Life in Christophe Harbour

Howdie boys and girls! I'm baaack! I was out of town (or as they say in these parts...I was 'off island'). Hope you didn't miss me too much!

Those of you who waded through my post describing my rotation system, now understand why my updates take so LONG! lol! I've gotta make sure that everything happens chronologically! I can't help myself! It's weird because I'm not an organized person in RL by any stretch of the imagination! I mean seriously...it's kind of a running joke about me flying by the seat of my pants, and making stuff up as I go along. Why I'm so obsessive about my simmies lives is beyond me! But hey, I embrace my madness. As I like to say, "I don't suffer from insanity...I enjoy every minute of it!" :muahaha:

With that said, before we get back to our star-crossed lovers, I did have a meanwhile update for you. Stuff that I missed sharing before:

Remember Shoba? (Joey's girlfriend, who rejected his proposal because she wanted a chance to date a few more guys). Well her sister Zahra, who dated Kyle after his meltdown in uni...and who had promised her grandmother she'd settle down when she graduated? Well.....she dated around (and I do mean 'dated around) and then really did fall in love. She had a wonderfully extravagant wedding, most fitting for the daughter of a top Bollywood Director.

Here's the couple with her family. That's vogue-dancing, sorority girl Raishma in green, and hunka hunka burnin' love brother Anil, who's now a rising soccer star playing with the Christophe Harbour Astros. That's Shoba at the end, looking rather wistful.

She's dating a college friend named Jack Dennis (for those of you who've been following this tale from the beginning. He's the Jack, who temporarily played guitar with the Rogues when Kyle got grounded back in high school).

He's in love with her, but she's just in crush. I wonder if she regrets breaking up with Joey (Marco's big brother)? Oh well...you snooze you lose....

...Because social worker Joey and his wife Stephanie have just had a baby!

Little Mario is named after Joey's grandfather.

Family sim Joey, is in his element being a daddy, and is already hankering for another baby.

This is soooo cool. I love the detail you put into your sims' lives. They play out like a real (ha!) tv soap opera. But better, 'cause I hate soap operas, lol. I just love reading about what everyone is up to in your neighborhood. Even when you're not telling the Marco/Carolyn story, everyone else has a story, too. No sim left behind! The wedding pictures are beautiful! So much time and attention to detail. I'm so lazy with mine - I hardly do anything, and often, I'm too lazy to throw a party for my sims and just have them get hitched, lol.

Welcome back, dear Toni. You were missed.

Lady T wrote:

Why I'm so obsessive about my simmies lives is beyond me! But hey, I embrace my madness. As I like to say, "I don't suffer from insanity...I enjoy every minute of it!"

What a gorgeous wedding!!! SIMply beautiful & so exotic looking!



Your attention to detail is always incredibly impressive, m'lady...
Not only in the way you decorate/landscape, but the way you play your game as well.

Thank you for sharing with us, as always.

Thanks as ever Ari and Sugah for keeping me enthused! Much love to ya both!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I haven't abandoned my simmies. I was away for a week, and now I'm wading through my download folder trying to identify a file that's making my game crash when I go into buy mode. Fear not! My simmies are safe and sound. I can play them and everything, but I can't decorate and furnish and all that very important stuff. So I'm on a mission. I do however, have over 45,000 files *cough* and so, it's been a rather time-consuming exercise. I've narrowed it down to a batch of some 2000 or so, so I should be all sorted out before the weekend is over, and get back down to business. I actually have photos for the next installment, but am obsessed with focused on sorting out the current crisis.

Please don't give up on Carolyn and Marco (and Kyle, and Max and Cassie and Marc, and Vinnie and Joey and Shoba, and..... )

In the meantime....here's a teaser from the next 'episode'

"Did you hurt someone caro?"

"No," Marco said softly, his voice hoarse.

"Did someone hurt you?"

He nodded, and closed his eyes. She squeezed his hand. "You want to stay here for a while?"


Stay tuned......

The wedding pictures are beautiful!

But what is this a teaser???

gimme more!!!

Ullwera wrote:

gimme more!!!

Patience child! *pats Ulli's head*

Sooooon. I'm almost done with my DL folder pruning exercise, and I'll get back to business. I should be posting the next installment of the Marco-Carolyn saga soon. Not that I think you can handle it! Be careful what you wish for!

