Random Happenings and Relatives

Mornings always started around 4:30AM in the Chikamori household. Because there were always things to do, and the fact that on the weekdays, Braden had to be out the door at 0500hrs; it was necessary to be up at that time so that things got done quickly. It also meant that people ate breakfast quickly and got to their tasks. Though some tasks were more enjoyable than others.

Haruo, since it was a workday for Braden got out to the garden and did some gardening i n the gloom of the early morning (which pretty much was due to the sun not having risen yet); while River headed up stairs to do some sculpting.

When Haruo was done gardening he spent some time lobbing some golf balls into the Barkley Sound. Luckily BC Ferries didn't use that section of Barkley Sound to traverse up the inlet from Kildonan to Bamfield or the ferry might have gotten a Titleist through the windshield. Haruo still hadn't quite managed to control his hook to the right. That and the fact that replacing golfballs was getting quite expensive to the tune of a couple hundred bucks every time he decided to get the hankering to go out and smack a few off the tee.

Braden after dealing with recalcitrant recruits all day, decided that he'd treat himself to a meal at the Bistro before making his way home. As usual, the usual denizen cooks who were sitting around either chatting or doing nothing abounded in the eating area outside. Perhaps since he was part-owner of said Bistro, he probably should have fired them. Then he'd probably get someone even more incompetent.

When he got home there wasn't any better news. Yup, it was that time again. The time to fill the coffers of the local Politician's Endowment Fund - yeah, tax time again to the tune of about §16K. Well, when you end up the spouse of the mayor of Cape Garner, well, let's just say that you zip your mouth and pay the taxes because y'know who's calling the shots.

When Greta was done eating; she and Braden spent some social time around the pool-table shooting some pool. It was a way to unwind from the stresses of the day after listening to idiotic proposals from one the local lobby groups: The Society for the Veneration of his Noodly Majesty. "We need to erect a statue to the Spaghetti Monster in our local park..."..."DENIED...NEXT!"

Haruo helped his wife, River, with the laundry.

...and of course watching the last warming rays of the setting sun while being outdoors...which of course led to OTHER things...

After dropping off a few required victuals at the restaurant (garden vegetables), Haruo ran into Christopher Steel (the spouse of Blair Wainright Steel - so yet another relative), and had a lively conversation with him for a while.

He also ran into Alanna again and received a big hug from his daughter. That was a warm feeling all the way home and well, he certainly spent some time fishing afterwards.

Braden had his own enjoyable time with his wife, Greta. After all, what was life if one couldn't enjoy intimate moments with one's spouse?

...and well, Haruo and River were asleep.

Every Day the Same as the Last

Each day blended into the next; every day was the same as every other day. It usually meant getting up, getting breakfast, then heading out; either to work or to the garden. If it was the weekday, it was Braden getting up and getting out to work to whip his squadron into shape, If it wasn't, Braden was heading off to the greenhouse and letting his dad get some well-needed rest.

River, likewise had things to do: namely melting scrap metal to an art-piece. Luckily she was high enough in her sculpting skills to not set herself on fire.

...or if she wasn't sculpting she was keeping her music skills up.

When Braden had come in from talking to plants, he pillow-fought with his daughter, Karina. At least it left them both with good feelings towards each other, though it seemed as though each of them rattled each others brain cages pretty good.

That night, it looked as though the weather was about to change...

In the morning it was back to the grind again.

Of course, sometimes tasks were changed up...and River went out to milk the cows.

Haruo took care of the laundry and then practiced some board-breaking in martial arts.

Karina played Skee-ball, Braden went out to talk to plants, River painted and Greta decided to play around with potions.

Haruo also practiced his painting and when the kids were back home from military school that afternoon, they were promptly reminded that doing one's homework diligently prevented the 3Ps - PEE-POOR PERFORMANCE! Of course Braden used much more vulgar terminology.

Let's just say that neither Colin nor Karina wanted to get on the wrong side of their dad; you didn't tee off a Colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force. And doing their homework promptly meant that they got more privileges too, like being able to play before going to bed.

Y'know stuff like dressing up as prince and princess? And well, those little toy trunks had more stuff shoved in them than Mr. Dressup's Tickle Trunk (it's a Canadian reference for those of us Simmers who are Canucks who are old enough to remember him - alas...no Casey or Finnigan toys).

...again it was time for bed...after yet another day of the same old same old...

...every day the same as the last...