Date: February 25, 2024 05:29 pm Title: Another First Date
Just finished all of the chapters and it was so much fun to read. I really enjoyed their dates at Christopher's through the years. Especially the Blessings chapter. And, the last chapter with Cici was just adorable.
Author's Response: Haven't been on much so it was a lovely surprise to get a review on an old story. Thank you for reading and your review.
Date: April 20, 2023 11:23 am Title: Another First Date
(Sorry I’m just getting to review this)
What a sweet ending to this story and I love the twist. Such a cute evolution of their story from first date to the next generation of first date.
Also, I would like to thank you for the visual of Jim in a towel and then it dropping. It was something I didn’t know I needed.
Great job with this story! And congratulations on another fantastic accomplishment. :)
1 [Report This]Date: March 29, 2023 04:16 pm Title: Another First Date
Cece’s love for her daddy is adorable!
So sweet that Jim took Pam on their first date at her perfect date spot.
1 [Report This]Date: March 22, 2023 01:01 pm Title: Another First Date
I finally got around to reading thing one in it's entirety (four kids apparently keep you busy) and I am so glad I did. You have such an amazing way of weaving in canon and explaining so much that doesn't get explained in the show. The queen of backstory!! It's amazing. Your attention to the littlest of details always pays off. You really think of everything and it makes your stories that much more enjoyable to read.
You are also the queen of perfect gifts. Every time, in all your fics really, you think of the most thoughtful gifts they can give to each other and I love it.
And the ending!! Adorable and perfect.
Great job with this one and congrats on finishing it!!
Author's Response:
Date: March 19, 2023 06:27 pm Title: Another First Date
I can see these moments so clearly here. The who-can-hug-the-hardest contest has my eyes assuming full heart shape. Too cute! These kids are just so real and fully realized. The details of them and their relationships with their parents are terrific.
"At least this time he knew enough to let Pam pick out the outfit for the date." See? He's learning! About time, Jimbo.
Dwight the friend versus Dwight the stickler. Yeah, tough to know who you're gonna get there. But him and Angela having a Jam moment and the Angela growth! The boar getting the lecture! Dwight doing fundraising calls! Ahhh, I'm gonna miss the Goldverse.
So many good callbacks here, too.
"Her alter ego, Crankypants, sometimes made a cameo when she woke abruptly, and she had not been invited on this date." LOL.
I reread the original Beth chapter before digging into this and am honestly kinda bummed to find out Pete is gone. Poor Beth!
Awwwwwwwwwww you got me. I thought this was gonna be a make-up date from the last disaster, but nope. Cece and Jim time. Oh, that's really good circularity with him picking up on Christopher's originally!
Well, I'm sorry to see this journey end. But thank you for bringing us along on it.
Author's Response:
Writing the kids is in a way my revisiting my own past- remembering having little ones and parenting them and passing that on to Pam and Jim in my writing. And some of it is so real...
Yeah, well if Jim picked out Cece's outfit, it might have been an Arcade Fire tee shirt, or just a mismatched shirt and top. It was best for Pam to be on that and of course it was a first red herring.
Yeah, people do move on and just wait until Beth hears that the Halperts are moving too.
Got even you. I'm going to pat myself on the back for that.
I am going to miss the Goldverse too, but I thank you for always being a fan of it.
Date: March 16, 2023 06:48 am Title: Another First Date
Yes, you did trick me there. Well done. Here I was thinking Jim's taking Pam out for another romantic night and lo and behold he's taking Cece out for another first date. Like I said, very well done.
Super cute to think about Jim at least being able to start the tradition of Daddy-daughter dates at Christopher's. They'll need to find a new place once they head down to Austin, but at least they can start the tradition here. The image of Beth kneeling down to greet Cece is adorable for sure.
Great look at how Jim and Pam's relationship progressed over time through the lens of their favorite place. Even through all the changes they had in their life it's wonderful they had this place that stays mostly the same. And it's also a place where they can mostly reconnect and just enjoy being together. Great job with all of it.
Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat
Author's Response:
And like I said- that had been what I set up back in chapter one - the ending in my head all along - filling the moments in between were sometimes a challenge but even when I struggled to find them I enjoyed the process.
I'll miss Beth and Christopher's. Thanks for all your reviews along the way and of course this one.
Date: March 12, 2023 03:01 pm Title: Another First Date
These last two chapters are incredibly emotional for entirely different reasons and you handle that range of emotions so well.
There is so much angst in this part of their story but that’s what makes it richer and more realistic. You do such a great job at capturing her feelings of frustration and doubts and uncertainty. Wonderful updates!
Author's Response:
Many Thanks. I used to be nervous about writing anything angsty. It is a boost of confidence to hear it comes across when I do. I agree it keeps it real to write this part of the story as well.
Thanks again. NExt one wraps it all up!
Date: March 03, 2023 12:40 pm Title: Another First Date
Well I thought this was absolutely spot on. Yes, there was a bit of angst but it was so delicately handled, it was a pleasure to read and embraced the difficulties of that time for them with a semblance of hope. Awesome job, Lady!
Author's Response:
Why thank you -what I was going for...true to the story angst with a side of hope.
Thanks again lady!
Date: March 01, 2023 07:23 pm Title: Another First Date
Okay, that test dream was too real. (I once asked my father how long after he graduated he stopped having that sort of dream and he said he'd tell me when it happened). I can see Jim and Pam both suffering from this one frequently. And having Kevin there to twist the knife was a nice touch.
DEEP DIVE REFERENCE. Jim being removed from his normal sources of comfort - and being removed from it even if he was physically present with them - stings.
"Mold in the kitchen, Dwight could take care of, and had." My headcanon as well. And also, good metaphor.
The POV transition around the dress... OW. Very Season 9. Totally well-intentioned gesture that just hits all sorts of nerves for Pam. In general, this feels very true to how raw she is at this point in the narrative... everything's a potential trigger, right down to the Berry Smash.
This description of how he's recharging at home while simultaneously making things worse for Pam... brutal.
“I was telling Beth about Athlead, and how you take off to Philadelphia for half the week.” Oh, Jim. Jim Jim Jim. That was... not something you should have missed the implications of. He's just so bad at picking up on her tone here. Man, this season was a bummer.
Ugh, and Pam ends up being completely undercut by the ending. And so we continue on our downward slide.
Okay, that was INCREDIBLY angsty, but well done!
Author's Response:
I knew you'd mention the dream...they can be very scary stuff. Luckily, it's been a while since I've had one but I'm sure they're not done and I've had my share...well, well, well after any school I've attended.
Like the deep dive - do you?
Sorry for the all the angst, but the show started it! At least I give a little hope at the end and we know that while it gets much worse before it gets better...it does get better. Nice mornings ahead.
Thanks so much for the read and review. I'm humble and grateful.
Date: March 01, 2023 05:59 pm Title: Another First Date
Not yet through the whole chapter, but I just had to pause reading and get this out. Pam goes on deep dives. Nicely done.
Ok, getting into the heart of this one. S9 angst is hard but it's a different flavor than early season angst. Rather than pining for the other one they can't have, it feels like the Jim and Pam we've come to know and love, the steady relationship rocks are being chipped away. And we get that feeling here in spades. Jim waking up alone in Philly to a nightmare and there's no warmth next to him to sooth the fear away. Pam filled with doubts, fear, and anger about all the changes going on in her life that she didn't sign up for and in all fairness specifically said no to. It's a lot to take in.
Yet even when they're ragged around the edges, their thoughts still run similar. Both thinking in terms of rot and mildew growing and they're both unable or unwilling to really address it. Then of course all their classic failures come to the front again. Putting off the hard conversations for surface level friendship. Not sharing when things are really bad. Not fully communicating exactly what's going on. Sweeping things under the rug rather than dealing with the dirt.
