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Welcome! This is a backup of my LiveJournal, which I'm using primarily to post pictures of my The Sims 2 game play. In case you don't know, The Sims is a life simulation game franchise, and I prefer and exclusively play The Sims 2 version. That may sound like a boring game to some, but it's fun to point and laugh at your fake people making stupid decisions. I'm not interested in writing stories about my Sims, I simply commentate on what they do. Said commentary is usually a mixture of snarky and affectionate, because even though they can be idiots, I kinda love them, too.
Sometimes I'll post something non-Sims related--usually goofy stuff, because we all need a laugh, right? A few of my posts are more private, such as the posts about my non-Sims writing, but they're not visible to the public. You'd need a LiveJournal account and we would have to friend each other for you to see those, but don't worry--you're not missing much. :D
Back to the Sims! I usually play legacy style. If you're unfamiliar with the term, it's basically just playing one family for ten generations. There was a huge list of rules, but I only loosely follow some of them because I tend to cheat if I don't like how things are going. XD I also play other challenges when I can squeeze in some time. Click on the links below to find an index for each of my projects. I'll also put up my Sims for download and include other goodies.
I don't mind WCIFs, so if you're ever reading one of my Sims updates and see something that you would like to have, feel free to ask about it. I keep very good track of where I got things, so I'll most likely be able to help you.
You don't need a LiveJournal account to leave comments on my public posts, so if you have something to say, you can leave a comment. I try to reply to all comments as soon as I can, but I do occasionally lose track of one. Don't be afraid to comment again and remind me!
The Duckling Legacy -- A Prettacy
A prettacy is a legacy that you start by creating an ugly Sim, and then you try to make the family prettier in ten generations. It has been difficult for me because it's TOO MUCH FUN to breed funny-looking Sims! The Ducklings are my pets. Their lives are well-structured and full of win; and as if that wasn't enough, I spoil them. If that doesn't sound like your thing, then you may want to skip to my next family.
( The Duckling Prettacy Index )
The Dimwit Legacy ISBI
Another legacy, but I play this one under ISBI challenge rules. It stands for "I'm Surrounded by Idiots," and basically it means that you can only control one Sim. The rest of the Sims have to rely on their (lack of) artificial intelligence and fend for themselves, usually with hilarious results. The Dimwit legacy is full of starving, aggressive, and incontinent Sims, and the poor torch holder (aka the one Sim per generation that I can control) tries to keep everything from falling apart. Fun!
( The Dimwit ISBI Index )
The Black Widow Challenge
The object of the challenge is to create a female Sim and have her successively marry and bump off ten men for their money. I'm not sure what got into me to play this challenge, because it's pretty depraved when you think about it. I guess it was because at this time I missed writing and killing off characters and stuff. Whatever the case, it was tons of fun to play, mostly because I used my Sim of my fictional character Ursula Scheiler, who is one of my bad guys. She was absolutely perfect for the challenge! Oddly enough, this challenge contains my funniest Sims writing to date, in my opinion/if I do say so myself. X)
( The Black Widow Challenge Index )
The Boarding School Challenge
So, I hated school with a fiery passion, but I seem to be obsessed with it. Just about all of my characters are school age. (What would Freud say?) In fact, I played most of my main characters from my Christian Young Adult series, Finding Faith, through this challenge. So naturally it's full of love and nostalgia and gooey stuff. You'll probably only want to read this one if you're obsessed with school, too, or if you're a personal friend of mine and you like my characters. But you might want to check it out if you've read my other challenges and you like my writing. (If you do, thanks!) P.S. Beware of teen drama and raging hormones.
( The Boarding School Challenge Index )
Collaborations
Like the title says, projects I've played with other Simmers. :)
( Collaborations )
But Wait! There's Moar!!1
Click below and you will find my Sims available for download. I've also made a few things for the game:
( Downloads and Stuff )
A list of stuff I use in my game, including mods:
( Resources )
So, this morning I turned on my computer as usual. Just as I sat down to get started, my monitor said, "LOL bye!" and went to its no signal/power save display. It's kind of a cheap monitor anyway, so I thought, "Cute," and decided it was kaputt. My mom loaned me her spare monitor until I could order another one. As I sat down again, I noticed that the power bar was crooked, and that bugs me, so I reached over to straighten it, and then her monitor went out.
