123123 the last day

What is so special about this date 12/31/23? Other than it only happens every 100 years, it doesn't mean anything. Of course, many numerologists may argue otherwise. 

Here are some differences from 100 years ago:

1. Second Life did not exist in 1023 nor did we

2. There was no internet

In a way, we are so much luckier in 2023, even if the year was hard for most of us. I know the new year will bring new exciting adventures for all of us. So, get ready for 2024 and mark the date 123123 as a date you experienced :)

What is coming in 2024?

The Basement Club will celebrate 8 years of being here. That is a big deal if you think about it because many clubs in Second Life will kind of vanish. So we will celebrate this in April with a special set I built. I am not sure yet what the theme will be but I know it will be fun and since I am OCD I look for all the details to be precise.

The Basement Club is just a small little Club that caters to those who like the eclectic sounds of Indie and Alternative. We strive to be unique and different.

We wish all of you who have ever come to the Basement Club a very Happy New Year and if you have never been here why not try it out.

I will also add some new drawings and paintings in the Retreat Gallery and I would love to feature an artist here as well. If you have any art you have created then contact me and you can display some art here.

 

In BetweenThe Years

Many German offices shut down on Heiligabend (Christmas Eve) and don't open again until after Neujahr (New Year's Day). That means everything must be done on December 23rd! Since they won't be back to work until the new year has begun, they have finished one year of business and are truly "between the years" when they go home on December 23rd! In German it is called "Zwischen den Jahren" and most people do not work during this time, at least not in offices, schools, and so on. Germans sure do know how to take a break, that's for sure.

Friends gather here at the Basement Club. 2024 will be 8 years. Time flies and memories remain.

That is of course the perfect time to log into Second Life meet up with friends and chat about the past year and the plans for the new year. Relax and reflect and do not worry about the upcoming year. 
With all these nasty superstitions, you may want a lucky charm to ward off any potentially unpleasant stuff. Germans consider the following items as bringers of good fortune:
1. Chimney sweeps (Schornsteinfeger) – You may have to settle for a miniature likeness, sold with clover pots around New Year’s in Germany.
2. Ladybugs (Am.), ladybirds (Br.) (Marienkäfer) – Not only are these insects good at devouring aphids, but they are also considered lucky – perhaps because they are so helpful and beautiful.
3. A lucky pig (Glücksschwein) – It doesn’t have to be a real live pig. A wood or plastic piggy charm will do just fine. Pigs were once a symbol of wealth and prosperity. If you had pigs, you were doing well. (get some pigs in Second Life for luck)

One of my very good friends Draki (what a deer) came to visit me.

4. Four-leaf clover (Glücksklee) – Many cultures consider clover, particularly the four-leaf variety, to be lucky – Germans included.

5. Penny coin (Eurocent) – Symbolic of money, but not too expensive. Back in the days of the Deutsche Mark, it was a Pfennig. Even further back: “Wer den Pfennig nicht ehrt, ist des Talers nicht wert.”

I hope you will come and make some memories with all of us here at the Retreat and the Basement Club, especially in between the years. We have a feeling you like it and will stay for the rest of the year. The Retreat is open all year round for all residents to enjoy and hang out at.

You can also read up on some old superstitions that I wrote about a few years back. They still exist. 

Guten Rutsch! (Have a happy, prosperous New Year!)

CRMC

Looking for that perfect gift for your loved one? But you are short of linden dollars? I found the perfect place where you can get a quality out-of-this-world gift and maybe pick up one for yourself as well.

Cosmopolitan Regal Motor Company is owned by Devon Reggiane and offers a vast range of inexpensive, high-quality, modern SL cars that ANYONE can afford.

Flying over the Retreat

I love these cars because they also can be used for flying and they can be changed into many colors. The main part is that they are so cheap. How does he do it? Now cheap does not mean they lack quality, not at all. I own several cars from different makers but CRMC is really the best for the price.

Make sure you join the group because you can win some free cars. Just me being there for 15 minutes I got three of them free. It is that easy. You can also win gift cards and get the daily sale of a car for cheaper than your shoes.

