School and Hobbies

With the new deal of hobbies on the horizon, the school will be even better than ever! Especially with extracurriculars for the teens. I am considering proposing that children now be able to attend the school due to the low number of teens in attendance (2).

Going Well

The shop is going well-many customers buy plants and flowers. I even had a celebrity stop by. Amata Forrester-Miller (local actress, model and travel show host) stopped by and picked up a large plant and some smaller flower arrangements. She said that her yard was of little use to her and she wants me to come and take a look at it. This may mean a big landscaping job!

Seasonal

Trying my hand at making seasonal arrangements-for the fall preparing for roses and wildflowers. Business is going well, Johan and I are preparing for our destination wedding. My gown is complete and so is his outfit for the wedding. We will marry in the rainforest of Tiki Island. I am excited.

Moved In

Moved in with Johan in the teacher's house-going well, trying to decorate with my limited funds and his limited salary as well. Also saving for the wedding-we decided to marry at a nice destination wedding. His family will help us pay, that's nice.

School

School is going well-leading the students in studies each day. The hood council has decided on a salary to give me. I wonder should we persue hiring more teachers. One of my students wants to teach-he is very bright and skilled, in fact, he could skip the rest of school if he so desired. He already helps at the elementary school afterschool and sometimes helps in leading lessons.

Wedding

We have decided to marry on simWednesday and we're having a destination wedding in Tiki Island. Which means I'm ordering a traditional sari for a volcano front wedding. Johan's parents are coming with us to celebrate and it will be three days of fun and celebration! We're staying at the Raintree Resort, a resort that borders the volcano and is in the middle of the rainforest, I can't wait, the photos are beautiful. Then we're going to see some lovely sights, like the lost tomb and of course-the beach.

Education Note

The hood council wants me to create a report of my goals for the students and school.



Chose school colors and mascot
We need to chose 2-3 school colors and a mascot, apples are not very intimidating. Something to build school pride.



Chose an extracurricular for students
Should have at least one school sponsered extracurricular that students would enjoy and participate in. Sports teams are hard to do unless we travel to compete, maybe a club of some sort.


Students learn average of one skill a day
Should students focus on specializing and learning particular skills (ie level 8 or higher on skills test in 1 or 2 skills) or leave school with broad knowledge (ie leve 3 and higher on skills tests in 5 or more skills)

When?

Johan and I are discussing dates for the wedding. Perhaps simTuesday would be a good date, we are thinking of having a destination wedding. Maybe in the rainforest of Tiki Island, that would be great!

New Place...New Name

Jadhira moved in with me and we decided that when we marry I would take her name. So now I am posting under my future name.


We are going to Tati's for dinner since I won a vocher for Dinner for Two $100 at Tati's at the Food Expo.

What else? O, school starts this simday-I'm trying to prepare for the first set of students.

Wedding Note

Doing a little wedding related work since it seems like time is moving so slowly.

We have chosen the wedding colors







The wedding will be a traditional indian wedding. A.Pentragani is designing my gown, a traditional indian inspired gown. Also getting a custom cake from the bakery-yummy. We're trying to find an open fireplace pit for the eternal flame and some flower garlands.

Engaged!!!

Finally!!! Johan proposed!!!! We're getting married. I can't wait, I'm moving into the teacher housing with him and will continue my work at the florist shop.

I now have a wedding to plan. I'm very excited, a traditional indian wedding. I think the ceremony held in the park and the reception at Somkey Jane's would be nice. A very small wedding, we don't have much money and I want to marry quickly.

Changes?

Johan has been offered the teaching position for the new school (Apple Valley Secondary Academy). The offer comes with a house on campus for him and his family. I am proud of him and happy too, but...well...he didn't ask me to move in with him, nor did he mention marriage. I want to be patient, but with Sandy walking about like a cat that ate the cream with her pregnant belly, big engagement ring and soon to be brand new house...well, it's hard to be patient...I'm not getting younger and I would like to have a child...or two.

