Julien Cooke: Week 1

The next name on my alphabetical list is Cooke, also in Desiderata Valley. When I set up New Maximiliania many years ago, I think I gave Julien Cooke this house, too.

It is one of those houses that look as if they have an upper floor but only have a playable ground floor. Still, the place is generous for a single Sim like Julien. 

It comes with some very basic furniture such as the cheapest bed and sofa, but a surprisingly expensive fridge and good toilet. As you can see, it is sparse, but Julien does not need much to begin with. He has still nearly 9,000 Simoleons left after buying the house and can well afford a better bed, shower, desk with chair (for Mr. Humble's computer) and more dining chairs. After that, he still has over 4,000 Simoleons on this Monday, the day of his move-in. 

Here he is, Julien Cooke. His Maxis-written biographies are nearly the same for his household and him personally: "After having his potentially prize-winning recipe stolen by his rival, Zebest Quizine, Julien decided to cut his ties and find a new place to create culinary delights." But we find Julien now dreams of a career in sports and sees himself as future Hall of Famer - nothing to do anymore with his culinary endeavours. His current job is Fast Food Shift Manager, and I have him quit that immediately. By the way, he only has 4 cooking skill points and not much else. His aspiration is Popularity, and he promptly wishes to make friends with some of the Sims he has already met, such as Edward Contrary. 

But first, the welcome committee arrive and want to be fed. Julien sits down for home-made hamburgers with Cyd Roseland, Natasha Una and Mary Gavigan. He tells his guests that sometimes life's road has twists and turns, such as his own experience (referring to his bio). 

Just before sunset, the phone rings and Nathan Gavigan asks Julien to an outing downtown. He and his guests bundle into the taxi and arrive at Cold Issue Clothing soon afterwards. 

Inside, Julien catches the eye of a diva, but since there are only two bolts between them, I won't allow her interest to go any further. 

Several Sims find their way out back, and Julien greets two neighbours he has not met before: Priya Ramaswami and Jessica Picaso. 

Do you see what I see? Does Nathan have the hots for Priya, and is he making her a sign to give him a call, behind his wife's back - who in turn seems to find Julien very attractive?! Never mind - Julien is tired and needs to get back home, because he has already found a job in the Athletic career and will start tomorrow as a Mascot. 

The most noteworthy thing happening on Tuesday is Julien's promotion to Minor Leaguer. Luckily, he had to wear the Llama mascot costume only for one day. 

Some skilling is in order, and when to do it better than before work, as on this Wednesday morning. 

His efforts pay off when he returns from work with a promotion to Rookie. The townie colleague is soon sent home. 

Julien wishes to serve a meal and be friends with Cyd Roseland. He invites Nathan Gavigan (who he is already friends with) and his wife Mary over, as well as Cyd. Everybody enjoys his Mac & Cheese and the conversation. 

On Thursday morning, the paper boy can't place Julien's paper near the door because a stray dog has dug a hole in the ground right in front of it.

Julien does not have time to fill the hole in before work if he wants to be on time, and is promptly rewarded with yet another promotion: He is now a Starter.

This calls of course for a celebration, and so the Gavigans and Cyd share yet another meal with Julien.

He still needs another body skill point and spends the remainder of the evening doing yoga. 

All of Friday, Julien is at work. By the time he gets home, makes a few phone calls, does the crossword and acquires a charisma skill, it is rather late. He finally goes for a run, and it is almost midnight when he returns, totally exhausted. Well, Julien, one does not become Hall of Famer from nothing. 

It rains on Friday afternoon when the team bus drops Julien off in front of his house, but he smiles nonetheless: Meet Desiderata Valley's latest All Star! 

The previously empty small room in the corner between bathroom and kitchen is turned into his personal fitness room now, and Julien spends most of the evening practicing his kicks and punches.

Many Sims don't work on Sunday, but for Julien, the team bus comes to pick him up at 8:00 just like the other days. When he returns, he spots Christian Love walking by and welcomes him. "I am throwing a party for my friends tonight - please stay and get to know them," he says. 

The Gavigans, Cyd Roseland and the Contrarys are all here.

Julien reverts to his former self for a moment when he produces a fancy meal of Crêpes Suzettes for his guests. 

He has bought a stereo for the occasion, and especially the Contrarys rule the dance floor with some great moves - who would have thought! 

When everybody leaves, there is a lot to clean up for Julien, but he doesn't mind - it was well worth it. 

We will certainly Julien when it is time to play the Gavigans, but it'll be a while before we'll find out how long it will take him to reach his lifetime want and whether he is going to find a romantic interest.

The Contrary Family: Week 1

At least for a while, we are leaving Belladonna Cove behind and are visiting Desiderata Valley, where the Contrary Family are going to be played. Their Maxis-made pictures give us a bit of a background story for them:

Here are Edward and Opal Contrary as happy young parents of baby Rick. Opal's hair is shorter than now. Their family biography says: "Love and understanding are the foundations of a healthy family life, but can the Contrarys gain enough of it to keep themselves together?"

Rick is a little older in the next picture, and smiling as his Dad reads to him. 

As a teenager, he appears to be totally focused on a computer game while his mother is looking on. This fits in with their biographies. According to Maxis, Opal "loves her job, loves her friends, and especially loves her family. She wants to find a way to encourage her son to do more than just play games, but at least it makes him happy."

Opal's aspiration is Knowledge, and she wants to become a City Planner.

