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seanssimsblog · 6 months

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Early U.S. Era - The Howell Legacy - c. 1840s South Carolina

Trigger Warning - Mentions of Slavery within this challenge and other sensitive things.

Greetings!,

Meet the Howell Plantation. In the charming South Carolina town of Willow Creek, The Howell name is of very high status. The family comprises Parker and Amalia Howell and their three children: Damon, the eldest; Aspen, the middle; and Danny Howell, the youngest. The family owns ten slaves and is the only family in the town with a plantation. The family’s main slaves are Reginald and Nora Howell. Due to the family's admiration of Nora and Reginald’s skill and workability, the two built a cabin on the family’s main lot. Reginald is currently courting Nora and has taken a lot of interest in her.

Parker Howell’s 2nd great grandfather of unknown identity inherited the plantation to his son Vernon C. Howell who inherited to his son, Anthony C. Howell, who handed the plantation to his first son, Elliot C. Howell. Elliot had his son Parker C. Howell and then inherited it to Parker at the age of 39, after Elliot died at the age of 78.

Anthony C. Howell’s grandfather began the plantation in 1663 when he was appointed one of the Lord’s Proprietors and given the land by King Charles II. Anthony’s grandfather is the forgotten ninth Lord's Proprietor, for his name was erased from many sources, not even Elliot knew his name; Anthonys father Vernon refused to utter his name...

Though the reason for his identity and erasure is unknown and up for speculation, Parkers great-great grandfather is revered by Willow Creek for driving the natives out of the settlement with the help of his men who came along with him on the ship, which marked the beginning of the new town.

Nora was born on a Virginia plantation, separated from her mother, father, and grandmother at age six, and brought to South Carolina. Parker bought Nora when she was 18; she is now 26 in 1840. Nora is very passive and timid but gets inspired easily. She is a domestic slave in charge of cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry.

Reginald was born on a South Carolina plantation. His mother was conceived by the r*pe of her mother done by their master. Reginald's mother being biracial explains Reginald’s faint yet noticeable European features. Reginald's father and mother were later hung due to being caught by their sadistic master while they were conspiring to escape with their family and the other slaves. (The master, married with kids, was secretly and deeply in love with Reginald's mother and couldn't fathom losing her, which was really the driving point that led him to commit such an act.)

Afterward, Reginald was relocated to a South Carolina plantation at an early age and then given to Parker by Reginald’s previous master as a gift when Reginald was 20. Reginald is now 29 years of age in 1840. Despite the tragic death of his parents, Reginald is very charismatic and upbeat and knows how to stay out of trouble most of the time. He is the primary field hand and he’s in charge of taking care of errands around town as well as taking care of the cattle and crops.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐝 Howell (Later named Howard).

#sims 4 #black simmer #Historic #ts4 decades challenge #american history #sensitive content #sims 4 story #ts4 legacy #sims 4 decades #ts4 story #ts4 historical #sims 4 historical cc #sims 4 gameplay #sims 4 history challenge #simblr #sims 4 historical #ts4

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rockislandadultreads · 9 months

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Libby Spotlight: History eAudiobooks

Graveyard of the Pacific by Randall Sullivan (read by Lynch Travis)

Off the coast of Oregon, the Columbia River flows into the Pacific Ocean and forms the Columbia River Bar: a watery collision so turbulent and deadly that it's nicknamed the Graveyard of the Pacific. Two thousand ships have been wrecked on the bar since the first European ship dared to try to cross it. Since then, the commercial importance of the Columbia River has only grown, but despite the construction of jetties on either side, the bar remains treacherous.

When Randall Sullivan and a friend set out to cross the bar in a two-man kayak, they're met with skepticism and concern. But on a clear day in July 2021, when the tides and weather seem right, they embark. As they plunge through the currents that have taken so many lives, Randall commemorates the brave sailors that made the crossing before him—including his own abusive father, a sailor himself who also once dared to cross the bar—and reflects on toxic masculinity, fatherhood, and what drives men to extremes.

Rich with exhaustive research and propulsive narrative, Graveyard of the Pacific follows historical shipwrecks through the moment-by-moment details that often determined whether sailors would live or die, exposing the ways in which boats, sailors, and navigation have changed over the decades.