Busy Busy

Work is going well. I have past my test for sales techniques, register skills and flower arranging and am the official owner of three bronze badges. That means that I am no longer classified as a trainee and will start recieving a salary. I got a bonus of $2000. The shop got an award for $10000 and Elinor said that I deserve some of the bonus, yay! I put it in my savings, I want to gain enough to buy this place. Johan has been spending the night most nights, I wonder if he should just move in.

Exceling

I finally earned my bronze badge in flower arranging and on the register machine! I am working on my sales skills, and Elinor has given me charge of creating the wildflower inventory as well as the tulips! I'm still fishing on my days off and selling the fish to the Farmer's Market to gain some extra money. I sold him some veggies actually and made $800. I have to make sure that I have enough saved to purchase the business from Elinor. O, Sandy's pregnant. She's a big bragger. Always gloating about how things are happening quickly for her...I don't care. Really!

Babies

I went to a baby shower. I brought the lucky woman a gift of a nursery painting. I hope she likes it. I wonder if I will have such a shower when I get pregnant...I suppose I should focus on the marriage part. I wonder when Sandy will get married? Will I be invited to the wedding?

Huh?

I went to eat at Euphoria and saw Sandy walking about with a gleam in her eye. She passed my table several times and flailed her arms about. Whatever for? Then finally she sat down and thrust her hand in my face. Ooo, I see. She's engaged and wanted to gloat. Well whooppdeedo for her. That was the point of moving here, right? To get married. I wonder if/when Johan will pop the question. We don't see each other as much as Sandy and Sazo (they live together), so we talk almost every night...I wonder...will we get married? We're not in a rush, but it would be wise to do it...eventually.

Normal Musing

Things are going well. I visited the renovated CupaJava for my caffeine fix. Sazo said that they are expecting a shipment of more teas and coffees so to try again the next simday if I didn't see what I was looking for. I was tempted to pick up some baked goodies, but thankfully I resisted...for now.

A Real Live Date

Johan and I went on a real date. We visited Tiki Joe's for a quick bite to eat and then a few rounds of bowling. It was fun. We will have to go out again. I am still learning with my trainee job and hopefully soon I will gain my bronze badge in flower arranging. Right now I've been working on the register as a cashier-it's hard work. All those buttons! Yikes! I also made a few simoleans by selling some fish and produce to the Farmer's Market. I recieved $1800 for all the produce and fish. Maybe I can fish more often and then save money in order to buy the florist shop later on. Maybe Johan will help me buy it, maybe...maybe...

Johan!

I finally met Johan Dawson in the flesh...eghhh, not very much to look at, I'll admit it, but we started talking and wow...I see why the residents said I should meet him. He's a delightful man. Unfortunately he abadoned his dreams of the medical field to pursue a career in education.

His mother invited me over for dinner-his little sister baked a pie and we ate that. He had just arrived from work-a bit stinky as well-but it was interesting conversation.

I found some new sari's, I like them very much. I cut my hair as well, I will have to post some photos.

I wonder how mama is doing.

Testing

I enjoyed roaming the hood and testing lots, only a few changes were needed. I spent time eating...a lot and even skating and drinking lots of juice and hot cocoa, eating fancy dinners and ice-cream and even going fishing-which I'm a natural at-can you imagine that!

Things are much better

Things are much better, I have a clear plan.

First-I was chosen to test the lots for the hood, which is exciting. I've been visiting lots and doing last minute alterations to the lots and the travel time is so quick, very nice.

Second-I decided on a career...I think. I convinced the local florist to take me as a trainee. She agreed since her children don't want the business, but she didn't want to let it flop. So I will be learning how to arrange flowers, wait on customers and help them make desicions. I will get a small paycheck, about $100 a day, but I will be learning so much. First I will learn the cash register and then once I pass the test for a silver badge, I will learn some selling and customer relations skills until I pass the silver level for that as well. At nights when the shop is closed I will learn flower arranging and she will also pass on any perks and inside knowledge to me. The hard part will be that I will need to buy the shop from her once she decides to transfer ownership to me. She promised to work out a fair price, but I'm not sure how I will get the money. I might have to take a loan to pay her.

