Spring 2012 - Harris

Gregory (27), Robin (27), Melody (5), Savannah (1)

Things were running smoothly and life was good for the Harris family.  While baby Savannah took her morning nap, Gregory, Robin, and Melody enjoyed each other's company over breakfast, even if the omelets were slightly burnt.

Melody and Robin enjoyed dancing together in the living room after breakfast.  Robin couldn't think of a better way to get her pre-pregnancy body back than by having fun with her daughter.

After school and on the weekends, Melody liked to hang out in the gym.  It was fun meeting new sims.

And hanging out in the gym had become even more fun since her mom and dad came up with their new idea for a business venture.

Gregory and Robin were on the same wavelength.  Without even discussing it, they both had the idea that they wanted to purchase something fun for the business, some kind of game.  Their ideas on price varied slightly, but they were both thinking something expensive.  As they discussed it and looked at their options, one item stood out, a bowling alley.

They knew that the equipment would be expensive and that they would have to take out a business loan, but they hadn't anticipated how much space a bowling alley would take up and how high the cost would be to expand the size of their building to accomodate even one lane.

But in the end they decided it would be worth it.  Not only was it fun for the whole family, but

the entire neighborhood could enjoy it as well.  New Eden was in need of a fun spot for families to visit and for friends to meet.  The bowling alley was immediately popular and the Harris's home business ranking sky rocketted.

Maybe it was coincidence, but with the opening of the bowling alley and with the increased number of visitors, there seemed to be an increase in problems between patrons of the business.

And they worried that the draw of the bowling alley and the noise of the rolling balls and crashing pins might take away from the use and the atmosphere of the gym, but the visitors to the gym did not seemed bothered by it and the gym was just as busy as ever.

Problems between customers was not limited to the bowling alley.  There were arguments in the gym as well.

When problems started Robin stepped in to make sure nothing escalated.  She gave a warning that anyone who caused problems with other visitors to the gym would be asked to leave and not to come back.

Yet, the next day, the same sim was back again starting problems with another visitor to the gym

and yet another.

When Robin once again stepped in and asked Alexis to leave, she turned hostile.

But Robin remained firm and refused to be intimidated.  "I am revoking your gym membership.  You are not welcome back here."

Gregory knew that Robin hated to have to take a tough stand with Alexis, but was proud of how she took charge.  She turned to the ballet barre to work off some stress and clear her mind.

Robin tried her hand at the ballet barre too, but found that formal dance was not for her.

She much preferred dancing for fun with her mom to the radio and on her mother's feet when she returned home from work at the office.

After a long day at work, Robin was happy to share a dance with her older daughter and tuck in her younger daughter in for her afternoon nap.

Then spend some quality time with her husband.

She loved what a wonderful father he was and how well he bonded with both of the girls.

She loved the way he sometimes fussed over his appearance in the bathroom mirror.

And she especially loved the way that he always had time to listen to how her day was at the office and about the work that she was doing with the hood council

even before she had a chance to show him just how much she loved him and appreciated all the things that he did for their family.

Another busy day at the office and Robin would come home to a beautiful spring day with Melody and her friend playing catch in the yard.

She would check in at the gym and see what friends of hers were there.

She was delighted to see that her best friend, Tosha was expecting again and so excited that her friend would be experiencing the joy of motherhood for a second time.  Life was good.

After playing this lot I rolled my ROS for the next round and got "Alexis picks a fight with 4 sims."  She had already went ahead and took herself to fulfill that ROS before it was even rolled.  I am fond of Alexis from her days on Arrendale Heights and the idea of her being a glamorous diva.  But she does have an obnoxious personality when left to her own devices.  If it hadn't been for her children I probably wouldn't have moved her to New Eden at all.  I really don't know what's going to become of her if she doesn't shape up and be nicer to her neighbors. 

Spring 2012 - Cormier

Rich (33), Tosha (33), Rosalyn (1)

Rich couldn't believe the big day was here.  His little sister was headed off to college.  With the way she had struggled with her grades, he wasn't sure if this day was ever going to come.  But she had worked hard to improve her grades and even won a scholarship based on her college interview.  He was very proud of her and knew if their mother had been there to see this day, she would be too.

The household was going to be different without Violet.  This would be the first time in their married life that Tosha and Rich weren't sharing their house with a teenager.  The quiet of her being gone, the absence of her friends coming in and out of the house took some getting used to.  Rich and Tosha weren't the only ones who had to adjust.  They lost track of how many times they would look out the window to see Bryan pass by, looking at the house with a lovesick puppy look.  It was obviously hard on him to be left behind in high school because he was a year younger.

