So, What's New?

[Lynet]

Part of that conversation went way over my head (:o). (step to the left or right?) But I saw the part about my husband this morning just before turning off the computer to go see his Mom. I laughed at the taciturn Victorian task-master label and repeated it to him. He reminded me that his new year's resolution every year is to be "less tolerant," which will never happen. He's too gentle.

[surprised_by_witches]

You've (gasp) never seen Rocky Horror?

OK, admittedly, it's really really bad, but it's also quite funny ...

[Lynet]

:o I saw the movie once, a long, long, long time ago. I know it has, or had, a big following of people who would watch it repeatedly. I was not one of them so I don't remember much about it. My memory's not so good. Never was, even when I was young. (I think. Can't remember. :p )

Actually, speaking of that issue, I've been thinking I need to go back and reread what I've written about Errol and Ironsides because so much time passes between chapters that I'm afraid I might be losing the Big Mo. During tax season (January thru April,) when the husband I adore works 6 10-hour days a week while I work 4 7-hour days is when I get all my serious simming done. It's touch and go the rest of the year.

And simming is what I should be doing right now!

[surprised_by_witches]

No one SHOULD be simming, LOL. We SHOULD be cleaning our houses or writing that novel or planting the garden ... but simming becomes almost a necessity after a while, doesn't it?

I played Max's little family last night, finally got Henry his first kiss (with Samantha Longman) and aged Tristan to teen ... what an absolute cutie pie. I'll post pictures soon.

"Oh the Sisters of Mercy, they are not departed or gone ... "

This is the start of a beautiful, weird song by Leonard Cohen that reminds me of your sig line. Mercy, indeed.

Most songs by Leonard Cohen are beautiful and weird, come to think of it. Anyone who hasn't heard of him, should check him out. IS there anyone who hasn't heard of him?

He's not much of a singer, but his lyrics are killer. And that's what I go for. If a catchy tune is completely nonsensical it ruins it for me.

Example lines?

"And then I confess that I tortured the dress you wore for the world to look through."

"Dance me to the curtains that our kisses have outworn."

"There's a chair with a dead magazine."

Told you he was weird. But he's a brilliant poet.

Don't know why I'm on this tangent today. I'll say goodbye now.

Goodbye now.

[surprised_by_witches]

OK, couldn't resist. Here are the lyrics to Sisters of Mercy.

Oh the sisters of mercy, they are not departed or gone.
They were waiting for me when I thought that I just can't go on.
And they brought me their comfort and later they brought me this song.
Oh I hope you run into them, you who've been travelling so long.
Yes you who must leave everything that you cannot control.
It begins with your family, but soon it comes around to your soul.
Well I've been where you're hanging, I think I can see how you're pinned:
When you're not feeling holy, your loneliness says that you've sinned.

Well they lay down beside me, I made my confession to them.
They touched both my eyes and I touched the dew on their hem.
If your life is a leaf that the seasons tear off and condemn
they will bind you with love that is graceful and green as a stem.

When I left they were sleeping, I hope you run into them soon.
Don't turn on the lights, you can read their address by the moon.
And you won't make me jealous if I hear that they sweetened your night:
We weren't lovers like that and besides it would still be all right,
We weren't lovers like that and besides it would still be all right.

[babewithbrains_14]

I decided that if I was gonna play a man, I'd may as well play it wholeheartedly. So I asked could I wear a big white bushy moustache. And sideburns. And possibly a beard.

[surprised_by_witches]

Good for you! I played Antonio in Twelfth Night, once. I had a Beatle's hairdo.

[Mirelly]

No one SHOULD be simming, LOL. We SHOULD be cleaning our houses or writing that novel or planting the garden ... but simming becomes almost a necessity after a while, doesn't it?


Would you settle for planting the novel, cleaning the garden and writing my house (off) :p

I played Max's little family last night, finally got Henry his first kiss (with Samantha Longman) and aged Tristan to teen ... what an absolute cutie pie. I'll post pictures soon.

"Oh the Sisters of Mercy, they are not departed or gone ... "

This is the start of a beautiful, weird song by Leonard Cohen that reminds me of your sig line. Mercy, indeed.

Most songs by Leonard Cohen are beautiful and weird, come to think of it. Anyone who hasn't heard of him, should check him out. IS there anyone who hasn't heard of him?

He's not much of a singer, but his lyrics are killer. And that's what I go for. If a catchy tune is completely nonsensical it ruins it for me.

Example lines?

"And then I confess that I tortured the dress you wore for the world to look through."

"Dance me to the curtains that our kisses have outworn."

"There's a chair with a dead magazine."

Told you he was weird. But he's a brilliant poet.

Don't know why I'm on this tangent today. I'll say goodbye now.

Goodbye now.

And not forgetting:
Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm :)

[surprised_by_witches]

And now another stranger seems
To want you to ignore his dreams
As though they are the burden of some other ...

OK, sorry, getting obnoxious here, but he really wrote some fabulous stuff. :)

[Mirelly]

LOL Obnoxious, my foot foot :p

I liked this bit:

It's hard to hold the hand of anyone

who is reaching for the sky just to surrender,

[surprised_by_witches]

I see we like the same song! That's one of my favorites.

[Chee-Z]

I did something I thought I would never do today. I interviewed a Spanish-speaking girl...IN Spanish. o_0 Though the interview mainly consisted of basic questions because not only am I shy, but the girl I was interviewing was shy too. Yay hablo español! :D Donde está la toillette? :rolleyes:

[surprised_by_witches]

You're shy? Really? You don't seem shy.

But good for you for trying something new. That's great!

I speak enough Italian to be dangerous.

A donde es el Duomo? is one question you DON'T need to ask in Florence. Just open your eyes, and there it is!

[Chee-Z]

Online I'm not that shy, but in RL and especially out in public, I'm very quiet, reserved and shy. I speak enough Spanish to know I'm terrible at it. Meh, we don't get enough oral speaking in class. :o

[Sacharissa]

I never learned Spanish, but it's amazing how much college French came back to me when I was in Mexico City! ("Ou est la salle de bain?") I think it was because I was in a foreign country - trying desparately to speak a foreign language - but, of course, the only one I knew was French!

Surprisingly, though, it actually helped a bit...Maybe because Spanish and French are both Romance languages...

[surprised_by_witches]

LOL! I think that part of your brain is separate, because when I was in Italy all my German came back. Definitely not helpful in that case!

I could talk to the German tourists, though.

[babewithbrains_14]

I can speak a little Italian.

[jupitershana]

I can speak a little French...4 years in high school taught me how to say, Hello, my name is Shana, how are you? LOL actually I remember more than that, I can pick most of it up if I'm reading it, and can somewhat follow a conversation, but I can't speak it very well.

SBW, Sacharissa, you two available Saturday evening? Brandon is going on patrol, and he'll be leaving around 6ish, so I have the evening free to myself to sim or do whatever. I was thinking you two could come over, maybe bring witch baby and your husband SBW, we can check out my computer and the insiminator and go swimming, or at least Witch baby and your husband can while we play! Lol Maybe order pizza? What do you two think, work for you?

[surprised_by_witches]

That sounds fun! Hubby doesn't work Saturday evenings and WB loves to swim ... I'll run it by the family unit.

Thanks for inviting us! Sacharissa, you in?

[babewithbrains_14]

Humph.

[jupitershana]

Humph.

Sorry babe, if you ever visit the states and make it to Minnesota, you have a place to stay with me! You can go swimming every day if you want!

[surprised_by_witches]

Or, you can stay with us and get to know Witch Baby and Izzy the dog. We'd love to have you.

Didn't mean to rub your nose in it.

What's new with me is Witch Baby suddenly went SPROING and grew out of everything she owns. I swear she was a size 8 for ten minutes.

This weekend's the big garage sale (I think: Sacharissa, do you know for sure when the Seward sales are?). Everyone in the neighborhood carts out their old stuff. You can usually get good summer outfits for nothing.

I'm going shopping tomorrow for a new wardrobe for my beautiful growing flower. (I hate saying she grows like a weed, so I say that instead. I definitely wanted her in my garden!)

[suitemichelle]

have fun shopping... I have a moritorium (sp?) on garage sales until the remodeling is complete. I have so much in boxes right now I don't dare add to it.

[AlisonSBurke]

He he he....

I knew quite a bit of Italian in Year 8, so I went on an Italian chat site last night to try and catch up on my Italian :) They were really nice, they told me all their favourite recipes.... Although I had to remind them that I did know a little bit of Italian, enough to understand that they were reffering to me as "...only a child..."!

Lol to Babe (can I call you that?). You can come over my house anytime!

[surprised_by_witches]

have fun shopping... I have a moritorium (sp?) on garage sales until the remodeling is complete. I have so much in boxes right now I don't dare add to it.

Just got back. Hubby and I have been at it all morning. (Garage sale shopping, get your mind out of the gutter!)

We scored! Got several summer shirts for Witch Baby, a stuffed dog that looks just like our real one, two Harry Potter puzzles and a HP trivia game, two all-clad pots, shorts for me, 3 CDs, several cookbooks (my husband collects them) ... and more!

All for less than $50. (The all-clad pots were expensive, but nothing compared to what they sell for retail.)

I am a shopping fool. But I'm garaged out. I'm going to go back to one sale tomorrow because they said they'd have more kids clothes, but otherwise I am done.

And pooped. I'm gonna play sims until the little witch calls for her daily walk home from daycare.

[Mirelly]

Hubby and I have been at it all morning. (Garage sale shopping, get your mind out of the gutter!)

I hafta say that you're bursting all my best jokes :p

[Sacharissa]

All for less than $50. (The all-clad pots were expensive, but nothing compared to what they sell for retail.)

Someone was selling ALL-CLAD at a GARAGE SALE? MAN, I gotta get out more!!! Some of my guiltiest pleasures are FINE COOKEWARE and FUN KITCHEN TOYS, of which All-Clad ranks right up near the top!

PS - and Babe, if you ever DO make it to Minnesota, we can take you to the Mall of America - soon to be the Largest Shopping Mall in North America! (This is one of the few times I get out there - when out-of-town guests come for a visit!)

[surprised_by_witches]

Yep. We got a soup pot and a frying pan. The fryer is a little dented on the bottom but they're otherwise in good shape. You oughta check out the Seward sales. They're on all weekend. I hear good things are to be found on the River Road. The All-Clad house is on 30th, right near the Cliquot Club, if you know where that is. I think he has a few pieces left.

