Mac's 'Hood

I was referring to downloaded careers, in particular, but I agree with you about Maxi's Dance and Oceanography careers from Freetime (one of my fave EPs, btw) having cool uniforms.   

I shall check out FennShysa's Espionage careers at MTS2, since you said she has some interesting career costumes.
Thank you!

I saw the knitted dress recolors of AriesFlare.
I know how much you like knit dresses.
I have been meaning to do a few more recolors of THIS one for you!  

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BTW - You know who   was definitely a 3P!

Oh, I have no doubt, good sir!  

Sugah wrote:

I have been meaning to do a few more recolors of THIS one for you!  

  

BTW, I knew you were referring to downloaded careers. Most of them don't bother too much with cossies. Too much work. Nonetheless, I still think that the Maxis Dance Career beats all!  

mac wrote:

I'm definitely going to pair them up, but... they're just teens, then have to do university, then hook up, and then you really can't tell what the offspring will look like until they're at least children and maybe teens. Playing cycles of 5 days will take some time to get there (unless I make an exception). At any rate I'll almost certainly be posting from Minnesota by the time I have some pics to show. bluwhew!

   Sorry, I guess we were getting ahead of things. No, rush.   

mac wrote:

Mainly, the thing is to have fun! And I do tend to treat my sims very nicely. Keep 'em alive forever with green stuff, etc. Look for good pairings then let nature take its course. Many of the stories just emerge from my head, although occasionally I'll have an idea and nudge my simmies more than a bit.

That's actually pretty similar to my playing philosophy, except I don't keep my sims alive forever and maybe sometimes it seems like I don't treat them so very nicely, but that's just when I'm playing challenges and am making them work their way up (hopefully) to a better life. I like it when nature takes its course and stories emerge naturally . . . of course they do sometimes require a nudge (or many nudges, in some cases!) I've also been playing each household a season at a time, except I have a mod that makes seasons 3 days long instead of 5. I downloaded it when I was thinking of a calendar system where one day= on month and with 3 days/seasons I would get 12 months in the year. Now I keep it in just because 3 days/ family works well with the time I usually have to play in one setting.

Cher wrote:

I open the book up to a random page and pick one from that page, or at least starting from that letter of the alphabet.

I've done that before too. Phone books are also handy for finding names. I bought a baby name book when I was pregnant with my son with the main ulterior motive of using it for sims names.   Online name generators like the one Sugah posted a link to are really helpful. I have to say though I am not to creative with surnames. Some of my sims do have some really lame and obvious, uninspired last names.   

Mac wrote:

AriesFlare on MTS2 has done some wonderful stuff that my sims use almost daily:

When I checked out your link, I discovered I already had some those meals. However, I discovered many I didn't have. Thanks for sharing. I'm always interested in the content others like to use. I also like to download a lot of meals. I would get bored if I had to eat the same few meals all the time. I'm sure my simmies would, as well, so I like to give them a good variety.

Mac wrote:

I have the rule about the 3 "P"s: Petite, perky, and looks great in a knit dress. (Sorry about that 3rd "P").

  

Thank you for the links to custom careers. I downloaded one many years ago and it didn't work. I haven't tried any since then, but you have so many that sound like fun. I'm going to have to try some again.

Cher64 wrote:

Thank you for the links to custom careers. I downloaded one many years ago and it didn't work. I haven't tried any since then, but you have so many that sound like fun. I'm going to have to try some again.

The main problem with the custom careers is getting the simmies to permanent platinum. The easiest is to use a magic lamp. I only use the lamp charges to provide permanent platinum to the simmies in custom careers. The others will get the permanent platinum the usual way.

The other way is to set an appropriate LTW. $100K is easy in the high-earning careers - especially if the sim is a fortune sim, maxing out all 7 skills is hard, unless the career really requires a lot of skills already - it helps if they're a knowledge sim, too. A popularity sim can make it with 20 best friends, and earn a lot of points doing so.

My simmies eat broccoli-pasta-chicken like it's going out of style (cooking level 2). Cooking 10 is required for the subs. MTS2 does have a lot of foods, though.

A couple of my favorites for breakfast: Feijao and Caramel-Apple-Pecan Waffles.     The Feijao is available at cooking level 2 and can also be lunch. The waffles are available at cooking level 3.

I have the Feijao, but not the waffles. In my old game, my sims would often spontaneously serve Tacos with Mexican Rice. They must have loved Mexican food as much as I do. (We had tacos tonight, but no Mexican rice.   )

Cher64 wrote:

I have the Feijao, but not the waffles. In my old game, my sims would often spontaneously serve Tacos with Mexican Rice. They must have loved Mexican food as much as I do. (We had tacos tonight, but no Mexican rice.   )

maikkij introduced me to Tex-Mex. Every Thursday to Border Cafe - raucous Tex-Mex place... Margaritas, enchiladas, quesidillas, etc plus decibels   . On Wednesdays (today) quesadilla and burrito from local take-out chain.

Moving to twin cities (Minneapolis-St.Paul). Looks like very slim pickin's there...   

