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It´s time to update my drivers, clear my caches, fill my batteries and reboot my systems. Hope to see you all soon again!

Lucia Buns For Eddi

My former buddy and co-blogger Eddi Haskell asked about Lucia-buns in a comment. Here is a recipe in English that I found on the web (so I dont have to go through the hassle of translating it).

St. Lucia buns may be made ahead of time, frozen, and quickly reheated in the microwave before serving.

Preparation Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup melted butter
1/2 tsp. saffron threads, finely crumbled (or 1 tsp. powdered saffron)
1 cup milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 pkg. dry active yeast (4 1/2 tsp)
6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 eggs, well-beaten, plus one egg white
raisins or currants to decorate

Preparation:
Crumble saffron threads into melted butter. Let sit 30 minutes to an hour (this intensifies the saffron flavor).

Heat milk to a light boil, turning off heat when it reaches the scalding point (with small bubbles across the top). Stir in melted butter, sugar, and salt. Pour mixture into mixing bowl and allow to cool until “finger-warm” (still quite warm, but just cool enough to touch). Stir in yeast and let sit for 10 minutes.

Mix 3 1/2 cups flour into liquid. Stir in two well-beaten eggs. Add enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough (just until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. You don't want to add too much flour).

Transfer dough to a large greased bowl and turn to coat all sides. Cover with a clean towel and allow to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

Punch down risen dough. Lightly knead two or three times on a floured surface. Pinch off small handfuls of dough (about the size of a racquetball) and roll into "snakes." Shape snakes into "S"-shaped buns or other desired shapes (please see my photo gallery of Lucia buns for traditional examples). Place on a lightly greased baking sheet, cover with the towel again, and allow to rise until doubled (about an hour).

Decorate buns with raisins, brush with egg white, and bake in preheated 375º oven about 15 minutes, just until brown. Yield: 20 St. Lucia Buns ("Lussekatter")

P.S. Thanks for the invitation to your and Jago´s anniversary party. I will try to come! ;) (And you are still my buddy, just kidding!)

Mission Accomplished

Sometimes I wonder if I am ever going to get well again? If I am ever going to get off the happy pills and be able to enjoy life without them and return to my normal life with excess energy in abundance.

It´s been almost two years now since my Ars passed away, and I am doing much better much of the time - really - but then sometimes its like my "energy bubble" just bursts and I end up wasted. Not nearly as often as before and not for as long periods as earlier, but still its like running into a wall. I am fed up with it, this is nothing like my usual self. I want to get back to normal - now!

After the rush the last week or so to first make up my mind whether or not to do the pageant and then to follow through with it I feel exhausted, much like a wet puddle as the Swedish saying goes (hence the illustration to this post).

I think the event was an unexpectedly  great success and the support from all the people who came and joined in the fun was overwhelming and made me really happy. The only thing that didn't work as planned was my singing in voice.

All the while after I had decided to go through with the pageant even if it would only be Taco and myself walking I had this nagging thought, "Test your headset, man!", but somehow something always came in the way. It was really exasperating for me when the damn thing didn't work for the occasion because I had been rehearsing myself all day at work (my co-workers must have thought I was going completely bonkers, but they are used to me by now).

I love all of you who were there and all those of you who couldn't be there for some reason or another but gave me and the others your support. With our little happening we did accomplish to keep the tradition of celebrating  Lucia at the Swedish Embassy in SecondLife unbroken, that is well enough for now!

Eddi Features "Bockella"

SecondLife BadBoy Eddi Haskell (previously a good friend of this blogger) today introduced another avatar, the stunning blond female avatar "Bockella" in a post on his blog named Do your nation proud wear flag cheek 

Bockella Wears the Flag of Sweden

Some kind of revenge is being planned...

Last Names Are Coming Back

My blogger friend Sven Idyll over at Svens(k) Idyll just published the news that Rodvik Linden (in first life a.k.a. Rod Humble, CEO of Linden Lab makers of SecondLife) dropped a bomb today announcing that last names will be back in SecondLife hopefully by the end of January 2012. (source).

This news comes after an extremely long and powerful campaign by users that last names should be re-introduced.

