Halloween Haunts In Winterfell & Steelhead

Halloween is easily my favorite holiday of the year. First, I popped through Port Novem in Winterfell...
Where I had a wee bit of poison...After stopping through Miss Underwood's well-attended encore reading for the Scary Stories Festival, I joined Miss Riven Homewood and a group of neighbors and visitors for the Steelhead Scary Homes Tour. Hanging noobs, sacrificial altars, HUGE spiders, fire everywhere...Miss Qinan and Mr Pinion really outdid themselves with their Mansion of Doom...
We visited Boomtown to see Mrs. Peterman's tower and Miss Underwood's home and cemetery. There was a surprise for us in one of the crypts...Over at Laval Point the group determined that there there had been quite a bit of blood shed and wondered where was Sheriff Fuzz? Of course, some wondered why I didn't share the rabbit stew... Tomorrow's costume dance will also announce the winner of the Steelhead's Spookiest Home. Be there...if you dare!

Realm of the Roses Ablaze in Protest

In protest of the recent openspace sim policy, Her Grace CoyoteAngel Dimsum, Duchess Primverness set her sims ablaze. What started as a zeppelin fire in Primverness...Spread to Lovelace...And every vehicle and structure that could be ablaze was in Lovelace Liberty...
Most of the Eastern sims of Caledon were on fire, as Gabi, Duchess Carntaigh joined in as well...

Scary Stories and Sunset Sailing

Steelhead concluded its Scary Stories Festival tonight with readings of tales of creepiness and things that go bump in the night by Col. O'Toole...And Miss Elegia Underwood, who was in character with her "zuvembie" look...Afterwards, I finally unmoored my yawl, the "Serendipity", and took Phin (brave soul) for a sail around the Firth...

Spookiness at Laval Point

As I arrived at Laval Point, I realized that the skies were dark and lightning abounded. I looked around aghast...bloodstains everywhere, dead roses, the light turned to red, a fountain whose water was now blood. I looked over to the log home and there was a tiny chalk outline. A ghost silently glided through the fog. I looked across the way to the Pinion-Qinan home and it was lit afire and someone was hanged in the doorway. Steelhead is having rather spooky occurrences...come visit and see for yourself...

An Evening of Meetings

I seemed to spend my evening inworld going from meeting to the next. The first was with Caledon's head librarian, Sir JJ Drinkwater, who asked me to be involved in developing an exhibit about the inspirations behind my work with an auxiliary exhibit about the work of the great couturier Charles F. Worth. It will be opening (hopefully) just before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday and promises to be interesting...
Afterwards, I headed over to Steelhead, where--due to extreme lag tonight--the meeting was moved from Town Hall to outdoors in Boomtown, which was a rather interesting change of scenery. We were filled in on the last of the Scary Story events (tomorrow at 7, come hear!), progress on Port Harbor and the LL void sim issue. As Steelhead has no void sims, it will not be directly affected......something that was in direct contrast to the second town meeting the Guvnah held that I attended in Caledon. One again, concerned citizens had flocked to hear the news. The Guvnah was open, as always, about the nature of things and is trying his best to think of solutions in the face of this announcement. I believe it is a lot is wait and see. Yes, Caledon--like so many other themed communities--will be certainly affected, but it will not be the end of the community itself. Thanks for talking to your citizens and keeping us informed.

Oh Le Sigh LiLa, What Have You Done?

I attended an emergency town meeting in Caledon Oxbridge tonight, led by the Guvnah. He was not the only themed community leader in attendance however, as Mr NeoBokrug Elytis of the Wastelands was present, as well as many other concerned community leaders such as Miss Serra Anansi of Winterfell and other major estate managers, including those of the Realm of the Roses (Brythony, Wyre, Lovelace). The issue? Linden Labs has changed their pricing for openspace void sim regions, effective January 1, citing "overload" issues. Why is this a problem? We are talking about a 66% increase in the monthly fee for owners.

"Well, I'm not an openspace or void sim owner, why should I care?" you may ask. Let us think about it, shall we? Caledon, for example, consists of 20 void sims (the Duchies) and 23 full sims. The Guvnah would not be able to continue to charge his current price but for so much longer before having to soon pass the costs onto the void sim owners. If the owners are unable or unwilling to pay more, and someone else does not assume it, then the cost will pass back to the Guvnah. The very nature of the community that you enjoy could be changed dramatically. It is not just Caledon that would be affected...we are talking about Antiquity, New Babbage (Doctor Obolensky's lair is a void), the Wastelands and more. For smaller openspace sim owners, this increase could be even more devastating. Across the grid, there could be losses and perhaps a backfiring blow (yet again) to SL's economy.

Am I being the voice of doom? No. I personally believe that, as we have two months, reacting with knee-jerk reaction panic is not the solution. We might not like the policies foisted upon us sometimes, but we do like being inworld remember? As citizens, we can make our voices heard. If you would like to really know what else I truly think about the overall regarding this (such as my belief that openspace sims undermine LiLa's full sim sales), do peruse my other journal HERE.

