Happy New Year!

I don't know how many of you are on Tumblr, so I wanted to share this little link here. That will take you to a collection of favorite moments from my story and simming endeavors in 2016, and is queued to post throughout the day. That was fun to put together and reflect on all that I accomplished in my game and story this year.

Here's to a happy 2017, whatever it brings! Can't be any worse than 2016, right? ;)

Just kidding. On a personal level, my 2016 was not that bad at all. (RL favorite moments are here.)

I hope you all have a festive, safe, and happy New Year, whenever it happens in your part of the globe. <3

Drown #13: the story we tell, part 4

August 2086. Angelo Shaw is 24. Jeremiah Day is 29. Stephanie Nova is 26. George McCarthy is 32.

* disclaimer: bad courtroom writing, probably. I write chick-lit, not legal dramas. ;) 


Jeremiah glanced into the courtroom. Stephanie was already there with her lawyer, but the sight of her was wrong. At first, in his head, he tried to bargain with the universe that she'd just gotten really, really fat. But, no, that wasn't right.

Then he tried to bargain that she was having his baby. Some fluke of genetics, some unnatural accident. Then he realized that was impossible. No amount of math, no stretching of the years or dates, no lingering sperm on some forgotten towel could make that even remotely possible.

She was pregnant by another man. Judging from the size of her, she was almost due.

Drown #13: the story we tell, part 3

August 2086. Angelo Shaw is 24. Jeremiah Day is 29.


She told him what her name was, but Angelo had already forgotten it. She was wearing the brightest top in the whole room. It was like a beacon. "I can't help it," he said. "It's just like you're a tulip and I'm a honeybee."

She laughed. He couldn't quite tell if she was laughing for him or at him.

"But don't worry, I don't sting. I'm just after the sweetness."

"Are you trying to hit on me? I bet you don't even have a job."

"Nah, baby, I got a job," Angelo said. "I’m a lawyer."

"You’re too young to be a lawyer."

"Alright, I’m a junior, but exam passed and licensed! I’m a lawyer. Wanna see my card?"

He handed her a card with his name in gold plating. His firm would only print him twenty cards, being a junior, but she could have every one of them.

false alarms

July 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26.


Stephanie felt like she had been pregnant literally forever. While she would have loved for this pregnancy to be over and to meet her little bub, she was only thirty-five weeks along and it wasn't quite time yet. Soon it would be time, but not yet.

Drown #13: the story we tell, part 2

July 2086. Jeremiah Day is 29. Isabelle Gibson is 30. 

soundtrack: "Smile Like You Mean It," by The Killers

* sensitive content advisory for Drown #13, parts 1-7


If this was the game they wanted to play, then Jeremiah would play it. He would jump through their hoops. Tell him which hoops to jump through and how, and he would do it. He would answer all of their ridiculous questions. Jeremiah had never felt any less than physically strong and healthy. "But go on," he said. "Give it your best shot."

Drown #13: the story we tell, part 1.5

July 2086. Justin Kim is 26. Lily is 4. Keri Riley is 25. 


Sometimes, when she visits, she comes over too early in the morning. Keri is an early riser, the early routine of the military has burrowed into her bones. Justin is about to head out the door to work and he hugs his daughter—used to be their daughter—goodbye.

He says, "I made pancakes for breakfast. There's some left on the counter, help yourself."

So she helps herself.

Drown #13: the story we tell, part 1

July 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26. Willow is 5, Lily is 4. Keri Riley is 25. 

* sensitive content advisory for Drown #13, parts 1-7

mine

July 2086. Justin Kim is 26, Willow Nova is 4.


You get a line and I'll get a pole,
We'll go fishin' in the crawdad hole,
Honey, Baby mine.

Drown #12.5: the scientist

July 2086. Madison Riley is 63, Keri is 25, Dominique Beech is 27, Tyler Jackson is 22.

* NSFW 


So it was all decided then? Keri would jet off into the great unknown, and the fabric of what little family Madison had left would disperse like stardust. The blood and cells and DNA that made up Madison’s existence would stop right here in this old, aging body. There would be no more grandchildren and no great grandchildren, and the Riley family name was dead, too.