Conclusion: The power bar is faulty. Her monitor was killed by my faulty power bar (and I feel sooooo bad!), but my monitor works when it's plugged directly into the wall outlet. It must have been just that one plug on the power bar, because my computer and a couple of other things were also plugged into it, and they seem to be okay. We plugged her monitor into the same plug into which my monitor was plugged. THANK GOODNESS IT WASN'T THE PLUG MY COMPUTER WAS PLUGGED INTO. D8D8D8
Lesson: In future, find out if it's really broken by plugging it directly into the wall. Don't believe that deceptive little green light on the power bar that claims it's functioning properly. (This is the second time I've been tricked by a power bar. The last one stopped suppressing surges, and so a power outage zapped my old computer.) Just replace those suckers every year!
Irony: The power bar, which is supposed to guard against power surges zapping things out of existence, tried to zap my monitor and did zap my mother's monitor. ISN'T THAT NICE TO KNOW.
Conclusion: The power bar is faulty. Her monitor was killed by my faulty power bar (and I feel sooooo bad!), but my monitor works when it's plugged directly into the wall outlet. It must have been just that one plug on the power bar, because my computer and a couple of other things were also plugged into it, and they seem to be okay. We plugged her monitor into the same plug into which my monitor was plugged. THANK GOODNESS IT WASN'T THE PLUG MY COMPUTER WAS PLUGGED INTO. D8D8D8
Lesson: In future, find out if it's really broken by plugging it directly into the wall. Don't believe that deceptive little green light on the power bar that claims it's functioning properly. (This is the second time I've been tricked by a power bar. The last one stopped suppressing surges, and so a power outage zapped my old computer.) Just replace those suckers every year!
Irony: The power bar, which is supposed to guard against power surges zapping things out of existence, tried to zap my monitor and did zap my mother's monitor. ISN'T THAT NICE TO KNOW.
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Well, it took three years, but my various Sims posts are now 99% backed up at my web site. YAAAAY! What a pile of work that was! The main reason it took so long was two migraine cycles that lasted for ages. Copying code from LJ and saving as php files and changing the image links aggravated the migraines, but it's been okay enough lately. I experienced a sudden rush of ambition to finish up, and now the vast majority of the work is done. For my own reference, here is what's left to archive:
- Duckling family trees
- Duckling genetic progress charts
- Duckling alternate offspring
- Dimwit family tree
- Black Widow Challenge husbands and children charts
- Maybe I should move my resources page to my site, as well?
I think I'm running out of steam now, so I'll have to do those some other time. Probably in three years, ha!
Do me a huge favor, will you? Next time you want to reread any of my Sims legacies or challenges, will you read them at my web site instead of at my LJ or DW? Then let me know if you run across any errors or broken links and pictures. That would be a huge help! THX.
I also finally finished adding links to my list of mods that I use in my game, which has been another huge project hanging over my head forever. I feel so ambitious! XD The list will never be finished because I'm always adding new mods, but all of the mods that have been listed on that page since 2015 now have links! Adding new ones will be no trouble by comparison! If you'd like to see my list, you can find it at the aforementioned web site under "Game Mods".
- Duckling family trees
- Duckling genetic progress charts
- Duckling alternate offspring
- Dimwit family tree
- Black Widow Challenge husbands and children charts
- Maybe I should move my resources page to my site, as well?
I think I'm running out of steam now, so I'll have to do those some other time. Probably in three years, ha!
Do me a huge favor, will you? Next time you want to reread any of my Sims legacies or challenges, will you read them at my web site instead of at my LJ or DW? Then let me know if you run across any errors or broken links and pictures. That would be a huge help! THX.
I also finally finished adding links to my list of mods that I use in my game, which has been another huge project hanging over my head forever. I feel so ambitious! XD The list will never be finished because I'm always adding new mods, but all of the mods that have been listed on that page since 2015 now have links! Adding new ones will be no trouble by comparison! If you'd like to see my list, you can find it at the aforementioned web site under "Game Mods".
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"Your cats now understand you. You have 30 seconds to tell them something. What do you say?"
Quinn, please tell me why you don't behave like a cat anymore, and why you don't much care for cat food and think you need human food. I always want to make your life better, but you don't like anything I do for you anymore!"
To my previous cats:
Stormie and May, IloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyou...and so on.
