Video clip of the week: Verich is electrocuted by that stereo, and taken away by Death.

Darn that stereo! They should stop trying to fix it, srsly.

Inspired by the fun I’ve been having with the Splines, once Verich kicked the bucket I decided that it was time for Wingdings to grow up and move out on her own.

The color schemes that come with furnished houses are just frightening! And yet, somehow evocative of the 1980s theme I had decided to develop for her.

Per which, I found a shirt-dress belted at the hips, and gave it a zebra print. I also dressed her in spike-heeled ankle boots, bangle bracelets, big circle earrings, and lots and lots of makeup. This gave me such joy!

My only sadness was in not finding a decent 1980s hairstyle. I started with giving her fuchsia hair…

But it was clashing with some of the other decor choices.

And even after I remodeled the kitchen, the fuchsia clashed with the pink scrubs she wore to work.

(I think of this as the Brett Easton Ellis kitchen. Blue tone-on-tone pinstripe, candy apple red accents, and butcher block counter tops. Look at that subtle, off-white coloring. Oh, and a decorative chainsaw.)

At about this time, Wingdings had one of those mysterious middle-of-the-night wishes to “Greet Pablo with Friendly Greeting.”

Who is Pablo? I do not know.

In her spare moments I sent her out on the town, looking for Pablo. She didn’t find him, although she often encountered her brother Wesley at the park.

(Everybody’s always looking for [Pablo]…*)

Meanwhile she was going to need to get married eventually. So I also had her do the thing where I make them walk around asking everyone they meet if they are single.

This is Cortney. She and Wingdings hit it off moderately well, and even flirted autonomously (without my intervention). But after Wingdings left, she didn’t spare a thought for Cortney. I usually figure this means my Sim isn’t really all that into him-or-her.

Pool party! This was a desperate attempt to meet Pablo. Wingdings doesn’t know a Pablo, but perhaps one of her guests will bring him to the party?

No luck on the Pablo front. Everyone had a nice time, though. I didn’t drown any of them! It was a good day all around.

Then one night the doorbell rings. This is rare, a random Sim just walking up and ringing the bell. I was intrigued to find Cortney standing on Wingdings’ doorstep.

Wingdings was intrigued, too! She and Cortney flirted for a while in the entryway. Then Cortney pleaded hunger, and ran home. Annoying!

More annoying: forever after, whenever I have Wingdings call to invite her over, first she would say “Sure, I’ll be there soon.” Then a few seconds later she’d say “Sorry, something came up, I can’t.”

I don’t know what the deal is with that. I even used “resetsim,” but she’s still refusing to come over. WHATEVER DRAMA QUEEN CALL HER WHEN YOU GIVE A DAMN.

Wingdings was too busy to really care much. I put her on the medical track, having given her a Lifetime Wish to hit level 10 Medical. She spent a lot of time studying, and working.

And even on her off hours, she would find herself attending to medical emergencies. Like this dude, who apparently was suddenly inflicted with a wicked tummy ache one evening as Wingdings cruised the park looking for Pablo.

(Note: I just realized it looks like he’s pooped something out. That’s actually a collectible seed lying on the ground behind him.)

She scanned him with a variety of devices she pulled out of her pocket.

And finally prescribed a GIANT pill.

(He took it orally, in case you were wondering.)

And then she went home and studied some more.

I spent a lot of time contemplating her decor while she was working or studying. I call her bedroom decor “Laura Ashley Mauve.”

And then – miracle of miracles – she hit Level 10 AND I was fast enough with the C key to catch her getting her Lifetime Wish reward!

After she had climbed to the top of her career – World Renowned Surgeon – and her lifetime wish had been fulfilled, she went home and just… stared out the window.

Maybe she’s thinking, “What profiteth a Sim if she gains the whole world but still cannot find Pablo?”

* I just totally spent like half an hour on YouTube, basically listening to that entire album, one illegal video at a time. An excellent use of an afternoon.

Most people think of Men At Work when they think of the 80s. But this revisionist history conveniently overlooks our mawkish adoration of Colin James Hay’s 1987 solo album.

