R1 - Out on the Town

Gyles: Out on the Town

Round 1

Spring of 1965

Paulette still struggled with school. She's been doing slightly better since joining the Study club at Millbrook High, but she still has the problem of paying attention to her mind-numbing homework. Her parents were a little worried about whether or not she needed professional help for it.

Even Papa agreed that her problem with school deserved some medical attention!

A new teen hot-spot called "The Hive" opened up across the street from the gym, so the teens ventured out after school to check it out.

Lucas and Kyra had fun taking silly pictures with the photobooth (but not *too* much fun, mind you).

Paulette was feeling rebellious one day and decided to release the frogs in Millbrook High's science department. What she didn't expect, however, was law enforcement to show up; sirens blazing and all.

Paulette: "Please officer, I'm so sorry! Don't arrest me! I'm having an awful time at school already..."

Paulette: "Um...officer?"

Paulette: "OH MY CREATOR THIS IS TOO WEIRD I CAN'T TAKE IT."

Yep, there goes that neurotic streak! Rest assured that although she did not get arrested (and subsequently grounded), she served plenty of detention the next day.

While the teenyboppers enjoyed their little hive hangout, Luke and Erin waltzed over to GlassHAUS, the latest and greatest of the Altwater nightlife scene. The tickets were pretty expensive at 100 simoleans per sim, but they had lots of fun during their night out. Or at least, I think they did...

Erin and Luke: "As long as the bartender's out of our waaaayyy, we'll sing alllll night and daaayyy..."

Meanwhile, the teens went down to the previously mentioned Hive and hung out with some friends. They met two new Millbrook High students, brothers Samuel and Jared. Samuel was the eldest at 14 SimYears, and Jared was the same age as Paulette and Lemon (13). Paulette really admired Samuel's athleticism, and his curiosity about other worlds. She could listen to him talk about Shang Simla or Al Simhara all day, if given the chance.

Paulette had a musical bond with Jared that couldn't be denied; when they jammed together, every note just fell into place. She really wished Lemon was there to jam along with them. She and Jared became fast friends after discussing some music theory.

Of course, she still had homework to finish. After jamming, she did the responsible thing and finished up her homework. Still, she thought it was so unfair that Lucas finished way before she did and played games with this girlfriend all night.

Papa and Sheba enjoy playing around with each other, much to everyone's delight. Hopefully those puppies will come soon!

Luke gave his son a lecture about his future, and not just wasting his youth on soda and arcade games. He was very concerned about his son's laziness and his lack of interest in things he could survive off of. Lucas didn't really have a great relationship with his dad and generally found him to be a bore, so he didn't listen much. He figured that he could just make money off of donating animals to science labs.

Of course, then he started thinking about his future as a Zoologist. He would need a degree, which would require college, scholarships, and - wait for it - good grades. Lucas decided that helping his dad out in the garden wouldn't hurt, and it could be a good start to finding an educational activity that suits him.

Erin and Luke found a dog gnome outside of their house one day. They're not sure who left it there, but it looked nice enough!

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Cheezy's notes: Lucas seriously has no interests, no skills, no special traits...nothing. It made me concerned for him, since adolescence is such a pivotal time for skill gaining! 


-I'm going to close down Millbrook High in favor for another school I've created, so I'm basically building my own educational system as opposed to using EA's rabbitholes. My system will focus on two basic skills (writing and logic) and the rest will be electives. More on that later!

R1 - Starting Over

Miguel-Nagi: Starting Over

Round 1
Spring of 1965

Not much has happened to the Miguel-Nagis since we last checked in. Their move to Millbrook County (a small town on the southern side of Altwater) was a very smooth transition. They have a nice house, with plenty of space for a booming garden or maybe a few playthings for Gina.

Of course, frugal Nancy was not at all happy with the expenses. She constantly daydreamed of being able to go back to her job as Bridgeport's go-to Worldly Relations Ambassador, but they demoted her when she took maternity leave. Plus, she started to miss her friends back in Plum City. The town here was so sparse in population, she began to feel separated from society.

