College preps

I have more ammo in the fight with AJ over college, as if I needed any more.  It comes in the form of his Sims University Aptitude Test (SUAT) scores.

He scored almost as high as Sage! He just missed out on the full scholarship by I think a few points.

But what he's good in he's VERY good in. He's got advanced placement in technology, science and PE. He could pick either of those and get 18 credits toward his degree.  He has advanced placement in 3 subjects, whereas Sage only has it in 2. 

He's going to college, no ifs ands or buts. I don't care if I have to drag him out.  I am not going to let him waste his goddess given talent.  I'm not going to let him do it.  He's going to make something of himself, if it's the last thing I do.

I remember the last time we went to Dr. Bill about him, the doc had told me in an interview that he had told him he was interested in computers so I'm not at all surprised by those scores.  
My philosophy has always been to let my kids develop and get out of their way.  They're going to do what they want anyway... 

Then I saw what's been happening with the Queen in Hidden Springs, her attempts to corral her daughters (all three of them, counting the one who ran away) have failed.  The twins have enrolled in college as well. 

The day the mascot showed up, I made my son and daughter take the aptitude test.  They had to fill out a survey and a questionnaire.   

BTW those are Sage's scores.  She received a full scholarship.   She's majoring in fine arts. 

I got the job!

Well, it's me coming on to announce that I got the job I applied for. 
I am now an Assistant Professor of History and Paranormal Studies at Sims University.  And I'll be studying for my doctorate.  Soon you could call me Dr. Plumb.
My paternal grandmother, Jamie Jolina, was a doctor.  I suppose I always had a fantasy of being a doctor like her.  But I won't be a medical doctor, at all. 
Frankly, I'm nervous as heck.  And probably even more nervous than Sage is.  And my son, AJ, well, he's not exactly thrilled with the idea of sitting in a classroom again.  Then again, he doesn't seem to be too thrilled with much of anything....
I've done lectures before but not consistent lecturing, all the time.  And then I have to deal with students... this means I have to come up with a syllabus, figure out just exactly what I'm going to teach...


Mrs. Cheesman comes to Sims University with an impressive list of qualifications. The daughter of composer Nathan Plumb and Shandra Bellingham Plumb, the first female conductor of the Sunset Valley orchestra, Savannah Plumb Cheesman decided on a different path early on, one that was encouraged by her father. As a young woman, right after graduating with honors from Sunset Valley's Community School for the Gifted, instead of getting a job, Mrs. Cheesman took a lengthy trip around the world, making stops in Egypt, France, and China, in what she now remembers as an effort to 'find herself.' She was a working archaeologist, going on digs and working with locals to uncover their past.

After returning home, Mrs. Cheesman took a job as a ghost hunter and paranormal specialist, and published numerous articles on paranormal phenomena. She became the foremost expert in Sim Nation in this field, which led to her taking a job in Moonlight Falls as chief archivist of its collection of paranormal and historical writings.

Sims University is proud to have a professor of Mrs. Cheesman's qualifications joining its staff, and we look forward to her sharing her expertise with the other faculty and students of this institution.

Madison

I haven't blogged as much as I used to.  But you know I'm coming on today to put someone on blast.  And that someone is Madison Brooke Westley, otherwise known as my brother's ex-girlfriend, the vocal legend and super duper pop star.
The fact that my brother used to date a pop star in the first place has me cringing as it is. 

 

I know I shouldn't be meddling but I don't have to hide behind a computer screen to say this.  I can tell her these things to her face.  I'm not afraid of her. 

You see, we're awaiting the verdict on Bassy's custody hearing for their daughter, Kaydence, who, btw, has been staying with me ever since she met Skylar at the haunted house in Central Park.  The verdict will come down any day now.

And Ms. Westley has spent her time wining and dining the twin princesses and performing private concerts for them.  Every time you look she's showing her mug off in the papers next to the princesses like she's their best friend.  I even hear she went shopping in the Square with Anastasia, even though Anastasia is barely eighteen and Madison nearly thirty.

Shows you where her priorities are.

 

Meanwhile, her poor little daughter spends her nights crying and wondering where her mommy is.  She's schmoozing with princesses and her own little princess is neglected.  If I were the magistrate I'd make sure she never sees this kid again.   

