2016.12.29 13:00 - Strelitzia, Art, Books, Loneliness, and Dreams

All attending this session were guardians. :)
Eliza posted this session, with heart full of wishes (and let's face it, pleading prayers) for the new year ahead! 

But let's start with something beautiful...

Eliza Madrigal: Hi Aph, Raffi :))
Raffila Millgrove: Hi Eliza. and Aph. haven't been here in SL for.. 6 weeks or longer so a bit... off kilter. hope you all had happy holiday times.
Aphrodite Macbain: Hello Eliza and Raffi!
Eliza Madrigal: 6 week... long time!
Eliza Madrigal: *week
Eliza Madrigal: s
Eliza Madrigal: I'm off kilter without reason to be, obviously ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: Lot's been happening in 6 weeks
Eliza Madrigal: Did you travel Raffi? Or just busy times with family?
Raffila Millgrove: I was in Tokyo.. yes. with my grandchildren.. Shrine thing.
Eliza Madrigal: oh, wonderful!
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Aggers :)
Agatha Macbeth: Greetings!
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Druth :)
druth Vlodovic: hey eliza, agatha, others
Raffila Millgrove: it's really pretty in Tokyo in Dec.. lots of lighting displays.
Eliza Madrigal: excuse me one moment, teapot is awhistlin'

Aphrodite Macbain: too bad you couldn't make it to the Solstice party :-(
Agatha Macbeth: Wondered if anyone would be here
Aphrodite Macbain: Hiya Aggers
Raffila Millgrove: Yeah i saw all the photo and i see i missed a very good time.
Aphrodite Macbain: we missed you!
Raffila Millgrove: ahh ty.
Aphrodite Macbain: yw :-)
Eliza Madrigal: back :)
Agatha Macbeth: Hello back
Eliza Madrigal: Raffi, I bet Japan is wonderful over Christmas...
Raffila Millgrove: Hi druth
Eliza Madrigal: not snowing yet I suppose?
Agatha Macbeth: I bet it's wonderful anytime
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Raffila Millgrove: Well i came back with the babies and their mama here for Xmas.. i have been there twice in Dec.. but never for actual Xmas day.. which is good as I love doing it here.

--BELL--

Eliza Madrigal: :)
Raffila Millgrove: the big holiday there is realy New Years.
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Tura :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Tura
Agatha Macbeth: Evening Tura
Tura Brezoianu: hello everyone, and merry Christmas
Agatha Macbeth: And Brucie :)
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Bruce :)
Raffila Millgrove: THey have special food, celebrations and they go to shrine to see how their fortunes look for the new year.
Agatha Macbeth: Micko :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Hiya Bruce
Eliza Madrigal: But not for NY as in this weekend, right Raffi?
Aphrodite Macbain: Hey Mick
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Mick and everyone.
Raffila Millgrove: Hi Mic Bruce Tura.
Mickorod Renard: Hi Folks
Eliza Madrigal: Somewhere end Jan or thereabouts... wonder what animal this year
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Mick! :)
Raffila Millgrove: Yeah they do Jan 1 in Japan.
Agatha Macbeth: Rooster
Mickorod Renard: :)
Agatha Macbeth: End of feb
Eliza Madrigal: Rooster year?
Raffila Millgrove: It's china where htey use the other calendar. for NY
Agatha Macbeth: START of Feb
Agatha Macbeth: Rather
Agatha Macbeth: End of Jan
Eliza Madrigal: Ah, I seem to have friends in japan who do both but maybe that's just a result of their personal ties

druth Vlodovic: when I see NY I keep thinking "new York"
Agatha Macbeth: Me too
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: NY and NY go well together
Eliza Madrigal: :P
Agatha Macbeth: Remember Gaya and me getting confused about that once
druth Vlodovic: NY in NY
Eliza Madrigal: good memory, Agatha!
Agatha Macbeth: Hope she's doing well
Eliza Madrigal: me too... has been a while since last contact
Agatha Macbeth nods sadly
Eliza Madrigal: :::stops to send happy thoughts to Gaya::::
Agatha Macbeth: Yay
Agatha Macbeth: Bleuji :)
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Bleu :)
Bleu Oleander: hi all :)
Aphrodite Macbain waves and smiles at Bleu
Mickorod Renard: Hi Bleu

Eliza Madrigal: So, happy various holidays :)) What's on everyone's mind today?

