#sl mardi gras

[magicalxfawni]

Mardi Gras 2023!

Hosting the Wicked Fat Tuesday party!

[eloenmaerdrym]

Mardi Gras

Credits Scarlet Creative  Juliette Orangery ❤Scarlet Creative Juliette Path ❤LOVE – MARDI GRAS PARTY DECOR ❤LOVE – MARDI GRAS DOUBLOONS ❤LOVE – MARDI GRAS STREET TREE PACK ❤

[justcastcharters-blog]

10 Exciting Things to Do While in Galveston

Galveston, Texas, is a gem on the Gulf Coast, offering a plethora of activities that cater to all kinds of travelers. Whether you’re a history buff, beach lover, foodie, or adventure seeker, Galveston has something special for you. In this blog post, we’ll explore ten exciting things to do while in Galveston, with a special highlight on the thrilling experience of booking an all-inclusive fishing charter with Just Cast Charters. Let’s dive in! 1. Book an All-Inclusive Fishing Charter with Just Cast Charters One of the most exhilarating activities in Galveston is embarking on a fishing adventure with Just Cast Charters. This all-inclusive fishing charter offers an unforgettable experience on the Gulf of Mexico. Whether you’re an experienced angler or a novice, the professional crew at Just Cast Charters will ensure you have an amazing time. The charter provides everything you need for a successful fishing trip, including top-of-the-line equipment, bait, and expert guidance. You can expect to catch a variety of fish, such as red snapper, kingfish, and even the mighty shark. Plus, the breathtaking views of the ocean and the thrill of reeling in a big catch make this a must-do activity. 2. Visit Moody Gardens Moody Gardens is a perfect family-friendly destination. This educational and entertainment complex features three main attractions: the Aquarium Pyramid, the Rainforest Pyramid, and the Discovery Museum. You can explore the wonders of the ocean, walk through a lush rainforest, and engage with interactive science exhibits. Moody Gardens also offers a 3D theater, a paddlewheel boat, and seasonal attractions like the Festival of Lights during the holiday season. 3. Stroll Along The Strand Historic District The Strand Historic District is a charming area filled with Victorian-era buildings, unique shops, art galleries, and restaurants. It’s a great place to take a leisurely stroll, enjoy some shopping, and indulge in local cuisine. The Strand is also home to several festivals and events throughout the year, such as Mardi Gras Galveston and the Dickens on The Strand Victorian Christmas festival. 4. Relax on Galveston’s Beautiful Beaches Galveston boasts miles of beautiful sandy beaches, perfect for a day of relaxation or fun in the sun. Some popular beaches include Stewart Beach, East Beach, and Seawall Urban Park. Whether you want to swim, sunbathe, build sandcastles, or enjoy a beachside picnic, Galveston’s beaches offer a serene escape with stunning ocean views. 5. Explore the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is an iconic waterfront amusement park that offers thrilling rides, games, and delicious food. With rides like the Iron Shark Rollercoaster and the Texas Star Flyer, you’re in for an adrenaline-pumping experience. The pier also provides beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico, making it a fun and scenic spot to visit. 6. Discover the Galveston Island State Park For nature enthusiasts, Galveston Island State Park is a must-visit. This park offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, birdwatching, kayaking, and fishing. The park features both beach and bay ecosystems, providing diverse habitats for wildlife. It’s an ideal location for a peaceful retreat in nature, with scenic trails and picnic areas. 7. Visit the Historic Galveston Seaport Museum The Galveston Seaport Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the city’s maritime history. The museum is home to the Tall Ship Elissa, a beautifully restored 19th-century sailing vessel. You can tour the ship, learn about Galveston’s role in maritime trade, and explore exhibits on immigration and the port’s history. It’s an educational and immersive experience for visitors of all ages. 8. Enjoy the Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark is a fantastic destination for family fun and excitement. The waterpark features thrilling water slides, a lazy river, wave pools, and a variety of attractions for all ages. It’s the perfect place to cool off on a hot day and enjoy hours of water-based entertainment. 9. Indulge in Galveston’s Culinary Scene Galveston offers a vibrant culinary scene with a diverse array of dining options. From fresh seafood to Tex-Mex and Southern comfort food, there’s something to satisfy every palate. Don’t miss out on local favorites like gumbo, shrimp, and oysters. Some popular dining spots include Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant, The Spot, and Shrimp N Stuff. 10. Take a Sunset Dolphin Cruise with Just Cast Charters Experience the beauty of Galveston's waters with our exclusive Just Cast Charters Sunset Dolphin Cruise in Galveston. This private two-hour tour offers the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure as you sail through the tranquil waters during the most picturesque time of day. Your knowledgeable guide will lead you to the best vantage points to witness stunning sunsets while sharing fascinating stories about historical sites, local restaurants, and the vibrant wildlife that inhabits the area. Feel free to bring your own drinks and snacks aboard – including alcohol, as long as it’s not in glass containers. As you enjoy the cruise, keep an eye out for playful dolphins that often grace us with their presence, adding a magical touch to your evening. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, we recommend bringing essential items such as a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, food, drinks, a camera, and your fishing license. However, please leave behind glass containers, drugs, firearms, and bananas – yes, bananas, as they are considered bad luck on boats! Arrive at the dock 15 minutes before your scheduled trip to ensure a timely departure. Tips for the captain and crew are greatly appreciated and contribute to their dedicated service. With no extra person charge for groups of 1 to 6, the Just Cast Charters Sunset Dolphin Cruise in Galveston is an ideal way to spend a memorable evening on the water with family and friends. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out – we’re here to help! Why is Just Cast Charters the Best Choice for Your Fishing Adventure in Galveston? Tailored Experiences for All At Just Cast Charters, we pride ourselves on offering personalized fishing experiences that cater to the unique skills and interests of each guest. Whether you're an experienced angler or a novice eager to learn, our team is dedicated to making your trip both enjoyable and enriching. From the moment you step on board, our focus is on providing a memorable experience tailored to your needs. We carefully select the right equipment and employ effective teaching methods to ensure that everyone, regardless of skill level, has a fantastic time. What sets Just Cast Charters apart is our attention to detail. We go beyond the technical aspects of fishing to instill a sense of wonder and respect for the marine environment. Our experienced crew shares fascinating stories about local marine life, fishing traditions, and conservation efforts, making your journey educational and inspiring. Every trip with Just Cast Charters is more than just a fishing expedition; it's a comprehensive experience that combines fun, learning, and an appreciation for the aquatic world.

Setting Sail with Just Cast Charters

The adventure begins the moment you step aboard our vessel. Our crew greets each guest with genuine smiles and enthusiasm, setting the tone for an unforgettable day on the water. Safety is a top priority, so we start each trip with a comprehensive briefing on gear and safety procedures, ensuring everyone feels secure and comfortable. As the boat leaves the dock, you'll glide through the pristine waters of Galveston, surrounded by the beauty of the Gulf Coast. Our knowledgeable crew is always ready to assist, whether it's helping you bait your hook or sharing tips on landing the perfect catch. The excitement builds as lines are cast and the anticipation of what lies beneath the waves grows. With Just Cast Charters, the journey is just as important as the destination, and we ensure every moment on the water is filled with joy, discovery, and a sense of adventure. A Rich Marine Ecosystem Galveston's waters are a treasure trove of marine biodiversity, offering an unparalleled fishing experience. Just Cast Charters brings you into this vibrant aquatic world, where the waters are alive with a diverse range of fish species. Whether you're battling a feisty redfish, reeling in a speckled trout, catching a flounder, or encountering a shark, the excitement of fishing in Galveston is unmatched. Our charters provide more than just the thrill of fishing; they offer an educational journey into Galveston's marine environment. As you wait for that first bite, our crew shares fascinating insights about the local fish species, their habitats, and the broader ecosystem. We emphasize the importance of conservation, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for marine life. This educational aspect enriches the fishing experience, making it a comprehensive adventure that resonates with all ages. More Than Just Fishing A trip with Just Cast Charters is an immersion into the serene beauty of Galveston's natural landscapes. Our charters offer much more than the exhilaration of fishing; they are a gateway to experiencing the tranquil and picturesque environment of the Gulf Coast. As the boat glides through the water, you'll witness breathtaking sunrises or sunsets, creating a perfect backdrop for your adventure. It's not uncommon to see dolphins playfully trailing the boat, adding a magical touch to your experience. The experience with Just Cast Charters transcends fishing. It's about embracing the peacefulness of the sea, feeling the gentle ocean breeze, and connecting with nature in its most pristine form. Whether you're an avid angler or someone who simply loves the sea, our charters offer a unique experience that caters to all preferences, ensuring that every guest leaves with serene memories. Galveston: Fun for All Ages Galveston is a destination that offers a wide range of activities for visitors of all interests. From exploring historic sites and enjoying thrilling amusement parks to relaxing on beautiful beaches and experiencing the excitement of a fishing charter with Just Cast Charters, there’s no shortage of things to do. So, pack your bags and get ready to create unforgettable memories in this charming Gulf Coast city. Book your all-inclusive fishing charter with Just Cast Charters today and make the most of your Galveston adventure! Read the full article

[bayoubluebirb]

Read This Before Buying A Bird!

There are some things to be considered before going to a pet store and buying that cute little conure or cockatiel in a cage, adopting a bird from a shelter, or homing a bird from a small independent breeder. Addressed questions: How much money are you willing to spend? Are you okay with the possibility of having a furniture-destructive animal in the house? How much space do you have? What is the climate and your neighborhood like? How long are you away from home per day? How much time can you commit?

How much money are you willing to spend on your pet per month?

- I probably spend about $50-$100 on my bird a month on average. On big trips to pick up perches, trees, or cages, it’s more along $200-$800.

- Birds are not cheap. They can range in price, but typically a healthy hand-reared budgie will cost anything from $50 to $100. My Peach Faced Lovebird was $140. I have a male Solomon Eclectus that was almost $2000. African Greys, Congo and Timneh, range $2500-$3500. Macaws range $2500-$23,000, etc.

- Cages are expensive! A good quality cage that is not full of harmful metals or paints, will cost between $200 and $5000. My SL Eclectus’ cage is pure acrylic and was almost $800. He will be getting a larger cage and that is $1500.

- Birds do need annual vet check ups, and they require exotic veterinarians specialized specifically in Birds. Because they need a special doctor, it also costs more. Co-pays are usually around $150-$400, and procedures and medications can be off the roof expensive.

- If you cannot afford to feed yourself, provide yourself with necessities and a couple wants, and are living comfortably, a bird is not the pet for you.

Are you okay with them possibly destroying a few beloved things in your home?

- Birds are often described as animals that take and don’t give back. They are natural foragers, and need stimulation to keep them entertained. Your parrot may chew at your door frames, your door itself, couch cushions, Leather materials, kitchen supplies, etc.

- Birds have extremely sensitive respiratory tracts, so if you aren’t willing to give up that lovely PFAS chemical we Environmentalists like to call The Devil We Know, AKA Teflon, then a bird is not for you.