Steelhead Mad Hatter's Party

Steelhead's Friday night dance brought out the mad hatters. I came in a monstrosity I could best describe as "roses gone wild" and others wore some of the most fantastical hats you might possibly see...Such as Col. O'Toole's crop circles and aliens top hat... Mr. Messenger's happy stacked pandas...
Mr Munsters tentacle-y topper... Lunar's castle and Miss Hilra's rather hilarious kitty scratching post...

Off On a Grand Adventure Together!

As Phin and I arrived in Port Caledon, I did not miss the bit of disgust that crossed the porter's face when he saw all of my travel trunks. We are going to travel the world for a while and see the sights. Given our tendencies to get into adventures together, someone had to pack the weapons and equipment! Hmm...I suppose Phin's one trunk does create quite a sense of overkill on my part...

Rivet Town Inventor's Expo

Phin and I took a quick trip to Rivet Town to see the Inventor's Expo, where I had a booth set up, along with many other inventors, designers and builders. We made our way to the boat launch to Rivet Beach...We walked around and came upon Miss Selkett Felwitch, who created a most unusual and simply elegant steampunk air vehicle. Sleek and lovely, its wings expand and contract. She will be making it available soon in her shops and I am glad as I was enchanted by it and look forward to flying it in the future.

Four Simple Words...

This past year together with Phin has been fantastic and I am honored to now be this wonderful gentleman's partner...

As Phin threw open the doors to his--our--house in Penzance and carried me into it today, he looked at me and said "Welcome home, Mrs. Messmer..." Who knows what future our life inworld together will bring? All I know is that today, I can not stop smiling...

The Purkle Duke's Party!

I was not able to attend until almost the end, but I had a lot of fun at the Purkle (Raglan's word for "purple") Duke of Argylle's 2nd RezDay celebration! He was also celebrating his second year in Caledon itself. So many other tinies! Where are all the tinies in Caledon now? Here is the Duke dancing with his Duchess and there is Duchess Dia behind them...Congrats to you sir!

A Jaunt Around Harborside

I took my roan, Red, out with my Tombola Stanhope carriage for a spin around Harborside. Things started out well enough, then this...I realized that it was an AO quirk that caused it and removed the offending item. I then called out to Red, starting off at a trot, then sped up into a canter and then full gallop. I somehow lost my hat along the way as the houses whizzed by me. I am normally a rather adept horsewoman, but I cut my turn a little close and overshot it, hitting the sim crossing into the City instead. Poor Red...

Steelhead Port Harbor: Now Booking!

The map for Steelhead's newest sim--Port Harbor--was unveiled at last night's town meeting. To be located west of Harborside, Port Harbor will be Steelhead's third region--an industrial steampunk fantasy place where tall industrial buildings, smokestacks, vessels--both marine and air, and mad scientists are not only welcome, but encouraged.Based upon Monterey, California in the 1890's, there will be a drawbridge, working railroad, docks, and a commercial pier. Think of factories, warehouses, laboratories and more. Steelhead has a reputation for fantastic architecture, so Port Harbor should be a visually interesting sim as well. Residential and commercial lots--including waterfront ones--are available, but you may wish to act fast as these could go quickly!

Do you want interesting, fun neighbors and a chance to live out your own steampunk fantasy? Contact TotalLunar Eclipse for more information...

New Releases at E.Laval: "Ada" Steampunk/Victorian Ensembles

I thought I would create some new pieces for Fall. I've always enjoyed wearing uneven hemmed dresses with little breeches underneath. Good for adventure, yet still feminine at the same time. In that spirit, I am releasing "Ada", a steampunk-y Victorian outfit named after Lady Ada Lovelace, the first "computer" programmer herself! It comes with shirt with flexi lace cuffs, cropped vest, collared jacket with sculpted cuffs, sculpted hat, pants, belt, uneven hemmed skirt, brooch, gloves and knee-high stockings. You may find these on the aethernet or at my store in Caledon Regency. The Ada Black is also available at the Dark Victorian Emporium in Caledon Tanglewood...

The Professor's Daughter

While perusing my local bookseller yesterday, I came upon a most interesting graphic novel entitled The Professor's Daughter, written by Joann Sfar and illustrated by Emmanuel Gilbert. The lovely watercolor illustrations drew me in, and I bought it right away. Upon reading it, I found the story--a funny, sweet romance between a young woman and a mummy awakened after 3000 years--as absolutely charming as the illustrations. Set in Victorian England, how could I resist the following description from the inner flap:

"Murder, adventure, mystery, kidnapping, Queen Victoria tossed in the Thames--what more could you ask for?"

It is a short read that will have you smiling at the end.

Mannheim Water Tower Build in Steelhead City

For a month, Mr TotalLunar Eclipse has been working on a gorgeous build of the 1889 Mannheim Water Tower (Wasserturm) in Mannheim, Germany for the former owners of Novem in Babbage. It will go in their new sim and I've been taking pictures throughout its progress:


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Here are Miss Hilra and Mr Eclipse looking at photos of both the real build (right) and its reproduction (on the left)...
Before it is moved to his new home, he has temporarily set it down in Steelhead City next to the Hotel & Ballroom. I flew up to the tower's top to see its statue of Poseidon's queen, Amphitrite...
I think he did a lovely job with the statuary...It really is a spectacular build. You must go see it.

Sometimes...

...even in here you just want to look at the stars...