I think this is good news when the creators of Second Life also give regular people a break. I know it takes time to create something and you want to get paid for that time. I totally get it, but I also LOVE it when I get things for free or almost free and it isn't junk.

Thank you Devon Reggiane and CRMC for having such wonderful cars.

The Holidays means music from around the world

It was always a tradition in my home to include music as I grew up in Germany. December was such a cold and dark month and having music around made it much warmer.

Here in Second Life, you can find that music all over because there are so many sims you can visit and enjoy music for the holidays.

So many clubs and places have special music playing during the holidays. It is hard to pick a favorite because they are all unique and special in their own way.

I enjoy sitting around the fireside with people that I have met from all over the world. It is music to my ears. This is where you can share how you celebrate; even if you don't, it is all so special.

Here at the Retreat I also enjoy the music, the DJs are all playing their favorite music and not all are holiday tunes. Of course, it is always nice to hear holiday music from around the world. What is your favorite song for the holidays?

One of mine is "Kommet,ihr Hirten" from 1870 but a 1912 English version of the song by Mari Ruef Hofer is known as “Come, All Ye Shepherds.”

Mixed up Traditions

I always have to chuckle when I think about that pickle in the Christmas Tree story. In Germany, we never placed a pickle ornament on the tree, and it may be the German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Dutch) who invented this to create their own tradition. Whatever it is we did not have a pickle.

I finally won the beauty of a gacha. The ultra-rare tree from Bee Cauldron

The Christmas Tree was introduced in the United States by German settlers in the 1800s. It rapidly grew from tabletop size to floor-to-ceiling. There are some stories of the Christmas Tree starting in Alsace, France but that territory was Germany in those days, so that makes the tree German :)

You can find so many beautiful trees in Second Life, absolutely amazing.

Are you ready with your shopping?

The tradition of gifts is believed to have started way before Christmas, but one reason may be because the three Kings (Holy Wise Men) came to give gifts in honor of the birth.

St. Nikolaus would also bring goodies to those who were on a so-called nice list which later we incorporated into Santa Claus. Different countries have different ways of how and by whom those gifts are delivered. Of course, now that gift-giving is so big you will find sales for the holidays everywhere, even in Second Life. It is big business.

Looking for some free gifts? 

You can find an Advents calendar in the Basement Club and it will give out a free gift for every day in December until the 24th :)

You will also find live DJs M- F starting at 6PM playing some fantastic music from a variety of genres.

Advent Calendars have all of a sudden become a "hot" thing, at least in real life. It is all about the commercial money-making thing.

Everybody stops to spy the Christmas star up in the sky
The Christmas carols now begin
With everybody joining in
And all the doors are opened wide to welcome in the Christmastide!

Let's make a new tradition about love and peace no matter what you believe in.

Deutscher Treffpunkt MITROPA Gaststaette

Sometimes on the mainland, you see some interesting spots and creations. This one is next to the Retreat, so I had to go over and check it out.

The creator of this place is Lorelai Lefevre.

The parcel reads: "A little reminiscence to the long-gone German Democratic Republic. GTFO Hub with German Meeting Point, Deutscher Treffpunkt MITROPA Gaststaette. Nonpolitical attitude. Route 12 North Nautilus. Pilots use small planes like D-TREL or  STOL. Approach 18 @78m."

I had to do a little research because second life makes me want to get smarter. I found out that Mitropa was a catering company best known for having managed sleeping and dining cars on different German railways for most of the 20th century. Founded in 1916, the name "Mitropa" is an abbreviation of Mitteleuropa (German for Central Europe). The railway carriages displayed a distinct burgundy-red livery with the Mitropa logo.

The Mitropa here in this second life parcel has the Mitropa as a meeting stop for little planes.

In the picture to the right, you can see the Retreat in the distance all covered in snow.

I have to travel around my neighborhood a little more. You never know what you find on the mainland.

Perhaps you want to check it out and if you have any information you can add please do so in the comments. I am curious. I grew up in "West" Germany and I never heard of Mitropa and my father worked for the railroad. Stuff you learn here. 