- If you aren’t willing to trade in bleach, vinegar, non-stick, cleaning sprays and window cleaners, for something organic, trusted and approved by your avian vet, then a bird is not for you. It is much more expensive, but it would not only keep your bird safe, but also you safe!

How much space do you have in your home?

-Even if your bird’s wings are clipped, you need enough space for your bird to spread its wings and maneuver about.

-Birds talk a lot, so if you appreciate your quiet time, don’t get a bird if you live in close-quarters.

-Talk to your neighbors first before you buy a parrot if you live in an apartment or townhome. Yes. The birds will scream. Yes, your neighbors will hear it.

-If you want more than one bird, even if they’re the same specie, never house them in the same cage, even if it’s giant! Birds are NON DOMESTICATED animals, and it’s important we mimic their habits in the wild as to not frustrate them. Birds are animals that while in flocks, are incredibly spread out unless they’re mates or conversing. Birds are always alert, and are watching and listening. They need their space.

What is the climate like yearly?

-Where do you live and what is the temperature in each season?

-Do you get snow in the winter? Many people up north have birds, but it’s also more pricey to own a bird up north due to the extra expenses needed to keep the bird warm.

-How warm/cold do you keep the air on in your house?

-What species of bird are you considering? They come from all different habitats. The Peach Faced Lovebird, for example, is native to sub-desert regions like Namibia and Angola. Probably not a good idea to get a Peach Faced Lovebird if you keep your home below 19°C/66°F.

-Birds NEED vitamins (D3) they get from the sun, just like people! If your weather is consistently unable to provide these vitamins to your birds, you either need to purchase a UVB/UVA lamp, or you just should not get a bird.

What is your neighborhood like?

- Down in Florida, Texas, and many other states with high-demand parrot breeding and shops, there’s a lot of thievery. Make sure you live in a safe environment.

- If you live near chemical/manufacturing plants, or has an immediate family member that does, a bird is not for you.

- Birds are very sensitive to pollution. Please make sure your neighborhood is clean, because not only is it bad for the pets, but also the people!

- How noisy is the neighborhood? Do you live in New Orleans and pop big celebrations for Mardi Gras? Do you live in areas with lots of fireworks or loud noises? This can startle your bird. It can bring them stress!

- If you plan on flight training and/or bringing them outside on a harness, is your town/city very busy? Is there a lot of traffic? Are there birds of prey that live nearby? Hawks WILL and HAVE swooped down to snatch a parrot off of someone’s shoulder for a snack, and have even snatched them out of the sky while free-flying. Please be careful!

How long per day are you away at work/school?

- If you work a full time job and are a college student, you will not have time to take care of a bird and be able to grant your bird’s needs.

- How many hours a day do you work/are away from home? Parrots on average need AT LEAST six to seven hours a day out of their cage!

- Birds need attention, but not in the sense where you need to throw them a ball or cuddle with them. Being in the room with them out of the cage is even plenty to make them happy. They want you to be with them, but not on them!

How much time can you devote to your bird? How patient are you?

- Birds are a lifetime commitment. Depending on the species, your bird can live between 15 and 100 years. Do not adopt a bird unless you have accepted that this bird will be with you through everything. If you move, if you get married or divorced, if you have children, if you get other pets, etc.

- If you don’t think you’ll want the same bird for twenty+ years, do not get a bird. There are countless in avian shelters and sanctuaries right now, and it’s heartbreaking to see. If you wouldn’t sell your child because you got bored of them or were struggling to care for them, don’t sell your parrot.

- Parrots grow extremely attached to the people they’re used to being around, and in that case have many emotions similar to humans. They put trust in you, and rely on you, and love you. Rehoming them after multiple years of building that relationship can cause self-mutilating behaviors, depression, aggression, and even death from loneliness and feeling abandoned. If you cannot handle strong emotions and a deep attachment, a bird is not for you.

- Many parrots love to learn, and many are stubborn. They are extremely smart animals and among the most intelligent in the world, so keeping them stimulated with daily training is essential.

- Birds bite, and when they bite, it hurts... A LOT. I have been bitten until bleeding by an African Grey, I have been bitten by a previously abused Yellow-headed Amazon, I am constantly bitten by my Lovebird that I am trying to train to be less aggressive. Birds bite, and no, if you don’t understand why you aren’t allowed to scream “Ow!” when it happens, a bird is not the pet for you.

- Birds are not dogs, nor cats, nor horses. Negative reinforcement will only enable Negative behavior in your parrot! You must have the patience to, even when they bite you, praise them for it. You want them to know that biting doesn’t get a reaction out of you and that it won’t make you give them more or less attention. They will eventually learn this and try to find other ways of communicating with you.

- Birds do not bite to communicate by nature. You must take time to learn your bird’s body language. They will always give you at least FOUR warnings before they bite you hard. Please, learn to speak to your bird. They cannot learn English fluently like everyone else.

Please, let me know if I should do some more of these helpful pointers! By no means am I insinuating you should not get a bird, because I love hearing about people’s emotions and excitement toward them. They’re wonderful companions. I merely aim to inform people before they make a big lifetime decision like adding a feathered friend into their family!

[oddgepodge-blog1]

Do the Deed by Audri Rein Lanier ♥Accepting Clients♥ Via Flickr: Do the Deed .◦●Flickr www.flickr.com/photos/141782308@N02/40085207873/in/datepo... .◦●Credits oddgepodge.blogspot.com/2019/02/do-deed.html .◦●Sponsor Serenity Style, .◦●Tags Sintiklia, Maitreya, TheSkinnery, The Liaison Collaborative, Hilly Haalan, Maxi Gossamer, BellePoses,

[crazybloggingavi-blog]

As colleges all over the United States prepare for that springtime ritual Spring Break, and many of us adults wish we had a spring break as well, in SL, we’ve got three events to celebrate Carnival, Candyland, and Ostara’s Altar – so for us here in SL, it is a fantastic spring break thanks to these events!

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Even if spring hasn’t made its way to your Northern Hemisphere clime, Evil Bunny Productions (EBP) brings us an event for those who refuse to grow up and give up candy! Candyland, which runs from March 15 -25, brings out the candy lover in all of us … well, a more, um, mature view of candy!  Since some of the outfits and stuff were perfect for those of us who want to postpone that adulting thing, I took these pictures at a DD/bbg sim, because it was so full of fun for people like me, who might have had to grow older but will not grow up!  I had fun flying around in Grumble’s flying anal plug and dildo (and of course I made sure they were clean – I mean, really!)  I also enjoyed the monkey bars in zfg’s candi boots and acrobat outfit, both with color-change huds.  Maybe the outfit is why I have such great balance! 😉  I thought I looked so sweet, sitting at a tea table, sucking on a lollypop and wearing Changed Season’s Lolly outfit, but then I went into OMG overload when I saw sass’ venellope outfit!  Wreck-It Ralph was such a fabulous movie, and this outfit was a perfect fit (with color-change hud too)!  I wonder if I can race as fast on that bike as Venellope could in her car … ?   To find all this fun and more, just race to:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Brewery/85/130/21  

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Also from EBP comes Twe12ve, and this month is Carnival!  The event runs until March 31 and features all kinds of fashions and fun for the blowout party on Fat Tuesday!  And yes, Fat Tuesday is over – but c’mon, don’t you want to be ready for next year’s fun??  I certainly enjoyed hanging out against the tree, looking all cool and stuff in Roselle from Changed Seasons!  The dress, mask, panties and shrug are just made for dancing up a storm, whether you celebrate Mardi Gras in N’awlins or Carnival in Brazil!  But then my attention was caught by a cage – and nobody puts Rhia in a cage!  I checked it out while wearing Grumble’s Royal outfit – Masks and then Royal outfit – Meow.  (I thought Analog Dog’s Hot Lynx hair especially fitting for the Meow outfit!)  I didn’t think that cage could really stand up to me, but I did let it know I wouldn’t be trying it anytime soon!  For this and more party fun-ness, dance your way here!  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Brewery/79/200/21

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DP Events Ostara’s Altar is another event to remind us that Spring! Is! Coming!!  And this event celebrates the Wiccan calendar’s marking of the vernal equinox, a time of growth and revival, where winter gives way for the promise of spring.  And I feel very spring-like with the fashions and fun you can find at this event!  Since Ostara is a celebration of nature’s renewal, I decided to hang out in my swing, half-hidden by trees and bushes.  It was a fantastic place to relax and appreciate the gorgeous stuff I found at the event!  I’m wearing EscalateD’s Rebel hair – this hair has a TON of colors, including three special huds!  It’s a lovely, wavy, long hair perfect for setting off the makeup from Zibska; I’m wearing the Amarillis eyeshadow and lipstick, both with plenty of color possibilities from the enclosed huds!  The appliers come in Catwa, LAQ, Lelutka, and Omega, so there’s one out there for all of you!  I also enjoyed playing around with the color huds for the filigree’d deliciousness that is Astara’s contribution!  Earrings, collar, and cuffs will make you look stunning – and so perfect for spring! (non-open collar-scripted alternatives are also in the pack).  And finally, I so enjoyed the stunning Flora dress from Oubilette!  The fatpack comes in five ombre combinations and are just so perfect for spring, so airy and fresh!  If you’d like to get these lovelies and more, Ostara’s Altar runs until April 5, here:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Spectacle/182/225/57

Enjoy!

Events galore to bring out the kid in you … the party-hearty, springtime-loving, candy-needing kid! As colleges all over the United States prepare for that springtime ritual Spring Break, and many of us adults wish we had a spring break as well, in SL, we've got three events to celebrate Carnival, Candyland, and Ostara's Altar - so for us here in SL, it is a fantastic spring break thanks to these events!

[blogclothingnoclawsshirts-blog]

New Orleans At least the refs can't take away Mardi Gras shirt and hoodie

New Orleans At least the refs can’t take away Mardi Gras shirt and hoodie

New Orleans is world-renowned for its distinct music, Creole cuisine, unique dialect, and its annual celebrations and festivals, most notably Mardi Gras. The historic heart of the city is the French Quarter, known for its French and Spanish Creole, architecture and vibrant nightlife along Bourbon Street. The city has been described as the “most unique” in the United States. owing in large part to…

[stjohnintelligencer]

St John Tea Transcripts - November 21, “1917″

[19:00] Gabrielle Riel: Good evening everyone! Thank you so much for joining me for tea tonight!

[19:00] Gabrielle Riel: I don’t really have any major announcements tonight. Tea this evening is more about me telling you what’s been going on with me and to talk a little bit about the season change in St John Woods and Christmas stuff.

[19:00] Kitty (vinje): Hello everyone!

[19:01] Gabrielle Riel: It's been an age since I have had tea like this!

[19:01] ƵƸÐ ℝÅƔƸN (cupcakesnatcher): hi Kitty

[19:01] Gabrielle Riel: Usually I ask you to hold questions until I give the ok, but tonight, feel free to ask questions as we go. The information I will be discussing is different than what I usually talk about at tea.

[19:01] Gabrielle Riel: Ready? I do recommend that you buckle your seatbelts for this. It’s going to go down some paths that you would not expect...