I will live in the small apartment above the shop and then once I own the shop and/or her youngest child moves out, I can buy the larger apartment from her.

Change in Plans

Plans have changed. I won't be moving downtown, I will still be living in an apartment with the Marsh family, but the apartment will be in a modern area of Apple Valley once the hood is rebuilt. Well, not sure if it will be modern or not, haven't seen the architect's plans for the homes in that area. I know that the homes on the commercial strip are more classic small town downtown vibe with the awnings and big windows and small terraces.

I've been helping with creating the map and the zoning for the new Apple Valley. It's complex, first assigning zoning and lot sizes then moving the lots around on the paper to create the best layout for the area. Trying to visualize it in my head.

I don't know if I'll go into the law career anymore. I don't know what I'll do, maybe find a job with a local business, maybe I could be a waitress or a cashier. I don't know anymore, things are so complex, especially since repairs are still not done. *sigh* I wonder how my family is doing? Do they miss me? Should I write?

Repair and Restoration

Things are going well. Repairs are not complete yet. I am still working on the repair and restoration team. I don't have many skills, but I want to learn. The team has been nice, explaining things in detail to me so I can understand and helping me find tasks to help them.

I am going to get a job in the law career. Based off my skills, I won't go very far, but...I had the task to call residents to tell them of the career limitation law and inform the lower qualified sims in the overcrowded careers that they would need to find new jobs. Well, I talked to Johan again. He had to leave the medical career since both of his parents are in it (the limit is two sims per career). He decided to join the law career, I think he will be advocating medical law and lawsuits. I then decided, I should join as well. I could help him! Hopefully I'll find a job with the same law firm he is in...maybe we could start our own law firm and teach our children about the great Laws. LOL-now I sound like Sandy and her lovesick talk regarding Sazo.

I am moving downtown. A family is selling the apartment below them in the loft district. It's a two bedroom place. I will have to pay a lump sum in order to buy it, but I hope I will like it. Sandy lives next door, as Sazo's family is buying the loft next door and she is buying thier downstairs apartment.

I can't wait until repairs are over and I can finally interact with Johan face-to-face and not just on the phone.

Yikes!

O dear o dear o dear!!! I was talking to Elle about the repairs and she interupted me and said that she wished her son was interested in me since I "have so much potential and intelligence". Yikes! I hope Sandy doesn't find out! She would be furious if she knew! I mean, Sandy's not dumb or anything-just a bit passionate about other things. She means well, besides I'm not interested in Sazo...right? o dear o dear o dear! I can't be! We have nothing in common, I much rather like what I hear about Johan, plus when calling the residents to collect thier data, I heard his voice. He sounds...smart. Also, he has a lot more skills than Sazo and he's interested in the medical community. Already he's a nurse and his mother is the Chief of Staff. I hope to be able to have dinner with them, I bet the conversation wouldn't be about nonsense about stocks and bonds, but health and science and how we can better the world for our fellow sim. I know that I will never be anything as significant as the Chief of Staff, but I'm willing to learn...even if my lack of skills leave much to the imagination. Why o why did I drop out of university?!?!? There was so much more to learn, to experience. *sigh*

Repairs

Well, the hood is undergoing repairs and can you believe it, I've been tapped to help with the reconstruction efforts. I'm gathering data from all the residents to compile a database, well actually to supplement the current database. It's actually not that bad since I'm meeting a lot of new neighbors.

No one knows how long the repairs will last, it's a shame since I had arranged to meet the mysterious Johan, but now I'll have to wait until things get back to normal.

I have the opportunity to move, but honestly, I rather like the boarding house. I don't really want to be alone, but at the same token I do need my space.

Well, I don't think I'll be writing much since I'll be so busy helping with the repairs and reconstruction efforts.

