Chapter 8.5 - Marina

Wow! I uploaded the pictures for this story back in February and now it's already April. March was the month from hell for me and February was crazy with trying to find a wedding dress. I'm so glad things seem to have slowed down for a couple days.

Journal Entry

My oldest son, Vince is the first teen in the family to hold a job. Lucky him! His first job was as a Record Store Clerk. It seems he'd like to get rid of those dark clouds that hang over our neighborhood too.


Our family and neighborhood have come a long ways since the disaster though. There is even time for the family to relax and have some fun. However, I'm not so sure I like my husband floating upside down.


My beautiful baby girl, Jane brought her first A+ home with her the other day. I can't even begin to explain how proud of herself she was. I had to hold my mouth shut to prevent myself from laughing at her.


Vince is very much your typical teenager. He loves playing video games and neglecting his homework. I'm just glad the neighborhood is a better place to grow up in then when Doug was a boy.


Did I mention Vince is the typical teen? I suppose I did. Ha! Teens, they're so vain.


Vince certainly has a way with the girls in his classes. I don't think I'll ever get use to seeing him kissing girls.


Jane's a chatter box so when she's not busy talking on the phone she's chatting on the computer. Sometimes Doug and I have a very difficult time pulling her away from it at night to go to sleep.


I thought it was hard enough having two teens in the house but now Jane's going to be a teen too. I have no idea how we'll manage. Toddlers are much easier to take care of.


I have no idea where Jane got the idea but she's decided to pursue a life of romance. Fortunately, she doesn't want to have 20 lovers or 20 different woohoo partners. That would be awful. She actually wants to be a Rock Goddess. I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear that.


Jane became quick friends with Vince's current girlfriend. It turns out she also wants to pursue a life of romance. No wonder her and Vince get along so well. All he wants is to date a new girl each week. What is this world turning into? Maybe things were truly better off right after the disaster struck. No, I doubt it. I really shouldn't think like that.


If there's one saving grace for my kids it's that they're all neat freaks! I never have to tell them to clean up after themselves and that is just wonderful.


It amazes me how Jane can still enjoy a good snowfall. She's seen snow all her life but she still finds it wonderful somehow. Ick! I hate the snow. Why can't we see sunshine!


The new trend in high school appears to be the Far East clothing wear. I personally don't get it at all but Vince and Jane won't be caught dead leaving the house wearing anything else.


Rudy may not be as interested in girls as his brother but he certainly wants to make sure he looks his best. I often catch him checking himself out in the morning before he heads off to school.


He's very concerned with making money though and knew he had to max out his body skills before it would be safe for him to have a teen job.


Immediately after maxing his body skills Rudy grabbed the first job in the newspaper and went to work. I must admit I do admire his dedication.


I can't say I'm shocked but I am a little surprised that Vince has reached the top of his teen career while maintaining straight A's. I knew he was smart but just figured he was too girl crazy to really focus on his career and school. I'm very proud of him. Like I said I was a bit surprised by this.


Rudy is quite the networker. He brought a fellow teen home with him from work hoping he'd be able to give him some advice on how to move up quicker. Apparently, the other kid was in a higher position then him.


Jane followed in her brothers footsteps and maxed her body skills. I think she did it more so she'd look good rather then be able to work, but whatever works.


As you may recall I had originally wanted to become a Rock Goddess like Jane does but that didn't work out very well for me. I guess I can't miss a day of work without being fired. Geesh! Anyways, I found a job as a Legal Secretary a few days later and have been working my way up. I'm currently an International Corporate Lawyer and only need two more promotions before I top my career. Wish me luck!


Doug knows just about everything there is to know about everything. He's the perfect fixer upper. I worry that he might get electrocuted like I did when I tried fixing the tv when Jane was a toddler but he has much more knowledge in repairing things so he should be okay. I just don't want to see the grim reaper again before it's time.


Work is going very well. I was promoted up to Entertainment Attorney. I only have one more promotion to go. Thank goodness. I hate working!


Sometimes I think Vince and Jane are the best of buddies but other times I wonder. Jane wouldn't stop trying to annoy Vince when he was eating an omelet on the couch but he hardly even seemed to notice.


