Family names and related posts

Thursday 25 February 2016

The Smith-Indie Household: Week 8

The Smiths' house is covered in a thick blanket of snow when we reach it for the second time this round. Why the second time? Because I play each household according to the surnames of the Sims living there, and there are two Sims by the surname "Indie" here and only one "Smith".
The only remaining Smith is Johnny. His sister Jill (who was younger than he when the game began, but is now a "year" older because he died from exposure to the sun while he was a Vampire, and was resurrected) is Mitch Indie's widow and carries his surname.
Johnny is on Permanent Platinum and gets little control from me. Jill is still working at her lifetime want of having 20 loves.
Isabella Indie, Jill's stepdaughter, still lives here, too. She has Jill's old room and is slowly but surely working her way up to becoming Professional Party Guest.
       
On Monday, Matthew Smith moves in - adding exactly 1 Simoleon to the (admitteldy rather impressive) family account.
Maybe you have seen Matthew in your own neighbourhood as part of the Garden Club; he is usually part of the judging committee assessing a Sim's garden.
Because his surname is Smith, and the population of playables has shrunk considerably over the past years in New Maximiliania, he is allowed to become part of the 'hood for good.

Matthew is 54 and a Knowledge Sim with the LTW of maxing out all skills. He works as a Drive Through Clerk (of course I have him quit that job immediately) and has three hobby medals: Bronze in Robotics and Sewing, Gold in Gardening.
       

It looks as it's been a while since Matthew had a proper home-cooked meal!
       
In the afternoon, friends of the Smith siblings gather outside. You know them all, don't you :-)
       
It's Johnny's birthday! As Mayor of New Max, he can't just become an Elder without the citizens of his town making a fuss of him. He dons a formal suit...
       
...and transitions into an Elder in the middle of his people.
       
Of course, no Mayor's birthday can go without a speech. "You know, I really didn't want to make a speech, but my little sister here insisted on it", he smiles. He then goes on to thank all New Maximilianians for having been so kind to him and his family, back in the day when his father, an Alien from a faraway planet, fell in love with a girl from New Max and decided to settle here and raise a family.
"My Dad would be so proud to see his son serving this wonderful town as Mayor!"
The speech ends with him officially welcoming Matthew, their long-lost relative, now a newcomer in New Max.
       

Isabella returns from work late at night with a promotion to Home Video Editor.
      
On Tuesday, something unusual (at least for me!) happens: Johnny wakes up, rolling the want to have a face lift.
There is nothing wrong with his face as it is, but I like anything unusual in my game, and so I comply with his wish.
       
Only his nose has been altered, and he seems to be really pleased with it :-)
(The machine was originally used for Isabella, who did not have a nose.)
       
Sally Riley is greeted by Matthew.
       
Jill and Isabella take a taxi to "Cover Me Clothing" for some new outfits.
       
Of course, Jill does not bypass the occasion to meet some nice men :-)
       
On Wednesday morning, Matthew repairs the computer in Johnny's room. From now on, Matthew will be doing most of the house work, as he wants to max out his skills anyway.
      
The sink is next.
       
Jill greets Gallagher Newson.
       
Charlie Cho is already here and becomes Jill's Love # 12 that afternoon.
Isabella still reacts with distress every time she witnesses Jill interacting romantically with a man. It seems as if she will never get over the fact that her father died and Jill, as a widow, is fully entitled to have a new man (or 20) in her life.
       
Johnny, determined not to let "old age" slow him down now that he is an Elder, has been working out so excessively that he collapses on the deck right next to the exercise bike. Several hours later he has recovered enough to drag himself up to bed.
       
On Thursday, Matthew is the first to be up and works on his logic skill at the chess board in the den.
       
Jill greets Jasmine Rai.
       
While I am not looking, Johnny goes and cleans the upstairs bathroom on his own accord.
       
On Friday morning, Johnny and Matthew are both in the kitchen. Johnny keeps his relative company while Matthew is repairing the sink.
      
Matthew greets Beatrice Monty.
       
Johnny discovers that he has 3 bolts for Bea! But all the can think of to talk about is food.
      
Jill now dates recently widowed Nervous Singles. "I miss my Erin so much," he confesses. "Were it not for my dear son Shaun, I'd be terribly lonely." Jill has an idea of what to do to combat loneliness.
       
Isabella has just returned from work with a promotion to Freelance Photographer when she spots Jill and Nervous bonding over a game of kicky bag. Again she reacts with distress.
       
Saturday morning sees Johnny serving burnt spaghetti bolognese on his own accord.
       
Jill Smith - yes, another Jill Smith, just like Jill Indie before she was married! - is a townie I've seen around many times in New Maximiliania. She is invited over today, and has Mercutio Ottomas in tow.
       
It's a lively meal with the Smith-Indies comparing notes about who is related how.
      
At night, Isabella comes home as a Freelance Web Designer.
       
On Sunday morning, I spot Johnny contemplating the portrait of his late mother, Jenny.
      
Isabella greets half-sister Fenya Hart.
       
Nervous is back, and becomes Jill's Love # 13 today, much to Isabella's dismay.
       
Sunday ends with another lively meal with friends and family. Orlando Ottomas has accepted happily the invitation to join the group for Johnny's hot dogs, as befits the first Sunday this summer.

Is Johnny going to do something about his 3 bolts for Beatrice Monty? Who will be Jill's next love? When will the other Jill Smith move in? Is Isabella going to find a love interest eventually, or is she too put off by Jill's romancing ways?