Thankfully Sky is there playing with her as a companion and stuff.  I hope they're not as bad an influence as they could be to each other. 

 

AJ and Sage are going to kill me...

Hi everyone.
I know it's been awhile since I've written. 
The last time I put fingers to keyboard, we had just gotten back in Sunset Valley for the holidays and were awaiting word on my brother Bassy's custody case.  We're still waiting on that one. 

Well, a lot has happened since then. 

AJ went back to Hidden Springs just before Christmas because of the big blizzard there and he had to go help out there.  A part of me is thinking he also went back to see that quirky girl Alexandra but that's just me.  The fact that he continues to see her despite my reservations is, well, what can I say?  He's a grown man.  I can give advice, but I can't live his life.  He has to do that.  And I'm seeing some evidence that he's starting to. 

My husband and I have had discussions with him about college.  Andy's attitude is, well, it's not a necessity that he go, that he doesn't have to go, that it's his choice whether or not he goes. 
AJ knows what I think, and I don't hesitate to tell him that.  "I'd very much like for you to go to college," I told him, "I can help you with the admissions process, just like I helped Sage."

"Mom," he shouted, "I'm not Sage.  I'm not college material."
"I know you're not Sage, but I think you can benefit from college just as much as she will."
"I don't want to sit in a classroom all day!"
I took a deep breath.  "You don't sit in a classroom all day.  You can at most take one or two classes at a time and the rest of the day you do other things.  There are all kinds of interest clubs you can join, fraternities, make some new friends there too.  You'll have fun, you'll see."
"I'm military.  Fun is not in our vocabulary." 

As for my college-bound daughter, Sageblossom Margaret otherwise known as Sage, she is ticked at me to say the least. 
You see, I made the mistake and told her that I applied for an adjunct professor of paranormal studies vacancy at the university. 
I'm still chief archivist at the supernatural museum in Moonlight Falls.  It's an incredible job full of rich history.  But I'm seeking another challenge and, even though teaching scares me a bit, what good is all this if you can't share it? 
I submitted my resume online and I'll hear perhaps next week if I've got the job. 

Sage is valedictorian of her class at Alpine Community School and I will be the proudest mama ever when she stands up there and makes her graduation speech.  She has three scholarships, a general honors scholarship, a writing scholarship, and she has an arts scholarship.  She doesn't know exactly what she'll study, she has told me she wants ALL the degrees, lol.  She has also told me she wants to live on a huge ranch with a bunch of animals and a garden and a pond. 

My Son, the Hero

So a couple days ago, we packed up our stuff and headed back home to Sunset Valley for the holidays.  The intention is to celebrate the holiday there, for the Plumb family reunion. My youngest daughter, Skylar, was excited because she'd never been to Sunset Valley, though she'd probably always heard me and the older kids talk about it.  She and her younger brother, Sawyer, were born in Hidden Springs. 

I have to admit, I'm excited to see my old haunts again, for longer than the couple days I was there signing books.  I'm even more excited to show my kids my old haunts. 

We've decided, while we're there, that we'll stay in our old house.  The one I grew up in. 

The first night we were there, though, and I mean the very first night, something happened that I was very familiar with, from living here.  Apparently the police force hadn't upgraded since I left, lol.

There was an attempted robbery.  I do mean attempted.  The robbery didn't happen, thanks to one person -- AJ.

Here's how it went down.  The sneaky little burglar tried to get in through the front door.  My parents had left the alarm system installed, and the alarm went off.  AJ and I had gotten up at the same time, and we'd surrounded her. 

We looked at each other.  Before I could say anything, he'd wrestled her down to the ground.

After he'd wrestled her down, I held her feet while he continued to pound her.

After a few minutes, she was apprehended, and then had the nerve to complain of a sore back.  Hello, you should have thought of that when you decided to come on to this property.  My son had put his paramilitary training to good use.  When he caught her he gave me a little sly wink.

Needless to say, I was one PROUD mama.

It reminded me of the days when I was footloose and fancy free, when no burglar dared set foot on my parents' property, because I'd kick their butts.  I'm raising or have raised seven kids -- 9 if you count my brother and my nephew.  You think I'd let any harm come to any one of them?? 

I reached over to AJ and gave him a quick hug before he went off.  The police officer that showed up, ironically, was named Sierra, which is the same name as my middle daughter, who along with her sisters were upstairs asleep when all this was going down, lol. 