I'm lovin' all the different wing flavors by eris3000, too, HERE.
They require pork chop level cooking skills.

Thanks for the heads up on AriesFlare's Tacos w/ Mexican Rice, Cher.
Don't know how I missed that one. We love us some Tex-Mex here in the Lone Star State!
I've no doubt my Sims are gonna enjoy it, too.   

Mac wrote:

...raucous Tex-Mex place... Margaritas, enchiladas, quesadillas...

Now you're talkin', Señor Mac!   

Sugah wrote:

Now you're talkin', Señor Mac!   

LOL! If there's tequila around, count me in!   

I haven't posted from my 'hood in over a month now. And probably my next one will be from St. Paul, MN - once we and the kitties and the computers all get there   

Anyway, Birdgurl's Tanya Finch and Samuel Sparrow (the born-in-game son of Jack Sparrow and Ari's Jacqueline) are becoming an item. He's just out of university but it already looks like he's headed for a pirate career. Tanya is Popularity/Cancer Artist(6)/Arts and Samuel is Pirate/Sports Fortune/Scorpio


Sugah's Chloe Maple   and Toni's Blaine Gibson   are engaged. Chloe is Family/Cancer Catering(4)/Cuisine and Blaine is Knowledge/Gemini Education(6)/Science


Two of Ari's creations, Miranda Moon and Brendan (renamed by me as Jean Lafitte) have moved in together - they're both Pirates(7). Her hobby is music and his is cuisine. He's Romance/Aries and she's Fortune/Aries. Ari's sims make beautiful babies!   and I'm sure they'll have kids (but see below!)


Em's Sabien and Elle's Cleo are both in the Cruise Ship career ( to Em and Elle and also to Elise Luong for the career) they're both CruiseShip(5)/Dance She's Popularity/Gemini and he's Romance/Cancer. They share the same digs when they're in port.


Stephen Bogart (the son of celeb Humphrey Bogart and Janet (from SimTR) didn't end up looking too bad at all. At least Malia (the daughter of Barack and Michelle) likes his looks. They met in university and are on their way to becoming an item.


Here are a trio: That's Colonel Mustard (by lilipad at MTS2  ) Phrynne Fisher (perfect image of her - a renaming of Lola by lovelydaisies2 at TSR    ) But the real joy is a born-in-game sim Ruth Aster (she's the daughter of Zoe Aster and Brendan Teach). Mom and dad are both creations of Ari, and they do make beautiful babies!  .   


I was starting to fall in love with Ruth, but Jeff Gique (the son of Sugah's Jeremy   and a celeb - Jennifer Grey) beat me to it! Lucky guy! She's just out of college and he's just finishing up.


They have 3 bolts, so when he proposed (outside) she was delighted to accept


But every party has a pooper   and a professor just had to walk in to the picture to disturb the festivities   

Mac wrote:

And probably my next one will be from St. Paul, MN - once we and the kitties and the computers all get there

Sounds like you'll be even more busy for a while.  

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But every party has a pooper  

Ain't that the truth! Funny pic, too.   

You have a lot of gorgeous pirate-types in your hood.  

Aw, Mac! Thank you for pointing this out to me - I would have missed it, otherwise, since I've been away for so long. I'm thrilled beyond words that you enjoy my sims and am so flattered by your high praise. Ruth did turn out lovely - thank you for getting her parents together! What a joy to see.   

Here's a new food - created by lientebollemeis on MTS2 - an Atlantic Sub Sandwich

I've never heard of this one: Salmon, cream cheese, onion, and cress. Sounds absolutely yummy!   Makes me want to dive right into my Sims game and have one. Requires no cooking skill!

Thanks Mac. I would eat that myself; I'm sure my sims will enjoy it.

Mac, thank you for the Atlantic Sub Sandwich link.   

What a thrill to see my Chloe of Canada engaged to Toni's Blaine!
Thank you for downloading one of my Sims and giving her a virtual life.   
Can't wait to see their children AND Ari's pirate duo's wee ones!

Mac wrote:

Jeff Gique (the son of Sugah's Jeremy...

I think Jeremy is one of Ari's, but don't quote me, Mac.
Did you find him HERE?
Ruth is a natural beauty, btw.

Thank you for sharing.
I know you will miss your Simmies while busy with the move these next few weeks.  

Sugah wrote:

I think Jeremy is one of Ari's, but don't quote me, Mac.
Did you find him HERE

Oops, my bad   

I went and read the fine print and he is, indeed one of Ari's!
So sorry   to hear of her retirement. She created some of the loveliest sims ever!   I do hope that she will still contribute now and then!

We're still unpacking... But I've started simming as well. I recently posted pics of Sugah's Esmee and Suvi  in their own threads.

Raluca Newman (the daughter of Milano - in RL a brilliant sims clothing designer and now a brilliant web designer as well, and a celeb sim: Paul Newman). Weston Cage is the son of the celeb Nicholas Cage and the celeb Eliza Dushku. She has him completely wrapped around her finger.


