LCU, packing up, moving on

LCU, spring semester, 2080

It's early one spring morning when Keri's sister calls, and this phone call is a warning. Mariah says, "Bella's coming over to see you. Just so you know."

Though Bella Bradshaw graduated last year, it hasn't been exactly unusual to see her finding her way back onto campus. What what is unusual about this is that she wants to see Keri. Keri's older cousins hardly ever give her the time of day, unless they want something. And Keri is sick of the way Bella thinks she's the center of the entire universe!

playdates

April 2080 - Jackson and Nessa Phoenix are 30, Patrick Nova is 28, Lara is 26, Raine is 18 months.

(Spring Break 2072 - This bunch was a fun group of college kids, back in their day! Probably as much fun as the Bradshaw cousins are at LCU now. The girl in pink is Patrick's high school sweetheart - oh how he broke her heart when he met Lara! Carly and Joseph are still around the neighborhood. They actually started dating during this spring break trip. Carly works for Aurora Miguel at Jolie, Jolie, and Joseph used to DJ at Maxwell Shaw's club, and Stephanie (Nova) Day had a crush on him for a minute.)

Jackson Phoenix was always closer to his cousin Patrick than he was to his own twin brother Hayden. Even though they shared a womb, they looked nothing alike, and shared almost nothing in common. Jackson and Hayden led completely different lives, Jackson excelling in school and going to college, and Hayden getting himself into just about every kind of trouble imaginable. Maybe there has always been a little bit of resentment on Jackson's part, for Hayden being the one always getting their parents attention... even now that they're thirty years old. So how ironic that Jackson would be the one to pull Hayden out of the swimming pool?

save the world, save a wedding

April 2080 - Matthew Watts is 29, Leila is 24, Felicity is 18 months, pet dog is Skip.

It's April now, and finally warm enough that Leila and Felicity can play outside while Matthew finishes planting the spring crop. Felicity is eighteen months old now, and just perfecting those baby steps.

stretching skeletons = continual aging :)

Stretching skeletons has been around since the base game, so this is not really a new concept here - but just something I'm finally getting around to trying. And I can't believe I never tried this before now, because it's really fun! :)

You might notice in my next update (will post tomorrow, maybe) that Matthew is taller than Leila. I'm basing the default adult Sim height at 5'9", and have set Matthew to a value of 1.02 (5'10") and Leila to 0.98 (5' 7 1/2"). I'm testing this out with just a few Sims for now, and if it works out for me, I could implement varied heights throughout the whole neighborhood.

tax day, 2080

*** Disclaimer: This post will very likely reveal what an absolute math nerd/control freak I am. I was an accounting major for two years in college, so be prepared, lol! ***

Tax Day, an Easier Way:

I've tried the whole Sim-economy thing before, where you charge your Sims taxes, and set up a town budget for everything. I always gave up because it took so long to load each household, and get the money to the right person. It was hardly fun, and fun is the point of playing a game, you know? ;)

Maybe everyone else has already figured this out, but why not use teleportation??? :)

First, over a few play sessions before tax day, I made note of each household's net worth, from the neighborhood view. This is pretty quickly done, and the net worth includes property value and the cash bank balance. (I'm doing property tax, but if you're doing income taxes, you can skip this step.)

You will need: Monique's computer, Mind control mirror, Inge teleporter, (mortgage/loan shrubs optional). All links are in the sidebar.

First I set up Madison with a little home office to operate from. All of the household funds in the Governor's estate are public funds and will be used for community projects - Madison and Bryson have to keep all of their personal money in bank accounts for the entire period they live in the Governor's estate.

Once her office is set up, tax day begins!

how it's done

March 2080 - Maxwell Shaw is 33, Valerie is 38, Angelo is 9, Devon is 3. (Nina Shaw-Gothier and Benjamin Gothier are 63.)

Angelo knows his dad owns a nightclub, but he has a feeling that isn't all there is to it. Angelo says, "That's funny, Dad, you're not really a bank robber."

"Sure, kid," Maxwell says. Angelo is too young to know what his father really does for a living anyway. Best to joke about it now, while he's young, so that it's less of a blow by the time he's older. Heck, he might even figure it all out on his own, if he's a smart kid. And Angelo is working on figuring things out.

LCU, spring break 2080

2080, LCU, spring break

*** OMG, long! It's a happy one, though. I promise ;) ***

Stephanie comes home from spending a weekend with her family, and she is so excited, she can't even contain herself! "The cabin is mine! It's really mine! We should totally go see it!"

