Grooming

Going through our hold vacation photos. The Zen garden was so great, I loved to groom it-o, yes, the vacation was lovely, we stayed in our underwear for most fo the trip-hihi! I felt so alive. We had a small party when we returned to celebrate our golden anniversary! Rebecca was able to come from school and we told her all about the trip!

Archives/Technology Note: Website

Many residents have expressed confusion about the website and how often the website is updated and the difficulty in keeping up with updates. Not to mention the increased job duties of the Archives/Technology Officer (me).

As a result, the website will now be updated at least twice a month and at least one blog will be updated each day, however this will no longer be reflected be any special notation. Instead when the website is updated a list of blogs (by family) that have been updated will be listed.

This will be effective Dec 1, 2007

Archives/Technology Note: Website

Clark Grey

Many residents have expressed confusion about the website and how often the website is updated and the difficulty in keeping up with updates. Not to mention the increased job duties of the Archives/Technology Officer (me).

As a result, the website will now be updated at least twice a month and at least one blog will be updated each day, however this will no longer be reflected be any special notation. Instead when the website is updated a list of blogs (by family) that have been updated will be listed.

This will be effective Dec 1, 2007

Summer

I love the summer and grilling, especially since we had our backyard landscaped-it may be small, but it's very nice. There are plenty of plants and a nice shady area for sitting and having conversation. S'Ahmisa loves it out here, she's always crawling after the butterflies and playing with her doll.

Older

Carmela and I talked about aging in the Homemaker's Club-she's so young-trying to have another child-I'm near elderhood myself-yikes! I wonder what the future of our hood is, I myself and working to become a bit more intergrated with this side of the hood. Thankfully Carmela didn't refuse to speak with me after the financial fiasco following mother's death. It's been humbling moving to the other side of the hood into a home not much bigger than the bedroom wing of our home. *sigh*

Hood Council Note: Publishing Hood Council Meetings

The online hood council meetings are not going well-residents are not visiting the online forum and there isn't much incentive to maintain the forum. Instead we're going to publish the notes of the hood council meetings. This will be done on the website-not a blog type posting-but actual minutes of the meetings and concerns raised.

CRUSH

I have a crush on Jesse. He's so sweet and nice and cute, he has a kid, but he's adopted and is so cute. I wonder if he will visit me again? Maybe we could take a vacation together-would that be too forward? I miss him already. I wonder if he likes me this much too.

I'm visiting him and his family for a few days, I hope they will like me.

President Note: Publishing Hood Council Meetings

Ayanna Kent
The online hood council meetings are not going well-residents are not visiting the online forum and there isn't much incentive to maintain the forum. Instead we're going to publish the notes of the hood council meetings. This will be done on the website-not a blog type posting-but actual minutes of the meetings and concerns raised.

Hood Council Note: Farming Rights

There's been a lot of discussion about farming rights and food produce for the hood, so I decided to do a formal report.

Number of households: 13 (not including house on BAP Campus-thier food source comes from national sources)

Current Number of Residential lots: 15

Number of ground plots needed to feed each lot: 5

Total number of ground plots needed: 75

Only one family has farm rights. These farm rights include:

• Must develop/harvest a minimum of 22 ground plots, 3 fruit trees or any combination of the two to equal 25 (ie 20 ground plots/5 fruit trees; 10 ground plots, 15 fruit trees, etc).
  
• Must develop at least one plot of each food: Tomatoes , Strawberries , Cucumbers , Pole Beans, Peppers , Eggplant.
  
• Must have at least two fruit trees variety: Apple, Lemon, Orange
  
• May reside on a 3x3 to a 4x3 lot
  
• $300 incentive each season

Mendenhall Farm: 30 plots (5 plots of each variety) + 6 fruit trees (2 trees of each variety) + 3 bee hives that each produce 4 jars of honey simdaily (12 jars (6 servings each (72 meals total)) simdaily)+ small pond with healthy fish population.

