March updates, 2022

Murphy

Murphy 1

Emily is 19

This is Emily Murphy, a 19 year old college student who is currently taking classes online and living alone in downtown Arlington. Her parents agreed to pay her rent as long as she manages to keep her grades up while she is in college. Emily's father is a professor and wanted her to go the more traditional route and live in a dorm, go to classes in person, and experience college the "right" way. But Emily was never really interested in any of that - she prefers to be on her own.

She is a very studious young lady and didn't think it was a good idea to waste four years partying away at the University of Arlington when she could earn her degree online in half the time. You gotta give it to her - she is a logical thinker. So for now, she spends her mornings writing assignments and responding to peer response questions in order to graduate ASAP. She can't wait to get a job and not depend on her parents but for the time being she appreciates their help.

Of course, the Murphy's couldn't have Emily living totally on her own. They agreed to let her take Greyson, the family cat, with her to the new apartment. Emily loves her cat - she would adopt all the stray kitties in town if she only had the room - but I think Mr. Brown, her landlord, would have a heart attack. 

There's also another reason she wanted to move into the city. Emily is currently dating Tyler, the pair met downtown at the internet cafe one day. Emily was there studying and working on her schoolwork while Tyler was there checking out the latest video games. Sparks flew and the next thing you know the two of them were an item. 

Sean, Emily's overprotective father, tends to drop in on her from time to time. The two often head into Red's Diner for a meal once a week to catch up. Emily knows her father means well, but she can't help but worry that he'll pop over at an inappropriate time - like when Tyler is spending the night. I don't think Mr. Murphy would appreciate a failed army recruit lounging around the apartment he pays for - but what can you do?

So far she hasn't had to worry about her father barging in on the two of them, but she decided to arrange a Sunday afternoon get together with her parents so she could introduce them to Tyler. He promised to be on his best behavior.

The lunch went surprisingly well and Tyler really was a charmer with Cara (Emily's mother). He even brought her flowers! Can you believe that? He's never even given me flowers Emily proclaimed! He really must like her if he's trying to impress the parents so much.

After everyone left for the day Emily decided to get straight to work on her thesis. She really is determined to finish her degree as soon as she can. Things seem to be going along well for Emily, but I can't help but wonder - will she regret rushing through this phase of her life? 

February updates, 2022

Booker / Zimmerman

Booker 1 / Zimmerman 1

David and Cody are 25

Cody and David, or Dee as most people call him, met on a roommate matching service and became fast friends. They both have a lot in common so the pair spend their time playing video games, lounging around the apartment and watching football on Sundays. They share a two bedroom apartment in Arlington Heights, not the best area the city has to offer but the rent is cheap and they make due.

Dee has been struggling to keep a steady a job since he finished high school and spends his days sleeping until noon, while Cody works in construction. Lately Dee has managed to pick up some decent gigs DJing at some hot spots downtown after he his successful Halloween gig hosted by the Winthrop family. He can thank his sister Jada for that hook up.

Cody works long hours in the construction field and always hits up a local bar on his way home. His drink of choice is beer and more beer. After a long day laying down brick he needs a nice cold one to take the edge off. He also enjoys spending time working on cars and misses having a garage like he did back in Pennsylvania but living downtown there really is no need for a vehicle. He's hoping someday to get a small garage to tinker in.

Dee and his sister Jada are extremely close and they get together as much as they can. This past weekend Dee had a gig at The Hub so he invited his sister and her friends to come along and party. 

Cody also decided to tag along, it being a Friday night and all he didn't have any plans to get up early the next day so he figured why not - plus Jada's friend was really attractive. 

The club was hopping, anyone who is anyone in Arlington was there that night. Dee didn't know if it was usually that busy or if he had some effect on the crowd but either way he was thrilled to have such a great turn out. The music was pumping and people were dancing, drinks were flowing, and romance was in the air.

 Cody isn't much of a dancer, in fact he hates to dance. He even jokes that at his own wedding he'd rather have a beer pong table than a dance floor. So as soon as the group arrived to the club, straight to the bar he headed.

 Cody couldn't tell if Gabby was into him but when she asked him to join her on the dance floor he quickly obliged despite his reluctance to dance in public. The two ended up having a great time together on the dance floor it was as if no one else was in the room. 

 When the finally closed the club down, around 3 AM Cody wasn't ready for the night to end and neither was Gabby. They lingered outside the club and Cody was trying to figure out if he should call a taxi and head back to their respective places when Gabby suggested she was starving and could really go for a burger. Cody took this as a hint and the went off in search of the best burgers in town. 

January updates, 2022

Hart

Hart 1

Kristen is 35

Kristen is a General Practitioner at Arlington Memorial Hospital, where she completed her fellowship three years ago. She really loved the New England area when she was completing medical school in Boston and decided she wanted to plant some roots here after graduation. She loves her job and saving lives, one sim at a time. 

