Julien Cooke - Week 2

Julien's first week is here.

We're staying in Desiderata Valley, but I am glad to say NOT for yet another "year" at Sim State Uni :-) This is Julien Cooke's house. The first week with him was so long ago (autumn 2023!) that I had to re-read that chapter to remind me of what he's been up to. 

Still a Popularity Sim, Julien made a u-turn in his career and went from culinary to athletic: His lifetime want is to become Hall of Famer. He ended his first week on the position of All Star, and that's how we find him on this Monday morning. 

So far, he has made a few friends but will need more for his career and to satisfy his typical Popularity-related wishes. No lady or gentleman has as yet captured his interest in a romantic way. 

With over 7,100 Simoleons on his bank account, he can afford to buy the exercise machine he's been wishing for, and he uses it in the hope of gaining another body skill point required for his next promotion. He also adds bedside tables and a nice wardrobe to his sparse bedroom. 

Nothing worth mentioning happens on Tuesday; it's a day off for Julien, and he spends it working out, cleaning, calling a friend, doing the crossword and even enjoying an afternoon nap. 

He also has Wednesday off, and he walks to Gustav's Grocery - a community lot I rarely play but should really have my Sims visit more often; it has everything from groceries to clothes to jewellery.

Julien grabs any chance he gets to meet more residents of The Valley. Here, he greets Toby Scott. 

He buys groceries, too. 

Then he meets and greets Ashley Pitts. 

He wants to go swimming, and what better place than the nearby "Sparks! Sports Park".

At first it seems it's Men Only Day at Sparks!, but eventually a few women appear, and several neighbours make use of the various sports facilities here.

There are Jimmy Phoenix, John Mole, Nathan Gavigan among others. 

Swimming makes hungry, and everybody flocks to the rooftop terrace when they catch the scent of Julien's hot dogs.

Back home, he has a nap before engaging in a good work-out in his private gym room. 

Cynthia Kim and Isaac Bell have been walking past and were invited in, and because Julien loves nothing more than to have a meal with friends, he asks the Aspirs over as well. Only the ladies seem to be hungry at first... 

...but eventually, the men leave the (more or less) comfortable settee and join them at the table.

Julien's smile says it all when he gets off the team bus on Thursday: He is now his team's MVP!

After he has had a shower, he greets passers-by Marcel Jocque. But instead of eating with him, Marcel is glued to the computer and browses the Simternet. Eventually, Julien politely says good-bye to his disinterested guest and sits down to study the Mechanical skill he needs in view of his next promotion.

On Friday, I expect Julien to be promoted, but in spite of him having all the required skills, number of friends and Platinum mood, he gets off the team bus with only his daily salary and nothing else. 

He wants to be friends with Cynthia Kim, and so he invites her over for a meal of Mac & Cheese. As always, his food goes down a treat, and the two become friends, with Julien hoping they'll eventually be best friends. 

The expected promotion follows on Saturday: Julien is now a happy, smiling Superstar! 

Of course, each promotion means more skills are required for the next step up the career ladder. But Julien is prepared to do what it takes to become a Hall of Famer, and he acquires the two Mechanical points in one long sitting, helped by the Thinking Cap.

He then invites Jimmy Phoenix over. The two of them have only met a few days ago when Julien visited Sparks! Sports Park, but they quickly become friends over a game of kicky bag.

Julien works on Sunday, too, and returns with a promotion to Assistant Coach. That's two steps away from reaching his lifetime want, I think! But he needs FIVE skill points now, and that'll take more than just one day. 

After he's had a shower and changed into a smart-casual outfit, he spots Kevin Beare walk by and greets him. "So this is the new Assistant Coach", Kevin thinks. 

If a promotion does not call for a party, I don't know what does! Julien invites all his friends: Elizabeth Aspir, Cynthia Kim, Cyd Roseland, Jimmy Phoenix and the Gavigans. Kevin is included in the party, and he'll be pleased to see his old from uni, Jimmy. 

Who says champagne doesn't go with Hamburgers? It does, when the burgers were made by Julien! 

This was a quick week with only a single Sim to manage. Julien was really focused on his career but at the same time did not neglect making and maintaining friends. 

He never showed any romantic interest in anyone, in spite of it being spring. Who knows - once he's achieved his lifetime want, he might want to share his life with that special someone. 

Also, he now has plenty of money and could upgrade his modest house, or move to a more luxurious place. 

