Martin/Goldstein/Viejo Household - Week 2

The first week with this household is here.

We are back in Riverblossom Hills for our second week this round at 204 Old Barn Road. You already know that this is Betty Goldstein's house which she shares with her old friend Catherine Viejo and the son and grandson of their deceased friend Linda Martin. 

And it is of course the Martins we are here for. Andrew, who still wants to become Criminal Mastermind, still does not find an opening in the Criminal career on this Monday.

His son Jacob is a thoroughly nice kid but does not have many skills (yet). With just one mechanical point, it takes him multiple attempts to tune the piano. 

Autumn has begun, and with a garden as large as Betty's, there is plenty to do - no chance for Andrew to get bored, even though he is still unemployed. 

In the afternoon, Jacob's closest friend Jules O'Mackey comes visiting on her own accord. Betty greets her and ushers the girl out of the rain and into the house. 

She and Jacob eat Andrew's slightly overdone hamburgers before settling in front of the TV for a video game. Jacob can't believe how good Jules is at this! 

Tuesday is an unremarkable day. For Jacob, it consists of getting up, going to school, doing his homework and then join the neverending gardening. 

His father has been raking leaves all day, regardless of the rain. Once again, there was no job for him on the simternet. 

Betty is pleased with the young man Jacob is turning into. "Our Linda would be so proud of her grandson," she thinks. 

A minor crisis occurs on Wednesday morning when Betty discovers an infestation of bugs in the kitchen.

An exterminator is called who deals with the situation so quickly, Betty and Catherine have barely time to introduce themselves to the guy with the dreamy gaze. 

The episode seems to have affected Betty more than it should have, and by mid-morning, she is coughing badly and not feeling well at all.

That afternoon, she dies at the age of 64 - way too early. 

Andrew, who had been worried about her all day since she had reacted so badly to the bugs in the kitchen, runs to the rescue... 

...but it is too late: Betty is gone. Catherine is devastated. 

It doesn't help that Jacob has to leave for college later the same evening - it is his last chance to go.

Betty's tombstone is placed in her beloved garden. (There is no cemetery - yet - in the neighbourhood.) 

Not even the apples Andrew harvests on Thursday morning are any good - it is as if the tree was grieving, too.

Catherine misses her friend so much she can hardly eat. 

To dispel the gloom at least a little bit, Andrew and Catherine head to the Town Center Grocery (they need to stock up on food anyway.) 

Andrew does the shopping... 

...while Catherine fails miserably at grilling ribs at the grill - and she's actually a really good cook.

Still, the place is alive with neighbours who come here for a chat or a game of chess, and the outing certainly helps the grieving friends. 

Back home, to my surprise and delight, Andrew finally encounters a three-bolt lady: Formerly unknown townie Robin Hogan walks by in her pink polka dot dress and pigtails, and it is love at first sight! 

Like a pair of teenagers, the two spend the afternoon playing video games. They part with a kiss, and Robin is definitely going to be back for more! 

Sadly, later that evening, a second tombstone is placed next to Betty's - the friends for life are now reunited in death. Like Betty, Catherine died way too early at 65. 

It is hard to believe, but by Friday, Andrew has still not found a job in the Criminal career. For now, he's good financially - has the large house and garden all to himself and more than 7,000 Simoleons on the bank, and he could sell off a lot of unneeded stuff from the house. But he has a lifetime want to fulfill, too. 

He has more success on the romantic front: Robin comes over... 

...and it is clear what's on her mind. Three bolts are three bolts, no doubt about that!

A romantic meal on the porch follows before it is time for Robin to leave. 

No job on Saturday, either, but Andrew's mind is elsewhere anyway :-) 

Winter has set in, and the bare branches mean there won't be any more leaves to rake for a while - but there is still plenty to do to get the garden ready. 

Of course, Robin is over for another visit that evening, and she openly tells Andrew that she thinks the two of them make a great couple. Andrew certainly does not disagree! 

By Sunday evening, Robin and Andrew's relationship is firm enough for her to move in:

Robin Hogan, Ex-Townie currently working as a Pickpocket 

Aspiration: Fortune; Lifetime want: Become Hall of Famer 

(The irony of her working in the career Andrew so desires, but her not wanting it at all, is not lost on me!) 

Robin adds a healthy 13,000 Simoleon's to the household account, boosting it to over 20,000. Her skill profile is relatively good, and she has a Silver Badge for Cosmetology. There were no items in her backpack, but she has 8 friends (all of them townies). 

If you want to know how the two celebrated Robin's move-in, here's how...! Honestly, that garden is a never-ending source of work, even in winter. 