There are no grocery stores and Smokey Jane's reduced it's selection of fine wines and cheeses that can be purchased-thus families pay an additional $50 delivery fee for processed food. This is an incentive for families to buy fresh local produce from the Farmer's Market. As long as prices are kept reasonable, the hood council will be able to support the farm and local produce.

Community Director Note: Farming Rights

Rayne Wilsonoff
There's been a lot of discussion about farming rights and food produce for the hood, so I decided to do a formal report.

Number of households: 13 (not including house on BAP Campus-thier food source comes from national sources)

Current Number of Residential lots: 15

Number of ground plots needed to feed each lot: 5

Total number of ground plots needed: 75

Only one family has farm rights. These farm rights include:

• Must develop/harvest a minimum of 22 ground plots, 3 fruit trees or any combination of the two to equal 25 (ie 20 ground plots/5 fruit trees; 10 ground plots, 15 fruit trees, etc).
  
• Must develop at least one plot of each food: Tomatoes , Strawberries , Cucumbers , Pole Beans, Peppers , Eggplant.
  
• Must have at least two fruit trees variety: Apple, Lemon, Orange
  
• May reside on a 3x3 to a 4x3 lot
  
• $300 incentive each season

Mendenhall Farm: 30 plots (5 plots of each variety) + 6 fruit trees (2 trees of each variety) + 3 bee hives that each produce 4 jars of honey simdaily (12 jars (6 servings each (72 meals total)) simdaily)+ small pond with healthy fish population.

There are no grocery stores and Smokey Jane's reduced it's selection of fine wines and cheeses that can be purchased-thus families pay an additional $50 delivery fee for processed food. This is an incentive for families to buy fresh local produce from the Farmer's Market. As long as prices are kept reasonable, the hood council will be able to support the farm and local produce.

Gardens

Jolie wants to work on the gardden this summer and asked my permission-as if I care!

My youngest daughter moved to Roswell for university and I am now manager of the Medical Centre. Things are changing much to fast.

Dating

I called Marilyn up and asked her out. I decided to see if she would be fun to hang with. I'm thinking of taking her to get pizza or maybe rollar skating. That would be fun.

So Close, Yet So Far

Nicole is sad and Faith is asking why. The twins will not be coming to join our family. Travel restrictions made the fostering impossible and they will stay closer to home. I know it must be for the better, something else will work out, but now we must look at should we try adopting again or waiting a bit more time.

No College!

Dad and mom just told us that they can't afford to send us to college!!! Ginger was ok with the news-she just wants to get marrried and have babies anyway. Ugh, it's disgusting listening to her talk at night while I'm trying to sleep. Maybe I could be a tour guide-I read about that in Simmerville-I could do the same thing. O! Tobi asked me out-like a date. What!?! When did that happen!

Moving on

I finished my senior year in university and am currently applying for immigration to another hood. I'm hoping I can make a real difference in the hood there. I am also trying to see where my relationship with Gin will lead. Actually, I am moving to Palatial Heights. I hope she isn't playing with my heart. I do love this woman so much.

Adoption/Fostering

We put in a bid to foster the famous McAstral twins from Simmerville. I don't know if our application will be accepted since we barely meet the financial requirements. They might have better lives in another hood.



EDIT: Our application was accepted!!! We are so excited and even better news. The hood council has agreed to renovate our home a bit to prepare for the twins. Somehow we will gain an extra bedroom. I must say I am curious as to how that will happen. Well, soon the twins will arrive and our little family will grow from three to five. I wonder if we are to adopt them or simply foster them?

Website Changes

The website is undergoing some changes-trying to make it more user friendly and post more information. Perhaps a site map?

Other than that just copeing with raising two toddlers and enjoying life. The kids will be children soon and Elda is planning a small party with all three sets of grandparents attending... actually that isn't small.

Going Well

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

City Vacation

I purchased a nice vacation package for Darrel and I-we're going to the city-I hope he likes it-lots of plays, casinos and more. We're actually traveling to Tiki Island-well, the downtown area of it on the second island, not the main island. I need to find something suitable.

