chappyy

i_hope_that
For many of us, the holidays can be kind of rough. If you're searching for a network of understanding friends, this ultra-nurturing community encourages you to express your heartfelt wishes and offer other members encouragement and acceptance. Not for the terminally snarky or emotionally-challenged, this is a good-spirited place to lend comfort and support.

diygifts
Feeling crafty? If you've got a few last folks on your holiday gift list, this is a great place to seed your creativity and generosity. You'll also discover wonderful DIY tips to decorate your home and entertain guests. Offering a no-frills-no-skills attitude that welcomes the cash-challenged and arts-phobic, you're sure to get ideas and make friends in the process.

cooking_club
A fun and friendly community dedicated to those who love to cook, whether you're a meat-and-potatoes type, an aspiring gourmand, and/or a vegan. In search of a brilliant dish to use up those weekly leftovers? Post your ingredients and you'll be whipping up a feast by dinner. You can also share favorite recipes. For Type A chefs, you can spice up your culinary repertoire with exciting cooking challenges.

Characters: Conductor-san, Ashton, Beat, Teddie, Tami, Buguese, Akihiko, Rally, Alphonse, Kuhn, Yuri, Aang, Tails
Purpose: To engage in combat!
Location: The Prime Stadium
Time: Beginning on Sunday, December 20th
Warnings: Violence, Language, Violence, and possibly some violence

Summary: The the tournament is ready to go, and it seems like the Valkyrie Express passengers have all been pitted against each other from the very beginning! Will enough of them make it through to secure the championship? Rules and pairings are posted under the cut.

( And so the first round begins... )

stepstomarrow
When granddaughter, Jada, was born with leukemia, a donor-match was located and Jada made a miraculous recovery. In honor of her grandaughter's health, Jeanna has decided to walk across the country (in the dead of winter) to raise awareness and build support for the bone marrow registry (all that's required is a cheek swab). Follow Jeanna's remarkable journey as she travels the United States by foot.

taste_buds
Holidays provide a built-in excuse for indulgent entertaining. This all-purpose foodie community covers everything from homemade hangover cures to dinner party menus. Need quick advice? Get five-minute snack suggestions, low-fat ingredient substitutes, and even measurement conversions. Delicious recipes garnished with humorous advice. Yum.

naturesbeauty
Always on the lookout for compelling images, we were delighted to discover this flourishing community of artists who share a love of nature. Honoring the subject with photographs, paintings, sketches, prose, poetry, and other creative works, you'll be simultaneously riveted to your monitor and inspired to run helter skelter towards the nearest wooded dale.

Characters: Open
Purpose: A few good evenings of observation
Location: A stone menorah near the Museum of Spirited History
Time: Around sunset every evening from December 11th through December 19th
Warnings: Honestly, this really shouldn't require any warnings

Summary: Cynthia happens across an interesting holiday memorial and, naturally, cannot resist sticking around to admire it. She plans to check up on it periodically, so this location can easily become a meeting spot for passengers who want to talk to her or just see what the big deal is.

( It seemed her schedule was now occupied for the next eight nights... )

[[ Hey everyone, here's a mini-event to pass the time. Basically, I'll be setting up a thread for each sunset of Hanukkah and anyone can feel free to jump in and check it out. If you want, this is a great place to let your gift exchange partners bump into each other and have a meaningful chat in log format about what kind of presents they're interested in. It's good to have a calm and friendly log open to everyone now and then, right? Have fun! ]]

backpacking
Want to embrace your wanderlust on the cheap? If you're tall on adventurous spirit, but short on funds, this community can help you plan a trip to anywhere. Offering plentiful tips on how to travel light, you can post about bargain hotels and hostels if you're into urban exploration or discuss camping gear and mosquito netting for the great outdoors. Hitch your backpack, pitch your tent, and carpe diem!

Characters: Asuka and Edward
Purpose: TO KIDNAP THE POOR GUY
Location: Starting in B5 and ending up...somewhere
Time: Morning of December 10th
Warnings: N/A

Summary: The plans were laid out and it was time for Asuka to initiate the 'mission'.