  Even though they would miss having Violet around, Rich and Tosha were glad to be their own family of three for awhile.  And they were going to be staying as just three for awhile longer.  Their attempts at trying for another baby had failed for now.  Tosha had been disappointed, but not surprised when their first attempts didn't result in a second pregnancy, but she knew that it had taken awhile for them to get pregnant with Rosalyn and it would probably take awhile to get pregnant again.

Things would happen when they were meant too and it was probably for the best that they didn't have a second child right now.  Rich was still out of work and if Tosha had to take time off work for maternity leave, money might be tight for awhile.

The school was desperate for another teacher since the passing of Ms. Ebadi, so much so that they were willing to reinstate Rich to his former position just as if he had never been let go, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to be a teacher anymore.  He felt like this might be the perfect opportunity to go in a different direction and try something new with his life.  He considered going into construction, but that turned out to be a fleeting thought.  What he really wanted to do was become a writer.

He discussed the idea with Tosha over pancakes one morning. Would they be alright financially with just her income while he pursued writing a novel?  It would mean that he could stay home with Rosalyn while Tosha was at work instead of hiring a babysitter.

They thought they could manage it, at least on a trial basis, so as soon as Tosha went to work and Rosalyn was down for her nap, Rich sat down at the computer and started writing.  He had so many ideas flowing through his mind that he wasn't sure where to start.

The more he typed, the more passionate was beoming about literature and film and he knew he needed a better workspace than the kitchen table.  Even though he knew they should probably be putting their funds towards building a nursery for the baby, he sold the hottub, bought a big screen TV (for inspiration), a recliner, and a proper desk.  He had the wall separating Violet's old bedroom from the hallway torn down, making the space more open and built himself a den where he could work (and relax).

He was really enjoying taking the time to pursue new hobbies, in addition to writing and studying film, he was taking an interest in cooking.  He was improving his skills and learning to make new recipes to surprise Tosha with when she came home from work.

Sometime he would have a cooking show on in the background while he wrote, trying to immerse himself in all of his new hobbies at once.

It was a great relief and a great sense of accomplishment when his novel was finally complete.

He was just about to tend to Rosalyn when he got the call from his publisher saying his book was being published and it was expected to sell well.

It was an exciting moment, the following morning when the first copy of his novel was delivered to the house.

Rich made sure to find a very special place on the bookshelf for it,

before turning his attention back to caring for Rosalyn.  He was lucky she was such an easy baby to take care of.

As always Tosha was glad to return home from a long day at work.  Her career had had its ups and downs over the season.  She'd discovered a few new underwater species.  With her first discovery she made the mistake of not crediting her supervisor and got a demotion.  After that she learned that brown-nosing was the way to get ahead (or keep her current position) and named the second species after her higher-ups and was returned to her old position.  Who knew there was so much politics in oceanography?

She noticed she was feeling a little off and wondered if maybe the second round of trying for another child had done the trick.  She took a pregnancy test and recieved the happy news, she was pregnant!

She started showing early and was delighted that Rosalyn would be getting a little brother or sister.

Hopefully the sale of Rich's novel and the money from her promotion would be enough to add another bedroom or two onto the house.  Otherwise she might have to convince Rich to part with his new bigscreen TV.

2012 Calendar

Year 2012 begins on simSaturday and ends sometime early simTuesday (approximately).  You may notice some ages have changed from the previous rotation (especially with the Cormier family, First family, and some of the students).  We've been matching current data to information from our archives and have tried to correct some birth years to the original Eden timeline.  Also, do to a shortage in teaching staff, the elementary and secondary school updates have been combined this year.

Household Rotations are as follows:
Spring 2012

-Cormier
-Harris
-McMillian

-Elementary and Jr./Sr. High School

-Spring Festival

Summer 2012
-Thayer
-Straight

-London/Ebadi
-Hood Council Meeting

Fall 2012
-Huffington
-First

-University

Winter 2012
-Crabtree
-D'Sim 

-2012-2013 Year in Review

ROS Events:
- Take up a new hobby

- Become obsessed with/ stalk

- Depression

- Reunite with an old flame, friend or family member

2011 Year End Review

Education Notes: 

New construction is underway for both the upper and lower educational levels.  Starting this year, the old Jr./Sr. High building will be officially closed.  The building was too large for our hood's needs and difficult to navigate.  The building will still be kept intact, for now, and the auditorium and gymnasium will be available for public use.

The secondary students will share a building with the elementary students.  A second floor has already been added to the building with additional classrooms, a teacher's lounge and a state of the art computer lab.

We are short on teaching staff and are looking to hire at least one new teacher, as soon as possible.  If interested, please submit a resume.  We need to fill this position immediately.