Rick is a Fortune Sim who wants to make his fortune as Chief of Staff. Maxis says about him: "How could Rick's parents ever understand what he's going through? They've never had to deal with the stresses of being a teenager! The only person that seems to "get" him is his best friend, Violet."

Maxis pictures Edward here talking to John Mole. His bio reads: "Content with his life, thus far, Edward is constantly trying to improve himself, seeking knowledge wherever it can be found. He occasionally helps his close acquaintance, Mr. Mole, with tasks."

Sharing his wife's aspiration, Edward's lifetime want is very different from hers: He dreams of being a Criminal Mastermind.

The two men are seen together again in the next (and last) Maxis-made picture. The location is obviously a community lot, and I think the man in the background is Luis Aspir.

The Contrarys' house is on 1026 West Dreaming Drive and looks very typically American to my European eyes. I have always liked the house, even though it is not very tastefully furnished and decorated.

In spite of it looking as if there were an upper floor, there really is only the ground floor, but it has everything the family needs. The top left corner shows a hobby/crafts room with a sewing machine, followed by a kitchen and dining room. A living room with fire place is next. In the bottom left corner we find the master bedroom with small en-suite bathroom, then a family bathroom and Rick's room. Two generous hallways are at the centre of the house. The back garden has a basketball hoop and football goal while the front of the house is welcoming with a bench on the porch.

The welcome committee consists of Dora Ottomas, Julien Cooke and Nathan Gavigan - all Sims we will get to know better further on this round.

When Rick returns from school on Monday, he has to wait for his parents to come from work before he can ask his mother to help him with his homework. Both Opal and Edward have jobs as Dolphin Tank Cleaners - not helpful for their lifetime wants, and so they quit immediately.

Not having to work is nice on a beautiful day like this, Opal thinks as she spends good part of Tuesday morning doing the crossword on the front porch.

Edward meets and greets Natasha Una.

Dinner is a bit of a strained affair when Rick expresses the wish to have a handheld game and his Dad tetchily replies that his pockets aren't lined with gold.

He later confesses to his wife that he regrets his harsh words. "It is just that we need to be careful about money until we both get jobs again," he explains.

Raking leaves in the back garden helps him to clear his head, and is useful for skilling and keeping the place in order at the same time.

On Wednesday, Opal finds a job in the architecture career and will start as a Cement Mixer tomorrow. Only two Knowledge Sims can look at each other so fondly over their books - their idea of a romantic evening :-D

On Thursday, Edward is lucky, too: he finds work as a pickpocket.

Rick teaches himself how to make potholders. His choice of fabric is - hardly surprising - black.

Opal is promoted to Brick Layer.

Edward makes an effort with Rick and joins him at the dining table. They manage to have a good conversation when Edward praises his son for his good grades at school, even in maths, which is not the easiest of subjects. 

On Friday, Opal's smile says it all: She has just received another promotion and is now a Fore(wo)man.

Her husband has also been promoted and is now a Bagman.

Saturday is a day off school for Rick, but both his parents have to work. Opal's effort are rewarded with yet another promotion - she is now Head of the Construction Company she's been working for.

Rick finally makes one of his big wishes come true when he invites the Headmaster of Desiderata Valley's Private School over. 

The assessment visit goes very well, and Mr. Trimble accepts Rick into his fine institute. "We have great sports facilities, too, Mrs. Contrary," he says. "Our young people all love it." So far, Rick's focus was not really about sports, but he is still happy to have been accepted. 

It is already Sunday by the time Edward returns from work - exhausted, but happy: He has been promoted to Bookie.

From their combined bonus money, the couple finally can afford a better bed. A better kitchen stove, an easel as well as a chess table with two cheap chairs have already been bought - not just to impress the Headmaster, but also to further advance with their skills.

Snow has begun to fall in earnest, and when the family wake up, it is Winter Wonderland outside. 

It also happens to be Christmas, and while her husband needs to go to work nonetheless, Opal has the day off and spends a happy morning decorating the tree and lighting the fire in the (still mismatched) living room.

Groceries have been ordered, and Opal watches fondly as her son takes their goods from the delivery man with a smile on his face.

The Jocque family are good friends with the Contrarys - in fact, Sophia is Opal's best friend, and Violet is best friends with Rick - and so they are invited over to spend Christmas together.

Rick has a present for everyone - he has been making potholders for the past few weeks.

Edward returns from work with a promotion to Con Artist. The family are still a bit low on cash, and so every bonus is very welcome. 

It is a lovely Christmas celebration for everyone.

The teenagers head out to the porch for a bit of privacy. While their mothers play chess and their fathers become best friends, on his own initiative Rick gives Violet a backrub. I expect pink hearts to fly, but nothing changes - they are not romantically interested in each other (at least not yet).

Everything was going so well, but then with nobody watching the lights on the tree, a short circuit makes it catch fire!

Luckily, a fire alarm has been installed from the moment they moved in, and the firefighter quickly has the situation under control. 

Edward is so relieved he spends 100 Simoleons of his promotion bonus on a generous tip for Mr. Smith (yes, Smith!). "I am so sorry you had to come out here in all that snow, and on Christmas, too!" he apologizes. 

This was a good week to play. Rick and his parents improved their relationship in the course of the week. Friends were made and promotions gained, and Rick getting into Private School was his personal highlight of the week. Next time we'll visit the family, Edward will turn into an elder, followed by his wife before the second round is over, and Rick is going to go to college.