[19:01] Kitty (vinje): ohh

[19:01] Pru (prudencejekyll): Ready

[19:02] Gabrielle Riel tucks Kitty's seatbelt around him

[19:02] Kitty (vinje): gulp

[19:02] Gabrielle Riel: Here we go!

[19:02] Gabrielle Riel: I don’t know if any of you have noticed but I have not been in SL very much over the last three months. I have basically logged in to play gigs and handle the most basic of land administration tasks...and that’s it.

[19:02] Kitty (vinje): looks for my flask

[19:02] Gabrielle Riel passes Kitty 2

[19:02] Kitty (vinje): ty

[19:03] Gabrielle Riel: St John is riddled with vacant parcels that I have simply not had the time to process. We are in pretty rough shape right now in terms of our tenancy levels.

[19:03] Gabrielle Riel: That’s due to several things.

[19:03] Gabrielle Riel: First of all, a lot of long-time residents downsized or left SL altogether this year. This has been an issue everywhere not just in St John.

[19:03] Kitty (vinje): (( whats his ma,e wamts a parcel for his theater again ))

[19:03] Kitty (vinje): Name*

[19:03] Kitty (vinje): but go on

[19:04] Gabrielle Riel: Secondly, the SL economy changes due to the things that happened in 2016 have come home to roost. The fact that I could not afford the sim buy-downs hurt us badly. Also the prim increases on the mainland did cause some residents to leave for that better value.

[19:04] Kitty (vinje): dang

[19:04] Gabrielle Riel: I understand why LL made those changes. They were smart business decisions, but they did hurt us.

[19:04] Gabrielle Riel: Third: some of you might be aware of this and some of you might not, but I, my estate and my residents have been stalked by certain avatars/alts since at least 2009. Well, 2009 in terms of my estate. I have personally been stalked by alts since 2007.

[19:04] Kitty (vinje): oh no is my cold dead body gonna be dragged away?

[19:05] Gabrielle Riel: What do I mean by “stalked”? Well, it manifests in several ways. One is just a general nosiness. There are some people that literally have nothing better to do than to be nosy about what’s happening in St John and what I am doing in general.

[19:05] Gabrielle Riel: Is that weird? Yep. A little pathetic? In my opinion, yes. Sometimes these alts lease land. Sometimes they show up at Tea even though they aren’t St John residents. They come to Tea to know what’s going on or to save the transcripts for someone else, which is incredibly silly as I post unedited transcripts after each tea.

[19:06] Gabrielle Riel: Another type of stalking goes like this: an alt moves to St John and is relatively quiet for the first 2-3 months of residency. This is not too hard to accomplish as the typist(s) is/are running a million other alts all over the Steamlands and in SL in general. It’s not hard to be quiet when you’ve got that many avatars to manage!

[19:06] Kitty (vinje): hi zen

[19:06] ZenMondo Wormser: Hello.

[19:06] Gabrielle Riel: After the initial quiet period, the alt starts to make friendly and social overtures to other residents. They make social connections, which can be somewhat easy to do in here, and especially easy for a manipulative sociopath.

[19:06] Pru (prudencejekyll): waves to Zen

[19:06] ZenMondo Wormser: Sorry I am late I had to make sure no one showed up to my class

[19:07] Kitty (vinje): ahhh

[19:07] Gabrielle Riel: Eventually the alt(s) focus(es) their “friendly” conversations with the other St John residents they have befriended on one thing. Me.

[19:07] Gabrielle Riel: How everything I am doing sucks. How my sim design and landscaping sucks. How I am using the wrong scripts here and there. How I am doing *everything* wrong. All the ways I am such an awful person and horrible estate owner. It turns into a non-stop Gabi-bashing session...all the time.

[19:07] Pru (prudencejekyll): nods

[19:07] Gabrielle Riel: Eventually the alt convinces their “friends” to dump their land. It’s amazing how many people will allow themselves to be manipulated in this way, but sociopaths can always bank on the weakness in so many people.

[19:07] Kitty (vinje): dont forget your sassiness

[19:08] Gabrielle Riel grins - oh just wait

[19:08] Gabrielle Riel: Voila. Vacant parcel(s).

[19:08] Gabrielle Riel: I have always found it to be incredibly ironic that the alt(s) is/are able to manipulate others into dumping their land...and yet they stay on, not only as that functional alt, but as many others in the estate. So, they generate vacancies and at the same time lease parcels. It’s like this obsession to destroy and yet stay connected to me at the same time.

[19:08] Gabrielle Riel: If you are sitting here, you are likely not someone the alt(s) would ever approach. They avoid long time loyal residents and fixate more on quiet ones or less social ones.

[19:09] Gabrielle Riel: I have been dealing with this scenario since 2009. All from the same root(s).

[19:09] Gabrielle Riel: This non-stop, ongoing stalking is one of the reasons we have vacancies at the moment. It’s also one of the reasons I produced this podcast in August: https://archive.org/details/RielConversationsAllAboutAlts . Because I felt it was important to provide information to my residents about alts and how to identify them.

[19:10] Gabrielle Riel moves on from the alt reason

[19:10] Gabrielle Riel: Another reason we are hurting is due to abandons we had in Parish after we had to rebuild the sim. The rebuild was absolutely necessary in order for St John to survive. I knew we’d take a hit and lose some residents, and we did. We just lost more than I had hoped and it made a bad situation worse.

[19:10] Kitty (vinje): oh no

[19:10] Gabrielle Riel: There is one final reason we have so many vacancies and I alluded to it when we started tea: I have not been online much and therefore unable to process parcels for leasing.

[19:11] Gabrielle Riel: Why have I not been online? That’s complicated, so I will try to keep it simple.

[19:11] Gabrielle Riel: 2017 has been one of the worst years of my life, my actual life.

[19:11] Gabrielle Riel: It has also, hands-down been the worst year of my SL in 11.5 years.

[19:12] Gabrielle Riel: That is saying a lot. I’ve had rough patches before. Back in my early years, I was bashed in blogs. Called a c*nt in print and was accused of having multiple personality disorder. However there were also incredible high points during those times. It all balanced out.

[19:12] Gabrielle Riel: There was no balance this year. It has just sucked.

[19:12] Gabrielle Riel: At the beginning of 2017 I was SL-engaged with plans for a massive Mardi Gras SL-wedding. While it’s good that ended up not coming to fruition, it was still very difficult to deal with as it all fell apart.

[19:13] Gabrielle Riel: My close friends here right now can confirm my statement: “it was SO messed up”. Painful. Horrible. Heartbreaking. For me and for him. I wish him well and I wish him happiness. I am fairly sure he does not wish the same for me, but that’s how it goes sometimes when you sever a connection.

[19:13] Kitty (vinje): grrrr

[19:13] Gabrielle Riel scratches Kitty behind the ears

[19:13] Kitty (vinje): k

[19:13] Gabrielle Riel grins

[19:14] Gabrielle Riel: In addition to SL stress, I was also weathering incredible RL stress.

[19:14] JivenKitty: sends the "gentleman" an old furball

[19:14] Gabrielle Riel: Some of you know a little bit about my real life. I think I have mentioned here and there over the years that I have a son and that he has special needs.

[19:14] Gabrielle Riel: While it might seem like I am this active person with a radio station and a Second Life estate, the reality is that 90% of my life is taken up with caring for my son.

[19:15] Gabrielle Riel: The tasks involved in his care are a lot. I mean a lot. That’s all I am going to say about it. Just know that it’s not something most people could handle and I handle it...and I handle it like a damn superwoman.

[19:15] Gabrielle Riel: The need for me to focus on my son’s care has done nothing but increase over the years, so when I hear about someone bitching about “why hasn’t Gabi done this” or “why hasn’t Gabi finished that” or “where the hell has Gabi been” or “look at all those empty parcels”...

[19:15] Gabrielle Riel: I only have one thing to say:

[19:16] Kitty (vinje): who says that?

[19:16] Gabrielle Riel: *Kristin pushes the nice, professional Duchess aside and takes over*

[19:16] Gabrielle Riel: Fuck you. I dare you to walk in my shoes and handle it as well as I have.

[19:16] Gabrielle Riel regains control

[19:16] Gabrielle Riel: Oh LORD! I just swore at tea! Smelling salts all around!

[19:16] Kitty (vinje): haha

[19:16] Pru (prudencejekyll): :)

[19:17] Imon (imon.nightfire): smiles

[19:17] Gabrielle Riel tosses Amelia a bag of smelling salts...can you pass these out please... you're an expert at it  ;-)

[19:17] Kitty (vinje): haha

[19:17] Gabrielle Riel whispers...we used to be Swooners...long story for another time!

[19:18] Gabrielle Riel: I don’t think I have ever cursed in public...oh, save one time in December 2008 when I dropped the F bomb in ISC (Caledon group chat) over something that happened (that could have been prevented) that totally messed up a huge event I was having.

[19:18] Gabrielle Riel: But hey...I’ve been here for almost 12 years and I’m damn tired after 2017! If someone hears/reads that and gets their panties in a wad and leaves St John, oh well!

[19:18] Gabrielle Riel grins - “panties in a wad” is such a Kristin and not a Gabi phrase!

[19:18] Pru (prudencejekyll): :)

[19:18] Gabrielle Riel: My Dad was a cop. I can swear like a cop. I can also kick your ass like a cop.  ;-)  Literally or figuratively!

[19:19] Gabrielle Riel crawls on top of Kristin and shoves her back into the closet

[19:19] Emmanuelle Huntress: or have one do it for her

[19:19] Gabrielle Riel grins at Emma

[19:19] Amelia Smythe quiletly passes the salts around the group

[19:19] Gabrielle Riel: Anyway!

[19:19] Gabrielle Riel: That’s why I have not been around. My son’s care has been all-consuming this year. And that is not likely to change.

[19:19] Gabrielle Riel: 2017 has been the “perfect storm” of horror for me. Hurricane Gabrielle was very appropriately named.

[19:20] Kitty (vinje): takes said smelling salts

[19:20] Gabrielle Riel: So...now...here we are…

[19:20] JivenKitty: looks for opium pipe

[19:20] Gabrielle Riel: I have a hope. That is that I will be able to spend some time working on St John over the coming weeks. I really need to get the estate in better shape. I need to get parcels set up for leasing. I have a lot of work to do.

[19:20] Gabrielle Riel: Just know that I WANT to do it. My RL will dictate my ability to make it happen.

[19:21] Gabrielle Riel: Also, while I do not have any current plans to close any of our sims, know that it IS a possibility. We might be stronger financially if I were to consolidate residents and dump a sim or two.

[19:21] Pru (prudencejekyll): nods

[19:21] Gabrielle Riel: That option is better than the other option which is: Gabi dumps all her sims and leaves SL. And yes, that is also a possibility.

[19:21] Gabrielle Riel hears the gasps of hope from altapalooza land

[19:21] Gabrielle Riel: I said possible. Not likely. So don’t get your hopes up bitch(es)!

