Monday, April 25, 2011

The Journal of Phillip Grant - April 6

After returning from our trip, I decided to visit the boys. It was time to see how they were getting on.

My first stop was the little house that Stephen and Abbey share.

Stephen still stresses easily. I hope it's not just the plumbing again. How can anyone fret over plumbing so much?

"Stephen, what's on your mind?"

He shuddered. "Saw the Grim Reaper yesterday and I can't stop thinking about it."

Ah, it's not just the plumbing for once. "Seeing the Reaper in action is always a shock. Even if you know he will be coming soon."

"Yeah Dad. It's not nice at all. And it happened in the pub, which isn't a great thing for a business."

"How is the pub going?"

"It's doing pretty well. I have another job as well. Don't want to depend on the pub too much."

"That's a good idea. Pubs don't usually have too much problem though, customers are very loyal."

Then I turned to Stephen's girlfriend and roommate. "Abbey, my dear. You are looking well."

"Thanks."

"So, you and Stephen going to give us some grandchildren soon?"

"Not yet. We aren't even engaged. You have to be patient."

"I'm an old man. I don't have time for patient. I'd like to see some more grandchildren."


Then I went to visit Vincent and Miriam. Oh, and Kari, I guess.

"Vincent, how's life?"

"Hey Dad. Well, things at work could be better."

"What's wrong with it?"

"They just don't seem to recognise my talents at the theatre. I should have had at least one more promotion but they like keeping me at the bottom of the totem pole."

I carefully paid my respect to Kari and little Miriam. [Sigh] I wish that woman didn't drive Vanessa to distraction. Kari was fairly civil to me, but I didn't get a chance to hold the baby.

The girls were off entertaining themselves in their usual ways. Penny and Nick were out at the beach but I doubt they noticed the view much.

In the meantime, Ronnie had arranged to meet James at the local pool.

James and Ronnie had a nice chat. Ronnie told me later that James still doesn't have a new girlfriend.

It was a hot day and the swimming pool was the place to be.  Brad and Em turned up. As did a lot of other people from around town.


Ronnie talked to her cousin Shanna. Shanna is one of Kathy's kids. Shanna has grown a lot since I last saw her, has it been that long?

I was headed over to the pool to join Ronnie and walked through the garden at Eric's place. Tisk, Eric has been leaving the money tree seeds go to waste. I think I'll just pick them up, we could use a money tree or three.

Shanna's girlfriend Stephanie also came to the pool.

My oldest brother Sammy was there too. Sammy is still missing his wife Malia.

That's an awful thought. What if I lose Vanessa? Might as well tear my heart from my body.

Penny and Nick showed up. Penny can hold her breath under water for a very long time. Nick didn't have a chance of winning the hold breathe contest.

---

"Hey, Dad?"

"Yes, Pen?"

"I'm not positive but I think Nicolas might have an evil streak."

"Why?"

"Well, he started telling me about his latest mastermind plot."

"Does it worry you?"

"Umm, yeah, a bit."

"Ok, I see. Tell you what, Penny. I'll get your cousin Jerod over. You chat to him."

"Jerod?"

"Jerod definitely has an evil streak. Get to know him then ask. He is family, you can talk to him."

Penny has decided to do a bit of cocktail mixing. I might encourage that as a skill. We bought the bar for Stephen, may as well get some use out of it.

Not only did I invite Jerod over for Penny but both the boys as well. The twins really don't know their brothers as well as they should. So Ronnie spent some time chatting to Stephen.

Penny was taking my advice and getting to know Jerod.

I don't know whose idea it was to dance but it certainly let them get to know each other.

They were actually fairly well matched in skills.

"Hey, Jerod, Dad says you're the one to ask about being evil."

"Uncle Phillip? I'm surprised he remembered."

"It's true?"

"Fraid it is. But why would you want to ask?"

"Well, my boyfriend was telling me his latest mastermind plot."

"Ah, that's nothing to worry about. It's a sort of mind game, nothing more."

"Mind game?"

"It's a mental challenge. Like if I had to make someone vanish in Egypt, how would I go about it?"

"How would you..."

"Never you mind. The only way that I'd actually implement a plot is if someone were threatening me or my family. Harm me or mine at your own risk."

"So that's it?"

"Well, there is the small problem with candy and babies. I mean, you shouldn't give candy to babies, it's bad for them. So me taking it off is good for them right?"

"Umm..."

"The parents feel the same way. Something about their screaming babies makes them unhappy."

Ronnie finished having a nice talk with Stephen and got to know her oldest brother a little better.
I'm glad to see she knows both of them a little more now.

--------

"So Penny?"

"Yes Dad?"

"Was your chat with your cousin instructive?"

"It was very interesting. I think that it will be ok, if Nick happens to have some evil, as long as we stay together."

"Penny?"

"Yes Dad?"

"You need to go shopping."

"Cool, Dad. You want me to pick up something for you?"

"No, dear. You need to buy yourself a hat."

15 comments:

  1. And so we finally come to the end of Phillip's time as narrator. Next time, Penny will have a hat.

    Gack, it took a year! A year to get through a generation.

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  2. Wow... That's so weird to imagine! Penny as the narrator! It's been Phillip for so long... But, I suppose it's just as weird for me to not be playing a house with Jeb in it any more. Have to pass the hat at some point. ^^

    And, I love how the "heir" has to wear a hat. XD That's so hilarious.