King by Jonathan Eig (read by Dion Graham)

Vividly written and exhaustively researched, Jonathan Eig's King: A Life is the first major biography in decades of the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.—and the first to include recently declassified FBI files.

In this revelatory new portrait of the preacher and activist who shook the world, the bestselling biographer gives us an intimate view of the courageous and often emotionally troubled human being who demanded peaceful protest for his movement but was rarely at peace with himself. He casts fresh light on the King family's origins as well as MLK's complex relationships with his wife, father, and fellow activists. King reveals a minister wrestling with his own human frailties and dark moods, a citizen hunted by his own government, and a man determined to fight for justice even if it proved to be a fight to the death. As he follows MLK from the classroom to the pulpit to the streets of Birmingham, Selma, and Memphis, Eig dramatically re-creates the journey of a man who recast American race relations and became our only modern-day founding father—as well as the nation's most mourned martyr.

Koresh by Stephan Talty (read by Sean Pratt)

No other event in the last fifty years is shrouded in myth like the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. Today, we remember this moment for the 76 people, including 20 children, who died in the fire; for its inspiration of the Oklahoma City bombing; and for the wave of anti-government militarism that followed. What we understand far less is what motivated the Davidians' enigmatic leader, David Koresh.

Drawing on first-time, exclusive interviews with Koresh's family and survivors of the siege, bestselling author Stephan Talty paints a psychological portrait of this infamous icon of the 1990s. Born Vernon Howell into the hyper-masculine world of central Texas in the 1960s, Koresh experienced a childhood riven with abuse and isolation. He found a new version of himself in the halls of his local church, and love in the fundamentalist sect of the Branch Davidians. Later, with a new name and professed prophetic powers, Koresh ushered in a new era for the Davidians that prized his own sexual conquest as much as his followers' faith. As one survivor has said, "What better way for a worthless child to feel worth than to become God?"

In his signature immersive storytelling, Talty reveals how Koresh's fixation on holy war, which would deliver the Davidians to their reward and confirm himself as Christ, collided with his paranoid obsession with firearms to destructive effect. Their deadly, 51-day standoff with the embattled FBI and ATF, he shows, embodied an anti-government ethic that continues to resonate today.

The Windsors at War by Alexander Larman (read by Sophie Roberts)

At the beginning of 1937, the British monarchy was in a state of turmoil. The previous king, Edward VIII, had abdicated the throne, leaving his unprepared and terrified brother Bertie to become George VI, surrounded by a gaggle of courtiers and politicians who barely thought him up to the job. Meanwhile, as the now-Duke of Windsor awaited the decree that would allow him to marry his mistress Wallis Simpson, he took an increased interest in the expansionist plans of Adolf Hitler. He may even have gone so far as to betray his country in the process. And as double agents and Nazi spies thronged the corridors of Buckingham Palace, the only man the King could trust was his Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. But they faced a formidable, even unbeatable, adversary: his own brother.

The Windsors at War tells the never-before-told story of World War Two in Britain and America with a fresh focus on the royal family, their conflicted relationships, and the events that rocked the international press. How did this squabbling, dysfunctional family manage to put their differences aside and unite to help win the greatest conflict of their lifetimes? Alexander Larman, author of The Crown in Crisis, now chronicles the Windsor family at war with Germany—and each other.

#history #nonfiction #nonfiction books #nonfiction reads #audiobooks #libby #library books #reading recommendations #reading recs #book recommendations #book recs #tbr #tbrpile #to read #booklr #book tumblr #book blog #library blog

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azspot · 11 months

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A lot has been written about the two disastrous raids launched by federal agents, but let’s not let Koresh off the hook. He was a beer-drinking, guitar-playing, skirt-chasing, gun-collecting rogue whose ability to quote long passages of Scripture apparently convinced his cult that he was a messianic figure right out of the Book of Revelation. Koresh, né Vernon Howell, stockpiled assault rifles, raped underage girls, cuckolded male followers by sleeping with their wives, and told the Waco Tribune-Herald, “Y’know, bein’ Christ ain’t nothin’.”

