Brightly dawns our wedding day Joyous hour, we give thee greeting

1. Oh wow, you came back for another round of Ruth’s (un)Officially Wacky Boolprop
Challenge! You have no idea how happy it makes me to see you again! (wipes away a
tear)
There’s not a whole lot to recap, and I don’t have a lot of practice recapping anyway.
Last time, we met our (playable) foundress, Ruth Shankel. Ruth appeared in four
operettas, aced her classes, earned a Bronze Robotics badge, learned the xylophone trick
and picked out a (playable) spouse with a Silver Robotics badge and a truly impressive
nose – all before college graduation. Ruth’s fiancé is named Ryan.
And that should do it for the recap. If there’s anything else I think you might need to
know to not be confused, I’ll put it in a footnote for you. Let’s get started!

2. As I mentioned at the end of the last chapter, Ryan moved back home briefly to make his
age correct relative to Ruth’s. He didn’t change clothes or get a makeover, I stopped him
from cleaning whenever he got bored (Ryan has full Neat points), and he ate only
leftovers, so he earned no skill points and got no advantages from the extra day.
He did, however, trim the bushes, throw away the old newspapers, and give his cousin
Amy all the robots he and Ruth made during college. (Amy will eventually be running
the robot store in town, and she could use the stock.) Call it rent.
What did Ruth do when she got home?

3. If you’ve read Already in Progress, you don’t really need to ask.
Ruth lost so many hours to this thing as a Child and a Teen, it’s not even funny. She
maintained a solid C- in school because she prefers bubbles to homework.
This would be one reason there was no bubble blower at college.

4. She was persuaded to go clothes shopping, though, and then to get a nice new Adult
makeover. She liked her new look okay.
The red-and-black color scheme is actually left over from when her grandfathers
decorated the house. Following their tragic and premature deaths (and re-death, in one
case), Aren* couldn’t bring himself to change their bedroom. But there’s a new sheriff in
town, and I think a complete reworking of the house is in order.
*Aren Fuchs is Ruth’s father. His fathers Hunter and Peter died in a tree fire. And the name is
pronounced FEWKS, so that will be enough muffled laughter from the peanut gallery.

5. And the best place to start redecorating is probably the yard. Right now we have nine
flamingos: three for Ruth, three for her father Aren, and three for her mother Valerie.
When Ryan moves in Officially, there is a space for his three flamingos. And there is the
gnome, of course. The gnome has been there since Peter first carried Hunter over the
threshold.
Well, not right there. He used to have his back against the wall in the middle. But that
meant that he couldn’t be stolen, and we can’t have that now, can we? Ryan and Ruth
have two Nice points between them, so we’ll probably get him back if he goes missing.

6. Ryan moved in before the wedding, since he had the Want to Throw A Wedding Party,
and Ruth’s Wants all seemed to revolve around puppies and kitties. (Not happening.)
RUTH: Ryan, sweetie, your transition outfit came out looking a little funny. Do you mind
if I give you a makeover?
RYAN: Not at all. Sounds like fun.

7. RUTH: See, what I like about this is the overall Neptune thing you’ve got going on. I’ve
always liked facial hair, and –
RYAN: I don’t like it.
RUTH: What?
RYAN: I don’t like it. The leaves itch, and the beard is hot, and I do not want to be
painted up like a butterfly.
RUTH: Oh. Well, I’ll try again.

8. RUTH (explaining defensively): Okay, so the mustache should be a lot less hot than the
beard, and tribal designs are very butch, very macho. Now the hat –
RYAN: Is hot, and it itches too. I don’t like things on my head. And what was wrong
with the sideburns? And why do I have to wear makeup in the first place? Plus, I like silk
pajamas to sleep in, not to wear every day.
RUTH (nearly in tears): But –
VALERIE:* I’ll take over, honey. You go get into your wedding dress. I’ve laid it out on
the bed. As for you, young man, we are going to make you look like a good match for
Ruth. We’ll negotiate your everyday outfit later, hmmm?
*Valerie Shenkel is Ruth’s mother, and is Romance. She and Aren never got around to the whole
“marriage” thing.