[19:21] Pru (prudencejekyll): grins

[19:22] Gabrielle Riel sighs and shoves Kristin back in the closet AGAIN

[19:22] Kitty (vinje): whew

[19:22] Gabrielle Riel: So...what can you do to help? See if you have any friends that would be interested in leasing in St John! It’s that simple.

[19:22] Gabrielle Riel: And, yes, I know I need to process parcels first so they are available for lease! Don’t start marketing St John to your contacts until you see yellow on the map. My hope is to get parcels up for lease in the next week.

[19:22] Pru (prudencejekyll): My alt friends?  ;p

[19:23] Gabrielle Riel: Hey, as long as they don't harass anyone I am FINE with them!

[19:23] Pru (prudencejekyll): :)

[19:23] Gabrielle Riel: That, my dears, is in a nutshell “what the hell has been up with Gabi for months”.

[19:23] Gabrielle Riel: So...

[19:23] Gabrielle Riel: After that refreshing airing of all sorts of stuff, are you all ready to hear about season change and Christmas?

[19:23] Kitty (vinje): Hi Edward!

[19:23] Gabrielle Riel grins

[19:23] Pru (prudencejekyll): Yes!

[19:23] Edward Pearse: Evening all

[19:23] Pru (prudencejekyll): Hi Edward. :)

[19:23] Gabrielle Riel waits for heads to cease spinning

[19:24] Kitty (vinje): yes!

[19:24] Emmanuelle Huntress: Yay winter

[19:24] Gabrielle Riel: All good to go?  ;-)

[19:24] Pru (prudencejekyll): Bring it!

[19:24] Gabrielle Riel: Ok! So most of you probably already know this so I am going to keep it short. As St John is based on New Orleans, we are a sub-tropical climate. We do not have “changing of seasons”.

[19:24] Imon (imon.nightfire): yes :-)

[19:24] Gabrielle Riel: With one exception: St John Woods. We have all 4 seasons there. Woods is in Autumn mode at the moment, but the transition to Winter will start after Dec 1. I don’t go all snowy right away. I do it gradually over the first 2 weeks of the month. We go full snowy by Winter Solstice, which is on December 21.

[19:25] Edward Pearse: Yeah but pretty sure New Orleans doesn't have talking cats either :-P

[19:25] Kitty (vinje): pfffft

[19:25] Kitty (vinje) whispers: do too

[19:25] Gabrielle Riel: Of course it does

[19:25] Gabrielle Riel: It's New Orleans!

[19:25] Imon (imon.nightfire): depends on how much you've had to drink

[19:25] Kitty (vinje): voila!

[19:25] Gabrielle Riel: Winter lasts in Woods until March 1. That is when melt begins and it happens over several weeks, with Spring springing on the Vernal Equinox which is March 20.

[19:25] Gabrielle Riel: We also have a “freak snowstorm” in ALL of the St John sims on December 24, 25 and 26 for Christmas.

[19:26] Gabrielle Riel: And speaking of Christmas…

[19:26] ZenMondo Wormser: I actually date a talking cat from New Orleans in real life, so...

[19:26] ƵƸÐ ℝÅƔƸN (cupcakesnatcher): a fgew

[19:26] Gabrielle Riel: The St John Christmas Ball will be Saturday, December 23 from 7-9pm SLT.

[19:26] Kitty (vinje): hahaha

[19:26] Edward Pearse: I was over in St Oswald last night. They're using the Botanical snow rezz thing. Worth looking at for comparison

[19:26] Gabrielle Riel: And could someone find me a nice date for it? I would be SO grateful because I SO don’t want to get lost in the memories of last year’s Christmas Ball! Thanks a bunch!  ;-)

[19:27] Gabrielle Riel: Speaking more of Christmas…

[19:27] ZenMondo Wormser: (her name is Fidget she is on my facebook)

[19:27] Gabrielle Riel: I need volunteers to help decorate the sims for the holidays. I’ll figure out what I want in each sim and let you know what to do...or just ask Kitty. He’s an expert at holiday decor in St John!

[19:27] Kitty (vinje): haha fidget

[19:27] Kitty (vinje): good cat name

[19:27] Gabrielle Riel: It’s 1917 now, which means it’s totally fine to decorate with electric lights in Parish and Uptown. I do prefer that folks in Bayou and Lake keep their holiday decor more natural as electric service was still not fully out to rural areas 100 years ago.

[19:27] Gabrielle Riel: Folks in Woods: you can do whatever the heck you want. You are magic. Go nuts. If you do something I consider out of theme, I’ll let you know.

[19:28] Gabrielle Riel: I will be putting up a Christmas tree here in Duchess Square in Parish and in Uptown, just like I have for the last 3 years.

[19:28] Gabrielle Riel: If you would like to help with sim Christmas decorating, please just let me know.

[19:28] Gabrielle Riel: Any Christmas questions?

[19:28] Gabrielle Riel: You guys are all long-time residents, you know the drill.

[19:29] Pru (prudencejekyll): nods

[19:29] Kitty (vinje): yeah we're good to go

[19:29] Gabrielle Riel: There is something that Amelia is working on that I would like her to mention.

[19:29] Kitty (vinje): ohhhh claps for Amelia

[19:30] Amelia Smythe: If you haven't noticed there is a huge area in front of my store now.  During the middle of December I'm going to run a small far for st john and other in theme merchants.

[19:30] Kitty (vinje): oops

[19:30] Amelia Smythe: fair that is

[19:31] Kitty (vinje): ohhhhh wow

[19:31] Gabrielle Riel: I am so not going to make out with you cat

[19:31] JivenKitty: nice

[19:31] Amelia Smythe: Right now I just need to collect names of the local merchants.  If you are one, please send me an IM

[19:31] Kitty (vinje): snickers

[19:31] Amelia Smythe: that's all for now

[19:31] Kitty (vinje): i didnt know it moved you, if i moved

[19:31] Edward Pearse: :-)

[19:31] JivenKitty: "right"

[19:31] Kitty (vinje): looks for mint mouth spray

[19:32] Edward Pearse bites tongue

[19:32] Kitty (vinje): i really hate sitting like im going to the bathroom

[19:32] Gabrielle Riel: ty Amelia! We can send a notice about the fair as well.

[19:32] JivenKitty: wear a long gown, bring a chamber pot

[19:32] Gabrielle Riel: This is just the advance notice.

[19:32] Pru (prudencejekyll): wear one of your human costumes, Kitty.

[19:32] Kitty (vinje): i love that idea Amelia!

[19:33] Amelia Smythe: ty gabi

[19:33] Kitty (vinje): pfffft

[19:33] Kitty (vinje): damnit

[19:33] Gabrielle Riel: I have one last quick announcement. This is event-related. Starting this Sunday, my Swing Songs from The Nightingale show will run from 12:30-2pm SLT. This will be its time slot going forward. It will continue to be on the 4th Sunday of every month like it always has been, it will just be at this new, earlier time.

[19:34] Edward Pearse: Can you get me an updated poster sometime soon?

[19:34] Kitty (vinje) whispers: can i make out with Amelia?

[19:34] Gabrielle Riel: I play that at The Serpah Club.

[19:34] Gabrielle Riel: Yep - I made one today

[19:34] Edward Pearse: Cool

[19:34] Gabrielle Riel: It's actually on my FB notice for the event

[19:34] Kitty (vinje) whispers: ohhh did she say yep?

[19:34] Gabrielle Riel hasn't unbuckled your seatbelt yet cat, you can't reach Amelia

[19:35] Edward Pearse: Is there a Vet in St John?

[19:35] Kitty (vinje) whispers: damnit

[19:35] ƵƸÐ ℝÅƔƸN (cupcakesnatcher): Ali is a baby doctor

[19:35] ƵƸÐ ℝÅƔƸN (cupcakesnatcher): best I giot for ya

[19:35] Gabrielle Riel: Any questions? About anything?

[19:35] Pru (prudencejekyll): I know how to do it, Edward... I just need someone to hold him down.

[19:35] Kitty (vinje): gasp

[19:35] Gabrielle Riel: Including:  "Gabi when you are going to say "fuck" again at tea"  ;-)

[19:35] Kitty (vinje) whispers: omg

[19:36] Edward Pearse: Does that count as saying it?

[19:36] Gabrielle Riel: This was the second time I said it tonight.

[19:36] ƵƸÐ ℝÅƔƸN (cupcakesnatcher): not it didnt have the same impact for me

[19:36] Edward Pearse: I'll get you a swear jar

[19:36] Kitty (vinje): i have one in the bar

[19:37] Edward Pearse: Or should that be a "cussing jar" here? :-)

[19:37] Gabrielle Riel: We can stay and be social, however - I hereby declare this tea officially over in regards to important estate information…

[19:37] ƵƸÐ ℝÅƔƸN (cupcakesnatcher): thank you Gabi

[19:37] Gabrielle Riel: ...and damn I can not wait to post these transcripts.  ;-)

[stjohnintelligencer]

St John Tea Transcripts - March 8, “1917″

[18:00] Gabrielle Riel: It's 6pm SLT! I am going to start.  :-)

[18:00] Gabrielle Riel: Good evening everyone. Thanks for being here tonight!

[18:00] Gabrielle Riel: We made it through Mardi Gras last week.  :-)

[18:01] Pru: :)

[18:01] Gabrielle Riel: And I hope that everyone had a good time. *I* had a good time in spite of being sick.

[18:01] Pru: Yes!

[18:01] Kitty: we did!

[18:01] Diogenes Teufelsdröckh: It was a mighty fine production

[18:02] Gabrielle Riel: If you have not seen it, please take a look at my thank you note AFTER tea tonight. If you get lost in this now, you’ll miss at least half of tea! (http://gabrielleriel.blogspot.com/2017/03/mercredi-des-cendres.html)

[18:03] Gabrielle Riel: I have looked at the calendar for next year, and it’s going to be another early one. Not as early as last year, but darn close!

[18:03] Gabrielle Riel: Next year Mardi Gras is on Tuesday, February 13. Now that I know this, I know that I will need to start our planning meetings around Christmas time this year.

[18:03] Pru can't even think that far ahead

[18:03] Gabrielle Riel: I’ve got about 6 months to recover from Mardi Gras and then it will be hurricane time. In looking at the calendar, I estimate that our hurricane will be on August 18-20. That is a Friday through Sunday.

[18:04] Gabrielle Riel: And you guys know that this year is the letter “G”... hmm...I *wonder* what the name of the hurricane will be! ;-)

[18:04] Pru: :)

[18:04] Zaida Gearbox: gertrude!

[18:04] Zaida Gearbox giggles

[18:04] Gabrielle Riel whispers....Guy, it's totally Guy

[18:04] Kitty: oh jeez no way

[18:04] Kitty: omg

[18:04] Gabrielle Riel laughs

[18:05] Pru: I have an Aunt Gertrude

[18:05] Kitty: hopes im around for K

[18:05] Zaida Gearbox: gizzelle

[18:05] Gabrielle Riel: Anyway, thank you all, those of you that were able to participate in, or come out for, Mardi Gras. I think we can call it a success.

[18:05] Zaida Gearbox: of course you will be kitty

[18:05] Pru: Yes!