DDR GDR Deutschland Ost Treffpunkt GTFO!Hub & Wandlitz Airstrip

feel free to ask Lorelai Lefevre, the creator. 

Read the comments :)

Once upon a December

...and I leave it to December to teach me that new beginnings don't really require new calendars. Just new thoughts that these Winter months will grow big and tall enough to let the sadness know it has no place in the days ahead.

The month of December is a hard one for me. One year ago my sister left this place and on Christmas Day my mother left. My daughter left yesterday to begin her new life away from here, but this month also brings great joy. We scattered our thoughts like snowflakes into December, now lost until the snow melts.

I have lots to be thankful for because it has also been one more year that I was able to survive. As you may recall last year I was in the hospital in real life and let's see almost was deleted. I am so thankful to be here. Second Life helps me in many ways to make the Retreat look festive, to host different events, and hopefully to bring some laughter and joy to people.

We can't always look at all the dreary events that happen around us, because there are so many more cheerful things that happen unnoticed (or we take for granted). December should be the month when we reflect on the year's events. Oh, by the way, that story about Germans and the pickle in the tree is made up. In Germany, we NEVER put a pickle in the tree.

However you celebrate in this month remember to make that phone call or send a card to those who are lonely and have nobody to share the joy of the holidays with. Trust me there are many out there in Second Life and in Real Life. Some people do not have Second Life, we are the lucky ones.

Come and visit the Retreat, pose with the holiday car and take pictures, skate on the ice skating rink, and get some free gifts in The Basement Club from the Advent Calendar.

Adagio Gardens Karaoke !!!

 Are you looking for a place to sing your little heart out? Adagio Karaoke community focuses on friendly, no-stress singing and socializing. Besides the karaoke, you find gentle waves and soft breezes with idyllic places to lounge or photograph. If you tire of the seas, there are many other locations nearby. Use the region's teleport system. Old Town, Winterland, Ice Skate, Snow, Christmas, romance, horse, mermaid, rentals.

This is a lovely place and all singers are applauded and encouraged no matter what their skills are. I have heard some amazing talented people here as they sing live or almost live. Grab an info sheet and it will explain it all when you get there.

Here are some times:

Almost Live Karaoke takes place weekly and currently has three show times
Saturdays are "Hybrid Karaoke, a mix of Live singers, and "Almost Live":

5:00pm SLT Mondays your Hostess is Maddy Magic 
Alternating Wednesdays
5:00pm SLT Wednesdays. Your hostess is Eva 
5:00pm SLT your Host is Malcolm Magic 
3:00pm SLT Saturdays your Host is A.S. Melodious 
The karaoke streams live through the region's sound, so be sure to have your world music on!

Devon Reggiane is one of the talented singers there, he is amazing and you really need to check him out.

The Adagio Gardens region has an M rating, however, our show is G-rated. Please dress appropriately. As Second Life itself says, don't wear anything you wouldn't wear to visit your dear Grandmother and Grandfather.

You better watch out you better don't cry...it is almost Krampustime

 

The Retreat is now open with lots of snow and an ice skating rink. Never know what you might find hidden.

If you think of the holidays which are right around the corner you most likely think of cheerful Santa and presents, the decorated tree, and picture-perfect snow scenes, right? However, all these happy activities which mostly originate from Europe also have some darker traditions not well known in the USA or Canada.

From afar, from the forest I come here;
I must tell you, it truly is Christmastide!
Now tell me, what will I find herein—
a good child, or a wicked child?

There is one character who is called Krampus (in the alpine regions of Europe) or Knecht Ruprecht. The story of Knecht Ruprecht stretches back to the late Middle Ages. The legend is part of a centuries-old Christmas tradition in Germany, where Christmas celebrations start early in December.

Knecht Ruprecht is usually seen as a half-demon, half-goat-looking figure bearing devilish horns and a monstrous tongue, but he can also be spotted as a sinister man with a black beard bearing a black furry robe, a chain, and bells along with a bundle of birch sticks to punish the naughty children. 

According to German tradition, he appears in homes on St. Nicholas Day to ask parents about their children's behaviors. Depending on the response, he would give switches for use on the bad children, before dragging them into the woods. You know the song Santa is coming to town and you better be good and you better not shout, that is because Santa does not come alone at least not in Germany. 

