10 [Report This]Date: November 06, 2008 01:56 pm Title: Chapter 7 - Maybe Better Dreams and Plenty
oh my god, I cant believe I never made the connection when I started reading this.... ALLENTOWN! Of course! I am from Buffalo so this made me smile like you would not believe :D
Author's Response: ::fist bump:: Hey, it's another home girl! This put a big old smile on my face, too, aimzers! So glad you enjoyed this little tribute to the hometown - it'd be a good place for Jim and Pam, don'tcha think? Thanks so much!
10 [Report This]Date: December 17, 2007 07:23 am Title: Chapter 7 - Maybe Better Dreams and Plenty
One of my favorite bumper stickers I've seen reads "Visualize Whirled Peas." :P
Ah, NOW the title of your story makes sense! See, I was thinking of the Billy Joel song of the same name, and trying to think why you chose a song about a town that is failing financially, and wondering what it had to do with Jim and Pam. :P
But I'm with you now. And your Allentown is WAY better than the images I was trying to conjure up in my mind. :)
Fantastic chapter! I've so enjoyed this! I'm sad that there's only one more chapter to go, but at least I'll be caught up, right? :)
Author's Response:
One of my favorite bumper stickers I've seen reads "Visualize Whirled Peas." :P
First chuckle of the day! Thank you!
I never even thought of the Billy Joel song, but I figured lots of folks would think Allentown, Pennsylvania figured in here somehow! Allentown (the art festival) is a really wonderful experience and I can't wait to plunk Jim and Pam right down in the middle of it.
Winding this all up is going to be an even bigger challenge, I think, than getting the story this far. But then I read the first chapter of your new story and I thought, "Huh, you think you've got a challenge? Look at what Mose has in store for himself!" Way to give me some perspective! And thank you again for the review!
10 [Report This]Date: December 12, 2007 09:29 am Title: Chapter 7 - Maybe Better Dreams and Plenty
thank you, Sweetpea. This story is soooo amazing. There are no words. I squeal every time I see its updated. :D
Author's Response: Yay for squealing! So happy to read this, Sharipep, and so glad you're enjoying!
9 [Report This]Date: December 12, 2007 07:39 am Title: Chapter 7 - Maybe Better Dreams and Plenty
Firstly - I'm sorry I haven't reviewed earlier - I'm sooooo deseperately far behind with my reading.
Secondly, I love this. It's realistic and funny and poignant and sad but in the best of ways.
Thirdly, I've spent many a summer in Mount Snow - so though I think Jim's mom's idea is perfect and wonderful - I'm a little sad they won't be staying in West Dover or shopping on Main Street in Wilmington. :)
Can't wait to see what's next.
Author's Response: xoxoxo, no apologies necessary! I'm so happy you're enjoying this. I lived outside of Bennington for a bit, and I've been to all those places, too! Loved Wilmington and Brattleboro. After I posted this chapter, I thought oh, man... that Vermont trip sounds really good...people are gonna think I'm crazy for having Jim take Pam to freaking Buffalo! Thank you so much for the sweet review!
10 [Report This]Date: December 12, 2007 05:44 am Title: Chapter 7 - Maybe Better Dreams and Plenty
Sweetpea, I don't know where to begin. I get lost in each chapter. This one was particularly brilliant. You brought back memories of my pregnancy and how, after our son was born, my husband said that he missed getting those little pokes in the back. Such sweet memories. This is the most realistic, touching, consistently beautiful story. You could write 100+ chapters, and I guarantee I'd still look forward to the next installment.
Author's Response: Nan, how'd you get to be so awesome? Seriously. I don't know if other writers here do this, but I get so freaking nervous before I click the "Add Story" button and hoping like hell I haven't totally screwed the pooch, especially with this story! Reading this review...man, I can't tell you how good it makes me feel. 100 chapters?! Girl, you so crazy! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Date: December 11, 2007 10:42 pm Title: Chapter 7 - Maybe Better Dreams and Plenty
Sweetpea, the picture you've created here is SO REAL for me. Something about this chapter especially, made me get such a clear picture of Jim's background, his parents -- there's something so lovely about the way he thinks about his mother. The words you've chosen remind me of how he must think about Pam as well -- same vibe, if that makes sense. Then there's this huge metaphor going on...at least *I* think it is -- lol. For, Pam's art "block". Here she is feeling as if she can't create anything, when she's participating in the most grand creation of them all, and that's making a BABY. GENIUS really.