The week ends with Betty's ghost appearing in the en-suite bathroom off Andrew's bedroom. 

Next time I play this household, I may move the tombstones to a community lot - only I'll have to create one first, or place an existing cemetery lot in the neighbourhood. 

This week was a mix of sad and happy times for Andrew, just like real life can sometimes be. I am glad he found a 3-bolt-love, but a bit disappointed that once again an entire week went by without him having a chance at getting started on his lifetime want. 

Next, we'll visit Jacob for his first year at college.

The Goldstein - Viejo - Martin Household: Week 1

In this Maxis-made pic we see younger versions of Betty Goldstein (the blonde lady left) and Catherine Viejo (wearing a hat) having coffee with their friend Linda Martin. 

The next picture shows a wedding. To the right are Betty and Catherine again, now obviously elderly ladies. To the left are Linda Martin and her husband. Their son, Andrew Martin, is the groom; Elena (whose birth name is unknown) is the bride.

Maxis seems to have gotten their chronology mixed up a bit; here we have turned back in time and see a young Catherine Viejo with her husband, and the lady in the back is Linda Martin again, holding Andrew as a toddler. 

In the not so distant past, Catherine and Betty bemoan the death of Elena Martin. Widower Andrew is holding his little son Jacob, now motherless. Linda, Andrew's mother and and Jacob's grandmother, can just about be seen behind him.

Linda died not long afterwards; cause unknown.

From now one, the pictures are mine. Here is the large and rambling home of Betty Goldstein, located at 204 Old Farm Road in Riverblossom Hills.

The house is equally impressive from the back, with a large garden and pavilion.

The ground floor has a generous front porch. Entering the house at the right side of the porch, visitors step into a large living room with access to the garden and a guest toilet. Through to a spacious kitchen with breakfast bar, we find another living room with a dining area facing the street. There is also a piano. At the back of the living room is a single bedroom with a desk and computer and shower room.

Upstairs are three double bedrooms and two bathrooms. 

The people living here are the ones we have already seen in the pictures, only older: Betty Goldstein, Catherine Viejo and their friend Linda's son Andrew Martin with his son Jacob. The household bio reads: "Can Catherine and Betty cope with the loss of their close friend [Linda Martin] and face their own imminent mortality or will they find a way to cheat death? Will Andrew and Jacob find a way to fulfill their dreams in the great game of life?"

According to Maxis, Betty Goldstein "refuses to let the death of her friend slow her down or cloud her judgement in pursuit of truth and justice. Throwing herself into work (and possibly at that lovely young farmer man [Leod McGreggor]) helps keep her mind off of the reality of her age." 

The reality of her age?! Excuse me - I'm 55, too, and I don't need to keep my mind off that for sure! She is Morty Roth's cousin, by the way - her mother and his father were siblings. Betty's lifetime want won't be achieved, I'm afraid; she is 55 and works as a legal secretary, which is the wrong career for someone who dreams of being a business tycoon. 

Catherine Viejo is Cleo Shikibu's aunt. Maxis says that she "gave her old home to her favorite niece in hopes to bring them closer together. Though she misses her friend, Linda, she's enjoying her retirement and found a love for gardening (and a cute farmer [Leod McGreggor again!] that moved in down the way)." 

Like Betty, Catherine won't reach her lifetime want of becoming Celebrity Chef. She currently works as a Teacher's Aide.

Andrew Martin is a Gold Farmer (a position in the gaming career) but really wants to make his fortune as Criminal Mastermind. I am really considering changing his LTW - it does not suit him. 

According to Maxis, he "loves living with his surrogate aunts and his son. He has a passion for video games and is happy to have a son that also loves games. Will he be able to cope with his mother's [and wife's!] death and finally get out on his own?" 

Jacob is a Popularity Sim who sees himself as future Captain Hero. His bio says: "Jacob loves gaming with his dad - what a cool dude. Will his love for games hinder his relationship with Sandra [Roth]?"

On this Monday in mid-winter, two neighbours come visiting on their own accord: Alexandra O'Mackey (front) and Patricia Wan (back). 

Tiffany Zarubin, head of Riverblossom Hills' Gardening Club, walks by and admires Betty's garden. Spontaneously, I have Betty request membership, and Tiffany calls two other members for inspection. 

The overall verdict is good, but not good enough for Betty to receive the Wishing Well. 

Not much else happens that day; I have Betty, Catherine and Andrew quit their jobs since they do not fit their lifetime wants, and there is enough money to keep the household going for a while (and Andrew is planning to "earn" money in illegal ways very soon, anyway).

Something unusual I found when starting to play on this lot: All four household members had one want locked. 

Not an awful lot happens on Tuesday. 