How do I hate the Mall of America, let me count the ways. You don't have an eight-year-old, Sacharissa, so you can be forgiven for not feeling the same way I do. Camp Snoopy, what a headache-inducing money pit. Pay $20 a person to hear little kids screams bouncing off the high walls directly through my cranium. Yeesh. (Yes, I know you can pay less but what fun is that? She has to go on at least 6 rides to make the trip worth it.)

Hey, maybe you could take Witch Baby next time. Kidding. Mostly. :p

So sorry, Mirelly! :D

[jupitershana]

Brandon and I would take Witch Baby to the MOA, that would be fun! Kids seem to attrack to Brandon like flies too, he'll be a great father some day.

So what's new with me...NOTHING! I'm bored out of my mind at work today, we're very slow...sure, I've got some work I could do, but I just don't feel like it. ;) Nah, I'm doing it, but I'd rather play online. Check out my new avatar and sigs!

Edited to say: Oh, will you look at that, exactly 600 posts...that's pretty cool...okay, amused by little things today...bored, bored, bored.

[surprised_by_witches]

Is that Miss Addy in your new avatar? So cute.

What's new with me is the IRS said owed them money, and I don't! Yeah! In fact I get $10 extra more than I thought. So that's a huge load off of my mind.

The dog is pacing. It's time to go pick up Witch Baby from her afterschool program. Won't have much time to sim tonight because I'm watching my friends' two sons.

We'll probably all make cookies.

Listen to me. Don't I sound like a domestic goddess, now. :p

[jupitershana]

It is Miss Addie, and yes, she is cute!

Awesome that you don't owe money, that's always nice!

Have fun watching the two boys tonight, I guess we won't have updates tomorrow though with PDL. :cry: We'll live I guess...*sniff*

And yes, you do sound all domestic!

[person123]

AAGGHHH!!! I JUST GOT A HUMONGOUS PAPER CUT ON MY PINKIE FINGER! :hissyfit: IT HURTS!!!!

[surprised_by_witches]

Ouch! Poor you. I don't know what you can do to make it feel better. Paper cuts are nasty. :(

I find yelling and screaming helps, but it looks like you've got that covered. ;)

[mEtAlHeAd]

I like Pie do you?

[Lynet]

If you're talking about apple pie than I sure do if it doesn't have too much sugar in it. I'd rather taste the apples. Is that the kind of pie you were talking about? Or is there something I don't know about called P.I.E. ?:p

[surprised_by_witches]

Mmmm ... piiiieee ... I'm not a big fan of super sweet food, either Lynet. My favorite pies are key lime, rhubarb custard (hold the strawberries) and sour cherry.

[Lynet]

My favorite pies are key lime, rhubarb custard (hold the strawberries) and sour cherry.Oh, yesssss! And give me pie over cake any day. :)

OK, another topic and not new. I'm obsessed with my current story. They HAUNT me all day long -- Errol and Kate, Joe and Ania, Ironsides. They're running around in my head talking and having adventures and it needs to be written down!! I'm trying to concentrate on my paperwork here at the office and Joe is distracting me. Aaargh!

Not very long ago I lived alone in a two bedroom apartment. I don't wish for those days again but I know if I were still there I'd be glued to the computer, all sickly-pale and wild-eyed, a madwoman, typing until I fell asleep with my face on the keyboard.

Good thing I'm married and have someone to take care of. Keeps me this side of sanity. :p

Don't worry. I get nuts like this every time I get caught up in writing a story.

Kind of fits in with being obsessed about playing Sims, doesn't it? What a lethal combination. :D

[surprised_by_witches]

Welcome to my world. :p

I'm feeling just awful today, so I'm not very inspired to do much of anything other than lie on the couch. Witch Baby wants to play Harry Potter on the 'puter, anyway, so no simming for me until after bedtime ... just as well. I'm a little burned out, probably because I feel so spiffy.

Nothing major, just allergies, I think. And a sudden heat wave. I'm not much of a heat lizard.

I'm not really complaining. We had a lovely spring, for once. Summers here are just something to be endured. No one thinks of Minnesota as hot, but summers can be unbearable. I think it's the extremes. No one can get used to EVERY climate at once, sheesh.

I did write something, though, hint hint, and posted pictures of my new freshmen. Henry du Maurier has amazing cheekbones. I forgot just how handsome I made him. (I cheated, started him as an adult and then progressed backwards. Regressed?)

Okaaaay, babbling now. Time to get off. The offspring is restless.

[jupitershana]

I'm not really complaining. We had a lovely spring, for once. Summers here are just something to be endured. No one thinks of Minnesota as hot, but summers can be unbearable. I think it's the extremes. No one can get used to EVERY climate at once, sheesh.

I did write something, though, hint hint, and posted pictures of my new freshmen. Henry du Maurier has amazing cheekbones. I forgot just how handsome I made him. (I cheated, started him as an adult and then progressed backwards. Regressed?)

You sure are right, and I agree that it's the extremes...I can't stand the heat either. I heard it supposed to get up to 95 on Sunday...we're debating on if we're going to leave the air conditioner on low or not for the cats when we're gone at the family cabin this weekend...fur coats have to be worse than our little skin ones! :eek: It's going to be stiffling up north as well...I'm thinking I'm bringing a swimming suit, even though the water will probably still be really cold! If it gets as hot as they think it might be really nice!

I've done that with several of my starter families as well SBW. Have to make sure they look okay!

[suitemichelle]

ah... what a way to start a 3 day weekend... hubby is snoring in the recliner his coffee and muffin getting cold. cool and wet in western Washington. and my fresh cup that will be cold by the time I finish it... maybe not since I use small cup rather than mugs at least at home.

getting close to 14 pounds lost... but when I remember that my LTW is over 100 off I get discouraged. I know, I know, live one day at a time.

well time to sim til Ray wakes up.

[surprised_by_witches]

Don't give up! 14 is better than 0! You're doing great. Little steps ... you'll get there. I need to just get off my butt more, so I'm inspired by anyone who's making progress. Way to go.

Edited to say: What's new with me is my family and I visited the brand spanking new main library in beautiful downtown Minneapolis and afterwards had lunch at Hell's Kitchen, which I totally recommend to anyone if you're in the area. They have, as their ad says, "dam good food." (Spelled wrong on purpose to elude the censors, hee hee)

The library was large, impressive and ... cold. Not the kind of place I'd like to curl up and read a book, actually. They have lots of them, books I mean, but it's self checkout and the thingy wasn't working for three items Witch Baby wanted and get this, they couldn't check me out the old fashioned way in the children's section. I had to walk clear across the library.

Not a good day to mess with me. I was hungry, cranky, hot and tired. I think I scared the librarian.

I think I'll stick to my friendly neighborhood library, which has also been recently renovated and is much more warm and cozy.

But it is an impressive building, I'll give them that.

[alliekat]

You know you're really sad when you start dreaming about the people on this board whom you've never met before. For instance, All you regulars were there, but I can't remember who did what specifically except a couple of people.

We all went for a ride through Lynets neighbourhood, which was actually a bit more crowded than I had expected. Houses really close together, bubbles which took you to different neighbourhoods in much the same way your mirrors do, but we were riding through your neighbourhhod on your "horse and cart"! By the way, the horses were animated, though the headlights still shone through them.

Next up, Babe wanted to beat me up cuz I told her that a half painted picture of Alice in Wonderland she had on the side of one of her houses looked like a powerpuff girl. You know, the big eyes? Anyway, she calmed down when I said it was only because it was not finished.

Shana wasn't there, but I do remember saying to SBW I think, " I wish Shana could've made it, I really would've liked to meet her today!".

So that's me and my dream. Told you I was sad :D .

[suitemichelle]

That is a nice dream Allie... It would be very nice to meet you and share a cup of coffee.

[Lynet]

Allie, of course I laughed when I read about my neighborhood. Sounded like a great dream to me. I laughed even harder at the part about Babe. Bet she's going to want to beat me up now. :D

[jupitershana]

Sorry I couldn't make it, I was off haunting someone else's dreams! That is funny Allie. I've had dreams about my sims before, havn't yet about people on this board. I'll let you all know if I do.

[babewithbrains_14]

Too right. Just give me your home address, money for a flight and details of when you'll be in. Then you'll be sorry!!

I want to know more about this dream! I love talking about dreams. I could yak on all day. What did we look like? I wouldn't be able to knock the stuffing out of a ripped teddy bear (except for Lynet), but I do love the powerpuff girls. I wanna be Buttercup! It would be funny now if in the dream I was all big and grufty!

[alliekat]

I don't really remember what anyone looked like. Come to think of it I don't think I even looked like me. Oh well. I can't remember what else happened in the dream, I just jotted down the most memorable bits and posted them.

I always wanted to be Bubbles! She's so cute and gullible! :bunny:

[surprised_by_witches]

I get them mixed up. My sister can imitate one of them perfectly though. Quite disconcerting. I think it's Bubbles. Whichever one has the slightly raspy voice.

Babe, it's going to be awfully hard to beat anyone up minus your head. I've got a nice, sharp axe all ready for you.

In your dream, Allie, I was the ravishing brunette. At least that's the way I prefer to think of myself. :D I often look in the mirror and think, who's that fat woman? :p

It's beastly here. Amazingly awfully icky sweltery hot. 97 degrees in May. That's crazy. Minnesota is a land of extremes. We planted our garden and then used up all the water in a small nearby lake to give our poor thirsty yard a drink and refill the pond.

I stayed inside most of the rest of the day and played sims. Poor poor me, I know y'all pity me. :p

In PDL, nearly everyone's turning into a teenager and some of 'em went off to college. Haven't felt much like writing, maybe later tonight when all is still and there isn't a creature stirring 'cept little old me.

[babewithbrains_14]

PDL reminds me - I have some very sad news.

My computer is dying, people. I don't know what's going on with it, but it's crap basically. So to give it a rest, I had to uninstall my Simmies!!!

Now we are looking for a desktop for me that will be able to run my Sims and run the internet with a decent RAM. Around £450ish. I have no ideas, but if anyone has any clues about where to go, any deals etc, please let me know. Also, don't forget that I'm in England!

