Jayce's Hood: Pacific Beach

Jayce wrote:

As I discovered, there isn't a whole lot of room in most apartments.


I've taken the momentous (and time-consuming! ) step of building some myself.
Apartments are supposed to be kind of "boxy" right?

Gosh, Toni, I don't want to get you all worked up or anything but I've got so many "disrobed" photos of my lads.
I promise more in my next post!

I'm so thrilled you like them...

Yah...apartments suck J. I agree with you there. Some houses suck too too

WAIT, WHAT?! DISROBED?! You better let me see too sir. I will come to you if I don't see them too . Oh myyyy...

I will send this girl after you!



And Jayce, dear, you never answered Mac's and mine's question about if you have a download section for your yummilicious sims

butterflyunion wrote:

yummilicious sims

mac wrote:

butterflyunion wrote:

yummilicious sims

Yummilicious, Snackalicious, EVERYTHING-alicious!

The proposal on the beach at night was gorgeous and so romantic.

You guys are all making me glad that I don't have Apartment Life. That's especially disappointing that you can't play all of the households in the apartment building at once. Kind of defeats the purpose (the purpose I would have liked them for anyway.) I've built fake apartment buildings too and used the lockable doors and maybe even before I had lockable doors. I think I mostly used them for storytelling purposes rather than actual gameplay, so it wasn't so much of a problem with them going into each others' apartments.

Thank you so much, Em!

Quote :

The proposal on the beach at night was gorgeous and so romantic.

I swear I wasn't planning that!
It was just such a beautiful night and the way everything looked and felt (and maybe the fact Jack and Jessica got a little "lurved up" on the beach earlier ) just inspired me.

I thought that Jack, being into nature and yoga and more of an "at one with the ocean" surfer than his mates, would realise in a moment like that how much he loves this girl.







As you know, I love the "domesticity" of all their lives. Jess fits in so smoothly with Jack's life.



She impressed the hell out of his mates on the water. "Take that, boys!"



Hmmm, Jack, you're not feeling a little possessive there, are you?



Jessica saying goodnight to Jason and Aiden before retiring for the night. Models need their beauty sleep.
I'm sure the boys weren't really thinking what you think they were, Jack. Yeah, I'm pretty sure they weren't thinking that at all...

Jean, you always crack me up!

Quote :

WAIT, WHAT?! DISROBED?! You better let me see too sir. I will come to you if I don't see them too . Oh myyyy...

I will send this girl after you

I really don't want her coming after me, she looks like she means business!

Hopefully, I can appease her with this offering of Mike.

Quote :

And Jayce, dear, you never answered Mac's and mine's question about if you have a download section for your yummilicious sims

Gosh, sorry, Jean, I always forget to reply to everything!
I can't really do anything right now, as I had some computer problems when I tried to upload. I ditched a batch of files "under suspicion" that included some of my sims. I've decided not to do anything further until I get my second computer.

Btw, just to mention those two surf-rats who hang out with Jack.
Aiden (the dark-haired one) is moving into my apartments!

As for Jason...



... sometimes living the high-life of Pacific Beach's legal circle bores Karen Alexander.


She enjoys Simon's company but she likes her freedom, too.


Toni, you are so right about apartments!!!

Quote :

It's such a challenge (which I love) getting everything into a teensy space, and keeping it all usable.

I'm doing an Em (fake apartments) so I can play it the way I want!
I finished building and landscaping. It took sooo long.... Luckily, I was in an obsessive mode!
I started to decorate but doing four apartments, I got overwhelmed (all those agonising decisions over clutter placement and what furniture reflects their tastes) and was itching and scratching to play my game for awhile!

Just as well. Eddie had to make a booty call!

No worries Jayce :3

:( awww! Why must your computer be naughty? How long til you're able to replace it?

I didn't realize you were using Twikki Island for your hood. I never even considered duelving into the vacation neighborhoods but hey I'm good w what I've got

Well I'm glad both jack n Lauren seem happier w whom they're w now so maybe its not a bad thing they didn't stay together.

That's funny about Jessica impressing his mates w her surf skills. Go girl! And re the proposal, hey sometimes ya get caught up in the moment n go w the flow. Nadadamn thing wrong with it I say ;)

Nothing wrong w Jack making sure none of his mates getting any funny ideas about Jess eithet lol and my my...that blue robe she's wearing looks awfully familiar ;) lol

Hee hee n_n I'm usually good for a laugh or two and yes Sailor Jupiter does mean much business >3

Oh yes...very appeasing. You are off the hook - for the moment ;p (kidding!)