9. RYAN: Ty, so good to see you! Where are Matt and the kids*?
TYRONE MILLER, RYAN’S OLDER BROTHER: Char and Don have terrible colds,
and Matt stayed home with them. He sends his regrets. We’ll have to have you over
sometime soon to make up for it. – I can’t believe my little brother is getting married!
BYRON MILLER, RYAN’S LATE FATHER’S TWIN BROTHER: Congratulations,
young man. Are you wearing mascara?
RYAN: Uncle Byron! Thank you for coming!
BYRON: (peers at Ryan more closely) Yup, that’s mascara, all right. And do I detect
eyeliner?
RYAN (defensively): Ruth likes it. She says it brings out my eyes. And anyway, Mr.
Spock** wore makeup.
BYRON: I wasn’t criticizing. But if I were you, I’d use brown instead of black.
*Tyrone’s husband is Matthias. They have Toddler twins: Charlotte and Dante. The babies sort of
necessitated the marriage. If you know what I mean.
**Byron has had a thing for Mr. Spock from Star Trek since he was a Teen.

10. Here we have a closer look at Ryan’s makeover. Also proof that Tyrone and Ryan are
brothers, although the nose should have been enough of a giveaway.
There is a middle brother, Timothy, but all the pictures he was in were ruined by
plumbbobs, skies, or inappropriate heartfarts. You’ll know him when you see him,
though. He has the nose too.
But now back to the wedding.

11. There were a few snags, alas. For one thing, Valerie was allowed to decorate. (She has an
unfortunate fondness for Barbie-inspired colors.) And then Ruth forgot to leave her cell
phone upstairs.
RYAN: Ruth? Is your skirt ringing?
RUTH: Um… No?
Plus there was the rather unflattering cut of the wedding dress.
TYRONE (whispers): Tim… She’s not pregnant, is she?
TIMOTHY LITTLEDRAGON, THE MIDDLE BROTHER (whispers): I didn’t think she
was expecting already. You’d think Ryan would at least have told us. Hey, if she is, that
means I’m the only one who didn’t need to get married in a hurry!
(Tyrone gives Timothy a good hard kick in the ankle)

12. Not to mention that a number of guests didn’t even make it to the ceremony.
In the “Mrs. Santa” dress: Eileen Tang, friend of both Ruth and Ryan.
Heartfarting her: Eileen’s fiancé and Ryan’s friend Mifune Sanders.
In the dance sphere: Ryan’s sister-in-law Sarah Jane Littledragon.
On the bubble blower: Ruth’s cousin and Ryan’s friend Simon Couderc; Ryan’s cousin
Amy Miller.

13. But the wedding was completed in spite of it all, and aspiration points went flying left
and right.
Ryan Miller is now Ryan Shankel.
Under my very loose rules, since Ruth is the younger, she should have taken Ryan’s last
name. But “Ruth Shankel” is Wacky and “Ruth Miller” is Not Wacky.

14. RYAN: So do I feed you cake, or do you fe– mmmph!
RUTH: Gotcha back, Mr. You-Need-Real-Food! Now wipe the icing off your nose and
have a proper bite.
Cake-shoving aside, everyone had a Roof Raising time at the party.

15. It was such a good time, in fact, that one of the guests made off with our gnome as a
souvenir.
Some Sims player I am. I didn’t even notice who it was.

16. But it’s all good – Valerie went right out and got him back for us.

17. RUTH: Finally, everybody’s gone! You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for
this!
RYAN: Well, why didn’t you say anything in college? I told you that if you needed any
help with anything, all you had to do was ask.
RUTH: But – but you’re Squeaky Clean, aren’t you?
RYAN: The preferred term is Strict Family Values. And no, I’m not.
RUTH: But your mother was.
RYAN: Yes, my mother was. I’m not. Why are we talking about my mother?
RUTH: Good question.

18. And one thing led to another, as it so often does.
RUTH: …So then I – ulp.
RYAN: Are you going to puke again?
RUTH: (nods mutely and desperately)
RYAN: Okay. We’re almost at the kitchen. You can use the sink there. (puts arm around
Ruth and hustles her inside) Pregnant woman coming through!