[Sacharissa]

It was a beastly hot holiday weekend here in Minnesota - Sure could have used Jupitershana's pool! (Except, of course, she was at up at the lake, so I guess that wouldn't have worked!) I woke up at 4am Saturday morning to 78 degrees and the smell of smoke alarmingly wafting through my house!

I checked all over for something smouldering - including the basement - before I finally discovered that the neighbors were apparently preparing for their Memorial Day by smoking meat all night in their back yard!

So, I broke one of my cardinal rules, which is "Never turn on the Air Conditioning until July 1st!" Between the smoke and the heat, I had to cave - so the windows were closed, the temperature was lowered, and I was a much happier and less crabby person the rest of the weekend!

[Sacharissa]

By the way, Babe - Sorry to hear about your dying computer - hopefully, you were able to save your neighborhoods, and you will be able to re-load them onto a new, and even faster computer than before! Still very frustrating though!:(

[Mirelly]

PDL reminds me - I have some very sad news.

My computer is dying, people. I don't know what's going on with it, but it's crap basically. So to give it a rest, I had to uninstall my Simmies!!!

Now we are looking for a desktop for me that will be able to run my Sims and run the internet with a decent RAM. Around £450ish. I have no ideas, but if anyone has any clues about where to go, any deals etc, please let me know. Also, don't forget that I'm in England!

Hi Babe, 450 quid is pushing it but PC World has this (http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0566565330.114900045 9@@@@&BV_EngineID=cceeaddhlmihhhkcflgceggdhhmdgml.0&page=Product&fm=0&sm=0&tm=undefined&sku=825384&category_oid=-27735) for 500, which at least has the capacity for being upgradable but has a proper graphics card to start off with) Even so you might have to do some fiddling around with some settings to get it run TS2.

UK customers! Don't buy an extended warranty whatever you do. If it breaks in the first six months you have The Sale Of Goods Act (http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/x-ray/x_guides/consumer_law/12-1.shtml) to force repair/replacement/or money back and if it doesn't it'll probably last for ever ... just don't use the LCD screen as a dart board ... that can get expensive :rolleyes:

[surprised_by_witches]

I knew Mirelly would come to your rescue, Babe, which is why I didn't say anything ... so sorry about your computer. I too hope your simmies can be saved.

July 1, Sacharissa? Wow. You do have fortitude. If I can't move because I've melted into a little puddle the air goes on, even if it's April 1!

Minnesota, land of unpredictable weather. I'm taking Izzy to get sheared today like a little sheep. She'll pierce a few eardrums, I'm sure. She hates this, but she always feels better afterwards, even if she does look incredibly foofy. Not even the same dog. I'm always amazed at how skinny and small she is. She's half fur! I'll try to take some before and after pictures.

This weather has been awesome for flowers. My rose, dormant for three years, is literally covered in buds. I think there are around 50! I'll take pictures when it blooms. And my peonies are also extremely happy right now. Haven't bloomed yet, but the plants are huge and full of buds and looking very perky.

Should be gorgeous when everything pops.

[babewithbrains_14]

Nope. My Sims could not survive.

I can't do anything on here anymore - the internet is it. I can't put music on, make discs, go on my Sims, and even when I do go on the internet it sometimes turns off and MSN spontaneously goes into meltdown. I get error messages flashing every 5 minutes, and I can't even reboot the bloody thing to factory settings and start all over again.

And thanks, Mirelly - but since my computer is so rubbish I can't follow many links any more. Sigh. I'm dreading the day when I can't access WorldSims anymore - already I can't see any images anybody posts, and today I discovered I can't see the FAQ's page from the link in your sig.

I feel like chucking the stupid thing in the Irwell.

[Mirelly]

OK It was this:

PACKARD BELL 1429 AMD ATHLON 64 3400+ PROCESSOR + 15" TFT FLAT PANEL MONITOR

AMD Athlon 64 3400+ Processor
2.2GHz, 800MHz FSB, 0.5MB Cache
1024MB DDR RAM
160GB Hard Disk Drive
Multi-Format Dual Layer DVD RW Drive
128 MB ATI Express X200 Graphics
6 USB Connections

£499.99

[babewithbrains_14]

Thanks Mirelly. :D Will get another friend to look into it now for me. He said that a shop nearby will build the computer with the specs I need for an okay price.

Luv ya! x x x

[Lynet]

Hope everyone had a great weekend. It was beautiful weather here. Sunny and warm but not stifling unless you stood out in the direct sun.

We spent a lot of time just cleaning house and doing laundry.

I also spent a lot of time simming, including downloading. :o My story has gotten very complicated -- lots of different things to figure out now. Gracious, and Errol hasn't even gotten there yet. But he will. :)

Oh, Babe, I feel for you. If anything happened to my computer and my sims right now I'd be throwing a tantrum right on the floor. :hissyfit: :sob:

[surprised_by_witches]

I would be disconsolate for days. Might even lose my taste for chocolate.

So sorry, Babe.

[Sacharissa]

July 1, Sacharissa? Wow. You do have fortitude. If I can't move because I've melted into a little puddle the air goes on, even if it's April 1!

Well, to be honest, it seems like I've had to break my own rule more often over the last few years - But somehow, I always feel a bit guilty if it's not even July yet. I guess that's just my Thrifty Minnesota-Scandinavian Heritage coming through... ("Air Conditioning? You don't need Air Conditioning! What do you think the 10,000 lakes are for???")

This weather has been awesome for flowers. My rose, dormant for three years, is literally covered in buds. I think there are around 50! I'll take pictures when it blooms. And my peonies are also extremely happy right now. Haven't bloomed yet, but the plants are huge and full of buds and looking very perky.

Should be gorgeous when everything pops.

Oooo! Sounds spectacular! You will have to host another get together when they've bloomed so that we may pay homage to your Gardening Skills as well as your Simming Skills!

I highly admire anyone who gardens. I love the idea of having a garden - just not the actual gardening part! My brother, the ex-patriate artist, once house sat for some friends of his for two years - a 14th Century Manor house on Dartmoor! It came with a lovely garden, complete with a gardener who came twice a week! Now THAT would be the life!

[surprised_by_witches]

Oh, please don't misunderstand me. I do not have a green thumb. That rose has stretched nearly to the top of the garage because I didn't bother to cut it down over the winter. And the peonies thrive mostly due to the labors of my triplex neighbor, who is a wonderful gardener.

I'm like you. I plant things, I want to do well by them, but halfway through the summer I've got a weed garden. :o

Still, my garden promises to be lovely soon and will definitely have you both over to see it. And take pictures for those of you who live further away.

[person123]

Babe, did you backup your sim files before uninstalling?

Edit: Sorry, I didn't realize there was another page. :o

I recently received some seeds from a friend..they're for carnivorous plants! I can't wait to plant them and watch them grow...and then eat bugs...

[surprised_by_witches]

My dog, with fur and sans fur.

Doesn't she look cute? And cooler, too. She was miserable over the weekend.

Told you she looks like two different dogs!

[suitemichelle]

Hey Babe something to check into are refurbished computers... because they are used they cost less and may only need an upgrade in your video card. our current compaq is used and last year we bought another one for some good friends of our that was even cheaper and had more power... just a thought.

cool in the northwest for memorial day, we celebrated by catching up our paperwork. and mowing the lawn.

[babewithbrains_14]

Thanks for all the thoughts, guys!

Sigh. I've never heard of that refurbished thingymajig before, Michelle, but it sound something to def look into.

Am quite pleased though, because my Dad bought a Bluetooth USB Dongle for his laptop and hasn't used it yet, so I thought I'd try and get it on my laptop. And yay! It works! At least my phone is happy. I may do a mini-wave in celebration of life. *Does a mini-wave in celebration of life.* Ooh yeah!

[jupitershana]

AWWW....SBW, she looks so cute all shaved like that! Much cooler, I'm sure she'll be much happier now. Our poor animals in the summer, with those fur coats, must be awful. On hot days our cats don't do anything, just plop down in the middle of the floor all spread out. They don't even move if you need to get by them, they can't be bothered by our little whims of wanting to walk down the hallway! LOL...reminds me...I think it might be time to change the signature....

[Sacharissa]

On hot days our cats don't do anything, just plop down in the middle of the floor all spread out. They don't even move if you need to get by them, they can't be bothered by our little whims of wanting to walk down the hallway! LOL...reminds me...I think it might be time to change the signature....

LOL Shana! That is so true! Our two cats become absolute SLUGS when it gets hot! Sometimes I check just to make sure that they are still breathing!!!

PS LOVE your signature! Hmmm...Reminds me of another quote...I might just have to change mine!

[jupitershana]

LOL, I love your new sig as well Sachrissa...that's perfect. They are our masters, and I'll humbly obey their every whim, only because I love them so much!

Another good quote I've heard, can't remember who says it is, "Dogs have masters, Cat's have slaves." Soooo true...so true.

[Sacharissa]

Another good quote I've heard, can't remember who says it is, "Dogs have masters, Cat's have slaves." Soooo true...so true.

ROTFLOL! :D

[babewithbrains_14]

Awh, I love cats. I could just awh them all day lol!

[Lynet]

ROTFLMAO at both your signatures. Up until a year and a half ago I lways lived with cats. There are pictures of me as a baby with cats. :o I think they're wonderful pets but they certainly do expect slavery from us.

(posted at the same time, Babe. Next time I'm in Manchester I'll buy you a coke. And if it's ten years from now I'll buy you something stronger.)

[surprised_by_witches]

I used to be a cat person until I got my dog. She's such a sweetheart, and my cat is just useless.

In my opinion a cat should be either cuddly, amusing, or a good mouser. Until recently she was none of the above. Now that she has less than zero body fat (skinniest cat on earth!) she's a lot more cuddly.

Mercenary little thing.

The dog, on the other hand, adores me. There's something to be said for loyal love like that. When I sim she usually sits under my desk and cuddles with my feet, or fwumps down on the couch with a sigh and takes a nap.

Now, if I had a cat like the one I had growing up, or more like Shana's Addie, I'd probably be more 50/50 in my preference.

Mercenary thing, ain't I. :p

[jupitershana]

Aww, thanks SBW, Addie really is a spunkly little sweetheart.

Speak of quotes, just got another funny one I thought I'd share with all of you.