Finally, Intelligent Conversation

I have returned to the Kent house. Elle called me and said that I could stop by for a game of chess and some dinner if I was free. I was so I did, I did because I was. We played chess, she's a very good player, I had to really stay on my toes and we discussed the need Apple Valley had for a CAS Clinic Manager. That sim would keep the hood's data and make sure that thier are back-ups and updates whenever necessary. Also, they'd make changes when needed to resident's data. It sounds interesting, but the pay is not much. I would need another job, which I still haven't found. I hope the new career tracks with the new deal do not require degrees. To participate in the SUN Exchange I had to leave university, as did Sandy, but she's making much more progress than I. She called and said that she has a date with Sazo and how great he is and how wonderful she feels, blah, blah blah.

I can not wait until spring gets here. I have ordered some sari's and will get a new hairstyle, the pigtails make me look a little immature. Wow, spring will actually be very dynamic with rain storms and such. I would love to get a job predicting the weather or chasing storms and seeing how they react.

I need to meet this mysterious Johan. Elle told me that she thought I might like this young man she knows by the name of Johan. Apparently he's her nephew. Agh!!! Johan, Johan, where are you! Why haven't I met you! I suppose I should get out more. Perhaps go to the park for a game of chess, maybe then I'll meet the mysterious Johan.

Dinner

Sandy and I were invited to dinner by Darrel and Elle Kent and thier son (thier single son in need of a good wife that he can spend his simoleans on according to his father) Sazo. It was fairly disappointing. The food was delicious, lobster, creamed cauliflower and aspargus. I wish Elle had stayed for dinner, she's a top secret researcher with LabCorp and I would have loved to talk to her about her job and other science opportunities in the hood. However, she had a project that she had to work on and due to the classified nature of the work had to do her work upstairs. She promised that we would get together another time to talk and maybe play chess. I hope so.

During dinner, I made small talk with Darrel about the recycling program we had in Simborough while Sandy and Sazo made goo-goo eyes at each other. I guess that they had instant attraction to each other. After dinner, Sandy gushed about Sazo's bright green eyes, his smile, his lips, his hands, every little detail about the man. Maybe I am a bit jealous. Sandy has found a great guy already and I am still walking about aimlessly. She even has the opportunity to start her own business, while I am in a funk since the science career is full and without a degree I can't enter the natural science world. I suppose once the new deal comes I will find a good job and maybe Storm will introduce me to her cousin, Johan, who I hear more and more about each day, but haven't met. Even Sazo mentioned him and how smart he as in university. *Sigh*

One good thing is that Sandy is moving out of the boarding home and moving downtown. Yay! I get the room to myself, no more Sheba nipping at my feet or sleeping in my bed. No more stepping over Sandy's dirty clothes. I can finally have my own space, maybe even bring more of my books in the room. *smile* I can't wait.

I am here, here am I

I have moved to Apple Valley. No longer do I call Simborough home. Things have been so rushed that I am not settled into my new hood and doubt that I will be for some time. I think we arrived at the worst possible moment. The current simday is almost over and the hood will be shutting down for extensive repairs, thankfully the hood is signing the new deal, so that means I will be able to find a job on the next simday (simFriday should be when the new deal is signed).

I have not seen many men yet, but then again I haven't gone out of the boarding house much. Sandy's new puppy makes so much noise. I wonder how she was able to bring the animal in the house, the rules are strict-no pets allowed.

The boarding house has mostly older sims and one other woman our age-no men. She said that the single men in the hood live at thier family's home to save more money, or because they are to inherit the homes. She promised to introduce me to Johan, she said that he likes science almost as much as I do. He is her cousin and works at the hospital downtown. That would be nice to meet a nice guy.

The hood is very small compared to Simborough and I miss my family. Thankfully there is a telescope on the campus grounds, so I look at the stars every night. Sandy said I should be careful unless I wanted to be captured. I can not wait until we get our own place, I do not like sharing a room with Sandy and her barking dog.

to siminity and beyond