Quote :

Hee hee n_n I'm usually good for a laugh or two and yes Sailor Jupiter does mean much business >3

In that case, I better try keep her happy!

Quote :

Why must your computer be naughty? How long til you're able to replace it?

Angus (my puter) seems mostly to disagree when I try to do certain things outside my game.
All my fault. I basically had him Frankenstein-ed to play my game.
Anything "non-essential" got surgically removed to maximize him to brutal efficiency and, for that, he is just... beautiful.

I'll always keep Angus for simming because he's so streamlined and ruthless and he's the Mack-Daddy of all that juicy stuff I love: the graphics/sound/memory package, whisper-quiet, extra cooling-fans etc...

I give full credit to Angus for the "crisp" look of my photos. They never looked anything like this before he got "The Business."

Of course, I have a camera mod installed (which, when we discovered each other, made me want to put Marvin Gaye on the stereo and turn the lights down low ) but I don't do any editting, except using "Paint" to re-size.

A second computer is for other stuff. I dropped a hint to Santa and I've been (mostly) a good boy this year!

Jayce wrote:

A second computer is for other stuff. I dropped a hint to Santa and I've been (mostly) a good boy this year!

I used to do a Distributed Computer Program, so now I have quite a few computers around me, like 12, all with 8800GT graphics cards or better. Nine gaming computers, each with different operating systems depending on the game. I can only play one at a time, but it is nice to have a choice. These days I only have to buy graphics cards, power supplies and hard disks. I am set for hardware for quite some time to come.

Holy steaming Hell, Russ!!



You are seriously set to jet there, mate!

Quote :

now I have quite a few computers around me, like 12, all with 8800GT graphics cards or better. Nine gaming computers, each with different operating systems depending on the game. I can only play one at a time, but it is nice to have a choice.

Actually, I think you're in a different stratosphere altogether!

Caleb_71 wrote:

Jayce wrote:

A second computer is for other stuff. I dropped a hint to Santa and I've been (mostly) a good boy this year!

I used to do a Distributed Computer Program, so now I have quite a few computers around me, like 12, all with 8800GT graphics cards or better. Nine gaming computers, each with different operating systems depending on the game. I can only play one at a time, but it is nice to have a choice. These days I only have to buy graphics cards, power supplies and hard disks. I am set for hardware for quite some time to come.

Do you work in the computer industry Russ?

Holy caca! TWELVE?! Whew...it took me long enough just to get adjusted to having to work with my work computer having two screens; I couldn't fathom seeing THAT many screens around me

butterflyunion wrote:

Do you work in the computer industry Russ?

Holy caca! TWELVE?! Whew...it took me long enough just to get adjusted to having to work with my work computer having two screens; I couldn't fathom seeing THAT many screens around me

I am actually a Fitter & Machinist/Toolmaker/Electrician by trade, can work on and do anything around the house, like plumbing, tiling, plastering, can spray paint, panel beat, restore cars and motor bikes, If it can be with my hands, there is a good chance, it will get done.

I run two sets of KVMs (Keyboard/Video/Mouse) one set for PS2/analogue monitor and another set for USB/DVI monitor, so only two monitors. two keyboards and two mice, for twelve computer boxes.

Do I know much about computer hardware.....................................mmmmmmmmmmm could do?

Time to shimmy into that really-special-occassion outfit and get yourself a glass of champagne, you're invited to a wedding!



They were the first uni students to have eyes for each other (sigh)...
Mike and Angelina.





It might have seemed like the perfect day but the logistics of this wedding really challenged me!
One, I haven't assembled sixteen (controllable) sims on one site before.
Two, the weather didn't co-operate at a crucial moment (thank you, Jack, for dealing with that weather-control-machine thing I can't remember what it's called and I never used before, I owe you big-time).
Three, I seriously stuffed up!


It all turned out good in the end, as you'll see, but first, a little preamble...

Mike had confided in Chris, his younger brother, that he was going to ask Angelina to marry him.


Of course she's going to say yes!


The next day, they couldn't wait to tell their friends the news!




I did a little whip-round the hood finalising outfits for the guests.
Anthony looks real happy about being in a monkey-suit!


