aldara6166

KOSC, First off, let me start by saying the mosaic is awesome. I am going to try something like this soon enough, especially after seeing yours and several others. And yes, I too had to look hard to find the difference of 1-pixel. If you are just looking at it and not looking for the difference, you can't see it. As for the over-use of embankment comments...I want to throw my two-cents in on that one. I personally like how they are used, and feel they are very realistic. The area that I live in is in a valley between two mountains. Alot of places are built where there is a need to build walls and such to hold back the side of the mountain, keep the river or one of our many creeks within it's banks, level out the terrain, etc. So, for an area that has any moderate amount of hills or mountainous terrain, you are going to see retaining walls built all over the place. You may not notice them, but they are there. Now, maybe we can vary their use in our CJ's, going from stone, to brick, to concrete, etc. But, I feel that having retaining walls in various places in a CJ is totally realistic and representative of real life. Just my opinion, and not meant to insult or offend anyone. Great job man...keep em coming...

Personal Messages: dhoppeii - Two messages to comment on today...let me see... Allison: I definitely had a mental picture of her when I started writing the story. I was looking through pics on the Internet, thanks to multimedia.lycos.com and I came upon that Renoir. I saw that and immediately started nodding my head. Once I found that, I did a few other searches and found the pic of the lady on the archeological dig in Egypt. All in all, I'm satisfied with her pics and Wynston's...just need to improve on Leo and the professor. As for the prologue...remember, this is the first thing a reader is going to read. I hated to come up with and post it in the middle of the story line, but that is just the way it happened. Now, your question about whether Wynston is a scholar or not...well, I'm just gonna make you wait and read to answer that one!! Thanks for stopping by. Even I can't wait to get the next chapter out sometimes. The next few chapters will be pivotal, as they transition from the introduction to the core of the story. What, this isn't the core of the story? you ask yourself...just keep reading, I think you'll all be pleased. Darmok - My comments to dhop about Allison apply here to. And yes, I do agree that the Renoir and the pic of the girl from Egypt are gorgeous too. Great minds think alike! As for the prologue still being a rough draft, well, I guess maybe more like a medium draft. It isn't as rough as I figured it would be, but it still is not near the quality that I want it to be. This is actually my feeling for the whole story...there is alot I want to clean up and/or add before I ship the manuscript off to some publisher. I do thank you for your comments though. I am glad that you, as well as everyone else, likes what I've put out there. As for writing things out on a legal pad, that was actually a once in a blue moon kind of thing. I usually don't write stuff out. I have to work my part-time job tonight. If I get bored, maybe I'll try to do it again but since my part-time job is as a paramedic in a fire station, I seriously doubt I'll be bored. To All - Well, we are rapidly climbing through the views. We are almost at 6,500 now. I noticed that Darmok and dhoppeii were the only commenters recently...I think that is because my posts went down the list very rapidly both days that I published them. So, alot of my normal readers probably didn't see them yet. If that is you, and this is the case, go ahead and read away. The last two posts were great, and they make for good reading. Thanks as always to everyone who has followed this story along the way. Don't worry, it's about to get really good...and several questions are going to be answered. And as always, each visit is appreciated and each comment is treasured. Keep em coming... Copyright

Great job KOSC. The whole area looks great. I love how you terraformed and landscaped the area. It's beautiful man! Keep em coming...

Well folks, since there seems to be a great desire to read the prologue to this story (at least by a few of my loyal fans ) I am going to go ahead and post it. Not much info given here that will spoil any of my chapters that are soon to come. Remember, this will be the first thing read when the book goes to press. I actually had this typed out and saved on my PC before dinner tonight...I was gonna wait a few more updates before I posted it. Just remember, I may change the prologue slightly to make it sound and flow a little better, not sure yet. I'll address Personal Messages tomorrow or the next day, since it is getting late here and the wife is pressing me to get off the computer. Enjoy everyone... and as for the comments, well, keep em coming... ******************************** The air blowing in from the ocean was cool and salty. The sun was beginning to set on the western horizon. The dock hands on the piers of Anderson Limited Shipping, on the outskirts of New York Harbor, were scouring about completing their daily routines. As the barges and tankers were busily being loaded with their cargoes, Captain Samuel Cartega was sitting in his cabin aboard the Pacific Adventurer. He was calmly plotting his next course as he stroked his dog