Youssef was much less conflicted about the move. He really liked it here. The limited population meant less traffic, more jobs, and most importantly - less people to potentially hurt his precious little girl. It's not like they could do anything to a toddler, but one day she'll be all grown up and messing around with boys - or girls - who will only break her heart in the end. As a father, he couldn't imagine his lovely Gina falling for a boy who behaved as he once did.

Gina didn't seem to have an opinion on the move, since her mind was on more important things. You know, toddler things. She was hitting all those important milestones in record-time, including walking. At times like this, Nancy and Youssef wished Gina had more family around to see her progress.

Nancy had no problem in the friends department, despite the sparseness of people. She quickly found a best friend in Allison, and her elderly neighbors down the street.

She also found a friend in her garden, which served as a way to save and make money while taking care of Gina.

And although the town was quiet, they were not immune to robberies and accidental fires. Thankfully, they had enough of those in Plum City to be prepared for them here in Millbrook.

Every now and then, Youssef and Nancy like to put on their evening's finest and go out on the town. After the owner of the Empire Ballroom requested Youssef to perform every night, they finally had the perfect excuse to go out at night.

Youssef enjoyed playing for the patrons of the Empire Ballroom and taking in the ambience. It didn't pay very much, but he enjoyed being back in the music scene again.

And of course, the hot tub was a very nice perk.

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Cheezy's notes: This post was a bit scatter-brained, as I'm still trying to organize everything. This is basically just a summary of what Nancy and Youssef have been doing to try and get used to their time in Millbrook. I find it easier if I cram all of the sim-week into one post, so there aren't several Round 1 posts for one family. Just a fair warning; that means some families will have word-heavy and picture-laden posts! 


A map of Altwater will be coming soon, but it's pretty sparse as it's still in the "development" phase. I'm using MySimsRealty's Storybrook County as Altwater's map.

A Deal With the Mayor

Nancy Miguel was having difficulty adjusting to her new life as a mother. All the other sims seemed to make the transition so gracefully, despite all the challenges. Even with the late night feedings, the stinky soiled diapers, and the never-ending wails, most mothers seemed to have a better handle on things than Nancy.

As much as she hated to admit it to herself, Nancy was quite happy to leave Gina with Youssef as she left the house to start her day. The sun was rising and the wind was blowing gently, just enough to perk her up after a long night with the baby.

Of course, the baby wasn't the only stress on the Miguel-Nagis. Due to a money scam in Sunset Valley they unwittingly invested in, they lost a large chunk of Nancy's savings, and she lost a lot of her influence as an ambassador. The little green house that was once incredibly affordable is now a luxury they're barely holding onto. It was incredibly frustrating to have to start her career over in a house with little furniture and a quickly growing baby girl.

They could always move away to Nuia Simoa where their meager simoleans were surely worth much  more, but Nancy liked it in Green Valley. She had finally found a place where she felt like she belonged.

"Howdy, neighbor!" Patrick yelled as Nancy absentmindedly passed him by. She snapped out of her trance and smiled at him graciously.

"Oh, hey Pat! How's the wife?"

"She's doing pretty good, a little tired though. How's little Gina? When do I get to see her?"

"Well, we're having a birthday party for her first birthday tomorrow," she smiled "And we'd love it if you could come! You guys are the closest thing to family we have around here, so she should probably get acquainted with her Uncle Pat. Oh, and bring Yelise too!"

"Sure thing," he smiled.

It was pleasant little exchanges like this that kept her anchored here. A place where everyone knows your name, your family, and where you live. A place where people care about you, and try to support you in whatever way they can. You can't find community like that just anywhere.

Nancy stopped by the Farmer's Market for a quick nectar fix while going over her plan for the day. She had to make a quick stop at the Salon of Swank for a haircut and new clothes, then a lunch meeting with the mayor about a possible expansion opportunity overseas, meeting with Janice to discuss the design of a museum she wants to build, and maybe volunteering for an hour or two at the retirement home.

She was exhausted just thinking about it.

A quick stop to the Salon of Swank helped Nancy look better in the style department, and gave her the boost of confidence she needed for the day.