So...you know I always tell you guys that my simmie story-telling was born out of my days playing Barbie dolls? I even used to write out the autobiographies of my dolls...and I kept all those notebooks! Well...going through some boxes the other day, I found some of the notebooks! Here's a page from the bio of my Barbie's (Barbara) husband Brad. He was Ken's friend. I wrote this crap when I was like fourteen! Ha haaaaa! Too funny! But you can see where all that nit-picky detail thing I do with my simmies, comes from. I have no recollection of ever studying or doing homework, but I rememeber spending hours and hours writing out these mini-stories. Hee hee!

Toni was a Simmer from before Simmers!

That is too cool Toni! *hugs*

Grykon wrote:

Toni was a Simmer from before Simmers!

That is too cool Toni! *hugs*

What's amazing is that you kept all of those notebooks. You were, and are, just one step away from fiction writing.

Actually, that's the lure of Sims2 - one of the reasons that we didn't go all out for Sims3 is that there was suddenly too much structure - Sims2 is so much more open-ended. All of us are developing stories of our simmies, providing enjoyment both for ourselves and for other people on this blog. We really are doing fiction writing. Part of the fun is that our simmies sometimes have "minds" of their own!

What you wrote was not "Crap", and was probably more valuable than studying and homework. You were being creative. 'Nuff said!

WOW! That is really amazing! You really were born to write. I never put any thought at all into my dolls' lives, except what they were doing at the moment. That is such an incredibly detailed bio. I'm impressed!

My wife tells me that she wrote stories about her paper-dolls when she was 8.

In some ways, the sims are really just paper-dolls for grownups!

BTW, that's US!

Aaaawwww...you guys are just the best! I came from a family of storytellers. In fact, I like to think that we're descended from a long line of storytellers...in those villages long ago, who passed on the oral history of the tribe.

As a kid, I used to love having stories read to me. I'd conjure up images in my head of how the characters looked. I was blessed to have some awesome storytellers (both my parents, my grandmother, my siblings, even one of my first teachers). Maybe that's where my fascination with detail comes from. Oh.....and I loved, loved, loved reading. I always had my nose in a book. I remember walking home from school while reading. Thanks god we didn't have a lot of traffic in the island I grew up on! lol!

Mac, I played paper dolls too...and yes, they had bios! lol! I found them equally interesting to play. Certainly more portable, it was easier to change their clothes, and playing with them actually encouraged you to use your imagination even more. I recently found a paperdoll clutter download at GOS. I nearly went out of my mind! lol!

Thanks again for your most-cool feedback!

Sorry about the double post, but I finally bested my crashing problem, and was eager to get moving with some serious game play. But I wanted to post a Carolyn and Marco update for you guys first, to get you through the next couple of days while I play.

Ready? We left Marco heading for the highway after Kyle called Carolyn, and apparently sent her into a tailspin....

....
Marco drove until he reached Christophe Harbour.


His mother and some of his younger siblings were just coming back from Church when he pulled up behind them into the driveway.

He had stopped at a gas station along the way to wash his face and brush his teeth, but he still looked pretty rough when he unfolded himself from the shiny, new Benz.

His mother, Maria (she's cut her hair) shooed the siblings into the house.

"Rough night bro?" his 14 year old brother Salvatore called.

Maria glared at Sal pointing him inside, then she turned to Marco and wrapped her arms around him. He didn't cry, but he held his mother tightly, taking deep breaths.

"I just need to sleep awhile Ma," he said.

She nodded understandingly, and taking his hand she led him around the back of the house into the kitchen, where she put on the kettle.


"Go lie down, caro. I'll bring you some tea. You hungry?"



He shook his head.

A shower, some mint tea and his mother sitting next to him reading a book while he slept for a couple of hours, and Marco felt calmer.

"Did you hurt someone caro?" She said when he opened his eyes and rolled onto his back.

"No," he said softly, his voice hoarse.

"Did someone hurt you?"

He nodded, and closed his eyes. She squeezed his hand. "You want to stay here for a while?"

"I can't," he said quietly, sitting up and draping his arms over his knees.

"I've got so much to do. I'm leaving for Canada in a few weeks. I have a meeting tomorrow with the producers. I...I'm going to just have to push through."

"And you will, honey," she said gently.

She looked straight ahead as though considering whether or not to say something...

...Then she took a deep breath, looked at her son and continued.

"I've been hurt many, many times. Sometimes I thought I would never be able to keep going." Her eyes were filled with tears, and Marco realized that his mother had known all along that his father had been unfaithful to her over the years.

"Why did you stay?" he asked softly.

"I love him."

