Fair Warning

Hurricane Ike (Category 4) is headed straight for me. Should be hitting land sometime tomorrow, so if I am not around for a few days...it is most likely because we've lost power or potentially other things...

We've not been told to evacuate, but they are evacuating some parts of Houston (about an hour's drive from me). Our little town never has to go anywhere actually, but it'll hit us as a Category 4, so who knows? All we ever get is rain and flooding...maybe some wind, but nothing major. You can go to stormpulse.com and see what I'm talking about. I'm a little North of the Houston dot.

I just wanted to give you all a head's up in case I disappear for some time...

Sim Therapy

...I've been creating so much and writing the Andretti's so much, that I was 'challenged' to just open the game and play. Sure, that may be normal for most of you...but I cannot remember the last time I just sat down and 'played' the game. I'm either writing a story, taking preview shots, testing creations, building a lot of submission...but never really 'playing'. But, let me tell you...I've been doing it for about three days now and it's awesome. :D I've certainly missed the original purpose of the game...

I've been working on a new mesh set, as well as a requested mesh. Those should be coming out soon...well, the requested mesh...not the room. The room is proving to be quite challenging.

Also, I have been working on the Andretti's...Part 57 is in the making. It has about 10 or so screens already in it and typed up. I am hoping to have that submitted for approval before Thursday.

Anywho's...just a bit of an update on what's going on around my minisite. Thanks for checking in and being so loyal! I love you guys!

Whoa! I've been busy!

I got a creative spurt tonight, and MAN! ...BodyShop and I have made a load of stuff! Here's a rather lengthy list of the stuff I've pulled out of my back pocket, that may just end up on my MiniSite in the short future!

Texture Challenge 58 - Maxis Mesh (room)

Texture Challenge 34 - Maxis Mesh (room)

Elder Unders - (base game/elder male) Set of 6 items that can be worn as undies, pjs, and swimsuits.

Summer Shorts - (bon voyage/adult male) Set of 4 items that can be worn as swimwear and pjs.

Shoe Match - (base game/child male) A set of 4 base game Maxis clothings with matching shoes. I always hated the blue and green shoes that EVERY child had to wear. So, I fixed 'em right up for me, and maybe you.

Beach Boy - (base game/teen male) A set of 5 items that can be worn as swimwear or pjs.

Like Mother, Like Daughter - (H&M/Adult Female & Teen Female) An outfit for both mother and teen females.

Undeneyeable Eye Shadow - A set of 5 beautiful eye shadows, I'm very proud of them. :D

Mad Lips - A set of three lipsticks without the shine.

...so far, that's it. I've not worked on the Andretti's since last night. I felt like creating for once.

Bear with me...

I've been very sick lately, and haven't been much of a Simmer. I don't even feel like playing...much less creating. :( Some of you may have noticed my lack in submissions and GB signing and forum-izing...I do apologize.

However, a few things I have planned for the upcoming weeks:

1. I am going to start recoloring Maxis Meshes only for a few weeks. I know that some of you aren't TSR Subscribers (shame on you!) but, would like more of my recolors in your games. Besides, I want to start understand collection files and their inner workings. Most CC Meshes have their own collection files, so I can't learn to make them that way!

2. I am going to start doing a bit more meshing as well...been working on a new cellphone mesh, the Apple iPhone, to be exact. I get so bored with the original cellphone, thought I might take it upon myself to create something a little more snazzy for my Sims. It needs a bit more work...but, it's coming along fine.

3. I've started a second job that takes up most my time, but I promise to try and keep up with the Andretti Legacy demand. I just hate to upload crummy parts because you guys are starving. Sometimes I just don't have that 'creative' wire to write up a good twisted part...so I try to pull something out of my sleeve even though I'm wearing a tank top...and you can see where I'm going with that. No sleeves...no ideas...crummy part.

Bear with my guys and gals!

All Apologies

First and foremost, I sincerely apologize for not putting anything out and certainly not releasing ANY of the Andretti Legacy.

I've been getting a few messages here and there from you guys asking what's going on. I appreciate those.

Being out of work for an entire month unexpectedly because of surgery mishaps, I had to get a second job. I've been working bunches and been spending some time with the family. My Jeep has also made a few trips to Hell and back, and I'm getting by...slowly by surely.

It's 11am in the morning, and I've got nothing to do today but updates! So, if all goes well...I will be uploading an Andretti and a few sets tonight...unless I get sidetracked with meshing!

TSR's Texture Challenge

For all you recolorers out there, you may find a great deal of interest in TSR's Texture Challenge in the TSR Forums.

Each Wednesday a member is chosen to supply 4+ textures for all members to use in a room recolor. There are no prizes, this is strictly for fun. I have been a member for a little over 10 weeks and man...I LOVE it!

The people are super friendly and very supportive. Each person offers constructive advice to help each other excel in recoloring. We're kind of like a TSR TC Family.

So, if you're interested...or have questions, feel free to visit the links below or even PM me for answers.

