TS4 - The Roomies: Week 4

Week 3 at this household is not long ago; you can read it here, if you like.

We are already back here because Gavin Richard's name is next on my alphabetical list.

Here he is - a very hungry man when he wakes up this Monday morning! Gavin is an aspiring Bestselling Author (sorry about the dark picture). As you know, he does not live here on his own.

There are also J Huntington III., a fitness fanatic (easy to see!)...

...Zoe Patel, who wants to be Friend of the World, as well as Mitchell Kalani. No picture of him right now, as he is out for work at some comedy club or other.

Gavin is off to work - strangely, he chooses this weird outfit most days of the week when leaving the house.  Passing by (and greeted by Zoe) are Betty Larson and Giulianna Riley.

Later, Geoff Landgraab joins Zoe in the courtyard to listen to Mitchell's latest comedy routine. Looks like they are having a great time!

Gavin returns from work with a new career rewards object, this framed book. He is now a Regular Contributor. Also in the household's inventroy was the armchair in the second picture below. I need to remember to check the household inventory, not just the individual inventories.

On Tuesday, Gavin (for a change wearing his regular everyday outfit) goes to work without breakfast - which explains his less than happy countenance.

Someone brought this new, big stereo as a career reward, and since there is more room in the courtyard than anywhere else, I put it there. From then on, every member of the household goes out there to dance when I do not assign them anything else to do.

Someone - I believe it is Mitchel - has made garlic noodles for household and guests alike. Gavin has come home from work, once again wearing his helmet - shouldn't he take it off for the meal? Mortimer Goth, Nancy Landgraab and Summer Holiday join in the meal.

When Mitchell returns from work that night, he has been promoted to Jokesmith. The painting in the second picture below is his reward.

On Wednesday I decide to have J Huntington quit his job in the computer industry. He does not need it for his aspiration, and there is enough money coming in from Mitchell's and Gavin's jobs as well as the royalties for Gavin's books. Now J has all the time he wants to focus on his workouts!

But he also has more time to bring people in, so that Zoe can find more friends. Here, Katrina Caliente is asked in.

Hardly surprising, Summer Holiday has also come by.

After all their guests have gone home, the four housemates spend the rest of the evening together - a rare occasion for them.

On Thursday morning, Gavin wakes up really sad. Why is that? It's my fault - I saw the message that he was growing up from young adult to adult, but failed to organise a party for him. Sorry, Gavin!

Hopefully, today's royalty cheques put him in a better mood again.

So as not to repeat the same mistake, I quickly organise a birthday party for Zoe when her message pops up. Here she is, already in her party outfit, enjoying a meal while her guests are arriving.

But not everyone is at their best behaviour! Who is involved in the fight outside the front door?

Shame on you, J Huntington! What has this townie guest done to you? (Hillary? Carly? Sorry - I never took proper note of her name.)

The rest of the party goes by without a hitch, though.

Everyone enjoys the cake, and the party is a success - the household receives a coffee machine as a reward.

It is Friday morning before Gavin is up first and cleans up the party mess.

He even scrubs the kitchen counter on his own accord.

When he returns from work that night, he has this stack of antique books with him - his promotion reward. He is now a Shortstory Writer.

J Huntington is first up on Saturday morning, full of energy, as you'd expect from such a super-fit man.

Before he even leaves his bedroom, he already puts the first bit of workout in, a series of situps (all on his own initiative).

Zoe is happy to have Geoff Landgraab and Mortimer Goth over. As far as she is concerned, there are never too many friends around.

A chess table is bought, because Gavin now needs logic for his next promotion.

Sunday, and the last day of our week here! At some point during this week, I spotted the tips of green coming out of the soil in the three plant beds in the courtyard. As far as I remember, nobody planted anything here, so I was intrigued and had Zoe water the plants regularly. Now we have three full grown plantain trees, ready for harvest.

Liberty Lee has invited herself over, and Geoff Landgraab has interrupted his jogging round for a spot of dancing.

Although this week was supposed to be mainly about Gavin Richards (and he did well!), I am rather surprised to have J Huntington become the FIRST SIM in my TS4 game to reach his aspiration! He is now a "Bodybuilder", and the game encourages me to find a new aspiration for him.

On Sunday evening, Ollie Purdue walks by and is greeted by Gavin. His was the household I played before this one, and I am pleased to see him so soon again.

I mostly enjoyed this week, focusing on the careers and aspirations. My first Sim has fulfilled his aspiration in TS4 - now I need to think about what to do once a Sim has reached that goal. Will I choose a new aspiration for them? And if yes, am I going to throw the dice similar to how I do it in TS2?

No need to decide just yet - first, I will be on holiday for two weeks with no opportunity to play. And when I'm back, the next household to be played will be the Rileys in TS2.

The Ramirez Family - Week 8

Week 7 is here, if you are interested.

The Ramirez' house is still the same one originally given to them by Maxis, and it still is in the oldest part of New Maximiliania.

Alabama is now an elderly dog of 30, who has achieved the top of a pet career three times and enjoys retirement.

Roux has also achieved three times the top of a career, is the same age as Alabama but appears to have many more years ahead.
Ramon Ramirez is the late-born son of Checo and Lisa Ramirez. His parents died years ago; he is now 15 days from Elderhood and will mostly have free rein, being on Permanent Platinum ever since his two pets reached six times the top of a pet career last round.