Tags: Sims Sunday

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I didn’t have much gameplay time this week, and I’m ever so tired, so I’m going to keep this week’s update short.

Furthermore, I understand this is the last Sunday of summer vacation for a lot of you out there. I salute your return to school! Today is the first day that’s really felt like fall. I fear the summer has come to an end.

Verich and a guest partied hard at Verich’s birthday.

I love watching Sims dance! I do miss the “Smustle,” though. This was a group dance in Sims 1 and Sims 2. Once you declared it was time to Smustle, every Sim on the lot would join in.

This entire batch of Sims is very athletic. Look at ‘em go!

I decided to amuse myself by setting up the Floor Hygeinator that Simon built. This is a thing you place on the floor, and when you walk over it, most of the time it poots out a sparkly refreshing cloud.

But sometimes it goes wrong, and emits a green stink cloud instead. What does it smell like? Farts? Rotten eggs? I don’t know, but I know that it’s a smell bad enough to induce vomiting.

Umlaut FINALLY died. Dude was 113 days old! It was starting to seem like he’d never leave.

As a parting gift, his ghost tripped the Floor Hygeinator on the way out. It pooted green (bad) on poor Wingdings.

Sorry, darling!

Isn’t Wingdings adorable, by the way?

Even though like most teenagers, she’s a terrible cook.

Wesley is a pretty cute kid, too. When he became a teenager, he ended up with the same hairstyle his dad had at his age.

Meanwhile, Verich got old, and I finally let him retire.

Now that the kids are all in school, I’ve been sending Verich and Patricia out into the yard all day. One day I hope to see a meteor strike!

Patricia finally got old. I gave her a pair of Daisy Dukes, to celebrate the hot new bod she worked so hard to acquire.

“Daisy” just doesn’t seem befitting a woman of her age, though. So I call them “Erma Dukes.”

Tags: Sims Sunday

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I spent most of my time with Verich this week, helping him climb the Firefighter ranks. A lot of his time is spent performing maintenance on the alarm and the fire engine.

I got a lot of knitting done this week! Would you hate me if I admitted I finished my last Christmas gift? In that case, I shall say nothing.

In between the boredom were Actual Fire Emergencies with Super Dramatic Music. I got really tired of the Super Dramatic Music. (By the way, you can totally sing “SUPER DRAMATIC MUSIC!” to the Super Dramatic Music.)

Verich rolled a lot of small piddly house fires. Kinda disappointing.

“If only this entire house were filled top to bottom with babies!”

“Yes, dear.”

His relationship with Patricia grew nicely.

Although their night was cut short when she peed herself and left.

Meanwhile, baby Violetta was growing by leaps and bounds. And then Pork With Bones reminded me that this baby should have been named Verdana! Curses.

Luckily, Umlaut and Kerrie soon had a wish to have another baby. I was able to fulfill their wish and cover my bases.

Welcome baby Verdana! I mean, a while ago. Because I was lame and forgot to take your picture.

Verich put out a fire at Patricia’s house. After everyone was safe, she took a moment to give him a very special thank you.

And then he goes home and what happens? Something breaks, and he has to fix it. WORK WORK WORK.

He kept climbing the career ladder, and started to get some more interesting assignments. Here, he’s dealing with an Angry Gnome outbreak.

The house was pretty darned full by this point, but I worried that Patricia’s biological clock might be ticking. So I had Verich propose to her on the sidewalk in front of his house.

She looks so happy!

Patricia and Verich are nauseatingly in love. The morning after their wedding, she looked so sweet and bashful when he flirted with her.

Speaking of “nauseatingly in love,” these two firemen have found True Wuv right there at the firehouse. They’re like this ALL THE TIME.

Verich’s life as a firefighter was a lonely one.

I thought about having him invite Patricia over to toast marshmallows with him, but the alarm went off before he could even finish eating it.

The next time he returned home, she had a big surprise for him!

And the next day at work, we had an earthquake! There was a rumbling and a shaking, and then Verich was dispatched all over town to put out fires…

Free people trapped in the rubble…

And fix gas leaks by hitting the stove with a hammer until it got all sparkly.