While I was getting Georgia (Chris's girlfriend) into her dress (and special-event diamonds!), I took possibly the best photo I've ever taken of her.
If I thought I loved her even more after I looked at this, that feeling quadrupled when she helped save the day (and my arse) later at the wedding.
Oh, I think I said too much already...



It must have been the muse. When I went around to Robert and Freya's place the same night to dress them up, I took some shots of Robert in the pool. They're an alternative, "modern-art" kind of couple, who live in a very different sort of house.


I didn't realise this at the time. You can see Freya (in her dress for the wedding) reflected in the pool in the lower left corner there.


Anyway, enough of that!

The Big Day.



Warning: severe picture spam of Angelina in the gown.









Chris (the best man) and Georgia (matron of honour) were the first to arrive.


As other guests arrive, Georgia reflects my excitement at this point.
"They're here! They're here! Oooh, look at that dress..."


More guests arrive.

Good ol' Jack happened to be strategically-placed here.
As I was seating guests and Jessica was getting introduced to someone by someone, it started to rain. Not drizzle. Serious rain.
Um, hello? I'm having a wedding. Outside. On the beach. It just cannot rain like this!!

Thankfully, I could count on Jack to figure out that weather-gizmo!

I usually snort, all superior-like, when I breeze over things like that in the buy/rewards catalogue. I'm not really into that element of the game (smart milk, cow plants etc..) and generally ignore the career/aspiration rewards. They're just not my thing...

Naturally I can change my attitude in a second when it suits me!

I'll be back tomorrow with some more wedding photos!

Now that's a wedding! Beautiful pictures! Gorgeous sims! Wonderful work!

and Georgia is almost pulling a Pippa - lovelier than the bride!

Aww, thank you, Mac!

I don't do these massive "staged events" all that often. The good thing is I'm getting gradually better at organising them and then coordinating my folk to behave and, hopefully, look natural!

What I loved so much about (finally!) having a wedding: that gathering friends and family together on a scale like this (and the obvious excitement of my simmies at seeing half the neighbourhood) gave it a real "momentous occasion" feel.



And, of course, dressing up my girls!

Sarah.


Seraphina and Georgia.




I think Toni would have been sitting at this table!




That's Freya and Robert (Sarah's brother) on either side of Jack.




Seraphina and her boyfriend, Mark.


The bride.


The groom.


Would you believe when I went to do the whole marriage ceremony, I really stuffed up!
Instead of clicking on the (invisible) wedding-arch, I stupidly selected the "Propose" option.



I had all my sims here for a ceremony that didn't really happen!



Sure, I could have gone back without saving and done it all over again. But I thought I might be able to salvage this occasion!

Seeing as Jack had sorted out the weather for me and that turned out so nice...


.... maybe someone else could help a brother out?!


Luckily, Georgia and Chris were planning on getting married anyway!
Here's another engagement that just kinda happened...


Can you two stop talking and make your way to the ceremony, please!




Ahhh, it's all so romantic!


Of course, this being Pacific Beach, a few take to the water after lunch.
Um, Seraphina and Chris, you should not be looking at each other like that!


Hope you enjoyed the visit! Thanks for stopping by...

Jayce wrote:

Seraphina and Georgia.


Luckily, Georgia and Chris were planning on getting married anyway!
Here's another engagement that just kinda happened...

Chris! For goodness' sake! Grab her before somebody else does!

Many have tried...


But Georgia's heart has always belonged to Chris.

Aww how prettiful it all is Those were a lot of sims there buddy! Good job with all the dressing up and everything. Aww another surprise proposal huh? XD Hehe...romance just sweeps some people away doesn't it?

Now dangit...babies! :/ I don't mind all the mating but dangit I want to see progress! I demand it!

The beach at night is really beautiful. I totally get that Jack would've been moved by it's magic.

I'm so lovin' Jess! Gorgeous, sweet and a surf master! Rock on Jessica!

I'm not sure if I can ever recover from that waterfall shot of Mike's 'particulars.'

Hmmmmm......Karen is clearly a woman who lives her life by her own rules. More power to her! Jason's a hottie and all that but my word that Simon has an air of confidence about him that is just so intoxicating.

Yet, I'm still lovin' that bad boy Eddie!

Do give Angus a little pat from Auntie Toni.

