Sarah Love - Sophomore Year

We have been at the Tri-Fruhm Sorority house before. It is part of Strangetown's La Fiesta Tech, and this time we're here for... 

...Sarah Love, as her name is next on my alphabetical list. She is a Sophomore just like Jessica Pilferson and DJ Verse, her fellow "sisters". Monica Bratford is the oldest of the four, already in her Junior Year.

As usual, it is skilling time for everyone at the start of the semester.

Less pizza is brought from campus this year, it seems; every now and then, someone will prepare a meal on their own accord; mostly spaghetti.

But you can tell from a glimpse of the living room that the house is not as spic and span as the girls would like it to be - books and red paper cups are everywhere. What to do? 

Well, let's have pizza before we think about it, shall we!

The next day, Sarah greets Tiffany Riley, a fellow student most of the sorority members know but not all are friends with yet.

And here is the solution to the girls' cleaning "problem": Simply ask someone to pledge and then have them do all the work! 

Danielle Smith, the student who pledged last semester, is invited over frequently. 

As before, it often happens that Sarah and Monica are in the kitchen at the same time. They get along very well and share many of their views and values (maybe not their sense of dress).

Finally, Danielle's pledge period is over, and DJ promptly asks her to move in - and equally promptly, she accepts. 

Danielle Smith, former Townie Teen sent to college by me; she adds 1,000 Simoleons to the sorority's account. Her aspiration is Fortune and she dreams of having 6 pets reach the top of their career. 

Yep, it's Monica and Sarah again, happening to be hungry at the same time and sharing a platter of grilled cheese sandwiches. 

Oh dear, Monica - you really have overdone the dieting and working out, haven't you! (This truly looks horrible, but it is only a fraction of a second - a moment later, the "I'm fit!" action is over, and Monica looks "normal" again - for a Sim.) 

For a reason I can't remember properly (did it have anything to do with Sarah's boyfriend Matthew Hart?), Jessica and Sarah have been mad at each other for some time now. But Sarah wants to patch things up with her "sister" and talks to her privately in a quiet moment. (She really went to apologize on her own accord, and then I had them talk some more.)

Danielle - here without her customary pink hat - is getting to know those members of the sorority she wasn't friends with already. 

On the day of her end-of-term exam, Sarah pays the bills and looks less than happy to find the snow more than ankle deep.

DJ, Monica and Jessie have all finished their exams with A+ and spots on the Dean's List. 

Monica and Sarah (again these two) have just sat down for a meal when a streaker appears. "Hi Moni!" he waves. Monica just stares him down, and he leaves without another word. 

With winter well and truly here, the girls light the fire and put up a Christmas wreath.

It is dark by the time Sarah returns from her exam, as successfully as her "sisters".

DJ invites her boyfriend River Smith over. The two spruce up their meal of spaghetti with glasses of champagne to toast the end of one and the start of another semester. 

Sarah seems to be really pleased to find leftover pizza in the kitchen when she gets up.

Tiffany Riley has fulfilled her Pledge period and is now a full member of the Sorority. But not just that - she has also just accepted Jessie's invitation to move in! 

Tiffany is a Romance Sim who sees herself as future City Planner. She only adds 500 Simoloens to the girls' joint account and has nothing in her inventory. Welcome to the world of playables, Tiffany!

Upstairs, Sarah is trying hard to focus on her Term Paper - not easy when Danielle and DJ are sharing gossip about Tank Grunt right next to her! 

Later, Danielle and Tiffany get talking. "We two newbies are going to stay around long after the other girls have graduated and moved back to Strangetown," Tiffany states. "You're right there!" Danielle exclaims.

The final day of the semester is here! Monica, DJ and Jessie have already left for their exams, but Sarah's is scheduled a little later. She takes advantage of the last couple of hours and asks Matthew over. Spring has just begun, putting kissing and flirting on her mind, and she does just that.

It is dark by the time she returns from her exam; no surprise there: She has done as well as her "sisters" and is now a Junior. Well done everyone!

I was pleased to see Sarah and Jessie making an effort to be friends again, and directed them a little until their inexplicable enmity was forgotten.

Two newcomers at the Sorority, and new playables at that - they will make sure that the sorority won't end with the original playables graduating.

There was never a suitable time for them all to visit a community lot, and the one time I let them have a Toga party (as per nearly everyone's wish), my game crashed and I had to play an entire day again.

Christian Love - Week 1

We're staying in Pleasantview for the moment, but in a different part of town. Brandi Broke and her sons live in the lilac house on the crossroads, but we're going to be next door at No. 35 Woodland Drive.

It is a modest dwelling with only the cheapest shower, toilet and sink in a small bathroom and an incomplete kitchen, equally cheap, without a fridge. Who would move into such a place? 

Christian Love would! He was asked to become a resident of Pleasantview earlier this round by Darren Dreamer (whom he now has a pink heart for, but I am not going to follow up on that, since Darren is otherwise romantically involved). 