I will have my special Krampus drawing here in Second Life.

It will be at the ice skating rink after Thanksgiving. There is also an Advent Calendar in the Basement Club for a daily gift starting December 1.

Timeless Season

Let Winter begin!!! Are you ready? Step boldly into a realm of enchantment and epic adventure, where time itself holds its breath. Behold the grandeur of Timeless Seasons, where your journey begins.

Bundle up and be prepared to play in this Winter Wonderland full of charm. Suzie Anderton is also hosting a Photo Contest, so hurry up and take lots of pictures and submit your masterpieces for a chance to win some big prizes.

I had an amazing time just skating on the crystal lake that glistens in the light. The people here are very friendly and welcoming and the atmosphere is very calm and peaceful. I think anybody who comes here will feel the magic of Winter here. Take some time out of your busy holiday schedule and take a visit to Timeless Season. you will not regret it. :)

It reminds me of an old German song by the poet Eduard Ebel written in 1895

Leise rieselt der Schnee,
Still und starr ruht* der See.
Weihnachtlich glänzet der Wald:
Freue Dich, Christkind kommt bald!

Softly falls the snow,
Quiet and frozen rests the lake.
Christmas-like sparkles the forest:
Rejoice! The Christ Child will soon be here.

Le Monde Perdu

Le Monde Perdu is a beautiful, romantic Island far away from everything. A place where you can find inner peace, enjoy and relax. Landscaped by LuaneMeo and Gorba McMahon.

This is another one of those places where you can relax and appreciate the beauty around you. Le Monde Perdu means Lost World in English and when you get here you can easily feel like you are lost and transported to another world. In this case, the lost world is a paradise and nothing to fear. 

Each day you live and breathe
Be thankful for that time and seize
The moment in your thoughts and mind.
Good things come for those who are kind.

When you are young and new
You never think of time, not you.
But as the years pass by
Time is important and now it does fly.

A perfect place to still experience the warmth of the sun and listen to the birds sing their songs. Explore the gardens for some giant mushrooms that grow wild here. 

I feel it is a very poetic place here full of imagination. 

Please take some time out of your busy real life and second life and get lost in this world of fantasy and beauty. You will not regret it :)

Are you still waiting for that mate?

And think at your age it's late?

Don't worry about a thing, oh no

Good things come to those who wait, you know.

Nordic tundra Heimen

Looking for a quiet place? Natthimmel, a creative open space photogenic spot kindly invites for a visit to Heimen, a place loosely inspired by Nordic tundra landscapes. Make sure to wear a warm sweater! 

I wish I had brought that sweater because the winds here are very chilly. It was not that bad, because I survived it and it is also good to have some furry friends close by. This is most definitely a very nice place to take pictures.

(The word “tundra” derives from the Finnish word tunturia, meaning barren or treeless hill.) Instead, the tundra has patchy, low-to-ground vegetation consisting of small shrubs, grasses, mosses, sedges, and lichens, all of which are better adapted to withstand tundra conditions.

I did not see any creatures here, but I am sure they were lurking around behind rocks and boulders. A tundra is a barren land but it is beautiful and calm other than the wind singing its song. The air smells like the ocean and you feel the Arctic cold come over you. It is breathtaking to be here. 

11/11 Portal

The number 11 is referred to as a master number and a potent manifestation number. That's November 2023's energy. It's interesting to note that the number 11 comes up when adding the day, date, and year of 11:11:2023. This month is very powerful for manifesting. 

Whether you believe it or not, numbers can have powerful meanings. Today is just one of those days you may want to try to wish for the things you want in your life. What do you have to lose? Other than negative energy. What I love about Second Life and the Retreat is that I can turn anything negative to make me feel great in Real Life by just creating what I dream of. We all can do this.