Date: 6/23/2005 3:15:51 PM Author: Darmok Al Lot's of interrogation Al! Well let's see, for the dillapidation problem I use this mod - Abandonment Dilapidation Modd  by ralphaelninja - though I doesn't seems to work with those lots, cause later in the game I lost my water supply and they where abandoned so rapidly, that I had to buldoze and replop them after repairing the water towers. But this early in the city history, they stayed OK, I honestly don't know why, though the road connection was done quite soon after this update. So your guess is as good as mine! Thanks for your always great support Al, and I hope that you'll have a better day at work today! (Just read your last post in Tarrytowne River ). Well, I am not that sure either. I'm gonna play around in-game with the NAM pedestrian malls, and see if you can build them in there, so that we could add realistic parking. And ah, thanks for the little advertisement for my CJ (although Dhoppeii really did a big advertisement...told people to go read my CJ and everything ). You just read the latest update, huh. Well, is there a comment coming in the future? Great job as always man... keep em coming...

Stupid computer...sorry for the double post...I just liked the new city that much!

D, What a great start to Dol Armoth. I really like it. I really like the mosaic too, by the way. I may have to try something similar in my CJ soon too! I like the pier area. For the piers, I like how you counterbalance the sinking terrain problem. Is it that lot in particular, or will any lot similar in size work. I'm imagining it would. While we are talking about the piers...How do you keep the shops in the bottom end from delapidating? There is no road touching them, and I had several of the pier shops go all black and die off shortly after I plopped them because I forgot a road next to them. Well, wait a minute...I was just thinking. Since the road to tarmac transition is transit enabled, it acts as a road. And, the pedestrian malls in the NAM work as roads (for commercial development only.) Since the pier shops are commercial development, is that what you did so that you could add parking in there? Did you use the ped. malls and the transition lot? I'm curious now! The whole thing looks great, including you BMW Photoshopping and the commercial development nearby. Can't wait to see more... Looks great...I love the start to this city. Looking forward to more... keep em coming...