Bryson wasn’t as upset as he should have been, Madison thought.

the baby shower

July 2086. 

* half commentary style just because I didn't want to spend an eternity on this. But I did give Stephanie a baby shower in my game, so I thought I'd share the pics and chatter here. 

The baby shower event is thanks to this mod by BrittPinkieSims. 


At thirty-six weeks, Stephanie's nesting instinct kicks in. Justin and the girls are fast asleep, but she's on a mad cleaning spree.

everywhere

July 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26. Lily is 4.

family day at the Copper Island Mines Historic Site

July 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26. Willow and Lily are 4.

Lot tour of the Copper Island Mines, and assorted random picspam of their family day out on the island.



The Copper Island Historic Mines are located on Copper Island, just a short ferry ride from Copper Hill. This site is managed by the Great Lakes Historical Preservation Society, and after many months of work and rehabilitation, it is now reopened for the 2086 tourist season.

Amy & Blair: the honeymoon

June 2086. Amy and Blair Jones are 19.



Honeymoon breakfast is served.

Amy & Blair: the wedding

June 2086. Amy Jones and Blair Schehl are 19.

wedding song: "You Make It Real," by James Morrison

wedding prep picspam and chatter

June 2086. 


"Look, my sweetie is here," Stephanie mused. Stephanie never thought that work could be so much fun until Sharon's usual fix-it guy couldn't make it in for a Supper Club event, so Sharon asked Stephanie to see if Justin could stop by. Every time Stephanie turned around, there he was, her sweetheart, with his talented hands making broken things work again. She felt fluttery and charmed, but also distracted. She missed the tomatoes and spilled olive oil on the floor.

this

June 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26.

Drown #12: hand in my pocket, part 3

June 4, 2086. 12:00 pm


"ID's please," the reception attendant said. "We have you in courtroom 1B at twelve o'clock for session one, and one-thirty for session two. The judge will be with you shortly. Please have your paperwork ready."

Drown #12: hand in my pocket, part 2

May 2086. Keri Riley is 25. Bryson is 64, Madison is 63. Cabe Deppiesse is 45, Orion is 53, Dallas is 21.

Soundtrack, "Hand in my Pocket," by Alanis Morissette


Back on Earth, Keri's work looked a lot like most people's jobs looked. Notebooks on long tables, cups of coffee, colleagues talking over each other. But it wasn't everyone's job to meet with Earth's only known resident alien family. It was funny that Keri had never thought to ask Cabe before why he decided to pursue a job in astronautics. She had assumed he was like everyone else who just wanted to fly rocket ships and explore space. But knowing now that his brother was half alien, the reasons became clear. There was so much he wanted to learn about our universe and how it all worked.

They had two orders of business to start. First, they needed to make sense of the engineering notes that Lampyridae had left them. Second, they had to find a way to communicate with the Cassiopeians on a more reliable basis, which would also be the way they could communicate back home once they had embarked on the mission. Although their engineering specs could make it possible to travel faster than light, only those physical things that traveled with them in their ship would come along for the ride. To send messages that way would mean to harness the power of their warp drive each and every time, and that was just not practical.

"But let's think about this another way," Cabe suggested. "How did the Cassiopeians know that we needed help here? They didn't send a message on a warp drive, and they didn't use a wormhole. They spoke with the baby. They communicated with their minds."

"You’re not using my baby," Dallas said.

Drown #12: hand in my pocket, part 1

May 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26. Willow and Lily are 4. Keri Riley is 25. 

Soundtrack, "Hand in my Pocket," by Alanis Morissette


Spring rushed into the countryside, bringing with it a lush green breath of fresh air. By May, in rural and forested areas, some occasional air pockets had been measured at fifteen percent oxygen. For the first time since Reclamation Day, the EPA lifted the air quality alert from Hazardous to Extreme Caution for certain zones and climates, and in Stephanie's particular corner of northern Michigan, they were rated simply Caution.

Drown #11.5: to infinity and beyond

April 2086. Keri Riley is 25. Madison Riley is 63, Cabe Deppiesse is 44. 