Busy

The church gift shop is doing well-we're selling more bibles and some customers have agreed to come to services as well. Hopefully they will attend this simWednesday night service.

Job

I am now a nurse at the Medical Centre. I manage the gift shop and assist patients in finding thier way around. I am training to take over the pharmacy as well, eventually I would like to become the head doctor. If I was head doctor I'd hire a physical therapist and nutrition specialist. Too many sims are much too fat-they don't care about thier health and thier weight.

As My

I miss my children. When my son, Roy, prepared to leave, I shared with him an ancient tale from our vacation. When Ray decided to leave, I shared a check with him. Thankfully Rebecca is staying in Apple Valley with her family. I don't fault the boys, there are better opportunities for them in other hoods. I miss them.

My Job

After graduation I got a job! I'm the baker at CupaJava. Since it is summertime I spend my days baking Tartelette au Citrons and Mimosa Cakes. Apparently-according to my handy dandy baking schedule-the day before fall, I will start baking Religieuse au Café for the fall menu. Gosh, the work is hard-my back hurts from so much bending.

Financial Director Note: Hood Employees

Ka'Obi Sweeny
The hood has several employees-most are paid according to a basic salary and fee, but others (like the pastor and teacher) are paid differently:

The Centre
Bank Teller (fair salary scaled based on skill/badges)
Newspaper Editor (fair salary scaled based on skill/badges)
Welcome Center Cashier/ Travel Guide (fair salary scaled based on skill/badges)

The Medical Centre
Medical Center Director (fair salary scaled based on skill/badges)
Nurse (fair salary scaled based on skill/badges)

AV Historical Church
Pastor (flat salary + benefits)

AV Secondary Academy
Principal/Administrator (flat salary + benefits)

The hood has numerous job openings-thinking about giving talks and assesment tests to the teenagers and university students to help them realize where they would fit into the hood's economy. Will talk to Rayne about this venture since it falls under her duties.

Almost

I'm almost out of here! Thank goodness! I wonder if I can still appear on Pahala Shore or should I move on to something more.

My sisters are annoying sometimes-thank goodness they look up to me.

Travels

With the new deal, I find myself spending a lot of time discussing travel plans with residents and customers who visit The Centre. We may have to place an ad for a travel director. The sim would be in charge of giving direction for travels, selling packages, leading tours to our three sister destinations and around Apple Valley as well. Must look at our budget.

Goodbye!

I am out of here! Where am I going you ask? I'm going to Murdville! Grigia and I both got accepted and we're on our way. We have a lot of paperwork to process but thankfully things will be fine. I will transition when I arrive so mom and dad will miss out on that, but that's ok. Whooppie!!!

Honeymoon

Got a nice honeymoon-now gotta get back to the hood-gotta sign up with the army for four simdays to pay back my student loan which means a haircut-goodbye hair!

Also, Jolie's little sister is moving to another hood which means more space in the house and perhaps the start of our own little family. I wonder if we would have twins? My mother had two sets of twins (me and my older brothers) so it's possible.

My Sister Married

That means another sim in the house, less room and more pressure on me to leave. I've been looking into immigrating to another hood. I think I like a few of them and have sent letters of inquiry. I wonder if they would accept me.

EDIT: I just checked my email, I've been accepted to Roswell!!!

Standing Still

that's what time seems to be doing. We're still in the midst of summer yet many other hoods are experiencing winter already. I've been tired lately...I hope I'm not pregnant!

Should I...

I've been considering quitting my job downtown with SC Financial Investments and working full-time at the hood's bank. Right now Sage has been "promoted" to the task as teller-he basically rings up purchases, but I think customers need to be better educated. We sell investment gold, piggy banks and this is where loans and mortgages are discussed. I think I would need to be there full-time, but how would that work with Ayanna managing The Centre. I seem to be at a plateau here at SCFI so perhaps quitting isn't such a bad idea.