[18:05] Gabrielle Riel: My main topic for Tea tonight is a general “State of the Estate”. If you have questions, please hang on to them until I ask for them. I will address your questions, I just want to get through the bulk of the information that I have for you first!

[18:05] Kitty: Hey Pea

[18:06] Princess Selena waves

[18:06] Gabrielle Riel: In order to understand our current State of the Estate, you need to understand what happened last year, both in terms of St John and in terms of the SL economy in general.

[18:06] Pru: waves to Selena

[18:06] Kitty: hi Kylie and Ava

[18:06] Kylie: *sneaks in*

[18:06] Gabrielle Riel: Last year in St John, we had a very odd year. But it was odd in a good way. For some reason, that I still do not fully understand, St John bucked the trend of the rest of SL, which was to lose residents and shrink. Instead, we grew.

[18:06] Ava: Hi all :)

[18:07] Kate Cynster: back...not gonna say brb every time he wants something

[18:07] Kylee Gracemount: Hi !

[18:07] Gabrielle Riel: Many estates shrunk in size or closed altogether. The reality is that while SL sill has an active user base, it’s not growing. It’s staying roughly the same, and even shrinking a bit.

[18:07] Gabrielle Riel: There are not a lot of new people joining SL. The majority of the SL population, in my opinion, is very “old”, both in terms of how long people have been in SL and in terms of their actual age.

[18:08] Gabrielle Riel: Thus. there is a finite pool of potential residents for ALL communities in SL.

[18:08] Gabrielle Riel: All communities have been losing residents, steadily. It’s just the way of things now. It was a surprise to me that last year St John was always full and still had a high demand for land from residents and potential residents.

[18:09] Gabrielle Riel: The demand was high enough that I put out a land needs assessment last Fall in order to determine what exactly that need was. Based on the information in that needs assessment and multiple demands from residents for larger parcels, I added St John Beach, St John Maurepas and St John Islands.

[18:09] Gabrielle Riel: So, by last Fall, St John was 9 sims. Fully occupied and strong.

[18:09] Gabrielle Riel: On a larger level, two things happened last year in regards to land in SL, and when both of these things happened, I told you all that it was a mystery as to how these things would affect St John, and that we would just have to wait and see.

[18:10] Gabrielle Riel: The first thing was the sim buy-down opportunity for private estate owners. I am not going to rehash the whole thing, but if you are interested in the details, look at this AFTER tea: http://stjohnintelligencer.tumblr.com/post/142737588086/st-john-tea-transcripts-april-12-1916

[18:10] Pru: nods

[18:10] Gabrielle Riel: I was able to buy-down our homesteads but NOT our full sims. This means that I am paying $100 a month more on St John Parish, St John Woods, Bayou St John and St John (Uptown) than other estate owners are paying on their full sims.

[18:11] Gabrielle Riel: Many other estate owners were able to buy their sims down, and then lower their tier for their residents. St John went from being the rock bottom cheapest tier in the Steamlands to the second highest in the last 6 months.

[18:11] Gabrielle Riel: and that was with use just staying the same.

[18:11] Gabrielle Riel: *just us

[18:12] Gabrielle Riel: The other change was the larger increase in prims to mainland parcels late last Fall. LL increased the amount of prims by 50% on mainland, while only increasing private estates 33%. Mainland has always been less expensive than private estates, so it’s really an amazing deal now.

[18:12] Gabrielle Riel: So…

[18:12] Kitty: in an ugly kinda way

[18:12] Gabrielle Riel: The wait and see is over.

[18:12] Zaida Gearbox agrees with kitty

[18:13] Gabrielle Riel: In my opinion, the fact that I could not afford the sim buy-down and lower our tier and the fact that mainland is an amazing deal now, St John has seen a non-stop stream of parcel abandons and resident departures in the last three months.

[18:13] Pru: :(

[18:13] Gabrielle Riel: We’ve lost some of our long-time stalker alts.  ;-)  As well as some people who so vocally begged me for larger parcels.

[18:14] Gabrielle Riel: Because of this, and if this trend continues, I want to let you know that I will do what I have to do in order to keep St John financially stable.

[18:14] Gabrielle Riel: And yes, that means dumping homestead sims if I have to.

[18:15] Gabrielle Riel: So enjoy the 9 sims now with sailing and flying! I think that number is on borrowed time.

[18:15] Gabrielle Riel: We are not at that point….yet, but I thought I needed to tell you that this might happen in the coming months, if the abandons continue and not enough new folks move into the vacant parcels.

[18:15] Kitty: nods

[18:16] Gabrielle Riel: While it has not been pleasant, I am also aware that this is just part of life as an estate owner. It’s very cyclical. I have grown, and then shrunk, an estate before. New Toulouse was 2 sims when I bought it in 2009 and I increased it to 8 sims by late 2011...before having to dump sims in 2012 when people left SL in droves.

[18:16] Gabrielle Riel: I don’t want this next part to sound cold, but I don’t know any other way of putting it…

[18:17] Gabrielle Riel: People in Second Life are fickle. And that is NORMAL! SL is made to be “instant gratification” for so many people. I long ago learned to have a level of detachment about residents and land because of the high-turnover I have witnessed over the years.

[18:17] Gabrielle Riel: Also, life is happening for all of our residents. Circumstances change. Budgets change.

[18:17] Pru: nods

[18:18] Gabrielle Riel: As I said, it's always cycling!

[18:18] Gabrielle Riel: And this ain't my first ride!

[18:18] Princess Selena: :)

[18:18] Kitty: fasten your seatbelts!

[18:18] Gabrielle Riel: I’ve also lost count on how many times someone has come to me with grand ideas and waxed rhapsodic about St John (or New Toulouse when I owned it) and how they LOVE it SO much…

[18:18] Gabrielle Riel: ...and they dump their land and poof 2 weeks later. That happens a LOT because of that fickle, fleeting mindset so many people have in here.

[18:19] Gabrielle Riel: Please know that I don’t judge them for that. I don’t take any of it personally. It’s just part of the many, many cycles in here. Cycles of community. Cycles with individuals. I turn 11 in a month and I’ve built up walls and armor and distance when it comes to people and land. Well, when it comes to people in general.  :-)

[18:19] Gabrielle Riel: So…

[18:19] Kitty: notice she didnt say cats

[18:20] Gabrielle Riel: As of right now, nothing is changing. I just wanted to let you all know what has been happening with the abandons and vacancies, so that if they continue and I need to start lopping off sims, you won’t be surprised.

[18:20] Zaida Gearbox hopes st john parish will be ok

[18:20] Kitty: yeah

[18:20] Gabrielle Riel: The economic and land changes of 2016 have come home to roost. I could not afford to buy down our full sims, and so I could not lower your tier. Other estates were able to do that, and now they are cheaper than us. There is nothing I can do about that.

[18:21] Gabrielle Riel: I can’t lower our tier. It’s already rock bottom for the price I have to pay to LL If I lowered our tier, then the entire estate would go into the red. Yes, we’ve ALWAYS lived that close to the edge. I’ve said it a million times and here I go again: I make NO money as an estate owner.

[18:21] Gabrielle Riel: I also have no control over the fact that LL made mainland an amazing deal in terms of price. It was actually a very smart business move on their part.

[18:21] Kitty: the rats

[18:21] Gabrielle Riel: The only thing I have control over is how I manage things moving forward. I might make little changes here and there. I might come up with crazy schemes for events and god knows what else!

[18:22] Kylie: But that sure hasn't changed the look of mainland.:(

[18:22] Kitty: yeah its uglier than ever

[18:22] Gabrielle Riel: It has not been easy, watching the steady stream of exits over the last 3 months, but I had an experience a few days ago that really helped me feel positive about the State of the Estate.

[18:22] Gabrielle Riel: An old friend who has been gone from SL for 6 years came in to visit. She was my librarian for the library that I had in New Toulouse from 2009-2011. She had never seen St John, so I set her off on a self-guided tour.

[18:23] Kitty: ohhhhh

[18:23] Kitty: wonders if i hit on her

[18:23] Gabrielle Riel: As she explored, she kept IMing me. “OMG, Gabi! This place is beautiful!” “Oh Gabi! I love what you did here!” “Oh Gabi, everyone’s houses look so amazing!”

[18:23] Gabrielle Riel: It’s been a long time since I have looked at St John through fresh eyes. Talking to her, getting her feedback was wonderful. It made me remember, yes, I and my residents built this place and it’s stunning! In addition to stunning, the people are SO great!

[18:23] Princess Selena smiles and agrees with the librarian

[18:24] Kitty: yeah!

[18:24] Gabrielle Riel: It was exactly what I needed to hear after these last few months. A needed boost to settle me for whatever the future might bring our way.

[18:24] Gabrielle Riel: So….after ALL that….does anyone have any questions?  :-D

[18:24] Kitty: well this place comes with Community unlike the mainland for the most part

[18:24] Pru: Raises her hand

[18:24] Kitty: fells positive

[18:25] Kitty: feels*

[18:25] Gabrielle Riel: oui Pru?

[18:25] Pru: Are the vacancies happening acroos all the sims?

[18:25] Gabrielle Riel: Yes

[18:25] Zaida Gearbox raises hand

[18:25] Pru: so there is no high concentration in any particular place?

[18:25] Gabrielle Riel: No - it's estate-wide

[18:25] Pru: Thank you

[18:26] Gabrielle Riel: oui zaida?

[18:26] Zaida Gearbox: are there abandoned parcels that aren't showing yellow on the map?

[18:26] Gabrielle Riel: At the moment yes, because I set a bunch for sale this morning, and they won't show until tomorrow.

[18:27] Gabrielle Riel: But you can see all of them listed in my Classifieds tab

[18:27] Ava: Obviously LL is aware of the general, gradual exodus ..... do they have plans to stop the bleeding and reverse the trend in SL?

[18:27] Gabrielle Riel: And I have some I still need to process vacancies in Woods

[18:27] Kitty: wow the woods are usually on a waiting list

[18:28] Gabrielle Riel: So there are more parcels for sale atm than what the map shows

[18:28] Gabrielle Riel: Woods has a lot of vacancies atm

[18:28] Kate Cynster: will not look at the map...will not look at the map...

[18:28] Gabrielle Riel: As for LL Ava, only they know. I *do* think the changes they made last year, the ones that hurt us, are actually good ones in general.

[18:29] Gabrielle Riel: From a pure business perspective, giving estate owners the chance to buy down their sims and lower tier

[18:29] Gabrielle Riel: and making mainland MORE of a deal

[18:29] Gabrielle Riel: these things should increase land ownership in general

[18:30] Kitty whispers: an ugly deal

[18:30] Gabrielle Riel: But not here

[18:30] Gabrielle Riel: I did a whole big presentation last year about the buy downs

[18:30] Gabrielle Riel: I did not have an extra $4000 USD hanging around

[18:31] Gabrielle Riel: So I could not buy us down, the full sims

[18:31] Gabrielle Riel: I WAS able to do the homesteads, except for poor Fox who ordered hers after LL's deadline

[18:31] Kitty: awww

[18:32] Gabrielle Riel: Now, is land ownership increasing in those estates that DID the buy down and lowered tier?