Darwing, I don't remember you that well because I was very young when we got you (hence your dorky name), and you were mainly an outside kitty. I feel like I didn't get to spend much time with you. I'm sorry you weren't kept inside and protected like all of my cats who have come after you. I'm sorry for every injury you sustained from cats and dogs. I'm sorry for whatever happened to you in the end, when you never came home again. I do remember your blue eyes, and I remember loving you.
So, what would you say to your pets if they could suddenly understand your language?
Quinn, please tell me why you don't behave like a cat anymore, and why you don't much care for cat food and think you need human food. I always want to make your life better, but you don't like anything I do for you anymore!"
To my previous cats:
Stormie and May, IloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyou...and so on.
Darwing, I don't remember you that well because I was very young when we got you (hence your dorky name), and you were mainly an outside kitty. I feel like I didn't get to spend much time with you. I'm sorry you weren't kept inside and protected like all of my cats who have come after you. I'm sorry for every injury you sustained from cats and dogs. I'm sorry for whatever happened to you in the end, when you never came home again. I do remember your blue eyes, and I remember loving you.
So, what would you say to your pets if they could suddenly understand your language?
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This is the best thing I've ever seen in all of my life.
Combining two of my favorite things in the world: cats and classical music. My day is made. XD
Combining two of my favorite things in the world: cats and classical music. My day is made. XD
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Dear humans of the world, I am so angry at a select group of you right now. Unfortunately, you seem to be a majority. You are so horribly irresponsible with animals. They are not cute little animated plushie toys that you can flip a switch and put on the shelf when you get tired of looking at them. They are living, feeling beings with emotion and intellect and memory. If they weren't, then they wouldn't remember commands humans teach them. If they weren't, then they wouldn't know to cower in fear.
We just had to send off a stray cat. The cutest, sweetest little thing. I would estimate it was around nine months old, if that. It has been hanging around our house for a few weeks, and at first we assumed it had a home because it wasn't skinny and it ran from us when we went outside. We've had strays before, and they typically try to get humans to take them in by being as cute and friendly as possible.
One stray that came to our house years ago had dirt packed deep into his fur, and his beautiful green eyes were runny. We think someone tried to bury him alive, but he was still friendly and sweet and trusting. That's probably why the sociopaths who hurt him were able to lure him.
Another stray had some injuries--apparently my brain went into self-protection and blotted out the details, because I only vaguely remember his jaw and one of his back legs were hurt. But he was still super sweet. All we had was dry cat food, and we could tell it hurt him to eat it, but he was starving.
The stray we sent away today looked fine, but was extremely wary of humans. My guess is that it committed the ultimate sin in the eyes of shallow humans: it no longer looks like a tiny, adorable kitten. I would almost securely bet that its owner chased it off because of that, because that might explain why it was afraid of humans but that it seemed able to learn to trust. It was starting to trust us and like us. It stood up on its hind legs and stretched its front paws at me. So cute. We finally decided that even if it has an owner, said owner doesn't deserve to have it, because said owner is letting it stay out in the cold, night and day. So we managed to trap it and called animal control. When I saw the cage they were going to put it in, I started sobbing. Poor little thing must be so scared now. I would have gladly taken it in if I didn't already have Quinn. He's an old cat, and I can't put him through trying to get used to a youngster. Last night we let them sniff each other through the door which we opened a couple of inches, and it turned into a hissy fit with claws extended. This is normal cat behavior, and they probably would have gotten used to each other in time, because they seemed to like each other when the door was fully closed. But certain circumstances make it impossible for me to try to introduce a new cat. It would require my presence almost constantly, and it just can't be done.
I feel horrible, and I shouldn't have to. I shouldn't have to justify myself for not taking someone else's responsibility. We did what they should have done if they didn't want it anymore. We didn't send it out into the cold, we called animal services. I think some people are too afraid to abandon pets to shelters because they think they'll be judged or persecuted. Even so, isn't that better than dumping off a pet to let it fend for itself outside where anything could happen to it?
I'm trying to comfort myself with thoughts that the poor little thing will be adopted. It's such a little cutie. It looks a bit like Maru, only it's not a Scottish Fold. But who's to say the person who adopts it won't let it wander outside where any terrible thing can happen to it?
Why do we let cats wander? They get in fights. Dogs catch them and brutalize them. People who hate cats catch them and do unspeakable things to them. Some simply poison them, others swerve on the road ON PURPOSE to run them over. They get into things that can kill them, like antifreeze. All the dangers aside, it's just plain rude to let your cat go in the neighbor's yard to fight in the middle of the night and scratch up the tree trunks and mark territory on screen doors and leave deposits on the lawns. WHY DO WE LET THIS HAPPEN?