A year ago, I almost died from a pulmonary embolism. I survived the operation and had another chance to live and create. That alone is a miracle.  
This year's 11/11 portal is extra special thanks to numerology. Adding up the date 11/11/2023: 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 0 + 2 + 3 = 11 results in what's known as a triple 11 day. This is a rare and powerful energy portal that is shifting your reality, creating space for new opportunities. You're entering one of the most influential periods of your life. What you say and visualize over the next few days will set the tone for the rest of your year. The energy of the 11/11 portal will help you become more self-aware and connected to your inner being, enabling you to tap into your spiritual potential.

Don't hold back. You can make your dreams come true, just believe. The creators of Second Life believed that this virtual world would be the place where people come and learn, work, meet and so much more. Here we are 20 years later and their dream did come true. So can yours. Every day is a day that you can create whatever you desire.

Peace my friends!!!

St Martin’s Day

Now that Halloween is over and Fall is in full swing, it is time to prepare for St. Martin's Day or Martinmas. According to folklore, if the weather is warm on St Martin’s Day, then a harsh winter will follow; conversely, if the weather at Martinmas is icy, then by Christmas it will be much warmer.

But what is Martinmas? Saint Martin's Day or Martinmas, sometimes historically called Old Halloween or Old Hallowmas Eve, is the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours and is celebrated in the liturgical year on 11 November. In Germany we celebrate this with lanterns and a feast of goose, breads. It is a day to reflect on kindness. I remember that in school we often made lanterns and then walked around with them on the playground. In November the morning are still dark and everything looked so pretty with the illuminated lanterns.

‘If ducks do slide at Martinmas

At Christmas they will swim;

If ducks do swim at Martinmas

At Christmas they will slide’

‘Ice before Martinmas,

Enough to bear a duck.

The rest of winter,

Is sure to be but muck!’

We also sang lantern songs and as children walking the streets at night, sometimes we would ring doorbells and sang those songs in exchange for some sweets. Sound familiar? Kinda like Trick o Treat. Legend has it that, while in hiding, St. Martin was betrayed by geese squawking. He had hidden in a stall in order to avoid being appointed Bishop of Tours, and in revenge for the betrayal St. Martin ate a goose. Children nowadays play the game duck, duck, goose...!

November 11 is also the official start of Karneval, Fasching and Fastnacht. These holidays all begin eleven minutes past eleven o’clock on the eleventh day of the eleventh month! It is at this time that carnival clubs and neighborhood groups start their preparations for the carnival season. This fun season then culminates with huge Fasching (Mardi Gras) parades in February.

Middle of Nowhere

Here I was in the middle of nowhere enjoying some quiet place after the long Halloween season. 

"The Middle of Nowhere is a quiet expansive rustic prairie with peaceful music, horses, sunsets, and fresh air. Roleplay is welcome. Take a breath and feel at home."

This is a beautiful place and exactly as it is decribed. Here you never know who you might meet in those fields. I saw some naked man strolling around strutting his stuff like the horses around him. No, I did not take a picture of him, well actually I did.

The poor bloke wanted to impress this maiden,
 or maybe they were role-playing I do not know.
I just was not prepared to see this, so I airbrushed it away.

After all I came here to take pictures and that was my mission. I recently send some of my Second Life Postcards and real life art postcards to a RL person and I never got any remarks if they were good or bad. For weeks now I felt I do not have any talent and my PTSD skyrocketed. So I decided to start taking pictures again and do some new art and I landed here in the middle of nowhere in Second Life. 

As a wannabe artist you kind of need that feedback that you are good enough. So I thought. I do not need it and I can tell myself I am good enough. Anyway as I was scanning around I saw "him". No, not that naked guy, someone else. At least I think it was a him, nowadays you just do not know.

I just gathered all my courage and stood next to him and snapped away with pictures, one after the other. I was not going to be rude so I told him I wanted to thank him for letting me stand next to him and that I was taking pictures. Of course I also explored his profile and found out he is the owner of [KROVA], a very innovative store. I saw some super cool stuff, that you have to check out. The store and creations are by IRON FIST SOUND DOLPHIN (arken.soothsayer). You can also check out his twitter if you like and see some of the cool stuff.

You just never know what you find by traveling around different Sims. Do travel to the middle of nowhere and take lots of pictures, it is a serene place and who knows who you might run into.

I know he was smiling. I saw it from behind!!!