Doug's dream has always been to become an Educational Minister like his father. After he graduated college though he knew there were other careers that were more important to reach the top of first. After only a few short weeks he became a Cult Leader and soon was looking in the paper for a job in education. He's faced several obstacles in his new line of work but he's not ready to give up yet.


I still can't believe I have three teenagers all under the same roof who haven't killed each other yet. They really are very good teens. I guess I lucked out.


Vince didn't stay a teen for much longer though. He became a man before our eyes. I wonder what he's going to do now...will he ever settle down and get married?


He was having trouble finding a job so he decided to check out the local mall. He told me this woman named Cass sat down next to him on a bench while he was thinking about what to do with his life. She was a bit rough around the edges and didn't make him feel too comfortable so he got up and walked away.

***Seriously Cass, your simself is always starting fights in my game.


Cass seemed to like Vince though and followed him into the clothing department. She didn't say too much but Vince still couldn't decide if he liked her or not. He politely dismissed himself this time and went on his merry way.


He decided to grill up some burgers when Cass appeared again. Apparently, she said a bit more this time and Vince decided she was harmless. They ate burgers together and chatted.


Considering Jane decided to pursue romance she hadn't meet any nice boys on her own yet. She did take an instant liking to Rudy's co-worker though and he seemed to like her too.


Rudy was oblivious to their conversation while he finished his homework.


Later when he was done he found Jane talking to him. He quickly grabbed his friend and headed to a different room. They laughed and joked about how she was trying to hit on him.


This family's ghosts never rest. Doug saw his great aunt, Shiloh's ghost, roaming our yard one evening when he went to grab the mail. Doug says they used to haunt them inside the house before he was able to move their graves to the backyard. I'm glad I wasn't here for that.


Vince seemed a bit down about not finding a good job so I tried cheering him up with some stories of my own struggles in having a career. I definitely make him laugh a few times. I hope for his sake he finds something soon.


One weekend Rudy decided to head out to the mall. There he made a new friend and asked her to stop by later in the week for a study date. I almost found it hard to believe how confident he was with her, but then again in order to make lots of money later in life he'd need to be a very confident sim.


Vince isn't really one for chatting on-line but I oversaw him laughing and typing away one afternoon. I wonder who was on the other end. Could it have been his new friend, Cass?


When Vince learned Jane wanted to be a Rock Goddess he quit his job as a Coffee Shop Sound Engineer to let Jane try her hands at it. She struggled a little bit at first but Vince gave her some pointers and she managed to reach the highest level she could as a teen.


Rudy's friend from the mall did come over one night for a study date. After they were done Rudy decided to walk her out. Rudy went to give her a hug good-bye but Grandpa Jon's ghost got in the way.


Grandpa Jon gave him a good scare and really got his adreneline rushing.


It seems like that may have been all he needed to go in for a kiss rather then a hug though. Perhaps, Grandpa Jon did him a favor.


Rudy turned into an adult a few days later and his focus went right to finding a job. He could barely remember the name of the girl at the mall. I really wonder if any of my children will get married. Gosh, I hope so.


Jane brought home a cute guy from school named, Orlando one day. They hung out and had a great time together. I thought for sure Jane would have put the moves on him but she never did. At first I couldn't figure it out, but it became clear a couple days later.


Jane invited Rudy's former co-worker over and made her move on him instead. It would seem he always liked Jane but just pretended not to around Rudy because that just wouldn't be very cool. I'd say he better not break her heart but for some reason I think she'll end up breaking his.


Vince and Rudy both found good jobs that require them to wear suits. They both look so handsome. Rudy is a Politician and Vince is a Business man.


Ironically, Doug and mine's big day came at the same time. We went to work in the same car hoping we'd get promoted but not speaking about it and we came home with both of us getting promoted to the top of our respective careers. It was a great day for the entire family.

That's all for now. I must warn you all that my game crashed completely not long ago. I hadn't backed up my apo hood since I got BV so I have a lot of playing to do before I'll be back to where I left off. To give you an idea of how much playing time I need - Doug was still a young boy at the time I last backed up. I have used boolprop to grow him and his parents up and move Marina in. They still have to have three children though...