Please, please, PLEASE, if you have a cat, keep it in your house. You're protecting it from harm, and you're being a good neighbor. Don't buy into that old, old idea that cats need to wander. If you don't think you can make a lifetime commitment--and cats that are cared for can live longer than fifteen years--do not get one. Don't get a baby animal because it's fluffy and cute right now. If you have to move and can't take it with you, don't just leave it behind or dump it off somewhere. Surrender it to your local shelter. Everyone, please stop thinking of animals as just another thing that you own and can do with as you please. They have little hearts that beat, and little minds that record information. They love us unconditionally, they depend on us to take care of them, just like children, and we metaphorically and sometimes even literally kick them in the gut. WHY?
If you don't have a cat but know someone who does, please refer them to this post. I would take in every sad little kitty in the world if I could, but that wouldn't solve the problem. The only thing that will help is if people give up these age-old notions about cats and learn the proper way to care for them.
Let me also add two important things:
SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PETS
DO NOT DECLAW CATS
People love to declare what year it is and then claim to be so enlightened now, but enlightenment never stretches far enough for animals. My mother and I have been dealing with stray cats for over twenty years, and nothing has changed. They still show up on our doorstep, neglected or hurt or brokenhearted, or all three. Will it ever change? Will people ever grow up and take responsibility?
We just had to send off a stray cat. The cutest, sweetest little thing. I would estimate it was around nine months old, if that. It has been hanging around our house for a few weeks, and at first we assumed it had a home because it wasn't skinny and it ran from us when we went outside. We've had strays before, and they typically try to get humans to take them in by being as cute and friendly as possible.
One stray that came to our house years ago had dirt packed deep into his fur, and his beautiful green eyes were runny. We think someone tried to bury him alive, but he was still friendly and sweet and trusting. That's probably why the sociopaths who hurt him were able to lure him.
Another stray had some injuries--apparently my brain went into self-protection and blotted out the details, because I only vaguely remember his jaw and one of his back legs were hurt. But he was still super sweet. All we had was dry cat food, and we could tell it hurt him to eat it, but he was starving.
The stray we sent away today looked fine, but was extremely wary of humans. My guess is that it committed the ultimate sin in the eyes of shallow humans: it no longer looks like a tiny, adorable kitten. I would almost securely bet that its owner chased it off because of that, because that might explain why it was afraid of humans but that it seemed able to learn to trust. It was starting to trust us and like us. It stood up on its hind legs and stretched its front paws at me. So cute. We finally decided that even if it has an owner, said owner doesn't deserve to have it, because said owner is letting it stay out in the cold, night and day. So we managed to trap it and called animal control. When I saw the cage they were going to put it in, I started sobbing. Poor little thing must be so scared now. I would have gladly taken it in if I didn't already have Quinn. He's an old cat, and I can't put him through trying to get used to a youngster. Last night we let them sniff each other through the door which we opened a couple of inches, and it turned into a hissy fit with claws extended. This is normal cat behavior, and they probably would have gotten used to each other in time, because they seemed to like each other when the door was fully closed. But certain circumstances make it impossible for me to try to introduce a new cat. It would require my presence almost constantly, and it just can't be done.
I feel horrible, and I shouldn't have to. I shouldn't have to justify myself for not taking someone else's responsibility. We did what they should have done if they didn't want it anymore. We didn't send it out into the cold, we called animal services. I think some people are too afraid to abandon pets to shelters because they think they'll be judged or persecuted. Even so, isn't that better than dumping off a pet to let it fend for itself outside where anything could happen to it?
I'm trying to comfort myself with thoughts that the poor little thing will be adopted. It's such a little cutie. It looks a bit like Maru, only it's not a Scottish Fold. But who's to say the person who adopts it won't let it wander outside where any terrible thing can happen to it?
Why do we let cats wander? They get in fights. Dogs catch them and brutalize them. People who hate cats catch them and do unspeakable things to them. Some simply poison them, others swerve on the road ON PURPOSE to run them over. They get into things that can kill them, like antifreeze. All the dangers aside, it's just plain rude to let your cat go in the neighbor's yard to fight in the middle of the night and scratch up the tree trunks and mark territory on screen doors and leave deposits on the lawns. WHY DO WE LET THIS HAPPEN?