 As a doctor, she is constantly on call and always busy with work. She's always had a vision in her head that by now, she should have been married with kids, but figures it just wasn't in the cards for her. So for now, she continues to bury herself in work and spends whatever free time she has with her girlfriends exploring what downtown Arlington has to offer. There is something else she's been doing a lot of exploring of lately, too. 

 This is Dr. Jack Connors, a coworker of Kristen. The two have been secretly getting together for almost one year - and no one at the hospital suspects a thing. They are very professional and cordial when others are around, but when the lights go out in the on-call room you can bet that Dr. Hart and Dr. Connors are up to no good. Naturally, the hospital frowns upon dating in the workplace, but more specifically this is an issue because Dr. Connors is married. He has a wife and two children that live in Middleton, a suburb about an hour outside of Arlington. 

 He says he's going to leave her, once the kids are old enough to understand. And the two of them will finally be together and start their life together. But Kristen is no fool and she knows the odds of him actually leaving his wife and kids is slim to none, but alas a girl can dream can't she? 

She never in a million years thought that she would be "the other woman" but he is so miserable with his wife, and it's only for a few more years. She hates that she has to keep this a secret because their love is one of a kind. Sometimes, it feels as if she is living a double life. But, for now, the romantic dinners in the city, the sleepovers at her place, and the extended breaks in on-call rooms will have to suffice.

 Kristen birthday was this past week so her two best girlfriends, Sarah and Victoria, treated her to some Mexican food at La Boca Grande. Margaritas, shrimp tacos, and gossip were on the menu. The girls don't get to see each other all that often because they are all so busy, Sarah is also a workaholic and is recently engaged so that takes up a lot of her time. Victoria is a Winthrop so she doesn't exactly spend her time working, but she manages to keep busy nonetheless.

Her friends are usually sick of hearing about the married doctor who is "too good to be true" that Kristen rarely brings him up anymore but Victoria did ask about Mr. Wonderful. She just wanted to see if things were still going on between the two and was disappointed to hear that yes, Kristen was still smitten with the doctor. Her friends will support her no matter what she does, but they can't help but wonder what she is thinking dating a married man?

The next morning, Kristen woke up feeling extremely sick. One too many margaritas have been known to have this effect on her, so she didn't give it much thought and just went on with her day and proceed to work. A few days later, she woke up again and had the same feeling. Something was not right, and as a doctor she knew exactly what she needed to do.

Awaiting the moment of truth, Kristen was unsure how to feel. She had always wanted to be a mother but didn't think that would become a reality. She always wanted kids but because her life was so busy, first medical school, then the fellowship, three years of working flew by. She had no idea where the time went and just put the idea of motherhood on the back burner. Then a sudden flush of emotions came over her - what about Jack? What is he going to say? What is he going to think? She didn't want to get her hopes up but she imagined their happy little family together and thought just maybe this is what they needed. This might be the way he could leave his wife and start a new family with her.

Who was she kidding? What was she thinking? What a silly, childish notion that idea was. That is not at all how it's going to go down. He will never leave his wife. As she sat there on the bathroom floor waiting for her future she couldn't help but wonder about all these different scenarios. Forget Jack, what am I going to do? 

The timer went off and she slowly reached for the test that sat upon the bathroom sink. She closed her eyes and counted to three. Open. Two pink lines. A sigh. This is something she has dreamed of her whole life, so why does it feel like such a disappointment? 

December updates, 2021

  December 2021 (Winter)

Martin / Sullivan

Martin 1 / Sullivan 1

Sarah is 32 and Michael is 33

Michael and Sarah have been in a whirlwind romance for five long years now. The couple met about 6 years ago at the Arlington Municipal Building - Sarah was there representing a client and Mike was there to support his previous boss, Senator McGreery who had some charges against him. The two hit it off after a small argument regarding the Senator and his behavior. Mike was really impressed at her quick whit and smart comebacks. The two both share many similar interests and it was only a matter of time before they began dating and moved in together.

Sarah is busy with her job as a Family Law Attorney at one of Arlington's most prominent firms. She's always on her computer checking her emails and keeping in touch with clients. She's come full circle and no longer works in corporate law, where she worked when she first met Michael. She wants to help people and her current mission is to keep families together and help aid in the adoption process for many families in the New England area. Sure the pay is a little less, but she really feels like shes making a difference.

Michael comes from an upper class background, formerly living in Providence Rhode Island with his parents and younger brother, Matthew. He dreams of one day becoming a Senator but hopes his families deep dark skeletons don't come out to haunt him. He's a very private person and even Sarah doesn't know the real truth about the Sullivans - and Michael intends to keep it that way. 

Each morning as they get ready for work, Mike starts the pot of coffee while Sarah gets ready in the bathroom, fixing her hair and makeup. She was always taught by her mother, a socialite that first impressions are lasting ones and you should always look your best. Sophisticated and stylish Sarah always dresses conservative.

