Date: July 10, 2008 06:25 pm Title: Prologue
That was such a great chapter. It was nice to have some fluff mixed in with all the sadness and tension. I'm liking this story more and more.
Author's Response:
I'm so glad the story is growing on you! Thanks for the kind words.
Date: July 10, 2008 06:16 pm Title: PDA at Lunch!
OK, so first off, I am genuinely sad that you're miserable, VB. Having said that, I'm SOOOO happy that you were able to post another update!
Love the teen fangirls with their fancy vocabulary. Then, that quick, they ask if Jim's beautiful when he wakes up. So funny! I really enjoy how in control Pam is throughout this story. Despite what she may be feeling on the inside, she's really being Jim's rock--just what a person in his situation needs. You paint such a clear picture of their "hospital world." Especially touching was her sensing his serious thoughts through a simple gesture.
Dare I hope that another update is brewing? IhopeIhopeIhope...
Author's Response:
Thanks, NanReg! I'm also glad I was able to get a second chapter up today. I have been writing dribs & drabs of future chapters as I struggled with Friday Morning. So maybe another one will get posted this weekend. I probably won't go to work tomorrow, either. I still am (as my son so eloquently described me) "blowing up a pufferfish and oozing from the face"
You are such a great reviewer, NanReg. Did you ever think of writing some stories, yourself?
Date: July 10, 2008 06:11 pm Title: PDA at Lunch!
Wow -- I wasn't sure how you could follow up that 'outtake from E/R' with fluff, but BRAVO! I'll be deliriously happy when they stop being so obtuse, too.
Author's Response: Well, thank you very much, lisahoo! I was a bit worried about the juxtaposition of such a serious chapter with a fluffy one, but I guess it turned out ok. I'm glad you liked it!
Date: July 10, 2008 06:05 pm Title: Friday Morning
VB -- can I just tell you how happy I am to see an update? And just WOW to all the research you've done to make this chapter. Feel better!
Author's Response: Thanks, lisahoo! I'm just as happy to see your review! It was a lot of drug research, even after chelibelle gave me such a great head start, but I'm a geek that way. I probably won't be SO intense about it in future chapters, but we'll see...
Date: July 10, 2008 05:56 pm Title: PDA at Lunch!
OK, OK. I feel bad for swollen people. :) SO I LOGGED IN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE CREATING MY ACCOUNT FOREVER AGO (it's in all caps so you know I'm serious) just so I could say that I like this story.
Author's Response:
Thank you, gretch0r! I feel honored that you broke your review moratorium to leave one for me!
It's good to know that all the groveling I'm doing between my scratching is paying off! It really DOES mean a lot to get feedback from the readers. Thanks for taking the time.
8 [Report This]Date: July 10, 2008 02:20 pm Title: Friday Morning
So sorry to hear about your personal medical issue- I have psoriasis so I understand about the rash/swelling/itching combo- it really sucks- I hope you feel better soon...
This chapter was really interesting I think Jim's questions were very realistic due to the circumstance and thought you handled it well.
Though I can't wait to see them over come their issues and finally get together!!!
Hope you can update soon!
Author's Response:
Thanks, dreamscribe70! I sure hope to feel better soon, too. This happened once before, with DIFFERENT makeup, and the prednisone kicked in right away. Not nearly so fortunate this time. It will improve in the next dose or so, though ... I hope. I'm a great believer in that old DuPont slogan: Better living through chemistry.
I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. And thanks a lot for taking the time to leave a review!
Date: July 10, 2008 01:38 pm Title: Prologue
Ouch, sorry to hear about your face. I hope it doesn't last long. This story is so detailed and precise. I really love it. I kinda know what you are talking about with some of the medicines and it brings back memories. Thank you for taking the time to keep this real.
Author's Response:
Thanks very much! I'm sure hoping it doesn't last long, either! I'm waiting for the prednisone to kick in but so far, no dice.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I'm glad that it's coming across as realistic.
8 [Report This]Date: July 10, 2008 01:15 pm Title: Friday Morning
Hey I was so pleased to see there was an update to this story! I very much enjoyed it - very technical and authentic but also still emotionally real. I am sorry to hear about your allergy - it sounds awful. Get well soon and hugs to you!
Author's Response: Thanks, CHT_8635! I'm really pleased that you are enjoying my story. Thanks for the kinds words ... and the cyber hugs!
10 [Report This]Date: July 10, 2008 01:12 pm Title: Prologue
This story is amazingly detailed, and you're doing such a great job keeping everything so realistic. I mean, WOW. Loved this chapter, and looking forward to more.
Sorry about your face! (...never thought I'd write THAT in a review...)
Author's Response:
Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter ... I sure made y'all wait long enough for it!
And Sorry about your face! (...never thought I'd write THAT in a review...) is just too funny. Almost made me laugh, there. Laughing is BAD, BAD, BAD today. Moving my face makes it itchy. So no more being amusing! Just kidding.
Date: July 10, 2008 12:04 pm Title: Friday Morning
Makeup? But I'm sure you're a natural beauty! Oh, poor girl! I feel so sad for you! I hope you're back to normal soon : ) I ALMOST feel bad that we benefited from your distress...ALMOST.
Still loving this story so much, and I am just amazed by the technical aspect of it. So, another round of applause for Chellibelle. I think one of the things I love most about it is its realism. Loved the waking up process between the two of them (in particular, Jim's grabbing on to Pam--guh) and that they aren't all "lovey dovey" all the time. I like that they get irritated with each other, that Pam is smug when she's right, that Jim is sceptical of the doctor because of his accent (because, really, who hasn't experienced that feeling).
