For The Vicereine

Most of the regular readers of this blog know me for what I am.  Among the words one might use to describe me would come "sentimental", "devoted", "friend", "silly".  So you won't be surprised by my expression of feelings having Kamilah Hauptmann as a friend in SL and RL.

Interestingly enough Kami and I had only a few interactions in world - and they were pleasant enough - prior to CaleCon in 2008.  We met there in person with a few of our other Caledonian friends.  It was a small con, but a grand time.  We had opportunity to talk and talk during that long weekend and discovered that we, in fact, made great friends.  Happily, we have kept that friendship up in world and have had occasion to visit with one another in the real world once again. 

 Eva, Kami, Otenth, Gabi at my CaleCon opening night Cocktail Party

 Lionsgate (Kamilah) and Loch Avie (Eva) at CaleCon dinner/dance/simulcast

Jaelle, Eva, and Kamilah in NYC (summer 2010)

I remain a bit sad not to be able to join her, Jaelle,  and several of our other friends at SteamCon again this year.  The west coast is oh-so-far-away at this time of year with my children in school and holiday choral events in full swing.  I'll get there some day (I hope. I hope.) and if I'm lucky, Kamilah and other friends will also be in attendance. 

For now, I would like to share with you the slide show from Kamilah's 5th Rez Day party on November 7th, and a poem I found, which seems to suit her very well (simply substitute the word "Vicereine" for "Queen" in this poem as she would be the first to remind you that Victoria is Queen).

A Queen

A Queen is proud of herself. She respects herself and others.
She is aware of who she is. She neither seeks definition from
the person she is with, or does she expect them to
read her mind. She is quite capable of
articulating her needs.

A Queen is hopeful. She is strong enough to make all her
dreams come true. She knows love, therefore she
gives love. She recognizes that her love has
great value and must be reciprocated.
 If her love is taken for granted,
it soon disappears.

A Queen has a dash of inspiration, a dabble of endurance.
She knows that she will, at times, have to inspire others
to reach the potential God gave them. A Queen knows
her past, understands her present and
moves toward the future.

A Queen knows the Creative Energy. She knows that with
this the world is her playground, but without she will just
be played. A Queen does not live in fear of the future
because of her past. Instead, she understands that
her life experiences are merely lessons, meant
to bring her closer to self knowledge
and unconditional self love.
Queen,


~Author Unknown~

A Rez Day Celebration of Viceregal Proportions

Year one, you are like you are ten.
Year two, you are like you are twenty-five.
Year three, you are like you are fifty.
Year four, you are like you are one hundred.
Year five, you were born in the dark ages of land extortionists,
malltards, bling was new, but the air was fresh and you could fly sim
to sim without falling apart at the seams, and there was no such thing
as a facelight, much less ten of them on one avatar.

Kamilah Hauptmann

Regarding Civilised Rail Travel in the Americas

Response to this letter from the Vicereine, Kamilah Hauptmann.

My Dearest Kamilah,

You do me great honor by your invitation to spend time with you in New York City. I confess that I have been hoping for such time together since we last met nearly two years ago in the wilds of suburban Canada. I was surprised that my weaponry were not required for defense against moose or the odd trapper or logger wandering into town. However, as I recall the two of us should have used the heavy gold coins in our evening bags to delicately bludgeon several of the patrons in the dining room upon our grand arrival for cocktails. One would have thought that they had never seen a regal Lioness nor a corseted Duchess in their lives. *sigh*

Lionsgate and Loch Avie

To our travel details:

I shall also be traveling by rail into New York City - perhaps we will challenge the answer to "If two trains are traveling to NYC at the same time - one going south, one going north......". I do not see the specific days that you have in mind for this travel, however, I will check with my secretary and determine which days are ideal for travel and which days are possible with complex appointment manipulation.

We should indeed arrive at the same terminal, therefore, depending on our travel schedules, we may be able to walk and talk on our way to luncheon. The subway, while it is not as filled with the hoodlums and trouble-makers you about which you may have heard tales, is still not my favorite mode of transportation in the city. You will, however, adore the "T" (subway) while you are in the fair city of Boston. It is generally quite civilised unless you happen to be traveling through Kenmore Square on baseball game day.