When Keri said goodbye this time, there were only smiles, hugs, and pictures. No tears. No fights.

Drown #11: three little birds, part 5

March 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26. Willow and Lily are 4. Keri Riley is 25.


Keri slept like heaven and dreamed about distant stars. Gravity pulled the full weight of her body down, heavy and deep into that pillow top mattress. Not even her arms floated into the air with a sudden dream movement. The morning sun was soft behind storm clouds and she dozed long into the morning.

pool day picspam

March 2086.


Keri's parents were eager to spend some time with her now that she's on the ground, and Stephanie's parents came up north to visit as well. They all decided to make a day of it at the community pool in the city.

We'll imagine that this is a very well heated pool, for everyone being able to get in the water in Northern Michigan in March!

Drown #11: three little birds, part 4

March 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26. Willow and Lily are 4. Keri Riley is 25.


The weight of coffee in a thick ceramic mug was, in total, maybe fourteen ounces. In space, they drank their coffee from insulated pouches, like kindergartners with juice boxes. Here, the weight of liquid was heavy and secure. Keri moved her mug in circles to watch the foam swirl on top of the coffee.

"The role we’re offering you is Mission Specialist, Communications Lead. You’ll report directly to the Commander as a main liaison and communicator for the team. There will be sixteen on the team, consisting of flight crew, mechanics, scientists and specialists. You'll have three reporting to you, and you'll be responsible for teaching a basic range of the language to the crew."

"Yes, sir! I want in," Keri blurted out

"Hang tight, soldier. There's more to think about."

on randomizing genetics

Hi Anon, sure thing!

Lots of simmers I know use internet dice rolling to randomize stats, but still, after all these years, I prefer a program someone made for TS2. Hook's RandomStuff Roller. I hope those files are still available for download, now and always. There's a very little bit of a learning curve to using it, but after an hour or two I found myself writing up ROS scenarios and randomizing EVERYTHING. It's so much fun, lol!

So when a sim is born in my town, I give them two rolls. The first is my aging file and the second is inherited genetics.

the monsters

March 2086. Justin Kim is 26. Willow and Lily are 4.

Drown #11: three little birds, part 3

March 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26. Willow and Lily are 4. Keri Riley is 25.

Hi, baby. Happy birthday! Did you get the violin I sent you? Tell your dad to record a video for me. I couldn’t call because we’re in the wrong time zone right now and I’ll be all tied up later, but I wanted to leave a message for you and say happy birthday. I can’t believe you’re four! What a big girl. Did you get a good cake? I can’t wait to see you next month. I bet you like to play games now, don’t you? Do you like hide and go seek? Do you like jump rope? You can tell me all about what kind of games you like, and we’ll play them together when I get down there. Love you baby! xoxo — Mom

hi ho, hi ho: Steffie's first day working at Coolidge House

February 2086. 


Off to work she goes.

In game, Stephanie is working in the part-time manual labor career. That career actually pays a TON of money. Like nearly $50-something an hour at entry level which is much higher than most of the adult entry-level careers, so I'm rather restrictive about who can enter that career. But Stephanie's quarterly wages will be deducted from Sharon's business account, and she did say that she paid well! Mostly I liked the hours, weekend mornings, so that Justin can stay home with the girls.

Drown #11: three little birds, part 2

February 2086. Stephanie Nova is 26, Justin Kim is 25. Sharon Coolidge is 32, Adam Thompson is 53. 

* briefly NSFW


"You look so handsome," Stephanie said, "I bet they’ll give you two jobs."

Drown #11: three little birds, part 1

February 2086. Stephanie Nova is 26, Justin Kim is 25. Willow is 4. Lily is 3. 



Some mornings, Stephanie was better off staying in bed. "I'm sorry," she said to Justin and the girls and she excused herself from the entire morning and half of the afternoon to go lie down perfectly flat and motionless for at least four hours. She was nervous for her ultrasound appointment this week. She was supposed to be gaining weight, not losing it. Even though her belly was clearly growing, she knew that the little plum in her tummy had been through all of the emotions over these past few weeks right along with her. She just wanted to hear a little heartbeat and maybe hold down her breakfast for once.

