Saturday, 6 September 2014

Exploring My Options...


What the...?

Why am I lying on a bed, in the middle of a field, in my new pajamas? (Okay. I guess it beats being naked, but...)

Oh, wait. I know where I am.

I'm in my new "home". Nana is very lucky she doesn't have 'smart' phone service back in the village. There's a lot I'd like to say to her right now.

Like:

Could someone tell the sun to dial it back a few watts? I'd really love a couple more hours of sleep.

Ugh. I guess I'd better get dressed before someone comes by and sees me like this. (No doubt it would be some creepy old man, with the luck I've been having. FYI: The stars do not grant wishes. I wished for a house all night and I still woke up here. Don't let those shiny little things fool you.)


I had to cut my grumbling session short. The sudden urge to pee took me over, and I ran to the gym.

On the plus side, after that pesky morning jog, there's no need for me to stay here and exercise. At least, not right now.

On the downside, my stomach seems to think it's a yeti. (Pro-tip: Don't mess with yetis. They bite.)

Time to find some breakfast!


Since it's close, I decide to return to Blue Velvet for some chips. Yum, yum. This is the breakfast of champions! (Frugal champions, anyway. The food industry should name 'free' a nutrient.)

Hey, I'm not gonna slam this place! It serves food and this time I had no trouble getting inside, even though it's only 9 a.m.

What more could I ask? (Okay: I could ask for chocolate cake with blueberry filling. Point taken.)


Remember what I said about fierce competition? This girl isn't all that pretty, but she had no shame and totally butted in on my conversation with the bartender, Angel. How rude!

I'd rather avoid having my morning end in a cloud of dust and fists, so I think I'll ditch Blue Velvet for now. I've heard there's a nice library nearby. I'd like to get a head start on that programming guide Natalia ordered for me. I know the extra edge will be helpful tomorrow when I start my new job...

...Even if I'm stuck being a Live Chat Support Agent to start.

Whatever that is?


I walk up to a table where several computers have been set up. I pause before taking a seat.

"Mind if I sit here?" I ask.

When no one says anything back, I take that as a yes...


...Yes, I can sit.

Unfortunately, there is no computer here. I guess I'll read a book instead.

Oh, goodie. I could have done this back home in the village.

How disappointing.

Eventually, though one of the people on the computers gets up and goes away.

At last, the moment I've been waiting for can begin.

This is my Cowplant. My Voodoo Doll. My Potion of Youth.

This is the machine which will let me make 'magic' happen.


Now I just have to figure out how the crazy thing works. I wonder what happens if I push this button...


Yes! I did it! Woo-hoo!

That's the program that my book says I need to open to start learning Programming.

Now, let me see...


It takes a few minutes for me to get use to how this program is laid out. But once I do, I'm able to work all the options and I use my book to do the exercises that are suppose to teach me how to make programs, rather than just navigate them.

About an hour later, I'm puzzling over how to do something the book wants me to in order to change a variable. A lady who appears to be part funky haired hippie and part Nana sits down next to me. We get talking about my upcoming first day of work and learning how to program, which is pretty cool. By the end, she has pointed out an option on the screen that I misunderstood.

Problem solved! The program I was trying to make has been completed.

And the solution to my problem was so...easy. I'm shocked I didn't think of it myself!

*+*+*

After heading back to the gym for a brisk shower and a bathroom break, I decide it's time to pay a visit to Oasis Springs. I've had this burning, itching desire to do some dancing, and rumor has it The Rattlesnake Juice Bar has a jukebox.

As I'm making my way through Oasis Springs, though, I decide that it's too early in the evening to hit the Rattlesnake yet. The Solar Lounge, though? That's fair game.

And who should I find there but my buddy the bartender, Angel Betts.


I bet you can tell something is different today. We're actually getting to talk without ten other ladies cutting in on us. Now, what does one say once they have a handsome man alone? Where I come from men approach first, but things seem a bit more laid back here...


After Angel wandered off to do his own thing, I made my way around the bar to get a better view of the tricks the mixologist working the bar was doing. I ended up sitting next to a man named Zachery. He dances far better than I would have expected, given his age.

I have a strong suspicion that I'd best lay off the Juice tonight.


Zachery doesn't seem to get my sense of humor. When he actually puts his hands on his ears while I'm talking, it's pretty obvious this is going absolutely nowhere.

I've stalled long enough. Time to get where I was going while the night is still young.


This place is kinda snazzy. I want to come back here and sip something sweet and topped with a lemon wedge someday. But for now, I suppose I'll settle for going inside. Maybe it's a good omen that the patio umbrellas match my new dress.


It doesn't take me long to find the jukebox. It takes even less time for a crowd to gather and for mass dancing to ensue! Yes! This is what I've needed.

Once i've danced myself out, I wander over to the bar for yet another free bag of chips. I take them over to the couch and sit with a bunch of people I just danced with. This is...nice.


 I work in the morning and I need to get home to have a good night sleep. But before I turn in, a few minutes of fun playing games on my phone. I need to find a way to get myself to relax... I'm so nervous!


If every day I spend here is as crazy as this one, I'm going to need to spend more time at the gym. I'm beat!

Back To Nature...


I'll let you in on a little secret: when your home consists of a bed sitting in an open patch of grass, you don't tend to sit at home for long. Ten minutes of pondering just what I was going to do about this mess, and I came upon an answer.

The park. 

If I go to the park, surely I will meet someone who can help me sort this all out. At the very least, I might be able to make some new friends and--gasp!--find some (free) lunch. I'm gonna keep my cash close, at least for now. There's no telling when I'll have to spend it, or what for. 

