The Guardian for this meeting was Eos Amaterasu. The comments are by Eos Amaterasu.

Eos Amaterasu: Hi aph
Aphrodite Macbain: Greetings Eos
Catrinamonblue Resident: 's current display-name is "Catrinamonblue".
Aphrodite Macbain: brb
Eos Amaterasu: Hi Cat
Catrinamonblue Resident: hi Eos :)

--BELL--

ContreCourant Resident: 's current display-name is "ContreCourant".
Eos Amaterasu: "be prepared" is the theme for the week, I believe
Eos Amaterasu: Hi, upstream!
ContreCourant Resident: laughs
ContreCourant Resident: Hello
ContreCourant Resident: no one has ever called me that!
ContreCourant Resident: You win a prize
Eos Amaterasu: oh, yum!
Catrinamonblue Resident: Hi Contre how are you tonight?
ContreCourant Resident: I'll have to think of something. Maybe a paddle
Eos Amaterasu: heh heh

ContreCourant Resident: Hello! I remember you. We met a few weeks ago
Catrinamonblue Resident: yes :) and I remember you too we had a great conversation with Druth
ContreCourant Resident: who are Sam and Prin?
ContreCourant Resident: I dont remember them
ContreCourant Resident: where?
Catrinamonblue Resident: ah they are my kitties :) I have 3 in RL but only 2 in SL :)
Eos Amaterasu: There's an avatar named oO0Oo who's also called Sam (short for Samuo)
Catrinamonblue Resident: oh didn't know that :)
ContreCourant Resident: Interesting. Funny name. Does it have a meaning?
Eos Amaterasu: no one ever asked :-)
ContreCourant Resident: Why did you call them Sam and Prin?
ContreCourant Resident: Are they the names of your cats in RL?
Catrinamonblue Resident: no real reason, just came to me
Catrinamonblue Resident: no :)
Catrinamonblue Resident: in RL my cats are Princess, Xena and Bandit :)
ContreCourant Resident: lol great names
ContreCourant Resident: sound like TV stars
Eos Amaterasu: very cat names

ContreCourant Resident: Do you have pets Eos?
Eos Amaterasu: not at the moment. I have had cats, and a dog
ContreCourant Resident: I wish I could have a dog
Eos Amaterasu: a pygmy elephant would be my ideal pet / companion
ContreCourant Resident: tries to imagine why
ContreCourant Resident: they would never forget you?
Eos Amaterasu: for example, he/she could go to the fridge and bring me a beer, when we're watching a movie
Catrinamonblue Resident: lol
Eos Amaterasu: I'd have to get round sneakers for the elephants
ContreCourant Resident: hmmm using its trunk? Wjat is the advantage of having an elephants?
Eos Amaterasu: its trunk is very handy
ContreCourant Resident: could do the vacuuming
Eos Amaterasu: the thing about elephants is they are very social and family oriented, so would need more of their tribe around
Eos Amaterasu: but that would be good for human beings
Catrinamonblue Resident: is dying on the floor laughing at you two :O)
Eos Amaterasu: harumpf!
ContreCourant Resident: hmmm how would you feel about a family of pygmy elephants?
ContreCourant Resident: in your living room
Eos Amaterasu: well, I'd need a large living room
Eos Amaterasu: perhaps I would visit them in their living room
ContreCourant Resident: smiles
Catrinamonblue Resident: Druth just told me he wants 1 ft high elephants 4
ContreCourant Resident: 4 elephants?
Catrinamonblue Resident: sorry typo the 4 wasn't supposed to be there :)
ContreCourant Resident waves at druth
Eos Amaterasu: 1 ft high is somewhat small
ContreCourant Resident: bigger than a pygmy
Catrinamonblue Resident: :) Druth waves back from RL
ContreCourant Resident: smiles
Eos Amaterasu: 3 to 4 feet high would be all right
Eos Amaterasu: can go food shopping together
ContreCourant Resident: Is she watching over your shoulder?
Catrinamonblue Resident: yes because I'm laghing so much
Eos Amaterasu: ~~ Druth!
ContreCourant Resident: you could put the groceries on their backs
Eos Amaterasu: yes
Eos Amaterasu: give them shopping lists
ContreCourant Resident: attach the lists to their tails