Drown #11: three little birds, part 0

January 2086. Stephanie Nova is 26, Justin Kim is 25.

Soundtrack, "Three Little Birds," by Bob Marley

* NSFW


Don't worry

Drown #10: the mouse, part 7

January 2086. Jeremiah Day is 29.


"Go to South Carolina," she said. "Go to the ocean. You can start over. You’ll be happy there."

"Come to Fort Palmetto," Jeremiah's ISCA-appointed public defender said. "You are doing this so wrong, my friend."

Drown #10: the mouse, part 6

January 2086. Stephanie Nova is 26, Justin Kim is 25, Willow is 4, Lily is 3.


Now, after all those times Stephanie swore she didn't need a restraining order, she finally realized that maybe it was time. Jeremiah was in the military and she didn't want him to get into trouble over it. "I just want him to go to South Carolina," she said. "And if he’s in trouble here, he can’t go to South Carolina."

"Well, Ma'am," the officer said, "You can file it or not file it, but I'm pretty sure it's his own fault if he gets into trouble."

Drown #10: the mouse, part 5

January 2086. Stephanie Nova is 26, Justin Kim is 25, Cynthia Kim is 48, Willow is 4, Lily is 3. Jeremiah Day is 29.

* sensitive content advisory for Drown #10: the mouse, parts 3, 4, & 5

But she told Justin about the messages. She asked him to read every single one. Because she wasn’t weak or stupid, and she did believe that he loved her. Because he promised her, before they were lovers, that nothing could ever change them. He was her best friend first and nothing would ever change that.


"So tell me the truth and I'll believe it," she said. "Tell me anything and I'll believe it because you were the little boy who used to bring me two birthday presents because my birthday was nine days before Christmas and you didn't want me to be sad."

Drown #10: the mouse, part 4

January 2086. Stephanie Nova is 26, Justin Kim is 25. Willow is 4, Lily is 3. Jeremiah Day is 29.

* sensitive content advisory for Drown #10: the mouse, parts 3, 4, & 5


Justin said not to even think about the messages, but Stephanie thought about them all night. She felt weak in her heart and they'd hurt her there. She should have been stronger. She tried, but she wasn't stronger.

Drown #10: the mouse, part 3

January 2086. Stephanie Nova is 26, Justin Kim is 25, Keri Riley is 24, Jeremiah Day is 29.

* sensitive content advisory for Drown #10: the mouse, parts 3, 4, & 5


They drove back down to Lakeside Heights the next morning. They had so much to take care of still—jobs to quit, things to pack, bank accounts to transfer. Justin had to decide when his last day at work would be, before he even had his next job lined up. He had to decide what on earth he would do next. Bryson had offered to write him a nice letter of recommendation, but the problem was that Justin hadn't found any jobs to apply for anywhere near Copper Hill, Michigan. And now he could only try to convince himself that moving his family there was still the absolute right decision.

Now that Bryson knew they were moving, Madison would know shortly. Once Madison knew, Keri would find out within seconds. Justin figured he should probably tell her himself.

who gets the cabin?

* even though this story is from a novel, these characters are also sims that will continue to live in my neighborhood when I’m done with this part of the story. Then they'll be allowed to just be sims. So I wanted to draw up actual paperwork for Stephanie and Jeremiah, even if it's just for my own record-keeping to use in the future.

** at the bottom of these divorce documents (previous divorces and future ones, of which I think Bruce and Pamela were the only ones I had so far on this blog) I've added a section of notes and amendments as they go back and forth with their lawyers. I won't be writing a story update for every single little squabble in the divorce proceedings, but I'll note what things are happening "off-camera" as they happen in case anyone is interested and for my own notes.

*** also note, in case anyone was doing the math: I'm calling Willow aged 4 years old for the story because I feel like her character is 4-5 years old maturity wise and it suits the story I wrote. Although, as a sim in my gameplay world and according to the dates, she won't be 4 for nearly eight more months. That's totally a minor detail in a game where we don't even have freaking toddlers, lol! But, in real life, there can be a world of difference in a child's maturity between the ages of 3 and 5, and so it matters to me in the writing.

