FEATURED BETWEEN HOMES RESIDENT - ROGERS ALBATROS

By Debbie Bulloch



Today’s Featured Between Homes resident is Rogers Albatros. Rogers is a very talented young man. Rogers spends a great deal of time building and creating objects that he later shares with the rest of BH’s residents. Rogers also has an amazing knowledge of American pop culture, including an amazing knowledge of American movies and American television programs. Talk to Rogers for more than five minutes and he will start quoting lines from old American movies.



I ran into Rogers while he was out on the snow, playing with Sherlock and Holmes, the two BH Newfies (Newfoundland) pups.

Debbie Bulloch: Hey Roger, how are you?
Rogers Albatros: I am doing great Debbie, thanks.

DB: Guess what Rogers, you ARE the featured Between Homes resident.
RA: Well, it is about time!



DB: As you know, good things come to those who wait.
RA: Yep!

DB: Rogers, how long have you been in SL?
RA: Almost a year; my rezz date is December 28, 2007.

DB: Looks like your 1st Rezz Day birthday is coming up!
RA: Yes, we should have a party.

DB: Why did you join SL?
RA: I was bored with text-only chat.

DB: A lot of people come to SL because of the graphic interface. Text-only chat is so boring.
RA: Yes, this is much better.

DB: And how did you find out about SL?
RA: I heard about SL in Google-chat.

DB: What are some of your favorite things to do in SL?
RA: Build things, meet people, and meet ladies – not necessarily in that order?

DB: Meet any nice ladies? Anyone we know?
RA: Maybe (grinning)!

DB: How did you find out about Between Homes?
RA: From a good friend, Tilda (Little).

DB: I have known Tilda for a long time, she is really neat.
RA: Yes she is!

DB: Before you joined BH, did you have a home base?
RA: I did, I had a base out on the mainland, but it was too crowded all the time, there were too many avis flying around.





DB: What are your favorite things about BH?
RA: It is quiet and less laggy than other places.

DB: Do you have any special skills in SL?
RA: Yes; being nice and helpful.

DB: Those are two very special skills Rogers, we are glad that you are so helpful.
RA: Thanks Debbie.

DB: Do you have a special place that you like to visit in SL?
RA: Other than BH? Sure, I like stores and water sport places.

DB: Do you have any suggestions on how we can make Between Homes a better place for all residents?
RA: Sure, free rent would be good. Oh wait a minute; we already have free rent (smiling). Maybe a free skeeball game or some other games.
DB: Those are both great ideas Rogers.

Rogers is indeed one of the most helpful and nice BH residents. He is always ready to help new residents; he even helps me when I need help (which is a lot).

Stop by Roger’s place and check out how nicely he has decorated it. If you need help go ask Rogers and he will lend you a friendly hand—especially if you are a nice lady.

GIVING THANKS FOR OUR TREASURES

By: Debbie Bulloch



In a few days we in the USA will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Day celebration usually involves getting together with family and friends, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, consuming massive amounts of turkey and pumpkin pie, and then either passing out in front of the television watching hours of college football games (GO TROJANS !!! )or going to the stores and fighting other shoppers for deeply discounted merchandise.



OK, maybe I am exaggerating just a tad.



The fact is that Thanksgiving is one of those quaint and unique American celebrations that manage to combine crass consumerism and goodwill. To some (especially to foreigners) it may seem a tad odd to pick one day out of the year to give thanks for all the blessings in our life. After all, we should give thanks each and every single day of our lives for our blessings.

This is especially true given the transient nature of our lives on this plane of existence. Here today and gone tomorrow is not just an expression, it is a real possibility; those who we love and hold nearest and dearest to our heart may be here today but gone tomorrow. There is an old song by a '60s group (no I am not THAT old) called Bread. The song is titled Everything I Own and parts of the lyrics go like this:

Is there someone you know,
you're loving them so,
but taking them all for granted.
You may lose them one day,
someone takes them away,
and they don't hear the words you long to say

I urge all of you to stop for a moment and give thanks for your blessings; however big or small they may be. In this uncertain world any blessing is a true gift.

