Welcome to my little corner of the MTT world. I don't have much posted here, but if you follow that link you'll find more stories by me at FF.net. And if you're especially inclined, feel free to shoot me an email; I'm always interested in who's tooling around my profile. Thanks for stopping by!
It’s Christmas Eve (2007), and what are our favorite workers up to?
Drabbles.
10 Oh this one killed me. So melancholy. You could seriously expand this into an entire fic all its own. This was especially heartbreaking:
Sometimes she wished she’d taken him up on his offer. But most times, she just grabbed another beer and forgot about it.
Amazing.
Author's Response:
I'm so glad you liked this one. I wasn't really sure how to approach it, because Meredith is such a one deminsional character sometimes, and its hard to figure out what her holidays would really be like. But I think she would be like that. Some bit of regret about the way her life turned out, but she buries her feelings in alcohol.
Wow, you have no idea how much these reviews mean to me, so you totally rock. Major Schrute Bucks to you!
10 LOL! I looooved how Dwight still went in to work!! Nice call back to his perfect vacation. There were also very good undertones of denying the day's importance because he knew Angela thought it was so important. Those two just need to get over their pride. Wonderful job!
Author's Response: Dwight totally would go to work. That is the only thing I know for sure. It's kind of scary like that.
10 I loved this one! I thought it was especially great that he bought a ton of presents for himself and was then going to act surprised when he opened them. So classic. You really captured Ryan well here!
Author's Response: This is really what one of my parents' friends did. They each bought their own presents (never for each other), and then opened their own presents. Was totally weird, but I thought it worked for Ryan.
I've read this through once already and now I'm going to comment on my absolute favorites, starting with this one. I loved how you portrayed Karen here as ready to be done with all the drama and move on. And I liked how you used Christmas to have it symbolize that sure, she may be alone, but she's not going to let that stop her from putting up decorations. Nicely done.
Author's Response:
Oh Katie, I like you /Jim.
I like the character of Karen. Weird S3 Karen, but the idea of Karen. A woman who made some choices that were not the best, but still, she's ready to move on, and accept the fact that life isn't the way she expected, but still worth living.
Or maybe I should realize that she is a minor fictional character and not a real person...Nah.
10 Oh this broke my heart. Poor Angela. You really got across in the last line how torn between love and propriety she is.
Author's Response:
I feel, especially last year, she was so conflicted. I can't understand her behavior this year. But last year, I think she wanted to be with Dwight and she still had such memories and fondness for him. But she couldn't because of Sprinkles.
Man, is it wrong that 1)I love these reviews, but 2) I really can't believe these aren't real people?
10 This was so lovely! You balanced Holly's goofiness and sensibility really well here. Their dialogue was really in character too. I hope you continue this; I would love to see them together for Christmas!!
Author's Response: Thank you!
10 I loved this!! I have been waiting for someone to make this a story, and you did it beautifully! The settings of the moments you picked to have between them were well-chosen, and all of them had such an endearing quality to them. I especially loved the monotheism one. Wonderful job!!
That last Jim and Pam scene in Stress Relief has been playing on my mind since Sunday...and begging me to expand upon it. So here is a little missing scene from Stress Relief.
*Please forgive the uninspired title...it's late.
10 That was great!! I loved the evidence you included about buying the ring after a week to prove all the things Jim said to Pam's dad were true. And I also thought you handled the ending quite nicely too, with Jim thinking he had succeeded. I can definitely see this fitting into the canon really well; wonderful job!
10 Fantastic chapter!! I loved how much thought and detail you put into the entire day, especially saying goodbye to all the people in his hall and classes and stuff and then reflecting on it in his journal. The way you came up with him getting the job at Dunder-Mifflin was great too, especially the "coincidence" that he used to live there, and I really hope you write a chapter about the day he moved from Scranton to Philly. Can't wait for more! :D
Author's Response: Oh, there is certainly more to come! Lots more... :) You\'re awesome for keeping up with me!
10 Wonderful job on this one!! I loved the episode, and you did a great job of filling in the parts of their day we didn't see, as well as fantastic insight into what made Jim have the idea in the first place. The changes you made to this were well done too, and I'm glad my random comments actually helped you. :D
Author's Response: Awh, Dundie - your random comments always help me!! Thanks so much :) And I\'m glad you liked this chapter...I just couldn\'t not write about it. Thanks for all you do!