And so, the divorce papers...

Drown #10: the mouse, part 2

January 2086. Stephanie Nova is 26, Justin Kim is 25. Willow is 4, Lily is 3.

* briefly NSFW


"Now we need our toys here, Daddy," Lily said. "Let's go get all our toys."

"We can't get them tonight," Justin said. "That's too much driving for one night."

Drown #10: the mouse, part 1

January 2086. Stephanie Nova is 26, Justin Kim is 25. Willow is 4, Lily is 3. Sharon Coolidge is 32. 

* Err, so Sharon the innkeeper and Colette the realtor are different characters, just FYI, since they look pretty similar. I should have given one of them different hair or something, lol! 

** briefly NSFW

burnt breakfast at 6 weeks pregnant, a true story of woe

January 2086. Stephanie Nova is 26.


"Oh, no!"


"Noooooo! Oh, God, no! Why? Why right now? Now, of all times, when I'm so so hungry and so so sick. I know I've done wrong, I know I'm no saint, but what have I ever done so wrong to deserve this?

on pivot points of the universe

I was wondering if anybody wondered about that! :D

business profile: Coolidge House, Country Inn and Dining

venue: residential/vacation lodging
location: Copper Hill, Michigan
owner: Sharon Coolidge


Located in the idyllic countryside of Copper Hill, Michigan, Coolidge House provides a restful sleep and decadent dining for tourists exploring the many wonders of Copper County and the Ironwood Bay region.

business profile: Iceberry Cafe

venue: cafe/bar
location: Potomac Waterfront, Potomac Heights, DC
owner: April Hutchins


Located on the bustling Potomac Waterfront strip, the Iceberry Cafe serves up sweet treats, toasty goodies, and tasty beverages year round.

happy new year, 2086!

Happy New Year, 2086! Stephanie is 26, Justin is 25, Jeremiah is 28, Willow and Lily are 3. Alice is 64, Jeremy is 69, Bryson is 64. 


It's New Year's Eve and Stephanie feels terrible. She won't be able to drink anything tonight and she doubts that she'll even make it to midnight before she passes out.

Does Justin feel a little bit guilty? Maybe. Proud, too? Probably.

Drown #9: the best laid plans, part 5.5

December 2085. Stephanie Nova is 26, Jeremiah Day is 28, Justin Kim is 25, Willow and Lily are 3. Cynthia Kim is 49, Robert is 52.  

* sensitive content advisory for Drown #9: the best laid plans, parts 1-5

A couple of days after Christmas, Jeremiah stopped by the house.

"I saw your car in the driveway," Jeremiah said. "Stephanie, I feel like we got off to a bad start. We're going to be co-parents now, right? That's what they call it? It's not what I wanted, but we'll just have to put aside our grievances and make the best of it."

Stephanie had the girls corralled behind her, her elderly father in front of her, and she didn't know what to do. Jeremiah wasn't supposed to show up like this, but she didn't want to tell him that there were rules now. Not like this, not today. He'd get the paperwork in days, but he didn't have it yet and she didn't want to be the one to break it to him.

"So, do you think I could chat with my daughter for a couple of hours?"

"If you stay here with her," Stephanie said.

"Great, we'll watch some cartoons or something."

Drown #9: the best laid plans, part 5

December 2085. Stephanie Nova is 26, Justin Kim is 25. George McCarthy is 31.  

* sensitive content advisory for Drown #9: the best laid plans, parts 1-5



Christmas morning, Alice wanted everyone home for the holidays. So Stephanie came home, leaving their things between several houses and cars. She felt displaced and homeless, even in her own childhood home. Stephanie had no idea where Jeremiah had to go. He didn’t say where he went, just that he’d be back to see Willow as soon as he got some things in order. He had no family here. Maybe Sheila and Ronnie took him in. They were nice people, Stephanie thought. She hoped that Jeremiah was good to them.

Jeremiah could have been anywhere. She didn't feel far enough away. It all felt like too little, too fragile, too temporary. Jeremiah was smarter than they gave him credit for. She couldn't wait for February first to come when he would be military bound to be in South Carolina.