Agatha Macbeth: Not much it seems

Eliza Madrigal: beginners minds...

Aphrodite Macbain: eating less?
Agatha Macbeth: Shame about Leia and her mom
Mickorod Renard: oh yeh
Eliza Madrigal: yes :(
Aphrodite Macbain: who? what?
Agatha Macbeth: Carrie Fisher and mother went on consecutive days
Agatha Macbeth: Awful
Aphrodite Macbain: ah right
Agatha Macbeth: And George Michael
Eliza Madrigal: like my (once) father in law and his brother... within days of one another, although one had been struggling quite a while :(
Agatha Macbeth nods
Eliza Madrigal: odd patterns

Agatha Macbeth: Not been been a great year one way or another
Eliza Madrigal: I'm sure there are good things that aren't coming to mind... good year for Cubs fans...
Mickorod Renard: and George it seems was a very generous and charitable chap....but kept it secret
Agatha Macbeth: Yes a year late :p

Tura Brezoianu: I saw an article somewhere of 99 good things that happened this year
Tura Brezoianu: like wiping out Ebola in west Africa
Agatha Macbeth: Great
Eliza Madrigal: yes, a biggie
Eliza Madrigal: and some nature preserves protected
druth Vlodovic: yummy nature preserves
Eliza Madrigal: :))
Mickorod Renard: mmm yum
Eliza Madrigal: reserves? lol
Agatha Macbeth throws a cushion at Druth
druth Vlodovic: :P

Eliza Madrigal: and we had a lot of good sessions :)
Bleu Oleander: :)
Agatha Macbeth: Ar
Mickorod Renard: cant beat a good session
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Agatha Macbeth wonders if Mick's been having any good dreams lately
Eliza Madrigal: cute sweater, Bruce
Mickorod Renard: I have had the odd good dream, but haven't recorded any
Mickorod Renard: I need to do some more clubbing
Agatha Macbeth: As the caveman said
Eliza Madrigal: clubbing?
Mickorod Renard: yes, that stimulates my best dreams
Agatha Macbeth: I can imagine
Eliza Madrigal: hm

Eliza Madrigal: I was wondering how it might work to try a dream retreat here in SL
Raffila Millgrove: oh my cult had them often.
Aphrodite Macbain: whom do you club MIck?
Eliza Madrigal: your cult?
Mickorod Renard: he he
Eliza Madrigal listens
Raffila Millgrove: haha... mixed up my Im window and my chat one.. no biggie. continue please. Raffi looks a bit pale.
Aphrodite Macbain: good idea Eliza
Eliza Madrigal laughs

--BELL--

Agatha Macbeth: Can't beat a good cult
Aphrodite Macbain: maybe we could have a daydream retreat
Mickorod Renard: I was sort of anonymously interested in the cult
druth Vlodovic: maybe you can beat one with a club
Mickorod Renard: not that I admit to that of course
Eliza Madrigal: hahaha
Eliza Madrigal: most who are in true cults would deny that they were
Agatha Macbeth: Natch
Mickorod Renard: of course we all do
Eliza Madrigal: :)

druth Vlodovic: how would you do a dream retreat?
Eliza Madrigal: that is my question druth
druth Vlodovic: synchronize sleeping then report?
Aphrodite Macbain: :-D
Mickorod Renard: i spoze you could all eat strong cheese beforehand
Agatha Macbeth: Just try not to snore after
druth Vlodovic: "today we are studying the effects of anchovies"
Eliza Madrigal rolls eyes

Eliza Madrigal: you make it very hard not to type in the bell, haha
Agatha Macbeth: Bell?
Aphrodite Macbain turns on her audio
druth Vlodovic: me too :/