Thursday 18 February 2016

The Singles Family: Week 5

Click here if you want to read Week 4 at this family. 

The Singles family have been living here for many years now. Only in recent years, Shaun's job has allowed them some modest luxury.
Here is Nervous Singles, formerly Subject. He is diligently working at maxing out his skills, which has become his lifetime want some time in the past. This time, the unexplainable switch in LTW was wecome - at first, he wanted to graduate 3 children from college, but two of his three children died in a fire at their dorm, and as if he knew he was never going to reach his first goal, he changed to this new LTW.
Nervous is now 69.
His wife, Erin, is two years older. She has been on Permanent Platinum ever since she made 20 best friends.
Their only surviving son is Shaun, their firstborn. He graduated from college and soon afterwards reached his LTW - the same as his mother's.
       
Angela Pleasant gave the family this sentinel robot. The robot takes its job very seriously and zaps Prezioso Picaso when he tries to nick the newspaper from the Singles' front porch on this Monday morning.
      
Shaun could have nearly anything he wants for breakfast, but what does he go for? An old potato from the bin!
      
Erin greets Carl Capp.
       
Nervous maxes out his Creativity.
       
Maria Monty apparently had the same intention as Prezioso Picaso before her - with the same result :-P
Callum Capp joins his brother Carl.

The last skill Nervous needs to max out is Logic. A telescope is purchased, and Nervous sets to work before the day is over.
       
Inside, Shaun patiently answers Carl's questions. Carl comes from a large family and can not imagine what it must be like when your siblings die.
       
It is Tuesday morning, and Erin cleans the downstairs toilet on her own accord.
      
'I don't know what I would have done after the twins' death if it hadn't been for dear Shaun,' Erin muses.
       
In the afternoon, Mary Gavigan comes visiting her old friend.
       
Nervous can't afford to wait for nightfall before using the telescope again, so I have him use it during the day, too. "Oh... my... god...! I can't believe I've just caught Beau Broke doing... this!!"
      
Wednesday morning sees Erin in a subdued mood again.
      
"Yes, they would have both graduated long ago, our dear Selma and Stig..."
      
Shaun cleans up after breakfast. He doesn't autonomously do as much housework as his mother, but he trieds to do what he can to make life a little bit easier for his ageing parents.
       
Carolina Capp seems to be immune to the cold.
      
Or maybe not that immune, after all!
      
Orlando Ottomas is the second guest at the Singles' today.
       
Nervous and Erin are a very loving couple and often exchange such tender kisses.
       
But even all the love of her husband and her son does not stop Erin from grieving the loss of her two younger children. On Thursday morning, she is resting on the settee beneath their photograph.
       
Odell Ottomas heard from his brother how kind the Singles are, and pays them a visit.
       
Early in the evening, Nervous maxes out his Logic skill - he has now all seven skills on maximum and reached his LTW at the age of 73. Well done, Nevous!
       
Friday morning sees the whole small family close together.
       
"You know we could have used the magic lamp to have the twins resurrected," Nervous sighs over lunch.
       
Tank Capp (formerly Grunt, married to Hermia Capp) comes visiting.
      
Jill Indie follows. Maybe you remember that she and Shaun fell in love with each other some time last round, but never really followed up on their feelings for each other. Jill is Mitch Indie's widow and was born Jill Smith. She lives with her brother, Johnny Smith, and stepdaughter, Isabella Indie, at the old Smith house.
       
Shaun returns from work minutes after Jill's arrival, with colleague Circe Beaker in tow. The Beakers once were Nervous' landlord and -lady, until his growing family (and theirs!) meant that he and Erin moved to their own place.
       
On Saturday morning, Nervous admits to his son that he is worried about Erin. She seems to retreat more and more into her old grief.
       
Shaun understands her feelings - he can't help thinking of his younger siblings Selma and Stig every time he walks past the pictures they drew when they were kids.
       
'I'm so glad Shaun has come to live with us, his old folks, after uni, and didn't go living somewhere else with a girlfriend instead,' Nervous thinks.
       
Writing down his thoughts seems to help.
       
On Sunday morning, both Shaun and his father worry about Erin.
       
She admits to suffering severe pain in her chest nearly all the time now.
       
Regardless of any pain, though, on Sunday afternoon she dresses into her beautiful formal gown and invites her closest friends over.
      
Soon, Lavender Greenman, Mary Gavigan, Tara and Chester Gieke arrive...
       
...as do Ophelia Nigmos, Daisy Jacquet, Titania Summerdream and Trisha Traveller. Daisy thinks Titania is a bit over the top, wearing a tiara and full face make-up for a simple house party with old friends.
      
They all wonder why Erin asked them all over, and is dressed up so.
       
To humour is beloved wife, Nervous has gone along and also put on his formal suit.
       
The elderly people have a great time, enjoying food, talk and folk songs.
       
At 6.00 pm sharply, just as Erin turns 78, another guest appears out of nowhere.
       
"You did take your time, Grimmy," Erin smiles. She is more than ready to drink that last cocktail - she knows she'll be reunited with her twins in the Otherworld.
       
Her friends and family can't believe she is gone. "I honestly don't know what to say, Nervous," Titania admits.
       
One by one, Erin's distressed friends leave.
       
Now it's just Nervous and Shaun left.

Is Shaun going to ask Jill (or someone else) to move in with them, to liven things up a bit again? How much longer will Nervous have to be here, without his beloved wife?