Kind of sad that even a night at Christopher's is soured by everything going on. I always imagined Christopher's as a safe haven for them. A place where even if everything else is tossed about in a storm, they can go there and rest in the peace of each other's company. That some of the waves of life stirred up the waters of that harbor speaks to just how hard things are for them. Nice work to bring that out.
It'll be a bit bittersweet to see this one go. However regardless I'm sure you'll do the story full justice.
Author's Response:
Like the deep dive? It lent itself nicely there.
Yeah, sorry for all the angst and for letting it follow them to Christopher's, but when partners stop communicating properly, to each other (internally doesn't count even when thoughts are in sync...mildew, bad dreams) then these things spread.
But hope the bit of hope at the end helps, as knowing this follows canon and while there's more angst and trouble ahead - pretty bad stuff just a week or so away - there's also nice mornings ahead too once they start communicating again and work through the rough stuff.
It will be sad to close the book on this one but it seems to be time.
Thanks for the read and review.
1 [Report This]Date: March 01, 2023 12:38 pm Title: Another First Date
This was a great take on S9 angst which still fills me with dread when I can sometimes stomach them on Comedy Central reruns. I love the reference to Dwight fixing the kitchen… but not being able to fix this mildew— that could turn to mold. My stomach dropped though when I read that Jim was going to surprise Pam with the dress from 5 years ago. Ugh. Great intent, but has so much potential for going wrong. Her stream of consciousness about the outfit was great… and of course Jim fit into and spiffied up HIS first date shirt… oh my heart aches a little for Pam. I loved the shadow stuff with the menu and bread basket… their problems were definitely much bigger and darker unspoken… and that reinforced that concept. Great call to the fact that as part of Dunder Mifflin, Jim’s business was also Pam’s business— but that Athlead was not.. and whether it was Jim not trying to bother her with “unnecessary stress” (maybe his thinking) or just that Pam didn’t know the specifics, I can see how that really stung not being a part of those moments.. which could potentially lead to bigger implications. And her reaction?? Oooh!! I think that you taught us all a little bit about assuming what someone else is doing… in this case Jim being on the phone for not Athleap but for Isabel and the kids— not that he’s out of the doghouse, but that without them speaking, they’re never going to get on the same page.
Mostly I love that this ended with hopefulness… because that season 9 shit was INTENSE! I love that Jim still (literally) reaches out— and Pam still accepts. As long as that’s happening, It’s gonna eventually be okay. Thanks for this hopeful take on the S9 shit— it was well handled and I loved it!
Author's Response:
Wow, what a review, thanks so much for taking the time to leave it. Yes, Season 9 is rough, mostly because they forgot how to communicate and I wanted to bring that out in this chapter but without forgetting that no matter what they still love each other (and the family they made). Jim's gestures can only go so far -and can even backfire as we see happen.
Yeah, I didn't want to end it with anger and angst, even though according to canon we know what's about to happen in a week or two, but their love eventually pulls them out of that dark place and I wanted this chapter to hint at that too.
Thanks again for reviewing.
1 [Report This]Date: March 01, 2023 11:42 am Title: Another First Date
I think you captured Pam getting mad at Jim about the dress really well. It’s so easy to be annoyed at someone who’s trying to do something nice and only see the bad things about the gesture when you’re kinda mad at them. Same goes with the Isobel call, and just jumping to conclusions.
This feels like it could definitely have been a canon dinner they had, full of tense, unspoken moments. Nice job
Author's Response:
Yeah, well when you forget how to communicate that's when misunderstandings happen (although Jim should have known better with the dress but his head's a mess too these days).
Season 9 stories hurt my heart a little so I wanted to leave on a bit of a hopeful note- hope it made all the tenseness easier to bear by the end.
Thanks for reviewing.
Date: March 01, 2023 07:05 am Title: Another First Date
I love seeing Jim with his kiddos! This is so sweet and wholesome.
Author's Response: Me too and we didn’t get nearly enough of daddy Jim on the show so we must write our own. Thanks for the read and review.