Malcolm Smith is the son of the celeb Will Smith and Hunter's Analize. He's in university and is even more handsome than his dad. A dance career awaits. Margot Hough is the daughter of the celeb Derek Hough and Ari's Melanie (  -  we miss your creations  ). Margot is heading toward a science career when she finishes university. I think they'll make beautiful babies, too. Malcolm first (shyly) tried a back rub on her, but then had his very first kiss!    Worth the wait I think!   


Toni contributed both Fabiana and Lana   They looked like cousins to me - two blonde DDG sims. So, "What's buzzin' cousin?" They weren't exactly falling into each others' arms, but then Lana lightened the mood with a joke. Here is a pic of Lana in a cousinly hug. See Lana's thread for Fabiana in the same hug.


Lana came home with Leaf (  Ari - we miss seeing your simmies on this site  ) She's really working her wiles on him - 3 bolts! He's living with Elle's Blossom - no commitment and only two bolts. I think Lana will probably steal him away.    

I'm glad you're finding time to play, Mac.   

That Lana is going to be a heartbreaker, huh?!   

And the next generation goes to college... I tend to play just the final semester - just to get the YA to adults with the extra want slot. Sims college (even the most serious campus: Academie Le Tour) seems to be mainly rah-rah and high-jinks. In RL, I and my contemporaries spent most of our time studying...

Nevertheless, Felix Adri (the son of Jen's Kiana and Giacomo) and Stefani Gaga (the daughter of celebs Lady Gaga and Bill Clinton) enjoyed their very first kiss.


OMG! What was that? What have we just done?  


'S OK! We think we rather like the whole experience!  


Joseph Fourier (the adopted son of Monet and Chantal Fourier) and Clara Bloom (daughter of celeb Orlando Bloom and Ari's Lilah) have their first kiss...


Two mommies! Without a daddy, how could he ever learn about girls? How could he ever not! I think he's doing just fine, and so does Clara!  


Remember Germain Depardieu (son of  celebs Gerard Depardieu and Audrey Tautou) and Agatha Peel (daughter of celebs Emma Peel and Hugh Laurie - aka "House"). Two really attractiveness challenged kids. But the teenaged Gerard really liked the little girl...      


And when they reached college, they pursued the attraction and had a really sweet and wonderful first kiss


And one thing led to another which led to another and...


Both Gerard (and I) think that Agatha isn't bad at all!


Gerard is out of college now and will be starting a career in cuisine, just like mom and dad. When Agatha graduates I'm sure that they'll be getting together for something really serious!

Buck Bekele (the son of BeckyLynn's Amare and Grace) was briefly in the Margot Hough chase, but they decided to just be "buddies"



He's hit it off much better with Ari's Sammi, who was a teenager all by herself in a house but now is in college. They're taking it slowly, though.


Buck is out of college now and heading into a music career. When Sammi graduates, they'll see if there's still an attraction.

Lots of great love connections happening in your hood.

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Two really attractiveness challenged kids.

I know what you mean about Uni. Unless I start my sims in college, I usually use a mod that drastically shortens the semester. The kids don't have time to do much else but study, write papers, and gain a few skill points.

How do you manage to play just the last semester? I find college rather tedious too and way too easy to make perfect grades. I've had sims do nothing except earn the required skills and go to class (no term papers, no homework, no studying) and get an A+ for the semester. I used to use a mod that would let your sims take their final whenever you choose. I found myself ending the semester 30 hours early and still passed easily, but it still seemed too long, so I started using a hack that makes each semester last 48 hours and the whole college experience last 4 semesters instead of 8. I like playing the abbreviated version much better.

Stefani is such a pretty sim. Gerard and Agatha on the other hand . . . are two very unique looking sims. Sammi and Buck make a cute couple.

SimEm wrote:

How do you manage to play just the last semester?

There is a "College Adjuster" here

Glad you like the second generation - cute kids, and sometimes more than cute! As for Germain and Agatha, yes, they're not the best looking but I've grown rather fond of them. Their kids, though, might be something else!

Loving the updates Mac! I LOVE playing Uni! Not sure why

Oh, cool. I didn't know about that hack. I've been using a different one that lets you speed up semesters, but not skip them altogether. That's good to know. If you're just interested in getting the extra want slots and want to skip the entire college experience all together, MATY's lot debugger, will let you upgrade any sim be a "college graduate" with the extra want slots. Or you can add them manually with the Sim Manipulator. (That's what I've been doing lately, because I felt bad that some of my sims had extra wants and others didn't.) I like sending them to college just to give them a chance to socialize with their peers and meet future potential mates. The actual education parts leaves something to be desired.

I've had some, let's say, unique looking sims that were less than beautiful, but that I'd grown fond of as well. So I get where you're coming from. Yes, it will be interesting to see how their kids might turn out, for sure!

One semester (2nd half of the senior year) seems to be enough. It gives the YA the extra want slot on graduation. I also like the cut scene of the parent dropping the kid off. I'm entirely sick of the rah-rah cheerleader, the llama, the cow, and the streaker. Usually my simmie YA can easily graduate with honors and have time left for.... romance! I'm using university to pair off some of the younger generation where appropriate although in one instance one of my YA simmies has ended up in a serious relationship with an NPC college gal.