And I'm totally with Jim on mimes!
This story just gets better and better.
Author's Response: Sigh. Like Michael...I have no words. Oh, wait! Here are a few...you're so awesome. I agonized over this chapter and if I had a do-over, I'd do it a little differently, but there it is. Reading this made me feel so much better about it and yes, LoveFool, there is a metaphor! I can't thank you enough for this. :-*
10 [Report This]Date: December 11, 2007 06:50 pm Title: Chapter 7 - Maybe Better Dreams and Plenty
oh! i just bombed an exam but then i got home and saw a new chapter!! thank you!! hahaha. this chapter was fantastic! and i got way too excited about the buffalo reference! i don't live in buffalo, but i live in niagara falls which is only 15 minutes down the road! perhaps jim and pam could take a side trip?? lol, just kidding!! ok, i'll stop rambling! i love this story!
Author's Response: Wow, ISB, you're in the Falls? I spent many happy (and crazy) times up there, too! I moved away from the area 22 years ago, but I have so many great memories, it's been fun to include some of them in this story. I hope the rest of your exams go better! Thank you for the sweet comments.
Date: December 11, 2007 05:42 pm Title: Chapter 7 - Maybe Better Dreams and Plenty
Oh my God, Sweetpea! I am sitting here with a huge smile on my face. I should have known, native Buffalonian that I am, that Allentown = Allentown Art Festival! Ahhh! So freaking perfect. I was already so insanely into this story and now, well, even more so! I can't freaking wait to hear the story of how Jim's parents met. I know you're going to do it such justice. And the image of Jim feeling the baby kick and poke? That was just amazing. Woooo!
Author's Response: I am so, so happy to read this, sudzy! I have so many great memories from Allentown - I went every year and even after I moved away, I scheduled visits around Father's Day, just so the tradition could continue. I'm so glad you're enjoying this and thank you so much for the sweet and enthusiastic review - I really appreciate it
10 [Report This]Date: December 11, 2007 04:13 pm Title: Chapter 7 - Maybe Better Dreams and Plenty
Well, I just read this twice, and I'm going to comment here, even though I've had two glasses of wine already, so pardon the run-on sentences.
The whole baby-kicking thing is just about the only good thing about pregnancy in my opinion. I just wasn't one of those women that "glowed". But the baby moving is fun. Until the last trimester when the foot catches you right under the rib and you totally can't breathe for a few seconds. Oh yeah, and it's always wonderful toward the end when they kick you hard right in the bladder. Dawesome. But our Pam isn't at that point yet.
Give peas a chance. Where do you come up with this stuff? Brilliant. And I think that the Amish mating ritual to signify the start of the planting season is documented on Wikipedia.
The Allentown Art Festival sounds like so much fun. It reminds me a little of summer days on Commercial St. in Provincetown on Cape Cod, with its eclectic, artsy, bohemian atmosphere. Good times.
Thanks for the pics! Makes the story seem more "real" if that makes sense. :)
Author's Response:
Good heavens, EH, I love reading your reviews so much. I am SO glad I got the baby-kicking thing right! And the peas? I used to sing that to my stepson when they were grousing about eating peas for dinner. I don't know. It's weird inside my head sometimes!
Allentown is amazing and I know there are a bunch of festivals like it, but I knew a few of the artists that showed there, and they always said there was something special about it. I have so many good memories of it. Thank you so much for the review!
Date: December 11, 2007 04:04 pm Title: Chapter 7 - Maybe Better Dreams and Plenty
Wow, these first 7 chapters were just build-up? You have blown my mind.
P.S. I'm with Jim. Mimes creep me out.
Author's Response: I really hope your mind got blown in a good way, lisahoo. A bad mind blow is a terrible thing. Mimes (and clowns) are definitely creepy. Thank you for the review!