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.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL

By Debbie Bulloch




A Thanksgivings Day gallery, from the traditional to a little twisted...































(Note: All images copyrighted by the various artists. All rights fully reserved by the copyright owners.)

HEROES - REDUX

By Debbie Bulloch



Heroes come in all shape, size, gender, age or...circumstances. I would like you to meet one of the littlest heroes around.

The story of Brenden Foster, a dying 11 year-old boy whose last wish was to help feed the homeless, has touched people all around the world. His courage, in the face of certain death, is amazing. His willingness to put the needs of others ahead of his own needs, is truly inspiring.

(NOTE: Brenden Foster died early Friday morning, November 21, 2008 in his mother's arms.)

Please read on....



LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― An 11-year-old boy's dying wish to feed the homeless is becoming a national movement. Brenden Foster isn't afraid to die. He says he just wants to make a difference, before his time comes.

"You doing O.K. baby? Tired? You sleepy?"

Groggy and medicated, Wendy Foster's little boy is having a rough day.

Doctors gave 11-year-old Brenden Foster two weeks to live. His two weeks were up days ago.

"I'm thinking I hope I'm awake when he decides to pass, because I want to make sure I'm holding him," said Wendy.

For more about Brenden Foster please follow the link below:

http://cbs11tv.com/health/Brenden.Foster.dying.2.867696.html

To Brenden Foster (one of God's latest new little angel) and all the heroes who make a difference: THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU!!!

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.

FEATURED BETWEEN HOMES RESIDENT - MYCHELLE LEFAVRE

By Debbie Bulloch




















Today’s featured Between Homes resident is Mychelle Lefavre.



Mychelle is one of BH’s newest residents. The other day, while playing with Goliath, Gandhi and Holmes (BH’s K-9 residents) I noticed how beautifully Mychelle has decorated her apartment. It never ceases to amaze me how creative BH residents can be when it comes to decorating their apartments. So I picked up my Linden Labs IM-phone and called Mychelle to interview her for an article for the BH blog.

Below is what Mychelle told me about her SL experiences and about BH. Part of the call was in Spanish because Mychelle is fully fluent in Spanish (as well as French, English and a bunch of other languages!).

Debbie Bulloch: ¡Hola Mychelle! How are you?
Mychelle Lefavre: ¡Hola Debbie! I’m good and you?

DB: I am doing well, thanks. Mychelle, I was at BH earlier today and I noticed how nicely you have decorated your apartment. I love all you have done with it; I especially love your aquarium. Would you mind answering a few questions for the BH blog?
ML: Thanks Debbie. Sure, I would love to take your questions.



DB: Cool. When did you join SL?
ML: I joined on November 10, 2007. I just celebrated my one-year SL birthday.

DB: Sweet. ¡Feliz cumpleaños! Happy birthday! Why did you come to SL?
ML: Well, I had time to kill, had nothing better to do and so….just kidding! Actually I came to SL for the same reasons that many people join in, to meet people, to learn cultures and to explore.

DB: I think that meeting other people is probably the #1 reason for joining SL. How did you hear about SL?
ML: A friend of mine talked to me about SL.

DB: Well, be sure to thank your friend for me for telling you about SL. Now that you are in SL, what are some of your favorite things to do in SL?
ML: There are lots of things to do here, but I really love exploring new places, meeting new people, learning about different cultures, practicing languages, dancing, flying, etc...

DB: I love flying too, it is so cool, but I still fly into things. Good thing I drive better than I fly.
ML: Yes, it is nice to be able to fly without a plane.

DB: Mychelle, we are glad to have you at BH, how did you find out about us?
ML: I found BH because a great friend of mine, a great person called Arcabulle talked to me about this special and warm place.
(Editor’s Note: Arcabulle Odriscoll, or ARC as we call him, is indeed a great person. Take a look at my profile “picks” to read more about ARC.)