He leaned over and hugged her.

"He loves you too you know," he said as he pulled away, holding onto her hand.

"Yes. I know," she said, smiling through her tears.

On the drive back to Simmiewood that night his mother's words echoed in his head.

"I love him."

He cheated on her and she never left him. Is that how it is with Carolyn and Kyle? He wondered. Will she keep going back to him?


"I love him." He heard his mother say again.

I am glad you are weeding out your CC problem sweetie, I have had that happen to me several times and ugh!!

Oh poor, poor Marco...he is so heartbroken and that makes me so sad .
There is nothing better than going home to Momma to help mend your heart and get lots of comfort. Mom's are the best!!

I sure hope that he works through this and at least talks to Carolyn again. They have come so far to let this be the end...

Kyle needs to ride off into the sunset, ALONE!!

As always, beautiful storytelling and your pictures are absolutely fantastic sweetie!!

AdriannaSimmie wrote:

I sure hope that he works through this and at least talks to Carolyn again. They have come so far to let this be the end...

I sure hope so too! But you know what a fiend the author of this sordid tale is! I'm going to hazard a guess that there's gonna be a lot more drama ahead :muahaha:

AdriannaSimmie wrote:

Kyle needs to ride off into the sunset, ALONE!!

Not swayed by his good looks then, eh Jen?

AdriannaSimmie wrote:

As always, beautiful storytelling and your pictures are absolutely fantastic sweetie!!

It means so much to me to get feedback!

Toni wrote:

Quote :

Not swayed by his good looks then, eh Jen?

Heck no...he is a D-O-G who stirs up too much drama

A beautiful dog is still a dog.

Great chapter, Toni. Touching, but so sweet how mama takes care of her boy. Even when they're grown up, sometimes they still need their mommy.

Astral Faery wrote:

Great chapter, Toni. Touching, but so sweet how mama takes care of her boy. Even when they're grown up, sometimes they still need their mommy.

Thanks Ari. You can see where he gets his kind-heartedness.

AdriannaSimmie wrote:

Toni wrote:

Quote :

Not swayed by his good looks then, eh Jen?

Heck no...he is a D-O-G who stirs up too much drama

Astral Faery wrote:

A beautiful dog is still a dog.

All this cuteness not workin' for you guys eh?



I can't imagine why!

Innocent with those puppy eyes.. ha, I got you now


Dogs do come in different shapes and colors and they are all cute.... I rather have one that follows me around everywhere than the opposite...

He smiles while he stabs you in the back...but it makes for a deliciously flawed character.

Ullwera wrote:

Innocent with those puppy eyes.. ha, I got you now

Ha haaa, Ulli! I so love that little angry viking! He makes me laugh every time! Hee heee!

Astral Faery wrote:

He smiles while he stabs you in the back...but it makes for a deliciously flawed character.

And he is rather delicious indeed! What?! I like pretty things! Is that so wrong?!

He's good with kids! Max's daughter Sam is over all the time, and he plays basketball with her, and everything!

So he has a few weakness. *cough*

AnyWHO...enough about the dog...um...I mean Kyle...

I have an important meanwhile for you guys. I thought these happenings share-worthy. So here goes:

---

Max's sister Elisabeth (the one who works with my Sim Self as an intern at National News Network) got married to her hottie Greek fiance Kostos.

That's Cassie there doing the bridesmaid thing. They've been best friends since high school when Cassie used to date Max.

My Sim self (Sim Toni) was at the wedding, and so was Beth's other longtime friend, Andre...who you may recall is Cassie's first cousin. Remember the two of them were roomies with Marco at uni.

Anyway, Cassie (a fashion model) introduced Toni to Andre. Here she is in all her chubby glory...how wonderful that one of Andre's turn ons is voluptuous women! Well played Real Toni!

They totally hit it off.

But that's not all that was going on at the reception that fine Saturday afternoon.

As the reception was winding down, Cassie emerged from the powder room and ran into her high school ex Max...who's now rising up the rock star career ladder, with an album that just went gold. You may remember that she dumped him about seven years ago when she found out he cheated on her AND had a baby! But within year or so they were on 'hello' terms, though mostly online.

Well, they had a pleasant enough conversation about his sister and her best friend getting married.

Well...that's how it started anyway.

And...well...Max turned on the boyish charm. Oiy vey!

Did Cassie buy it?

Yep, he got her to go back to his place with him. What is it about rock stars and models anyway?



Anyway, back to Toni and Andre.