--BELL--

Eos Amaterasu: any thought on this week's theme of "be prepared"?
Catrinamonblue Resident: Druth tries to avoid being prepared :)
ContreCourant Resident: ??
Catrinamonblue Resident: I'm the planner of the household :)
ContreCourant Resident: What do you plan?
ContreCourant Resident: meals?
Catrinamonblue Resident: the budget, vacations, car maintenance and yeas meals too
ContreCourant Resident: what is the theme discussion for this week?
Catrinamonblue Resident: we are changing that now though and she is learning to take care of some planning, preparation type stuff
ContreCourant Resident: ah being prepared. sorry
Eos Amaterasu: (theme for this week is "be prepared")
Eos Amaterasu: I guess one sense of being prepared is seeing the road ahead
Eos Amaterasu: even though every detail cannot be seen
ContreCourant Resident: I try and be prepared for other things too, like learning new things, avoiding disasters, putting on clean underwear
Eos Amaterasu: be pre-weared
Catrinamonblue Resident: :)
Eos Amaterasu: there's something there
Eos Amaterasu: if you can take care of yourself, your stance and state of mind / intention
Eos Amaterasu: that's reallly all you can do about meeting the world
ContreCourant Resident: I would like to be prepared for new adventures. Someone said that in order to be really prepared you have to be ready to move quickly like having your bags packed when the elevator doors open
ContreCourant Resident: sometimes they open and your ags aren't packed
ContreCourant Resident: other times your bags are packed and the never seem to open
ContreCourant Resident: I would like to be ready if a loved one dies, or a friend leaves the city or I loose something vauable
ContreCourant Resident: psychologically prepared
Catrinamonblue Resident: being prepared for the end - having a will made - something I have yet to do
ContreCourant Resident: detached maybe
Eos Amaterasu: living in transition
ContreCourant Resident: yes Eos
Eos Amaterasu: in perspective bigger than our lifetimes
ContreCourant Resident: being prepared to live without answers or with uncertainty
Eos Amaterasu: inside that perspective in tiny details
ContreCourant Resident: say more?
Catrinamonblue Resident: being prepared for chaos?
ContreCourant Resident: yes- trying to be calm within it
Catrinamonblue Resident: though chaos finds you and shakes your life upside down
Eos Amaterasu: both order and chaos
Catrinamonblue Resident: don;t know how prepared you can be for that
ContreCourant Resident: yes - it's a challenge to be calm strong and stable

ContreCourant Resident: resilient
Catrinamonblue Resident: I'm not as resilient as I used to be :(
ContreCourant Resident: I have been reading a book about the Emotional Life of the Brain
ContreCourant Resident: one of the emotions he defines is resilience
Catrinamonblue Resident: listens
ContreCourant Resident: to be calm when the world falls apart
ContreCourant Resident: It takes practice.
ContreCourant Resident: through meditation, he says
Eos Amaterasu: to bend with the energy, which finds your center
ContreCourant Resident: and in trying to find yourself you can then loose yourself, let go