I have a number of thoughts on luncheon possibilities, but now understanding your desire to see our lovely Lady Liberty, I shall have another check on this and will make appropriate plans. I will tell you that the Museum of Modern Art is quite wonderful & with excellent lunch possibilities as well. We shall carefully consider and plan.

As to whether I will be "packing heat", I simply ask when you have ever known me to be unprepared for any occasion.

So do leave your hockey stick at home; however, with just the right skirt and blouse those logger boots might be quite urban chic.

Let us keep in close touch as we make our plans. You may feel free to use my wireless device for contact along with aetheric mail and such.

Yours &c,
Eva

p.s. No coffee, just lots of laughter in a, thankfully, empty office suite. Do feel free to blog this - as you most certainly know I will. *muah dahlink*

Happy Fourth Anniversary, Independent State of Caledon!

I found Caledon when the fourth sim was just being added. And as of last night it has grown to 50! Long may her citizens prosper and be happy. ALL of them!

Guv'nah Shang, The Vicereine, Kamilah Hauptmann, and me.

Happy Anniversary to Caledon!!


Note: Slideshow of event has been removed as visible protest to the banning of some citizens & friends of The Independent State of Caledon from the celebrations.


***

The Dance of Flight

"Mew dahlink. Try this on for size." came the voice across the æther.

"Mew, Kami. Sure, I'll give it a whirl. (pulls up inventory) Super Flight AO?"

"Just try it."

"Hold your horses, I'm going outside the castle now." I said walking out the door and promptly heading up in the air.

Suddenly I felt so...so...heroic. Really the ao Kamilah created with superheros in mind hit the mark. The animations were very defined and strong. Quite fun actually. For a closer look at these please do head on over to Musings to see a short video clip of SuperKami in action.

"I like it quite a bit. It's very fun!"

At this point we discussed some of the reasons that she decided to create these flight animations, and I mentioned that it would be very fun to have a more feminine animation overrider noting that with few exceptions most of the flight/land animations are very male. She agreed noting that she was also contemplating making a Peter Pan inspired flight package.

"So you want something more - girlie. (pause) You're gonna have to show me some pics. Something for inspiration."

Let the googling begin! Pictures and links went back and forth for a bit. After this I really didn't hear anything about it for a few days. Then, suddenly, a package on the doorstep.

"Ballerina Flight AO!"

It's wonderful. There are many animations in this package depending on your motion (up, up and forward, descending, turning, etc.,.). Very easy to use - just wear and fly.

And lovely to look at. Thanks, Kami!

Cloud Dancers

Cloud dancers!
Dancing through the sky;
Like little butterflies!
With the clouds in her hair;
And the sky at her feet.
Cloud dancer!
Among beautiful dancers!
Dancing through the sky.

Jade Buehler

Summoned to the CatGrrl Brigade HQ

Last night as I was trying to decide what trouble I might get into while in world, I had a call on the "Cat Phone". Picking up the secure kitty channel, I heard the Vicereine on the other end of the call.

"Get your butt down to The Cat Brigade!"

Normally I might have sparred with her just a little before giving in, but that sounded like a lot of fun to me. So I simply said,

"OK. What's the dress code? Victorian or schmexy?"

"Schmexy, dahling. And put on your neko if you've got it."

"Hmph. Yeah - I might have something suitable."

Eva and Kamilah

More of the guests

Cat Girl Brigade HQ

I have to say that I found the building (my first time there), the surroundings, and the company to be most excellent. Miss Reghan Straff did a wonderful job with the music.

Reghan Straff

As the event drew to a close, I called on the Steelhead channel wondering if anyone at the Bunny Hop would have issue with a cat attending. They seemed OK once I told them that I would keep my fangs in check.

Bunny Hopping

Although I did nibble a chicken and one or two peeps. :) How could a kittygirl resist?

.....yummy.....

And....just because I couldn't resist adding this attack video:

Winter Warmth

What does winter bring to your mind?

For many, I suppose, it only conjures up thoughts of stark light and coldness. Or darkness. Or freezing pipes, freezing toes, freezing noses.