Dreaming Together

Eliza Madrigal: In a serious way, it would be a period of time in which there were sessions focused on dreaming... times for sharing or being quiet together...
Agatha Macbeth: Long muted I'm afraid
Eliza Madrigal: it would be concentrated, and have ways to keep notes in the wiki
Agatha Macbeth: Yes agreed Liz
Aphrodite Macbain: Sort of the way we did a few yeas ago?
Mickorod Renard: I have just noticed that the words about the bull and minful part are in a colour I cant see very well
Agatha Macbeth: We could hear about Mick's French girls again
Eliza Madrigal: no one can make themselves dream but it would be like a workshop, but more quiet, contemplative
Agatha Macbeth: Mm
Eliza Madrigal: Aph, you mean with adapted 99 days?
Aphrodite Macbain remembers Maxine's dream workshops
Agatha Macbeth: That's one long dream
Eliza Madrigal: :) "adapted"
Tura Brezoianu: 99 days?
Agatha Macbeth: Adopted?
Aphrodite Macbain: something else entirely
Bruce Mowbray: We've had 99-day projects before, Raffi.
Eliza Madrigal: http://wiki.playasbeing.org/Classes_and_Sessions/The_99_Days_project
Mickorod Renard: focusing on dreaming really helps to remember them
Bruce Mowbray: Sry, I meant to type Tura.

Eliza Madrigal: @Tura, it started off as a way to do a daily check in around certain focuses
Eliza Madrigal: Wol made the template for the wiki and designed the basic structure
Aphrodite Macbain: I really enjoyed them
Bruce Mowbray: me too.
Aphrodite Macbain: people were really creative
Eliza Madrigal: I liked doing it along with retreat sessions
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Eliza Madrigal: but it is a commitment... 99 days proved too long for many well-intended
Eliza Madrigal: when we tried future rounds
Mickorod Renard: I have never managed it

Bruce Mowbray: They are good to do to coincide with New Years resolutions.
Aphrodite Macbain: Didnt we change the length of time?
Tura Brezoianu: some people practice 30-day trials for attempting new things
Agatha Macbeth: I'm way better at dreaming than meditating
Aphrodite Macbain: MAybe a month - 30 days
Eliza Madrigal: yes, that's how we adapted them Aph
Aphrodite Macbain nods
Eliza Madrigal: Tura, exactly... the idea came out of that study that said if one sticks with something a certain amount of time....

Raffila Millgrove: I miss Maxine's dream workshop.. i couldn't come often.. but i sure loved it.
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Bruce Mowbray: The making of new habits.
Agatha Macbeth: True Raff
Eliza Madrigal nods
Aphrodite Macbain: It was well attended too
Raffila Millgrove: it was and it was always really good too
Raffila Millgrove: but we did some dream stuff awhile back.. like about a year ago? it went good.
Eliza Madrigal: Max's specialization, and Fox's when she attended, elevated the teasing out of insights
Raffila Millgrove: remember? we did here in PAB...
Raffila Millgrove: i thought it went pretty well. i attended it.
Eliza Madrigal: although honestly, everyone is quite insightful when we are really interested in something
Mickorod Renard: yes rafi
Raffila Millgrove: Bruce and Aph both i think came..
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Eliza Madrigal: We did dream circles with Luci as well...
Bruce Mowbray: Yeppers.
Raffila Millgrove: yes
Raffila Millgrove: went great.
 

We turn to Art...

Eliza Madrigal: thanks for the note Aph, can we read this now?
Aphrodite Macbain: my painting?          [above]
Eliza Madrigal: This is beautiful Aph. I thought you were sharing a dream :)
Mickorod Renard: I would love to see it too Aph
Mickorod Renard: oops
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: painting this way must finely hone your attentions
Aphrodite Macbain: nods

--BELL--

Aphrodite Macbain: it's like meditating
Agatha Macbeth: Just don't cut yer ear off
Aphrodite Macbain: giggles
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Raffila Millgrove: where'e the painting? RAffi looks around..
Raffila Millgrove: ah.. ty for passing to us.
Aphrodite Macbain: I gave u one Raffi
Raffila Millgrove: yes. wow.. way cool.
Agatha Macbeth: Oh my
Eliza Madrigal: Aph has, or had, a display of botanicals in Sorrentia
Mickorod Renard: very nice ty Aph
Agatha Macbeth: Flower power
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: makes me feel tropical in this cold climate
Eliza Madrigal: :)