Christian is, as you can see, an elderly man. That means he won't be able to reach his lifetime want of becoming Criminal Mastermind. But he can have a good life nonetheless, and I will try to fulfill as many of his daily wishes as possible. 

He is unemployed and has only a handful of skill points scattered about his profile, but a Gold Badge for Sales. With more than 7,400 Simoleons in the bank, he does not have any pressing financial worries yet, but will have to be careful about spending. 

Welcoming him to the neighbourhood are Herb Oldie, Mortimer Goth and Denise Jacquet. "I have only just moved in and not really unpacked yet," Chris tells his guest in way of explaining why there are not enough chairs for everyone.

His first wish was to buy a fridge, which was the sensible thing to do. But then, he wanted to have a Makeover Station, and going along with his wishes, I bought him one. Of course the wish for a Bronze Badge in Cosmetology follows, and Denise will be his first (non-paying) "customer". 

Oh dear! That didn't go well... hardly surprising. 

But on his third attempt, Chris manages to make Denise happy with her subtle make-up. 

Herb is next, looking rather suave with an elegant hat and moustache. Mortimer is last, but I make him end up unchanged. Monday is over and it is time for bed, but so far, Chris has not wished for a bed. I can't let him drop asleep on the floor, though, can I? 

It's the double bed from IKEA's "Malm" series Chris ends up sleeping in, even though he never wished for a bed. Getting up on Tuesday, I can tell he did not have the most comfortable night.

But he puts up his most neighbourly smile when Checo Ramirez walks by. The two men start talking, with Checo wanting to know what Chris does for a living. "I'm retired from Sales," he explains, "and am now working on my cosmetology skills. Care for a free makeover?" 

Checo does, and the elegant hat does not only cover his receding hairline very well, it also suits his suit :-) 

Jodie Larson, on the other hand, is less than happy with her free make-over. Of course Chris immediately remedies the situation. 

For lack of any comfortable furniture, he then spends most of the evening resting on his bed, reading. Two phonecalls are made, then he goes to sleep. 

Wednesday's most noteworthy event is the Oldies coming over for a game of kicky bag and a meal of Grilled Cheese. By the time they leave, Herb and Chris are friends, and Coral has had a free makeover (only replacing her existing lipstick with a shade better matching her pink shirt).

Chris has known Townie lady Katerina Kim (yes, Kim!) for a while, and quite likes her. In fact, he REALLY likes her. To test his chances with her, on Friday morning he asks her over for breakfast, and along with the cereal, he serves champagne.

He also gives her a makeover - much more successfully than with an unsuspecting passers-by, whose hairstyle needs fixing... AFTER Chris has "treated" him to a free makeover. 

He then decides to visit a community lot, and since I have not played at Sky Arc Spire in a very long time (if ever?), I send him there. A bowl of steamed rice later, he walks around to see who's there to greet.

"You're a Romance Sim, too, aren't you?" - "Yes, I am!!" exclaims Jill Smith happily. But before things go any further, Chris goes home - he has other plans for the rest of the day. 

Katerina is his plan, actually :-) Soon after this picture was taken, these two are well and truly in love. 

And who is the person who has agreed to a free makeover, totally unfazed by his host walking about in a pair of heart-patterned boxers? 

It is next door neighbour Justin Broke, who appears unchanged but has actually had his eyebrows done. 

Herb Oldie is almost best friends with Chris by now, and listens with interest when Chris confides that he has met that special someone. (The settee was actually Christian's wish - finally, he wished for something sensible!)

It is only 2:30 am on Saturday morning when Katerina - who has left only a couple of hours ago - suddenly turns up on her own accord, ringing the doorbell and waking Chris, who was fast asleep. She plants a big fat kiss on his lips and then leaves without a word! 

By the time Chris has gone back to bed and woken up again, it is full daylight. Immediately, he asks Katerina over... and to move in. She happily accepts, and we have a newcomer:

Katerina Kim, currently working as a GP but dreaming of becoming Criminal Mastermind (is that why she and Chris get along so well). Her aspiration is Knowledge, and she adds 4,000 Simoleons to the household. In her backpack are a vase of sunflowers and a video game. 

After the sensible wish for a settee, Chris is back to his "fun" wishes and now wants a hot tub. I wasn't sure whether the one in the aspiration rewards catalogue fulfills that, but it does - and our lovebirds put it to the test right away :-D 

More home improvements are made. Katerina wants a book case, and because she needs to look for a job, Mr. Humble's computer (which until now was in Chris' backpack) is placed on a desk. The roses on the side table next to the settee were of course Katerina's gift for Chris after their first date.

Sunday is an uneventful day with Christian and Katerina enjoying their newfound domestic bliss. 