This is not a formal update, but I wanted to put out there the other pictures that I've gotten together that show my main characters to date. I have indicated where the pics came from (where applicable.) If any of the original authors or approved representatives of same wish these pics removed, please send me a PM and I will do so immediately. Allison - The first pic is Renoir's painting Fair Girl. I saw this and immediately had to use it. The second pic of Allison is a representation of her while she was on the famous dig in the desert where they found the new dinosaur species. Leo and Professor Cricks - I couldn't find and real pics of either of these two, but I did find a few charcoal drawings that kind of resemble what I was thinking. The search for these two continues, but here is a general idea for everyone. ************************************ Personal Messages: aleking - Thanks for dropping by. The story line keeps growing and growing with each update...glad you like it. As for the cape on Wynston...it was a cape at one time. I used Paint Shop Pro to remove the cape. Although, if it makes him look more menacing, you can imagine that there is a cape draped over his back! Come again soon! Darmok - Yeah, I'm still here. As for my descriptive environment, what you see in the CJ is probably only about 75% of what will make it in to the novel. I feel that I need to go back in and add in alot more detail to some areas to make it worth publication. As always, thanks for the compliments. Keep reading, it is going to get better (I hope ) jacqulina - I definitely appreciate your comments. I follow alot of the same CJ's that you do, and I know you don't use the word awesome that often. So, when you say you think this story line is awesome I am touched. Thanks. If you are going to buy the book when it comes out, at least I know that I'll be selling 5 or 10 copies! Thanks again. dhoppeii - First of, NO, it isn't from my personal collection of dolls! I don't have a personal collection of dolls to be exact! I agree, I'm thinking that this will be in the range of 300-400 pages when finished...or at least I hope so. As for the publishers being crazy if they don't want this novel, I hope you are right! I commented over in MrCinatit's CJ Stranded this morning that I had done something I have never done before. Last night, at work, I was having a rough night (was ready to kill the supervisor.) I was thinking, at the beginning of the evening, that I wanted to do a Prologue to the book. I wanted to do it in the same style as Cussler and so many other novelists do with their novels. So, in between calls I started writing out my prologue (to keep myself from speaking to, dealing with, looking at the supervisor, etc.) Well, about 30 minutes before the end of the shift, I finished the prologue! It is written on a legal pad (8-1/2 x 14). It is the entire front and entire back of 3 full pages! I am going to type it out as soon as I'm done with these comments. I will be posting it as another update to the CJ, sometime in the next update or two. Thanks for dropping in as always! I appreciate it. mrbisonm - First, let me start by saying I feel honored that you posted, even more honored to know that you have been lurking! You CJ is a great read, and I hope to live up to your standards some day. Thank you very much for the comments. Thank you even more for the compliments. I do appreciate every one of them. I have a question though...which part of the CJ were you not impressed with at first? Was it the first several updates, the initial story line, or the first part of the novel section? I would like to know your comments so that I may improve on my CJ and try to elevate it towards the level of yours. I like the constructive criticism, it helps make the CJ stronger. Now that you are addicted as dhoppeii, Darmok and everybody else, hopefully I can keep the high standard going. At first, I wasn't planning on turning this in to a novel. But, after much encouragement I am going to try to do just that. Again, I thank you for your visit and please, come again! To All - Thanks again for stopping by. I am really winding up the story now. I have a basic plot line drawn out, and I have it broken in to chapters. The funny thing about that outline though, is that the when I'm writing I add more to the story line than what is outlined. I end up adding more chapters, because where I had the chapter markers in the outline just don't work, and I end up beginning new chapters before I had them on the outline. I hope you all liked the pics of the main characters. I still think there is improvement to be made with the pics, but I can live with what I have for now. Again, can't wait to see you all back here soon. And as always, each visit is appreciated and each comment is treasured. Keep em coming... Copyright

Eddiem, Thanks for the link, but it is incomplete. Here is the correct link. http://homepage2.nifty.com/tabinohito/sim%20files/Naval%20yard%20set.zip The set looks increditble though...can't wait to use it!

KOSC, Sorry for the abscence, but like I have said to a bunch of people now, RLS hit bad...will try to keep up if I can. The area is coming along real good. I like the new NAM, especially thouse turn lanes. Which file is that by the way, cause I installed the newest NAM and haven't gotten the new turn lanes yet. The sunken highway, great as always. All of the neighborhoods, the highrises, the terraforming. They all look great. As for the poll, well, you know the answer from me already. With such an in depth story line going in my CJ, I gotta say A, give us a story. And I love the terraforming, so keep that up too! Another A. Great job man... keep em coming...

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/Update_14--BritIslands.gif align=baseline> As they walked across the docks towards Winston

OH MY GOD!!!!! That has got to be, the most ultra-cool, ultra-realistic off-shore oil rig I've ever seen!! I will be using it in my CJ for sure, very soon!

Either way I think it looks good. Personally, I think that the circular version looks just a tad bit better. Alot of times, there are people out there with super jacked up PC's that are willing to render stuff for people. Maybe you can look through the BAT Request Thread and see if somebody there could do that for you using the circular version...just a suggestion. And as far as me being too excited or enthusiastic for a potential project...well, do you think that Thomas Edison was laxidasical (sp) when he came up with any of his invention ideas? Do you think that Ford was laid back when he came up with the idea for the assembly line? If any project is going to get off the ground, it's main supporters need to be excited about the project. I was simply asking, for my own knowledge, if a SimRome project would get any support. I realize it won't be done overnight. I also don't expect that franky_83 would be the only BAT'er either. Just look at the BSC farming project...there are a ton of people working on that one. Just my $0.02 on the project. I'll end my opinion by saying...your work looks great! Whether or not there is a SimRome project growing out of your current BAT, I will certainly download it! Keep em coming...