--BELL--

ContreCourant Resident: stop clinging
Catrinamonblue Resident: clinging...... that's me right now...... holding tight to the things I can....trying to hold onto some control in a situation out of control.......and failing miserably
Catrinamonblue Resident: hurting myself in the meantime
Catrinamonblue Resident: and others
ContreCourant Resident: I'm sorry
Eos Amaterasu: ouch
ContreCourant Resident: ((Cat))
Catrinamonblue Resident: it is what it is and I'm trying to learn new and different ways to deal because what I'm doing isn't working
Catrinamonblue Resident: and so I come here and learn from all of you
Catrinamonblue Resident: different things that can help
ContreCourant Resident: The challenge is to first be strong in yourself
Catrinamonblue Resident: you all help me so much
ContreCourant Resident: you mean people in PaB?
Catrinamonblue Resident: yes PaB
Catrinamonblue Resident: I have met some really loving people here
ContreCourant Resident: It is a very nurturing community
Catrinamonblue Resident: and have been learning about meditation and droppping
Catrinamonblue Resident: slowing down
Catrinamonblue Resident: which is very hard for me
ContreCourant Resident: It's hard for most of us
ContreCourant Resident: I dont come to PaB very often
ContreCourant Resident: but explore many of the Buddhist plaes in SL
Catrinamonblue Resident: SL is very new to me and this was the first place I really got to know so here I am :)
ContreCourant Resident: there are many places here that are supportive. But yu are right, I think PaB is special
Eos Amaterasu: It's a good place, cared for by good people :-)
Eos Amaterasu: who care for people
Eos Amaterasu: and the openness and awareness that gives rise to care
Catrinamonblue Resident: yes that is the feeling I have gotten here
Eos Amaterasu: a not-ignoring awareness
Eos Amaterasu: but also not pushing away, or trying to suck in
Catrinamonblue Resident: :)
ContreCourant Resident: listening, paying attention, empathizing
Eos Amaterasu: life isn't all bliss, so whatever it is right now is the working ground
Eos Amaterasu: or playground
ContreCourant Resident: :-)
ContreCourant Resident: sometimes you fall off the monkey bars
Catrinamonblue Resident: playground it is :)
Catrinamonblue Resident: yes and you get back up
Catrinamonblue Resident: dust youself off and move on
ContreCourant Resident: all over again..."
Eos Amaterasu: "you lose yourself, you re-appear, you suddenly find you have nothing to fear..."
Catrinamonblue Resident: fear is the big thing
Catrinamonblue Resident: the one that dominates
ContreCourant Resident: what are you afraid of?
ContreCourant Resident: what is your biggest fear?
Catrinamonblue Resident: being alone
Catrinamonblue Resident: lost
ContreCourant Resident: yes- that's pretty basic isn't it?
Catrinamonblue Resident: yes
ContreCourant Resident: but, we are always alone in some ways
ContreCourant Resident: even in a crowd
Eos Amaterasu: even when alone
Eos Amaterasu: Hi Paradise

ContreCourant Resident: we need an anchor to stop the freefall
Eos Amaterasu: washing the dishes

ContreCourant Resident: Hello Paradise
Paradise Tennant: hiya eos contre cat :)) smiles and listens
Catrinamonblue Resident: I'm sorry guys didn't mean to take over the conversation
ContreCourant Resident: smiles
ContreCourant Resident: not at all
Eos Amaterasu: attending to the real little details
Catrinamonblue Resident: Hi Paradise
ContreCourant Resident: they are big details I think
ContreCourant Resident: fear of being alone
Eos Amaterasu: there are real concerns, in a "prepare" sort of way
ContreCourant Resident: beautiful dress Paradise
Eos Amaterasu: like getting old, alone
ContreCourant Resident: listens to Eos
ContreCourant Resident: yes- a big fear
Paradise Tennant: smiles at conre :)
Paradise Tennant: contre :)
ContreCourant Resident: vulnerable and powerless
ContreCourant Resident: smiles at Paradise
Eos Amaterasu: so in our worlds, somewhat together in SL, less so in RL, we can be somewhat there for each other

--BELL--

ContreCourant Resident: Alone together
Eos Amaterasu: there's a kind of mystery in that aloneness, that we can honor in each other
Catrinamonblue Resident: :) thank you guys so much for everything
Paradise Tennant: yes
Paradise Tennant: it is mystery all the way down :))
Paradise Tennant: alluding to those turtles :))
Catrinamonblue Resident: :)
Eos Amaterasu: "so happy together...."
Catrinamonblue Resident: I am trying to learn how to be by myself
Catrinamonblue Resident: to know that I am ok just me
ContreCourant Resident: good for you!
ContreCourant Resident: How are you doing that?
Catrinamonblue Resident: it's hard
Catrinamonblue Resident: having time alone
Eos Amaterasu: it's funny how we're kind of allergic to ourselves
Catrinamonblue Resident: yes :)
Catrinamonblue Resident: I look at myself and think I don't know you

