It's Simsational!

I'm a control freak. There. I said it. Now you all know my secret shame. I don't like spontaneity or plans changing or the kids unloading the dishwasher. Actually, I let them do this one because it's good for them but I stress about it the entire time hoping that they put everything where it's supposed to go (and maybe sometimes I go and re-do it...maybe not...I've said too much already). Perhaps it's this aspect of my personality that is drawn to certain computer games. My current obsession (besides World of Warcraft where I have a very beautiful level 80 Blood Elf Priest that is just as controlling as I am – For The Horde!!) is The Sims 3. There's just something about this game - like how much can be controlled. I can pick and choose what they look like, what personality I want them to have, what career track they will enter, when they eat and what they eat. I can even choose such mundane tasks as when they should go to the bathroom or whether they should have a shower or a bath or whether they should even bathe at all (I know...gross....but oddly interesting when a green gas oozes out of their armpits).

I got this game on the first day it was released and have been lost in the eye candy ever since. The graphics are incredible. And, I've been lost in getting to know my new little minions - the simulated people and families I have complete control over (insert evil laugh here). My first 'minion' was Samantha Jones whom I intended to be just like the Sex & the City character but who ended up being the exact opposite. In the first few hours under my control, Samantha met Sherman. A local boy (aka, came with the game) who is afraid of the dark and has traits like 'lucky' and 'coward'. Then they became best friends, fell in love and got married (Samantha proposed – even got down on one knee with a ring and Sherman jumped up and down with excitement...seriously!). Then there was the new house, new jobs, fertility treatments, pregnancy, raising kids, getting promotions – the fun is endless really. However, my husband wasn't liking it so much. You see, we would spend our evenings playing World of Warcraft together once the kids were in bed and he was feeling quite left out the next night when I didn't want to play WOW with him. In fact, I think my actual words were "Honey, you can't expect me NOT to have my babies tonight!"

So for the purpose of this blog (and to lighten the mood every once in a while), I have created special minions just for you (now you’re all aiding and abetting my madness...more evil laughs here) - meet Henry and Nancy SmallTown. They are a young, married couple with huge lifetime aspirations. They are both family-oriented but Henry wants desperately to be an astronaut while Nancy wants to have at least 5 children that she can watch grow to adulthood. To start off, they have a beautiful house on the beach in a town called Sunset Valley that they can afford due to a very generous inheritance that was left to Nancy when her parents passed away (Ok ok...I cheated and made her rich...happy?). Henry has found a job in the military and Nancy is working as a bedplan cleaner . But, I suspect she’ll be quitting as soon as she discovers the ‘woohooing’ paid off and she’s pregnant. Hopefully with multiples. But should they have girls or boys first? Yes, I can control even that (Muahahahahaha!!).