Caledon colors in RL

For all you stylish RL caledonian women, I was browsing through the L.L. Bean catalog and I found this shirt.
Tartan Camden Ruffle Shirt
It can't be seen well on the computer, but in the catalog it was definitely the proper colors.
Meh, I should get a comission. I'm such a shopping enabler.

In which I am locked in RL

I only have a moment, as I am not on my own machine, for it has been mailed away into the aether to get a new motherboard, keyboard and something else as well...possibly RAM. Fortunately, it's all still under Apple's warranty, but it is going to be 7-10 business days before my laptop comes back to me. So no second life for me.

Wow, so much for first life, never mind second...

Needless to say, with a real life toddler, just about to turn two, and the transition into his new home, and all of the transition for me, (and the fact that I suffered from CFS *before* the baby got here, but that's neither here nor there,) SL has been a bit on the backburner.

I pop in every couple of nights and check up with my friends, but haven't really been active with events and things as much as I'd like. I've even moved from my large parcel in Regency to a smaller one in Morgaine, where I've established a small personal residence.

I hope to get more active on the social scene, but a bit of a malaise has washed over me as I've been tired. Hopefully, second life will be around when I wake up and the terrible twos are over.

A quick Pic...

Yes, I DO realize that my posts have suddenly slowed down to almost naught. Imagine that :-)
But they will return, albeit slowly. (It's just this past week has been more real life prep and paperwork than one could possibly imagine...)

In the meantime, I thought I would post this picture I took of 713 Ayres at the last Rave in Kintyre. This is her new Steambot Kitty Av, from her new Isle of Axis Mundi. I've been a fan of her art in world (and also in real life for some time. I have her octopus print in my powder room in the real world.)

She was dancing to disco when I snapped this; she looks so happy! If you like the av, you can pop on over to Axis Mundi and purchase one yourself, and there are lot of incredible freebies hidden on the isle in celebration of the grand opening (No affiliation, just appreciate another good artist, yadda yadda..)

Quick Real Life Post

It's a boy.
At 18 months, we got one all preassembled :-)
He comes to us next week.
So yeah, Miss merlot might be a bit busy...

...on the other hand, at nightg when daddy gets home, I might curl up with my laptop in bed exhausted and be ready for an escape to Caledon. We shall see.

My experience with Cancer.. why the RFL is important...

I've meant to write this for awhile.

Nobody can really understand the impact of Cancer until it touches you and your family. My mother was diagnosed with Breast cancer, fortunately in its early stages, 3 summers ago. She had the surgery, she had the radiation treatments... and thankfully, because of advancements and programs like the RFL she was been clean of anything for more than a year and a half now. But her life-- and ours-- will never be the same.

I can't speak for my mother, but I think the hardest thing about it for her was second guessing her whole entire life. Should she have eaten healthier? Should she have not taken hormones? Did that fall she have 10 years ago where she landed on that breast have anything to do with it? What about the deoderant thing? Is that just an urban legend? Do I have the best doctor? Are they lying to me-- is it worse than I know? Have they gotten it all?

Watching her go through that is agonizing, because people want to comfort her, but they say the dumbest things. "I know how you feel." Is not a good thing to say if you don't.

I just found out recently when I went to a wedding, that our mutual friend's mother died of breast cancer about the same time as my mom was going through it. She didn't catch it until it was too late, and did some of the chemo treatments but then chose to live her last days as best she could than struggle through that painfully and-- as he put it-- "be a burden on my family."
This friend and I connected at this wedding and are back in touch now after 15 years. Words cannot express how sad that sentiment made me, and I'm not sure if it is because I got to keep my mother and he didn't, or if it is because I was close to her when we were in high school and I feel his loss a bit. Of course, I can't really say that, because it will seem like cold comfort coming from someone 15 years apart.

I haven't even started to tell the story of my friend who had lukemia, or ..

What does this have to do with SL me?
I really feel honored to be able to be in Caledon this year, actively doing more than just shopping and buying pretty dresses here and there to donate for the Relay for Life. The people are so creative,and have come up with so many good ideas for events.
I really feel like in my very little way I'm actually part of a team of people committed to something important.

In which We Meet The Ambassador of Vulgaria...

Yesterday at the Garden Party in Morgaine I met the Ambassador of Vulgaria. I daresay he was quite a Vulgar man. I also believe he would have taken that as a compliment. He spoke of annexing the southern parts of Caledon, which he says "rightfully belong to his country."

Here is a bit of the most scandalous and yet entertaining conversation of the afternoon:

You: I wonder if the good ambassador would dance with me?
[16:49] Barken Roff: Certainly Miss Zymurgy
[16:49] Merlot Zymurgy examines the ambassador more closely
[16:50] Barken Roff: But to be fair to Caledon, it isn't all of Caledon that is formerly Vulgaria
[16:50] You: Oh? Only the best bits, I suppose...
[16:50] Merlot Zymurgy smirks
[16:50] Barken Roff: just the southeastern most lands, up to and including the Cay
[16:50] Barken Roff: North and west, you may keep
[16:50] You: Ah, like I said, the most temperate bits...
[16:50] Scotti Lyle: I daresay Caledon shall keep it all, Mr. Roff.
[16:50] Bamika Easterman: That's otta admit that.
[16:51] You: Ambassador, may I ask you a most indelicate question...
[16:51] Barken Roff: certainly
[16:51] Merlot Zymurgy coughs... your skin, it's a bit pale... I've done a bit of traveling myself
[16:52] Scotti Lyle whispers to merlot ... check his teeth ...
[16:52] You: Places like Hungaria, Romania, Snagov in particular.. Merlot Zymurgy coughs again.
[16:52] Barken Roff: Vulgaria is a land of much fog and overcast
[16:52] Roy Smashcan: Hmm, as much as I am one to despise capital cities and the people who dwell there - Caledon remains one realm, undivided.
[16:52] Merlot Zymurgy nods.
[16:52] Barken Roff: no, I am not a vampire
[16:52] You: Erm, yes, that is what i was getting at...
[16:52] Merlot Zymurgy blushes a bit
[16:52] Scotti Lyle breathes a sigh of relief and puts the turtleneck away
[16:52] You: But I'm rather fond of vampires myself... Pity.
[16:53] Barken Roff: but I can be called upon to bite and nibble in the most interesting of ways
[16:53] Bamika Easterman: Not that we have anything against vampires...
[16:53] Merlot Zymurgy chokes. Indeed.
[16:53] You: Yes, well I've been called biting as well, but usually they are talking about my wit.
[16:54] Marcus Tairov: Your whip?
[16:54] You: wi*T*
[16:54] Barken Roff looks over the most nibble-able bits
[16:54] Marcus Tairov: Ahh..I stand corrected
[16:54] You: Now sir...
[16:54] Roy Smashcan: Hmm, glancing at the history books, it seems there's been some clashes with Vulgaria before.
[16:55] Barken Roff: Indeed
[16:55] Roy Smashcan: http://hiberniaskids.blogspot.com/2007/08/concerning-events-at-loch-avie.html
[16:55] Scotti Lyle thinks Merlot can take Mr. Roff's mind off conflict with Caledon quite easily
[16:55] You: Don't mistake desire for peace between our nations for something more
[16:55] Barken Roff: yes and as you have noticed, Her Grace quickly filled in the excavations that were taking place there. and the results of the investigations of the remains found were never published
[16:56] Barken Roff: ahhh, yes, the still missing Vulgarian Virgin Skinning knife
[16:56] Merlot Zymurgy coughs again