Texture Challenge Archive - Here is where you find all the textures each week.
Texture Challenge Showcase - Here is where you converse and share previews of your items.
Texture Challenge Tutorial - A TSR Tutorial discussing the TC and TC Rules.

(I cannot link in my blog, so PM me if you're interested in any of the links!)

Also, feel free to search the TSR downloads by theme using 'Texture Challenge' to see the stuff we've all submitted so far!

The Sim Shack

For those who love to chat in a forum type atmosphere, there's a newish forum on the web set up by BlackGarden here at TSR. I've been a member for a little while now, and it's certainly friendly and helpful when you're in a bind. It's much like the forums here at TSR, just not so busy yet. It is also a PG-13 website, so we're kid friendly!

If you're interested in making new friends or catching up some you didn't know were there...check it out.

http://thesimshack.com (Copy and paste this into your URL)

If you like it, and sign up, let 'em know I sent you! (Be sure to put 'tdyannd' in the appropriate place for referrals.)

You can earn 'Simoleons' for different things, and currently we're setting up prizes and items that can be bought with your earned 'Simoleons' and those may include a 2 month TSR Subscription, Special Downloads, SimShack wear and items for your Sims, and some others.

Feel free to mosey over and have a look see...

My First Mesh

I'm in the process of uploading my very first meshset. It isn't much, just three simple items...but it's a mesh and it works in game! I'm super excited...I have two other sets in the making, but am working out a few kinks with the help of Dgandy and BlackGarden...hopefully, I can upload those shortly, too!

The Andretti's

...dumdumdum...

That was my sorry attempt at a drum roll...heh, oh well. We can't all excell at everything, can we?

Anywho, I've been working like MAD on the Andretti's. I'm in the 'mood'...which is surprising considering it's been almost two weeks since I last uploaded.

I'll give you a hint: ...I'm working on Part 51 as we speak, which means that 49 AND 50 have been uploaded and awaiting approval.

For those that have been patient with me...you guys rock!

My Surgery Day

...we got to the hospital at about 5:45am. We followed the little map I was given by the nurse three weeks prior, and we ended up at a dead end of the hospital. I was really starting to get mad and even more stressed because this particular nurse has been a flippin' nightmare since the beginning.

We noticed a small sign on the wall that said that we needed to report to this other place, so that's where we went. I headed for the desk to check in and they didn't know who I was and didn't even have my chart. So I just started crying...really loud. I was so upset, I knew this was going to happen as everyone in the entire hospital had an entirely different surgery date than I did. Nothing about this entire surgery experience has gone right for me, and I mean nothing.

Anyway, my mom went up to see what the problem was...and they directed us to a different part of the hospital. They took me back to my bed, and I started crying again...of course, I was scared and nothing was going right. They put in my catheter and then my mom went to switch out with my dad. Because I was an adult, they would only allow one person to visit with me at a time.

My dad came in and gave me a hug, and we talked for a little bit...and then a Chaplain came in and started praying for me...which got me crying again. He then asked how old I was, and he just about had a heart attack when I told him 21. He said I didn't look that at all, and then started talking about how he used to lie about his age when he was younger so he could get a cheaper price on things. I thought that was funny. Then, my step-dad went to switch out with Charles. When Charles got there, the nurses were gathering my things and about to take me to the OR. I was the first sugery of the day. So, they told Charles to go get my step-dad and my mom, and then wheeled me away.

I didn't get to spend any time with Charles at all before sugery. Once we got to the OR waiting room, there were two nurses who just started yelling at each other. One of them got pissed off when I told her that my mom wanted to talk to the doctor before surgery. So, Charles went out to get my mom...as they'd only allow one person at a time there, too. He went to get her, and then the nurse told him to wait for the doctor...it pissed me right off. She was such a jerk. She was ticked off because the other nurse should have taken me directly to the OR instead of stopping in between. Way to go, girls...let's just stress out the surgery patients a lot more while we're at it.

Eventually, they wheeled me away to the OR, and I just started crying again...I was so scared. I went to sleep, and then it seemed like within seconds I woke up. There were about 5 or 6 people standing over me. I was shaking like crazy...I wasn't cold, but I was nearly shaking right off the bed. They gave me some drugs, and I stopped shaking. I kept hearing them talking about how low my blood pressure was, and then at one point he said it was 50 over something, and then the other lady said it's higher than it was. I kept asking when I could see my mom, but they said she wasn't allowed to see me yet.

Eventually, they moved me into the original room I was in where they put in my IV that morning. My mom, step-dad, and Charles appeared. The lady said that I needed to get out of the bed and into the recliner on the far wall. I asked her if I could stay in the bed and she told me no. She then helped me into the recliner, looked at my incisions and told me that I was bleeding alittle bit.
She also said that as soon as I could pee, I could go home. I finally made it to the bathroom...and holy hell, I just about died. It hurt soooooo bad. It was like peeing razor blades.

My mom also told me that the doctor told her he'd removed a nearly quarter-sized something or another off my uterus and is sending it off to a lab for testing. We should have results in one week, he then also told her that he wanted to see me in two weeks to remove sutures and whatnot.