Caleb_71 wrote:

Do you work in the computer industry Russ? I am actually a Fitter & Machinist/Toolmaker/Electrician by trade, can work on and do anything around the house, like plumbing, tiling, plastering, can spray paint, panel beat, restore cars and motor bikes, If it can be with my hands, there is a good chance, it will get done.

Russ! How manly! But the eye and attention to detail of the machinist and toolmaker, and electrician, and.......well....all those things you do, is no doubt what makes you such an exquisite mesher.

Caleb_71 wrote:

I run two sets of KVMs (Keyboard/Video/Mouse) one set for PS2/analogue monitor and another set for USB/DVI monitor, so only two monitors. two keyboards and two mice, for twelve computer boxes.

Do I know much about computer hardware.....................................mmmmmmmmmmm could do?

Congrats Mike and Angelina!

Finally a wedding!

That is one goooooorgeous dress!

Jayce wrote:

Anthony looks real happy about being in a monkey-suit!

That's a fantastic shot of Georgia!

Love that whole pool reflection thing at Robert and Freya's.

The shots on the beach are fabulous! Love the waterfall in the background. Wow!

Congrats Georgia and Chris!

Might I say...all the women looked absolutely ravishing. You can be my stylist any time Jayce!

Seraphina's looking pretty hot in that stunning bikini with matching heels. Come on...can you blame Chris?

Now, about the weather. May I recommend a sweet little in game object that controls the weather at the click of a mouse, including being able to turn it off...You'll find it in the Sims 2...Objects...Other Objects section at Palladin's Place.

Thank you so much for your lovely comments, Toni, my cluttery friend!

Quote :

I'm not sure if I can ever recover from that waterfall shot of Mike's 'particulars.'

Well, not that I'm blaming anyone, but Jean was threatening to unleash that Sailor lass and I could see all hell breaking loose. And, hey, I'm a lover, not a fighter!

Quote :

The beach at night is really beautiful. I totally get that Jack would've been moved by it's magic.

Quote :

Karen is clearly a woman who lives her life by her own rules.

I'm always thrilled when you get the different personalities and motivations of my folks!
I know each of them so deeply, of course, but I'm complete mush when you beautiful people engage in my simmies' lives, too!

I love your acute (and timely) observation of Simon...

Quote :

my word that Simon has an air of confidence about him that is just so intoxicating

Last night, I complied a list of "suitable single prospective partners" for him!
As I'm getting all nesty (feeling that wedding cupid!), I started reviewing my original game plans in notebooks from way back when.
Of all my boys, I find him one of the most difficult to pair on a permanent basis. Not for lack of interest by the girls, either. Especially those foxy-Fortune-babes crossing paths with him. A little confidence goes a long way in Simon's case!
No, the indecision and difficulty is all mine.
While his professional contemporaries like Connor, Daniel, Mark (a wedding guest in my post above) were getting shacked up, or at least serious about their girlfriends, he kept his love-life pretty casual.

Simon never lacked female company!

Quote :

Yet, I'm still lovin' that bad boy Eddie!

Ah, Eddie keeps me amused at just what he gets away with!

Quote :

Russ! How manly! But the eye and attention to detail of the machinist and toolmaker, and electrician, and.......well....all those things you do, is no doubt what makes you such an exquisite mesher.

I'm in awe of the practical and creative combining forces!
Russ, I never picked you for a tradie (like Jean, I had you pegged as a boffin!) but, like Toni said, those skills explain how you create in the "sim medium" with such detail, exactitude, pride in your work and (I imagine) patience!

Quote :

Might I say...all the women looked absolutely ravishing. You can be my stylist any time Jayce!

I love spoiling my girls and making them feel pretty!
I've got the eye if you've got the budget! (Sarah, Georgia, Brooke, Jane and Freya only buy designer labels!)

I'm not sure how this translates to real life, though!
I can clothes-shop with a woman so she looks unbelievable and I still look, well...
I'm a board-shorts/jeans/t-shirt and thongs kind of guy. Just to be sure we have this meaning clear, by "thongs" I mean what most people call "flip-flops", as in footwear. Not the other kind you're thinking. Please! I don't like the men waxing in my hood!
It makes me shudder when I see it in real life....
I scrub up alright when I need to. I've even been called handsome on occasion!
Like a decent proportion of the Aussie male, I'm just lazy. Luckily, three-day-growth hasn't gone out of fashion in the last 20 years...