"I won't tell you how much I weigh, but don't get in an elevator with me - unless you're going down."
- Jack E. Leonard

Hehehe...

[jupitershana]

Well I'll be gone all weekend. I'm kind of excited, my best friend Jessica's little brother is being confirmed this weekend. It's down in South Eastern Wisconsin, near Milwaukee in a little town called Burlington. Jessica didn't feel like driving all the way down there herself as it is a 6 hour trip, her fiance had to work. So I'm going with for the road trip. I actually went to college down in that area, and it will be nice to visit the area. I haven't been down there in 2 1/2 years...it will be odd memories for sure. So I wanted to wish everyone a good weekend! I'll see you all Sunday evening or Monday morning!

[Sacharissa]

Hope your Road Trip is totally Fab! Make sure you have plenty of good Road Trip Music and money for the ESSENTIALS (Pop and Munchies!)!

Drive careful!!! :checkeredflag:

[suitemichelle]

I tried step aerobics (sp?) for the very first time yesterday... you all would have been rofl if you could have seen me. One of the ladies said I didn't do badly for my first time but let me know there's an easier class that meets mondays and wednesdays. I got to tell you it ain't easy when you can't dance. I can't even do the grape vine with out messing up... Pray for me, Please..................

[Mirelly]

Aw, Michelle. I'll say a little prayer for ya ... but I'm sure you don't need any. I am still trying to pluck up the "round tuit" to go out in my back garden and fight back against the hedges that are threatening gaily to meet in the middle thereby leaving me without the option to daydream about regaining the sort of shape that permits sunbathing without risk of innocent observers running, wild-eyed and screaming, for the hills. :p

[Lynet]

Michelle, you are an inspiration. :bigthumbsup:

Last night I went with my husband to a happy hour event that's part of a long series of events for his 30 year college reunion. Last night was the only thing we plan to attend. I guess we had a teeny bit more to drink than we intended and both of us feel yucky this morning. :ill:

I'm eating one piece of toast, getting crumbs everywhere here.

[Sacharissa]

I tried step aerobics (sp?) for the very first time yesterday... you all would have been rofl if you could have seen me. One of the ladies said I didn't do badly for my first time but let me know there's an easier class that meets mondays and wednesdays. I got to tell you it ain't easy when you can't dance. I can't even do the grape vine with out messing up... Pray for me, Please..................

This is why I prefer Aqua Aerobics to all other kinds - You are in a pool so you don't get all sweaty...But you still get a great work-out because of the water resistance - and BEST or all, no one can see how very uncoordinated you are!

[surprised_by_witches]

My roses and peonies bloomed this weekend! We had relatives visiting or I would have invited you over to see them, Shana and Sacha. The roses only half-bloomed, though ... still have several buds left to go.

Anyway, here are pictures! I don't claim to be a great photographer, but I thought I'd attempt to show you all how beautiful my garden is right now.

[Sacharissa]

How lovely! Call me old fashioned, But I just LOVE Roses and Peonies in a garden. And if there are also Lilacs and Snapdragons, then it is nigh on perfect!

[surprised_by_witches]

Snapdragons are in the foreground, under the roses. I didn't manage to get them in the picture. Not sure if we have any lilies ... there may be some lily of the valley hanging around, and our triplex neighbor is fond of day lilies ... can't remember if she planted any this year.

The roses really bloomed since I took the picture. I'll have to have you over soon!

We went to the arboretum (http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/)on Sunday, after the relatives left. I've lived here 16 years and had never been. They've got a Secret Garden exhibit right now that's fun to discover, and it's just such a beautiful place. We walked around most of it, spent four hours there sans kid ... she was at her cousin's.

All in all a very romantic way to spend a Sunday.

[Sacharissa]

We went to the arboretum (http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/)on Sunday, after the relatives left. I've lived here 16 years and had never been. They've got a Secret Garden exhibit right now that's fun to discover, and it's just such a beautiful place. We walked around most of it, spent four hours there sans kid ... she was at her cousin's.

All in all a very romantic way to spend a Sunday.

That sounds lovely! I've only been to the Arboretum once - but it was at night (a harvest moon festival, if I call correctly) so we didn't get to see much. It was lovely just the same...

Speaking of Secret Gardens, one of the best Sundays I've ever had was one of my trips to England - One misty, drizzly Sunday morning was spent touring the victorian Higate Cemetery - the weather was actually really nicely suited for such a mysterious and sombre place.

Then, in the afternoon, the sun came out in a dazzling display, just in time for the Chelsea Physic Garden - which is a walled in garden that dates back to the 1600s! It really seemed like the garden Mary Lennox must have brought back to life in that wonderful book. It was a fabulous place for afternoon tea! And such a lovely way to spend a Sunday!!

[surprised_by_witches]

See, now you're just making me jealous. ;)

You should check out the MN arboretum, though. If you're in the mood for trees and flowers. The rose garden is beautiful. It should be especially lovely in a week or so.

[suitemichelle]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/specials/poulsbo_quints/

the fourth slide in this show has my steppop, Walt and mom, Joanne surrounded by family, friends and quints. Arent the babies cute?

[surprised_by_witches]

OMG are you related to them? Wow. Five babies. The mind boggles.

[suitemichelle]

not precisely... There's a connection between my steppop and the quints mother... not sure how it works I'll have to have my mom explain it.... again.

[jupitershana]

wow Michelle...how amazing. I can't imagine what that must be like for the mother. I just hope when we get pregnant that my outcome isn't 5 babies like that! High chance for twins, even triplets with the route we'll probably have to go, but 5...oh goodness. How precious all the same.

[Mirelly]

What a beautiful family :)

[reignofevil]

I have decided to check in :) .
Nice babies.

[Sacharissa]

I've a good friend who has twins, and another who has triplets...I can't imagine having FIVE! You would REALLY have to have a good network of family and firends - which it looks like they do. Lovely looking family!!

[Lynet]

So exciting. So cute.

(Now I'm trying to imagine life with all those kids as teenagers. :eek: They'll be sweethearts, I'm sure.)

[surprised_by_witches]

We can only pray for their parents' sake that that's the case. :p

My boss has triplets. She says multiples have a different mindset than singles. They know from day one that they're not the only priority, and just deal with it.

My friend who used to work here has twins.

No fertility drugs involved in either case. :eek:

Must be something in the water.

[hugzncuddles]

suitemichelle, what a beautiful set of babies! So cute and precious.... :) I can only imagine the work involved though in caring for them in their early weeks/months, and I am positively shocked at the though of 5 teens in one house LOL.

Thanks for sharing the pics!

If I ever get fertility help, I would have to put a limit on two lol.

[Lynet]

I only had two, born 22 months apart. I didn't get 8 hours in a row of sleep for about 5 years. Something was always happening in the middle of the night. :nosleep: Speaking of sleep...nighty night.

[Lynet]

What happened to your avatar, Mirelly? It looks like the side of an ambulance. Is that pretty grey haired sim being carted off to a nursing home? ;)

[suitemichelle]

I think it has something to do with soccer worldcup...?

[Lynet]

Ah, I see. Thank you, Michelle. Good night. :zzz:

[Mirelly]

LOL The USA doesn't know what it's missing. I only turn into a football junkie every four years ... at the same time becoming rampantly English in as utterly a xenomaniacial way as possible. Though when England have failed to qualify for the finals (the last time being the occasion the US hosted the competition :o ) I support Scotland ... well, why not? :rolleyes:

Old grey hair will be back as soon as England have been eliminated ... probably as the result of a penalty shoot out. :D

We kick off tonight against Paraguay ... wish us luck, we'll need it.

And oh, yeah. That red cross is St. George's ... though why England adopted the badge of a Turkish dragon slayer is anyone's guess. The lion is another of England's heraldic symbols ... again not too many of those running free here either :o The li'l pink blobs are roses, also important, those are the red and white tudor jobs marking the union of the red Lancastrian and white Yorkist halves of our sainted realm. Free history lesson with every game is football ... well we English have to do something with out time cos we totally suck at actually playing the darn game :o

[suitemichelle]

I know what soccer is, and I know that cricket is somewhat like our baseball only the bat is flat and it has some other bizarre rules, according to our perspective, but Mirelly or Babe, what is Rounders?

[Mirelly]

LOL Michelle. Rounders is the game on which baseball is ... er ... based. It's played with a soft ball and uses a round bat and the four bases, though I'm not sure about the pitching/hitting rules compared with baseball (not that I understand that too well though I do know about such stuff loaded bases and walking which are not part of rounders.

Cricket is just nuts and has nothing to do with anything except as an excuse for the English to wage friendly combat under the midday sun with our former colonies ... sadly the darn yanks declared independence before cricket became serious. Being a civilised game, cricket always stops for tea and village and pub teams are measured by the quality of the tea and cucumber sandwiches that are served by the players' lady-wives during the sainted interval between innings (chauvinism ain't yet dead in rural hingland :rolleyes: )

England are current holders of the Ashes (the cremated remains of English cricket following the country's first defeat by an Australian side way back when Victoria was queen. England and the Ozzies have been fighting it out over the ashes for over a century. As you can see from the pic, the trophy has to be most understated knick-knack ever created ;)

PS Who'll be watching the USA play Italy next Saturday? (I'll be cheering for the US if there's nothing better to do ;) ) http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/group/index.html

PPS It'll be a bummer for the US team if no-one from home is even bothering to watch and support their progress. USA soccer team is currently ranked 5th in the world and they have a good chance to progress far in this competition ... though being drawn into 2nd ranked Czechoslovakia's group is unfortunate http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/index/0,2548,All-May-2006,00.html

[babewithbrains_14]

WOOT! GO ENGLAND! WE WON! 1-0! YAY!

Beckham's fgree kick glanced off Gamarra's big shiny head :p! We still would have gotten it in though! There was 2 minutes injury time, and Owen was puilled off during the second half for Downing to replace him, but it was all good.

I hate football normally as well. There was an amazing pic of Beckham in the paper and so I nicked the front page of someones Mirror. But as I was getting into the car a biiig gust of wind blew it out of my hand and I had to run down the street for it in my heels. I didn't get it, and now I'm sad.

WOOT! GO ENGLAND!! We have a good team this year I thinks, even without Rooney. Do you agree, Mirelly?

