Lars Larsson - Simday 20

31 simyears old

I am happy that Judge Cunningham proposed to renovate the apartment I'm staying in. I really didn't like the way it looked before. Now, it looks bright and cheerful. That's important to me because I work several hours a day at my computer desk doing financial consultations.

I need a bright and cheery space after crunching numbers all day. I do consulting because I love money and I'm good at it. Also, because I need to finance my architect career. Working as a Brick Layer is not enough money to even cover the rent here at Cedar Two Flats. It's expensive. I'm having to pay $1,400 at the end of every period. And today I got hit with a garden maintenance fine of $2,000! My Gosh!...there goes a small chunk of my savings.

I can look forward to being paid 10% of any Larsson Living Home that is purchased here in the Hills. It's a requirement of the law to pay 10 percent down on a home, and The Administration will match this 10% in an escrow account for that property; increasing the value of the home over time.

The 10% payment for the Simday 11 purchase of 99 E. Cedar (The Masters' household) was waiting for me when I got here, and I've heard that two or three more households will be moving soon...so don't let my complaining fool you. I'm doing ok for myself. *smiles*

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When I'm not working on a house or pushing numbers, I'm a sports nut. I love watching sports on tv and I love basketball. Male or Female pro ball, doesn't matter. When I found out who lived below me, I almost blew a gasket! I'm a HUGE fan of Honey and her pro-basketball career. I've been following her since she left college ball. She is one tough competitor! Not to mention she's hot, too. We got a chance to talk and after I got over being starstruck, I really got to enjoy her sense of humor. I hope Nick didn't mind me talking to her so much. I kinda forgot he was in the room. Somehow, though...I can't picture her, acting. The two careers just don't seem to fit. (She said the same about me...with my finance and architect careers. Although, they match up a little better than what she's doing.) I'll have to take some time and check her out in that soap opera, Suburb Sims. See for myself. Her husband, Nick, is probably a little biased, because he thinks she's great. But, I can't quite picture the #1 Rebounder for the SimCity Llamas playing a sappy character on a soap opera.

I drew up plans for their new home and showed them the details of it, even though it wasn't quite finished. They were completely in love with it. It's small, but they can make it work for them. I was surprised Nick and Honey would want a home this small. They both said its for the best right now. They'll be able to afford mansions later.

Nick invited me down to his sportsbar, Game Time, to meet some people or just watch a game on TV, play some pool, whatever... I needed to get out of this apartment for awhile. I wasn't expecting to meet Starla. Starla Tsang. She was working behind the bar.

We struck up a conversation and hit it off. I didn't really know how to take her at first. She's not what I'm used to, but there's something about her that I like. I wanted to get to know her better.

One day after work, she called me up to invite me on an outing downtown and to meet some of her friends. I couldn't wait to see her again. I had to get out of my work clothes, first. I was mixing cement then. Dirty job. I know they say women like a man in a hardhat, but this was not a good look for first impressions.

Eventually, I got to know Starla well enough to invite her back to my place. We've established a pretty good friendship. I hope to become more than just friends, but I don't want to rush things. I already know she's got a crush on me. I would love to meet some more people, but it seems Simmington Hills doesn't have that many people living here yet.

One thing for sure...I love blondes and Starla's got beautiful hair.

Edward Valdes - Simday 20

40 simyears old

I don't know what's wrong with me. I love my wife, but I'm feeling like she doesn't appreciate me and the lifestyle I'm affording her. Rita's always spending money like it's going out of style. Parties every month, new clothes, gifts...the list goes on! I work so hard and no one cares. My own children don't care about the legacy I'm trying to leave them. All they want to know is where we're moving to.

I've saved up enough money for us to buy a real nice house once our lease expires next period. That money didn't come easy, either. I work my ass off! I'm always stressing that hard work should be rewarded, so where are my rewards?!

I decided to talk to Orlando Centowski about the great job he's doing at BBV Motors. He's always on time, and he does the work of 2 people everyday! He likes my daughter too, which is a plus, maybe I will be able to keep BBV Motors in the family?

Do you know how hard it is to sell cars in the snow? It's damn near impossible! I practically have to scream and get up in my customer's faces to make them buy a car. But, we won another Best of the Best Award. Sure did. Our 2nd.

I came home one day after working outside in the snow for 12 hours straight. I was blue from frostbite and Rita just looked at me like I should've known better. Mouth all sucked up so tight...No hug, no - "How was your day, honey?" She does everything for everyone else, but I'm left out of the circle. She could've fixed me something hot to drink, but NO...I had to do it myself.

I did think of another more fun way to get warmed up...but forget about that...a quick glance at the television showed me that Rita was watching her soap. I learned real fast, don't mess with her while her soap is on or you'll get your neck snapped off.

Confession: No one was happier than I was when the sun came out and started melting some of that snow. A sure sign of spring. Or when Tomika Cunningham showed up on my lot. A sure sign of "Oh my goodness, what am I getting myself into?"

At our Halloween Party, I had flirtaciously suggested that she could stop by the lot and arrest me anytime she wanted to. But, I'm always flirting with Tomika like that. I think she's hot. With respect to the Mayor and my wife...but, I never in a million years would think she'd do it. But, she did and now I'm crushing on the Mayor's wife.

Emerita Valdes - Simday 20

40 simyears old

I'm having a ball watching my kids grow up and turn into handsome and beautiful, confident teenagers. They have completely turned their grades around from last time, and they make sure to study and do their homework on time. And I'm blessed that they get along so well. Great kids.

But, where is my life going? I need to do some soul-searching to figure out what I want to do. Pretty soon they'll be gone and it'll just be me left all alone with no one to talk to. Maybe I could help Ed down at the car lot.

I'm always throwing parties. Ed says I need to slow down and stop trying to be the center of attention.