(As an aside, I don’t recommend trying to fix gas leaks this way. If you have a gas leak, phone 911. They will dispatch a trained professional to hit your stove with a hammer until it gets all sparkly.)

Verich was pretty stoked when he got home and found a new baby waiting for him!

Welcome, baby girl Wingdings!

I wanted them to have another baby, but there was no more room in the house. I had Verich’s older (MUCH older) sister moved out, which freed up a slot. Then I contemplated kicking Umlaut and Kerrie out of the house.

But I just couldn’t do it. Look at them snuggling like that! Could you really kick them out onto the street?

I will however confess that the next day, Kerrie had an “unfortunate accident” with the broken stereo.

Both of Umlaut and Kerrie’s youngest daughters look surprisingly grown-up for their age. If I didn’t know better, I would think that Violetta was an adult, and not a teenager.

And Verdana looks downright matronly.

With Verdana and Violetta helping out with baby Wingdings, it was time for Verich and Patricia to get busy again.

“Surprise! I’m pregnant!”

Verich quickly regained his composure, and instantly had a wish to “Feel Patricia’s tummy.” Awww!

Verich finally made it to Level 10. He got his very own fire truck to take home and maintain at his leisure.

He also got a series of wishes to “Quit job.” I felt lousy about canceling them, but it’s only another week or so until he gets old and can retire. And if he retires, he gets a sweet pension!

In the mean time, he received the Key to the City.

While he was at City Hall for the ceremony, Patricia gave birth to baby boy Wesley at home. I guess she didn’t feel the need to go to the hospital this time!

I decided to go with an 80s theme for the cribs this time. I call the one on the left “Black Velvet Scrunchie,” and the one on the right “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” (Looking at it now, I think it could use fluorescent yellow.)

Violetta grew up and moved out (missed that one). And then it was Verdana’s turn.

Such a lovely young lady! Finish your cake and get out.

The house felt so empty, with only five people in it!

Patricia took the opportunity to try and lose some of her baby weight.

Tags: Sims Sunday

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The remainder of Verich’s teen years were basically spent on the weight bench. I had decided I wanted him to become a firefighter, so he had to get ripped!

(Or whatever it is the kids call it these days. I don’t know. It’s 85 degrees inside my home right now; don’t ask me to think.)

At his Young Adult birthday he met a pretty girl named Patricia Pratt. They hit it off really well!

But soon the party was over, and it was time to give Verich his make-over. I decided to give him a mustache. Because don’t all firemen have mustaches? It seems like it.

Once I put the mustache on him, the rest of his outfit just sort of… fell into place. Tada!

Doesn’t he look fabulous? I certainly think so, but I tend to be biased when it comes to my Sims.

I decided he should take after his mom and dad, with the underwear thing.

His first wish as a Young Adult was to become a Firefighter. I was happy to oblige! Here he is, heading out for his first day of work.

I started him off meeting all his coworkers, then let him take it from there.

Meanwhile back at home, Umlaut had a series of oddball wishes. First, he had a burning desire to make hamburgers. Um… okey dokey.

Then he learned that Elvis, his mister… mistress… misteress… um, what’s the word for that?

Anyway, Elvis died. Umlaut went into the vintage 1950′s aqua-colored bathroom and mourned.

That night in his sleep, Umlaut had a wish to “Have a baby with Kerrie.” Have you ever noticed that your Sims get weird wishes when they’re asleep? Anyway, I couldn’t resist.

On a whim the next day, I clicked on the time machine Simon built. I instructed Kerrie and Umlaut to “Try For Baby: In the Future.”

Nothing really seemed to happen. Umlaut was still broken-hearted. Kerrie was more entranced by wearing clean laundry. Not the greatest bout of love-making, I gather.

It looks like that gnome is taking a dump on Kerrie’s laptop!

OH noooo, that is SO wrong.

I got bored with the grown-ups and went back to the fire station. Verich was talking excitedly with a coworker about turkey drumsticks.

You can basically live at the fire station, if you want. They even have barracks where you can sleep!