Rodvik says, "Hopefully we will roll out what we are thinking early January latest. Identity is very important so as we touch it we need to make sure we are adding something great."


(P.S. It seems that Daniel Voyager also has the story, but I saw it first at Svens blogg.)

The Swedish Embassy Lucia 2011

The Swedish Embassy Lucia pageant made its traditional walk over the Swedish Embassy sims in SecondLife this year also, in spite of last minute arrangements.

Three avatars, who have been a part of the Swedish Lucia pageant in SecondLife since the start 2006 where there again and therefor deserve special mention, Taco Rubio (these days mostly referred to as King Bieber I), the kings consort Alexa Linden and of course PetGirl Bergman, the janitor/concierge of the embassy sims. 

Besides these three I should think we were in total about 25 people, Swedes and Internationals, to celebrate the occasion. Everyone was exceptionally beautiful in their Lucia outfits, except for Taco and I. The two of us looked as we always do, i.e. absolutely stunning!

Special thanks to Tienkie for stepping up and singing for us - when I could not get my voice to work - and to Adrina Welders for giving us another (traditional for the SecondLife pageants) burning of the Yule Bock. I would also like to thank all of those who were actually there and all of those who have told me they wished they could have been there with us. Maybe next time!

PetGirl has now promised that there will be a Swedish Embassy Lucia next year, I will hold her to her word.

As I was busy ordering people about and walking-the-walk I wasn´t able to take that many pictures, but I had the chance to get some at least. Enjoy!

Alexa Linden in white to the left, Tienkie in Lucia crown to the right

His majesty King Bieber I (Taco Rubio)

Zigadena Gabardini in the center watches the Yule bock burn

Sexy Horre with entourage

The Yule bock in ashes

The Saint Lucio Pageant 2011 (Updated)

What: The Saint Lucio pageant in SecondLife

When: December 13th, 2011, 11 AM SLT

Who: Everyone and anyone is welcome, either to join in the pageant or to join in the celebration as an onlooker. 

No prior notification or registration needed! Just be there in costume before the pageant starts walking at 11 AM SLT

Where: Swedish Embassy in SecondLife

SLurl for the participants in the pageant

SLurl for the audience

Why: 

We walk to combat the forces of darkness and the evil powers and for the return of light, warmth and love in the world.

What to wear (the eternal question): Depends mostly on if you are there as an onlooker or to walk in the pageant.

A) If you are a member of the audience - The sim is rated as General, so keep your private parts (boobs and genitalia) covered and tucked away.

B) If you want to join in the pageant there are several alternatives.

1.  Saint Lucia or Saint Lucio

Full length white gown with red silk ribbons around the waist and a crown of lit candles.

A beautiful version of the gown can be picked up at my friends, designers Zigadena Gabardini and Emerald Harveys, store ZE Designs Mainstore (SLurl) (the gown can also be used for the maids and maidservants and - I should think - the star boys too).

The beautiful crown is designed by Cur Waydelich at CurWay Creations and can be picked up for free at his store SLurl CurWay Mainstore (SLurl)

2. Saint Lucia´s maids or maidservants (a.k.a. "tärnor")

Full length white gown with halos and waistbands of glitter and a lit candle in one hand.

3. Star boys or star girls

Full length white gowns with tall conical white hats sprinkled with stars and a star on a stick in one hand.

4. Gingerbread men or women

Brown outfits of varying design with white frosting and wearing a brown top hat

5. Santa´s and Santa mums

Red and white outfits (well you have seen them before)

6. Chimney sweeps

Black outfits with the paraphernalia of a traditional chimney sweeper, black top hat and black rope etc.

7. Yule bock

Shape shift into a goat made of straw with red silk ribbons around your body and horns. (This group is mainly represented by the designer Ms. Adrina Welders)

Thanks to the janitor of the Embassy sims, Ms. PetGirl Bergman, free ready made outfits are now available in the reception of the Embassy (SLurl) 50 meters from the landing spot for the pageant.

After the pageant has walked - and sang a cappella (or made noises without music) - we will also witness the burning of the Yule bock, thanks to the gracious offer of my friend the designer Ms. Adrina Welders.

One last thing, remember we are doing this to have FUN!