"Hello? Sure, I can talk - but make it quick, please. One of the police officers locked himself out of the department? Okay, fine...I can help, but I'm in the middle of a meeting. I'll be there in two hours."

Yet another reason why she can't leave - how on Earth will this town survive without her?

"So, thanks for meeting me here Nancy. I deeply regret not being able to find a more private location, however."

"It's okay Julia, really. I love your mom's old cafe."

"Well, that's nice to hear. The reason I brought you here today is because I'm currently looking to reach out to a sister world called Azalea County for expansion. Our reserves are running low, and they have a much larger capacity for farmland and some gem mines. It also has astounding views, making it a great spot for tourism. Hopefully we can also merge ourselves in with Azalea County's neighbor, Matherview. We need the space to develop a 'higher education' program."

"So by 'merge' and 'reach out', you mean-"

"Gradually conquer, yes. I know it sounds crass, but I'm simply thinking about the good of my people."

"And I don't mean to pry, but how's the home life? Last I heard you were forced to live in that old Cypress home on the outskirts. That's no life for little Gina."

"Well, it has been a rough adjustment. I kept telling everyone that we should save our pennies and not be so wasteful, but what's done is done I guess."

"What about Youssef? How is he?"

"We don't really speak much," Nancy shrugged.

"Oh dear. Trouble in paradise?"

"Not really...we've just been so busy lately we hardly have time to just sit down and talk. Isn't that how it usually goes for a married couple with babies?"

"I don't know dear, you look absolutely exhausted!"

"I am, but let's just focus on the topic at hand."

"Alright. I've got a solution to your housing problem."

"Hit me."

"Move to Azalea County to negotiate with the locals on behalf of Green Valley. I've already paid for your lots, and Janice can assist you with budgeting and design."

"Wait- you expect me to pack up my family and just leave for another world?! We just moved into our house, and Gina will be one soon! She needs stability!"

"She also needs a daycare service, a higher education program, and a decent primary and secondary education. We don't have the space for all that here. Face it dear, it's better this way."

"Fine, I'll do it." Nancy sighed. "But, I will only do it on the condition that I won't have to stay down there any longer than two months, and I get a salary of $14,000 a week."

"A week?! Are you insane?" Julia gasped. "There is no way on Earth I'm paying for your property, your house, and paying you $14,000 a week! There's just no way!"

"Then there's no deal."

"I'll pay you $7,000 a week. That's as high as I'll go."

"Alright, $7,000 it is."

"Thank you so much, Nancy!" Julia beamed. "I just know this will work out splendidly for the both of us."

Takin' Care of Business - Round 1

As usual, Janice started her day with a round of sketching, only interrupted by a quick glance at her phone to make sure she didn't miss any calls from potential clients. Eventually she did get a call from Nancy Miguel who's looking to update her curb appeal.

Of course, she couldn't really blame Nancy for seeking her services. Janice has visited Nancy and Youssef's home before, and there's absolutely no space for a newborn! They would need a new place stat, and in order to sell the home, they would have to make someone actually want it.

So with Janice's eye (and several clicks of my hand), the boring old pink house got a *little* less boring.

Janice tried to ignore the filthy surroundings by her standards as Nancy gushed over the new doors and windows. She gently urged that they contact her for other home renovations, such as updating the wallpaper, making use of the large garage space, and getting rid of that hideous tile.

Nancy: "This is fantastic! Thank you so much. Now my house looks just as good on the outside as it does in!"
Janice: "I wouldn't advertise that dear, but thank you for your compliments."

Janice got another call from the Howe residence, requesting a gym add-on to complement the rest of the house. It wasn't an easy job at all given the limited budget, but she did her best.

Brooke seemed to like it. Janice *once again* discreetly plugged her services in hopes of remodeling the farm. In her own words, it's an "outdated fire hazard" that should be cleaned up immediately.

Brooke: "This looks great! Thank you so much."
Janice: "Hmm, yeah. Let me know when you're ready to bring this place into the 20th century at least, okay dear?"

Youssef made a quick stop to Janice's house to thank her for a job well done and discuss the possibility of further renovations. Janice was more than happy to oblige.