Ok, so here is the big question... If there were a SimRome expansion, would you: A: Support It B: Not Support It C: Download (And Then Decide) I think it could be a really cool expansion, just like the SimMars project. Oh, and I've already begun music conversions...I would attach it to this thread the first MP3 for use in the expansion pack (if it goes that far.) , but unfortunately the board won't allow it...

franky_83, First of all, the idea of using the music is no big deal. You can add your own MP3's to the game, it is just a matter of copying them into one of the game folders and they will be played randomly. This is only an idea, and the idea was from your inspiration, but here is what I thought about the idea of a SimRome. First, as for your comment about only being able to do the buildings, that is no big deal. There are always people out there that do things such as nighlighting, custum UI queries, rendering, etc. etc. I figure, if there is enough support for the project, there will be people that can do these things that will volunteer to help out. As for the music, I envisioned that the whole package (if and when released) would be in the form of an .EXE installer. That way, we could back up certain original game files and place them in to some sort of backup directory. This would include the in-game music from Maxis. We could replace the in-game music, while still being able to restore the originals if the player wanted to get rid of SimRome. These are just ideas. I agree, there needs to be a leader. Someone with the quality that can get the project going and keep it going. I have too much RLS going on to take the main lead. I also can't create BAT's (I tried once or twice and man...did they stink! ) I can go in to the other games and get screen shots. I can also convert the music and get that together. Guess I could be the Creative Director or sorts. Like I said, these are just ideas and by no way solid. I guess you could just say I'm rambling on at the mouth...my wife says that too...guess I'll shut up for now and let people chew on this for a while.

My god, this is just...well...truly AWESOME! Is this your first BAT? If so, you are a natural... How much time do you spend on this thing...it definitely looks great! I definitely like the idea of a SimRome project, similar to the SimMars one...what does everyone else think? Yes, no...or am I just crazy like my wife says?

This whole RLS thing is really getting me behind. All of the last 3 updates were great. The tourist area, very nice. I like the European feel to it. And yes, the new PEG lighthouses are AWESOME! The new residential areas...definitely nice. I used to work for Citibank, in one of their 3,000+ employee credit card centers...and you couldn't have said it better that those Wells Fargo employees do in fact drive the local economy. It is entirely true in communities like that. Now, I no longer work there and you COULDN'T PAY ME ENOUGH TO GO BACK!!!!! The schools...brilliant. I wasn't aware that those two versions existed, but I have them now and they WILL in fact become my new private schools. Thanks for the idea. Great updates. I just wish that I could comment more lately. But, as I said before...RLS. Oh yeah, congrats to Boo and aasim on their recent passports. Congrats! Nicely done...keep em coming...

Personal Messages: aasim45 & palmgurl - As always, thanks for the patronage. Hopefully we will continue to see you guys here, and you too will be some of my regular contributors. As always, thanks for the visit and welcome back to the TRV. dhoppeii - Thanks for dropping by my dear friend. I always appreciate you comments, from the long ones to the short, sweet and to the point ones. I'm glad that you and everyone else is so moved by my story that you can't wait for it to continue. Not that I'm soliciting for it, but a Trixie would only be second to the CJ becoming a printed novel (and making it to the New York Times Best Seller List! ) As for your question...I have a vague plot line that is drawn out in my head. When I do an update, I simply sit down at the computer and start typing. I know what I want to say, and I sort of fill in the blanks as I type. Sometimes, I don't get to say all that I want to say in an update, because it would either make it way longer than they already are, or it just wouldn't be a smooth ending/transition to the next chapter. When this happens, it only gives me more ideas for the next chapter, and that simply seems to fuel the fire so to speak. I rarely, when I write a paper, write out a rough draft. My wife says that this is a great gift that I have...being able to simply sit down and write. I do all of my college papers this way...at the abosolute VERY last minute I might add. Out of all of my classes over the last few years, the lowest grade I've ever gotten on a paper is 95% and all of my classes have been an A except for 2 B's. Who knows...maybe I'm just wired wierd or something. Darmok - You think, after being told that I have 5 kids and a wife, a full-time job, a part-time job, college classes, this CJ/novel and all of my other commitments that I would have time to read a book? Are you nuts? Actually, I'm in the process of reading The Murder Book, an Alex Deleware novel, written by Jonathan Kellerman. Besides Cussler, he is my other favorite author and they are the only authors I'll read. I'll have to take your recommendation into consideration after I read this one though. As always, thanks for the patronage. As I always say, I can't do it without my loyal contributors. To All - Sorry that I did not have any pictures with this update. I'm actually in the process of gathering drawings/animations or pictures of what I think the different characters would look like. Once I find all of the ones I like, I may post them as a seperate update. If anyone would like to contribute a picture or drawing, please send me a PM. Anyone that contributes will get the proper recognition for such, as well as the source of the picture. This will follow over if my CJ ever makes it to press as a novel. I can't believe that this CJ/novel is becoming such a hit. We are almost at 350 replies and over 6100 responses. I never thought that I would ever get this far, and I have all of my loyal followers and contributors to thank for it. I certainly do appreciate it and give you all a bunny and a duck! I couldn't have done it without all of you. Thank You. http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/6100+%20Views.jpg align=baseline> And as always, each visit is appreciated and each comment is treasured. Keep em coming... Copyright