DB: Before coming to Between Homes, did you have a “home base?”
ML: Not really. I used to come SL just to explore and enjoy some time here but not to live here like I do now ;)

DB: So what did you use for a “home” before coming to BH?
ML: Well, sometimes I put a home in a Sandbox just to stay there for some hours but nothing fixed. So my home base was the Orientation Land. I used to go there to help newbies in SL.

DB: Mychelle, we are glad that you are here with us. Tell our readers what you like best about BH?
ML: Let me see, where to start….? BH is a beautiful place where you can share thoughts and ideas with other residents. It has a lot of warm places to stay like if you would be at your real home. I met some friends here who are very kind and helpful. Since the first moment I came here I just felt happy to be part of this community.

DB: Do you have any special skills in SL?
ML: I enjoy editing clothes and objects. I don't have time to build so I use to edit all those things I like and transform them into what I like.



DB: What kinds of things do you like doing when you are in-world?
ML: Wow... a lot of things; I love to go dancing, chatting, flying, tai chi, yoga, surfing, diving... and a lot more... I even go to church here ;)

DB: A church? In SL?
ML: Yep, they have everything at SL!

DB: Do you have a favorite place to visit at SL? A favorite sim? A favorite store?
ML: I have lots of favorite places, like the planets (Shinda), Romantic Gardens, Neva Naughty, Acropolis, France Pittoresque... a lot more... I can not remember them all... and of course Between Homes (my new home in SL).

DB: Do you have any special messages to people reading this blog who may want to know more about BH?
ML: Well, I wish to give special thanks, first of all, to Arcabulle, a French angel who I met in a club, Arcabulle brought me to BH; to Rachel (Brimm) who has been very helpful and warm to me; to Elvira (Amaterasu), a great person I met in the same club as Arca; we both came together to BH with him. To Xanadu (Dominquez), she gave me access to the BH group. To the sweet Teressa (Adamski) who is always in her bike giving happiness to the community and last but not least, to you Debbie who always have kind words to me and who gave me the opportunity to express myself here.

I also want to say a special "Thank you" to a very special friend of mine, who is not part of the community yet, but who has been very patient with me during all the time I have been here in SL; this wonderful man, helped me a lot when I wanted to learn French and he is a very special part of my SL - Dim, thank you very much for everything you have done for me. I have been blessed in my RL just knowing people like him and you all here in SL.


DB: Thank you Mychelle for your kind words. Do you have a special message for people thinking about joining Between Homes? ML: Of course; my message is: Don't hesitate to be part of BH, you will be very happy to join us and to live in a place where you feel safe and warm (like in Real Life).

DB: Do you have any suggestions on how we can make Between Homes a better place for all residents?
ML: I really find this place perfect. Thanks to all of you who keep this place as wonderful as it is and thank you for letting me be part of this great community. You all are angels on Earth.

Mychelle, it is great having you here with us. You are now part of our family. And thank you ARC for bringing Mychelle to BH.

HEROES

By Debbie Bulloch



From the L.A. Times, November 16, 2008

Ruth Kamke, 84, had noticed the glow in the sky late Friday night and immediately started gathering her belongings -- clothes, cash and her husband's ashes -- and packing them into her 1973 mint-condition yellow-and-black Camaro. As she worked, the power flickered off and on. She used her cane to get around.

By 2 a.m., Kamke was ready to leave, but the electricity failed again and she couldn't open her garage door. Outside, a rain of glowing embers ignited the bushes around her mobile home.

She grabbed a hose and was spraying down her yard when three firefighters appeared and took her by both arms, leading her across the street to a lawn in front of the community clubhouse.

"As I sat there, I watched each house on my block catch fire in turn," Kamke said.

Desperate to save her car and belongings, she pleaded with firefighters, who eventually broke down the garage door and pulled the vehicle out. One police officer drove the Camaro out of the neighborhood to safety; another put Kamke in his patrol car and took her to the evacuation center. She peered out the rear window and watched the flames consume her home.

"Everything was fire," Kamke said. "I kept telling them as they were breaking down the garage door, 'You fight the fire. I'll take care of myself.' They said, 'No, we're gonna save your car, too.' "

Her eyes filled with tears as she recounted the firefighters' heroism.”What part of my life is left, they saved for me," she said.