Date: February 17, 2023 06:48 pm Title: Another First Date
I'm FINALLY getting to this and of course there's a shout-out to me right at the jump. I do not deserve you, friend. (I will also confirm to anyone curious that I was informed about this chapter long before anyone posted anything similar. Convergence is neat and should be celebrated.)
Man, this really is a lot on Pam all at once. Grief combined with parenting one young child and growing a third. That's a lot of emotional weight to carry at a time when you don't have much to give.
I also really enjoy this take on Meemaw as having a degree of genuine warmth beneath all the holier-than-thou attitude. This is a woman you can see Pam caring enough about to make it worth the bother they go through in Niagara, while still being in line with the woman we met there.
Cece is just adorable here. A wonderful comfort to her mom.
The dog trying to protect his bone with a bank vault gets a shout-out! That's good referencing.
Michael being at the funeral is a wonderful grace note to this. And absolutely something he'd do.
Ooooof. Beth finding the landmine almost immediately, poor soul. And yet immediately picking up on the pregnancy! Second-Drink Pam is so busted. And some lovely words from her here...
A BLESSING IN THE SKIES. AMAZING. PERFECT. MAGNIFICENT.
Author's Response:
So thrilled to hear from you on this one - although you did share some thoughts already, I feel like you always hold some back to share after the post.
You deserved a call-out since you were the first (at least that I had read) to bring attention to Jewish customs of mourning. So in a way I borrowed from you too.
I do love that you picked up about the commercial that made her cry. (and I believe that was new for you in this version)
I still wish the timing had worked out that he had to make a trip from Colorado to be there, but feel like my version does adds a layer to why Pam defied laws to get past the gate to catch Michael at the airport to say goodbye.
https://archive.nytimes.com/artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/michael-and-pams-farewell-on-the-office-is-grounded-by-airport-director/
Glad you like the blessing in the skies...thanks for all the help with this one and of course the review.
Date: January 19, 2023 02:57 pm Title: Another First Date
Awwww, that was a moving and thoughtful chapter, Max. A lovely tribute to Meemaw and just pitched right writing-wise IMHO. Nice to have Beth back again.
Author's Response:
Well thanks. I was sorry to have to knock off Meemaw, for the sake of a chapter plot but I'm enjoying bringing Beth back to my writing.
Always love to hear from you.
1 [Report This]Date: January 19, 2023 01:12 pm Title: Another First Date
Nice job here bringing out the saddness that Pam feels here, you really captured it well.
And Jim just being as amazing as ever in every little was very him
Author's Response:
Not sure why this attached to chapter one but I assume it was for Blessings chapter.
Would we expect anything but from our Jim? Always there for her!
Thanks for the review.
Date: January 19, 2023 05:17 am Title: Another First Date
Outstanding job getting through all these huge emotions. I can easily see Pam having such a big response to Sylvia passing. Especially since she's also pregnant. Made it all feel very real. Jim here is doing a great job at being the rock she needs. Just the kind of husband and father I also aspire to be. Without any hesitation he's right there to support his wife and daughter. Love that Betsy also jumps right in. Shows the power of having family close.
Pam writing her own eulogy was a nice touch too. Same with her spotting Michael at the funeral. That was a wonderful nod to the relationship that Michael has built with his work family, that he's there for her in a hard time.
Love the return to Christopher's and Beth's wise words. It really comes across as to how special Christopher's is to Jim and Pam. A place where they can go to celebrate and now also commemorate the important tomes and people in their lives.
Bravo with this one.
Also Cece sounds cute a button in this one too.
Author's Response:
Cute as a button but crying a lot, as little ones often do.
Yes, everyone turned up for Pam in this one, Jim, family and even Michael.
Thanks for your comments - as always.
1 [Report This]Date: May 11, 2022 08:08 am Title: More
This was really sweet. I love the contrast between her planning for this wedding, and the one she was supposed to be having last year. Jim is present and invested, and their affection for each other really comes through. Lovely!