Charlatans, False Prophets, Flimflammers: Reporting on Religion

#journalism #religion

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turtlethon · 2 years

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"Raphael Meets His Match"

Season 4, Episode 17 First US Airdate: September 15, 1990

A contest to win a cruise leads to Raphael encountering a villainous pirate.

"Raphael Meets His Match" premiered as the second half of a double bill with "Bebop and Rocksteady Conquer the Universe". This is the first and only episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles written by Charles M. Howell IV, who prior to this worked on a number of Hanna-Barbera series and would go on to write for Animaniacs.

vimeo

An abridged version of the new title sequence makes its debut here, running for only thirty seconds (half as long as the normal one). This is carried over for the Lionsgate DVD release. For Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, the full-length titles are used, making this almost certainly the first time a TMHT episode ended up with a longer running time than the TMNT version.

The Turtles emerge from Pick-A-Peck-O-Pizza, grousing about the miniscule portions of the take-home meals they’ve been sold. Michaelangelo suggests that this penny-pinching must be how the owner of the establishment, McDonald Crump, “became a bazillionaire”. Yes, we’re going there.

Donatello is thrilled to find he’s won a prize from a scratch card included with his tiny pizza, but soon finds himself dismayed when he learns this simply means he can claim another miniscule meal. Leonardo and Michaelangelo scratch their cards and get the same outcome. Raphael, however, wins a pass to Crump’s “big birthday cruise”. Leonardo shoots down the idea, pointing out that the Turtles can’t go wandering around in public.

Later, in the Lair, Raphael reveals his plan to the other Turtles and to April: as this is a costume party, he’ll go as... himself. April will also be attending, covering the event for Channel 6.

On the night of the cruise, the Turtles emerge from a manhole and watch as attendees board the ship. Donatello reassures Raphael that he’ll fit right in, pointing out that several other guests are wearing home-made Ninja Turtle costumes. A few of the attendees are returning from the costume party in last year’s “April Fool”, including Big Hat & Suspenders Guy, Cowboy with Giant Hat, Pointy Nose Devil and Racy Female Superhero.

April interviews McDonald Crump, who presumably for legal reasons doesn’t resemble his real-world counterpart in any significant way beyond having weirdly tiny hands. When quizzed on why he holds such lavish parties, Crump explains it’s so he can tell everyone about his pizza restaurant operation. He then wanders off, leaving Vernon complaining – rightly, for once – that their news report ended up becoming a commercial.

Raphael meets up with April and Vernon before almost immediately being embraced by a young woman ostensibly wearing a salamander costume. She drags him off against his will, acting the entire time as if they’re old friends. (Vernon then makes a noise indicating that he’s about to say something before we jump to the next sequence – I suspect his comments were cut for time.)

The mystery woman encourages Raphael to use his invitation to get them both into the party, with the understanding that she’s attending as his date. Having pulled off this ruse, she kisses him on the cheek for his help and runs off.

Once the ship has set off, Raphael meets up with April and relays what just happened. Suspicious about the whole incident, he decides to investigate further. Along the way he encounters a guy in a Turtle suit who tears into him for ripping off his costume. Not much in the way of a pay-off for this in the present moment, but this guy will make a return appearance later.

Raphael sneaks onto the bridge, where he finds his mystery date tying up the captain and first mate. After being confronted, Raph has a ship wheel dropped on him that serves as a restraint. He escapes this by flexing until the wooden wheel crumbles, and dives on the salamander lady to stop her from adjusting the boat’s path. Pressed as to her true intentions, she reveals her name to be Mona Lisa, but before she can explain further, the ship begins rocking violently.

Raphael looks outside and is shocked to see a beam of light holding the ship in place. A submarine emerges next to it, and after we return from commercials Mona explains the sub is called the Kleptofoil. From it emerges Captain Filch, a skeevy fellow dressed like a straight-to-video version of Cobra Commander from GI Joe. Filch boards the captured ship and confronts McDonald Crump, revealing he’s issued ransom demands to “all the major newspapers”. Furious, Crump orders his guards to intervene, only for Filch to summon his mutant anemones – huge, sullen-looking monsters that quickly surround the attendees.