[Mirelly]

Yay! Let's go football crazy. Beck's definitely scored that goal and Gerrard should never have been booked! That Mexican ref was a total nutter though I had to laff when he booked the Paraguayan goalie for holding the ball too long.

Sorry you lost your piccy of Becks. Here's one of him with the England Women's Team captain ... (he's the one on the right :p )

[Sacharissa]

I thought Beckham was playing for Spain or something like that...Or do players only play for their own country during the World Cup? (Please pardon my ingnorance...I am only a Yank, after all. However, I DID know about Playing for the Ashes - Does that get me any points?) :o

[Mirelly]

LOL Sacha. Beckham is English though he now plays for Madrid ... it's a professional sport so the highest bidder gets the players it wants. For example the west London club, Chelsea is owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich who has poured a fortune into winning some silverware. Beckham's former English club-side (pro football teams are always called "clubs") Manchester United is currently owned by billionaire US sports tycoon, Malcolm Glazer. Incidentally, Man United owns the USA's goalkeeper.

I'll give you a point for knowing about the ashes if you admit that we Brits also invented American football ... except that we call it Rugby and the players don't wear body armour ... just a little gaffer tape to hold their ears on. England holds the World Cup for that sport, too! :D (Way to go Johnny Wilkinson! :p)

[surprised_by_witches]

I am not into sports unless you count horseracing. In fact, one of my requirements for a husband was that he not be a sports fanatic. (He isn't. He knows less about them than I do!)

Wonder if I'd been raised in Jolly Old England I'd feel differently?

Is it required that you be a football fan to live in your country? :D

[hugzncuddles]

Wonder if I'd been raised in Jolly Old England I'd feel differently?

Is it required that you be a football fan to live in your country? :D

LOL.... well I've finally given up trying to NOT be a sports fan :p In the face of the sports channels on satellite tv and a fiance who is a sports fanatic, I just concede lol. After months of trying to wrestle the remote control from him, I give up LOL. Besides, he gets to watch sports, I get to have uninterrupted time online (often to just bug Josh :p ), so it's all good :D

My fiance travels a 300 miles round trip to watch his former home town's football team play (he has a season ticket in the best spot in the stadium). That said, I do have a soft spot now for his footie team, and I generally support England in the World Cup and other major competitions.

[Lynet]

Besides, he gets to watch sports, I get to have uninterrupted time online (often to just bug Josh :p ), so it's all good :DMy husband is a football fan--no particular team, just enjoys watching it. But that's when I can really concentrate on simming and Worldsims.

He has little interest in other sports so during the rest of the year my simming tends to occur late at night after he's gone to bed, which leaves me exhausted the next day, like today :yawn: *yawning.* It was a housecleaning weekend but I managed some late time, went to bed at 2 am and 1 am Saturday and Sunday night. I'm waiting for football to come back...

[hugzncuddles]

Hi Lynet :)

I know what you mean about simming when your husband is either in bed or watching football. For me though, I usually sim when he is working night shifts (he alternates sets of days and sets of nights). Come to think of it I haven't simmed for weeks, as a good buddy has gotten me addicted to Maplestory :D

My fiance loves to watch ANY football as well as his own team lol, so you can imagine how often I actually see the remote control hahaha. Lucky for him, I only have 3 shows that I watch - The Simpsons, Everybody Loves Raymond and LOST, and he dare not ask for the remote control when those shows are on :p

[Mirelly]

Just to avoid confusion, Soccer is pretty much a game for the boys in most parts of the world. But thanks to the internationalisation of the game there are now a large number of international competitions and in many regions support for the national team is much more widely based; people who would not dream of going to a stadium to watch a live match will lay in the drinks and snacks for the whole family to sit down and watch the game on TV. My mum, for instance, barely has a clue concerning the rules of the game but in the 1930s she used to attend matches with her younger brother (a true sports fan) presumably to keep him out of trouble :rolleyes: At 84 she still goes out of her way to tune in to watch England play and she does a pretty fair impression of a "mexican wave" when the score meets with her approval.

Being strictly cynical there are a great many different historical factors that caused the USA to develop its unique team sports ranging from the large distances between urban areas (where grass-roots support for team sport is nurtured) that hindered the development of competitive leagues to the advent of radio and television that forced a still undeveloped sporting infrastructure into a commercially viable (advertising friendly) format.

I suspect that soccer on mainstream TV in the US has little prospect of taking off as long as the game insists upon being played in two, unbroken 45 minute halves. There's no chance of that being changed in the foreseeable future, IMO. The game is as much a test of the stamina of a couple of dozen players -- combined with extremely limited options for substitution -- as it is one of physical skills and of the coach's inscrutable tactics (which are not easily altered once play has begun).

I suppose the nearest equivalent, in the US, to the game of soccer for much of the rest of the world is baseball.

Me? I have little interest in sport generally, but I love the whole flag-waving, jingoistic, xenophobia that goes with the World Cup. Had to chuckle this afternoon when I saw that the Czechs had demolished the USA by 3:0 (I watched 5 minutes of the game and then returned to simming ... yawn!)

[Chee-Z]

I'm going to freshman orientation at the University of Tennesee at Knoxville tomorrow through Wednesday. Huzzah! :D

[jupitershana]

Have fun Chee-z! I loved my freshman year of college...although sophomore year is and always will be my favorite year. Watch out for the freshman 15! LOL!

[alliekat]

Having just recently joined a basketball team, I'd like to go on record as saying I'm not a sports fan! I used to go to Aussie Rules a lot and I still look at where my teams at (doing very badly this season), but generally, I don't watch it. I watch Bathurst (V8 supercars) :checkeredflag: in October, because my partner watches every year and we make a big day of it.

Speaking soccer, the whole of Australia is excited this year cuz we're actually in the world cup which is something that hasn't happened in about 32 years. So I guess, Go Aussies!!!!!!:hyper:

[suitemichelle]

I'm going to freshman orientation at the University of Tennesee at Knoxville tomorrow through Wednesday. Huzzah! :D

Way to go Chee-z, Have so much fun, (but the mom in me says "not too much fun" and "leave the booze alone") ( bad mom! leave Chee-z alone)):o

[Chee-Z]

Day one and I'm already tired. :( Really long day of touring and seminars and placement testing and soooo much walking >_< I couldn't bear the thought of staying in the dorm after all that so I came home. :o The benefits of living in the same town as the university. :D

[AlisonSBurke]

Are Freshmans and Sophomores still going to school? Sorry, I'm a bit confused...

[jupitershana]

Are Freshmans and Sophomores still going to school? Sorry, I'm a bit confused...

In the USA, 9th grade of school is freshman, 10th sophomore, 11th, junior, 12th senior. Then you go to college and start all over again. 1st year, college freshman, 2nd year, college sophomore...and so on...

And Chee-z...stay in the dorms! Trust me, college is just that much more fun with it. I was nervous as all get out to do it my first year, but I thank heavens that I did. The sense of community is so amazing. It really is a major part of the college experience. You'll thank me in the long run, believe me.

[Mirelly]

I second Shana's advice. The best part of the whole uni experience is getting away from parental supervision :D

Incidentally it's interesting to see the international differences here.

In the UK University bachelor degree courses typically last for 3 years (the first is called the freshman (fresher) year ... the last is is called the final year. No one bothers to name the the second year except to call it the second year :o In the UK the academic year is broken into 3 separate terms of 10-12 weeks each. The first term starting at the beginning of October. This allows for 3-4 week breaks at Christmas and Easter plus a longer summer break of 3 months.

Seems rather grim to me that college in the US starts immediately after school is out. Or are the US academic calendars more varied than that?

[jupitershana]

I had a summer off. I think Chee-z is going through a orientation...normally a week long time where you get to know your future campus, lots of big meetings and stuff. You get to meet your advisors and what not. Mine started the week before college actually started.

Chee-z, are you taking summer classes? Or is this just a get-to-know the campus kind of a time?

[babewithbrains_14]

Parents evening at school tonight. Was not good. My mum is really disappointed in me. The teachers said I was too chatty and I'm not pushing myself in class enough.

When we got out of school mum said that what was the use in the past 12 years of glowing reports at school if I'm just going to throw it away now? But I would have been the way I am now then if I wasn't getting the crap bullied out of me everyday. I kept my head down and didn't speak to anyone because I knew I'd just get called. I know I've not been working as hard, and I feel like crap now.

It's all your fault! ;) if you wasn't here then I'd concentrate more on coursework. :p

[Lynet]

This forum is certainly keeping me from concentrating on my work (like right now.) :o But, Babe, I think a lot of it has to do with your age. What is it now, 15? Life is so exciting, right? How can you stand doing any homework at all!

Oh, *sigh*, to be 15 again.

[jupitershana]

This forum is certainly keeping me from concentrating on my work (like right now.) :o But, Babe, I think a lot of it has to do with your age. What is it now, 15? Life is so exciting, right? How can you stand doing any homework at all!

Oh, *sigh*, to be 15 again.

I second that, I don't think I was too focused at age 15 either! It's the age when you can finally start going out with your friends on your own more often, without supervision, boys get more exciting, your social life is just developing!

Honestly I think developing a good social background and common sense with the life experience is just as valuable as the academic part of life. It will make you a more well rounded person.

I do hope for your sake though babe that the bullying stops soon. Young teenagers can be so cruel in school. I suffered through it as well. I sympathize with you.

[babewithbrains_14]

Ooh, it stopped ages ago Shana. This year has been great - I've got proper friends now. And I agree with the boys thing ;).

There's this guy at school who's from the Philipines... he seems to have liked me for ages but he's really shy. About three weeks ago all he ever did when he spoke to me was hint that he wanted to go to prom with me. I think he's kinda okay, and I thought that if he did ask I would say yes. BUt he never speaks to me in school, and we never speak outside of school, unless he's on msn. But the other day I said hi to him and he completely blanked me so I had a go at him, and then on the way home on the bus he txt me saying sorry for ignoring me and he called me both babes and hun in the message, and all my firends started taking the mick (they all think we suit) and I txt him back but - does he reply? No! I can txt him and he'll reply and I'll txt back but he doesn't always reply. So I've decided I don't want anything to do with him, unless he talks to me in the next week. I meam, shy is understandable, but it's been a year since I suspected he liked me!

For grr's sake! Ah well. I ave some good news - and this is kinda hinting at the good news... I may start a new Sim Story. If you pay attention (like I should do in class) you'll get what I'm on about.