First thing in the morning, I change Betty's and Catherine's looks by getting rid of their wrinkles and age spots - there is no need for them to look 30 to 40 years older than they are, is there! (Of course, me being the same age in real life as the two ladies, I have wrinkles, but certainly not like that "age mask" Maxis has put on their faces!) 

They both seem to like their fresher looks.

Since Andrew does not yet have a job, and Jacob finishes his homework soon enough, I send the four to one of the only three community lots in Riverblossom Hills, The Hills Community Centre.

While Betty has a mug of hot chocolate and Jacob pokes about in the fire... 

...Andrew does some ice skating. 

In the back to the right of the picture, you can see Catherin making her way towards the top of the hill where a few townies have gathered around the Mishuno game. She really wants to meet an interesting man, and I really don't want Andrew to be that man for her or Betty - the three adults need careful watching, since they seem to be attracted to each other, but I prefer not to enter that constellation.

Betty does a spot of cleaning on her own accord on Wednesday morning. 

It is a fine, if still rather chilly, spring morning, and the sunshine makes Andrew have his breakfast out on the front porch. 

Later, father and son spend some time in the large living room; Jacob does his homework while his Dad brushes up on his - admittedly very low - skills in view of his future career which hopefully starts soon.

The two old friends have a game of chess in the evening. They still miss their friend Linda. 

Catherine is up early on Thursday. She remains in her room for a while, wondering whether she should engage the Matchmaker's help - her romantic urges are really strong now that spring has begun. But as long as Andrew has not found a job and neither she nor Betty feel like returning to work, luxuries such as the Matchmaker's fee have to wait. 

The same is true for getting a household help or gardener. Betty reasons that with three adults not working, they can certainly stay on top of all the cleaning and looking after the garden. 

Jacob brings home his first A+, and his Dad tells him how proud he is.

Speaking of gardening, the two old friends work well into the night until the hedge and every shrub are trimmed, every flower bed is watered and both fruit trees tended and sprayed.

On Friday, Catherine meets and greets townie Leo Wilkie, and he seems to be a rather affectionate gentleman - but unfortunately, she does not really feel that special spark she is looking for.

Instead, she invites her niece Cleo Shikibu over. So far this week, they have only talked on the phone.

Although the situation looks somewhat awkward here, what with Betty and Catherine sitting so far apart from Cleo, they really get along very well.

Saturday is here, and Jacob does not need to catch the school bus or do homework. Instead, he invites his girlfriend Sandra Roth over, and also his best friend Jules O'Mackey. Jason Greenman comes over on his own accord.

The girls dislike each other - there is some poking and other unpleasantness going on, and Sandra tells her mother (who has also come over on her own accord) that she really does not want "that girl" to be here. A helpless Jacob shows an embarrassed smile, and eventually asks Jules to leave. They hug for good-bye and their friendship has not suffered, it seems. 

By the way, Jacob does not roll any wants about Sandra apart from being best friends for life with her - nothing romantic, in spite of it being spring. Also, interestingly he has only one bolt for Sandra, but two for Jules.

Andrew enjoys Jason's company. He definitely needs more friends, especially once he finally gets his career going. 

When Andrew gets up on Sunday morning, he hopes that he'll finally find a job in the criminal career today. (Sorry, Andrew - still no luck.)

A little to my dismay, after Betty has invited Leod McGreggor over, it is not her but Catherine who autonomously flirts and falls in love with the much younger man. Not that I have a problem with their age difference per se; I just would have liked them to find three bolt partners. 

Although Betty does not show signs of jealousy (she is not in love with Leod, otherwise it would probably be a different story!), I can not help feeling a bit sorry for her, especially when I find her sitting all by herself out in the rain, shortly after she watched Catherine and Leod. 

Jacob wants to make sure Jules is not mad at him for yesterday's unpleasant encounter with Sandra, and invites her and her Dad over. Jules' smile is all the answer he needs - she is definitely NOT mad at him.

The evening ends with Jules watching her Dad having a great game of SSX with his hosts.

Hmm... what shall I say? 

This household is not one of my favourites, and I was relieved when the week with them was over. Somehow, nothing and nobody really "fits" in this set-up: 

Andrew didn't find a job, and I had constantly keep a close watch on the two ladies, since they were forever attempting to hug Andrew romantically and similar. With him being something like a nephew to them, a romantic involvement with either of them simply does not feel right to me. 

The only one I did not need to worry about here was Jacob. His interest in Sandra seems purely "as friends", same as with Jules. It will be interesting to see how things develop once they grow up and go to college. And I sincerely hope Andrew finds that "criminal" job of his! (Or maybe I will change his LTW at some stage.)