Author: aeonspeaks

How nice it was! To relax on the Beach at Ce Soir with the lovely Mireille and enjoy some old beachy favorites by our friend Baz and some really cool contemporary rock with Anj, topped off with some trance and ambient music by Nuvolino—accompanied by some spectacular fireworks on Ce Soir Beach was a treat. It reminded me of that song by the fabulous summer-fun Beach Boys:

DO IT AGAIN

Written by Mike Love and Brian Wilson and Published by © Universal Music Publishing Group

It’s automatic when I talk with old friends
The conversation turns to
Girls we knew when their
Hair was soft and long and the
Beach was the place to go.

Suntanned bodies and waves of sunshine                                                           The California girls and a
Beautiful coastline Warmed up weather
Let’s get together and
Do it again

With a girl the lonely sea looks good
Makes your night times warm and out of sight

Been so long
(Hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)

Well I’ve been thinking ’bout
All the places we’ve surfed and danced and
All the faces we’ve missed so let’s get
Back together and do it again

Naturally, it’s always a balmy 72 degrees on the Ce Soir Beach. And to accompany the pop culture in our music, our visitors were able to peruse the peachy beachy pictures in the BEACHES Art Exhibit open now (after that fabulous beach party last night!) at Côte de la Mer Galerie & Lawn by creative artists such as Daze Landar, Dolph Beornssen, Jojo Songlark, Larke Longmeadow, Mireille Jenvieve, Olyvia DeCuir, paula cloudpainter, Art by Pieni, Skyspinner Soulstar, Wildstar Beaumont, and Xirana Oximoxi. Amazingly, Mireille actually approved some of mine for inclusion as well. Go figure! CLICK HERE to visit and enjoy this refreshing art exhibit!

The pictures will be displayed at least through the end of July. As for the Beach Party—it was fantastic. So…let’s do it again on Thursday evening, August 03. See you then!

We will definitely miss MoShang the next couple of weeks, but we send him off with a grand BON VOYAGE as he takes to the skies and travels to Rome to share his amazing TB2 and other Groovesizers at the European Maker Faire. His work and his music are wonderfully unique and  extremely CHILL… Check him out at Groovesizer.com and stay tuned for updates on his travels and activities. Until he returns on Thursday, 16th October at his regular time of 8 PM SLT at Ce Soir Castle, send him your positive vibes, and catch some of his free and to-purchase music for download at Spotify or iTunes. Enjoy the CHILL…

Greetings! We hope you are having a wonderful weekend and will take a little time to come round to see Ranadeep‘s outstanding exhibit called Fractal Fantasy…it’s striking and beautiful in its color and composition. He is unique and quite visionary in his work. Don’t miss it at both The Gallery and The Conservatory at Ce Soir Arts! I think we might be extending the exhibit, so stay tuned!

While that beauty shimmers at Ce Soir Arts, Mireille and I have been derelict when it comes to posting, but we have good reason. Reasons, plural, as it turns out…

First, it’s SPRING! And then, we have some things to tend to in this more-than-a-year-long effort to bring our house and properties back following some very serious storm damage. Lots has been done, and we are very pleased. Yesterday, for example, more work on Mireille‘s back yard. Wow, did it need it! Leaves and limbs and clumped-up sod have been removed and smoothed out; weeds have been pulled; flowers and plants have been put in; her herbe garden is all set with rosemary, oregano, basil, mint, and more including some bright tomatoes, carrots, peppers – and bright orange marigolds that (I am told) keep the varmints away from the herbes. It’s very colorful out there and the deck is repaired (on that side of the house – LOL) and all decked out! What a return to normalcy this represents! With this done on the outside and the den all fixed up on the inside, we can actually pretend that it’s all done…for a little while. Fortunately, the new roof is holding and work has begun elsewhere too, so we’re good! (I won’t mention that the kitchen is a bit out-of-sorts at the moment! But…we have great restaurants in our area and Mireille is quite clever in sorting out how to grille veggies and the like. So what if breakfast was nothing more than delicious English muffins and coffee? I’m good!)

Just wanted to update and make note that we’re not just lollygagging about. Look for a post from Mireille soon about coming events. Remember that you are always welcome at Ce Soir. Come…be inspired tonight!

While we were away (both on travel for awhile and last week during some work at the house), we found some time in SL to relax. Sometimes, we’d be in different locations IRL and so we’d meet up at Ce Soir for a little quiet time together. Ah, the wonders of our digital metaverse just seem to multiply!

Whatever your endeavor here in the virtual world, I am sure you will resonate with the idea that there are many surprising gifts here. From the art, poetry, music, and creativity we enjoy – to the grace of kindness or the joys and challenges of true friendship that we find – there are wonders to be had here. From role play fantasies to everyday life, it’s an amazing technological feat that we’re even here. Just imagine – the whole of Ce Soir Arts (as it presently exists) floats meters and meters above the home sim, resting on a moving sea and surrounded by a changing sky that goes on forever. Wow.

