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Moors/39/158/23

Both
Vanessa Hamer
Hamer House
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Stormhold/115/49/22

*Drawn by Spirits*
Aevalle Galicia
Inkwell Manor
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Wellsian/56/214/22

Painted by Nature
Bertr Nuubert
Brigadoon Chapel and garden(estate)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Brigadoon/73/215/39

Drawn by Spirits
Wrath Constantine
Iron Cloud Air Base
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Middlesea/128/128/27

Painted by Nature, Drawn by Spirits
Aevalle Galicia
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Wellsian/175/19/44

Drawn by Spirits
Miss Darlingmonster Ember
Ember House @ Port Caledon
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Port%20Caledon/32/32/2

Painted by Nature
Alana Steamweaver
Miss Alana's Cottage
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Morgaine/116/28/2

Drawn by Spirits Tour
Carl Metropoplitan
Caledon Mayfair
Mayfair Maze (Two levels of maze: hedge and underground, punctuated by Second Life sculpture.)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Mayfair/162/80/23

Painted by Nature Tour
Carl Metropolitan
Museum of Resident Art (Permanent home to Carl Metropolitan's collection of SL resident art in Caledon Highlands)
Caledon Highlands
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Highlands/208/31/36

Drawn by the Spirits
Iason Hassanov
Hold tight to your dreams - freebie Halloween goodies
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tamrannoch/113/187/23