As Wynston disappeared in to the night, Allison closed the door and turned to the professor. We better look around and figure out who is getting which room. It is getting late, and we need our rest. said Professor Cricks. Allison looked at him and nodded. She went off in one direction, while the professor went another. In just a matter of minutes, Allison had found a room with a small feather mattress. There was also a small table in the room, and there was a window on the far wall. As she peered out the window, she saw that it overlooked the water. It was quite the magnificent view of the horizon, as the ocean seemingly touched the stars in the sky. For several minutes, she silently stared out the windows at the stars. She just couldn't shake this nagging feeling that Leo was dead. No matter what Wynston had said to them, she was convinced that Leo had met a painful demise at the hands of this evil man. What was bothering her more than the knowledge of Leo's death was the conviction that within a few days this man would probably lead both Allison and Professor Cricks to the same fate. She was interrupted from her solemn thoughts by a knock at the door. Come in professor. she said quietly. She slowly turned to look at him as he opened the door. He stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the light from the main foyer. He was about to say something, but stopped himself as he realized that something was not quite right. What is wrong, dear girl? asked the professor. I was just thinking of Leo. Allison sniffled, as a tear ran down her cheek. She turned back to the window so that the professor could not see her crying. She did not want him to think of her as weak or emotional. The professor saw this, and crossed the room. As he stood behind her, he said It will be alright Allison. Everything will be just fine. He put a hand on her shoulder, as she let loose a torrent of tears. She pressed her head down on his hand, instantly drenching his wrist. I don't see how you think it will be ok. she sobbed. Leo is dead, and that evil man is going to kill us too. He's just playing us. He wants us drown in our own tears. The professor took a step back and just looked at Allison for a moment. She simply stared at him with eyes blurred by tears. After a minute, he began to chuckle. Within a few short seconds, he was laughing in earnest. As he was laughing, Allison's emotions turned from hysterical to enraged. What is so darn funny? I don't think this is a laughing matter! she exclaimed. As the professor attempted to contain himself, he began to speak. Dear girl, you are so blinded by your own emotions that you can't see the forest for the trees. What do you mean? I can see the forest just fine. she panted, wiping her eyes of her tears. As the professor finally stopped laughing, he replied Allison, Wynston gave us plenty of signs. Leo is alive and well. Not only is Leo alive, but he certainly isn't going to kill us. Come now, off to bed with you. We have lots to do in the morning. I have a feeling we are going somewhere. We are going somewhere? asked Allison. Sleep, my dear. Go to sleep. Your questions will be answered in the morning. said the professor. As Allison lay down, the professor turned to leave. Oh, and one more thing. said the professor as he hesitated in the doorway. Please, try to show some restraint tomorrow. You really are too impatient. With that, he was gone down the hallway. --------------------------------------- Leo lay there on the hard, cold, stone slab. He felt a burning sensation in his side. He was very groggy from the loss of blood; he was slowly going into shock. He reached down to where the burning sensation stabbed at his side and felt the pool of blood. He thought back to the temple in the forest, and remembered that he had been stabbed. Leo tried to rise, but his body was in such a weakened state that he could not rise more than an inch from the table. He tried to look around the room, but his vision was clouded from the pain and from the state of shock he was slipping into. He vaguely recognized the signs. He remembered back to his freshman year of college when he had taken Anatomy and Physiology 101. The only reason he remembered anything from this class was by thinking about the fragrance given off by a lilac. Ahh, the sweet fragrance of lilacs blooming in spring. He could swear he could smell lilacs now. He thought back to his freshman year, back to Emily Beth Stephens. She was one of the most beautiful creatures you would ever want to see. She had long red hair that cascaded down her back, piercing green eyes and the most wonderful body that he had ever laid eyes upon. She was late to the first day of class, and because he had sat in the very back row of the auditorium where class was held she sat right beside of him. He had gotten to know her over the course of the semester. He even was lucky enough for her to accept his offer to be her lab partner. It was love at first sight, he just knew it. Despite the fact that he could never get up the courage to ask her out, he still loved her, especially her hair, which smelled just like lilacs after she had shampooed it. That first semester wasn't his greatest, and Emily had helped him study for finals. The only way he remember anything during the final that she had said was to think about the smell of lilacs. Still, he remembered Emily just by the thought of that