Please, please, PLEASE, if you have a cat, keep it in your house. You're protecting it from harm, and you're being a good neighbor. Don't buy into that old, old idea that cats need to wander. If you don't think you can make a lifetime commitment--and cats that are cared for can live longer than fifteen years--do not get one. Don't get a baby animal because it's fluffy and cute right now. If you have to move and can't take it with you, don't just leave it behind or dump it off somewhere. Surrender it to your local shelter. Everyone, please stop thinking of animals as just another thing that you own and can do with as you please. They have little hearts that beat, and little minds that record information. They love us unconditionally, they depend on us to take care of them, just like children, and we metaphorically and sometimes even literally kick them in the gut. WHY?
If you don't have a cat but know someone who does, please refer them to this post. I would take in every sad little kitty in the world if I could, but that wouldn't solve the problem. The only thing that will help is if people give up these age-old notions about cats and learn the proper way to care for them.
Let me also add two important things:
SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PETS
DO NOT DECLAW CATS
People love to declare what year it is and then claim to be so enlightened now, but enlightenment never stretches far enough for animals. My mother and I have been dealing with stray cats for over twenty years, and nothing has changed. They still show up on our doorstep, neglected or hurt or brokenhearted, or all three. Will it ever change? Will people ever grow up and take responsibility?
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A mashup of a couple of screenshots I took at Dragon Cave today:
Now there's a more interesting Valentine's Day!
Now there's a more interesting Valentine's Day!
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I was trying to fold my laundry, but Quinn wanted to cover up in his blankets. He decided this was a good compromise.
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If you've read enough of my various posts, you may know that I love the clarinet, partly because my grandpa was a clarinetist, but mostly because I'm in love with the way it sounds. But! If there's one thing I love even more, it's the bass clarinet. Lovelovelove. Lovelovelove.
It's been a crappy day. I needed that.
Oh, and I survived my cold, obviously. (Like there was any doubt.) My ears are even starting to clear up now! Praise be! Glory be! So, more Sim updates as soon as my brain goes back to its usual non-functioning, as opposed to cold-induced malfunctioning. Time estimate on that? Unknown.
It's been a crappy day. I needed that.
Oh, and I survived my cold, obviously. (Like there was any doubt.) My ears are even starting to clear up now! Praise be! Glory be! So, more Sim updates as soon as my brain goes back to its usual non-functioning, as opposed to cold-induced malfunctioning. Time estimate on that? Unknown.
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Just to let you know, there won't be any more updates from me because I'm coming down with a cold. I caught it from my mom, and we're usually both careful, but this time I was too lazy to bother. I watched her suffer through it, so I don't expect to live. X) So far I've had it for about two and a half days. My throat feels 99% better, but now my ears feel full, and most sounds HURT. By tonight I expect to be blowing my nose 675372 times per hour. NO SLEEP FOR THREE NIGHTS :O :O :O!!!
On the off chance that I survive, I'll be back with more Scheiler idiocies in a couple of weeks. Sorry?
Oh, and Tigeranne: check your email because I finally sent you mah books. Carla, send me a PM somewhere (DW or LJ) to let me know if you'd still like to read my latest edits of Finding Faith #1 and 2, plus the completely unedited outtakes, in what format you'd like them (Word documents or PDFs?), and the email address to which you'd like me to send them.
Be well, everyone! Feel free to send me consolation gifts, 'cause I'mma end up feeling sorry for myself. My mom already bought me a chocolate cake! :D
(Uh, yeah. My sense of humor is sometimes morbid, in case you didn't know. Laridian, you can draw me a morbid frog for your practice! Does that make any sense, or has my brain already gone to the cold?)
On the off chance that I survive, I'll be back with more Scheiler idiocies in a couple of weeks. Sorry?
Oh, and Tigeranne: check your email because I finally sent you mah books. Carla, send me a PM somewhere (DW or LJ) to let me know if you'd still like to read my latest edits of Finding Faith #1 and 2, plus the completely unedited outtakes, in what format you'd like them (Word documents or PDFs?), and the email address to which you'd like me to send them.
Be well, everyone! Feel free to send me consolation gifts, 'cause I'mma end up feeling sorry for myself. My mom already bought me a chocolate cake! :D
(Uh, yeah. My sense of humor is sometimes morbid, in case you didn't know. Laridian, you can draw me a morbid frog for your practice! Does that make any sense, or has my brain already gone to the cold?)
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