I went to science revision class after school - I learned stuff and the lil lightbulb flicked on in my head. It's just that it's one of those energy saving one's - it takes a little longer to get going.

[jupitershana]

I learned stuff and the lil lightbulb flicked on in my head. It's just that it's one of those energy saving one's - it takes a little longer to get going.

ROTFL. That has to be one of the funniest lines I've EVER heard!

And did you get a new computer?!?! Yay! What's it like?

And I'm glad that the bullying isn't going on anymore. That always sucks. And that boy needs to grow some and talk to you! ;)

[babewithbrains_14]

Yaya!!! My new computer is fabOlous! It's got a brand new graphics card and everything, and like 140 wotsits of RAM, and when I played my sims for the first time I wasn't really concentrating, just looking into space, and the EA thing just went boof onto my screen and I went WOW!!!! I get videos when suff happens now - it's like watching a widescreen DVD!

Only problem is I can't find my NL box - I've got the disc, but I'm gonna have to search my house for the code thing. But yaya!!!!

Mum says we can now get broadband. There are still a few programs that need loading on. I have a question, actually. Is there a way of tranfserring data from one computer to another, like pictures and music? I don't have any net, to send stuff like that, but that would take ages anyway - I have so many photos'! I can't put the stuff on discs - remember, my laptop drive has decided it doesn't luff me anymore. Is there any sort of way to do that like with a USB cord or anything?

[Mirelly]

Italy 1 - USA 1

I know youse guys think a draw is pointless, but this is an ongoing result. Way to go, guys! Why arencha y'all supporting them.

Still a few minutes to go ... http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853182.stm

[Flameback777]

Mum says we can now get broadband. There are still a few programs that need loading on. I have a question, actually. Is there a way of tranfserring data from one computer to another, like pictures and music? I don't have any net, to send stuff like that, but that would take ages anyway - I have so many photos'! I can't put the stuff on discs - remember, my laptop drive has decided it doesn't luff me anymore. Is there any sort of way to do that like with a USB cord or anything?
A ethernet cable (5e) would work as long as both computers have a port for it. Remember if you're linking both computers without a hub between them, you'll need a crossover cable. (This won't be a 5e cable anymore)

Simply ask a guy at the local computer shop for a crossover cable that will be long enough for reach both computers.

[ManagerJosh]

Since you are going to be getting broadband internet already, just get a nice wifi router and it will also serve as a switch/hub :)

[surprised_by_witches]

What's new with me is I'm at the parental home for the weekend. Drove here with my younger brother and his wife and child. Witch Baby's here too. Her daddy had to work.

We were going to stay through Monday but my brother's dog is driving Witch Baby's daddy insane. She's been howling for three days for her family. She's never done that before, and we're all afraid she's going to plotz, so we're going home today.

Which should be a nice father's day surprise for my hubby. We've never been apart this long, and I miss him!

Finally managed to figure out the parental computer so I could log on and post. Lynet's pix look a bit fuzzy, my graphics card is better ha ha ha. But they've got a slicker monitor. My dad's always been a bit of a techo-phile.

Lynet, my Mom says your castle's very impressive. My sister in law thought so too. :)

[Lynet]

Aww, thanks. I'm really wishing it hadn't crashed but sometimes that happens when you dream big. :p So I decided that Harcourt 'sploded it.

I'm sure a lot of readers here don't bother with Ironsides (or I,Sim) but if you don't want to read the story you should stop by just to look at the pictures. I aims for DRAMA, PATHOS, ACTION in my pictures. My sims do not lead ordinary sim lives, poor little wretches.

OK, shameless plug over. Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there. Now, go get a hamburger off the grill and relax with the funny papers. ;)

[suitemichelle]

I got so excited watching the chech game I forgot to watch the italy/usa game... but even with the tie there's still a chance to move to round two.

what is that 3 and a half minute thingy at the end of the 90 minutes? I don't understand that


and what constitutes an offside kick?

[hugzncuddles]

what is that 3 and a half minute thingy at the end of the 90 minutes? I don't understand that


and what constitutes an offside kick?

Ok, from what I understand of the rules of the game etc (which is relatively little :p) an offside kick happens when a player kicks the ball to a fellow player, who has broken the rule of having at least 2 players from the opposing team between him and the goalpost.

So, player A kicks to player B but player B (at the time of the kick) has only the goalkeeper (or if not the goalkeeper, another player from the goalkeeper's team) between himself and the net.

The three and a half minute thingy after the 90 minutes is referred to as 'stoppage' time - ie when a player is injured and play stops while they are tended to, or if there is another reason for stopping play temporarily, then that time is added on at the end of that half of the match. The 'stoppage time' varies from match to match according to the amount of stoppage time racked up.

I hope this makes sense lol, and I hope I have interpreted your questions correctly. :)

And if I am wrong about these, someone please correct me lol! :D

[suitemichelle]

No that's a great explanation... makes sense to me. thanks

[AlisonSBurke]

So, what's new...
Well, I found out that the computer I'm using is in serious need of replacement, but my Mum or Dad will only let me get a laptop (hopefully...) because they can Salary Sacrifice (something to do with working for the government) the laptop and get it a bit cheaper.
So I did a bit of researching, and told them that it would be cheaper to buy a desktop computer of the same quality compared to a laptop with the Salary Sacrifice. Sorry if that sounded confusing.
So... I don't think I'm getting a new computer after all, although Dad's offered to take my computer apart and check it :eek: :eek: :eek: Uh, no thanks Dad...
So yeah, a bit dissapointing, but hey, at least no more school for four weeks. No report yet, though I know I got a C for Lvl 1 Maths... Oh well, I passed.
What's everyone else been up to?

[hugzncuddles]

Hi Alison :)

Congrats on passing the maths! Maths is truly ebil (yep, eBil lol). Sorry about the computer, though I can understand mum and dad wanting to do the Salary Sacrifice. If you do get a laptop though, just think that you can take it anytime, anywhere, and do simming ;) Catch my drift? If your dad is willing to check out the computer though, maybe you can squeeze an upgrade out of him :p like extra RAM or something lol.

Well, the highlight of my day so far has been running up and down stairs like a yoyo because the phone has never stopped ringing! Guess why? The medical centre just up the road has changed its phone number and left a message for anyone ringing them. Except, their new phone number is just ONE digit different from mine, and it's like xxxaab, and people are phoning xxxabb (which is mine). GAH! The medical centre's answerphone with the new number for patients doesn't make the new number clear enough, so I'm getting all the calls. Doesn't bother me that much as it will wear off, but today my fiance was sleeping off a night shift and the phone has been ringing all day. He looks worn out, bless him.

It's beautiful here today, very bright and sunny but not too warm. Just right lol! Had 2 migraines in the last 3 days, so I'm hoping the weather will make its mind up and stay either cold/cloudy or sunny/warm. Can't be doing with the changes in air pressure all the time LOL.

[jupitershana]

I've been interview for new jobs lately. Two jobs interviewed for, one wants me to come back in for a 3rd interview, and the 2nd job I'll hear back on Monday. I don't know if I'll accept either one of them though. The first job is only about 2 grand more a year than what I'm making, so I'm not sure if it will make a difference with having to switch jobs, starting over with insurance and all that...but it is closer to home. The other one would be closer to 5-6 grand more than what I currently make...which would be great, BUT...it would be almost an hour communte because it's on the other side of Minneapolis from me. The hours are 8-5, currently I work 8:30-5, with a 20 minute commute. So I'd be basically out of the house from 7am-6pm...I don't know if I could handle that. I would love this job if it was closer! I have to call back on the 3rd interview today and let him know if I want to come in for it or not...I'm thinking I'm going to say thanks but no thanks, unless they can offer me another couple thousand. Arg...job searching is frusterating.

[Lynet]

Looking for a job is dreadful. I always hated it. Good luck with it, Shana. I hope you get the one you want. :)

[jupitershana]

Looking for a job is dreadful. I always hated it. Good luck with it, Shana. I hope you get the one you want. :)

Thanks! I'm not in too much of a rush. I do like my job, but I'm making less than 30,000 a year right now...and they just laid off some people. I'm kind of concerned about the security of my position.

I'm thinking I'm pretty marketable, and I've never had a problem with interviews. I actually enjoy doing the interviews, it's the deciding to "take the plunge" into a new situation I don't like. I'm very comfortable with my job duties now, but there isn't much hope for a raise anytime in the future.

I'd like to make a little more so that Brandon can choose to get a security job instead of working at the factory. He's not happy where he is, but we need his income to stay at its current level to pay our bills. I feel terrible about it and want to give him the option to follow his dream. He's going to school right now to be a police officer. Plus when he goes to apply for a police officer position it will just look that much better to have a position as some sort of security officer or something in that field on his resume.

Of course we could make it if he wanted to switch right now to a lower paying job, but we wouldn't be able to afford ANYTHING extra. Right now we can go to the movies and dinner and not have to worry. I'd hate to have to live that way. So I'd like a job making around 35 a year. The first one I mentioned, their top pay is 32 to start. The one with the long commute I could make around 35 to start. But I don't feel the right spark with either of those jobs.

*sigh* I just want to win the lottery! It would make things so much easier!

[alliekat]

I keep checking each week to see if I win. Then I realise I actually have to buy a ticket first :o . The amount of muney you can spend on lottery tickets could add up to heaps by the end of the year if you put it in a piggy bank rather than Mr. Tattersall's pockets.

[jupitershana]

I keep checking each week to see if I win. Then I realise I actually have to buy a ticket first :o . The amount of muney you can spend on lottery tickets could add up to heaps by the end of the year if you put it in a piggy bank rather than Mr. Tattersall's pockets.

LOL, so true, so true...We don't really buy lottery tickets either, but every once in a while we'll buy a scratch off ticket for 5 bucks. Most we've won is $80.00 off those. Not enough to retire on!