ContreCourant Resident: Maybe go on a trip by yourself - get to know you
Eos Amaterasu: I think doing a solitary retreat, just you yourself along with yourself, even for one day, is an amazing gift to give yourself

Catrinamonblue Resident: hard to with a family and job but I'm taking some time for myself here and there
Eos Amaterasu: alone with yourself
Wol Euler: evening all
ContreCourant Resident: nods enthusiastically
Eos Amaterasu: Hi Wol!
Catrinamonblue Resident: Hi Wol :)
ContreCourant Resident: Hello Wol
Catrinamonblue Resident: I love to go for walks in the woods
Catrinamonblue Resident: before I would drag the whole family
Catrinamonblue Resident: now I go by myself
ContreCourant Resident: yes- I'm never lonely in nature

Eos Amaterasu: Hi Stevenaia
stevenaia Michinaga: waves
Paradise Tennant: smiles at wol :)
Wol Euler: hello stevie
ContreCourant Resident: Hello Stevenaia
stevenaia Michinaga: hi Wol, up late?
Paradise Tennant: smiles at stev :)
Eos Amaterasu looks at his watch, arches eyebrow at Wol
Wol Euler: nearly 5am, awake again :/
Wol Euler: yeah
ContreCourant Resident: do you always wake at 5am?
stevenaia Michinaga: sounds like me at the 1:00 am session
Wol Euler: only when I eat too much too rich food too late in the evening
ContreCourant Resident: I have never wanted to go
Wol Euler: and yes, I do know that this happens :(
Wol Euler is an idiot.
ContreCourant Resident: lol. She is?
Paradise Tennant: hmm depends on the rich food sometimes .. indulgence .. is earned :))
Eos Amaterasu: but the rich food was so yummy :-)
stevenaia Michinaga: hard to avoid what tastes so good
Wol Euler: harder still to learn from experience
Wol Euler: anyway :) please continue
ContreCourant Resident: why is it all the yummy things are bad for you?
Eos Amaterasu: we're generally meandering on the topic of "be prepared", currently exploring our loneliness together

ContreCourant Resident: where can I get horns like yours Wol?
Wol Euler: I'l give you a set :)
Eos Amaterasu: those turtles are singing, "so lonely together ..."
ContreCourant Resident: I need to be prepared for christmas
stevenaia Michinaga: thought they were antlers
Paradise Tennant: smiles
ContreCourant Resident: and an onslaaaaaaaaaught of gaaiety
Wol Euler: anybody else want'em?
Catrinamonblue Resident: me me me
ContreCourant Resident: antlers, horns, whatever
Eos Amaterasu: hmm, yes :-)
ContreCourant Resident: oh yes please
stevenaia Michinaga: lol
Eos Amaterasu: thnx!
Catrinamonblue Resident: thnx
Catrinamonblue Resident: yay!!!!
ContreCourant Resident: lol. I twinkle
Wol Euler: the item is a freebie, and I scripted the blinking colour-change bulbs
ContreCourant Resident: wonder what Sam and Prin think
Catrinamonblue Resident: they think it's great fun
ContreCourant Resident: I'm impressed Wol. I should take one of the courses they offer in SL and learn how to do these things
ContreCourant Resident: Talking about being prepared...
Wol Euler: I can recommend NCI, New Citizens Incorporated
Wol Euler: good baseline courses