Rick Contrary - Freshman Year

Not yet another "year" at college...! And at the same dorm, too! Only that this time, we're not at Veronaville's Académie Le Tour to follow yet another Capp kid through their first year. No, this is Sim State Uni where the kids from Desiderata Valley go.

Rick Contrary has just arrived at Pinenut Plaza Dorms. You may remember that he is a Fortune Sim with the lifetime want of becoming Chief of Staff. He doesn't know anyone here yet; his friends from school have not yet reached college age.

But two playable students already live here: 

Jordan Lee, former Townie Teen and friend of Justin Kim, and Jack Kim, whose NPC origin I can't quite remember. 

Jordan is a Freshman like Rick but a few hours ahead of him, while Jack is about to throw his graduation party and move to The Valley.

Rick's room is on the ground floor, next door to Jordan's.

He has brought his computer from home and sets to work on his Term Paper almost as soon as he returns from his first class. (It really was his wish.)

The next morning, Jordan joins him at the chess table and talks about how the two of them are the new kids at college, and at this dorm.

After class they decide to go to the Campus Coffee House together.

A blonde girl seems to find Rick very attractive, but when I check and see that he only has one bolt for her, I do not have him interact with her anymore. 

He and Jordan have a hot dog and then return to the dorm. 

When they re-enter the dorm lot, Rick's hairstyle has changed! This is not the only strange thing here; Jordan seems to be stuck on child mode with her lifetime being to "grow up" and no aspiration, but she must actually be a Romance Sim, judging from her aspiration meter. 

Well, I can live with that; it may straighten itself out once she finishes college, grows up to adult and moves to Desiderata Valley. Rick has now decided to Major in Economics. As for Rick's new hairstyle - well, it's close enough to his previous one and if it's his choice, so be it :-)

Rick rings at least one friend or his parents every day, and of course he hopes that at least some of his former school mates will join him here at the dorm soon.

And hello there, who are you? Well, this cheerleader's name is Gwen Riley, and of course Rick will befriend her!

Here he is, returning from his mid-term exam with a smile on his face, 1,200 Simoleons in his bank account, an A+ in his pocket and his name on the Dean's List :-) 

Now Rick needs a Mechanical skill, and since he is determined to make it to the Dean's List again this semester, he gets out the Thinking Cap, grabs a book and gets cracking.

Later, he spots Tiffany Sampson from the Sorority walk past and rushes out to greet her. He wants to get to know more students here, not just his dorm mates who are not really all that interesting to him. 

And who should call this afternoon but Gwen Riley :-)

Tiffany has become friends with Jordan Lee, and when Jordan asks to join the sorority, she quickly has her remaining "sister" Heather Huffington come over for the assessment. 

First, though, everybody including the dorm cook watch a fight between the cow mascot and the cheerleader (not Gwen Riley). 

Jordan is friendly by nature and has no trouble convincing Heather that she'll make a good new member, and is accepted into Tri-Var right away. (Having her move there when it's the turn of the house to be played might also help with her aspiration and LTW issue.)

Professor Heather Smith appears the next morning, and Rick politely greets her. Didn't she just end her teaching career at Sim State and move to The Valley?

He invites Gwen over (she's been calling every day), and when he asks her on a date (as per his general wish), this is the intense look he gets from her. Needless to say, the date goes very well, and the two of them now have a crush on each other.

While Rick is at class, she leaves a red rose for him which he happily puts in his room where he can look at it all the time.

He's done with his Freshman Year and on to Sophomore adventures! 

Will he stay at the dorm (which, frankly, is beginning to bore me since it is the same building that the Veronaville students live at) or move to a rented property - maybe with Gwen Riley joining him?

The Contrary Family: Week 2

Week 1 with the Contrarys is here.

After a long time in Veronaville a change of scene is nice, and here we are at the Contrary's house in Desiderata Valley. 

Edward and Opal are just getting up on this Monday morning. They will both turn into Elders before the week is over but shall keep working at their lifetime wants, hoping they won't get fired from their respective careers. Edward dreams of being a Criminal Mastermind, while Opal is convinced she can make a vaulable contribution to The Valley's future as a City Planner. Both are Knowledge Sims.

Here is Rick, still in his childlike bedroom and wearing the same PJs as his Dad. He has 5 days left as a teenager and is looking forward to college, which will help towards his lifetime want of becoming Chief of Staff. That will suit his Fortune aspiration. 

For now, the family have what they need, but at 2,600 Simoleons in their bank account they still need to be careful when it comes to financial matters. 

On this Monday, Opal is promoted to Architect's Apprentice. Edward has not been so lucky; because of a chance card, he lost two Creativity points.