[sugar_junkie]

wow, its been ages since i've posted in here
so whats new?
TONS
but i met saaaam!!
-jumps up and down and screams-
:D
he made my year :)

[hugzncuddles]

wow, its been ages since i've posted in here
so whats new?
TONS
but i met saaaam!!
-jumps up and down and screams-
:D
he made my year :)

LOL sugar! :D Nice to see you again :p I know you had a great time meeting him, and hopefully you can both make it happen again. :) So tell us more about what you've been up to :D

[AlisonSBurke]

Arg...job searching is frusterating.
LOL, tell me about it. I've decided to get a job in the holidays (saving up for that computer ;) ) but I'm not sure what to put on my resume, and everyone takes one look at me and asks me how old I am. Seriously, the first thing my classmates said were "Hi, have you just started highschool?" I politely told them that I was in YR 10, much to their embarrassment (hehe). I'm afraid that the supermarket manager will give the job to someone older. And I'm not even sure I want to get a job there, even though it's near. My friend and her twin sister both applied for a job there, but her sister got it, perhaps because my friend has a hearing aid :(

Hello Hugzncuddles :)

[person123]

Oh boy, 2000+ posts! We have a true Worldsims Master in the building, folks.

Of course, besides SBW, Lynet, Mirelly, etc. :rolleyes:

[hugzncuddles]

Hey Alison :) Please call me Hugz ;) How are you?

Awww, I'm sure it wasn't because your friend had a hearing aid, well, I would hope not anyway. Isn't there a law about Anti-Discriminatory Practice in Australia? Keep looking for that summer job, and on your resume be sure to play on all your strengths. Use those buzz words that all employers like to hear. Focus on all your skills and qualitities that match the job you're applying for. :)

[sugar_junkie]

haha i've been doing plays, exams, joined rugby, hate my new school, met sam ( have i mentioned that already? :D) uhm...yeah that sums up my life over the last year or so.lol

oh and letting my account build up cobwebs here.
:D
seems i'm pretty good at doing that lol.

[alliekat]

Yes there are anti-discrimination laws in Oz. By the way Alison, employers love jnr workers cuz they don't have to pay them as much. Hang in there and keep trying. Keep us updated too! :D

Edited to say: Um Hugz, it's kinda the wrong hemipshere for summer holidays! Just thought I'd let you know :p

[hugzncuddles]

Edited to say: Um Hugz, it's kinda the wrong hemipshere for summer holidays! Just thought I'd let you know :p

ROFL! Doh, what was I thinking :p Of course it's winter down under - I put my mistake down to my migraine....uhhh yeah...that's it. :p Brain melt moment lol.

[AlisonSBurke]

Okay, this is what I have so far for my resume, but it sounds really stupid and it looks childish. Any suggestions?

Words that have * and * are bold.


----------------- (centred)----------*Resume: Alison Burke*

*Personal Information*

DOB: 31/5/1991
Name: Alison S Burke

## Example Crescent Suburb #### (postcode)
Home: (##) #### ####
Mobile: ##########

*Education*

Example Highschool Year 10

*Referrals*

Marissa Bendett :p
## Example Drive Suburb #### (postcode)
Home: (##) ########
Mobile: ##########

Mortimer Goth :p
Care of Googleplex CEC
Home: (##) #### ####
Mobile: ##########




(NEXT PAGE)




*Achievements*

Certificate of High Achievement (Example High School) 2006
Student ID: #########
(##) #### ####

Leadership Course Achievement (Scouts Australia) 2001
(##) #### ####

Certificate of Senior First Aid 2002
Trainer: Abhijeet Deppiesse :P

Citizenship Award (Example Area School) 2003
(##) #### ####

Westpac Maths Certificate of Distinction 2003
Australian Mathematics Trust

[Mirelly]

Don't put yourself down, Alison. If those are examples of your achievements then I'd say it was terrific CV for a teenager. No-one is expecting to see evidence of college degrees and multi-national corporation directorships ... or Nobel prizes won ... just academic competence and evidence of responsibility and sociability.

[alliekat]

Not really advice, but you are not required to put your DOB on a resume, nor are employers supposed to ask. Although if you want to it is entirely up to you.

[alphaspot]

Nothin much has happened to me much today, i am only starting to write a book.I posted a thread about it for book help stuff.

[AlisonSBurke]

I've started saving for that new computer. Only $2,778 to go ;)

[Lynet]

I hope it doesn't take too long, Alison. That's a lotta dough.

Is WorldSims really cooking these days? I've noticed a lot of faces (uh...avatars) I hadn't noticed before. Or have I just been too self-absorbed. :o Or maybe it's the summertime-schools out--let's party over at WorldSims group?

Just wondering. Pay no attention.

[jupitershana]

I hope it doesn't take too long, Alison. That's a lotta dough.

Is WorldSims really cooking these days? I've noticed a lot of faces (uh...avatars) I hadn't noticed before. Or have I just been too self-absorbed. :o Or maybe it's the summertime-schools out--let's party over at WorldSims group?

Just wondering. Pay no attention.


I've noticed this too...seems to coorespond with a LOT of old threads being resurfaced and questions being reposted that have recently been asked...search the threads people, search the threads.

Arg...sorry, I'm just kind of bitter today. We're swamped at work, and my co-workers decided they weren't hungry at their scheduled lunch time and waited 45 minutes to go on theirs, meaning mine is pushed back. So instead of going at 12:30 like normal I have to wait till closer to 1:30...doesn't sound like much, but I'm hungry enough at 12:30! Darn people!

[surprised_by_witches]

That seems unfair. If they don't want their lunch hour, can you take it?

I've noticed that too but didn't want to sound like the wicked witch of the west by saying it. Some people strike me as more than a little lazy, and coming from me that's saying something. :p Edited to say: I'm not calling you a witch! Just thanking you for saying what I was thinking ...

But maybe they're just not used to being on a forum. This is my first (and foremost) site and I know I was pretty stupid at first too. And it is good to get new members. That's how a site stays alive.

I've got to go grocery shopping when I get off work today. Not such a big deal. The stores aren't that crowded in the early afternoon. It's weird but I'm looking forward to doing something useful.

I've been feeling really weird lately, like my life is disjointed. I think it's because I work part time at a job that doesn't give me much satisfaction. I like to be busy, and I'm not. And I don't get paid if I'm not busy. So I have to find ways to be busy, in between catching up here. Catch-22.

Time to pound the pavement yet again, methinks. My husband's cafe is hiring but we don't want to put all our eggs in one basket.

However, a job doing something that actually helps people--in this case, feeds them--might be a lot more satisfactory than what I'm doing right now.

It's very tempting.

[Lynet]

I've been in this job 9 years and it's so boring I can barely stand coming to work in the morning. Bad, because there's plenty to do, even if it's as tedious as all heck.

So I should look for a new job, too. But I hate job hunting and interviewing. It's way too depressing. And besides, there's nothing wrong with the people here. They're probably nicer than any other group I've worked with.

Anyway, I sign onto Worldsims for a few minutes, frequently, to be renewed. ;)

[jupitershana]

Unfortunately I can't take the others lunches, because they "will go in just a few minutes" And they are my seniors so I can't say anything


I've noticed that too but didn't want to sound like the wicked witch of the west by saying it. Some people strike me as more than a little lazy, and coming from me that's saying something. :p Edited to say: I'm not calling you a witch! Just thanking you for saying what I was thinking ...


LOL, I didn't think you were calling me a witch! I figured others were feeling the same as me. I've been so tempted to post a couple times to some of the newbies...such as, "Don't resurrect dead threads just to say 'I don't understand' or 'I think that's funny!' In fact, don't resurrect them at all, if it's that important than start a new thread!!!!"

Can you tell I'm a bit frustrated with it. I hope I'm not scaring any newbies off who have good intentions...I'm just kind of grumpy today. I need a new job and a boyfriend who will get off his rump and propose...seriously, he's had a down payment on a $750.00 ring since January...He has the money, what's wrong with the man!

*shakes her head* whoa, that was a tangent, sorry. Getting impatient with the man.

[Lynet]

I think guys are content with status quo. Eventually I told my guy that I was going to buy a house. Did he want in on it? So we looked at houses together. We bought one together. Then he proposed before moving day. :D We married the same week we moved in. Kind of hectic. (p.s. my 3rd wedding anniversary is August 7)

As for the newbies to the forum, I think it's partly because they get so excited they post everywhere. Maybe they don't know that digging up old threads is a faux pas.

My only concern is that several of them want the oldtimers here to tell them all the secrets of the game RIGHT NOW. I would only say: Play the game, folks! Learning on your own is all the fun. Then see if you can tell the oldies something they didn't know before ('though a search of the forum is a good idea before you do that :rolleyes: .)

[surprised_by_witches]

Lynet's right. Just play for a while. Witch Baby has figured out a lot of things before I did, and she's 8.

We probably do sound like a bunch of grouches, so I hope no one takes it too personally.

As mentioned, I'm feeling kinda weird lately. Job related stress. My job is soooo weird. I work on a document and put it away for months and then BAM! I'm expected to update it and remember what the **** it was about and sound intelligent discussing the widgets and gromits it describes. And then the rest of the time I sit around trying to think of something productive to do. :mad:

I think Lynet's right about the status quo, Shana. My brother lived with his wife for nine years before he finally proposed. Not that I'm saying you should put up with that. Just saying.

I assume you've already told him how you feel. Every guy is different, so I'm not sure what to tell you, but I suspect you were just venting anyway.

[AlisonSBurke]

I remember when I firt joined, I was like "WOW!" and I started resurrecting old threads as fast as I could! And then Kristalrose caught me and told me off. :rolleyes: ;)

[Lynet]

Can't imagine Kristalrose yelling at anyone ;) .

SBW, do you think we all might have a touch of the wanderlust? My feet are itching. I'm restless. I want to do something different, not go to that same stupid desk :crowded: to do the same stupid tedium tomorrow :crazy:.

I'd also like to finish Errol's story but there's quite a bit to do. And I want to finish Pharaoh's story. There's quite a bit to do with that, too.

And I want to go to San Francisco. :yes: And Minneapolis. And Vancouver (no particular reason--just a neat name to that city.)

And finally, I want to get an avatar without hair on the face. :D

[person123]

I want to read the sequel of this book I recently read and LOVED, but it's coming out in September...this summer will be long and hard.

[surprised_by_witches]

Try to think of something else.

What book is it?

[jupitershana]

I think Lynet's right about the status quo, Shana. My brother lived with his wife for nine years before he finally proposed. Not that I'm saying you should put up with that. Just saying.

I assume you've already told him how you feel. Every guy is different, so I'm not sure what to tell you, but I suspect you were just venting anyway.