Can they kick someone off a big chunk of grass?

The park looks lovely, as things in nature tend to do. 

It's different than what I'm use to. Sure, there are trees and flowers and shrubs. But mixed in with that, there are tables and boards with little pieces (some kind of game?) and a great big stone thing with benches in it. Nothing like home at all. 

A flash of shiny golden hair catches my eye. Looking over I see a handsome man sitting at one of those board things. Maybe he can help me. If not, at least he'll be nice to look at. 


Is he waiting for someone to play with? Only one way to find out, I guess. 

I'll haul my butt over there and find out! 


Hmm... Not so hot from the front.

That shirt is just...no. Plus, he's looking at me like he's thinking "Who are you and why were you born?". 

This might have been a mistake.

I watch him fiddle with the pieces for a few minutes, trying to figure things out. After a few minutes watching, I offer to join him and we begin to play. 


As we get into the game, I introduce myself to him and learn that his name is Malcolm Landgraab. (There's a funny name if ever I heard one!) All is going well, and I'm even starting to think that maybe, just maybe, I misread his earlier expression.

But then I tell him about what has happened to me, and get...


"What do you want me to do about it?"

Exactly what you sound willing to do, Malcolm. Nothing. 

Couldn't he have at least listened? Let me vent?

Gah. I'm forgetting I'm not at home anymore. I guess I can't just walk up to random people and expect them to immediately like me here.

That's kinda annoying. 

The park has totally lost its appeal (for now). And I was so hoping to have hot dogs or hamburgers!

Making sure I didn't do something silly, like leaving my wallet behind, I head out of the park and make my way downtown. 


I've got no clue what "Blue Velvet" is, but I guess I'm going to find out. 

I'm getting kind of hungry. If I'm lucky, maybe this place is famous for some fancy cake that involves blueberries and chocolate. Nana use to make Red Velvet cake, after all...

Unfortunately, the place of blueberry chocolate goodness is currently closed. Since the gym is next door, I decide to go there instead.

Hey, if I'm going to be sleeping under the stars with nothing to my name but a bit of money and a twin bed, I'd better make sure I'm in good shape at least. 

Right?


Wrong. Whoever invened this machine I'm sitting on must have really hated a fat relative or something. (Sorry, cousin. No blueberry chocolate cake for you. See? That person must have been evil.)

Time to try something else...


Yeah, this is definitely more like it. I'm use to hoofing it on foot anyway, so the treadmill, as the lady visiting with me calls it, is a much better fit.

After taking a steamy shower and using the bathroom, I leave the gym behind and go back to the Blue Velvet.

On the downside, they don't serve chocolate cake with blueberries. On the upside, the bartender gave me an order of chips for free. 


Seems a nice enough guy, but that beard... Yikes! Sorry doll, but you're not what I'm looking for. 

Plus, what this place lacks in appealing men, it makes up for several times over in fiercely pretty competition. If a good looking man walked through the door, he'd likely get pounced by the crowd before I could even say hello to him.


I have heard a few whispers about the Landgraabs while I've sat here eating. It seems that if I got involved with any of them I'd be as whole as a Cowplant's dinner by the end of it. Plus, it seems Malcolm is still a student anyway.

I guess that explains at least part of his reaction this morning. Not much a kid could do about my current situation, after all.

No matter how you slice it, I was lucky to sidestep the whole mess. 

But then...


A guy I saw at the gym comes in and takes a seat at the bar.

I won't lie: blondes have always been my thing. But this guy isn't too shabby with his dark hair and wide shoulders.

As predicted, I can't get anywhere near him. But we do talk a little. 

Turns out his name is J Huntington II and he's really into sports. (Well I did meet him at the gym...) He didn't seem to mind all the attention he was getting, either. (Not sure what I think of that.) 

Oh well. It's only my first day in Willow Creek. I think I've done pretty good getting around as much as I have. 

Returning to my new "home", I pull back the covers and climb into my ill-fated bed.


Who am I to complain? If every star in the sky is a wish, and I'm sleeping among them, I must be the luckiest woman alive. 

First Steps...


My family is really, really weird. I've known that all my life.

But even that knowledge has done nothing to prepare me for this.

I present to you my new home.

I know exactly what you're thinking right now, because it's exactly what I was thinking about a minute ago when I got here:

Where's the house?


My name is Katryn Rosemir. I focus on Kat, my family focuses on Rose.

They think they can brew magic potions. That they can use plants and herbs to do their bidding in an assortment of ways. My crazy uncle Olaf even owns a voodoo doll and thinks he can curse people with it.

I think it's all a bunch of rubbish. Which is why I'm here in picturesque Willow Creek while there, um, somewhere else. (About that voodoo doll? "Dear" old uncle Olaf said he'd use it on me if I told everyone where the family lives. They like their privacy.)

Anyway, back to my moving day crisis.

I'm stuck on a great big chunk of land with a bunch of fancy clothes (which I spent way too much of my money on, clearly!), 1,800 simoleans to my name, and this gaudy old statue aunt Natalia insisted I take with me. I tried to sell it in town this afternoon, but no one was willing to buy.


Hold on a minute. What's that sound?

Oh, crap.

It's the movers and they have my new bed.


Well, here it is.

I couldn't exactly tell them I don't want it anymore. (Sleeping on the ground? No way!)


This is totally not what I signed up for! I need to fix this. Immediately.

No doubt my Nana set this whole thing up, convinced that I will come home because it's too hard.

I won't let that happen. I have plans for myself here in Willow Creek. Plans to leave our little backwater village behind and bring the Rosemir name to fame and glory.

Why should sleeping under the stars stop me now? It's not like I haven't done it before.