Tessa is a beautiful lady of 60, still working as a Game Designer and also on Permanent Platinum. Neither of the the siblings are currently in a romantic relationship.

On this Monday morning, Tessa cleans one of the toilets on her own accord.

She has no wishes at all when I enter the lot, and to shake things up a bit, I send brother and sister to Doc Alan's Hangout.

They meet a few other New Maximilianians, such as Nellie Newson here.

Back home, Ramon decides to prepare pork chops for dinner.

It is 2:00 on Tuesday morning when Tessa gets up and finds the plate of pork chops her brother has left on the dining table for her.

Tuesday is also Gardener's day, and Tessa happily clips away alongside the expert.

Her happy mood ends rather sudden, though, when Alabama is invited to that very last game of sticks with Mr. Reaper. Good-bye, Alabama, you were dearly loved and will be sorely missed, especially by Roux.

Ramon has slept through Albama's death but wakes up in time to greet first Stacy Stacks...

... and then Jared Starchild and his dog Max (seen at the top of the steps to the front door).
Funnily enough, Ramon has a crossed-out bolt for Stacy, and almost every conversation or interaction between the two of them goes wrong - and yet he constantly shows that he feels very attracted to her.

Wednesday marks the beginning of spring, and Tessa can feel it - all her thoughts now revolve around dating and kissing. She dons a pink dress to match her mood.

Ramon has been outdoors for too long and is very cold when he finally retreats to his bedroom.

The house can do with a fresh lick of paint. Why not a pretty pale blue?

Ned Newson and Gary Gavigan walk by in the afternoon and are of course invited in.

None of the boys seems to be bothered by the smelly plate still on the table from yesterday - they heartily tuck into Ramon's pork chops.

In the end, it is Tessa who on Thursday morning cleans up the mess the "boys" have left behind. She does it with a smile - her little brother has done the cooking, she does the cleaning.

Yes, the siblings get along very well, in spite of their big age gap.

Tessa is off to work, and Ramon retreats for a nap. Later, he continues the painting he has started on his own accord last round.

Much later, he spots Rodney Scott walking by and hurries out to greet him. Scott is the surname of a playable Sim in TS4 - Travis Scott - and therefore, Rodney is eligible to one day become a permanent resident of New Max.

For the first time this week, on Friday morning Ramon feels really well after a good night's rest. He has been struggling with a nasty cold all week; hopefully, he will remain healthy for the remainder of my time with this family.

I would not risk my newly regained health by sitting outside barefooted and in just my pjs, if I were you, Ramon!

Harry Hart walks by and is greeted by Ramon. 'Hailey's boy...' he thinks. 'If things had gone different, he would be my son.'

Harry tells Ramon that his mother has recently mentioned having three best friends for life - "...and you're one of them, she said." Ramon is touched.

The evening ends with Roux vigorously attacking the scratch post. Not bad for a cat of 34!

Tessa is up bright and early on Saturday morning. First, she washes last night's dishes.

Then she gets rid of all the old newspapers that have accumulated on the front porch.

After she has showered and dressed, she calls the matchmaker. For days now she has been rolling romantic wishes - about nobody in particular. The Ramirez siblings are rich, and Tessa can easily afford to pay the maximum amount of 5,000 Simoleons for a blind date.

But to no avail - first this townie...

...and then this one is summoned by the matchmaker. Both men are two-bolters, but Tessa won't settle for anyone less than a three-bolt-man.

Perseida Powers is best friends for life with Ramon and turns up on her own accord. Of course, she is treated to Ramon's specialty, pork chops.

Charles Capp walks by and is greeted by Tessa.

I have Ramon have a go at asking a blind date from the matchmaker and am pleased to see Camryn Lee drop from the sky. She and Ramon have only two bolts, but at least she is a New Maximilianian. However, Ramon's interest in her fades quickly when she refuses to listen to him go on about Grilled Cheese.

"We could watch a movie..." Perseida suggests. She was rather hurt when Ramon had that brief date with Camryn, in spite of her and Ramon being "only" friends with no romantic interest in each other. I wonder whether this is about to change!

Most days this week, Tessa was the first one up, and Sunday is no exception. I catch her playing the violin.

Still in her pjs, she greets Pablo Picaso.

I like to see Sundays as family days for my Sims. The Ramirez' do not have any relatives apart from each other, but for Ramon, Hailey Hart and her children are the closest he has to family, and so he invites them all over for the day.

Suddenly, I hear the unmistakable sound of a Sim falling in love, and catch pink hearts flying above Pablo's head after a romantic interaction with Hailey - too late for me to capture with the camera. Uh-oh... Ramon has not noticed anything, and I hope I'm not in for a series of jealousy episodes now.

Ramon serves a sumptuous meal for all (for a change, no pork chops), and has no problem with Pablo joining in when he and Hailey raise their glasses.

A friend rings (I believe it is Jared Starchild), and Ramon tells him how he wonders whether he will ever really be with the woman he loves. I wonder the same!

Maybe Hailey wants to show me what she thinks about it when she says good-bye a little later to Ramon - with a passionate kiss.

What am I to do with the Ramirez siblings? They seem to be destined to remain single, in spite of having a lot of love to give.

I found Perseida's reaction very interesting when Ramon was having that short blind date with Camryn; she clearly expressed her disagreement, even though she and Ramon have nothing romantic going on. And Hailey? She's a Romance Sim... need I say more!