I specially urge you to please take a moment to thank those people who have gifted you with their friendship not just over the past 12 months, but over the course of your life. Think about all the people who have, at one point or the other, made a big difference in your life: a parent, a sibling, a relative, a teacher, a friend, a lover. Stop for a moment and call them (if they are far) or go and see them (if they are close) and say:

THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!

There is an old Italian saying that goes something like this:

Chi trova un amico, trova un tesoro! (He who finds a friend finds a treasure).

Acknowledge your treasures and be thankful for them.

Thank you all for being my friend and thank you all for being a friend of BETWEEN HOMES.

Our Homeless Furry Friends

By Debbie Bulloch



The current mortgage crisis has caused a sharp increase in the number of abandoned, and thus homeless pets. While the sight of homeless men, women and children living on the streets should be a call to action for concerned citizens, the growing trend of abandoned pets should also be of great concern.

Animal shelters are being overrun with the furry friends of people who can no longer afford their property—or their pets. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Sacramento, Calif., for instance, accepted 178 dogs and cats in December, a jump of almost 80 percent over the previous year. Less-fortunate pets are dumped on the streets or released into nature. Traci Jennings, founder of a Humane Society branch in Modesto, Calif., has found dogs tied to porches and, in one case, abandoned in a yard. "Someone called me when they heard the puppies crying," she says.

With predicted tougher economic times ahead, the homeless pet problem is bound to grow. In California, where I live, it is not just dogs, cats and rabbits that are being abandoned. Increasingly, even "high-end" animal companions, such as horses are becoming the victims of hard times. With increasing frequency shelters are now taking horses, mares and their foal. These animals come into the shelters in nearly emaciated conditions and in dire need for medical treatment for untreated wounds and diseases.

In these increasingly difficult times, those of us who can and are able to do so need to think outside the box. By this I mean that we need to look at the suffering of all living creatures, not just fellow humans, and make a commitment to do what we can to help.

So what can we do?

1. Adopt a pet.

If you've been thinking of adding a furry friend to your family, there is no better time than the present. Wonderful animals of every size, breed, and personality need new homes, simply because their owners have become unable to care for them. You can help by adopting a pet through your local shelter.



Adopting a homeless animal is simply the right thing to do. Yes, we all like the idea of playing with a frisky, big-eyed puppy or kitten. But if you adopt a pet from the shelter, especially an adult dog or cat (or maybe a rabbit or even a horse) you will have that warm glow from knowing you've saved a life.

Adopting is also less expensive than buying from a pet store or breeder. In many shelters the cost of adoption also includes training materials, vaccinations, and spaying and neutering surgery -- in some cases even follow-up veterinary care is offered. What's more, the pets available for adoption at most shelters and rescue groups have already been screened for major health and behavior problems.

Please call your local shelter or local rescue group and get more information about their offerings.

2. If you are about to lose your home please seek help.

If you already own a pet and are dealing with financial problems, ask your local shelter if they offer any programs to help pet owners in this situation. There is no shame in asking for help, especially for our furry friends. There is information available that will help strapped families care for their pets. Some shelters partner with food banks to distribute pet food and other supplies. Some work with veterinarians to provide assistance with vaccinations and other veterinary care. If you are feeling your budget beginning to tighten, do away with superfluous purchases for your pet, such as expensive toys and other needless accessories. Also, consider taking your dog to a vaccination clinic instead of seeing your regular vet for any necessary shots. This can save you money on the inoculations themselves, as well as eliminate the cost of an office visit.



Most importantly, don't leave your pet behind. Ask friends, family members, and neighbors if they can take your pet for you temporarily. This may give you enough time to get back on your feet and resume the care of your animal. If you move to an apartment, make sure your pet will be allowed to move with you. Avoid verbal agreements -- get it in writing to avoid a problem down the road.

3. Donate to your local shelter or offer help at your local vet.

Animal shelters are expensive to run. Most of the time, shelters depend upon government funding (often shelters are the last budget item to get funded by local governments) and/or private donations. Any donation helps! For years, my daughter and I have donated pet food and used newspapers to out local shelter. A 50# bag of dog kibbles or kitty chow form the local Costco is not all that expensive and it can make the difference on the number of pets a shelter can afford to house. If you cannot afford to buy food then donate your time. Pets at the shelters are in need of a kind human touch. Many of them have been taken away from loving, caring homes where maybe they had big yards to play or cozy beds to lay; now they find themselves locked up in cages, with hundreds of other pets. This must be a terrifying experience - so a kind word, a soft hand or a warm hug will go a long way to help erase the stress these furry friends must feel while awaiting their fate at the shelter. Think how scared you would be if you were suddenly yanked from your comfy home and tossed into a cold, metal cage. Our animal companions feel fear too.