Author's Response:
I love that you see it in that way - the contrast to how she was planning a wedding with Roy and now with Jim where they do it together.
Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!
1 [Report This]Date: May 10, 2022 01:29 pm Title: More
So sweet, funny & JAMmy. Love their give and take, the amount of thought they (you) put into their choices. Really enjoyed this.
Author's Response:
Thanks so much Invisiblecynic.
Always so nice to hear from my fellow Jam fans.
I had a lot of fun going through the songs -so many good 'Jams' for a first dance.
Thanks again!!!
1 [Report This]Date: May 05, 2022 06:46 pm Title: More
THE WEDDING DANCE FIC. YES. And I love Jim's reasoning here. He's just so perfectly happy with how complementary and sometimes uncool they are right now. Very sweet.
This is a solid call re: Sing. You really don't want to have to explain your first dance song. Also: "“So, we save our swaying to that song until the wedding night.”" BEESLY.
The Jim-being-able-to-sleep-after-sex bit dovetails so neatly with the revelations from this week's Office Ladies, too. Also the mild hints at the reveal from Company Picnic ahead of us were well done.
MEREDITH RUINED UNCHAINED MELODY FOR PAM. Amazing.
"Think of it as timeless, like Beyond the Sea. You can't tell me you don't love that one." "Well, yeah because it makes me think of Nemo." I just love the way you're writing them talking to each other here.
This was a lot of fun! A really good slice-of-life wedding planning fic.
Author's Response:
Thanks for the review - and the push to get this up.
Dorky dancing is so their thing! And so is swaying!
I'm glad I was along in the car when I heard the OL reveal since I squealed at the alt talking head...I love when I pre-write a revelation -so validating! - and that the coincidental OL episode and story post couldn't be more well-timed. Foreshadowing! (said in Jon Lovitz acting voice).
Thanks so much - I had a lot of fun with it.
1 [Report This]Date: May 05, 2022 04:19 pm Title: More
This was so sweet, and felt very much like the way they would discuss this topic. I know how much you love finding perfect Jam songs, so this must have been such fun to write!
*How about…" he leaned over to take a peek at the list she had found, "Unchained Melody?"
Pam shook her head immediately.
"Ever since we played desert island with the office, the only thing that song makes me think of is Meredith grinding her hips."*
Okay, this made me cackle.
I don't know the song "More" but having now listened, I can absolutely envision them dancing to it at their wedding. (Although if they did take lessons, Jim seems to have promptly forgotten everything. His bouncing-up-and-down with his arms straight at his sides 'move' seems to be a chronic condition, unfortunately)
Lovely piece!
Author's Response:
It was fun - I loved going through the songs - I even went searching the fic archives for other first dance wedding songs used - didn't find much so I had to do my own researching lists and such.
Yeah, dance lessons didn't take. At least not for long. But watch them dance off Darryl - they're trying! Still I do enjoy the way they dance.
Thanks so much for the review.
1 [Report This]Date: May 05, 2022 09:57 am Title: More
I know I already messaged you, but this was my wedding song and I got very excited when I realized that was the song they settled on!! Ahhhh makes me so happy!!
"But dorky dancing was their thing. Not only was it adorable on her, the way she hopped up and down in her space, her body springing on a different cycle as her curls, and sometimes the music, but it was the perfect complement to his similarly simplistic but exuberant, Charlie Brown’s friends-style bop." I loved this passage so much!
This was a lovely little fic and showed their relationship and love so perfectly. Now off to listen to More a couple more times. ;)
Loved it!!
Author's Response:
I already messaged you back but I was giddy hearing it was your song. I have played a whole lot of versions - the BD is still my fave but the HCJ, I could totally see too.
Glad I could spark up a little reminiscing.
Curious being you knew the song and the fic title and theme - when did you realize it was going to end with More being their song? Right away? as soon the song talk began?
Thanks for the review.