19. Ugh, I hate it when people are being sick. I can’t even be on the same floor, let alone in
the same room.
So let’s take this opportunity to mention that we have not one, but two, Slacker career
rewards. Both Aren and Valerie are in the Slacker career track, and both have earned the
right to have one of these. I did redeem one before the challenge started, but at this point I
don’t remember whose was redeemed first and whose came second.
One career reward down, eighteen to go.

20. Ruth’s first bump was greeted with relief.
Briefly.

21. RUTH: (groans) Morning sickness is supposed to only be in the morning! And it’s
supposed to go away after your first bump! Why hasn’t it gone away?
RYAN: It will. I’m sure it will. Nobody’s sick after their second bump.
RUTH: Esme, I hope you’re right.
RYAN: Of course I’m right. Are you all comfy there? You’ve got the trashcan handy
now. Can I get you some ginger ale?
RUTH: (groans louder)
RYAN: Turn on the TV? Read to you? Sing you a song? My mom always used to sing to
me when I didn’t feel good.
RUTH: You can sing. Something from The Mikado, please?
RYAN (in a pleasant-if-not-professional-quality baritone): Brightly dawns our wedding
day, Joyous hour we give thee greeting, Little need for la la leeping, Fickle moment la la
stay…*
*Ryan does not know all the words.

22. The third trimester should have been easier.
VALERIE: Honey? Are you sure you should be doing that? It might not be so good for
the baby.
RUTH: It cuts the nausea, Ma. Leave me alone.
But you know what’s a sure-fire cure for pregnancy-induced nausea?

23. Having the baby.
This is Buttercup Shankel. She has her father’s skintone and eye color, and her mother’s
hair color. With any luck, she will have missed out on the nose. And that is more genetic
analysis than I have ever done before, or probably will do again.
Buttercup is, of course, named after Little Buttercup from HMS Pinafore. Little
Buttercup is a middle-aged bumboat woman with a mysterious secret that could affect the
romantic happiness of six people – including herself. (And no snickering about the job
description! It’s a type of peddler who sells small useful items to sailors on board ships at
anchor.)
Our Buttercup has little room for secrets, though, seeing as how she’s got a camera
trained on her from the word Go.
Which seems like as good a place as any to leave you. I expect to become an auntie very
soon, so there may be a delay in getting out the next full chapter, but I’ll see if I can’t
have a special feature for you instead. Until next time: Happy Simming!

24. Notes, disclaimers, and other trivia
The correct words for the song that Ryan is attempting to sing are:
Brightly dawns our wedding day
Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
Whither, whither art thou fleeting?
Fickle moment, prithee stay!
It is sung after the female romantic lead realizes that her wedding may just possibly be
marred by the teeny tiny little fact that her husband-to-be is due to be beheaded in a
month. (Here, Ryan has thrown in an incomplete line from the second verse as well.)
On a more serious note, Ruth began life as a playable. This means that she earned some
skill points as a Toddler, and one or two inadvertent points after that even though I tried
to retard her skilling. (Stupid Sims, feeding themselves when they get hungry!) Currently,
Ruth has 3 cooking, 3 mechanical, 6 charisma, 4 body, 2 logic, 6 creativity, and 5
cleaning. Her major in college was Political Science.

25. Now, given the way I play, a CAS Sim created as a Young Adult with the same major
would have a minimum of 1 cooking, 1 mechanical (maybe 2), 5 charisma, 5 body, 1
logic, 5 creativity, and 5 cleaning. That’s 5 points in the concentrated major skills and 1
point in all others – minimum. I want this OWBC to at least be street legal, so I decided
to remove any extra skill points using boolprop. I used it to add skill points during my
rebuild, so I know it will work.
Except that when I tried it, it didn’t. Not on anybody. I couldn’t take away skill points,
and I couldn’t add them. (I tried that on Ruth’s father, using a non-career-related skill,
just in case it only worked in one direction.) I have checked the directions found on
SnootySims – the same ones I used for the rebuild – and I’m doing everything correctly. I
have a Mac and a pathological fear of computer viruses, so SimPE is out. The only thing
I can think of to do in order to remove any unfair advantage is to make sure Ruth never
has a job. That will make the Workaholic bonus that much harder to get, since the
number of career rewards per person is capped. Does that sound fair?
If not, well… This is an UNOfficially Wacky story and I’ll give myself a medal when I
finish. So there.