Desert Dreamers XVII

Previously: Ana and Gracie settled into their new home and adopted two puppies, who they named Artemis and Apollo.



I know it's hard to believe, but Ana and Gracie's puppies have already grown up! Apollo is a fast learner, and Ana is excited to teach him all sorts of fun tricks.


Meanwhile, Artemis' big, floppy ears may make her a little less agile, but she looks adorable bumbling awkwardly around the house regardless.


They decide to take the dogs out into the desert, where they have more space to burn off all their excess energy, but Ana is initially a little distracted.

Ana: How am I ever supposed to upload adorable pictures for my Simstagram followers if I can't get service out here?!?


Gracie: Come on, babe! Today isn't supposed to be about your followers. It's supposed to be about us bonding as a family. Now, put away your phone and get over here!


Ana realizes Gracie is right. The day suddenly becomes so much more enjoyable when she turns off her phone and commits fully to being Artemis' partner in play.


Ana: Wow, I can't believe I've been so preoccupied with documenting every moment of my life for thousands of people I don't even know. It's so much less stressful to just focus on living!
Gracie: That's what I've been trying to tell you! Let's say we show these dogs a mean game of fetch.


Gosh, they are all so cute together. Can I just make the rest of this post into adorable but unnecessary shots of Gracie and Ana interacting with their pets?


All in all, it was a relaxing, enjoyable day. It looks like Artemis got a little grungy, but it's nothing a good bath won't fix.


The next morning, Ana and Gracie enjoy breakfast on their patio, and it is beautiful. That's it. That's the picture.


Orange: Well, well, well, fancy running into you here!
Ana: Oh, for fuck's sake! Are you stalking me now?
Orange: Of course not! As a fellow fitness connoisseur, I also enjoy a leisurely morning jog.
Ana: You don't even live here! Learn to take a fucking hint, and go jog in Del Sol Valley!


Orange: Wait! Just give me one more chance to impress you with my ability to do a thousand sit-ups in one go!
Ana: Sorry, loser, I've actually got a life to get back to... Maybe you should find one, too.


Fátima: Ana! Ana! It's me, your mom! Don't you want to stop and chat?
Ana: Christ, can't a woman just take her dog on a run without being accosted around every corner?


Fátima: All right, I can see you guys are busy right now. Why don't you give me a call so we can do dinner sometime?
Ana: Yeah, I will most definitely do that. First thing. I promise! *proceeds to not do that*


Gracie has decided to pursue journalism, and even though she's barely started, she's already turning into someone who joyfully listens to talk radio while drafting her articles. Who is this mature, responsible, and disciplined NPR fiend, and what has she done with the real Gracie?!?


Don't worry, she's still making plenty of time to shamelessly mack on her wife, though. Talk radio isn't quite that riveting.


Okay, this really has devolved to a stalker-level obsession at this point. There's no way Orange can possibly justify why he's creepily standing outside their house after dark and watching Ana practice her guitar-playing through the window.


Orange: Mark my words... One day, she will be mine!

CAN YOU AND YOUR MUSCLES AND YOUR FREAKISHLY THIN EYEBROWS PLEASE LEAVE US ALONE?!?


Anyway, it's time for Ana to pull off another impeccable acting performance. At least the wardrobe department seems to have the art of putting her into costume down to a science now...


Oh, just kidding, because I'm pretty sure she's not supposed to be dressed as a LITERAL CLOWN!


Ana: All right, I have to admit... I trust your vision, but I'm a little bit lost on what the theme of this one is.
Director: Oh, easy! It's exactly like the last show we shot together, but this time it's a musical set in the Wild West!


Oh, a musical? This should be a breeze then! Because Ana has definitely got the moves (even if they seem a little inappropriate for the era)...


Not to mention the guitar chops...


Plus the singing ability to top it all off!


Unfortunately, this one doesn't have a lesbian romance scene written in, but I'm pretty sure there's tons of subtext in this part where she locks up a female outlaw.


Director: Yes, another hit in the bag! I am just too good at this!


Gracie's successes aren't quite as easy to see, but she's still working hard to become a proper journalist soon.


The two decide to meet up in Del Sol Valley for a celebratory drink at the bar.


Another celebrity getting excited over Ana's mere presence? She really is becoming more famous! Also, look at Rafael in the background like, "Yeah, no big deal, but that's totally my half-sister... and also I'm sort of a one-star celebrity myself, please fawn over me."


ACKNOWLEDGED BY OCTAVIA FUCKING MOON! I NEVER THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD COME! (Really, though, does she know how much of a creep her son is? Because she needs to talk some sense into that boy already.)


Turns out Ana reached the second level of fame without me noticing! No wonder  the other celebrities are suddenly acting a little friendlier than usual. (Also, I never mentioned this, but she took Gracie's last name because tell me Ana Goth isn't the perfect name for for an actress.)