But for me winter often brings to mind the following:

~Warm, crackling wood fires
~Soft, fuzzy sweaters
~Romantic evenings spent with a loved one by the fire
~Hot Chocolate
~Walking alone or with your lover through the new-fallen snow, the only sound - the soft crunch of the snow under your feet.
~Meeting for coffee at a favorite little cafe, cuddling on the overstuffed sofa, and chatting away about everything and nothing

For this 3rd Annual Loch Avie Snowflake Ball I invite you to dream about what makes you feel warm in winter and join us on the ice and snow for a formal dance.*




MANY thanks to Her Excellency, Kamilah Hauptmann, for the use of her lands in Port Caledon for this event (For those who are not aware, Loch Avie can now only support 20 avatars at one time. Not really ideal for hosting balls - or any other event for that matter.) The Vicereine has been most gracious and helpful as we plan and prep for the event. I am lucky to count her among my good friends.

We will see you on January 10th from 7:30pm-10pm SLT.
Dress is formal.
*Dance notecards will be in use for this traditionally formal ball. A template will be provided for your use on site.

Location SLURL for Port Caledon.

I leave you with this poem by Thomas Campion

Now winter nights enlarge
This number of their hours;
And clouds their storms discharge
Upon the airy towers.
Let now the chimneys blaze
And cups o'erflow with wine,
Let well-tuned words amaze
With harmony divine...

This time doth well dispense
With lovers' long discourse;
Much speech hath some defense,
Though beauty no remorse.
All do not all things well:
Some measures comely tread,
Some knotted riddles tell,
Some poems smoothly read.
The summer hath his joys,
And winter his delights;
Though love and all his pleasures are but toys
They shorten tedious nights.

You, too, could be a Bombshell

In honor of the 1940s USO party in Loch Avie tonight. I give you >fanfare here<
Kamilah and Eva waiting on their close-ups. "Oh, Mr. DeMille. Mr. DeMille."

Watch out, boys.

Bombshell animation overrider may be found here on XStreet. For more poses and other animation packages please see Kamilah's fine blog.

See you all tonight!

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.

On Second Thought - Tis a Silly Place

You know it is a good night, when at the end of a long, hot Gen X Rave at Carntaigh, you receive an IM that says Desmond Shang would like you to join him in an undisclosed location for a discussion. Now mind you that in and of itself is generally pretty cool, but the real fun begins when you realize that you have arrived to find that you are there with the Viceriene, Kamilah Hauptmann, and Sir Hotspur O'Toole.

Much funny ensues....along with the serious.

And then at the end of it all, Desmond hops up on stage and begins doing the Can Can.




Well that simply cannot go unanswered! The three of us then climb up on stage and perform the synchonized Caledon Can Can.

"Like this, Des?" Kamilah and I rehearse for a few moments before my costume change.

"5, 6, 7, 8....." calls the choreographer.

"Oh yes you can Can Can!"

Brilliant! This IS a silly place. And I love it!

May I Present to you Dame Lapin Paris...

The Lady Of Tanglewood.

Last evening in Tanglewood, Her Excellency, Kamilah Hauptmann, presided over an extremely well-attended ceremony to induct Lapin Paris into the chivalry. A more worthy individual would be difficult to find. Her grace and style under pressure and her personal investment in the Relay For Life speaks volumes for this wonderful lady.

She was cheered and lauded by MANY in Caledon for an extended period of time during and after her official ceremony. (Beautifully done, Your Excellency!!)

Below are just a few snapshots of the moments shared last night. Please join me in extending your congratulations and thanks to Dame Lapin when next you see her.

Dubbed with a wrench - an instrument of creation...not destruction

Among the crowd, Sir JJ Drinkwater, Miss Serra Anansi, Miss Autopilotpatty Poppy, The Duchesses of Loch Avie and Carntaigh, Grafinya Kate Nicholas, and Miss Terry Lightfoot.

Admiration

Mr. 1wuz Gray's presentation and poem.

Loch Avie, Carntaigh, and Inbhir Abigh

Dame Lapin hugs Her Excellency, Kamilah Hauptmann

The cavalry witnesses the event.