Seasonal

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

Active

Faith is...how do you say...active? My daughter loves to run, jump, play and swing. I don't know how we're going to keep her from giving us a headache. Nicole wants us to go to the public pool for swimming. That would be nice, however it's been an unseasonable cold summer. I hope things get warmer.

Bigger

Litte Verde is getting bigger, perhaps Carmela and I should consider having a second baby. She wants to wait until Verde is a toddler or even a child, but I don't see why we shouldn't expand our family before the fall season arrives.

Visits

Jesse is coming to visit me. I am so excited! I wonder if he will think I'm attractive. O, wow. I can hardly think-I've been rushing trying to finish my projects before the big semester break so I can spend time with him and not worry about school.

Hurts My Pride

I looked over the finances and determined that we could not afford to send the girls to university. I feel like such a failure-the girls were not concerned, apparently none of them had big plans on going-Hazel Starr has made it clear that she's moving as soon as possible to persue her acting career-Ginger wants to be a housewife and Marilyn...well, Marilyn wants to be a boy.

Salary!

What!?!?!





The hood council voted to stop me from gaining profit shares from the hospital. That means every penny that I earn must be reinvested into the center. Grrr, maybe I should open my own private pratice, I hate having only $1500 a simweek in salary versus the profits and bonuses I get for managing a great medical center. Where's the motivation in making the center better?

It's Ok

It's ok that I can not go to college. I didn't plan on it anyway, now I can learn more skills from mom about keeping the house. I'm a good cook and she said that she would start allowing me to cook some meals, I want to be a better cleaner-learn all the tricks to getting the grime out of the tub and making a proper bed. Grex said that he would like to go swimming with me, I would need to find a nice swimsuit. He's very cute.

School

Riverdale said wait-I am inpatient and want to start teaching now! Today at lunch, Grigia told me about her immigration application to Murdville. I wonder if they'll accept me as well, I could start a school there.

Grandparents

Jodi and her husband, Zac, had twins. I had to find out from thier hood's newspaper! Not even a post to her family saying-I am pregnant-I am married-I had twins! Nothing! Ah well, we sent them some toys for the twins. I hope I can see a photo of my first grandchildren soon. Janet is looking into immigrating-I knew it was coming, but I didn't think it would be so soon. Johan and Jadhira are marrying this next simday-they decided to have a destination wedding on Tiki Island. Joey and Giselle are doing well-no sign of grandchildren from them yet.

Community Director Note: Musik Faire

Rayne Wilsonoff
The Musik Festival has been approved. It will be the last day of summer, a nice event for the teens, at The Foundry. It will be in the evening of the Summer Festival and we're importing special snack kiosks for the event, as well as making sure there is ample room and restrooms.


Performers
Sam Jones, Mayfair Plaza: pending
Selena Farrell, Mayfair Plaza: pending
Sergio Gitano, Harper's Cove: confirmed
The Fighters, Palatial Heights: confirmed

Special Guests
Chad Vanderburg, MC: confirmed


There will be a re-release of Alisa Crawston's CDs and concert tees; and the sales of the other performers CDs and tees. Tickets will be on sale for $50 and VIP tickets will be on sale for ~$150 and will feature access to the VIP lounge, meet and greet with performers and a special souvenior backstage pass. The profits will go towards the purchase of new computers for the school.

Birthday

S'Ahmisa had her toddler birthday this simday! She's such a beautiful little girl. Sandy and I are also expecting another child which is very exciting. She's been so tired lately, I wonder if it would be twins. Elda and I are twins, my cousins Ayanna and Ajani are twins, Ayanna's children are twins. I wonder...?

Brrr Cold

Gosh, no one told me that uni was so cold! It's always snowing and freezing! Yikes! O, uni is going well, I'm learning lots of theory behind business, and even some hands on studies, but not a lot. I wish I just stayed at home and ran the business, this economics degree won't help me with managing the Toy Shoppe! I'm doing well though, managing a high GPA-I need more hands on projects!