Loved this passage: Pam smiled sadly down at the long fingers curled possessively around her hip. Possessvely. Yeah. She used to kind of dream about that. In her fantasies, Jim would reach out to her even in his sleep. He’d hold her tight against his chest, even in his dreams, and it would require real effort to free herself from his embrace. Her dreams felt a lot like this. Too bad it didn’t mean anything. He was probably dreaming about Karen. Such a heart-breaker!
Excellent, excellent job, VB. This will be stuck in my head for the foreseeable future, I'm sure of it.
Author's Response:
Thanks, NanReg! I am really miserable here, so it was a real pick me up to see you left such a great and detailed review!
I'm glad to see that you're enjoying the balance of emotions I've got going between Pam & Jim. I worry all the time about making them TOO lovey dovey as you say. I know the readers like it. Hell, I like it! But it really wouldn't fit in with the story at all. This type of experience is far too stressful for someone to be overly romantic. Which is NOT to say there isn't any romance forthcoming! I've just gotta keep it under control
Anyway, thanks again for making my itchy, awful day a little brighter!
Date: July 10, 2008 11:44 am Title: Friday Morning
Another good chapter. Still way too heavy on the medicine for me - I usually end up skimming past it. I know it's important to you, but it does make the story less readable IMHO. I'd love to see more delving into Jim and Pam's interaction and feelings rather than Pam's continued schooling of Jim on the way a hospital works.
Author's Response: Yup. I knew you wouldn't be crazy about this chapter! Next up is a fun & fluffy one, though. It should be up fairly soon. Certainly won't be a month again!
Date: July 03, 2008 03:49 pm Title: Prologue
Please update - I check the 'most recent' page for this one first!
Author's Response: Hi bcd! Thanks for the nudge. Life intervened for a while but I am working on the next chapter. I'll post as soon as I can.
Date: June 10, 2008 06:16 am Title: So Tired
Oh, VB. I know you've experienced this sort of thing, and so have I, but I've never written about it. I'll never forget first seeing a loved one on a respirator--very shocking. Hopefully you'll forgive my sounding like a broken record, but you're doing such an amazing job here. Doesn't matter how long or short the chapters are, as long as you keep updating ; )
Author's Response:
Thanks, NanReg! You're right – it really is quite a shock to the system to see a loved one on a respirator. There's something so inhuman about it.
And you can sound like a broken record all you want, my friend! Your reviews really mean so much to me!
Date: June 10, 2008 05:53 am Title: So Tired
i loved it...loved hearing jim's thoughts after a chapter of pam's thoughts...can't wait for another chapter
Author's Response: Thanks so much!
Date: June 10, 2008 01:29 am Title: So Tired
Great chapter - very moving.
Author's Response: Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review. It means a lot to us authors when people leave a few words!
8 [Report This]Date: June 10, 2008 12:02 am Title: Prologue
I just read this whole story over, and I mean, I'm always a little skeptical when people decide to get medical with things on such a grand scale. But yours seems so EFFORTLESS, and there is still such a good emotional balance. I ended up becoming really invested in the story and I can't wait to see where you take it. Great job!
Author's Response: Thanks so much, flonkerton! It is really thrilling to get a review like this! Effortless, good emotional balance, invested ... really cool words for an author to see! Thank you! Thank you!
Date: June 09, 2008 11:31 pm Title: So Tired
wee chapter is better than nothing! :) look forward to what's next...
Author's Response: You all are SO forgiving! Thanks very much! I hope to have the next chapter up in a few days. I have to really decide just how bad off old Ted Halpert really is...
Date: June 09, 2008 10:26 pm Title: So Tired
VB, i hang on your every word...
Author's Response: Well, thanks very much! It's so nice when people leave a review. I really do appreciate it.
Date: June 09, 2008 09:37 pm Title: So Tired
aw sweet jim
Author's Response:
Thanks!
10 [Report This]Date: June 09, 2008 08:52 pm Title: So Tired
I always get so excited when you update! I can't get enough. Faster!
Author's Response: Thanks so much! And thanks again for the shout out in your story today! You really made my day, Kestrel!
Date: June 05, 2008 06:54 am Title: A Dark Night Continues
Yay, so glad to see an update! Very interesting thoughts coming from Pam during her reflective "bathroom break." Haha. I'm glad she had a moment of self-awareness there! So sad that seeing Jim's dad took her right back to her experience with her own dad. I was (pleasantly) surprised by how Jim got over his anger and embraced her. Wasn't expecting the physical closeness yet, but awwww! And it seems the cover story is being used. Can't wait to hear more about that happening! Great job!
Author's Response: Thanks, berrycakefan! I have always thought that, if only Pam & Jim could be put in a situation where the other one really needed them, the defenses would fall. I'm glad you're enjoying my little yarn!
10 [Report This]Date: June 05, 2008 04:09 am Title: A Dark Night Continues
oh, the love. i'm glad pam got a chance to gather her thoughts. very nice chapter! but i am kinda scared to see what Pops looks like... :-/
Author's Response: Thanks, chelibelle! I'm still deciding just how bad off Pops is going to be!
Date: June 04, 2008 08:53 pm Title: A Dark Night Continues
Another wonderful chapter! Sorry I'm not more eloquent - I'm stuck at an airport!
Author's Response: Thanks for taking the time! Are you grounded tonight with all these storms? I hope you're not stuck for long.
Date: June 04, 2008 05:20 pm Title: A Dark Night Continues
Awesome! More, more, more, more!!!!!
Author's Response: Thanks so much!
Date: June 04, 2008 10:18 am Title: Prologue
Hey VB, i forgot to say, thanks for your little shout out to me on the last chapter. That was a great idea you had to post that link to those unfinished Michelangelo sculptures!
Author's Response: You're welcome! Thanks for making me think of it!