Mr. Jones and I - Another RHF CJ

[RadioheadFan 1]

     OK, so here I am, back on the CJ trail in the new year. I want to take this time to thank everyone who nominated me for the Best Story in a CJ category in this year's Trixies. I was ecstatic to receive the award, and it means so much to me. Every comment, every view, every time you visit one of my CJs fills me with pride because you're using your precious time to come see my work. I'm sure fellow CJers can appreciate this feeling. Once again, thanks to everyone, from the bottom of my heart.

     But enough talk, it's time for the first update! I hope you enjoy Mr. Jones and I, I'm going to try a number of new things with this CJ. Stick with me, folks!

---

 

Chapter 1

 

     Hello folks! I'm really glad you could make it today to hear this old man's tale of years past. They say a picture is worth one thousand words, but pictures are nothing without a story behind them. I'll start off today with how I met the main character of this story, Mr. Jones.

 

-------------------------

 

     I grew up in a town called Robertson, with 21,000 residents. The city was divided into 4 sections: Macbeth, Dakota, Browning and Bern. I lived in Browning, the smallest of the 4, with 4,000 residents. Browning had 2 parts: Browning, connected to Robertson proper, and Little Browning, an isolated hamlet of 700 connected to Robertson by rail only.

 

 

 

     My parents were hardworking folk who didn't really like the big city hustle and bustle of Robertson. So, they moved to Little Browning where they had their only child: me. They worked together at their own insurance office downtown, a 3 story building which they rented out to other businesses as well. With the railroad station, it was the hub of Little Browning.

 

 

     Until I went to university, I lived with my parents in a charming pink 2-story house with a balcony. The first 18 years of my life I was homeschooled and led a fine, but mundane life, when I couldn't catch the train to Browning proper and do some partying with my friends from the city.

 

 

     The height of excitement in Little Browning was when as teenagers, my friends and I would sneak out, climb to the top of the water tower and stay there until dawn, trading stories, eating, and generally sharing each other's company.

 

 

     When I was 15, I got my first job. I worked for a South African company that sold traditional African furniture and novelties. I was lucky enough to land the position of Assistant to the President of Advertising, a job that kept me well-paid until my 3rd year of university. The building the company was centered in was one of the biggest in Browning, and my boss's 4th-floor office had great views of the river west of town and the setting sun over the farms of Macbeth, with the mountains and the river as a backdrop. It was breathtaking, to say the least.

 

 

     My boss was a friendly, charismatic man named Mr. Jones. I considered myself lucky to work for such a nice man, and he wasn't the least bit pretentious or condescending. Every Saturday we had tea together at his Mediterranean mansion. I thought to myself that he had to be one of the richest men in town: he was practically next-door neighbours with the mayor himself.

 

 

     We maintained this friendship for 2 years, until I was 18. The tradition of Saturday tea was never broken until one day in September, the year before I was to start my post-secondary education, when he wasn't home. There was no explanation, nothing. No trace of him at all. I decided that if he wasn't going to be there, I'd visit some friends in Dakota who I hadn't seen for a while. So imagine my surprise when I found him at the train station, sitting on a bench, sobbing uncontrollably.

 

 

     I came up to him immediately, worried that he'd hurt himself in some way. Mr. Jones, sir, it's James. What's wrong? Are you OK? He just looked up at me and started to cry even more.

 

     Sir? Please, tell me, I'll do whatever I can to help. Oh god, what have I done...if this is about the pink bunnies in the corners of those pamphlets, I can explain. It was a frame job, I swear! Suddenly, he lifted his head to speak.

 

     What he told me next made me forget all about the pink bunnies. Soon, I'd be sitting beside him, crying just as much as he was.

 

---

 

     So...any thoughts? I'd love to hear what you think about the start to this new CJ. Thanks for all the support, and I'll see you all soon with another update!

 

Jamie

[metasmurf 705]

I like it. Nice dividing between the commercial and the residential sectors. Good use of custom buildings and roundabouts. Keep it up

[RadioheadFan 1]

metasmurf: Thanks! I really love those NAM roundabouts...so useful. Now I just have to figure out how to keep my diagonal streets from looking funny... Thanks for the comment.

Jamie

[jessyka who? 1]

Good to see you back in the CJ's Jamie. I've always loved your playing style, and it was a privilege to play with you in UCS2. How long do you plan on keeping this CJ?