Great job!! I loved seeing Jim as a little kid, all mischievous and stuff. You write him as a child very well. The family dynamics of his household were very interesting to see too, especially how he interacted with his brothers. Hope we get to see more of Jim's childhood in the future!!!
Author's Response: Thanks Dundie! I had a blast writing little Jim and I\'m glad he came off well. You\'ll certainly be seeing some more keys points in little Jim\'s life as we go on...so many chapters to write! :)
10 Excellent job! The changes you made to this chapter were just wonderful, and I loved that you added a little bit about Marissa's boy worries in his journal entry too. That really ties the whole chapter together. This slayed me:
Any guy would be lucky to be with her...I'll have to make sure they know that.
You did such a great job of setting the stage of their life with children, and I hope we get to see some more chapters with the kids soon!!!
Author's Response: Hey!! I\'m glad you liked the changes that I made. And I love having Jim and Pam with the kids...and more chapters to come with them as a family!! I can\'t wait to introduce the other kids a little more :) Look for another chapter soon! Thanks again!
10 Best. Chapter. Yet. Seriously, I was like blown away by the imagery and attention to detail in this one. And you got Jim's feeling so spot-on, I can totally see your words through his actions on the episode. And this line:
What a long day. It started one way in a big, unfamiliar city, and ended right where I’ve supposed to be all along.
KILLS me. It's so perfect and yet so simple. Seriously, you were on fire when you wrote this cause this is amazing. Fan-freakin-tastic job, my friend!!
Author's Response: Hey girl! Thanks so much :) This one took a lot out of me, but it was so worth it in the end. And I\'m glad that it really came across well. Thanks so much for all of your comments and notes and stuff. I love getting your feedback! Thanks again!! (I\'ve got more coming to you soon...I hope! I\'m a little stuck at the moment, but I think I finally know where I want to take the next chapter.) You rock. Just making sure you know that :)
Great job!! I am so intrigued by Jim's high school life! You did a great job of creating characters and a backstory for his schooling, and I think that if you do more high school chapters, it'll be really interesting to see how these characters' relationships develop. I am loving how this story is coming together like a puzzle; every chapter is a new piece!! Hope to get more soon!
Author's Response: I love that you think of this story as a puzzle! That was exactly how I thought of it when I decided to do the skipping around stuff. Lots of moments that will eventually add up into the life of my favorite salesmen! If I haven\'t said it lately, you are an awesome beta! Talk to you soon!
10 Wonderful chapter. Really, I teared up when I read his journal entry. I'm glad everything went well, without a lot of drama; there was just enough CrazyHormonal!Pam to make it funny and still realistic too. And God, I just loved the way she broke the news to him that they were having a baby; I may use that whenever I get pregnant! This may just be my favorite chapter yet!!
Author's Response: Thanks girl! I\'m glad it was realistic. I\'ve never been pregnant so I don\'t know and wrote as I thought I might react. :) (And I totally loved the breaking the news too...I think about that all the time. I love the cute little ways to do it!) \r\n\r\nI\'ve got another chapter coming to you soon. Tonight maybe. Talk to you soon!
Regardless of the "unending amount of mistakes" (whatever dude, I've seen way, way worse), I still LOVED it. The way you approached his initial thoughts and feelings about the aftermath of Casino Night was great, especially the fact that he didn't run into Pam and have a huge encounter that doesn't fit with canon. I also loved the detail of how he couldn't shut his eyes without seeing her; that just seems so very Jim. I dunno why, just does. So romantic.
Fantastic job!! I can't wait to read the next chapter (and I swear to you, I will get it done earlier this time)!!!!
Author's Response: Thanks!! You are an amazing beta...and if you\'ve seen worse than mine, well, then you really can do anything! LOL...I\'m glad you are \'loving\' it. I guess that makes it easier for you to beta, huh? \r\n\r\nAnd take your time. You have a life and I understand that...just don\'t mind me when I start sending you more chapters...I\'ve been writing more than normal laterly :)
Wonderful job! I really enjoyed that you took special care to have that 9-year old mindset, using simple dialogue and having him write about very concrete subjects in his paper. Nice reference to Mighty Mouse as well; those cultural references really make the setting so believable.
I promise I'll get chapter 2 beta'ed by the end of the weekend so this awesome story can continue! :)
Author's Response: Yay! I like writing a little Jim. It was fun and difficult at the same time. :) I can\'t wait to hear what you have to say about Chapter 3! And I\'m hoping to have Chapter 4 to you in just a few days! You\'re awesome! And thanks again!