I watched with satisfaction as Police Officer Sierra led the would-be burglar, Sheila something, away in handcuffs.   AJ even got five hundred simoleans for his heist.  I haven't asked him yet what he's going to do with the money. 

I'd decided, right then and there, we were going to beef up our security by installing a security gate.   We're also hiring an interior decorator to remodel the place but that's for another post. 

I'd also decided that if AJ can handle burglars, he can certainly handle an entitled little princess. 

Junior grew up that night.  He's going to be okay. 

Me and AJ

The other day I had a lengthy conversation with my son, AJ.
AJ is my oldest biological child.  I adopted 2 children from Egypt before I married my husband. 
AJ has had some issues, a lot of which are my doing, because when I had him I wasn't at all ready to be a mom.  And I froze.  I had no clue what to do.  Thankfully, Andy is a far better father than I ever was as a mother. 
But I digress.
The reason I had this conversation in the first place was because I'd heard some interesting things about his involvement with a certain princess.
A quick recap:  Prince Consort Renauld, Queen Catarina's husband and the father of her twin daughters, died suddenly of a massive heart attack while he was getting dressed.  Somehow AJ ended up at the palace during his funeral dinner. When AJ was there, he met a girl who called herself Alex.  Later I found out that Alex was actually Princess Alexandra Vanderburg, one of the twin daughters of Queen Catarina and Prince Renauld.
Alexandra had enlisted in the military reserves and enrolled in the royal flight academy to undergo flight training. 
I found out later that Alexandra was in AJ's regiment and his class at the flight academy.  I've also found out that they're spending a lot of time together, both in training and doing outside activities.  I've found out that she's invited him to the castle on multiple occasions. 
Hence, my reason (or one of them) for our talk that evening.
"AJ, do you take your medicine every morning?"  AJ has to take a prescribed elixir to regulate his moods every morning before going to work.  It was given to him at the hospital.
"Yes, mom," he replied between bites of homemade spaghetti.
"AJ -- I know about Alexandra.  You like her, don't you?"

"Mom!"
"AJ, it's not a crime if you like her. It's just that -- you know, she's a member of the royal family.  Just be careful, that's all."
"Mom, we're just associates.  We have to work together."
"AJ, she took you to her favorite hangout spot up in the mountains."
AJ's eyes widened.  "Mom, how'd you know THAT???"
I smiled.  "A mother knows these things, son." 

After I pressed him a bit, he admitted his mountain trip with Alexandra did in fact happen.

"It was a training exercise, we were doing a run to increase stamina.  She decided to take a detour.
"Come on, I've got a place I want to show you."
"Are you sure it's okay?" I asked.
"Sure," she said, and she kept running while I was huffing and puffing behind her. 

"My dad used to take me here all the time to go fishing and camping and whatever.  I often came here on my own whenever I had an argument with my mom."
"What happened to him?"
"He passed away in October.  I still miss him like crazy."

"Alex!" I called.  "Alex, this is crazy!"
"Come on, valley boy," she teased, "tired already?  Us mountain folk, we're used to climbing and such."
When I finally reached the top, I collapsed.  She stood over me, fanning me with the vest she took off, and I woke up a few moments later. 
"When I'm done with you, you're going to be a better climber than me." 

When AJ finished telling his story, I couldn't do anything but laugh, for they sounded exactly like his father and me.  Except I was the polished suburban slicker and HE was the outdoorsy fisherman.  Trying to climb hills in heels... well, let's just say... I got a few blisters from all that. 
I took in a few more bites of spaghetti.  "Did I ever tell you how on our first date, your father took me to Crystal Springs, his favorite fishing spot up near the stadium here?"
He shook his head no.
"I told him that I'd never been there before, and I hadn't even though I grew up here.  Now, I know Alexandra took you to that fishing spot up there in the mountains, and the two of you went fishing together.  Tell me honestly, AJ, are you attracted to her?"
"We're just friends.  Our birthday is the same, almost, she has the same favorite color and she likes the same things I do."
"AJ, I have no problems with you being friends with her, I like the idea that you are making friends.  I just, you know, want you to be careful." 
I kind of think Alexandra wants to be more than friends... but I couldn't tell AJ that just yet. 