Enjoy this second life, for it is really our first – just in new perspectives. What could be better? Yes, the many gifts of perspective upon perspective, layered richly beyond our wildest dreams.

Wow, we’ve had quite a week. The Divine Ms. M (as I like to call sweet Mireille), was rushing about tending to some new work going on at the house and property. Yes, it’s still ongoing and we even spent some time at a local bed & breakfast so that we could be out of the way as work progressed in one area of the house that we frequent: our work room! Let’s just say that it’s really a nice den – a one-story add-on to the house that was once (are you ready for this??) a separate garage and workshop for the family who built this amazing home in 1920. I’ll let Mireille fill you in on the particulars, but let’s just say that it’s an American Foursquare with Mission styling that makes one think of Frank Lloyd Wright – on a delightful dose of fantasy. It’s a charming structure and it’s uncharacteristically huge, although the rooms – including the center four of the Foursquare – are smallish with high ceilings and LOADS of windows.

As I am not the style guru of our clan, I’ll step back from that line of commentary to just say a hearty, “Hello!” to everyone and let you know how much I enjoyed this week in SL. Poetry and Song with Russell Eponym was a lovely respite; Russell was, as always, charming and offering a wonderful hour of poetry, prose, ruminations, and more. The music was exceptional and he was in top form with the rest. If you’ve not been to The Magic Tree Reading Spot at Ce Soir Arts to enjoy Russell‘s readings, you must come soon! Every Tuesday at NOON SLT, you will find us gathered ’round and rapt in attention as Russell delights us.

The Thursday show with Russell was also outstanding – 90 minutes LIVE with Russell is bound to be fun, and it was. Come along next time to enjoy with us! Of course, the wrap on Thursday is always what Mireille calls the elegant slide into the night with MoShang Zhao – The Sound Jeweler from Taiwan who drops in on his travels around the universe to get us relaxed and energized with the very cool Chinese Chill. Come at 8 PM SLT every Thursday night to be mesmerized by the groove!

Of course, we’ve continued to enjoy the beautiful exhibit and machinima of the fantastic artist, Fuschia Nightfire. Romance at Ce Soir is enchanting, to say the least, and we’re going to miss it. We’re keeping those amazing stone and marble sculptures that can be found at the entrances of The Ce Soir Castle. They’re very special and mean so much to me and to Mireille. We are known as romantics, but I must say that we’ve been inspired by Fuschia‘s exhibit to remember the great gift that Ce Soir is to us, and to take more opportunities to enjoy it by dancing or strolling about on moonlit nights. As M might say, “Sigh….” So, thank you, Fuschia!

This past week really was something. RL was hectic and I had to WORK (and I don’t mean my regular gig – I’m talking about WORK to help out with the repairs and renovations). I’m not a construction king (or even a prince), so it was an adventure, let me tell you! But I now know lots more than I ever wanted to about ceilings. They really are a marvel, you know. <insert wry smile here> ANYWAY, there’s another marvel you need to know about. They are known as squirrels. Delightful creatures! They’re beautiful, with their bushy tails and rapid scampering. Those little dudes (and dudettes, I imagine) can CLIMB – and do so so very quickly that you haven’t time to notice, much less do anything about it.

Before I go any further, let me state here – unequivocally – that some of my best friends in SL are squirrels. And there are some whom I admire who might not ever be willing to call me a friend, at least formally. One of whom I am thinking is a very talented artist and a close friend of the dear Mireille. So, I am NOT being at all pejorative in my commentary on squirrels. Quite to the contrary, I am lauding them as some of the most clever and mercurial of creatures. HOWEVER…in the Real of Lives, they do not belong living in my roof! And that, dear friends, is just what one merry band of them tried to do this past week.

The scampering of little feet overhead is not a delight. I am sad to report that it’s quite the distraction. And so, to coax them out, we had to reopen a hole in the soffit and fascia (Please note how technologically sound I am when it comes to construction now? Aren’t you impressed? I know I am!). The guttering guy hadn’t gotten here yet, so we could do this, relatively easily. The trick was getting them to come out! We tried several tactics that didn’t seem to produce any result at all. It was a bit maddening. But, on we went, trying to find a humane way to get the little family to move. Fearing that they were, um, “having babies,” we consulted our local veterinary expert. Assured that the locals had already enjoyed their first spring fling, we left our dreams and fears of little baby squirrels by the wayside and carried on.

One evening, we decided to view a television program. We turned on the television and settled down to watch, all the while keeping an ear at the ceiling. Sure enough, the little critters were up there…and they seemed to stir a bit more than usual. In fact they seemed irritated. EUREKA! They don’t like TV! In fact, they don’t like much of any human noise going on – and VOICES are particularly frustrating to them. I don’t know if it’s not being able to understand that’s the issue, of if they just shy away from the sound of the human voice. AND I DON’T RIGHTLY CARE!