( KIDNAP TIME )

:: Jingle :: Attention passengers! There is one more important announcement concerning the new station stop.

( Click to read more... )

The Winning Edge Coliseum is a massive complex, with various indoor and outdoor facilities related to sports and other physical activities. The major divisions of the complex are the east side, which is primarily indoors, and the west side, which is primarily outdoors. The air is significantly cooling down and there may be snowfall, but all facilities are still open for use as the weather permits.

The Prime Stadium - This large stadium is located at the very center of the complex, and serves as the oldest and key attraction to this stop. Various tournaments are held here from time to time, where contestants compete for prizes in front of a mass of spectators. It seems the Valkyrie Express has arrived just in time for one such event...

Gateway Plaza - A large plaza that serves as, well, a gateway to almost every other area of the complex. There is a water fountain, benches, trash cans and many other things that make it feel like walking through a beautifully maintained park. Due to the current season, various holiday decorations are around right now, including a very large and impressive Christmas tree.

East Side:

Souvenir Street - The official shopping area of the east side, this is a series of shops laid out like a strip mall where one can find lots of different items. Clothing, souvenirs and holiday trinkets are the norm, but there are also toys and books themed after sports. There is also a small, unnamed restaurant that specializes in hot dogs, hamburgers and other tailgate party favorites.

Museum of Spirited History - An odd museum located near the plaza that features historical exhibits regarding sports and competition. The featured exhibits rotate on occasion, though currently the theme of choice is college football.

Swimming Pool - An indoor swimming pool for those who want to master their strokes. There is an area with less depth for beginners only looking to get their feet wet. However, there is no designated kiddie pool, no hot tub with bubbles, and absolutely no water slide. This area is serious business.

Mega Fitness Center - This is the place to be for those looking to train themselves up. There is a large gym with all sorts of exercise machines, weights and benches. Some of the stationary bikes even have televisions attached! There is also Nintendo Wii (featuring Wii Fit) available for use by reservation. After a good workout, a trip to the locker room gives access to showers.

Mega Fitness Spa - An extension of sorts to the Mega Fitness Center, this spa forms a great compliment to it. It is here where one can receive a variety of relaxing treatments, including massage, aromatherapy, or use of a sauna. On occasion, there are yoga sessions with clean mats provided.

West Side:

Ice Skating Rink - Just as the name implies, this is an outdoor skating rink adjacent to the Gateway Plaza. From here, there is still a nice view of the holiday decorations. The rink takes the shape of a large oval and there are plenty of skates in all sizes available to rent. Needless to say, this spot gets rather popular.

Athletic Field - A large multipurpose field that is maintained well and can be set up for a wide variety of outdoor sports. Unfortunately, its usage during the season may be limited by snowfall on occasion.

Tennis Courts - A series of tennis courts available for free use. The fences around the courts are canvassed to reduce the entry of wind and elements. There is a house nearby where one can retrieve balls and rackets, as well as use the restroom.

Hiking Path - There is a trail going around the back area of the complex where the land has been allowed to grow wild. One can trek up and down hills, through the trees and bushes, and even across a bridge over a small lake. The path begins near the tennis courts and goes all the way around to the other side of the complex, letting out near the entrance to the Mega Fitness Spa. Please stay on the designated path, however, as there may be temperamental creatures lurking deep enough.

The Backyard Bazaar - The official shopping area of the west side, it is located as a rest stop at the halfway point of the hiking path. Here in this outdoor market setting, one can find all sorts of homemade oddities and cultural trinkets. This is a great place to look for the perfect gift that someone would never expect.

And that's all for now. Details about specific events will be provided in the near future as necessary. I hope you all enjoy our stay here!

Attention, passengers!

We have now arrived at the Winning Edge Coliseum, where we shall stay from December 9th until January 16th.

A list of hot spots will be provided very soon. Hope your stay is enjoyable!

Buguese lives! This could mean good or violent things. I couldn't stay away for too long. ^^

I'll post with him later, but I'll have to leave for school pretty soon.