[18:32] Gabrielle Riel: I have no idea.

[18:32] Gabrielle Riel: Is it increasing on mainland? No clue.

[18:32] Gabrielle Riel: But the fact that those two things happened

[18:33] Gabrielle Riel: and then A bunch of people pulled up stakes and left St John - they might be connected - or not

[18:34] Gabrielle Riel: It might just be a bunch of things coming together, party of the cycle of community

[18:35] Gabrielle Riel: I could chase everyone who left down and ask, but I am not really in the mood to do that. That's if anyone would even respond to the question.

[18:35] Princess Selena: they never respond to me

[18:35] Princess Selena: I do hunt them down

[18:35] Princess Selena laughs

[18:35] Gabrielle Riel: That does not surprise me

[18:35] Kitty: hahaha

[18:35] Kylie: hehe

[18:35] Pru: I will tell Chu Chu you'll be calling.  :)

[18:35] Gabrielle Riel: It's that usual, fickle thing

[18:36] Kylie: I would answer, but I'm staying

[18:36] Gabrielle Riel: Out of sight, out of mind, and just part of the general SL culture

[18:37] Gabrielle Riel: I mean this is a place where people build businesses, create relationships, get partnered...

[18:37] Gabrielle Riel: and then one day decide to never log in as that avatar again

[18:37] Kitty: thats sad

[18:37] Gabrielle Riel: I dated a guy once who did that - not to me, but before he met me

[18:38] Gabrielle Riel: I was not surprised when he turned out to be a jerk who dumped me on Christmas Day!

[18:38] Kylie: Well, not everyone is like that... thank goodness.

[18:38] Kitty: that sucks

[18:38] Gabrielle Riel: You have all been around long enough now to know that occurs.

[18:38] Kate Cynster: sounds like the ex of mine who dumped me right after valentine's day

[18:38] Pru: sometimes RL circustances, such as budget, can affect us.  :)

[18:39] Gabrielle Riel: And I am not talking about people who start over, that's different.

[18:39] Kitty: or heartlessness

[18:39] Gabrielle Riel: Some of my closest friends are people who started over!

[18:40] Gabrielle Riel: As I said, things go in cycles

[18:40] Gabrielle Riel: I just want St Johnians to be prepared when sims start poofing off the map.

[18:40] Pru: Speaking on behalf of cousin Chu, she is not making much from her sales and could not justify an inworld store

[18:40] Kitty: digs nails in my precious Bayou

[18:41] Gabrielle Riel: And communities cycle - expand and contract ALL the time

[18:41] Eve Whiterose: So what's your current idea of what is longer term sustainable

[18:41] Kate Cynster: if the beach should have to go...i'll move in with kitty...lol

[18:41] Gabrielle Riel: So please don't see shrinking as a failure, IF we need to shrink.

[18:41] Gabrielle Riel: We are ok as we are for now.

[18:42] Kitty: you might have to deal with a stream of catladies

[18:42] Kate Cynster: lol

[18:42] Gabrielle Riel: The key will be seeing what happens in the next few months, and especially in summer  :-(

[18:42] Gabrielle Riel: if summer abandons hit us,  I see a homestead being dropped

[18:43] Gabrielle Riel: Last year was weird though. We HAD the usual summer abandons and then we filled up.

[18:43] Gabrielle Riel: It was the second Summer of Buck the Trend for me

[18:43] Kylie: It's winter in Australia, when it's summer int he states.

[18:43] Gabrielle Riel: It happened in Summer 2011 in NT too when I owned it

[18:44] Gabrielle Riel: and then the next year I had to dump sims

[18:44] Gabrielle Riel: So I've been down this path before. It's just a roller coaster.

[18:44] Gabrielle Riel: One thing

[18:44] Gabrielle Riel looks around

[18:45] Gabrielle Riel: I think Selena was the only one of you around when I shrunk NT and then sold it

[18:45] Princess Selena: I think I am  *nods*

[18:45] Gabrielle Riel: If sims need to go, EVERYONE in the affected sims are relocated to the best option.

[18:46] Gabrielle Riel: Hell, St John Woods EXISTS because I needed to save it.

[18:46] Gabrielle Riel: So people would not lose their homes

[18:46] Kitty: we need a snow sim in the winter too

[18:47] Gabrielle Riel: I do my utmost to make sure that everyone gets settled - no one just gets told they need to leave

[18:47] Kitty: looks at Pru with visions of snowballs dancing in my head

[18:47] Pru: :)

[18:47] Gabrielle Riel: That is not something that other estate owners do. Many just say "too bad, so sad, find another place to live."

[18:47] Eve Whiterose: Hmm...I read this as meaning I should start shopping. I don't have "homes." Well, other than the tiny cottage.

[18:47] Kitty: well thats awful!

[18:48] Gabrielle Riel: Sims owned by land barons get sold out from under the residents on a regular basis.

[18:48] Kitty: awful!

[18:49] Gabrielle Riel: There are some estates who will go to any length to hang on to sims

[18:49] Gabrielle Riel: Such as having a few people lease all the available parcels

[18:49] Gabrielle Riel: I won't do that either. If we need to shrink, we shrink.

[18:50] Gabrielle Riel: I am not going to put pressure on residents.

[18:51] Gabrielle Riel: There are some estates where if one of those main landholders were to get hit by a bus? Kiss those estates buh-bye.

[18:51] Kitty: egads!

[18:52] Gabrielle Riel: My goal here is to have sims supported as they are now. By a large, diverse group of residents.

[18:53] Gabrielle Riel: Also, at this point, I do NOT see dropping any of our full sims.

[18:53] Gabrielle Riel: If I need to downsize it will be homesteads that go.

[18:53] Kitty: whew

[18:54] Gabrielle Riel: And the only way they will go is if the trend of the last three months continues. For now, we are ok.

[18:54] Gabrielle Riel: But it's a darn roller coaster

[18:54] Gabrielle Riel: And I knew that and know that

[18:54] Pru: Is this a good time for an unrelated question?

[18:54] Gabrielle Riel: I think I even briefly mentioned it in the podcast I did with Selena last Fall

[18:55] Gabrielle Riel: Sure - question?

[18:55] Pru: what is the thaw schedule for The Woods?

[18:55] Eve Whiterose: Spring!

[18:55] Gabrielle Riel: Melting will occur over the next 2 weeks

[18:55] Eve Whiterose: Californians want to know!

[18:56] Pru: :)

[18:56] Gabrielle Riel: and as always, the first green will be out by Spring equinox!

[18:56] Kylie: *laughs*

[18:56] Gabrielle Riel: Although

[18:56] Gabrielle Riel: We might see one LAST snow in Woods

[18:56] Pru: I have a venue opening to plan

[18:56] Gabrielle Riel: at some point in the next few days

[18:56] Gabrielle Riel: But yes, it's a week into March already!

[18:57] Gabrielle Riel: Which means Woods starts to melt!

[18:57] Pru: Huzzah!

[18:57] Gabrielle Riel: Any other questions as we head to the top of the hour?

[18:57] Ava: newp

[18:58] Gabrielle Riel: This was about as fun as the US State of the Union huh?  ;-)

[18:58] Ava: :)

[18:58] Princess Selena: heh

[18:58] Pru: I didn't watch that!

[18:58] Gabrielle Riel: That was worse. SO WAY WORSE!

[18:58] Kylie: hehe

[18:58] Kitty: not as much a circus

[18:59] Eve Whiterose: I didn't start drinking for this one

[18:59] Kylie: LOL Eve

[18:59] Kitty: hahahahhahaha

[18:59] Gabrielle Riel: At least you know I am only half crazy and tend to tell the truth.

[18:59] Kitty: yer not so bad

[18:59] Gabrielle Riel: And only live in this virtual reality, not my own personal delusions!  ;-)

[19:00] Kitty: haha

[19:00] Gabrielle Riel: If you think of any questions, please let me know.

[19:00] Eve Whiterose: Where's your teleprompter?

[19:00] Pru: Thank you, Gabi.

[19:00] Gabrielle Riel: Well my dears, I think we can take our empty cups to the sink, because I hereby declare tonight’s tea officially OVER!

[stjohnintelligencer]

St John Tea Transcripts - January 24, “1917″

[18:02] Gabrielle Riel: I am going to get started, I have a lot of information to cover tonight.  :-)

[18:03] Gabrielle Riel: Tonight’s tea is ALL about Mardi Gras. This includes a general overview as well as specifics about our parade and specs for float-building.

[18:03] Gabrielle Riel: There is a lot of information in this Tea, so buckle up and get ready for Mardi Gras info-dump 2017.

[18:04] Iliana Cerise: buckles

[18:04] cadence Carolina: hi everyone:)

[18:04] Gabrielle Riel: If you have questions PLEASE hold on to them until I ask for questions. I WILL ask for questions once I have made it through the bulk of what I need to tell you.

[18:04] Kylie: Hello everyone!

[18:04] Kitty: CC!!!!!!!!!!!!

[18:04] Kitty: Kylies!!

[18:05] Gabrielle Riel: Ready? As the French, Cajuns and David Tennant’s Dr. Who say: Allons-y!

[18:05] cadence Carolina: Kitty

[18:05] Gabrielle Riel: This year Mardi Gras is on Tuesday, February 28, “1917” for us.

[18:06] Gabrielle Riel: For past Mardi Gras’ in my estates, we have usually made it a 4-day celebration, from Saturday through Tuesday. So this year that would be Saturday the 25th, Sunday the 26th, Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th.

[18:06] Gabrielle Riel: As of this moment, I do not have anything “special” scheduled for Saturday or Sunday. If any of you would like to host a party or event on those days, please let me know.

[18:06] Gabrielle Riel: Sugah’s in Uptown has their regular schedule of events that run on the weekends, and I will be talking to Ava and Bliss about including those events on our official Mardi Schedule.

[18:06] Ava puts her hand in the air

[18:07] Ava: We will

[18:07] Kitty: I will always be happy to host

[18:07] Gabrielle Riel: excellent - we will chat after this about details

[18:07] Kitty: k

[18:07] Gabrielle Riel: If any of the rest of you venue owners would like to have an event at your place in honor of Mardi Gras on Saturday or Sunday, just let me know and I will put it on the schedule.

[18:08] Gabrielle Riel: There is a reason that I am being all “y’all handle Saturday and Sunday and just let me know”.

[18:08] Gabrielle Riel: It’s because Guy and I will be partnering on Monday, February 27, and between that and the events on actual Mardi Gras, I have no damn time to worry about the weekend!

[18:08] Iliana Cerise: smiles

[18:08] Fox Nacht: <3

[18:08] cadence Carolina: lol

[18:09] Gabrielle Riel: So, here is what I have tentatively planned so far for the partnering on the 27. The times might be adjusted depending on what Guy and I need to manage in RL on a weeknight.

[18:09] Kylie: :D

[18:09] Gabrielle Riel: The ceremony will be at Eve’s First Ecumenical Church of St John, here in St John Parish, tentatively scheduled for 6-6:30pm SLT.

