Day 5: Call to Prayer, Energy Boost #NaBloPoMo

When I was just a little girl,
I complained to my mother
about the fire engine sirens
and this is what she said to me

When you hear the fire engine
pray for the people involved
pray for the firefighters
pray for the people in need

So now I live by a firehouse
and my neighbor is a
volunteer fireman
and this is what i do

When I hear the firehouse alarm,
it is my call to prayer.
I pray for the firefighters
I pray for the people in need

~~~

There is a diesel train that
runs right in front of my house
I thrill to the rumble
of the powerful engine.
I revel in the sound
of the whistle echoing
off the hills.
It is my energy boost.

Day 4: Cafe Crisis #NaBloPoMo

[Entry to the old Buttonwood Cafe]

"Wait! What? You're going to go to McDonald's over Magnolia's?"

My friends and I are having a cafe crisis.

"There's two things you don't mess with: People's food and their money. In that order."

Well, our food is definitely being messed with. One cafe was sold and the new owners seem to be totally unaware that the cafe's existing culture revolves around the existing menu. Equally, it's the quality of the food on the menu.

"I had the worst omelet. It was paper thin with just a few mushrooms, onion, and very little cheese tossed in."

~~~

"I wonder if the Buttonwood Cafe's owner really will start selling soups and breads near me. At least something."

The second cafe was in a building over 100 years old. The owners of the building have allowed it to fall into disrepair.

"It's to the point that they wanted to just tear it down and start over. They were told by the town that if they do that they will never be allowed to have another restaurant on this site again."

"The wood came from boats that were at the bottom of Lake Michigan."

~~~

The quotes are various things I've heard said in the cafes or about them.

Yes. This is a crisis.

Now, you people that live in big cities that are nothing but chain restaurant clusters have no concept of what I'm talking about. I know this because I've been you.

In the area where I now live, it is a string of small villages with cafe's and delis owned, managed, and promoted by people who live in the area. Sometimes they live just upstairs above the cafe.

The Chefs are usually the owners. The food is often local, sometimes organic, and seldom out of a can. Many of the cafes serve the average comfort food. Some serve amazing food.

The two cafes that we've lost were not just places where amazing and great food was served. They were willing to let us come in and stay for hours. Visit, write, study. It's where we saw our neighbors. It's where we learned about the local news. It's where we learned about the community's history. Not only is it okay to speak to the stranger at the next table, it was considered neighborly to at least say hello. It's kind of how we kept an eye each other's well-being. "Is Joe okay? He's not been in for days."

They weren't places to put on airs and pretend to be somebody. You already were somebody just because you walked in the door.

Day 3: An Escapist Moment #SecondLife #SL #NaBloPoMo

A bit of time for running away from RL :)

Day 2

Super tired.

Good day.

Billy surprised me and stayed home.

My friend still went with me to my doctor's appointment.

Huge surprise: I really like my new doctor.

Decision #1 I'm on Zoloft to help with my concentration and anxiety and unofficial ADD

Step #2 I have an appointment next week for a mamogram and sonogram.

Must sleep.

I did this #NaBloPoMo Thing Once. I'm going at it again.

My first November in New York I participated in the #NaBloPoMo. It was a great deal of fun.

introducing our latest signal tower #snowdaze #ny @Wilsoncellular

Over 12 inches snow. no power. no internet. intermittent low cell signal. Solution: generator + marine battery + Wilson Cellular (ty Billy -husband) + Verizon droid (ty Matthew -son). Results: steady 3g signal. tethered to netbook. able to research further survival techniques. Hooray! Yes. warm enough so far :~)

An Update on Adelebsen Isle

A bit of info about the sim and about us, too.

When we haven't been focused on our own flood alerts, Billy aka Mitch has been actively involved in supporting the NY SBDR Kitchen. (New York Southern Baptist Disaster Relief) He may go back out for another 7 days some time soon. I've either been packing or repacking us for evacuation or making sure he has everything to go to the kitchen site. This last week I've had a sinus infection / cold.

The home we rent did not receive any flood damage. We're going to have to spend some time soon cleaning up the back yard a bit. We really were impacted very lightly.

In short. We're mainly kind of tired.

So, a little of this and a little of that has been happening with the sim. We've not gotten to communicate the way we would like ... and so on ... So, it's no great surprise that the coins have been dropping rather randomly into the fountains.

All the same, coins have been dropping into the fountains :) and we really appreciate all of you who do contribute. We have learned a lot about the people who love Adelebsen Isle. One thing I've noticed is that some of you come by and drop in a few Lindens every couple of days.

So. Yes. We're staying another month and your help is hugely encouraging and enabling.

There's been a few questions:

Can I give less than the $L 500? Yes :) absolutely.

Can I give you all the Lindens I have? Umm well that's not expected ... but if you're really serious, it looks like we're going to need them much more next month. Thank you very much :)

How much is $L 500 in USD? It's about $2 USD. So roughly, every $L 25 equals one dime. And we all know dimes do add up.

What is that great huge massive thing hanging over the castle? Well? Another castle? The new building blocks from LL are too fun to leave alone and I have these ideas going through my head .... stay tuned :)

Why is the Adel Forest all broken up? Well, it's another project in the works. As I told our sim guard, "Hide in the forest and watch."

It's also time for Autumn to sneak in ::happy dance::

There's more to tell but ... it will keep :)

I have especially enjoyed hearing from you over the last few weeks. Please send any comment to my IM's or to my email (it's in my profile).

Enjoy have fun,

Marilla Anne

Mitch climed out of his Tiny shape for a few moments (became human) and came danced with me on Romantic Dance Mtn :)