1 [Report This]Date: May 05, 2022 09:46 am Title: More
This one was delightful. One of those heartwarming instances where you can tell they're going to go the distance. Mainly because they're figuring this out together. Loved it. I think it's also completely on point that after their afternoon delight Jim just wants to cuddle in next to her but Pam still has things on her mind. Jim being the great guy he is just launches right into this along with her. Great way to show that they're both invested in this project.
Going through the different songs was a lot of fun too. It can be a challenging thing to come up with the perfect song, but a fun challenge too. The final result though was great.
Thanks for the shoutout too.
Author's Response:
You know I love that song too.
Now he might start out wanting to cuddle but at OL proved what he really does is zzzzzz.
Love your reaction to this fic - how since they figure stuff out together it shows they are a couple for all time.
I had a lot of fun with the songs.
Thanks for reviewing!
1 [Report This]Date: May 05, 2022 05:23 am Title: More
This was so cute!! Absolutely loved it!!
Great job going through all the songs and I loved the one you picked, even though o haven’t heard it before the lyrics were perfect
“…which by the way, have felt, if possible, even more perfect lately." I loved this little nod to the fact that she’s pregnant but doesn’t know it yet.
Fun fact of my own to add to yours, Sing was originally meant to be called Swing. So it would have been a whole different kettle of fish if they were going to swing, swing, swing!!!
Author's Response:
Well thanks...
would you believe I did know that? - I learned it while looking up the meaning of the lyrics - which still are quite the mystery to me...but Swing as on a swing set and not swing like in the dance style. But still all so deliciously fun.
Glad you enjoyed and thanks for the review.
1 [Report This]Date: March 12, 2022 02:10 am Title: Another First Date
Wow, this chapter was just spot on perfect! You literally captured everything exactly right. Coincidentally, I read this during my first hour and a half alone from my children in about 8 months (since my own Cece was born), and felt basically every emotion Pam did. It doesn’t get any easier with the second!!
“…but to her own personal petrification years later. It wasn’t until she met Jim that she got a proper education in the subject of chemistry” I loved this analogy here.
“Raised two children… all my own too.” This made me laugh as my Mum literally says this to me all the time. She’s baffled my husband ‘helps’
“…pulled down her spit-up covered tee shirt” Loved this. Is there any other uniform for a new mum?
“But it was too late, the trip was abandoned the minute she heard the first peep and her mother hadn’t come running from the kitchen to check.” Again, spot on here! The details you’ve captured in this chapter are so so accurate.
“Even while showering, with the curtain left half open, Cece sat strapped in the bouncy seat on the ancient tiled floor” Again, perfect. I long for the day I can shower without at least one set of eyes on me!
“Could she be hungry?” Oh Jim. Oh Jim. What are you thinking? Never ask that
“Pam lifted Cece’s butt to her nose” I laughed so much as this line and how I swear I spend most of my day.
“She has replaced Michael in testing my patience.” This was an excellent line and I can imagine being so true
“..had become one of the presents Pam most appreciated.” I loved this. There really are those presents that you wouldn’t have thought of getting but they become indispensable. Again, such great detail.
“She willed herself to keep going but not without first looking at her phone to be sure she hadn’t missed a call from Jim summoning her back.” I know this feeling so well, after dropping my son off this morning, the first thing I did was to text my husband to ask how the baby was. Mum’s never stop worrying!
“…piles of laundry Pam still couldn’t keep up with.” Story of my life. Poor Pam.
The whole anxiety of the date and wanting to make it a take out was just perfect. I’m glad they got a couple of hours together, and even though Cece had her melt down, it was so important for them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this during my first proper ‘alone’ time and made me smile a lot. Great work and looking forward to the next chapter!
Author's Response:
OH Mrs. K - I both feel for and envy you. My babies are bigger than me now and I miss the days when they could sleep on my chest, even if it would up in a spit-up covered tee.
OH and so true -mom's never stop worrying...just wait until they start dating and driving and leave for college.
Thanks for the review and glad you enjoyed it.