All excited by knowing that our wee guests were upset with the management, we upped the ante considerably by turning up the volume on the TV and talking a bit more loudly than usual about the program as we watched. The squirrels were unhappy. Unsettled. And perhaps, a mite unstable.

But they stayed.

We couldn’t keep up the noise to a high level all night, but we did keep the telly on, and went to bed. Hopeful, we approached the morning only to be disappointed. They were still there. So, we started researching more heavily and came up with several possibilities – the least unsavory of which was the placement of live traps. (Yes, I know I’m a bit vampirish in SL, but in RL I am not so into bloodletting; I’m way too sweet of a guy for that. And, if Mr. Jefferson is reading this…well, dude…) <another smile goes here> Besides, we got to watch one of our fave movies THREE TIMES! (If you’ve not seen Cellular, you just gotta!)

While we researched, Mireille kept the sound wars going. She has trouble with sound since the accident last summer and has to be very careful; to say that she has the best earplugs available is an understatement. (I’d hate to have paid that amount for anything less, let me tell you!) That girl watched shows she’d never watch (or at least let them play in the background while she was working). She played music she hadn’t played in a long time, but we think it was mostly the vocals that did the trick. Mireille was pretty clever about it, and whenever she would leave the room, she turned up the volume to deafening levels. Our cat was intrigued, but being the quiet type, she shied away. And with Mireille‘s sound issues, she didn’t really hear much of anything, so it was only a mild distraction for her. Those earplugs were well worth every penny anyway, but this sealed the deal on that.

I had gotten some live traps, but before I set them, we gave this noise treatment a few days – and it worked! The little critters are off living the high life in a tree somewhere, and we are once again in the blissful quiet of our lovely – although still pretty torn up – home. At least the den is completely finished now and the outside is starting to look like a house with a yard again. Soon, there will be plants and flowers and herbes and vegetables growing out there, and by fall all the inside – and outside – work will be done. Even (as I have been informed) with a new color for the outside!

Who knew that we would have so much fun with all this mess?

Thanks for helping to keep us sane, SL!

First of all, we are happy to have the outstanding RUSSELL EPONYM in at Ce Soir Arts Castle today at 2 PM SLT for 90 minutes of the best folk, blues, and beyond around! Russell‘s velvety vocals and one-of-a-kind picking style (which varies with the song) make for a great time – but add-in his warmth and humour, and you just can’t beat it! Russell joins us every Thursday at the same time and we always enjoy it. The time goes by fast, but it’s always special and loads of fun! Do drop in and enjoy Russell and meet up with the delightfully charming Eponymous Family of friends who gather for dancing and more. You’ll be welcome!

FRIDAY at 1 PM SLT, join us in celebration of CARLOTTA CEAWLIN‘s beautiful art exhibit DREAMSCAPES. The lovely and talented UK songstress,  SAINTESS LARNIA will land at the outdoor stage near the Ce Soir Arts Gallery to provide us with an hour of excellent musical entertainment. Saintess is known for her vocals and guitar playing – and for her sweet stage presence and banter. She will treat us to some outstanding covers and some of her very own enchanting songs – tales from the life of a modern girl. Come round and enjoy this special hour of music and art! Dance and hum along to Saintess‘s wonderful music and be sure to visit both the Ce Soir Arts Gallery on the main level and The Conservatory at Ce Soir up at the wintry escape to explore Carlotta‘s gorgeous landscapes. I’m particularly fond of the exhibit up at The Conservatory, while Mireille is especially enchanted by the works at The Gallery. Come enjoy!

NEXT WEEK, we’ll enjoy a very special two hours with the inimitable MOSHANG ZHAO, celebrating Chinese New Year – the Year of the Horse. He won’t be in for his usual set tonight, but come on over for the party on 30th January – from 7 to 9 PM SLT as we prepare to welcome in the Year of the Horse. MoShang will DJ for an hour, taking us on a tour of some of his fave tunes by others and then move into an hour of his own transcendent Chinese CHILL! This smooth groove is something you’ve just got to hear if you’ve not yet, so get out your calendars and make plans! More info coming soon, so don’t miss it!

For all events, you can land HERE and walk to nearby locations or take the teleporter all around Ce Soir Arts. Come on over!

Have a great one, all! See you!

Wow. Mireille and I are speechless – and you know (especially in her case) how rare that is! We’re just completely in awe of the kindness and generosity of folks in Second Life – and especially of those who came in at Ce Soir Arts yesterday. FAB Friday was indeed FABulous, and YOU made it so!