Bleu Oleander: have you tried doing an abstract flower ever Aph?
Aphrodite Macbain: yes - that's what I used to do
Aphrodite Macbain: but I find I learn so much just by looking at what is

druth Vlodovic: funny, it seems to me that realistic drawing would nail you to reality in a severe way, and dreaming seems more internal and subjective, but what about painting what you dream?
Eliza Madrigal: a la Dali
Bleu Oleander: yes
Bruce Mowbray: or Bosch?
Aphrodite Macbain: interesting idea druth
Aphrodite Macbain: but my dreams are very murky
Bruce Mowbray: Hieronymus
Mickorod Renard: a dream is usually busy in my experience,,too much to encompass
Aphrodite Macbain: now there is someone with imagination!
Bleu Oleander: abstract art challenges viewers imagination and creativity more than realism

Agatha Macbeth: Strelitzia /strɛˈlɪtsiə/ is a genus of five species of perennial plants, native to South Africa. It belongs to the plant family Strelitziaceae. The genus is named after the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, birthplace of Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom. A common name of the genus is bird of paradise flower / plant, because of a resemblance of its flowers to birds-of-paradise. In South Africa it is commonly known as a crane flower and is featured on the reverse of the 50 cent coin. It is the floral emblem of the City of Los Angeles; two of the species, Strelitzia nicolai and Strelitzia reginae, are frequently grown as house plants. [Wikipedia]

Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Aphrodite Macbain: umm thanks Aggers!
Agatha Macbeth: YW
druth Vlodovic: I could never get into abstract art enough to feel affected by it
Raffila Millgrove: wow i live five minutes from LA and i never knew it was our floral emblem. amazing. i have one in my yard.
Agatha Macbeth: Emblem of LA, who knew?
Eliza Madrigal: I've always loved modern art but lately find myself soothed by natural sketches
Aphrodite Macbain: I love Georgia O'Keefe's flowers
Bruce Mowbray: Seems fitting: City of Angels and Paradise flower.
Agatha Macbeth: True dat

Mickorod Renard: I used to love Franz marc and his animalisation of art
Aphrodite Macbain: animalisation?
Agatha Macbeth: You're such a lad Mick
Bruce Mowbray: https://www.google.com/search?q=Fran...iw=664&bih=651
Mickorod Renard: /:/0
Aphrodite Macbain: amazing colours
Eliza Madrigal: colorful
Aphrodite Macbain: the Blau Reiter group experimented with the power of colour
Mickorod Renard: his horses are most famous but I made copies of most over time
Aphrodite Macbain: colour as a means of communicating emotions
Agatha Macbeth: Mm

Bleu Oleander: reading a fascinating book "Reductionism in art and brain science" by Kandel ... has very interesting thoughts on abstract art, emotions, creativity
Tura Brezoianu: nice quote in one of those images: "All works of art created by truthful minds without regard for the work's conventional exterior remain genuine for all times."
Aphrodite Macbain: what does it say that's new Bleu?
Eliza Madrigal: hm, truthful minds
Aphrodite Macbain: how do we know if our mind is truthful?
Eliza Madrigal: maybe saying something in intention, or essence, rather than mere translatable form

Bleu Oleander: what does truthful mean?
Aphrodite Macbain: what is true?
Bleu Oleander: :) that too

druth Vlodovic: it is interesting to see some reductionist art retains the image and motion but obviously with far less information than would be available in nature
Aphrodite Macbain: It implies there is only one way to know something
Eliza Madrigal: like, a child can paint a copy of something and maybe they only get the eyes similar and everything else is all over, but it captures the feeling somehow
Tura Brezoianu: "truth is ... real things" (there's a story behind that one)
druth Vlodovic: sort of a comment on how our minds arrive at truth, rather than the nature of truth itself
Aphrodite Macbain: I'll bet :-)

Loneliness

Raffila Millgrove: I am reading The Lonely City.. study of loneliness... told by memoir and critical study of some iconic artists working in New York. very dark... but fascinating too.
druth Vlodovic: what is the story raffi?
Aphrodite Macbain: they made art as a result of loneliness raffi?
Raffila Millgrove: author Olivia Laing
Raffila Millgrove: they made art with subject of loneliness.. theme. of most interesting thing Laing mentions is how hard loneliness is to describe..how therapists/shrinks.. stay away from it and don't study it much.
Aphrodite Macbain: I have heard that boredom is a good motivator for art making...
Aphrodite Macbain: wonder why Raffi
Aphrodite Macbain: just because it's hard to describe...
Raffila Millgrove: says that people have a very hard time talking about their own loneliness.. and it's almost like cooties.. people .. shy away from it.
druth Vlodovic: makes them feel lost and alone