There are many other ways that you can help. All you have to do is look around.

In SL itself there are individuals like Aztek Aeon and Vitolo Rossini who work on projects to help RL pets. Send them an IM and ask how YOU can help too.

I was once told that I always have a song's lyrics, or a movie's lines, for every occasion. So in that note, let me end with the lyrics from one of my favorite songs by The Carpenters:

Bless the beasts and the children
For in this world they have no voice
They have no choice

Bless the beasts and the children
For the world can never be
The world they see

Light their way
When the darkness surrounds them
Give them love
Let it shine all around them

Bless the beasts and the children
Give them shelter from a storm
Keep them safe
Keep them warm




Thank you for reading.

Featured Between Homes Resident - Matilda "Tilda" Little

By Debbie Bulloch



Today’s Featured Between Homes Resident is my long-time friend Matilda “Tilda” Little. I first met Tilda (as all her friends call her) almost a year ago. At that time, Tilda and I were relatively new to SL. Right about the time that Tilda and I met, we both also met another BH resident, ARCABULLE Odriscoll. All three of us were introduced by a common friend. The rest is, as they say, history. (Editor’s Note: You will read more about ARC in a future blog article).

Tilda is a talented and generous builder. She has donated many beautiful objects to BH’s residents. Tilda loves to help newbies and she spends many hours at BH welcoming newcomers to the shelter. Tilda is Bird Thor’s sister and Baby Tess’s auntie. Tilda and Bird are both from Sweden, the land of Saabs, Volvos and IKEA! Tilda is a fan of American Western movies and she can recite many lines, with a Swedish accent of course, from American Westerns. When Tilda is not busy building new objects, or greeting visitors to BH, she can be found playing with her Australian Shepherd, Liz. Liz comes from the same litter as my own baby Aussie, Sheila. Both Liz and Sheila love to play together.



Debbie Bulloch: Hi Tilda, good to see you. Surprise, surprise you are the Featured Between Homes Resident!
Matilda Little: Great!

DB: Shall we start then? When did you join SL?
ML: My Rezz Date is August 12, 2007.

DB: Hey, we have almost the same Rezz Date, what a coincidence.
ML: Small world!

DB: So tell me Tilda, why did you come to SL?
ML: Easy, SL looked better than ordinary text chat.

DB: That’s true, at least here we have avis that can talk, walk and even fly!
ML: Yep!

DB: And how did you find out about SL?
ML: Watching a program in the Discovery Channel about the Internet. See, you can learn something watching TV.

DB: I guess you can. Now that you are in SL, what are some of your favorite things to do?
ML: Build and meet friends.

During the interview I asked Tilda how she found out about Between Homes. She paused for a second, as if she could not believe my question, and with a mischievous smile she said:

“Oh Deb, I learned about BH from you. That is all you ever talked about for a while!”


DB: OK, OK, that was a silly question. I know the answer to this next question (smiles) but please tell our readers where was your home base before you joined Between Homes?
ML: Before joining Between Homes I lived at Bliss Gardens.

DB: Is that the place with the tree house and the underwater gardens?
ML: Yes. Remember we went scuba diving once?

DB: Yes, now I remember, that was an awesome place.
ML: Yep!

DB: Tilda, what do you like best about Between Homes?
ML: It is a nice place to meet good people; the quiet areas are nice. I don’t like people running around making a big racket.

DB: What special skills do you have in SL?
ML: well, besides building, which you already mentioned, I am friendly and social.
(Editor’s Note: If you lose an object at BH, big or small, ask Tilda to help you find it. Tilda has the uncanny ability to find lost or hidden items. She helped me find a boat I had left buried under my house!)

DB: Yes you are Tilda! Tell me, what do you like best about SL?
ML: The cartoon avatars

DB: Well, we are almost at the end of our time, do you have a special message for people thinking about joining Between Homes?
ML: Yes, I do.