I'm reviewing here instead of on FF; hope that's okay.
I really love this prologue, especially how you didn't explicitly say that his wife was Pam. That little bit of mystery really intrigues me. And the whole concept of Jim counting things is really interesting; I can't wait to see all the things he ends up keeping track of. Off to chapter 1!
Author's Response: Of course it is okay that you are reviewing over here! You can review wherever your little heart desires! :) Thanks so much for reviewing...and I\'m glad you are enjoying it! More to come soon! I promise!
This was fantastic, hann!! Like I said before, I loved the way you chose to end this chapter, with him being so uncertain about their relationship. The picture you painted for us throughout the chapter made us see at the end what would've happened if things had been different, as well as what will probably happen to them now. It's like you wrote a much longer story than you actually did, even though you left all the aftermath out. (Make any sense?) This is definitely one of my favorite chapters, so kudos!! :)
Author's Response: I\'m sooo glad you liked it. \'Cause I really was hesitant about it. (About 2 seconds from just deleting it when I sent it to you.) And yeah, you make sense. I think. I\'m sure the \'aftermath\' will be visited again in later chapters. I can\'t stay away from young Jim. (Okay, that sounds bad...) Thanks for everything!
10 People don't know what Belle Tire is? I'm shocked! ;)
God, even though I feel like I've read (and heard) all of this before, it is still so exciting to read it all now. I loved how you told each of their unique stories for finding the camp, their expectations, hopes, fears... It's going to be so fun watching their relationship unfold. And I already love the other minor characters we've seen so far too!! I can't wait to be introduced to more of them. This was just the perfect set-up, leaving me wanting more.
I know you've heard a lot of what I have to say, but I really do think this is fabulous, and it totally deserves way more than the 10 I'm giving it.
Also, fabulous links. That map of Michigan is ballin!!!
Author's Response: BELLE TIRE! I know, right? How absurd! ;) I can\'t say thank you enough for reading - nay, REreading this, and I\'m really happy you still like it. I meant what my story note said: you gave me the confidence to try this, to stick with this, and to share it with others. I just don\'t deserve you. You\'re the best. :)
10 Again, bravo!! I don't think you realize just how brilliant you are, my friend. Cause despite having this entire chapter read to me already, I still laughed, gasped and squeed my way through this thing. Or, maybe I'm just easy to please. Yeah, that could be it too. ;)
But seriously, the show references, the use of language, the perfect meeting of our beloved characters--it was all phenomenal. And I don't throw that word around either, like I do with the word awesome. Are you sure you haven't done an AU before? Because you seem like a pro!!
Author's Response: You, buddy, are far too kind. Thank you. I\'m really glad that despite the fact that I\'ve already tortured you with this it still holds up on second exposure. I hold \"phenomenal\" in a special place in my heart, so you using it for this? That\'s...well...phenomenal. ;)
10 Wow, fantastic!! I am always amazed at how you capture everyone's voice; I especially could hear Andy's this time, for some reason... And I just want to say, wonderful balance between introducing the background stories and moving the plot forward. I would've liked some links at the end though; maybe a map of where Oscar and Angela are from? Or the "God is Great" song? I was wondering if you were able to find a YouTube video for that. I'm still giving this a 10 though, cause it's exceptional regardless.
Author's Response: You always turn me in to Goofy - \"gorsh!\" :D Thanks so much for all you say, and all you do to encourage me. Angela\'s and Oscar\'s \"hometowns\" are actually on the map now, but sadly I couldn\'t find a video of the song. :( Thanks thanks thanks...it\'s all I can say. :)
10 Dammit woman, I should be so mad at you for throwing me under the bus in your author's note. But... just... can't.... manage........ story... too good....!!
Seriously though, way to take your own advice and just write. You killed me, KILLED ME, with the references you worked in to this one. And you really did an excellent job with setting up how the camp is going to function and how the dynamics of the relationships are going to work. (Thank you for not being cliche when pairing up cabins--I can hear a thousand fangirls shouting "oh noes!!" at Karen and Jim's cabins being paired together.) I have missed your writing so much, and I am glad it's back!! For this chapter at least.
Also, the line "I’ve known just about every handicapped person ever" wins a Dundie. :D