Mickorod Renard: I always wanted to do expressionistic dance as a way to avoid the frustration I felt when painting due to my color blindness..a similar feeling of release

--BELL--


Aphrodite Macbain: It's embarrassing to admit that one is lonely
Raffila Millgrove: lot of shame in it.
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Aphrodite Macbain: odd, isn't it?
Bleu Oleander: a quote from another book ... "Its not cancer, its not heart disease, its isolation. It is the pronounced isolation that so many people are experiencing that is the great pathology of our lives today."
Aphrodite Macbain: I can feel lonely in a crowd...
Raffila Millgrove: therapists don't like..dealing with it. they aren't very good at helping.
Eliza Madrigal: it is also something people are drawn to, yet it is sort of treated like 'only' a bad thing
druth Vlodovic: it is also how bullies etc pick victims, so it is actively dangerous to admit to

Aphrodite Macbain: alone is different frrom lonely
Raffila Millgrove: yes. alone is not lonely.
Raffila Millgrove: this is a really good book.
Aphrodite Macbain: sounds like
Raffila Millgrove: for a topic that is rarely addressed, lot ot scholarship in it.
Bleu Oleander: thanks Raffi
Eliza Madrigal: *some people are drawn to, rather. Hm... if one cultivates an alone life, there are times when they'll probably be lonely....
Tura Brezoianu: aloneness is useful, valuable
Aphrodite Macbain: yes

Music

Mickorod Renard: I was listening to themusic we listened to in 1970..which would have been the years I was merging into young adulthood..the music at that time was good but generally morbid..i wondered if it had an effect on me

Our Fountain

Raffila Millgrove: i feel better for reading it. lots better. i always thought i was lonely a lot.. after i read it.. i realize.. wow.. no nothing like the suffering of these peoples.. they are truly suffering.
Aphrodite Macbain: thinking about the isolation cell in prisons...a true punishment
Raffila Millgrove: yes. this longing for intimacy and touch and .. no one there.
Aphrodite Macbain: we are social animals
Agatha Macbeth: You don't have to be in prison for that
Raffila Millgrove: i think that isolation thing in jails is cruel punishment.

Aphrodite Macbain: perhaps that's why we sit around a pretend fountain and talk to each other
Eliza Madrigal: we are always 'being with (or in a sense considering, reaching out for) others' - even when alone. Maybe why art can flourish in aloneness
Raffila Millgrove: and to be like that not in jail.. to be in some circumstantial jail.. while everyone else.. larking about free? wow.
Bleu Oleander: exactly what Friedman talks about in his new book ... isolation due to technology ... lacking human to human experience
Agatha Macbeth: Looks real to me
Eliza Madrigal: :)) Agatha
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Eliza Madrigal: dream fountain

Aphrodite Macbain: I live alone and I value these chats
Aphrodite Macbain: I can make a connection that is meaningful

Eliza Madrigal: I live really not alone, but also value these chats, hehe

Agatha Macbeth: What about your cat Aphie?
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: cats
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Agatha Macbeth: ^.^
Agatha Macbeth: Yeh
Aphrodite Macbain: they are wonderful but they dont talk
Aphrodite Macbain: except when they want something
Agatha Macbeth: I've known them to type tho

Mickorod Renard: yes, there is something in that.......my bro was critical of online stuff like this..even tho he hasn't experienced what we do..but I reminded him of the hours and hours he watches strangers kicking a ball around on tv
Eliza Madrigal nods
Raffila Millgrove: lol Mic. that's great!
Aphrodite Macbain: yes now THAT's meaningless
Aphrodite Macbain: for me
Eliza Madrigal: vicarious
Agatha Macbeth: The meaning of meaningless

Mickorod Renard: I like football..but i dont enrich myself like I do here with you guys
Aphrodite Macbain: he he
Agatha Macbeth: Zen said much the same once
druth Vlodovic: I never understood the idea of technology isolating people, to me it seems the opposite
Aphrodite Macbain: He likes football?
Bleu Oleander: this is a bit more interactive than TV :)
Aphrodite Macbain: "Alone together"
Agatha Macbeth: He likes meditation better I think