April watches from nearby, snatching the camera out of a cowering Vernon’s hands to capture the events for the news. Filch spots her and is pleased that these events are being recorded for the world to see; he warns the guests that if they defy him, they’ll be fed to the sharks.

Back on the bridge, Raphael admonishes Mona Lisa for her actions, accusing her of colluding with Captain Filch and working to steer the ship in the direction of his submarine. She protests her innocence and wishes the “real Ninja Turtles” were around to save the day. The conversation is interrupted by the sounds of the approaching mutant anemones. Raph and Mona work to free the crew and make their escape. After our heroes leave, Filch’s creatures capture the crew and tie them up once more.

Raphael and Mona navigate the ship before being cornered by more of the mutants, forcing them to dive into the surrounding waters. Impressed by Mona’s swimming ability, Raph reveals to her that he’s one of the real Ninja Turtles. Mona eagerly hugs him, insisting that she knew the team would arrive and rescue everyone.

Later, aboard the ship, April and Vernon meet up with Raphael. He introduces them to Mona, who reveals that she isn’t wearing a costume and is a real mutant. Mona attempts to kick off a flashback. Raphael, however, is the King of the Fourth Wall Break, and can’t allow this to occur without pointing out the narrative device at work.

Mona recounts her backstory: a physics major in college, she was on a field trip with friends when her boat was hijacked by Captain Filch. He took her captive aboard the Kleptofoil, intending to use her skills to aid him in his goal of world domination via hi-tech piracy. After playing along for some time, Mona secretly hatched a plan to destroy the lab by uh... smashing the whole place up with a single hammer. A burst pipe led to her being submerged in radioactive water, transforming her into a mutant salamander who’s now perpetually at odds with her former captor.

We’re kind of circumventing the standard Laws of Mutation rules here, given that this transformation doesn’t involve mutagen, so the whole “you turn into the last animal you were in contact with” bit isn’t an issue. This does, however, raise the question of why the radiation would turn Mona into a salamander at all. We’re not getting a satisfactory answer though, so let’s just continue.

Mona begins crying at the thought of being a “grotesque mutant”, and having failed to stop Filch. Raphael comforts her, but we can’t allow the show to be too moving or emotionally resonant for long, so things quickly move along. He attempts to call the other Turtles for assistance, but finds his Turtlecom is water-logged and no longer working. The group is soon discovered by one of the mutant anemones. Raph sends the creature overboard, and our heroes then begin working to assemble a plan: April will head to the radio room to contact the Turtles, Mona will work to shut off the forcefield and Raphael is tasked with creating a diversion. (A seasick Vernon stays behind, out of sight.)

Elsewhere, a captive McDonald Crump attempts to negotiate with Captain Filch, offering him money or shares in his pizza restaurant chain in exchange for freedom. Raphael intervenes, sporting a pirate hat as he swings in on a rope and confronts the villain before being surrounded by more mutant anemones. April is also found by the creatures, who drag her out of the radio room and present her to their boss. Upon learning of what transpired, Filch tells his hench-mutants to return her to the radio room, figuring her skills will prove useful.

In the Lair, Michaelangelo seems oddly spaced-out as he stares at a monster movie airing on TV. A newsflash cuts into the broadcast to inform viewers of the situation aboard Crump’s ship. Footage airs of April being held captive by two of Filch’s mutants (inexplicably, it’s daytime during the recording and they’re clearly standing on dry land). She explains that unless Filch receives two billion dollars immediately, all of the assembled guests will be made to walk the plank and will wind up being fed to the sharks. Naturally, the Turtles quickly head off to do their thing.

Having served her purpose, Filch goes on to make April begin her plank walk. Meanwhile, Mona reaches the room containing the forcefield generator. She uses her acrobatic skills to avoid the attacks of the mutant anemones, with one attempting to hurl a chair at her which ricochets, hitting and destroying the control panel.