Later on, she stopped by the Roslyn Theatre to see a performance by none other than Ms. Roslyn herself. She thought about writing a formal review, but she decided against it.

Janice walked down to the Cabaret Strip, a project for City Hall she had been working on for awhile. It turned out pretty well, but she didn't understand why it needed a nectar store when the Monte nectary was just thirty minutes away from Plum City. Was it for convenience, or competition? And my, what a frightening lack of color. Obviously she did not oversee the color scheme for this shop.

Janice made her way over to the Hickory Roots bar for a shot of...anything.

Janice: "Excuse me sir, do you have a shot of expresso or hot chocolate? I really need to perk up so I can get some more sketches done."
Bartender: "Um...certainly, ma'am. In fact, I have just the thing for hard workers such as yourself."

Janice: "What is this concoction? It's certainly sweet..."
Bartender: *shifty eyes*

If Janice was in her right mind, she would have thought that the bartender slipped her something. Of course, she was not in her right mind.

Janice: "I'm a f@cking winner, y'see? I work hard, so I win. That's my philosophy."
Clerk: "Err...okay."
Janice: "Nonono, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. I am a winner! I eat common people like you for a snack. I am Charlie Sheen #WINNING IN THIS PLACE! I BUILT THIS PLACE! I OWN YOU."

Janice: "Oh, and my boyfriend is an award-winning gardener! Why? Because my man works hard for his lettuce. Boom. Did I blow your mind, nectar girl? I know I did."
Clerk: *yawn*

Janice: *off-key* "Ooh baby baby, ooh baby bay-beee~"

The next day, Janice had a severe hangover. Of course, that doesn't stop a workaholic!

Edward Dillard decided he wanted a shed devoted entirely to sculpting. Of course, that's what Janice gave him; along with a whole bunch of other things he didn't need (and some needed things moved around). Needless to say, she didn't get a glowing review.

Her luck with Erin Davis didn't improve much either; she nailed the requirements, but Erin complained that her room(s) were far too crowded for her to get anywhere.

She received a request from the Ross residence to add a nursery for the new baby, and of course Janice couldn't help but notice the coincidence. Just a few days ago, she was talking to her boyfriend about Starr.

She tried her best to ignore the kid playing on the floor as she began to wonder where her father was. Did she even have an active father? Were her parents ever together? That Starr needs to get a grip...

Janice tried her best to fulfill her client's wishes, but Starr was much pickier than she originally imagined. She kept complaining about "living in squalor", and Janice simply abandoned the project and planned to demand compensation from City Hall for her wasted time.

Before she could leave, the little girl (named Michelle) thanked her for the work she did on the new theatre.

Michelle: "It was so cool! Mommy and I got balcony seats to watch the orchestra last night."
Janice: "Oh. Well, thanks kid. I'm glad to have helped someone around here."

She won't admit it, but talking to Michelle brightened her otherwise dismal day.

And if she stuck around longer, she would have spotted Michelle's possible, present and possibly negligible father. I am honestly uncertain if Moe is the daddy or not, but they certainly seem to hate each other as an absentee father would hate (and be hated by) his daughter for abandoning them for a blonde stylist. *cough*ERIN*cough*

I'll have to check the family tree when the Ross family comes up.

Anyway, Janice was famished so she had to get a quick bite to eat. She went down to Jayme's Delights yet again for a midday treat.

Of course, that's when she spotted Erin fighting with Jayme. So Starr's mother is fighting with Moe's new wife, and my suspicion is that Moe and Starr were once married (or at least together) and now there's a rift between the mother and the hussy. Makes sense.

Erin: "Your daughter is a f@cking llama!"
Jayme: "How dare you talk about my daughter like that, you hussy! You've been scouting this town for Monte men since you first came here! I know Patrick was the first on your list, we all saw you stalking him."
Erin: "Shuddap you llama-face! Moe and I will be together forever whether your airhead daughter likes it or not!"

The next day, Janice was rewarded with an award, a promotion, and her own architectural wing at City Hall for all her hard work.

And she knew just how to celebrate this monumental achievement...

Bow chicka wow woooowwww ;)

p.s. - the badly sung notes were from Salt N Pepa's "Push It".