I decided to put Verich through firefighter boot camp. He lived, slept, and ate in the firehouse. Sometimes he even went out on calls to put out fires!

Frankly these fires make me nervous. He could get hurt! I try not to think about it, and save often.

Ironically, Umlaut set the kitchen on fire while Verich was away. And then he had a birthday in the middle of it. It was really confusing.

“Oh, if only we knew someone who could extinguish fires!”

Later that night, I had Umlaut and Kerrie “Try For Baby” in bed like normal.

The next morning, she yarked up a puddle of joy! (I think that’s joy.)

When I wasn’t watching, Verich took the carpool home. His Social need was low, so I invited Patricia Pratt over, and had a party.

Verich has some pretty sweet dance moves!

The song is Nelly Furtado’s Simlish version of “Manos al Aire.” (Here’s the original version.)

Patricia Pratt grew up and got some back.

Verich was totally into her. Must be those red checked pants.

I discovered that Firefighters have a special Romantic interaction, called “I’m A Firefighter!”

This action is so hilarious, you really have to see the video! (Try to overlook Umlaut crying over Elvis’ death in the background.)

So after all this, I send Verich back to the firehouse. I’m watching as he does some maintenance on the alarm, when suddenly a FOURTH Sim’s thumbnail appears on the left-hand side of the screen. Umlaut, Kerrie, Verich, and… WHAT IS HAPPENING.

I click over, and it shows the position of this new fourth Sim as approaching from the edge of the map. Okay… a little sinister.

Then I get a pop-up. Please welcome Farrah Alphabetti, the child that Umlaut and Kerrie conceived in the future!

But I barely have time to process this new information before Kerrie goes into labor with their child from THIS time-space continuum.

(You’d think that just ONCE, a Sim would be all “Oh my, in this case we should go to the hospital.” But no – they always lose it completely when someone goes into labor.)

Everyone, please welcome our newest little darling, Violetta!

Tags: Sims Sunday

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Not all gameplay sessions are action-packed with excitement. Sometimes you just seem to get a collection of duds.

Verich had two birthdays this week. I invited Kerri’s ex-husband and Umlaut’s secret boyfriend to both parties. And guess what! Everyone ate cake, exchanged pleasantries, then went home.

BORING.

I gave up on Umlaut altogether. It seems that you cannot be fired from a freelance profession like Architect. Even if clients literally come knocking on your door, and you insult them and ask them to leave.

Kelli died this week. Death did a bit of tidying up afterward, which is always appreciated.

After all that angst trying to get my hands on some Mysterious Mr. Gnomes, now I’m overrun with the things. I have at least half a dozen of the regular kind, a handful of the special versions (like the mechanical one), and god only knows how many Laundry Gnomes.

The gnome on the left is frozen in “Matrix Pose,” and the one on the right is pointing at the mailbox in horror. Not really sure why.

A recent patch must have fixed the problem with the cookie stand. This time when I set it outside, the neighbors came flocking.

Little Verich (far right) had to scramble to bake more!

But what happened when he took the stand to the park the next morning?

Absolutely nothing.

Not another soul in sight. Eventually he got hungry, ate his muffins, and then I sent him home.

Meanwhile I’ve been sending Kerri outside to use the telescope, in the hopes she’ll be crushed by a falling meteor.

I’d like to see that happen at least once!

Verich turned into a dreamy-looking teen. Although I’m not terribly keen on the Justin Bieber hairstyle the game assigned.

The game gave him the Athletic trait. I gave him Brave, and decided he should be a fireman when he grows up. So his teen years involve a lot of exercising.

One day he brought home this poor girl. Imagine how much crap she gets for wearing twill slacks to school!

This painting continues to give me the creeps whenever someone produces it.

It’s just so very “Donnie Darko.”

Sweat, little fluffy-haired dude! Sweat!

Way to interrupt your dad as he’s putting the wet laundry in the dryer. Good thing their floor is diamond tread aluminum, so it won’t rust.

One morning Verich woke up, went downstairs, and did this.

Aww! Sketching in his underpants! Just like his dad!

Tags: Sims Sunday

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