Keri agrees, not that Stephanie had given her any real choice, and they inform the guys of their plan. They order their tickets, and pack up some bags, and Justin and Jeremiah say they have a few things to tie up before they go.

aftershocks, like ripples in water

February 2080 - Jeremy Nova is 64, Jasmine is 58, Stephanie is 20. Talin Collins is 65, Abigail is 64.

A quick synopsis of the Nova family tree, if you need it ;)

• Jeremy Nova, (married/deceased Trista) married to Jasmine
• (by T.) Patrick Nova, married to Lara
• Raine
  
• (by T.) Riley (Nova) Hathe, married to Chad
• Liza
• Shaun
• (by J.) Stephanie Nova
• Abigail (Nova) Collins, married to Talin
• Sophie (Nova) Phoenix, married to Micah
• Jackson Phoenix, married to Nessa
• Hayden Phoenix, (married/deceased Rhianna)
• Summer
• Ryanne

boundaries

January 2080 - Andy and Claire Bradshaw are 53. (Jason Larson is 29, Amelia Bradshaw is 24.)

After a very interesting introduction, everybody got dressed and Amelia's parents were able to meet Jason Larson properly. A nice young man, working in social work at the moment, but still hopes to pursue a career in journalism. At almost thirty, we'd say the odds of a career switch now are not really in his favor. But a fine catch, if Claire might say so - almost as hot as Bryson Riley, whom she spent the evening fawning over.

happy new year, 2080!

Happy New Year, 2080!

If Andy and Claire Bradshaw think they have time to sneak in a quickie before their new year's eve party guests arrive...

...they would be wrong.

many good years

December 2079 - Orlando Centowski is 64, Audrey is 63.

Orlando and Audrey still have many good years left in them. But something they have to start thinking about is the eventual passing on of their art shop. Centowski Custom Artworks is ranked #4 now, and building a solid customer base.

Their children have always been artistically-inclined, but as far as they know, neither of them ever took an interest in the visual or sculpting arts - Charlotte was always into cooking, and Luke was always into music and dance. It's kind of old-fashioned to think that your children will want to carry on the family business anyway. Maybe they'll find an independent buyer instead.

Orlando is trying to read the reviewer's mind. She looks pleased, but they never hear anything concrete from her. And somebody needs to remind the Nathan and Allegra Lind, and Jackson and Nessa Phoenix to come pick up their wedding portraits!!! They ordered those portraits ages ago!

LCU, everybody needs a soul buddy

LCU, fall semester, 2079

*** Sorry, again SO LONG! LCU proves to be anything but boring, even if Bella Bradshaw has grown up. ***

Mariah and James have been dating for two years now, and though they adore each other, they're still experiencing technical difficulties. The huge problem in their relationship is that his chosen line of work is not any kind of work her family could approve of - and there's no budging on either side. "It's not valid work," she says. "I can't tell my parents you do that. What am I supposed to tell them?"

Summer's place

November 2079 - Sophie Phoenix is 58, Micah is 57, Hayden and Rhianna are 30, Summer is 15, Ryanne is 9. (Tyler and Beau Jackson are 16)

* note: box of tissues warning! *

Summer Phoenix and Tyler Jackson have been having very important conversations lately, but nothing has happened just yet. And nothing will happen at Tyler's house, any time soon, since Tyler's dad is some big socialite now, he works nights and is home all day, every day...

Lake County Hall

October 2079, Bryson and Madison Riley are 57.

***Just a little bit of an update here. I wanted to show you the new County Hall, and Madison's plans for her term as mayor.***

Lake County Hall, on a rainy day. (building by sunni)

The Mayoral Home, in downtown Lake City. (downloaded, can't remember where from?) Madison Riley, and her husband Bryson will live in Lake City, conveniently right across the street from the County Hall, and is also conveniently (and coincidentally) next door to the Riley Estates Building.

happy birthday to you...

October 2079, welcome to Lakeside Heights: Julia and Elaina!

Jodie Larson arrives at the Lind household, and there's some time to spare since Allegra's labor is taking longer than expected. So Allegra makes some small talk to pass the time.

"Nice weather for having a baby," Allegra says. "You know, cloudy, you don't want to hurt the baby's eyes..."

the science fair

October 2079 - Berjes and Hailey Monif are 34, Hazel is 10.

October starts out rough for the Monif family. Among the many things Hailey is not very good at, cooking is not her specialty either. Berjes and Hazel are just about worthless as they stand by and freak out rather than phone for help. Berjes frets for his dear wife, as she puts out the fire - what a man! LOL!