Opal needs to work on her creativity, too, and chooses her husband's career reward. Rick has done his homework and spends part of the afternoon making another potholder before he gets on the phone to his friend David Ottomas. 

From his mother's promotion bonus, a much better bed is bought for him. Also, the old cowboy wallpaper is finally replaced with light grey stucco, much more to Rick's taste.

The living room also receives a bit of a makeover with new wall paint, nicer settees and a rug to go with the colour scheme of the fireplace. 

It may still be mid-winter on the calendar, but Tuesday feels almost spring-like, and Edward notices that the shrubs in the front garden seem to think so, too. 

After work, he sees that a stray dog has dug up the grass at the side of the house. "Bloody dogs," he grumbles as he fills in the hole.

Opal returns from work not with a promotion today, but with colleague and friend Peter Ottomas in tow. 

Out on the porch, Edward was doing some rope-skipping to gain the required body skill for his next promotion (why I didn't remember to send him to the basketball hoop in the back garden, I don't know) when he stops mid-skip and transitions into an Elder. 

"Oh my, what's that I'm wearing - chain mail? Are you serious?!" I can see a visit to a clothes shop coming up! 

Rick spots a pimple on his otherwise smooth skin on Wednesday morning and immediately applies acne cream. 

Edward is promoted to Getaway Driver... 

...and Opal to Drafts(wo)man. 

That her car pool is still the old banger from the earliest stages of her career is a bug; I hope I need not worry.) 

With two promotions plus their daily wages, the Contrarys now have 6,000 Simoleons and can well afford new outfits for Edward. They walk to The Frippery Frock together after Rick has completed his homework and the adults have made phonecalls to friends. 

Rick meets his friend Cyd Roseland; it looks like it but they are not kissing, just hugging (you know that teenagers and adults can not interact romantically in the game without a hack anyway). 

Opal meets Priya Ramaswami. 

Edward has chosen outfits for every season and picks this one to wear for now while it's still cold; the spring-like weather was only an interlude, and The Valley is once more covered in snow.

Rick grills hot dogs for everyone who happens to want one, and then the family head back home.

Edward has been getwaway-driving all night and sleeps in on Thursday. With his wife still at work and Rick at school, he gets up to a late breakfast on his own. 

He finally feels confident enough about their financial situation to have a new toilet and combined shower/bathtub installed in the en-suite off the master bedroom. At his age, he needs to get comfort whenever he can, even if it's just from sitting on a better toilet :-D

In the afternoon, Rick shoots some hoops with his Dad. Edward needs the skill, and Rick is happy to spend time with his "old man" - tomorrow he'll be off to college.

Opal loves her new drafting table and starts on her first ideas for housing in the neighbourhood. 

At 6:00 on Friday morning, Edward returns from work with a promotion to Bank Robber.

Later the same day, Opal is promoted to Architect - a big step towards her lifetime want, but now she needs four skill points to further advance in her career. 

It is also the day when Rick says good-bye to his teenage years and his parents; the taxi to take him to college is waiting outside.

With the money coming in in big chunks, Opal and Edward finally invest in much nicer furniture for their dining room. 

Saturday is Opal's birthday, and she invites the Jocques over (Sophia being her best friend) as well as friend and colleague Peter Ottomas. Everyone gathers around the cake when she is ready to blow out the candles; Violet looks a little disappointed that she doesn't get to see her best friend Rick.

Here is Opal in her... erm... intersting outfit. It could be worse, I suppose, but it won't stay, that's for sure!

Husband and wife clink glasses of champagne. "Here's to you, my wonderful jewel, the sparkle of my life," Edward says.

The guests have discovered the video game, and the party soon reaches roof raiser status. 

Although it is Sunday, Opal has to go to work. Edward spends some time with gardening and then makes several phonecalls to maintain those all-important friendships. 

Opal returns as the latest Architectural Partner in her firm! And there is no doubt about what she'll do with today's promotion bonus :-D 

The couple walk to The Valley's shopping district and visit Amelia's Closet.

For the remainder of spring, Opal chooses this pretty outfit in pastel colours, and also gets items to mix and match for summer, autumn and winter. 

This is where the week with the Contrary family ends. I really enjoyed playing them, and I like improving the house bit by bit. 

Edward made good progress in his friendship with Fireman Berjes Smith, but he didn't get round to inviting him to move to Desiderata Valley. Rick will hopefully sail through his Freshman Year at college - we'll soon see how he's doing.