For the past few days I have been literally glued to my television set as I watched several fires burn down large portions of Southern California. From Santa Barbara County south to Orange County wild fires fueled by brush, trees and homes, and driven by hurricane-like Santa Ana winds have consumed thousands of acres and destroyed hundreds of homes leaving a path of destruction and misery on their wake.

Anyone who has lived in Southern California for any length of time is by now familiar with the destructive power of these wind-driven wild fires. Every year, right around this time, the Santa Ana winds descend upon our area, heating up the air and creating conditions that are just ripe for wild fires. It is not just the air that heats up during the Santa Ana season; everything else just seems to get a little weird. Famed American novelist Raymond Chandler had this to say about the Santa Ana winds:

Those hot dry winds that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. Raymond Chandler, Red Wind

No amount of familiarity, however, can ever prepare one for the horrific scenes of destruction in the wake of the recent firestorm. Every photograph of a burned down building, every photograph of a blazing hillside, every photograph of a shelter full of people made homeless by the fires tells a part of the story of the devastation caused by the fires. Put all the pictures together and one begins to get the full measure of what thousands of Southern California families have endured over the past few days.

But perhaps the most striking images from the recent firestorms are the images of the individual acts of heroism displayed by the brave firefighters who do battle against these fires. These men and women think nothing about running into an area where a fire roars in order to save a home or to save a human life (or sometimes even an animal’s life). Their acts of bravery remind of the lines from The Impossible Dream, “…to be willing to march into Hell for a heavenly cause…” It will never cease to amaze me that there are people in this world who are willing to put their own lives at risk in order to save another’s life. I am personally thankful for the men and women of all the firefighting departments who have come to Southern California in our moment of need.

At Between Homes we are fortunate to have our very own firefighter hero. He is one of BH’s guardian angels. I could go on and on listing all the things that our firefighter hero has done for BH. His modesty, however, keeps me from mentioning all of his good deeds or even to mention him by name; he would just get upset with me for making such a fuss over him. I can, however, tell you that he is very near and dear to my heart. I can also tell you that I consider myself fortunate to know him.

The photos below are taken from the L.A. Times official website. Copyright fully reserved by the L.A. Times and the individual photographers.


Lone fireman battles a house fire.


The firestorms have left many people homeless.




Firemen pouring water on fire.




Fixed wing aircraft pouring fire retardant on hot spot.




Firemen battle flames.




Dangerous nighttime water dropping operations


Burned out area where more than 500 homes were lost resembles a war zone.


Vegetation destroyed by firestorms will return better and stronger!!!

Quelques mots de prose !!!

By Arcabulle Odriscoll



Bonjour à toutes les lectrices et tous les lecteurs de Between Homes et d'une façon plus large à tous les lecteurs de SL !

Je voudrais ce soir vous faire part de quelques lectures
pour vous dire que la vie est une étrange aventure

Au détour de sl des rencontres anodines
qui en deviennent parfois coquines

des rencontres ô combien exceptionnelles
qui deviennent pour toujours éternelles

des amitiés superbement sincères
mais qui restent pour le moins un mystère

d'autres rencontres parfois malheureuses
se révèlent souvent infructueuses

au-delà de tout cela
ce que je retiens ici bas

c'est une formidable expérience
qui révèle que la vie semble parfois être une science

mais au fond la vie est faite d'expériences
qui construisent au fil du temps notre propre expérience

parfois la tristesse prend le dessus
parfois la joie reprend le dessus

je perçois une certaine solitude
qui transpire dans nos attitudes

j'aimerais mettre fin à cette solitude
pour faire un monde empli de turpitudes

et bannir à jamais les incertitudes
pour faire surgir nos certitudes

voilà ces quelques mots ne signifient peut-être pas grand chose
mais traduisent une relative prose

Mes ami(e)s je vous salue bien bas
et espère vous voir très bientot dans sl

Un français un peu fou
Arcabulle