Eliza Madrigal: @druth, if you spend most of your time with people online then have a crisis in "RL"... they can be far away
druth Vlodovic: what seems to isolate people in modern society is economics and the subsequent lack of time and energy to socialize
Mickorod Renard: yes, just wait till we get vr and that stuff
Bleu Oleander: but still not as full as being face to face, at least for me
Aphrodite Macbain: Sherry Turkle writes about how technology both isolates us and connects us
Bleu Oleander: yes
Agatha Macbeth: Is that a SL name?
Bleu Oleander: RL
Aphrodite Macbain: She says those who are on line a lot don't have many friends
Agatha Macbeth: OMG
Aphrodite Macbain: no
Eliza Madrigal: virtual hugs are wonderful, but not adequate alone. I suppose with enough monetary resources there isn't a gap, or doesn't have to be, but for most, for sure
Aphrodite Macbain: she's a prof at MIT
Agatha Macbeth: Wow
Raffila Millgrove: i read the book last week. i wasn't impressed. she's done better.

Tura Brezoianu: we're always alone inside our own skulls
Aphrodite Macbain: has written a number of books- on SL and MOOGs etc
Raffila Millgrove: Sherry Turkle. this isn't one of her best.. just a view.
Eliza Madrigal: :) Tura
druth Vlodovic: part of our dearth of socialization is small families, if you have 12 siblings (a realistic scenario in rural Ontario 50 years ago) you get plenty of socialization and habits of socializing
Eliza Madrigal: I agree druth, tech isn't the only factor by a long shot
Aphrodite Macbain: erk I cant imagine surviving in a family of 12
Bleu Oleander: not sure you need 12 siblings ... perhaps just some good groups?
druth Vlodovic: I have a few friends who grew up in that scenario
Aphrodite Macbain: I'd be sitting in the loo alot
Eliza Madrigal: hehhe
Eliza Madrigal: someone would need it Aph
druth Vlodovic: not with 12 siblings you wouldn't :P
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
druth Vlodovic: especially on baked beans day
Agatha Macbeth: Erk
Aphrodite Macbain: rofl

Raffila Millgrove: quick view..reason why i liked her earlier books better--i feel she's getting old. she's not on the cutting edge the way she used to be.. she's not "out there" the way she was 25 yrs ago.
Agatha Macbeth: Neither am I :p
Aphrodite Macbain: no it's hard to keep being out there
Aphrodite Macbain: but she has done a lot of work on the subject
Eliza Madrigal: easy to lose touch when you've had some success and people look to you for particular things
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Mickorod Renard: I enjoy the escape from mayhem of rl..and enjoy also the time we give each other in our dialog here in pab
Bleu Oleander: I'm not sure I'd write her off yet tho

druth Vlodovic: so, hands up, if someone from this circle IMed you and said they are trapped in your city tonight and needed a place to sleep would you offer?
Aphrodite Macbain: no :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: depends druth
Agatha Macbeth: Depends on gender and age I guess ;-)
Mickorod Renard: you are all welcome here in my home
Bleu Oleander: the "whole" circle? hehe
Aphrodite Macbain: but I think I would say yes
druth Vlodovic: presumably one at a time
Aphrodite Macbain: not sure about you druth....:)

Raffila Millgrove: oh it's still good stuff.. but if you want to be a social scientist speicializing in tech/social media.. you need to be very dup to date.. she's way behind in AI for example. way behind.

--BELL--

Eliza Madrigal: hehe Aph
druth Vlodovic: humans don't change much, though our understanding of them does
Bleu Oleander: who's on it with AI Raffi?
druth Vlodovic: that explains the locked door aph
Raffila Millgrove: oh yeah i would offer. i did it already. i ended up with a homelss guy here for.. a few months.
Aphrodite Macbain: he he
Raffila Millgrove: total stranger.
Eliza Madrigal: from this group here, likely so, but people I live with would need to feel okay about it too
Raffila Millgrove: very interesting experience.