DB: Well, what is it?
ML: (Smiling) Peace, sisters and brothers .... :-)

DB: Ha! Ha! Ha! That is so 1960’s, but it is always good advice. Do you have any suggestions on how we can make Between Homes a better place for all residents?
ML: I don’t get enough space in the article!

Tilda is one of BH’s goodwill ambassadors. You will find her at BH welcoming newcomers or helping residents get settled in.

Tilda, we are all glad that you are part of Between Homes.

Featured Between Homes Resident - Rachel Brimm

By Debbie Bulloch



We are beginning a new series of articles featuring different Between Homes residents. Today’s featured Between Homes’ resident is Rachel Brimm. Rachel is a talented decorator, a great conversationalist, and a talented poetry writer (check out her SL profile for a sample of her poetry). Rache is also one of BH’s goodwill ambassadors; she spends a great deal of her time greeting newcomers and taking them in tours of Between Homes.

We caught up with Rachel while she was decorating her apartment (something that Rachel loves to do and apparently does very well).



Debbie Bulloch: Hi Rachel, how are you doing today?
Rachel Brimm: I am doing great.

DB: Would you mind answering a few questions for the Between Homes blog?
RB: No, not at all, it would be a pleasure!

DB: Great, well let’s dive right in, shall we. When did you join SL?
RB: I joined April 19, 2008. :)

DB: Rachel, why did you join SL?
RB: Well, one night I was really bored and there was nothing new to see on the net, so I looked up Second Life, because I had recently heard about it :) And the rest is, as they say, history!

DB: So, where did you hear about SL (SL Marketing Dept., please pay attention)?
RB: I heard about Second Life from a few different places. First I heard of it was through one of the TV policy dramas, CSI or Law and Order SVU. I think both actually, and the concept really intrigued me. Then my Speech/ Communications teacher told our class about it.

DB: I too saw the CSI-NY episode on SL and I thought it was really well done. I missed the follow-up episode, DOA-For One day I think is the title of the episode. Those two shows are my faves too!

RB: Yes, they are pretty good shows.

DB: What are some of your favorite things to do in SL?
RB: I love dancing in SL. It’s so much fun. I also love decorating, and shopping... and building... and talking... LOL…I think I just love SL, but those are my favorite things to do :)

DB: I love shopping too, and talking LOL Rachel, tell our readers how you found out about Between Homes?
RB: I found out about Between Homes from Deneby Strauss, an Officer here, and a very dear friend of mine :) (Editor’s Note: Deneby is not only an officer. BH was born during long talks, between Deneby and me, about the need for just such a place in SL.)



DB: Rachel, before coming to Between Homes, did you have a “home base” in SL?
RB: Yep, I had a few home bases before coming to Between Homes.

DB: What did you use as a home base before joining Between Homes?
RB: Before joining Between Homes, I lived with my Master, and we had a home together, a loft that I could decorate just as I wanted :) I even had a garden on the roof! LOL It was really pretty.

DB: I have seen your decorating Rachel, I am sure that your former home was beautiful. What do you like best about Between Homes?
RB: I love the community at Between Homes, everybody is friendly, and willing to help one another... it’s very uplifting.

DB: Besides decorating, do you have any other special skills in SL?
RB: In SL I can dance! LOL I am also a new builder, so I am getting better at low prim building :) It’s a lot of fun... I'm also really good at shopping, and decorating...

DB: What do you like best about SL?
RB: Everything :) I'm addicted... Seriously, LOL :)

DB: I think we are all a little (or a lot) addicted. Do you have a favorite place to visit at SL? A favorite sim? A favorite store?
RB: I have many favorite stores, nyte'n'day, pixeldolls, moonshine, made in SL, sine wave island, animazoo.... I could just go on. LOL My two favorite sims are Bluenose and Hennepin, my two favorite places are Haven and Between Homes :)

DB: I like your list of faves, sounds a lot like mine. Now for the biggie: Do you have a special message for people thinking about joining Between Homes?
RB: Join us! Have fun with us!



I second that motion Rachel! Well, thank you for your time Rachel. I am glad that you are having such a blast at BH. This is exactly the reason why BH was created, a place to visit, stay and have a good time.

Well, that is for now. Please come and visit us at BH. Enjoy the dance floor, take a dive into the pond. Play with the dogs or the fishes.