Okay, they were at the wedding with other people, but just dates not relationships. Needless to say, he was struggling for a way to ask for her number...but before he could get up the courage to do anything...she got whisked away.

The following Monday was a great day for Sim Toni. She got promoted to junior reporter!



...and was bopping happily out of the National News Network Headquarters...


...when there waiting on the sidewalk was Andre!

A bit nervous, he asked her if she'd like to go for coffee.

Clearly he had nothing to worry about! Sim Toni likes what she sees! (she's not exactly the shy type! )

Oh, Toni! Your simmie is so beautiful in that picture where she just got promoted. I love her hair. How exciting! I almost wish I had played sim Ari a little slower, she's almost an elder now! I can't wait to watch Toni's romance with Andre.

The picture of Max wooing Cassie cracked me up - it almost looks like he's saying "We'll woohoo allll over this apartment."

Gosh, I'm so far behind on commenting, I'm not sure where to start. I love your ethnic weddings and all the careful details you put into them, especially the Indian wedding. The outfits and the backdrop were gorgeous!

I really like the notes from your Barbie playing days. Those are great. I used to have lots of notes and notebooks like that - not about dolls, they were just what ever we (usually me and my cousins or just me) were playing at the moment, but for story characters. Mine were not quite that detailed. I did have dates and I had extensive family trees from some characters going two or three generations each way. Unfortunately I don't think I have any of them anymore. Everytime I cleaned out my room or my desk I'd purge a little bit more and whenever I made major life changes (like going away to college) I'd get rid of a lot. I think when I got married I got rid of my last old notes. That's so neat that you still have all of yours.

Aw, poor Marco. I'm glad he's back at home with his mom to comfort him. I'm looking forward to seeing how Carolyn and Kyle's meeting goes. I hope both she and Marco are open to giving it another chance after what happened. But Kyle . . . he's not just a dog, but a two faced dog. When I see that picture of him with the two girls I can't help thinking of him telling Carolyn how much he loves her and she's the only one he's ever cared about, blah, blah, blah. Then being all dramatic about breaking up with her and shaving his head . . . while when she turns her back he's acting like that. Pretty as he is, he gets no sympathy from me.

Sim Toni is really beautiful. It looks like she's doing really well!

I don't let my simself age. She's a grandma of twins now in one of my hoods. I think her son is already older than she is. I should give her a better life, she's been basically a test sim. Even her son was an experiment.

Thank you Ari! Happiness is better for the skin than moisturizer! Sim-Toni's hair is by Newsea. It's called Desperate. Here's the 'official' link. I love it too, and have to stop myself from using it on every simmie.

Max is - like his dog room mate - also a romance sim, so poor Cassie is going to have her work cut out for her. But like I said...there's just a thing about rock stars and models. They seem to gravitate towards to each other. What can ya do?!

Em! Gurlfren!' Thanks so much for taking the time to catch up...and comment in such detail!

Kyle is just immature and selfish. He so doesn't deserve Carolyn!

I love that you did the story and family trees thing. I guess people like you and me were born to play the sims.

I haven't aged any of my adult sims yet. I use middle aged makeup when they hit about fifty, and age them to elders at about 60. I have no idea what I'm going to do when it's time for Sim Toni to age...or...gulp...you know But I play soooo slowly, I don't imagine that happening for a while.

I figure some of you might be eager to get back to Carolyn and Marco, but there's so much happening in my hood. One more quick meanwhile, and then we'll find out what happens to our star-crossed lovers next.

And a reminder that in the next couple of installments, I'll be doing a quiz. First person to answer right and I'll send them a link to download Carolyn and Marco!

Anyway...time for another quick meanwhile:

Daniel married his little strumpet who got beaten up by Lilith and Angela when they found out about their affair. Needless to say the twins did not attend the wedding. Nor did her parents (professors) who were very distressed that she hooked up with a friend of theirs...and a man who'd known her since she was a child. Ugh!

Anyway, they got hitched. They're both romance sims, so I'm not sure how long it'll last.


Toni's romance with Andre is buzzing along nicely.


I confess that it actually didn't take them very long to 'seal the deal' so to speak.


He fell in love with her before the big event, she fell in love with him sometime during.

Immediately afterward, he wanted to get engaged to her, while she wanted to give him a secret handshake! Go figure!

I'm loving reading though your story hun, You have great writing skills.
Very inspiring and funny as well in places.
Keep up the good work I cannot wait to read your next installment!