Greetings from Salty Springs

Hi there! Remember me? Fran Mortinez? Long time, no see, right? :-D I used to live in Mariner’s Reach, where I tried to fish for a living and had luck making friends but no luck in my love life (which is OK, I’m having fun anyway…really! ;-p).

Since then, I’ve lived in a few different places, but right now I live in a dusty little desert town called Salty Springs.

Franthology

Some of you might know the more famous town next door, Lucky Palms. Salty Springs is like Lucky Palms’ destitute cousin. Long ago it was a trendy resort area on the edge of a vast and sparkling lake, but since the lake dried up (mysteriously, of course…these things always happen mysteriously), it’s been kind of a ghost town.

Although it’s getting better — there’s a new art center, and some cool research is being done at the Area 52 Test Labs…but more on all of that later. I’m already spamming you to death!

Franthology

This is me at my favorite Mexican restaurant, La Plomada, where I spend entirely too much time eating fried burritos and heaping plates of nachos. My mouth waters just thinking about them.

Franthology

I live by myself in a one-bedroom apartment (in a boxy building called The Palacio — it has high aspirations, apparently!). Although I’ve conquered the cooking of waffles (no more charcoal slabs, yay!), I don’t know how to make much else, so I eat a lot of pre-made meals — mostly breakfast burritos and yogurt parfaits.

Someday I WILL learn to cook something really yummy and impressive. Probably when I’m an elder.

I’ve made a few friends so far — one is a stray dog whom I call “Doggie”. (Someday I’ll have to come up with a cleverer name.) She (he? I’m not sure!) is incredibly friendly and seems to like me, even though I’m kind of a noob when it comes to canines.

Franthology

Actually, I think she’s using me for my piggy toy.

Franthology

I’ve also struck up a friendship with my neighbor, Josselyn. She’s super-smart and works at the aforementioned Area 52 Test Labs as a tech, researching soil samples and water samples and pretty much anything else you can collect a sample of.

Franthology

There’s a little puddle of lake left behind our building, and we fish there to collect samples for the lab. I guess I’m kind of her Unofficial Assistant. Josselyn pays me in nachos at La Plomada, which isn’t a bad way to get paid.

It’s weird because we catch the same types of fish that I caught when I lived on Mariner’s Reach — in the middle of the ocean. I guess the Salty Springs live up to their name.

Franthology

It amazes me to think that when we fish in our puddle, we’re standing at the bottom of what used to be a huge lake. I try to imagine what it would be like if it were filled with water, if I were, say, a little crab scuttling along the bottom, thinking this lake was the whole universe.

Franthology

Part of Josselyn’s job is to help figure out how it dried up so quickly. She dismisses my theory that the desert gnomes drank it all, but I don’t think she should be so hasty. Those desert gnomes are sneaky little dudes. And thirsty, too.

After we fish for a bit, we usually go for a jog.

Franthology

I never in a million years thought I would be the jogging type, but I enjoyed it so much in Mariner’s Reach that I’ve continued the habit. It’s a great way see the countryside, such as it is. And get a lot of sand in my shoes.

Franthology

Also, it’s not a bad way to work off the nachos. Because goodness knows I’m not giving THOSE up anytime soon.

Next up: Fran checks into rehab for her Mexican food addiction.

11 thoughts on “Greetings from Salty Springs

  1. Yay Jen an update :P I was just taking a break from revision and thought I’d check up on here and I was excited to see fran back and in a new world :) what I can see looks really good and I like the background story of the town too. Looking forward to seeing more of fran and her developments on salty springs! :D

    Ps. But like I said before I hope your still working on whimset cube? I adore what your doing in that world!!

    • Sorry about the spellings i just realized :/ but I’m sure you can see what its meant to say :P haha

      • Hi Callum!! Hope your revision is going well! No worries on the spellings — I knew what you meant! :-D Thanks for your lovely comment! I am definitely still working on Whimsett Cove! I’ve finished another house, and I’m almost done with my pizza parlor/bookstore. So I’ll post those soon! :)

        • yeah its going ok i hope:) Yay more lots, looking forward to seeing them!

  2. Between Awwww-ing and LOL-ing I was trying to make a coherent comment then I read the last sentence and…
    “Next up: Fran checks into rehab for her Mexican food addiction. ”
    ….. BWAHAHAHAHA!! :D :D:D

    Aw the Mexican Restaurant looks awesome ! Love the arches and of course the colorful tables <3 . Hehe and I love how Fran looks like she is looking at us *wave at her*

    The desert (oops almost wrote dessert here *facepalm* Am a biscuits/cookie addict *shame*)…the desert pictures with the girls fishing/running are so beautiful <3

    Aww the dog is mighty cute! I actually think Doggie is a neat name for a dog, at least you shouldn't run the risk to meet a person bearing the same name as your pet :D….errr….orrr Snoop Doggy Dog has changed his name right?

    • TEDHI!!! *hugs* Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! It’s always fun to hear from you. :-D LOL at almost writing dessert for desert…I can’t blame you for that, as I’m a cookie addict myself. ;-p And LOL at Snoop Doggy Dog…:-D

  3. Hiya Fran! Long time no see! The landscape kinda reminds me of Fallout:New Vegas, very cool! The family gnome obsession is really coming out now, isn’t it? What a brilliant update!

    • LOL, you remember the family gnome obsesssion! That’s awesome! Thanks as always for your sweet comments, Scally! *hugs* Hope you’re having fun with your Sims or whatever you’re up to these days! :-)

      • ‘Course I remember the gnome obsession :-) Are we going to see Bernie at all, or is he too busy stealing his gnomes back from the Goths (think it was the Goths, anyway)?

  4. FRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN! We had talked not so long ago, remember? It’s always good to see you again, with your best friends, Mexican food ad the cool Josselyn!!! YEAH!
    (I love that picture of the bubble-fish in the desert! It reminds me “Arizona Dreams”! *sigh*)

    Anyway, I love Fran’s writing! I laughed at the Palacio having great expectations! *lol* YES, Fran, because you live in a world that Jen is renovating, so the whole world HAS some great expectations, you know! :p
    Being paid in nachos to work unofficially as Joss’ assistant for the Area 52, that’s cool! *lol*
    Doggy is definitvely cute, above all with his ears back!!! Awwwww!!!!
    And WOWOW to the landscapes…. *sigh*
    You’re insanely talented! :p

    • Aww, Sandy, it’s so sweet of you comment again on Fran’s story when you already commented on TSD! *smooch* I’ve never seen Arizona Dreams — it looks interesting! And ooh, Johnny Depp! *clap* Thank you for your kind words, my dear! *hugs*