smell. He chuckled inwardly as he felt a sharp, searing pain rip through his side just below his heart. He opened his eyes again and could vaguely make out another human form hovering over him holding a sharp looking tool. Leo heard someone's death cry penetrate the quiet night air. Just as his eyes drifted shut, he realized that it was his own cry. Just then, the world went black. --------------------------------------- Allison woke with a fright. Leo! she called out, a terror in her voice as she sat bolt upright. Her shirt was drenched with sweat, and she had her bed linens clutched tightly in her fists. Her breath came in ragged gasps, as her adrenaline slowly started to purge itself from her body. It was the third time tonight that she had had that dream, and it was beginning to torment her. She was not one to have nightmares, and the fact that she had had this one several times in one night scared her into submission. I will not go back to sleep tonight. If I'm not asleep, I can't have the dream. she thought to herself. For several long minutes, she sat quietly in the darkness hoping for some thought to invade her mind. Anything thought would do, anything thought except for Leo that is. But, alas, her body's need to regenerate itself won over her conviction, and soon she was asleep. Again, the fragrance of freshly cut lilacs invaded her senses. Once again, she saw Leo lying on that cold stone slab. Again too, she saw Wynston towering over the helpless, lifeless form on the table. She could not hear or comprehend what Wynston was saying to Leo, but she could tell from the look of sheer terror on Leo's face that he was once again about to be dispatched. As she watched in horror, she once again saw Wynston plunge the curved blade deep into Leo's chest. Again, she heard a scream of pain and terror. Allison! Allison my dear, wake up! You were having a nightmare! shouted the professor as he shook her violently. He subconscious was fighting for control, fighting to keep her in a deep slumber. But, the professor's efforts soon paid their dividends, as Allison was startled awake. What? What is it professor? she asked with a quiver in her voice. Dear girl. sighed the professor, you've been screaming all night. You have been having nightmares in your sleep. Yes. I do recall them. They are very vivid, right down to the smell of flowers in the air. They aren't different though, they all seem to be the same dream playing over and over in my head. It is almost like a movie projector keeps running in my head and I can't shut it off. Allison stammered. The smell of flowers? questioned Professor Cricks. Allison my dear, you smell flowers because there are fresh cut lilacs in a small vase over there on the end table. See? he said as he pointed to the table. Allison squinted and rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she tried to focus. Yes, indeed there were flowers on the table. As the professor pointed out as well, they were indeed lilacs. It was just so real, professor. It was almost like I was there, like I was living, or rather reliving, the same moment in time over and over again. she said. Yes, our subconscious is a very powerful machine indeed. It can make us believe that we are the Pharaoh of Egypt or it can make us feel like we are madly in love with someone we've never met. explained the professor. Allison knew that she would not sleep any more that night. She sat on the edge of her bed talking to the professor for three hours. The professor knew that she would not sleep well because of the nightmares, and he quietly agreed to himself to keep up his end of the conversation. Soon enough, sunlight was beginning to filter through the windows of their new home. Allison stood and stretched her tired limbs. She walked over to the window and gazed out at the sunrise. Wynston was right; sunrise and sunset were both beautiful times in the village, with the sun glistening off the ocean like a mirror. She wondered to herself I wonder where Leo is. I wonder if he truly is alright. The professor must have sensed her feelings, because he again walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. He is ok. He will be just fine. said the professor. I hope so. replied Allison. There reverie was broken by a knock on the front door. The professor left the room to answer the door. Within a few moments, he returned with Wynston at his side. Please, come join me for breakfast in my home. We have a long walk ahead of us today. said Wynston. A long walk? questioned Allison. Yes. I plan on showing you something that you have already seen, yet haven't seen. said Wynston. With that, Wynston turned and left. It was implied that both of them should follow his lead. As Allison and the professor walked through the front door behind him, the professor said Please, remember your manners today. But professor, what does he mean something we've already seen but not seen? asked Allison quietly. In due time, my dear. In due time. replied the professor cryptically. *********************************** Personal Messages: To All - I thank you for your continued patronage of my CJ. It is getting late for me tonight, so I am going to beg off of my personal messages tonight. I will respond to everyone in the morning. For now, I must put my 2 year old son to bed. And as always, each visit is appreciated and each comment is treasured. Keep em coming... Copyright