    Stephen's neurosis cracks me up--and I see he and Abbey ARE dating. Cool! And holy bananas, outside of Brad's lips and her hair color, she's the spitting image of Farah. I still can't get over that. XD The Egyptian genetics live on! Huzzah!!

    Man, Kari is such a sour puss. At least Vincent seems fairly happy with her though--that's what counts. Sucks about his job, though.

    Penny is so adorable with the way she treats Nick. XD Man, are we going to end up with two Grant/Kane pairings? I may not be able to handle it! *faint*

    Glad to see the girls are trying to get to know their family better--it always makes me :( when I see a family icon that does not also have a friend icon by it.

    Hahahaha... They all seem pretty nonchalant about evil streaks, don't they? XD I do like Jerod's little mention of his last short story, though--nice tie in there.

    Well, it'll be weird for things to change, but I'm excited how different the world will look through Penny's eyes. I'm betting she'll give the Grant's a much different voice!

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  3. Yeah, it has been Phillip for a very long time. I thought you would understand, since you are slowly leaving Jeb further out of the picture.

    The hat is the family heirloom/joke. Sam wore a hat his entire life (in this family only), then it was Indy's turn. After that, it was the official family tradition. So Penny has to find a hat.

    Yes, Stephen and Abbey are dating. I'm glad to know that it's not just me - Abbey really does look like Farah. Strong genetics.

    Kari is on her last day as an adult. Do you want to know how badly I want to pollinate her? LOL Vincent still has plenty of time as a young adult. Silly boy going for a much older woman.

    Penny and Nick - at this stage, that can be expected to stay a pair unless Penny actually throws some different wants. Very unlikely.

    Me too, I hate when family <> friend.

    I love doing little tie ins to other stories. If you read it, there is a bonus. If you haven't, it's not a big deal. And yeah, unless provoked or in 'the business', evil doesn't seem that evil frankly.

    Thanks for the very extensive comment! The world through Penny's eyes may be different, but Phillip will claim the traditional right of backchatting on the blog till he can't.

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  4. Oh, I forgot to mention. I'm starting to get worried about Brad. He seems to appear relatively frequently when Ronnie is out. What is that man up to?

    LOL

    I tried to give Stephen and Abbey a hint. Phillip left them a crib after his visit. :)

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  5. Well, I'm excited to read Penny's POV. Love the conversations between Penny and Jerod. XD He was surely playing a mind game. OMG, I still missed Jerod. Good to see him here.

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  6. Yes, MJ, the next time around we get a new point of view.

    It should be interesting.

    Jerod is going to make a return as soon as I can find a worthy adversary. No one has actually specified a particular Sim I can use. Normally, I'd recycle Jeb Kane for the part but that would be too weird after Jeb and Jerod in Kaleeko's blog.

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  7. It was good to see Jerod again in this blog. I have a Grant/Tomasi toddler (Marta and Phillip) who has the evil trait. I could age her up for you if you can't find another villain.

    I'll miss Phillip but I'm anxious to hear what Penny has to say. Plus, I can always hop in one of my games and play with him. So to speak. Er...um...*cough*

    I think the name Kari is doomed in Simdom. Ripley's biggest nemesis was her brother's wife Kari in her original story.

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  8. Thanks Chrysame. I've sort of decided on two villains, one female if I decide to take it seriously or your Ollie with a trait replaced if I don't. Absent-minded evil Ollie could be pretty darned cute.

    I'll miss Phillip as the narrator, but we have to move on sooner or later. He's had a long time in the spotlight. Glad he gathered some fans during his time.

    Ah yes, that Kari. I do remember one of the marriages had a Sim the rest of the family couldn't stand.

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  9. Nice transition- it'll be interesting to see the blog under Penny's reign. Love the hat tradition! I haven't read all the way back to the beginning, but I think I might when I have free time. :)

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  10. Your welcome to Ollie. Evil absent minded Ollie would be fun!

    Penny with a hat. I'll have to see it because I just can't imagine it!

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  11. Hey Amelia, I'm pretty fond of the hat tradition myself. It's silly and just the sort of thing a Sim family should do.

    If you go all the way back, the first few posts are missing comments. That's cause I copied them over from the Hi Mum, it's Sammy blog. I should have known that Indiana Sam wasn't a true Sam clone. :)

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  12. Hey Chrysame, I knew you wouldn't mind me borrowing Ollie. After all, I've done it before, one of the many lovers of the evil Susie (black widow) Pierce. :)

    I have no idea yet which hat Penny will be wearing. It will probably take me an hour or so trying all of them at least twice to work it out.

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  13. For them what get the comments delivered - there is a new banner up. New post should be up sometime tonight.

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  14. Oh my gosh, Stephen is so handsome!
    Lol at him seeing the grim reaper at the pub. That would make anyone spill their beer!

    Ronnie and James look like they'd make a cute couple.

    'That's an awful thought. What if I lose Vanessa? Might as well tear my heart from my body.' Awwwww!

    I look forward to Penny being the narrator. A young lassie too tell us what's happening in the Grant family. ;)

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  15. Hey Jen,

    Stephen really is a handsome fellow. Actually, I think all 4 of the kids from this family came out well.

    As you will find out, Ronnie and James weren't meant to be. They were good while they lasted.

    Poor Phillip, I don't look forward to losing either of them but I hope the reaper takes him first. Cause I really can't imagine him without her.

    Penny, the first girl to be chosen as the family heir. Had to happen someday. :)

    Thanks for the comment. I luvs comments.

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