No job offering in the Criminal career yet for Kate, but Chris gets busy with the makeover station, offering a free demonstration of his skill to everyone who happens to walk by. As it is winter, now some of the townies wear matching headgear with their padded coats, boots and scarves. A few phonecalls are made, meals are eaten and baths taken. As I said - domestic bliss :-) 

Chris and Kate make a nice couple, in spite of their age gap. Whether they will remain together is anyone's guess - you know what i think of 3-bolt loves: If either of them shall come across a 3-bolt-attraction, I won't stop them.

Katerina ringing the door bell at 2:00 in the morning and then disappearing without a word after that kiss was odd; I don't think I've ever seen it happening before.

Having Christian give makeovers to all and sundry was fun and gave him something to do.

Ajay Loner - Week 1

Welcome back to Strangetown! We are going to spend a week at No. 93 Road to Nowhere, a small house right next to where the four ladies making up the Singles household live. 

The house is furnished very modestly but has everything to cover a Sim's basic needs, with an open plan kitchen-dining-lounge area, a small shower room and a bedroom. There is also patio at the back of the house, reached from the kitchen, where a grill has been set up. 

Ajay Loner has just moved in here, with a little more than 6,600 Simoleons left in cash, so he can afford a few first improvements (mainly a better bed). 

According to Maxis, he "has come to Strangetown hoping to find himself. Will he be successful in his new home or will the odd things that always seem to happen here drive him away?" That's his household bio; his personal one reads: "To pass the hours, Ajay enjoys counting the grains of sand in his backyard." 

Well, as he is a Fortune Sim, I suppose Ajay will prefer counting the Simoleons on his bank account; he fancies himself as future Hand of Poseidon and that should give him a nice income. But before he has a chance to reach his lifetime want, he'll have to work hard - there is not a single point in his skill profile, and he has no friends yet, only knowing a handful of other Strangetown residents. 

On this Monday, he is successful on the job front right away: Tomorrow morning as early as 4:00 am, he will start as a Fish Chummer. 

To welcome him to the neighbourhood, Chloe Singles from next door, Stephen Cho (who also has recently moved to a small property on Road to Nowhere) and Vidcund Curious join Ajay for a round of lunch meat sandwiches. 

Then, Jenny Smith - the Smiths of course have been living on 101 Road to Nowhere for a long time - rings and asks Ajay to come along for a meal at the One-Twenty-Five Café. 

Nice to see that the small group consisting of Pascal Curious, Ajay and the Smiths are all sitting at the same table! Their food has just been delivered, and Jenny here seems to critically compare her plate of Lobster Thermidor with the description on the menue. 

Because Ajay's job starts hours before sunrise the next morning, he leaves soon after the meal. Just before his taxi is there to drop him off home, he meets & greets Jill Smith, a distant relative of his hosts and neighbours. 

Although it really is awfully early when Ajay has to get up on Tuesday morning, he has slept well in his new bed and feels fit for his first day on the job. The ship model on the side table was already there; it suits his Oceanography career and so it stays. 

His smile upon his return says it all: Ajay has been promoted to Dolphin Tank Cleaner.

A shower and a mechanical skill point later, he greets another one of his next-door neigbhours, Kristen Singles. 

"That's great - first day on the job and already promoted!" Kristen says over their bowls of Mac & Cheese. But it's been an early start and eventful day for Ajay, and he soon says good-bye to his guest and goes to bed.

Wednesday sees him returning from work with another promotion, starting as a Sea Lice Researcher tomorrow. The rest of the day goes by quickly; by the time he's had a shower, rang Jill Smith (becoming friends), ate a leftover sandwich and made a mechanical skill point, Ajay is well ready for bed. 

On Thursday, Ajay's days of researching sea lice are over already - tomorrow, he will be back to wearing a wet suit, as he has just been promoted to Dive Master.

To help him celebrate, he invites Jill Smith over. Kicky-bag is great for cementing friendships AND having fun at the same time.

The two of them enjoy glasses of champagne with leftover Mac & Cheese before Ajay says good-bye to Jill and goes to bed. 

On Friday, Ajay is promoted to Underwater Demolitionists. Skills and friends are needed now; his next promotion is not going to come along as quickly as the ones until now. 

Saturday is just another work day for Ajay, but at least he manages to make friends with Jenny Smith over the phone (as per his wish, as well as being required for his next promotion), and invites Jill Smith over for the evening. The two of them are now best friends, but so far, Ajay has not shown any romantic wishes about any of his female friends and acquaintances. 

Jenny's friendship makes all the difference - on Sunday, Ajay is promoted to Marine Biologist and can now place the koi pond in his garden.

He ends the week not only successful in his career, but also by moving in former townie Jill Smith. They have no romantic relationship (yet), but with Jill being a typical Romance Sim who wants to have 20 Lovers, I guess she'll make him #1 on her list... and then will find her own place. 

She has 3 bolts for Abhijeet Cho, by the way, who lives close by and is just about to start a family with Bella Goth.

Another relaxing week with a single Sim. Ajay's day-to-day life may be less colourful than Don's, but it was still nice to play him in his small, well-ordered house and most of his wishes easy to fulfill.