I had almost dared people to come and break my bank (by matching funds raised) in an effort to up the ante on donations at the fundraiser for Creations for Parkinsons TEAM FOX that was three hours of some of the best music in SL – and three hours of some of the best good times, ever! You folks took my dare and met it in fine style, as we exceeded our goals for all three hours of the event! Hoping to raise at least $L5000 during each half-hour of the event, we ended up DOUBLING that amount, receiving $L60000 in donations. That’s wonderful, and we thank every single one of you who even set foot on Ce Soir during those three hours. Those who could not donate shared a beautiful spirit with everyone, and that my friends, is worth its weight in gold – three times over. And those who could share dug deep indeed, demonstrating their generous hearts and sharing a kindness that moves us… Yep, we’re sitting here penning this with tears. Yep! Even me!

We have so many to thank, so let’s start with Barbie Alchemi and her lovely mother, Fran Serenade (and the very cool Creations4Parkinsons too!), who came to inspire us all. Thank you, ladies (and C4P)! Thank you for being here for FAB Friday and for all you do through Creations for Parkinsons for the cause! They came and inspired us and then moved on to another cool event – being featured on XTC Radio. Woots!

 TODAY, there’s another fundraiser for the group at Angelwood Bay where the Dazzlers Dance Group will perform and entertain. Contact organizers angel Kingmaker, Eric Difference, or SolasNaGealai to purchase your ticket at only $L300, and do go enjoy at 2 PM SLT!

You’ve seen the lineup from yesterday, but it bears repeating that these outstanding musicians are all dear to us – and not just because they gave of their time and talent yesterday. The truth is, we love them all for many, many good reasons, mostly because they are some of the truly nicest, most creative and kind people we have encountered in our (just this month!) five years in SL. So…a HUGE thank you to:

NOON – Jordan Reyne, noted even though she had to cancel due to medical advice to rest her voice!

*★*The siren of steampunk and industrial folk noir, Jordan Reyne streams live from the UK delivering a riveting set of her original songs. Celtic vocals and looped percussions create one of the most evocative live music experiences in Second Life.  *★*

12:30 PM – TwinGhost Ronas, who also stepped in and played Jordan’s half-hour too!

♫ ♬*Sweet and mellow meet moving and thought-provoking in the music of TwinGhost Ronas. With a charming mystical note to top it off, the mix is a compelling deep groove. Soulful rock and pop brilliance fill the air at Ce Soir Castle! *♬ ♫

1:00 PM – Saintess Larnia

✫♫ Saintess can sing a sweet love song or give power to the blues, her voice wrapping itself around your heart. Her own sassy-sexy originals are delightful tales from the life of a modern girl, and here we are, swaying to that sweet Saintess sound! ♫✫

1:30 PM – BAZ (Barry Kettery/Avant)

–♬♬ From jazz to blues to classic rock to R&B to acoustic pop, BAZ takes us there. Whether full studio arrangements or solo voice and acoustic guitar or piano, this guy brings pro audio engineering skills, strong musicianship & his quirky personality for us to enjoy! ♬•♬

2:00 PM – DRAGONFLY

★✦The truly progressive music of DRAGONFLY is unquestionably of the highest calibre. Undertones of deep and exotic themes rise through the score and capture your imagination, and leadman Joel Eilde has a voice that is unforgettable. You just can’t help but MOVE when Joel is in the house! ✦★

2:30 PM – Lisa Brune

♬♥ •° Lovely Lisa streams live from France with stunning, breathy vocals and sweet ongoing banter. Audiences adore Lisa, and as she serenades, it is easy to see why! She’s a mix of everything wonderful: soft, strong, sweet and spicy – and it all shows in that outstanding voice! °•♥♬

One more round of thanks and then I am outta here to enjoy one of Mireille‘s tasty breakfasts and start another day! Aeon Jenvieve-Woodford looks around for some of M’s café au lait. Oh, wait! I’m the cofeeman! BRB – LOL…

There are some other people to thank – other than YOU, of course. YOU are one of the main reasons we do what we do, so thank YOU! AND…

Sparkie Cyberstar, management for Jordan Reyne

Staciface Schwartz, managernent for TwinGhost Ronas

Lingual Markus, management for Saintess Larnia

sweetpea Shilova, management for BAZ

Bonita Denimore, management for DRAGONFLY

Jack Nichols, management for Lisa Brune

If you have a venue (or a special event coming up), contact these folks! We won’t even start the individual stories…there are too many! Just let us say we admire them. Oh, yeh!

Have a great weekend, everyone! And pop over to Ce Soir Arts for some dancing, relaxing, and wandering about the venue spaces. Enjoy the gorgeous landscapes in DREAMSCAPES by the astounding artist Carlotta Ceawlin, on exhibit at the Gallery and Conservatory at Ce Soir through January.

Come…be inspired tonight!

Visit Ziki’s Blog about this event and more!