I asked him how can I ever slow down and steal a moment for myself? He and the kids are always bothering me and asking me to do something that they could very well do for themselves!

I happily go shopping and cook for the entire apartment, including the new guy downstairs, Ray.

He says he misses his momma's home cooking, and mine reminds him of hers. So I cook him breakfast and take it down there. Only, on one particular morning, my daughter had beat me to it. She looked as surprised to see me as I was to see her. I asked her what she was doing there and she told me Ray helps her with her homework. I'm so glad to know that a genuine FENSA Society member lives in the building! How wonderful is that?!

A trip to City Hall got me thinking about the fact that I do-do-do for my family and everybody else and I hardly ever get anything in return.

I stay at City Hall's Gift Shop so much, Sabien stopped me one day and asked me if I worked there! LOL! I buy up gifts all the time because I never know when I might need one. He asked me what I planned on doing once my kids left the nest, they're growing so fast. That's when it hit me that I hadn't thought about it.

I had nothing to say, so turning an awkward situation into something positive, I invited Sabien over for some of my award-winning chili. You all may remember I won 2nd place in the Chili Cook-Off at last year's Food Expo event. They gave me a silver trophy and everything!

Well, Sabien loves it! He says it's, "Not too rich, and not too spicy...it's just right!" Ed says it gives him gas.

I say all that to say this...I've got a lot of talents, I just have to figure out which one I want to focus on.

Erline Valdes - Simday 20

15 simyears old

Me and my brother's birthday party turned out to be total crap. My mom forgot to make enough enchiladas and people started leaving 'cuz they were hungry. She's always throwing parties, but she never makes enough food. I wonder why she never makes her award-winning chili. She's got a silver trophy for it. She said it didn't have anything to do with the food, the blizzard outside made the party go south, but I just disagree. It's been snowing all winter long, and people still go where they wanna go.

I guess I should stop riding her back, 'cuz she's a good mom. She got me some really cool clothes and showed me how to do my hair so that it looks good against my face. I got some real chubby cheeks. And they don't look right. My Dad says it's an inherited trait from his father...but, how would he know? I thought he never knew his father. Plus, mom's got fat cheeks too. I'm double-cursed.

She also re-did my room. Purplepaws had designed me a beautiful kid's room, but my mom made it more teen-like with my favorite color, teal.

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I'm just feeling bad 'cuz this guy I really like, acts like he don't like me as much anymore and like he wants me to leave him alone. We talk all the time on the phone, and now he doesn't even answer my calls.

Yeah, you know him...it's Orlando Centowski. He works for my dad. He invited Orlando over here to talk to him about the business, and to make me and my brother jealous, I guess. Orlando's been working for my father since the beginning. And, he's really good at his job. I've liked 'O' since I was a kid.

But, I figure if he's never home and not answering his phone...neither will I. So I started hanging out downstairs with Ray. Ray is way-smart. He knows so much. And he's great to hang out with. I've started liking him, too. He makes me feel important.

So, now I'm torn between two guys that I like a lot. Ray, I think about him all the time 'cuz our relationship has become even closer. Orlando, I think I'd like to date him 'cuz he's my age and he's got goals already for his future.

Elmer Valdes - Simday 20

15 simyears old

...Can't believe that my sister and I are finally teenagers. Now I'm torn between what I want to do with my life versus what my father wants me to do with my life.

My dad works hard. Sometimes too hard. He's made a stone success out of BBV Motors. But, he wants me to continue that legacy so he can retire. I understand we're all he's got, but I've never shown him an interest in selling cars. I've always shown my parents that I love art. Painting and photography is where my heart is.

My mom's a little more understanding. Although, she worries about the future of BBV, she always encourages me behind closed doors, to fulfil my dreams. I can talk to her about anything and she always has an answer. But, she can't help but feel for dad, who complains to her that everything he's worked for is gonna go down the toilet if me or my sister doesn't step up to the plate. My dad wants her to take his side, but she tries to be there for us more than him....umm, well, that's whenever we can get her attention. We have to wait between 1pm and 2pm, then we get our mom back. Nobody can pry her away from Pahala Shore. She loves that sappy soap opera.

My sister and me will be playin' and laughin'...and she'll yell, "I'll deal with y'all after my soap. Now take all that noise to your room."

We love to get her riled up, but she's a great mom. For the holidays, she bought all of us gifts. I don't think any of us got her anything. She's always thinking of us.

She got me a basket of fake fruits. Now, you might not see the beauty of this gift, but it speaks volumes to me. She asked me to paint it for her. Like an art class would do. She was literally giving me her blessing right in front of dad, that she wants me to pursue my art!

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My sister's been acting weird lately. She stays cooped up in her room. (Well that's not really weird, she's been doin' that since that decorator lady, purple-something, gave her new room. Purplepaws. Yeah.) But, she's always playing her music and singing with the door closed. Like she's in concert or something.

Sometimes I don't know how she does it, but she'll sneak out and leave her music on and my parents'll think she's still in there, when I know she's not.

She don't have a car...so where's she going? I think - she's going downstairs to hang out with Ray. He's a pretty cool guy. I can see why she likes him. He knows a lot of stuff about alot of stuff. But, he and I have more in common than they do. We talk guy stuff alot of times.

I asked her what's up with her and Ray and she threw a pillow at me. She told me he's helping her with her homework. Hmpff! She gets this goofy look on her face whenever I mention his name. She came walking in the house with that goofy expression on her face the other night. It was after 10pm!! I pretended to read my book, but I was watching her.

I'm looking forward to getting out of Simmington Hills for awhile to attend Sims State. I need to meet some new kids...especially girls. There ain't no decent girls around here to talk to, and no decent places to go either. They need to get a community center or something.