Oh, he knows how I feel. I was just venting. Part of my reason for venting is that I refuse to actually plan the wedding until he's officially proposed. I'd feel funny going in and trying on wedding dresses and having people ask me, "how did he propose?" "Propose? He hasn't yet." Seriously! LOL, that would be kind of funny though.

We've already set the date, January 25th, 2008, or possibly the weekend after that or the Friday before. Depending on budget and stuff. And I look through bridal magazines, but nothing more. I'm being stubborn, and I want to start doing the actual planning, I'd like at least a year 1/2 to plan this thing, and he can't get off his rump and propose....grrr....stupid men and their own agendas! Don't they realize that it takes a while to plan a wedding!

ARG! Okay, calm down... :gnasher: :banghead::headache: :crazy::scared: :relieved: much better...

Hehe, sorry about using you all as my venting block here. I can't vent to him about it! That might scare him off.

[surprised_by_witches]

Vent away, dahling. That's what we're here for.

I got engaged at the end of March and was married that August. So, don't hit me, but I'm just saying it doesn't always have to take a long time to plan a wedding.

Granted, ours was simple. And we both worked on it, so that helped too. Put that boy to work, is what I say. He may as well get used to it now.

My baby sister's getting married next month. Guess I'd better buy a dress. :p

[Mirelly]

LOL ... I thought you were doing a Zsa-Zsa Gabor, SBW ... "went away" ... that's what happens when I click a pile new post links and read the newest first ...

Shana, if I'm any judge (and I'm no expert) your bloke might be labouring under the misapprehension that he has proposed if you have been so rash as to discuss a date. Though now I think about it there's the not so small matter of a ring that was mentioned .... Forget everyhting I jus' sed .... I think the man needs a hint upside the head :sly:

[jupitershana]

Shana, if I'm any judge (and I'm no expert) your bloke might be labouring under the misapprehension that he has proposed if you have been so rash as to discuss a date. Though now I think about it there's the not so small matter of a ring that was mentioned .... Forget everyhting I jus' sed .... I think the man needs a hint upside the head :sly:

LOL, if only it was that easy. He's told me he has the proposal all planned out, so I know he knows! He just hasn't done it.

And yeah SBW, I realize that it can be done quicker, and I'm organized enough to do it in a shorter amount of time, I'd would just like to have the longer time to plan it, really check out all our options as we are going to have a small budget. His mom just claimed bankrupcy and my parents, even though they have loads of money, are cheap. And Brandon and I? Well...we're just poor because we buy a new computer and a car! Hehe...so yeah, just want a long time to really spend my time looking at the options.

I'd also love to put him to work on it, but realistically he doesn't have the time like I do. He works full time at night, goes to school (by the time we're planning the wedding he'll be doing 6 hours a day M-F for school), is a volunteer reserve police officer, and has to please me!

I just work full time.

[person123]

Oh gosh...all this talk of proposals and marriages certainly doesn't get me in any hurry to grow up. :o

The book is called Twilight, and the next book is New Moon, by Stephenie Meyer. It is FANTASTIC.

[Lynet]

For sure, 123. No need to rush into all of that. Plenty of time.

To change the subject, I've been enjoying all the wild animal life around my yard. It's not a big yard but there's patch of woods behind the house. This morning there were two little baby deer and their mother. The babies are so cute. I ran to get my camera but the battery is dead. :( Maybe I'll remember to buy another battery before those babies grow up. (Edited to add: Another recent morning I found three big guys with antlers standing on the driveway, munching at leaves on the cherry trees.)

We also have an extremely busy, hardworking chipmunk who runs back and forth past the sliding glass doors to the kitchen. We eat all our meals at the kitchen table there. The chipmunk has at least three entrances (holes in the lawn) to his underground home in our yard, all three close to the house.

The robins work hard, too. There's an army of those birds living in the woods and a lot of them spend all day scouting for bugs in our yard. There are also cardinals, woodpeckers, sparrows and so many other birds that sunrise sounds like a jungle.

Hard to believe how close we are to the city. I can here the roar of the Baltimore beltway which is a mile away.

[surprised_by_witches]

I live right smack in the heart of Minneapolis, but only blocks from the Mississippi, so we get some wildlife, but nothing like what you've got. Your yard sounds like my parents', and they live way out in the middle of nowhere.

I saw a raccoon once, facing down a poodle who was too stupid to know he was way out of his league. The poodle's owner turned the hose on the raccoon to chase it away.

We had a wild turkey walk down the middle of our street in broad daylight one time. That was weird. My husband said it was a lost tourist and we made jokes about it wearing lederhosen and asking "wo ist der bahnhof?"

We had one rosebreasted grosbeak and a cedar waxwing one time. Occasionally we get a flicker or another type of woodpecker, but otherwise it's city birds for us. Though for some reason our street is a haven for cardinals, so we get tons of those. We must have ten or twelve mating pairs on my end of the block alone.

Every year a robin makes her nest on our front porch, just under the eaves, and for the past two years she's been joined by a mourning dove.

And of course we have tons of rabbits and squirrels.

It's amazing how many species can adapt to living in the city. Granted, you might mistake our neighborhood for a small town if you didn't know better, with its shaded streets and older homes, but it is right next to downtown.

[Lynet]

I wonder sometimes if most people really notice all the animals in the city, other than the rats and pigeons. I lived in the city for many years. Saw a raccoon once, and even a fox. :shocked: Lots of squirrels, of course. Downtown Baltimore is really noisy just after the sun sets because huge numbers of starlings gather along every ledge on every building. I think some falcons have made a nest on the top ledge of one of the very tall buildings. The falcons feed on the pigeons. Occasionally the newspaper talks about it, usually when baby falcons hatch.

Oops, lunch over. Back to work. :o

[suitemichelle]

out here you see the usual possums along the freeway, along with an occasion cyote (I can't spell for beans this morning) but we have perigrin falcons, redtailed hawks, eagles. and a huge number of smaller birds. and you don't want to tangle with the raccoons. they get biiiiigg.

[Lynet]

LOL, Michelle. I didn't know it was a raccoon at first when I saw the big round shadow moving across the blinds late one night. 'Bout scared me to death. When the shadow moved away I took a peek and saw the raccoon lumbering along the top of the brick wall around the yard (tiny city yard.) The street lamp had made his shadow a whole lot bigger than he was. :o

But I'm sure your raccoons are WAY bigger. :eek:

Oh. Mirelly, that is a fantastic avatar. Whoa! Bet you had fun taking THAT picture.

[Mirelly]

Can't you tell? ;) Blow a raspberry into my neck and I'll follow you anywhere ... well maybe not you personally ... oh heck! I was happy when I took that picture this morning then this afternoon came and in the space of an hour I watched my nationalist fervour get rained all over as first the team captain hobbled off with a foot injury followed quickly by the team's main striker who was sent off for stamping on the crotch of an enemy (ur scratch that :o ) I meant to say opposing team player. As a punishment, it seemed a trifle harsh to me ... although deliciously ironic ... you gotta have a lot of cojones to stamp on the family jewels of a Portuguese defender. After that it was all downhill. I shall shortly be applying for citizenship of a country that has a outside chance of winning the World Cup as soon as I can whittle down the shortlist a little. At the moment I have a choice of every nation on the planet except England :mad:

[person123]

Hehe, nice avatar, Mirelly.

[hugzncuddles]

Yesterday we had an awful thunder/lightning storm in our area, and I know that some of my other friends in the UK had storms too. Well, today I just read that there were 2 teens struck by lightning in my area - one is seriously ill in the burns unit. Several buildings were also struck by lightning. It's just horrible! Yesterday we saw fork lightning and extremely loud thunderclaps and bangs. Of course, I was hiding and wailing like a baby.... it doesn't surprise me though about the teens and the buildings being struck. It was one of the worst storms I have seen here for a long time.

[surprised_by_witches]

Yikes!!! :eek: Glad you're OK.

This weather has been GREAT for my flowers. Here are some pictures. I'm not sure why they turn out so *** dinky, sorry.

[Mirelly]

More storms forecast here for tonight and tomorrow :eek:

Nice flowers SB ... I lurv water-lilies ... haven't had a garden with a pond for years ... maybe I'll dig one out ... should be good exercise if nothing else.

[AlisonSBurke]

Yeah, I love the pond SBW. I tried to make one on the island we used to live on, with a shovel and a bit of tarp. Mum was not happy, I can tell you.

A bit of bad news, a 6 year old girl was run down and killed on the island I used to live on, which will be devastating for the community. We don't know the family though, we moved from there a long time ago, but all our friends are pretty shocked.

And a bit of good news, I might be doing a student exchange in 2008.

Weather at the moment is hot, hot, and humid. Not a cloud in the sky...

[vannmarie]

I joined this Forum in case anyone can help me. I just installed an expansion pack and in the process lost my original SIMS. Does anyone know where I can get a free download for it??? Thanks!

[surprised_by_witches]

Sorry, that's illegal. We can't help you. If you still have the box you can contact EA for a replacement disk, which would be cheaper than buying it outright.

Otherwise, you're going to have to buy a new one.

[surprised_by_witches]

So what's new with me is my car is falling apart. We drove "up north" last weekend and the tailpipe fell off. Fortunately, it broke down right in front of a house owned by a lot of guys who were interested in cars. It was like a clown car, only a house: this little tiny house and no less than 6 or 7 men spilled out of it, willing to give us a hand.

They hooked it back up and we held it on with baling wire, which is how it is right now. It's "ahem" a bit noisy. :D

It's still a good car, it's just getting old. You can drive a Honda forever, and believe me, I'm trying. I've had this car for 14 years.

We made it home in one piece. I even drove to a meeting today. Tomorrow the car goes to the "car doctor."

It's always something. :rolleyes:

[person123]

Yesterday there was an awesome storm...way to celebrate July 4th. Our cable line fell down into the street and we lost the internet for about a day...not cool.

Did I mention it on the forums yet? If not...I lost all my sims files. Normally I wouldn't care that much, because, hey, I get a fresh start with all the pre-made sims and such, and I can work harder at keeping my Downloads folder below 500 MB full...but then I've been working on my Zephyr Family Legacy for more than four months now. :(

[surprised_by_witches]

Oh noooo!!! I love your Zephyr family. That's terrible. :(

I'm going to invest in a jump drive soon. PDL is just