The university students were welcomed to a new dormitory this year.  We are still experimenting with the possibility of having student housing in the main hood, but test runs have not gone as planned, therefore student housing will remain on campus, at least for incoming freshmen.

Community Events and Projects:

This summer sims met at the new public pool and beach for some fun in the sun.  Not many dared to get their feet wet, but we hope sims will take time to visit this new community fun spot in the future.

This winter sims gathered at the high school auditorium to recognize three graduating seniors, Violet Cormier, Geneva Rossi, and Owen Rossi.  We wish them the best in their future endeavors.  The students celebrated the end of the school year and graduation with a winter dance.  The dance was a huge success.  Students reported that they had a great time.  We hope this will become a continued tradition that every teen in the hood can experience at least once during their teenage years.

In more somber news, a memorial service was held at the newly created Estates of Serenity Cemetary for Ms. Jessica Ebadi.  Friends, family, neighbors, and students gathered to bid farewell to a beloved mother, dear friend, and devoted teacher.  Jessica will be missed.

Next year the hood will be holding a spring festival at Central Market Square.  Attention will be given to the community garden, lectures will be given on starting home gardens and using fresh produce and fish.  We are also hoping to have a cooking contest.  So all of you aspiring chefs out there who have been wanting to show off your cooking, start planning your entries now!

Also in the spring, a new exhibit will be shown at the Artisan's Museum.  We are delighted to have been invited to showcase the works of Veronica Kent from Apple Valley.  A prodigy artist from a young age, Veronica's art gives a unique insight into the creative mind of a child.  Some residents may remember Veronica's father, Jesse (Carr) Kent, an Eden native.

Renovation is slated to start on an office building this simyear.  The building will include space for administration and other business offices and meeting rooms.  We hope this new space will give residents another reason to get out of the house and interact with other members of the community.

Government Notes:

An official hood council has been established and will have its first meeting this simyear.  The officers and offices are listed and described below.

• Robin Harris will continue in her role as hood president and will be in charge of neighborhood administration as well as overseeing all other officers.
• Winston Crabtree will be the neighborhood treasurer, keeping track of the hood's finances, tax collection and loan repayments.
• Hope Miguel is in charge of the department of education, keeping track of school records, developing school programs, and seeing that educational needs of our students at all levels are met.
• Jane D'Sim is the community events coordinator, in charge of planning our yearly festivals and other events to promote a sense of community among residents.
• James McMillian is the community development officer in charge of building projects and developing and maintaining community lots as well as new housing.

Congratulations to all of our newly appointed officers.  We look forward to seeing what plans you come up with this year and during your term.  Officers will remain in place until the end of 2015, when elections for the 2016-2020 term will be held.

Financial Notes:

The first installment of loan repayments and first tax collection will occur this year.  If you owe money, please remember to make your payment in a timely manner.  If you lost your bill, please check the blog, amounts owed will be posted on a separate page on the sidebar.

Legal / Administration Notes:

Joy London has been granted temporary custody of Bridget and Bryce Ebadi following their mother's death.  A sim has stepped forward claiming to the the father of the two children.  A custody hearing will be held pending the results of the paternity test. Until a permanent arrangement has been made the former Ebadi household will be known as Ebadi/London on the official rotation for 2012.

Alexis Havers has submitted a request to be removed from the official rotation.  The Havers-Rossi household will not be listed on the official rotation for 2012.

The Year in Review:

Congratulations to the Cormier family on the birth of baby girl, Rosalyn Cormier.  Rosalyn is the first child of Tosha and Rich Cormier and first niece for new aunt Violet Cormier.

Congratulations to the Harris family who also welcomed a baby girl into their family this winter.  Savannah Harris is the second daughter for Robin and Gregory Harris and little sister to Melody.

Congratulations to Joy London and Alon Carlson who announced their engagement this fall.  A wedding date has not yet been announced.

Congratulations to the graduates!  This year three of our high school students are moving on to young adulthood. Violet Cormier completed high school with a B average and was awarded the Bain-Gordon Communications Fellowship.  Geneva Rossi finished with a B+ and earned the Will Wright Genius Grant.  Owen Rossi also finished with a B+ and was awarded the Tsang Footwork Award.  All three graduates will be attending New Eden University in the fall.  We wish them well as they continue their studies.

Heartfelt condolences go out to the friends and family of Jessica Ebadi who was tragically killed during a lightening storm.  Jessica leaves behind a young son and daughter, Bryce Ebadi and Bridget Ebadi.  She was a devoted teacher who served as the first headmistress in the Jr./Sr. High boarding school.  She finished her career as the hood's elementary school teacher.  Her loss has been deeply felt through out the community.  May you rest in peace, Jessica.  You are missed.