Yesterday

[Sawyer]

Yes, I am a Jack.

I'm so honestly sorry, and embarrassed that I didn't get out the first chapter of the story yesterday. I had a lot of family drama, and wasn't able to get on the computer. I'd rather not talk about what went down yesterday, but trust me, it was seriously bad.

Anyway, I'm not sure if this will continue, or not, so I have no clue how often I'll be in reach of my computer.

As of now, I am removing myself as the founder generation player of the DDRRL, which is permanent. If the drama keeps going on, I will put myself as the last 'leg' of the challenge (hoping all this will be over with by then).

As for who will be in the playing position, we must decide, and get this challenge out.

Tina, I know you are next in line, but seeing as you already have a story in progression, you may keep your title as second generation player. I'm hoping one of you who don't have a story playing at the moment, or are okay with putting it on hiatus, will volunteer.

Thank you with all the time and patience people are putting into this RRL, I'm proud to call you all my 'online family'. I'm not so proud with my own decisions, however. But that isn't what is important as of now. What is important is getting out this story, and I am clearly not the person we are looking for (speed-wise).

Again, thank you.

[Tina ☺]

This all sounds very cryptic, Sawyer. In my opinion, this was your baby and if you can't play, I'm wondering if we should even bother to continue. Frankly, it doesn't matter to me if it takes longer to put out than expected.

Instead of being a quitter, which I am disappointed to say, most people these days your age seem to be, you should just try to continue as best you can because I'm in no rush. I don't know about the others.

The reason I say most folks your age are quitters is because there are SO MANY stories written by your age group that never find an ending. I know because I've proof read/made story covers for several of them. I find it pretty darned disappointing too.

I do hope that whatever family drama you are having gets better soon. I know that has to suck. *BIG HUG* from me and don't let life get you down too much.

[joandsarah]

Well if your computer time is limited maybe you should package up the sims and hand them to someone else, or just do it slowly and put the chapter out when you can put it out.

Were you grounded or something and lost computer privileges? I think you need to explain a bit more.

[Sawyer]

I'm not grounded or anything Jo, I just had to have my priorities set straight. Right now, school is my top priority, not the computer. I was at the computer 24/7, never getting my homework done, and I don't want to fail the eighth grade, or worse, go on without not knowing anything. So, I decided that I'll continue serious simming this summer. That gives enough time for one person to get out their 'leg'. I hope. And that brings me to Tina. I still ABSOLUTELY want to write a part of this story, but with school becoming more and more stressful, I doubt that I would get anything done before May. We've got all the state testing coming up, which is extremely stressful (seven hours of straight testing for seven days).

I'm glad that you guys are more concerned than PO'ed. That shows how much you care about me. I would have kicked my ass, if I were you.

Edit: Tina, you're right, this is my baby. I want a part of it, but I know that a lot of you want to get your turn ASAP. I thought that if somebody wanted to get their turn over with, and not wait on me...see what I'm saying? Sorry, my English is off today.

[Tina ☺]

Well, I am certainly not ready to take on the number one spot, so if someone else wants a stab at it, more power to them.

It's great that you've decided to put school first. You deserve a pat on the back for that. But... like I said, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm in no rush. Haven't you already played a bunch of it, and written some of it, though?

If so, all that was wasted time and effort if you don't publish what you've already done before handing it over to someone else. Of course, that may not be feasible.

And... of COURSE we care about you, you silly boy!

[joandsarah]

Now don't take offense. You may be 13 nearly 14 Sawyer but you seem to have the same problem that my daughter does, prioritizing your time. Really I think schools should get kids to do some classes on it as a lot of kids seem to have this problem.

School should always be your priority, but you also need down time as well. It's not frivolous to take some time to unwind, relax and chill. Otherwise the stress of testing etc can actually make you do worse at school. You do your homework then you play sims and write a little of the chapter. It doesn't have to be a great masterpiece. It's simply take a pic and write a small caption. That's all that is needed.

Where I see most kids go wrong is the all or nothing approach. It's either all sims or all school. I hear some say they play for 8 hours straight. My suggestion is get your homework done pronto, but don't spend more then 2 hours a night over it. Then spend 1 hour or even less playing sims before going to bed. That's my 2c anyway. personally I don't think kids should have more then an hours homework per night, but I know schools often dish out more. Just one more reason I don't like schools....you may not want me to get off on that track though.

[Tina ☺]

That sounds like a good plan to me Jo.

[joandsarah]

Yep it's called moderation, a word many people these days have seem to have forgotten!

[Sawyer]

Jo, do you want a new student in your class? That no homework thing sounds nice.

Well, I've been working at my homework since nine, and I'm still only about two thirds finished with my Algebra. The other 1/3 is filled with a lot of long problems...which are completely infuriating.

School days zap almost all of my creativity and energy, so for the most part, all I want to do when I go home is sleep.

I have been sorta/kinda working on it in the weekends, but almost nothing has gotten done. I had to restart the hood because I got a random error, which I later fixed (phew). Then, I just had no interest. But that's slowly coming back. I'm starting to get the sim-urge again. ;D

Anyway, since I didn't really get much done, it's alright if somebody starts it...again. It's also completely alright if I save it, and work on it a bit through the school year (two more months) and then start majorly playing it in the summer. (If nobody wants to start it.)

It seems like the latter choice will be the chosen one, if neither of you want to play it. The others might, but they're not posting.

[joandsarah]

So how long were you working on your homework then Sawyer?
Saying "since 9" means nothing to me being in a different time zone.

Working on it over the weekend sounds like a good plan.

[Sawyer]

It's now ten thirty.
D:

About that new student thing.....

[Tina ☺]

They give a LOT of homework here in the states! I know because my kids used to sit for several hours doing theirs. I think they go a bit overboard with it myself.

[joandsarah]

I'm aiming for my kids to do 4-6 hours maximum by 12th grade. And they give too much homework over here too. My friends daughter is the same age as Sarah and gets about 1/2 an hour a night (Or it takes her 1/2 an hour) plus her reader.

Lol sawyer if you were my son you would probably be working on the Abeka DVD Highschool course. Which I'm quite sure you could finish in that 4-6 hours per day.

[Sawyer]

Elementary kiddos are lucky. They don't know what's about to hit them. Jo, wait until about sixth-seventh grade. That's when all my teachers went overboard on the homework thing.

I'm fed up with it because they spend the entire class period going over last night's homework, then in the last ten minutes, they go and get tonight's homework (and repeat). Why can't they just give us classwork, that we work on in class? I come to school for seven hours because I want to learn, and do work. Not goof of for six hours, then spend my entire night doing work that should have been done in class.

I am NOT a happy camper.

Jo, I'd totally love you if you were my teacher/mom. Haha. I like homeschoolers' views on things, but would never want to be homeschooled (NO BAND!!!!).

[joandsarah]

And as I have told you before Sawyer, these days in the States there are homeschool bands! Of course if you live in the sticks maybe not, but if you live near a place with a large homeschool group they have band, sport and prom.