[18:09] Gabrielle Riel: The reception will be at Edison Hall in St John (Uptown) tentatively scheduled for 6:30-8pm SLT.

[18:10] Gabrielle Riel: Then tentatively scheduled for 8pm SLT, Guy and I will kick off The St John Mardi Gras Parade, which is also in Uptown.

[18:10] Kitty whispers: I'm spiking the punch

[18:10] Iliana Cerise: sweet!

[18:10] Princess Selena: shhh

[18:10] Gabrielle Riel: In all of my years doing Mardi Gras in Second Life, and this will be my 8th, I have never selected a King and Queen of Mardi Gras.

[18:10] Gabrielle Riel: This year will be different. This year it will be me and Guy. We will sit in the lead float, as the King and Queen of Mardi Gras, and get our parade started.

[18:11] cadence Carolina: sweet

[18:11] Fox Nacht: lovely!

[18:11] Kitty whispers: But i thought you said I.....cries

[18:11] Kylie: *giggles*

[18:11] Gabrielle Riel: :-P

[18:11] Gabrielle Riel: Now, if you have never seen our parade, here is some info about it:

[18:11] Iliana Cerise: consoles Kitty

[18:11] Kitty whispers: Waves to Scouty

[18:11] Scout MacLeod: waves!

[18:11] Princess Selena: you can be queen next year, Kitty

[18:11] Kitty: haha  k

[18:11] Gabrielle Riel: We have “the always marching parade” which means the floats are moving at all times during the Mardi Gras celebration.

[18:12] Gabrielle Riel: The parade is tentatively scheduled to start at 8pm SLT on Monday, February 27 and it will run continuously through Tuesday, February 28. I usually shut it down early Wednesday morning my time, around 5:30am SLT.

[18:12] Gabrielle Riel: Our parade is meant for visitor interaction. We encourage people to ride the floats. This keeps the parade active for visitors, no matter their actual time zone.

[18:13] Gabrielle Riel: The parade floats are built by the residents of St John as well as residents of other communities and individual creators.

[18:13] Gabrielle Riel: If you would like to create a team (Krewe) to build or sponsor a float, you are welcome to do so; however you do not have to be in a Krewe in order to create a float. Krewes can be community-based or simply a group of friends.

[18:14] Iliana Cerise: very cool!

[18:14] Gabrielle Riel: Here in St John, we've never really had Krewes. It was something we had in New Toulouse. I still offer the option though.

[18:14] Kitty: Me and...ok well Kylie made us  a float one year!

[18:14] Gabrielle Riel: I have a notecard here with the float-building specifications. Who would like a copy? I am going to pass this out here and NOT put the specs into the transcript of this Tea.

[18:14] Ava: I would

[18:15] Princess Selena raises hand

[18:15] Scout MacLeod: raises hand

[18:15] Princess Selena: Wilhelm said he may like to build one

[18:15] Kitty: ohhhhh Scouty!

[18:15] Kylie: *raises hand*

[18:15] Iliana Cerise: I would please, Gabi!

[18:15] Kitty: ohhh yay Wilhelm

[18:15] Pru: Me too, Gabi.

[18:15] Kitty: Wow ya'll

[18:16] Fox Nacht: yes please Gabi

[18:16] Pru: I'll share my copy with Eve, since she's not here

[18:16] Kitty: wooo hooo

[18:16] Cate Cynster: well with rock not on anymore..and i couldn't build my way out of a paper bag..i'll be watching more this year...

[18:16] Second Life: Select residents to share with.

[18:17] Second Life: Items successfully shared.

[18:17] Scout MacLeod: ty

[18:17] Ava: Thank you Gabi

[18:17] Pru: Thank you!

[18:17] Kylie: Thank youuu

[18:17] Gabrielle Riel: Everyone get  that?

[18:17] Scout MacLeod: yep

[18:17] Fox Nacht: TY

[18:17] Iliana Cerise: got it thanks

[18:17] cadence Carolina: yes ty

[18:17] Kitty: yeah

[18:17] Kylee Gracemount: nods

[18:18] Gabrielle Riel: I recommend that you read the notecard AFTER I end Tea, otherwise you are going to miss much of what I say next.

[18:18] Gabrielle Riel: Additionally, if you have detailed float-building questions, please ask me after Tea or in the next few days and/or weeks. I don’t want to turn this meeting into a float-building Q&A. I need to keep it focused on our overall Mardi Gras.

[18:18] Ava: sorry... what?

[18:18] Ava: LOL

[18:18] Ava: Kidding

[18:18] Gabrielle Riel throws a beignet at Ava

[18:18] Ava: :)

[18:18] Kylie: *catches the beignet*

[18:18] Gabrielle Riel: Keep in mind that we still have at least one more Tea during which we will be discussing more about Mardi Gras, and that will be on February 7.

[18:18] Iliana Cerise: giggle

[18:19] Iliana Cerise: mmmm beignet... nom nom nom

[18:19] Gabrielle Riel: This is JUST the beginning!

[18:19] Gabrielle Riel: Now, on Mardi Gras Day itself, I would like to do what we did last year.

[18:19] Gabrielle Riel: Last year, I set up a dance platform in the middle of Uptown, on Audubon Avenue, just South of Canal Street. That’s the street right between Newchurch and Palette.

[18:19] Kitty: orgy?

[18:19] Gabrielle Riel coughs

[18:19] Kitty whispers: oh my bad

[18:19] Scout MacLeod: haha

[18:20] Gabrielle Riel: no darling, that is THIS year...  ;-)

[18:20] Kitty: hehe

[18:20] Gabrielle Riel grins and continues

[18:20] Gabrielle Riel: It was a 12-hour long street party with a different DJ playing every 2 hours. It was fabulous! We had never done anything like that in St John and I am so glad we did it last year!

[18:20] Iliana Cerise: heh heh

[18:20] Pru: :)

[18:20] Kylie: It was fun!!

[18:20] Gabrielle Riel: because...

[18:20] Iliana Cerise: oh, yes, Pru mentioned that

[18:20] cadence Carolina: it was

[18:21] Ava: Let me know if any DJ's are needed

[18:21] Gabrielle Riel: It was into that massive party that this guy named Guy Holder wandered on his first-ever trip to St John, looking for a decent Mardi Gras event. Ironically, his future fiance was drunk and deep in IM with a friend during that event trying to decide if she should start dating again in SL. Oh the changes a year can bring!  ;-)

[18:21] Iliana Cerise: sounds awesome!

[18:21] Scout MacLeod: wow!

[18:21] Gabrielle Riel: I will Ava - ty

[18:21] Gabrielle Riel: Anyway!

[18:21] Kitty: uh huh

[18:21] Fox Nacht grins

[18:22] Gabrielle Riel: The parade runs the whole time during the street party. Some people would ride the floats and then come dance. Or vice versa!

[18:22] Iliana Cerise: fun!

[18:22] Gabrielle Riel: We also had fireworks on a schedule, provided by Ali. Hopefully I can get her to run those again this year - they were fabulous!

[18:22] Ava: If not, I have good ones....

[18:22] Princess Selena: i do too *nods*

[18:22] Gabrielle Riel: So, DJs in the house! I need you! I need to start putting together a schedule for that day. I am going to try and make the schedule similar to last year’s - we did it from 12:00pm SLT to 12:00am SLT.

[18:23] Pru: ok

[18:23] Gabrielle Riel: IM me in the next day or two to let me know if you are available. To DJ I mean.  :-)

[18:23] Pru: Will do

[18:23] cadence Carolina: will do

[18:23] Iliana Cerise: sweet :)

[18:23] Gabrielle Riel: Now, regarding estate-wide Mardi Gras decorations - I (or my minions) will handle decorations on public land and that will occur the first or second week in February; however YOU all can put up decorations on your homes starting tonight!

[18:23] Pru: :)

[18:24] Gabrielle Riel: The only things you need to keep in mind is that Mardi Gras colors are purple, green and gold and please keep your decorations as vintage, or vintage-looking, as possible.

[18:24] Kitty: that seems late we are already decorated in RL New Orleansz

[18:24] Gabrielle Riel: Those of you in Uptown and Parish CAN use vintage-looking electric lights. I did research this Christmas on when exactly electricity arrived in New Orleans, and it was early. The late 1880s for Uptown.

[18:24] Princess Selena: thats not my block is it?

[18:25] Gabrielle Riel: Yes, you can use them Selena.

[18:25] Gabrielle Riel: Those of you in Bayou and Beach...sorry! You still live in the country! No new-fangled electricity for you!

[18:25] Princess Selena raises her arms and lets out a very unladylike WOOOOOOOO

[18:25] Iliana Cerise: lol

[18:25] Gabrielle Riel: Those of you in Woods, do whatever the heck you want. You live in a Timeless Magical Forest, just keep it Fantasy-themed.

[18:25] Cate Cynster: i can live with it or in this case..without it....grins

[18:25] Kitty: haha

[18:26] Gabrielle Riel: Ok...NOW is the time for questions! What do you need to know that I have not yet covered?

[18:26] Princess Selena: what are the colors again?  *grins and ducks*

[18:26] Pru: hahahaha

[18:26] Princess Selena: :P

[18:26] Kitty: hot pink

[18:26] Iliana Cerise: giggles

[18:26] Princess Selena: i made the damn flag... I know :P

[18:26] Gabrielle Riel throws a beignet at Selena - these are coming in handy tonight

[18:26] Iliana Cerise: are PussyHats allowed?

[18:27] Kitty: hell yeah

[18:27] Kitty: i need one btw

[18:27] Princess Selena noms happily and knew her plan would work to get a beignet

[18:27] Fox Nacht: woot yes pussy hats!

[18:27] Iliana Cerise: giggle Selena

[18:27] Kitty: would fit  my ears just right

[18:27] Princess Selena: there is a place giving them out free... i will have a SLURL in a moment

[18:27] Gabrielle Riel: Even though we are set in 1917, on Mardi Gras day folks come from everywhere. Wearing all sorts of outfits!

[18:28] Kitty: k

[18:28] Pru: will you be making the DJ schedule available like last year?

[18:28] Iliana Cerise: such fun

[18:28] Kitty: stands up for ma cat ladies

[18:28] Princess Selena whispers: free pussy hats - Tableau (169,112,23)

[18:28] Gabrielle Riel: Yes, Pru. I am going to do that exactly like I did last year.

[18:28] Pru: :)

[18:28] Kitty: ohhh ty

[18:28] Fox Nacht: TY Selena!

[18:28] Gabrielle Riel: I even found last year's spreadsheet today.

[18:29] Pru: Excellent

[18:29] Princess Selena loves spreadsheets

[18:29] Gabrielle Riel: I am going to send an invitation to other communities to join our parade, just as I did last year.

[18:29] Iliana Cerise: sweet deal

[18:30] Gabrielle Riel: Those of you that were there last year - tell the new folks what it was like!

[18:30] Pru: It was fun!

[18:30] Gabrielle Riel was exhausted and tipsy as hell

[18:30] Kylie: It was a blast!!!