April is saved at the last second by the arrival of the Turtles via their blimp, who are able to board the ship now that the forcefield has been stopped. The group unite with Raphael and Mona, working their way through Filch’s army of mutants and freeing the guests. Mona insists on attempting to destroy the Kleptofoil, despite Raphael’s concerns for her safety. As she charges off to do so Filch sends his remaining mutants after her, one of whom encounters the nasty guy in the Turtle costume from earlier. It seems like this is the moment where this blowhard should receive his come-uppance, but... no, him being mistaken for a Turtle and being mad again is as far as it goes.

Captain Filch begs for mercy from Raphael as he’s backed into a chair on the deck of the boat, suggesting they could rule the world as a duo. Raph obviously isn’t receptive to this idea and mocks him before Donatello stomps on the back of the chair, flinging the villain into the sea.

The Turtles watch from the deck as Filch’s submarine blows up. As the team set about freeing the crew of Crump’s ship, Raphael is insistent that Mona Lisa will be fine, but is quietly seen expressing more concern than he lets on.

Filch is hauled back aboard the ship and arrested. McDonald Crump shows his appreciation to the Turtles by offering to make all of them vice presidents of his pizza operation. Our heroes are eager to take him up on this opportunity and begin making changes, but their hopes are shot down when he adds that they should come see him in his office after taking off “those ridiculous costumes”.

The team returns to the Lair. Raphael is blue, figuring that he’ll never see Mona Lisa again. Like the rest of the team, he’s astonished as it’s revealed April found her and brought her to their home, with a giant stack of pizzas. Michaelangelo is thrilled at the opportunity to chow down as Leo and Donnie exchange some very strange glances.

It feels like we’re getting into a groove where the show is consistently delivering memorable, landmark episodes during this Saturday morning run, a huge step up from the inconsistent syndicated portion of season four where little of any real importance took place. This is a character spotlight adventure largely done right, giving Raphael a chance to shine and a new ally to work with while bookending the proceedings with appearances by the other Turtles. Structurally it might be a little too close to the previous week’s Raph episode – and I have no idea why the decision was made to have two shows built around the same member of the team air in such quick succession – but this is a minor gripe.

Captain Filch isn’t brilliant, and his near-silent mutant goons are particularly dull. Nevertheless, he’s a huge step up from generic mob boss Pinky McFingers last week. Unlike Pinky, Filch gets one go-around, as he joins the huge roster of debuting S4 characters who will never be seen or spoken of again.

In what must rank as one of the greatest blunders TMNT ever committed, Mona Lisa is also doomed to never return. This is a true head-scratcher given her immediate popularity with viewers, years before online fandom or the concept of shipping was even a thing. It’s a true shame, as she has a great design, strong voice work from Pat Musick, and her character has tremendous chemistry with Raphael. Mona’s backstory is... patchy, admittedly, but the concept of her waging a one-woman war against the man who held her captive is so strong that I can forgive any minor issues.

Mona Lisa is also unique in her role as a heroic female character in the show who has parity with the Turtles as a crime fighter. The other recurring women that have appeared tend to serve different roles, whether that’s acting as a damsel in distress or moving the story along (April, Irma), a conflicted villain (Lotus Blossom) or... however you care to describe what Kala is there to be. (Bystander? Mikey’s love interest?) I’d go so far as to suggest Aunt Aggie outclassed all of these characters in terms of being someone who does what the Turtles do as well as they do. Mona, however, is surely more appealing to young viewers. It’s telling that she would receive an action figure in the TMNT line years after this episode aired, one of very few times Playmates stepped out of their comfort zone and added a female character to their range other than April.

Years later, Peter Laird would reveal that the original pitch for Mona Lisa was that she would be a female mutant Turtle. Both he and Kevin Eastman strongly objected to this idea, considering it “creatively bankrupt”, and as a result the change was made to the salamander mutation. In this instance I think introducing a different mutant character instead of yet another Turtle worked out in the show’s favour. The original idea would return some way down the road, however.

McDonald Crump is, to my knowledge, the first time our heroes have encountered a Donald Trump expy in any version of TMNT, but by no means the last. In fact, we’ll revisit this idea in the very next episode, "Slash - The Evil Turtle from Dimension X".

#Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #TMNT #Ninja Turtles #TMNT 1987 #TMNT Mona Lisa #Raphael Meets His Match #1990 #Turtlethon #TMNT Raph #TMNT Raphael

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madraynesims · 2 years

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Strangetown: In The Sims 3

To continue on my last post about my Sims 3 Strangetown experience, Kayleigh gave birth to a little girl named Janet, and by now they had a second child, another daughter named Francine!

I mentioned before Kayleigh, Dominic had 3 children with Chloe Curious, here they are! Their eldest daughter, Jolene, is to the right. She’s Evil and Mean Spirited, definitely reminds me of Dominic lol. In the middle is their other daughter Esmeralda, she’s a sweetie. Then their son, Keenan, to the left. Oh! Jolene is currently dating Rex Hogg, the son of Dusty Hogg and Cindy Freebers. Chloe’s sister Lola still lives with them. Kristen Loste and Erin Beaker have both moved out and started families of their own.

Speaking of Dusty Hogg. This whole playthrough Dusty and Cindy Freebers have been on and off. Ending up with 6 children together before they both rolled the want to get married, just to immediately break up the second I left the household. LOL. From left to right we have their daughters; Stacy, Chana, Judith and their sons Darren, Allan and Rex. Chana is in a relationship with Kelley Beaker, the eldest son of Loki and Circe Beaker!

Circe and Loki Beaker had two children before ending up in a divorce. On the right is Kelley, not sure why he has black hair? I guess it was randomized. He gets along best with his dad and still lives with him. Their youngest son is named Cecil and he gets along best with his mom. Circe and Cecil both moved out together after the divorce. Loki is romantically interested in Annie Howell now, but she actually just got engaged to Buck Grunt recently! Awhile back Nervous got fed up and moved into his own apartment. He never got involved with Annie, but he was dating Jonas Bragg before Jonas passed away.

Ophelia and Johnny Smith got married the second they became adults and started a family! They currently live in Olive’s home, which Ophelia inherited, with their daughter Ginny and son Chadrick. Ophelia just got pregnant, so there’s a third on the way! They also have 5 dogs. FIVE. Unfortunately, at this time Johnny is in mourning because both his parents have passed away from old age. This is the part I hate lol when everyone gets too old.

One of my favorite families to follow are the Fusillis. Ripp Grunt and Ara dated when they were teens and got married when they became unexpectedly pregnant with their oldest son, Jon. They bought a house together and had another child named Stephanie. I just think they’re so cute together.

The Rossums! Isaac and Roberta Rossum had 3 children together. The oldest son is Vernon, who looks just like Roberta. To the right is Mitchel, spitting image of Isaac tbh. Then their daughter Letitia. Vernon never got along with his parents and moved out once he became a teen and is currently dating Hazel Dente’s eldest daughter Marlana. Unfortunately, while Isaac wasn’t home, Roberta got into Isaac’s inventing bench and caught herself on fire, tragically burning to death.

Erin and Lazlo Curious got together pretty early on. They had one son together named Jedediah. He turned out pretty cute, and a genius! My favorite thing here was Lazlo was the first sim to adopt a pet. He got Fuzzball when she was a little kitten.

I love love loveee the Smith family. XY-XY and XHT-F got married right away and had 3 sons together. The eldest son to the left is XCT-U, to the right is XHT-M and their youngest X1-X2. XCT-U is in a relationship with Tycho Curious (who is female in my game) and XHT-M is dating Janis Smith, the youngest daughter of Jenny and Mister Smith. The two Smith families are very close, Mister Smith was always coming over to visit. The two older boys don’t seem to get along, XCT-U actually decided to move out to live with Tycho and Pascal.

Some honorable mentions: Daddy Bigbucks had a son named Fidel with Pita Florica. Yes. Fidel. Jill Smith hasn’t been able to settle down. She had a son named Andrea with Buck Grunt, then had another son with Jorge Mole. Vidcund Curious had a one time fling with Renee Andrews, resulting in a son named Jabari, whom he complains about child support for every chance he gets. Frankie Fusilli is in a relationship with Crystal Vu. They have two daughters, Charmaine and Dianna. Kristen and Ajay Loner married and have two daughters, Trina and Alisa.

#the sims 3 #sims 3 gameplay #strangetown #sims 3 strangetown #sims 3 #ts3 #madraynesims

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