Raffila Millgrove: my online gruop. of which i knew some of them.. they ask if this guy can have a bed for like 3 days.. turned into like 3 mos.
Aphrodite Macbain: I let someone from this group stay with me for 3 months
Tura Brezoianu: no spare bed in my house
Aphrodite Macbain: it was difficult
Mickorod Renard: I recon my grandkids would drive you all out within a day
Aphrodite Macbain: and scary
Eliza Madrigal: :))
Raffila Millgrove: and this guy was total stranger to me.. and they vouch and the truth was.. they wanted to get rid of this guy they had hauled out for Colo to CA to stay with them..... great.
druth Vlodovic: wow, after two I'd be importing Madagascar hissing cockroaches "sorry man I really have to get the place sprayed."
Eliza Madrigal: (not smiling about 'scary', Aph, but Mick's comment)
Aphrodite Macbain nods and smiles
Raffila Millgrove: convicted felon of course among other stuff. haha. i am serious. but i would still do it again.
Mickorod Renard: thats cool Raffi
druth Vlodovic puts Raffi's number safely in a pocket...
Mickorod Renard: he he
Mickorod Renard: you never know, I have visited at least a couple of pab folk in the past
Raffila Millgrove: he had amazing sad background. his parents have him up as a baby due to being drug addicts.. into foster care.. when he was 11-12.. they had 2 other children by then and they took him bakc and then.. They Gave him up Again. ruined him.
Eliza Madrigal waiting for Mick visit
Mickorod Renard: :)

Eliza Madrigal: Of everyone here, have only met Brucie f2f
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, Eliza has.
Eliza Madrigal: but it feels like I've met all of PaB, weirdly
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: this group is honestly so peculiar... couldn't make a formula and repeat it for sure
druth Vlodovic: hard to hear a story where everyone is the done by party, though if you dig deep enough there are a lot of them
Eliza Madrigal: :)

Aphrodite Macbain: I need lunch!
Bruce Mowbray: I need scraping.
Agatha Macbeth: Peculiar us?
druth Vlodovic: I vote for supper
Mickorod Renard: bye Bruce, Aph
Eliza Madrigal: :) happy dining Bruce and Aph
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks for a great conversation. Happy new year eeveryone
Eliza Madrigal: Happy New Year
Agatha Macbeth: Shalom scrapers
Agatha Macbeth: HNY
Mickorod Renard: yay..happy new year
Bleu Oleander: happy new year!
Raffila Millgrove: ooh the hr is up.. it goes so fast! i just got here! bye Bruce, Aph. Happy new year and bye all
Eliza Madrigal: in a flash
druth Vlodovic: scarpers

Eliza Madrigal: :) other book recommendations...
Eliza Madrigal: did buy The Vegetarian, btw, Bleu
Eliza Madrigal: haven't gotten up bravery to read it yet, haha
Bleu Oleander: oh will be very interested ...
druth Vlodovic: we need a PaB reading list :P
Agatha Macbeth: Looks like we got one
druth Vlodovic: recipies?
Bleu Oleander: I'm trying to find someone else who's read it :)
Eliza Madrigal: that's Bleu, druth, hehe
Bleu Oleander: lol
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Bleu Oleander: strange and powerful book
Eliza Madrigal: not very large
Mickorod Renard: gotta go folks, nice t c ya
Eliza Madrigal: but so much buzzing about it
Agatha Macbeth: Bit like The Prophet
Eliza Madrigal: Bye Mick, thanks for being here :)
Bleu Oleander: so much to buzz in it
Agatha Macbeth: Dream well Mick
Bleu Oleander: bye Mick
Bleu Oleander: I've read it twice now
Eliza Madrigal: Ohhh
Eliza Madrigal: must be good
druth Vlodovic: wow,didn't think of vegetarianism as being a radical decision in Korea
Tura Brezoianu: thgouht it would be about being vegetarian, but I just looked it up on Amazon, and it's...not quite that
Bleu Oleander: its a wow