[18:30] Iliana Cerise: listens eagerly

[18:31] Kylie: Tired of dancing... jump on a float and ride for awhile!

[18:31] cadence Carolina: was a hoot and we had lots of visitors from all ove SL

[18:31] Scout MacLeod: sounds really fun

[18:31] Gabrielle Riel: I had major parade bumps last year. Those will not happen this year.

[18:31] Kylie: My friends thot it was so cool to ride the floats!

[18:31] cadence Carolina: yes that was fun Kitty

[18:31] Gabrielle Riel: Remember, Uptown was brand new last year!

[18:31] Kitty: it was great

[18:31] Pru: It was my "debut" as a DJ, and I was nervous... so I didn't really party until after my set

[18:31] Iliana Cerise: I'm excited!!

[18:32] cadence Carolina: a great variety of music

[18:32] Princess Selena: only a year???

[18:32] Kitty: you did good Pru

[18:32] Princess Selena: it seems so much longer

[18:32] Gabrielle Riel: I have worked out the kinks in sim layout so we won't have a float pileup.

[18:32] Kylie: I remember that, Pru!

[18:32] Pru: I had lessons from Gabi in the weeks before

[18:33] cadence Carolina: oh right I remember the DJ training for passing stream

[18:33] Pru: it was all a bit overwhelming, but fun

[18:33] cadence Carolina: youdid so much last yer Gabi

[18:33] Emmanuelle Huntress: She always does

[18:33] Gabrielle Riel: I do so much EVERY year for Mardi Gras  LOL

[18:33] cadence Carolina: yes

[18:33] Kitty: oh the pile up huh...i wonder who threw those dead rats on the track..guess we'll never know

[18:33] Kylie: I was still kinda new so wanted to see it all, and I did!

[18:33] Pru: the floats were amazing

[18:34] Gabrielle Riel: Mardi Gras and the hurricane

[18:34] Gabrielle Riel: the two times a year that St John kicks my behind!

[18:34] Emmanuelle Huntress: The advantage of the ever marching parade is you can rustle up your friends any time

[18:34] Iliana Cerise: I want to DJ too... I got all my music collected on Winamp  :)

[18:34] Pru: and we only had a couple of griefers

[18:34] Iliana Cerise: griefers... bah

[18:34] Kitty: yeah not bad

[18:34] Iliana Cerise: grrr

[18:34] Kylie: Yes, that makes it perfect, Emma!

[18:34] Gabrielle Riel: That I got rid of in less than 30 seconds

[18:34] Pru: Gabi totally kicked them to the curb

[18:35] Gabrielle Riel: Even while tipsy!

[18:35] Kitty: she did!

[18:35] Kylie: yayyyy Iliana!

[18:35] Iliana Cerise: good

[18:35] Kylie: OMG they landed on the moon!

[18:35] Iliana Cerise: LOL

[18:36] Gabrielle Riel: I have a lot of work to do, with the partnering at the same time.

[18:36] Kitty: its hard?

[18:36] Iliana Cerise: I can only imagine!

[18:36] Gabrielle Riel: But hey, if I am going to go nonstop anyway, might as well toss it in there!

[18:36] Pru: :)

[18:36] Iliana Cerise: umm... that's a rather personal question, Kitty

[18:37] Kitty: huh oh ok

[18:37] Iliana Cerise: heh heh, go Gabi, go!

[18:37] Gabrielle Riel: The biggest "needs" I have at the moment are to get some folks to have events on Saturday and Sunday

[18:37] Fox Nacht: I'm *hoping* to have my new sim build done by then and would love to host a party there... I'd just need some help with organizing and a DJ and... well all the social stuffs :)

[18:37] Kitty: sweet

[18:37] Gabrielle Riel: and then getting enough DJs for Mardi Gras Day

[18:38] Kitty: maybe one day i'll learn

[18:38] Iliana Cerise: count me in :)

[18:38] Gabrielle Riel: I'll play on Mardi Gras day at some point

[18:38] Fox Nacht: you'd be a fabulous DJ Kitty

[18:38] cadence Carolina: me too

[18:38] Pru: Gabi, will you be able to coach new DJs like last year?

[18:38] Kitty: right?!

[18:38] Cate Cynster: i wish i could offer rock's services but he's pretty much out of djing

[18:38] cadence Carolina: omg you would Kitty

[18:39] Kitty: ty

[18:39] Fox Nacht: wanna premiere on Mardi Gras at my place? hmmm?

[18:39] Gabrielle Riel: I will have no choice - they need to learn how to accept and pass the stream

[18:39] Kitty: hehe

[18:39] Pru: ok, I will attend for a refresher course

[18:40] Gabrielle Riel: I should look and see if I wrote anything up for that. I can't remember.

[18:40] Pru: and hold Iliana's hand

[18:40] Pru: hahaha

[18:40] Iliana Cerise: yay, ty Pru!

[18:40] Iliana Cerise: I just need a refresher, hopefully, I dj'd at Simone's for a year

[18:40] Gabrielle Riel: Any other Mardi Gras questions?

[18:40] Pru: :)

[18:41] Princess Selena bites her tongue and will be good

[18:41] Princess Selena: nope, none here

[18:41] Gabrielle Riel: Next Tuesday will be a Tuesday Tunes, we have 5 Tuesdays this month.

[18:41] Gabrielle Riel: Then we will have another Mardi Gras Tea on February 7

[18:41] Pru: Wow, i didn't realize

[18:41] Gabrielle Riel: More details

[18:42] Iliana Cerise: wow, the month is actually FAT with Tuesdays!

[18:42] cadence Carolina: lol

[18:42] Pru: hahaha

[18:42] Gabrielle Riel: We'll have Tuesday Tunes on Valentine's Day

[18:42] Kylee Gracemount: giggles

[18:42] Gabrielle Riel: Ironically my theme for Valentine's Day 2016, was Lust

[18:42] Pru: oh, shoot... Valentine's I won't be around

[18:42] Iliana Cerise: lol

[18:42] Fox Nacht: rraaaawwwrrrr

[18:42] Kylee Gracemount: Hi Guy !

[18:42] Ava: Hi Guy, GTSY

[18:42] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: but you have to be arond on valentines day! everyone does!

[18:43] Gabrielle Riel: Then we'll have a Tuesday Tunes on the 21st, cause that's my RL birthday

[18:43] Kylie: Hi Guy!

[18:43] Princess Selena: Howdy, Guy!

[18:43] Gabrielle Riel: Hey sweetie  :-)

[18:43] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: helloooooo St. John et al

[18:43] Pru: that's my RL wedding anniversary

[18:43] Iliana Cerise: little did you know LOVE was sneakin up on you, Gabi!

[18:43] Iliana Cerise: Guy! hugggsssssss  :)))

[18:43] Gabrielle Riel: And then Tuesday, Feb 28 is Mardi Gras!

[18:43] Pru: Hi Guy!

[18:43] Kitty: Hey Guy!

[18:43] Gabrielle Riel: That is what our Tuesdays look like for the next month!

[18:43] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: wait, what date was that?  seems inmportant

[18:43] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: Yo Kitty dude

[18:44] Scout MacLeod: Hey Guy!

[18:44] Princess Selena throws a beignet at Guy

[18:44] cadence Carolina: lol

[18:44] cadence Carolina: hi Guy

[18:44] Kylie: LOL

[18:44] Gabrielle Riel: Those are coming in so handy tonight

[18:44] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: googles a beignet and then ducks

[18:44] Princess Selena laughs!!

[18:44] Fox Nacht: ew... half eaten beignets!

[18:44] cadence Carolina: move Kitty

[18:44] Princess Selena: that is an important StJ vocab word....

[18:44] Pru is getting hungry watching flying beignets

[18:44] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: yes Kitty got the moves

[18:44] Kitty: oh yeah

[18:44] Iliana Cerise: Guy I think it's the anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt

[18:45] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: does anyone have a lint roller? tthere's cat fur all over the couch

[18:45] Kitty: haha

[18:45] Iliana Cerise: lol

[18:45] cadence Carolina: lol

[18:45] Fox Nacht: Hahahaha

[18:45] Kylie: LOL

[18:45] Gabrielle Riel laughs

[18:46] Kitty whispers: He's worse than me

[18:46] cadence Carolina: ha

[18:46] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: now that i've completely disrupted everything, hows everyone doing tonight

[18:46] Gabrielle Riel: I just set out beignets Selena sent me

[18:46] Gabrielle Riel: But I don't see them rezzing

[18:47] Kylie: We ate them already

[18:47] cadence Carolina: lol

[18:47] Iliana Cerise: I don't think that hair was Kitty's, Guy... we had a Bigfoot visiting from the swamp earlier

[18:47] Princess Selena: takes like 5 minutes for things to rez

[18:47] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: i feel bad.  Kitty you can sit in my lap if you want

[18:47] Kitty: uh huh

[18:47] Kitty: er..huh

[18:47] Kitty: well lemme think on it

[18:47] Kitty: no

[18:47] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: ok, we can spend the rest of the night avoiding euye contact

[18:47] Pru: awwww

[18:47] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: eye

[18:47] Kitty: k

[18:47] Kitty: blushes

[18:48] Iliana Cerise: lol

[18:48] Scout MacLeod: haha

[18:48] Princess Selena: (they were under the top of the table)

[18:48] Pru: I see them!

[18:48] Gabrielle Riel: Let's make this the official end of the tea transcript, unless you want the world to see you two flirting Kitty and Guy?

[18:48] Princess Selena: tada beignets!

[18:48] Scout MacLeod: mmm beignets

[18:48] Gabrielle Riel: ty Selena!

[18:48] Princess Selena: welcome

[18:48] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: ooh, jammy dodgers!

[18:48] Kitty: oh now that its getting juicy she wants to end it

[18:48] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: Duchess were you saying something about Mardi Gras?

[18:48] Princess Selena: jammy dodgers?

[18:48] Iliana Cerise: giggle

[18:49] Gabrielle Riel: Yes love, you can read the transcript!

[18:49] Emmanuelle Huntress: Wasn't he in a 1940s movie serial?

[18:49] Princess Selena: I got y'all lemon ones cause those are my favs

[18:49] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: AWWWWWWW

[18:49] Gabrielle Riel: You conveniently arrived after all the "business".

[18:49] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: and now i'm getting the business

[18:49] Iliana Cerise: love the shoes and argyle socks, Guy!

[18:49] Kitty: wait Lemonaide creme filled Beignets?? thats  sacrilege!!!!!!!!!!!!

[18:50] Kylie: I agree

[18:50] Princess Selena: shut it, cat

[18:50] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: (whispers) hun you have cat fur on your blouse

[18:50] Fox Nacht: it's a little weird...

[18:50] Kitty: well its true

[18:50] Princess Selena noms happily

[18:50] Kitty: yeah a lot

[18:50] Guy Told 'er I'd Holder: thanks sis

[18:50] Kitty: youd be run outta new Olreans for that

[18:50] Gabrielle Riel: Let's stay and chat! But for the sanity of people reading this transcript, I officially declare this tea finished! Merci à tous!