[Equilibria 16]

This story complements the city work well and utilizes all of your planning and building. I'd take a look at that diagonal street intersection in the picture with the South African company and see if there isn't a way to make that look better, but no big deal. This looks like a winner.

[Fairlane500 8]

Funny how he doen't mention the great view of the car wrecks on the street below, too.

But anyways, great storyline here so far, and a great way to leave the story trailing. I'll seriously be waiting for the next installment, as I can't imagine it being anything but better than what I've seen before.

 

One thing about the title though, it reminds me of a song I hear on the radio every once and a while, but I can't think of it right now...

[dhoppeii 12]

Not another RHF CJ......Man, will this ever end....?

[RadioheadFan 1]

Bryan: Hey buddy! First of all, thanks for the comment. UCS2 was an experience I won't forget, doing a multiplayer region was so cool. Glad you like everything so far, and this CJ should keep going for quite a while...the story's pretty long.

Equilibria: I know, it looks weird I'm trying to fix it. Hopefully in the next NAM diagonal streets won't be optional, so the installer can do it for me! Thanks for the comment.

Kyle: I knew you'd get here eventually...hehe. Car wreck, shmar wreck, James is old now, he may not be able to remember everything! Glad you like the storyline, and you know me, there's nothing I like writing more than a good cliffhanger. BTW, you're right, I bummed the title from the Counting Crows' song, Mr. Jones and Me, albeit with a slight variation. Not a bad tune, I like their work overall. Thanks for the comment.

All: Working hard to get the surrounding farmland up to snuff in the first district of Robertson that James'll visit, Dakota. I won't give any specific dates for an update, but how does relatively soon sound?

Jamie  

 

 

Edit: Dan the man! Sneaking one in while I was posting eh? We'll see about that... First of all, thanks for the comment. And yes, another one. Glad everything fits your fancy so far, and don't worry, the secrets of the little pink bunnies will be revealed in due time...

[MrCinatit 30]

always nice to see another RHF story-driven journal - and a belated congratulations on your Trixie awards - like the others, very well deserved.

guess i've another journal to lurk.

[SC4 meister 7]

You mean to tell me that, AGAIN, you started a CJ and didn't tell me for HOURS!?!?!?  This is nearly enough to make a guy quit...and it's not like you need my comments anymore with all your new supporters...  Oh well, awesome start, as always, lovin the plot already, sweet pics too.  Catch ya later dude!

[1dera3 29]

Cool! Pretty nice so far, keep it up!

//1D3

[dhoppeii 12]

Jamie - Hey couple of things....first off, I forgot to congratulate you on a well deserved Trixie....and is that a picture of you as your avatar....if so, then I must play the Father figure and say, Get a haircut!  

[RadioheadFan 1]

MrCinatit: Always an honour to have you posting here. Thanks for the Trixie congrats, BTW. Don't let that lurking get in the way of your administrating duties now!

Meister: I told you beforehand, you buffoon! And most of these supporters are old anyways. Glad you like the story and pics, thanks for the comment!

P.S. 17 emotes...you're out of control!

1dera3: Hey! Thanks for the comment. I'd love to see another Farberwynn update soon enough...*hint hint*

Dan: No problem, congrats to you as well! In terms of rural CJs, you're the cream of the crop. And yes, that badly compressed picture that's currently my avatar is a self-portrait. You sound just like my real dad...

P.S. I especially enjoyed your work with the puzzle pieces from the NAM in the road/rail/highway overpass a few updates back. I pop in whenever I can...truly awesome. BTW, I wouldn't be surprised if Phil ends up naming that tile West LaPlaisance

Jamie

[nedal2001 285]

RHF, your stories are always entertainings, as your new award points out. What I am really impressed with, however, is how you're city building ability has improved from CJ to CJ. Keep up the good work.

[jacqulina 162]

congrats on your trixie,great start with your cj looking forward to more

[RadioheadFan 1]

Nedal: Hey! Thanks for the semi-congrats on the Trixie, and you're totally right about the actual city-building. I look back at Thistlewood and even Life on an Airplane and I'm just amazed at the growth I've had. Thanks for the comment, and good work on Shamsia recently! I know I don't comment much, but everything looks fantastic, I love the Haven-Redson rivalry.

Jacky: Thanks for the comment and the Trixie congrats!

All: Off to school now, but when I get back I'll be sure to keep working on Dakota some more! It's shaping up really nice, 1 or 2 more railroad towns and some more farms and I'll be done!