If you run into a pretty, friendly girl named Rachel Brimm, stop for a moment and say hello to her.

Life at Between Homes is good!

By:

Debbie Bulloch



Life at Between Homes is good and getting better! In the few months since the genesis of BH we have grown by leaps and bounds. What began as a tiny, 1024 sqm space with six small apartments and a small recreation area has now expanded to over 10,350 sqm. of land, spread over one main area and four annexes. That is a 10x growth factor in just a few, short months. The dedicated and hard working members of the Board of Directors have made this incredible growth possible. Gracias a todos!

The original apartment building has been replaced by a beautiful apartment complex with 15 roomy, airy apartments. Each apartment has a roomy living room, a terrace and a bedroom. There are large windows all around for a great view of the entire grounds. The apartments are available either furnished or unfurnished. Best of all, they are Gratis!



The grounds themselves have been beautifully landscaped by Yucca Gemini. There are lush trees, plants and flowers. There are two main picnic areas for residents to choose from. One area has logs arranged in a circle around a cozy, warm fire. Residents can sit on the logs and enjoy a nice, warm chat. The other picnic area has cozy blankets to just lay down on and perhaps read a good book.

To the North there is a large pond fed by a waterfall. Residents can sun themselves on the pond's shores or they can go out on the water and float on the inner tube and air mattress. Either way, it is a relaxing experience. We may eventually stock the pond with pretty, colored fish. And if it gets cold enough and the pond freezes, we can even go ice skating!



On the West end of the main grounds, there is a dance floor, complete with dance pose balls. For those who prefer to sit down and chat (or simply rest after a long tango dance) there are couches to sit down, chat and cuddle with your SL honey! If you are thirsty, we have a fully stocked bar offering all kinds of refreshing beverages. We will soon install a Replicator dispenser, to dispense snacks, drinks and assorted other free goodies.



Walk over to the East end of the main grounds and you will receive a big surprise (or a big shock, depending on your frame of mind). At the East end there is a Halloween Carousel complete with spooky floating pumpkins. Sit inside one of the large pumpkins and carve yourself one spooky ride!!!



Three of the BH'S four Annexes are landscaped with orange trees (I am from California and I love orange trees) and have blankets for laying down and relaxing. The fourth Annex has a Japanese house designed and built by Yucca Gemini. BH Director Deneby Strauss lives in that house.

Between Homes is your place to come, relax and have a good time. This is your home, you can all make it as nice as you want it to be. BH’s Officers Gloeing Ember, Yucca Gemini, Deneby Strauss and ARCABULLE Odriscoll have worked long and hard to make BH what it is today. All of you can help to make it an even better place.

Enjoy it, be safe and have a wonderful time.

Welcome to the official Between Homes Blog

By Debbie Bulloch



Hello, my name is Debbie Bulloch. Some of you may know me from my posts at the ABC Homes sales blog. ( http://abchomesales.blogspot.com/ ). I am also one of the founders of Between Homes. I wish to welcome all of you to the first installment of the Between Homes blog. Between Homes (BH) was originally conceived as a "shelter" for avis without a home of their own. Eventually, BH grew to become a place for avis to stay, meet other avis and learn more about SL.

SL is a wonderful place to meet people, exchange ideas, explore new worlds or, simply, hang-out and unwind. At BH, we want to provide new avis with a place to meet experienced in-world residents and learn more about what SL has to offer. To that end, we provide a place for avis to meet, hang out and just "chill.". At BH we also provide apartments for avis without a permanent SL home. The apartments are already furnished and decorated (though we encourage residents to add their own personal touch to their apartment). Best of all, the apartments are free. At BH we do not have hard and fast lenght-of-stay rules. But because our resources ar elimited and we wish to help as many avis as possible, we ask residents to eventually make their own living arrangements to make room for new residents.

The other rules are simple: 1. be respectful of other residents (this includes no public nudity or open "intimate" moments - this will result in immediate and permanent ban); 2. be helpful to others you meet at BH and elsewhere in SL; 3. do not over-prim (prims are the biggest limiting factor in SL); 4. no Master - slave, or Dom - sub RP on the premises; and 5. have FUN!!!

Please stay tuned for more information.

Thank you.