Teaching

Verde has started school and now I have been helping him with his homework. Apparently they're learning about bugs so now I have to learn how many legs a spotted beetle has. This is crazy! Shouldn't he learn something useful...like painting.

I have volunteered to help out with the school yearbook club. I met with the club and help them with thier photos. We also discuss layout and design. It should be fun...I think.

Archives/Technology: Website Layout Changes

Li Yoo Sweeny

The website is horrible and in need of better organization. I have written out plans for each section and overall navigation:

Residential Directory

• Will add photos of the home and each sim to the directory. Thumbnail images only.
• Will add a census section to include number of sims grouped by ages/gender

Community Life

• Will add a more in-depth club/organization section
  
• Want to reorganize the site to make things easier to find-this section has become a catch-all section.
  
• Current page listing in community life includes:
  Apple Valley News;
  Administration, Laws and Rights;
  Archival Room;
  Pierce Apprenticeship Guild (PAG);
  Clubs & Organizations;
  Council Meeting Minutes;
  Office of Tourism;
  Residential Information;
  Tours;
  This SimWeek in Apple Valley;
  Yellow Pages;
  
• A better way to organize this information might be the following
  (bold=page linked from toolbar; normal=page linked from the bold page):
  
  Community Life:
  Apple Valley News;
  Clubs & Organizations;
  This SimWeek in Apple Valley;
  Office of Tourism (with Tours as a sublink of this page);
  
  Administration Office:
  Administration, Laws and Rights;
  Council Meeting Minutes;
  Archival (and Records) Room;
  Link to new page on Education: Apple Valley Academy & PAG
  
  Yellow & White Pages:
  Residential Information;
  Yellow Pages;
  Pierce Apprenticeship Guild (PAG);
  (links to the Community Store and A. Pentragnani)

Leave comments/suggestions. Feel free to leave any concerns/issues you have had with navigating the site as well.

Talking School

I ran into the Education Director today at the gift shop. We chatted about the pain of both of our wives being pregnant-the messy toliets, sensative moods and strange cravings. It was good to have another man to talk to about these things. I love Ginger, I do and I am so excited about the new baby on its way, but...well...it gets hard.

Finally, Honeymoon

Rebecca and I returned from our honeymoon to Tiki Island not too long ago. It was rather short, but enough. We spent time at the beach, swam, visited an old pirate's ship and ate lots of food-including the best ice-cream I ever had! Wonderful! Rebecca and I were so distracted by each other that at times we forgot to...protect ourselves if you will. Ah, well. I am prepared for fatherhood should the opportunity come. Speaking of which, Rebecca seems to be more inclined to motherhood. We talked about it during the honeymoon and we even agreed to start trying for a baby soon! I can't wait!

Wedding Plans

Some wedding planning inspirations I found online. The inspiration board is my favorite-it combines my favorite color (red) and my asian background. There is also a nod to my urban childhood in SimCity and seeing all the glamourous sims walk about during the evening.

In reality, the wedding will be fairly simple, yet modern. Instead of the stuffy wedding cake, we're doing some yummy cakes from CupaJava. Also I found the table, chair and buffet linens and some more accessories.

But the best plans don't compare to reality, so here are some photos of the actual event!

Financial Director Note: Budget Funds

Matthew Grey

I propose that the budget have funds established in the budget item for the following areas and managed by the following staff members:



General Fund
-Hood President

Covers expenses for foreign alliances, council administration, immigration/emigration, welfare.



Economic Development Fund

-Financial Director

Covers expenses for local trades and stores, home businesses, imports.



Community Development Fund

-Community Director

Covers expenses for culture, focal farming & fishing, general beautifying (plants, landscape, community lots)



Education Fund

-Education Director

Covers expenses for the administration of the academy & apprenticeship guild



Security Fund

-Security Director

Covers expenses for local infrastructure, security, & justice


Public Health Fund

-Medical Centre Director

Covers expenses for the adminstration of the Medical Centre



Archives/Technology Fund

-Archives/Technology Officer

Covers expenses for the community library and archives, press relations, website, electronic infrastructure



This will allow directors to have more control over thier funds for thier projects. This also creates the need for directors to present budget proposals in addition to task proposals at the start of thier term. An initial budget meeting will determine which items are funded and which are not. Some income from the hood residents will go directly to certain funds (ie-payment for security monitering goes to the security fund; tuition payments for the apprenticeship guild goes to the education fund; etc)

Working on Building Inventory

I would like to take another vacation, but in order to do so, Ajani and I must build up the inventory for the shop since Rebecca isn't quite as skilled at building toys or robots. She is trying to learn, but her talents lie in the administration of the business. It would be better for her to hire a crafter, perhaps even buy the toys from the crafter.

I was browsing the Farmer's Market and saw some wonderful flowers and it got me thinking. With the talk of the new apprenticeship guild, perhaps we should establish a scholarship for one student to attend as long as thier guild is toy design. Then they could help around the store and the next generation of toy crafters would be established. I'll put the idea to Ajani and Rebecca. It would cost at least $1500 (half the tuition/room/board) to make it appealing to students, but I think we could cover the entire cost of the education ($3000) to ensure quality products in the future.