Quote :

Now, about the weather. May I recommend a sweet little in game object that controls the weather at the click of a mouse, including being able to turn it off...

Toni, once again you have enhanced my game by pulling another rabbit out of your hat!
I tested this out and.....
Thank you, Lady T, O Wise Cluttery One and Patron Saint of Sims!

Heheh....I keep you in line with that 'subtle' threat for not sharing more >}
Jayce, I'm scarcely familiar w British slang so be so kind to translate your Aussie slang there that you called me & Russ please sir? :3
Why is Simon being stubborn in the hitched up dept w so many femme fatales around? Tsk,tsk you may need to intervene or even better - show us who he's hooked up w and he gets hitched from our selection ? :3 sometimes our simmies - lol auto correct changed it to 'dummies' which we already know they can be that but that's besides the point here - sometimes we as "simgods" have to act in their behalf and sometimes it'll work n sometimes not \o/

I'm not familiar with "tradie", but Boffin usually means a scientist or engineer. So far as I know the first to be so called were the engineers who developed radar in the UK in the late '30s. There are various theories on the origin of the usage. My dad was a WW2 boffin in the US, working on hydrophones and radar.

mac wrote:

I'm not familiar with "tradie", but Boffin usually means a scientist or engineer. So far as I know the first to be so called were the engineers who developed radar in the UK in the late '30s. There are various theories on the origin of the usage. My dad was a WW2 boffin in the US, working on hydrophones and radar.

Hello Sir Mac. Thanks for the partial clarification :3

Eek, sorry, Jean!

Quote :

Jayce, I'm scarcely familiar w British slang so be so kind to translate your Aussie slang there that you called me & Russ please sir? :3

Mac was right on the money with "boffin" (actually, I assumed it was American slang, forgive me for that!), which generally refers to clever, tech-minded people.

"Tradie" is short for tradesman. The correct term these days would be trades-person, I guess, but it generally refers to traditional male professions. More specifically, a "trade" that requires an apprenticeship to become qualified (plumber, electrician etc..).
I know that in Scotland in the early-60's, when my dad and his three brothers all worked for my grandfather at his carpentry business, it was considered pretty normal to "inherit" a trade through the family.
In fact, I've got old black-and-white photos of Dad (looking very skinny and mod!) in a main street, where you can see a business named "Little And Sons" and a shop called "Arnold Grocers And Sons."
His apprenticeship lasted four years before he got his trade-certificate. He had to go to college one day of the week for the "theory" lessons but the rest was practical, hands-on experience.

Quote :

Why is Simon being stubborn in the hitched up dept w so many femme fatales around? Tsk,tsk you may need to intervene

I have to think these crucial decisions through! What, you think this is a game or something?!

Jayce wrote:

What, you think this is a game or something?!

Sometimes I wonder... It gets pretty scary!

Jayce wrote:

Eek, sorry, Jean!

Quote :

Jayce, I'm scarcely familiar w British slang so be so kind to translate your Aussie slang there that you called me & Russ please sir? :3

Mac was right on the money with "boffin" (actually, I assumed it was American slang, forgive me for that!), which generally refers to clever, tech-minded people.

"Tradie" is short for tradesman. The correct term these days would be trades-person, I guess, but it generally refers to traditional male professions. More specifically, a "trade" that requires an apprenticeship to become qualified (plumber, electrician etc..).
I know that in Scotland in the early-60's, when my dad and his three brothers all worked for my grandfather at his carpentry business, it was considered pretty normal to "inherit" a trade through the family.
In fact, I've got old black-and-white photos of Dad (looking very skinny and mod!) in a main street, where you can see a business named "Little And Sons" and a shop called "Arnold Grocers And Sons."
His apprenticeship lasted four years before he got his trade-certificate. He had to go to college one day of the week for the "theory" lessons but the rest was practical, hands-on experience.

Quote :

Why is Simon being stubborn in the hitched up dept w so many femme fatales around? Tsk,tsk you may need to intervene

I have to think these crucial decisions through! What, you think this is a game or something?!

*throws a pillow at your head* you're forgiven this time; don't let it happen again xp (kidding). Nope I've never heard that word around these parts I'm afraid

Butttttt! When you can't do it on your own that's what polls are for! Lol