Catrinamonblue Resident: gtg have an early morning need to get some sleep.
ContreCourant Resident: New Citizens of SL?
Wol Euler: yep
Catrinamonblue Resident: night all and my thanks
stevenaia Michinaga: night Catrin
Wol Euler: bye catrina, take care
ContreCourant Resident: Bye Cat (may I call you Cat?)
Catrinamonblue Resident: yes you can call me cat ")
Eos Amaterasu: ciao cat
ContreCourant Resident: :-)
Paradise Tennant: ntie nite cat
ContreCourant Resident: ciao cat
ContreCourant Resident: may cat is snoring behind me as I type
ContreCourant Resident: my cat
Eos Amaterasu: purrfect
ContreCourant Resident: what's it like being up at 5AM Wol? Dark and lonely? or peaceful and quiet
Wol Euler: since you ask, it's full of painful indigestion and a burning feeling in the oesophagus.
ContreCourant Resident: owww
Eos Amaterasu: hmm
Wol Euler: yes, it is dark, will be for another three hours yet
ContreCourant Resident: hands Wol 5 Tums
Paradise Tennant: my what did you eat ?
ContreCourant Resident: and some yogurt

--BELL--

Paradise Tennant: nite nite contre :))
ContreCourant Resident: whispers, nite nite
Eos Amaterasu: ciao Contre
ContreCourant Resident: sorry
Eos Amaterasu: bye all, and thanks - good night! (and good morning)
Wol Euler: pizza and beer, too late and too much
stevenaia Michinaga: when I wake up for the 1:00 am session (4:00 am my time) I think I will sit quietly and end up babbling for an hour or more
Paradise Tennant: nite nite eos thank you
Wol Euler: goodnight eos
stevenaia Michinaga: bye Eos
Paradise Tennant: very seldom wake up that early unless there is a storm
Paradise Tennant: last night stayed up very late reading a very good novel :))
Paradise Tennant: am paying for it tonight
stevenaia Michinaga: there's always ...sleep :)
Paradise Tennant: yes :))
Wol Euler: I don't trust myself to lie down again yet
Wol Euler: ditto eating anything, even yoghurt
Paradise Tennant: mint tea ?
Paradise Tennant: that calms your tummy
Wol Euler: hmmmm, dunno if I have mint. Perhaps just some "white tea"
Wol Euler: brb
stevenaia Michinaga: I usually avoid liquids as it tends to extend (dilute0 the tummy pain for me
stevenaia Michinaga: eventually it passes, but my tummy is good to me
Paradise Tennant: nice to be friends with you tummy
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, likes spicy food too :)
Wol Euler: I'd have had no trouble with this if I'd started about three hours earlier
stevenaia Michinaga: pizza and peer, I hope it was shared with friends
stevenaia Michinaga: *beer
Wol Euler: alas no, I was in the office until 10:30, picked them up on the way home
Wol Euler: should have left it alone
stevenaia Michinaga: lolnods
Paradise Tennant: that is late wol I left at 8 pm and I thought that was late
stevenaia Michinaga: scratch the" lol"
stevenaia Michinaga: I usually just pck up the laptop and continue at home with kitty keeping me warm
Paradise Tennant: civilized and makes for a happy fubu
Wol Euler smiles.
stevenaia Michinaga: and a warm stevie
stevenaia Michinaga: wish he would lay on my feet
Wol Euler grins.
Paradise Tennant: cat water bottle
stevenaia Michinaga: but the power supply is warm
stevenaia Michinaga: so you slept and it woke you up, or you never got to bed?
Wol Euler: slept for three hours or so
Paradise Tennant: what time do you leave for the office
stevenaia Michinaga: hugs Wol
Wol Euler: I started at 10 yesterday, going to be later today
Paradise Tennant: smiles and hugs wol and stev :)) group hug :)
Wol Euler: yay
Paradise Tennant: so maybe time for 3 or 4 more hours of sleep
Wol Euler: as soon as I can trust myself to lie down, yep
Paradise Tennant: sounds a bit lie acid reflex
Paradise Tennant: like
Wol Euler: very much so, yes