Jamie

[Frymon 0]

Wow good start

[PhilsCafe 8]

'West LaPlaisance', eh? Why didn't I think of that...

Great new CJ Jamie. I like the storyline so far... but why are you hiding so much from us? Now I have to follow this one until I found out what these are all about .

I'm just kidding, I love following your stories, they are so entertaining and suspenseful. And congratulations on your Trixie. It is really well deserved!

I'm looking forward to your next update. Take care.

- Phil

[dafiden 11]

Great style!  I like how you focus in on something kinda boring, like a water tower, and make it interesting.

 

Also, the roundabout at the train station as a driveway is one of the best ideas I've seen.

[Darmok 34]

The king of cliffhangers is back!
Can't wait to read more!

Take care Jamie!

[Dr. Frickenstein 0]

Nice start radioheadfan, can't wait for chapter 2! Why? Because of the story, the pics, the cities.

8/10 so far.

[Nardo69 51]

Glad to see yiu again! Great start with the new story.

Hmmm ... you did not show much of that railway station ... did you know before that I would pop up?

Bernhard

PS: Your hair is okay for your age ... I would be glad to have only half of it ...

[Mikeaut1 261]

Another RHF journal!! Can't wait to see it!! The storyline will be great, and so will the cities. Can't wait!

[Fischbob 9]

Well, this is the first of your journals I've seen, and so far I like what I see. A fairly unique idea of a town connected to the outside only by rail coupled with a smalltown feel concerning the water tower has proven to be interesting. It's not hard to tell why you won that Trixie - your cliffhanger's already got me hooked and I'm anxious for the next update. Great work!

[hyped_up_boy 15]

ARRRGHH!  nearly missed this one!  i was scrolling down the CJ page when i saw RHF CJ.  so... yeah!  i want to know more about the crying thing.  the city looks awesome too.  i can't wait till the next update, keep up the good work

[A199999999 0]

looks lake a cool start Ill keep looking at it.

[Shadow Assassin 336]

A good start. I think we'll see more updates before long, lol.

[RadioheadFan 1]

     Comments, comments, comments! Wow, I really have to get to work on that update Just kidding, the city's all prepped, just have to take the pics. I found out how to get my pictures from SC4 edited in HP Photo Zone, so expect sharpened and flipped images in the next update!

     Now to start replying...

Frymon: Thanks!

Phil: Hehe...thanks for the comment, first of all. Thanks for the Trixie congrats, and the secrets of the little bunnies will be revealed-in due time, that is. Glad you like the storylines, and hope to see you soon!

dafiden: Thanks. I do that all the time, I find it helps to bring the story to life. And does everyone really like that roundabout that much? It's only there so I could have equal amounts of parking on each side

Darmok: Hopefully for good this time! Thanks for the comment buddy!

Fricky: Thanks! 8/10's certainly not bad, and I hope it'll only get better from there.

Bernhard: Thanks! Hey, surely that station wasn't that bad...I even created a separate track for it! And yes, I did that on purpose. BTW, the Hair Drive is coming up, if I raise enough money and shave my head I suppose the charity could make a special delivery to Germany (at least that's where I think you are)

Mike: Hey! Thanks for the comment, and I hope that NAM file I sent you works OK.

Fischbob: Well, welcome to the fray then! Fairly unique? I must admit, I stole it from some CJs I've seen here and I'm glad you like that small-town feel with the water tower and all. Thanks for that little compliment, I blushed when I read it Thanks once again!

hyped_up_boy: Almost You'll hear about the crying thing a couple updates from now, I have to showcase all the districts first...glad everything looks good, thanks for the comment!

A199999999: Thanks!

SA: Thanks. And yeah, you will.

All: Just putting the finishing touches on the next update, should be here by Friday/Saturday. I have a basketball tournament, though, so don't expect anything too soon

Jamie

[Deathtoall 28]

You really do deserve that trixie! You have some amazing talent! You look like this guy from my school, it's in a way scary. Not you just the resemblence! This is cj is certainly showing your creative side, which must be twice the size of your logical side!

[RadioheadFan 1]

Deathtoall: Wow, thanks! I wonder who that guy is...and I think everyone who knows me would agree that I am way more creative than logical. Thanks for the comment.

     I swear, I've got another update ready, but I just can't do it now. My best friend in the entire world has been in and out of the hospital with lung problems, and I have to be there for him. I hope you all understand if there's no updates for a couple of days...

Jamie