Personal Messages: dhoppeii - First off, I'm certainly no saint. The 6th kid certainly wasn't planned, and I'm not quite sure where the money is gonna from for everything. But, I guess something will get figured out. As for your comments...as always, thanks. It is comments like yours that are pushing me ever closer to seriously considering turning this story line into a book. Granted, if I do put this together as a book I'll have to go back and add in some more descriptive detail. But, all in all I think this is going to turn out to be a good first draft. As for the party...you will be one of the first names on the invite list. Make sure you have your tux cleaned and pressed, because I want it to be a formal black tie event (even if there will be a ton of seafood, a pig on a spit, and an open bar! Sounds more like a Hawaiian lu-ow [sp] ) Darmok - Thanks for the compliments and the well wishes. Most of my comments to dhop apply to you as well. I certainly couldn't keep this story line going without your support. Thanks. jacqulina - I know that you don't use the word awesome with many CJ's. I see quite a few posts from you in other CJ's and I can vouch for that. So, I certainly must say thanks. Again, you are one of my loyal readers that will hopefully elevate this CJ to the status of a novel some day. At least I'll have a loyal following of people to buy the book by then! Only thing is, I'll have to start thinking of another story line to start the next novel in the series! Thanks again. To All - Well, no time for an update today. I tried to start it, but again decided to delete it because I wasn't happy where it was going. I have definite ideas for the plot line, and I basically just sit down and fill in the blanks when I do an update. And thanks to everyone for the well wishes. We certainly do appreciate it. And as always, each visit is appreciated and each comment is treasured. Keep em coming... Copyright

KOSC, The update looks great. The preview was pretty cool too, definitely like it. Especially the terraforming you did to get the slope just right going up to the bridge. The area around the bridge looks good. I especially like the stream running through the residential area. The only thing I question, and this is just my personal opinion, is the use of the lighted palms. I'm not a big fan of them. I will credit their designer, they look great. I just don't like to use them in my cities...that's all. The whole thing is looking good. Keep em coming...

Wow! This update was just...Wow! I love the port area...one question, is that some sort of walkway along the sea walls? And your park looks great...I couldn't have done better myself! But, one question...jeronij's trails look different for you than me...did you edit them in LE? Or is there an update set I don't know about yet? The update is awesome... keep em coming!

Whew! *wipes sweat from brow* Again, so many updates I am behind on. The whole area is coming along great. I like your mixture of the Japanese lots in there. And the ghettos...great idea. Most people build a city and forget that there are ghetto's like that in EVERY city. Can't go somewhere and not see them, but we forget to build them (or at least show them in our CJ's) because they aren't pretty. The rail system looks great, as do the green space areas and parks. Great job man... keep em coming...