--BELL--

stevenaia Michinaga: Paradise must have an interent solution to wol's stomach
stevenaia Michinaga: *internet
Paradise Tennant: lol
Paradise Tennant: actually was surfing for just that
Paradise Tennant: mostly they suggest tums
Paradise Tennant: or another anti acid
Wol Euler: ha
Wol Euler: this isn't New York, can't even buy gasoline at 4am in Germany
stevenaia Michinaga: I bet backing soda would help in water
Wol Euler: except on the autobauh, obviuosly
Wol Euler: but I might get some tomorow
stevenaia Michinaga: a peruvian friend tells me it cures almost everything
stevenaia Michinaga: *baking
Wol Euler: my father swore by, and at, the mixture
Wol Euler: called it "cat's piss" :)
Paradise Tennant: do you hava any ginger ? ginger tea made with fresh or dried ginger calms your tummy
Paradise Tennant: gingerale even if it is made from real ginger
Wol Euler: no ginger, but I did find some (old) mint tea
Paradise Tennant: there we go :))
stevenaia Michinaga: weak tea is good
Paradise Tennant: smiles
Wol Euler sips and smiles.
stevenaia Michinaga: wehave so many tempting leftover, chocolate cake, Halavah, cookies
Paradise Tennant: smiles any latkes ?
Paradise Tennant: stev and his wife threw a great latke party :))
stevenaia Michinaga: they were gone quickly
stevenaia Michinaga: there's an amusing vid on my fb page
stevenaia Michinaga: if yu like dueling accordians
Wol Euler: :)
Paradise Tennant: looked like eveyone had a great time :)) can tell by the volume of the people talking :))
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, good reports from all
Paradise Tennant: smiles lots of work and then it seems to fly by I bet
stevenaia Michinaga: planning, not work :)
stevenaia Michinaga: hard to call it work when drinking is involved
Paradise Tennant: that makes it go faster I think :)))
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, many empty bottles :)
Paradise Tennant: yes noticed that on my urban adventure weekend was astounded at how many empty wine bottles I took out ))

--BELL--

stevenaia Michinaga: nice when you have friends to help
Paradise Tennant: the same group have been getting together for years this year we all had to have a nap on the saturday lol that was a first :))
Wol Euler: heheheh
stevenaia Michinaga: isn't age interesting
Wol Euler smiles.
Wol Euler: all part of Life's rich tapestry, they tell us
Paradise Tennant: yes we use to ski all day .. make a big dinner a big fire talk and carry on till 3 am then be up and 7 am to ski all day :))
Paradise Tennant: yes life is a tapestry and we are but threads :))
Paradise Tennant: smiles I am a little one which seems to be unravelling so I think I will have to say good night ..they discourage napping in the office :))
Wol Euler: goodnight, para, nice to see you in your normal habitat (timezone :)
Paradise Tennant: nice to see you wol hope you feel better soon and settle back down for a few more hours of sleep
Paradise Tennant: nite nite stev :))
Wol Euler: I should try to sleep again too, thanks
Paradise Tennant: sweet dreams to you both
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, falling asleep with a mouse in your hand at work mean naptime for me
stevenaia Michinaga: night Para
Wol Euler: it's a strong clue :)
stevenaia Michinaga: yes I can usually take a 20 minute nap on the floor comfortably
Wol Euler: lucky
Wol Euler: our office is too draughty for that to be comfortable
stevenaia Michinaga: office mate is amazed
stevenaia Michinaga: we have some nice orientals
Wol Euler wonders what that means
stevenaia Michinaga: what what means?
Wol Euler: nice orientals
stevenaia Michinaga: oriental carpets
Wol Euler: ah :)
stevenaia Michinaga: smiles
stevenaia Michinaga: makes napping comfy
Wol Euler: all right, I'm going to risk lieing down
Wol Euler: take care, stevie
stevenaia Michinaga: move slowly... noght Wol
Wol Euler smiles.
Wol Euler: goodnight