Agatha Macbeth: Every book should be read at least twice
Tura Brezoianu: or not at all :)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Bleu Oleander: it is and it isn't
Eliza Madrigal: I'm not reading Stalin Vol 1 again :P
Agatha Macbeth: Try Vol 2 then
Bleu Oleander: or me Hitler :P
Eliza Madrigal: heheh
druth Vlodovic: though when I think about what vegetarians go through in Canada where it is "accepted" and (ab)"normal" it shouldn't surprise me
Agatha Macbeth: Save the moose!
Eliza Madrigal: I wish I hadn't heard an excerpt in a books podcast... but, I'll likely read it this week
Bleu Oleander: :)
Agatha Macbeth: Son of gulag
druth Vlodovic: in the dark...
Eliza Madrigal: (Oh, not sure if I actually posted what I typed, that I'll see if Luci can spare some time for dream retreat sessions, sometime this year)
Agatha Macbeth: Yay
druth Vlodovic: I should go slay some carrots for sustenance
druth Vlodovic: have fun guys
Eliza Madrigal smiles
Eliza Madrigal: bye druth, Happy New Year
Bleu Oleander: by druth
Agatha Macbeth: TC
Agatha Macbeth: HNY
druth Vlodovic: HNY
Bleu Oleander: must get going too
Bleu Oleander: HNY all
Agatha Macbeth: Aww
Eliza Madrigal: ntsy too, Bleu and Tura
Agatha Macbeth: HNY

Eliza Madrigal: Happy New Year :)
Tura Brezoianu: Happy New Year
Eliza Madrigal: May 2017 be wonderful
Tura Brezoianu: as 2016 falls off the edge of the cliff...
Agatha Macbeth: And the other eleven months
Eliza Madrigal smiles
Bleu Oleander: :)
Eliza Madrigal: ready or not....
Bleu Oleander: take care and see you all next year :)
Eliza Madrigal: See you soon
Agatha Macbeth waves

Tura Brezoianu: we get to see Trump and Brexit actually happen! Interesting times
Eliza Madrigal scared
Eliza Madrigal shivers
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: may the world rise to the occasion somehow
Eliza Madrigal: challenge?
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: threat...
Eliza Madrigal: ding ding ding, got the word
Tura Brezoianu: the reward for rising to a challenge...
Agatha Macbeth: Maybe there's a good war waiting in the wings
Tura Brezoianu: is a bigger challenge

--BELL--

Eliza Madrigal: eep, you're too smart Tura
Eliza Madrigal: I hope not Aggers
Eliza Madrigal: but honestly... sigh

Eliza Madrigal: back to my current mantra, "who do I wish to be in a time like this?"
Eliza Madrigal: (with no answer)
Tura Brezoianu: goodnight Eliza, Agatha, keep well
Agatha Macbeth: Bottom line Do you have a choice?
Eliza Madrigal: Nite Tura
Agatha Macbeth: TC Tura HNY
Eliza Madrigal: 'cept... good pet mom to George.. that I'm sure of
Eliza Madrigal: and there are the others too, hehee

Agatha Macbeth: Families make it worthwhile
Eliza Madrigal: and friends
Agatha Macbeth: And dogs
Agatha Macbeth: And cats
Eliza Madrigal: for sure
Eliza Madrigal: and honestly, it is a big and interesting time to be alive
Agatha Macbeth: And curry
Eliza Madrigal: definitely curry
Agatha Macbeth: Mm
Eliza Madrigal: and tiramisu
Agatha Macbeth: Bless you
Eliza Madrigal: not too close after curry
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal laughs

Agatha Macbeth: Must look at FB to see if Wol's been up to anything
Eliza Madrigal: nice to keep in touch that way
Agatha Macbeth: Yep
Eliza Madrigal: but miss Wol in SL
Agatha Macbeth nods
Agatha Macbeth: Orcs and mooses
Eliza Madrigal: Okay friendy....
Agatha Macbeth: Hug Georgie for me
Eliza Madrigal: must look for doggo and son, figure out the rest of the night
Agatha Macbeth nods
Eliza Madrigal: <3 hugs to you Aggers, hope holiday was warm and wonderful
Agatha Macbeth: Could watch Fox News
Eliza Madrigal hacks
Agatha Macbeth: Or then again...
Eliza Madrigal: oh, excuse me....
Eliza Madrigal: :))
Agatha Macbeth: :P

Eliza Madrigal: wow nice outfit
Eliza Madrigal: stand still a sec....
Agatha Macbeth: Xmas outfit
Eliza Madrigal: really nice
Agatha Macbeth: Had it ages
Eliza Madrigal: and you've the figure for it
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Agatha Macbeth: Figure so
Agatha Macbeth: OK, get the lead on
Eliza Madrigal: Nite Agatha, HNY
Agatha Macbeth: HNY dear Liz ♥