Vorpal Bunneh of Springtime

Caledon's Steam SkyCity is hosting the Vorpal Bunneh of Springtime this weekend for the 2nd Annual Steam SkyCity Spring Egg Hunt.
Last year's hunt was such a festival of pain for all involved that we could not wait to bring it back this year. Once again, we will hide eggs in excruciatingly difficult places, and then sit back and wait for your cries of frustration with fiendish glee. Courtesy of our Simple Shopkeepers and Honest Businessfolk, the Clues that Won't Help will fail to lead you to the prizes provided in brightly colored eggs. As we were contacted by several international organizations after last year's hunt, and came under some pressure from certain groups who oppose torture, we will now offer additional Photo Clues on Sunday after noon - for sale in a Relay for Life Vendor in Steam SkyCity's main corridor.
Please come join us for the fun....

Stirrings of Spring

Spring is beginning to stir in much of the Northern Hemisphere...ok, my bit is still frozen solid but at least it is getting lighter now!
As we stir from the winter's lethargy, activity begins to increase. In that note:
The Gateway is opened at Caledon Oxbridge University, and the penalty for making suggestions has been assessed...I am now one of the two Deans. This glamorous job consists mainly of being chief charwoman, disposing of prim litter and the occasional annoying avatar, as well as providing guidance for problem solving. It is such a joy to see the newcomers rezzing into a wondrous world. I had the very pleasant experience of chatting with a visitor recently who was touring OIs (Gateways) in preparation for opening their commercial Gateway. She stated that ours was the first she had visited with people present who could assist newcomers and visitors. NCI is doing an amazing job in CoManagement of the Gateway and in helping us get up to speed on dealing with all the challenges it presents. Muttenchops Chaplin, the Dean on the NCI side and my colleague is very patiently helping me learn to do this well. If you have not visited it is a must-see, many talented folks did an amazing job with both tutorials, the build and the contents.
Spring also means the start of Relay For Life. This is the first year I have been a team member and I am very excited to be working on this. Kiralette Kelley, our team Captain has already set up a Ning for the Team, and projects are coming along rapidly for a great year. In years past, the push to generate contributions combined with the long season has led to a lot of short tempers and bad feelings by the end of the season. With the current economic crisis, Des has requested that the focus of Team Caledon be on Education and Prevention this year rather than focusing on competing with other teams on fundraising. As RL job is in nursing, this portion is most close to my heart, and I am working on a number of projects with a goal of saving Real Lives.
The Wind in the Willows reading continues this weekend in Tanglewood at the Tinyville Library. The Wild Wood has grown up in the last month, and there will be new places to explore. So come by Saturday at 10am SLT and stay for Tiny Kites in Tanglewood for spring kite flying starting at 11am.
The Spring Egg Hunt will be returning to Steam SkyCity this year. March 27 - 29th there will be eggs hidden over the entire sim, containing prizes. The hiding places are always fiendishly difficult, so clues will be given....Clues that Don't Help. We in Steam SkyCity relish the cries of torment this annual ritual generates, and will be present to revel in your pain. Have fun!
And speaking of pain, we will once again be hosting the Mad Scientist Convention for Misunderstood Genius and Unappreciated Pioneers of Technology. This will run May 2-3 at the 2nd Anniversary of the Hotwiring of Steam SkyCity.
Oh yes....and there is also that whole trying to plan a wedding thing I am up to as well.

The Visitor

You disembark from the train with a bit of trepidation, unsure of your reception in this strange new place. Your movements are awkward in this strange attire, and you are afraid of making a fool of yourself. But friendly folks greet you and make you welcome, offer you a place to stay, clothes to wear, directions to make your way in this strange new place. You are shy and a bit afraid, as everyone seems rather grand, and formal, and talk a bit strangely. They use words and phrases that are unfamiliar to you. You are embarrassed to ask about things they seem to do with ease....this culture is new to you. So with some help you manage to make your way around, you figure out how to be in this strange new world, and soon you are no longer merely a visitor.
Oddly, you feel more isolated now than when you got off the train. All the friendly folks are helping others, and everyone seems to know everyone else. Conversations go along about things you do not understand, and questions asked are far too complex for you to answer. You decided to be brave and go to an announced dance, but the dance floor was crowded, and you could not move and kept bumping into people...you retreat in embarrassment and hide in your room, looking out the window and wondering how to fit in to this world. You ask a question one day, but your question gets lost in all the conversations. People you meet are polite, but busy.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Newcomers events are being planned right now to assist all the new friends we haven't met yet.
Hold out a hand, take a little time, and be a hero to someone...

Why I love Caledon State Chat

I have been thinking much about state chat in the last few months, as have many.
Having little new or of value to add to that discussion I did not comment, but now would like to put in my two cents.
I love state chat. In my opinion, calchat reflects who we are and makes us a community. It connects all our citizens, and allows us to interact from wherever we may be - in body (RL) or in spirit (SL). As has been said many times, communities or families are made up of disparate individuals who will not all get along or agree.
Calchat can be sublime. Last night was haiku, limericks, favorite quotes and even a few puns. The night before one of our friends came on to let us know she had survived a terrifying auto accident and was banged up but ok. We announce events, births and deaths in Calchat. We get silly, or angry or sentimental. We wax nostalgic or poetic. Sometimes we get rowdy or raunchy or loud.
But chat is how we are held together. I will not routinely meet many of my friends and neighbors because you are busy or I am busy. It is a wonderful and lovely treat when we can be face to face, but I treasure being able to stay connected to you all.
We are all a part of a wonderful community that we have created ourselves, and recreate constantly.

Busy, Busy

So much going on.....
New Toulouse has become a part of Edison now, and the Lovely Prim Minister Gabrielle Riel is now my new landlady in Algiers
Oxbridge Gateway is now open and our newest residents are beginning to arrive in Caledon at long last
I have completed the first stage of the Wind in the Willows build in Tanglewood at the end of Tinyville
Building continues on Caer Firnas
And a warm welcome back to Steam SkyCity for one of our esteemed Founders....
ambiant Kukulcan returns to our fair floating city!
and a warning, I am getting a bit of spring fever- so there will be events coming to SSC again very soon, including the Second Annual Steam SkyCity Spring Egg Hunt!

What Is Your Battle Cry?

Who is that, sprinting on the fields! It is Fogwoman, hands clutching a studded crowbar! She howls mightily: "I'm going to forcibly reverse your gender!!!"

Find out! Enter username: Are you a girl, or a guy ?

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Damned Fine Flying

A salute to "Sully" Sullenberger. Damned fine bit of flying, sir.