Michael's birthday is approaching and Sarah has decided to plan a small get together with some friends at one of their favorite hang outs, Shamrocker's Pub. She knows Mike hates surprises so she of course let him know about all the details prior. He isn't really a fan of birthdays or celebrating getting another year older, but of course he appreciates the gesture. He loves getting together with his friends and is actually looking forward to the event, as long as no one brings up his age.

Before the head out Sarah gives him his present, even though they have both decided that birthday gifts at this age is silly she couldn't help herself. She gifted him a bottle of 15 year old scotch and they promptly had a glass before calling the taxi to take them to Shamrockers.

Everyone had a great time catching up and celebrating Mike was really happy he let Sarah talk him into going out for his birthday after all. 

The rest of the month went rather quickly as the pair is quite busy most days. They do love to spend their evenings cooking in the kitchen and sharing details about their day. Michael won't admit this, but Sarah could use some serious help in the kitchen. He loves her, but her cooking is just not up to par with Mama Sullivan.

Sarah made macaroni and cheese, Mike described it as tasting burnt and undercooked at the same time. Maybe I should get you some cooking lessons for your birthday, he joked.

Ah Christmas time. Sarah and Mike have gotten used to celebrating alone for the past few years - it really is such a hassle to fly to California to see her folks this time of year especially with her work being so demanding. The two enjoy some quiet time by the Christmas tree just soaking in season and each other. Five years and still no ring Sarah isn't always verbal about how much she wants Mike to pop the question but it's always in the back of her mind. 

But this year Mike has a special surprise up his sleeve. He's been holding it in for months now and it's finally happening. On Christmas Eve in the comfort of their living room, he's going to finally ask Sarah Michelle Martin to marry him. He knows this is something she has been wanting for a long time and has finally mustered up the courage to take the plunge. 

Look at the size of that thing! Sarah happily obliged to Mike's proposal and is so excited to begin planning their future together. Five years down, forever to go. It sure was a Christmas that will stay in their memories forever. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight.

November updates, 2021

 November 2021 (Fall)

Jackson / Morales / Wilson

Jackson 1 / Morales 1 / Wilson 1

Alexis and Gabriella are 23 Jada is 22

Alexis, Gabby, and Jada are best friends and live together in an apartment in downtown Arlington. The three are extremely close and do everything together. They really are the three best friends that anyone could have. They are always busy either going out, hosting friends at their apartment, or working.

Alexis works as a nurse at Arlington Memorial Hospital and takes her job very seriously. When she's not spending time at the hospital working, Alexis enjoys reading and spending a quiet evening at home with a nice glass of wine.

Jada is currently working as a receptionist at Winthrop Development Co. and hopes to climb the corporate ladder. She has been proving herself at work and impressing her boss, she even convinced Mr. Winthrop to have her brother DJ the Halloween Festival. The girls were so excited to plan their costumes and get ready for the big event. 

Then there's Gabby. She went to university and got her degree in journalism. She has decided to test the waters and become a lifestyle blogger and write about her daily life as a young woman in the city. So very Sex and the City meets the 2020s. She's also an avid Instagram user and hopes to expand her network. 

On the night of the Halloween Festival, the girls were so excited they could hardly contain themselves. Alexis went as a nurse (a sexy nurse, not like her normal work scrubs) we'll give her an e for effort. Gabby chose to dress as a hula girl and Jada went as a witch. The party was so much fun and pretty eventful for them as both Jada and Alexis met guys they hit it off with that night.

Word on the street is that Alexis and Jordan are now an item. The two were seen canoodling at Elliott Winthrop's Halloween party and they've been inseparable ever since. Alexis has always been proud of her African roots and was so excited to finally meet a black man with a good head on his shoulders - a welcome change from the losers shes used to dating.

With Alexis spending all her time with Jordan, Gabby and Jada have been going out without her. Jada hasn't heard from Peter, the guy she hit it off with at the party so she was a little bummed out about that. This past weekend, Gabby decided to cheer her up by having a girls night, minus Alexis who was busy working the night shift and had a late night date planned with Jordan. The two went and sang Karaoke at Midnight Flows - the picked Cyndi Laupers famous girls just wanna have fun and really had a blast.

Nothing like a fun night out with your friends and making out with a complete stranger! Oh man Gabs maybe we should leave this part of the night out of this weeks blog entry. I don't think she got his name, but whats a single girl in Arlington to do when the opportunity arises you take action.

After the night out Gabby sat and pondered if she would ever find happiness in a relationship like Alexis has. She did know one thing for sure though, "They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style." Maybe the timing isn't right, maybe she hasn't met her prince charming yet, maybe just maybe he's still out there somewhere. But, she does have two of the best friends anyone could ask for, and for now that's more than enough.