I have to admit that I'm tickled to death at the irony. My son was a juvenile delinquent, sentenced to Fort Starch Military Academy, and now he's hanging out with a princess.
My baby, you know, he's all grown up now... how time flies. 

My two Simoleons

Just like I predicted, the queen was pissed that Alexandra joined the army. 

In fact, she's so upset now that she's given her and her twin sister an ultimatum.  They have to get married in two simweeks or forfeit their inheritance.

Seriously?  Are you kidding?

What century is this?  I know my latest book takes place mostly in the twelfth century but this isn't it.  Marriage ultimatums?  Really?   Even Alys de Montfort managed to dodge one of those.  And that was in the twelfth century. 

Personally, if it were my daughter, I'd be proud of her.  And support her.

Then I hear the other daughter, Anastasia, designed and is building the family funeral crypt, and the queen is upset about that, too. 

If she's building a cemetery, more power to her.  The Sim world needs more good architects.

Like I told AJ when he enlisted, I was going to support him in whatever he decides to do.  Even if I don't like it myself.  Even if I worry myself sick if he's going to come home again.

Speaking of which, he's been deployed now, to the foot of the mountain where there was a minor earthquake.  *sigh*  Such a big boy now, my son.  I don't have to hold his hand anymore to cross the street.   I still worry myself sick about him though.  I suppose that's natural, as he's my son, my first-born.  The fact that he's in the same regiment as Alex doesn't help either.

And I support Sety and Satis even though I don't like the fact that they're back in Egypt, back in a war zone.  Satis has written me and told me she is doing important diplomatic work there.  I hope they are safe.  I love them and miss them bunches. 

I'm hoping they come back home for Christmas.  We're making big plans for a Plumb family reunion in the Valley.  I have written them about the reunion. 

My current research is into a possible genetic link between Queen Catarina and Alys de Montfort, through Queen Catarina's mother, Queen Eloise.

I have great respect for the work Catarina Vanderburg has done as Queen of Hidden Springs.  She's done it for many years and she's done a great job of it. 

But I have to say it, I think she's a horrible mother.

Start with her son, Crown Prince Sebastian. She arranged a ball for him to find a bride there.  Granted, the bride he chose there is the new crown princess, Ella Carlisle, and she's everything the crown could possibly want -- but still, I don't think that was the way to go about that.

And her daughter -- where do I begin about Princess Francisca? 

Francisca wanted to travel and write, and her mother went ape, and wanted her to get married, and she disappeared and didn't return for many years, until, according to the gossips, Ella had been secretly talking to her, and she and the Prince are trying to negotiate a peace between her and the palace.

Even I know, in the issues I had with my own mom about wanting to travel and write while she wanted me in a nice, safe society lifestyle, that eventually the will is going to win out. 

But, in my opinion, she's failed the twins worst of all. 

Most psychologists (including Dr. Bill himself, who told me this in my dealings with Sage) say that the most powerful role-model in a child's life is the same-sex parent. 

I had to change what I was doing, in order to get closer to my daughters.  I rearranged my work schedule, and did whatever I needed to do so that I could have a better relationship with them.  It's not perfect but it is a work in progress.

These girls' mother absolutely failed them.  When they needed their mommy, she wasn't there.

 

I first encountered the little girls when my husband and I first moved to Hidden Springs.  I'd been an invited guest of the queen at the girls' teen birthday party.  I thought, you know, that they were a couple of little spoiled brats. 

She sent them away to Smuggsworth finishing school in order for them to become proper princesses. 

And I've heard that they wrote letters to her, constantly, begging for her to come and get them.  Personally, if they were my daughters, I'm on the first train smoking to bring them home and give them a big bear hug. 

So, my daughters are hooked on their TV show, Vanderburg Squared, and of course my son kind of stumbled into a bit part in it by going on an outing with one of the stars (lol) and winding up in a movie theater and in a rock climbing contest (he won yay)... apparently he is friends with her (only, thank the Goddess!)  and they're fellow cadets at the military academy so they'd have to work together.

I've heard that the Crown Prince has banned the show's cameras from the academy so that's a good thing.  He said he didn't want to compromise the privacy of the other cadets. 

The last episode I caught, the queen had just made the ultimatum and the girls had decided they were going to throw a costume ball. 

I don't watch the show regularly.  And I won't start now.  Even on my packed schedule.