Original Commentary

This arc was inspired by the last one, in which Ms. Taylor talks about taking the holidays off. When I started writing this, it was set between Christmas and New Years'. Then I realized that even though today is between Christmas and New Years Day, it'll be the only day in the arc that is. Therefore, assume that in the comic it's January 4th or so - Terrence

Modern Commentary
Why hasn't he noticed that Ms. Taylor is out? Well, if she's not feeling sociable there's no point in trying to get her to socialize

That could start a confrontation. - Terrence

Original Commentary

It's interesting the way Brisbane almost seems to look up to Dan... even though I'm sure Brisbane currently has more power over the company than he does (think about it- he controls Miz Taylor's coffee. All he needs to do is slip in the decaf and she'll do anything for a fix). But since he's been there longer, and is older, Brisbane looks up to him. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
Dan has the advantage of being the only department head who's been named. No point him bringing up John Davies, who runs accounting. He'd just be some rando we'd never mention again. We have a lot of details to get bogged down in, and I'd hate for readers to get bogged down in the wrong details. - Terrence

Original Commentary

It was my constant insisting/ pestering of Terrence to throw in some kind of line like Kimberly delivered in panel 3.

Is she joking...? Who's to say... maybe Brisbane acting all flustered and panicked reminded her of their days back in the Minerva theatre and she could not resist the urge to tease him a bit. Who knows how the mind of women work after all... -Isabel

Modern Commentary
Brisbane compartmentalizes. I'm sure Ms Taylor told him that she was going on vacation, as family.

But he was never told in his capacity as her administrative assistant.

Or he got called away to make more coffee before he could finish writing it down. Either way

Also, Kimberly is not joking. She's teasing because Brisbane is cute when he's flustered, but the offer is genuine - Terrence

Original Commentary

Just what idea is Kimberly talking about? It wasn't until I had lettered and uploaded the comic did I realize she was still talking about "operation makeout". Or is she...? No idea.

Terrence is very graciously writing this arc- which is in one sense wonderful, but in another... well, Terrence rarely gives instructions for emotions and things like that...fortunately he says I've been hitting the mark on them. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
In August, there will be another story where Ms. Taylor goes missing and Brisbane & Kimberly need to run things.

I can either way "Maybe I shouldn't have run a small-scale test version of this storyline" or I can say "I guess Ms. Taylor has a habit of doing that and is accountable to nobody. - Terrence

Original Commentary

Simon Dupree and the Big Sound was a British psych/soul group that eventually became Gentle Giant. Why? Because I didn't have anything better to call it; I'll go a bit more into that at the end of the arc, though. Anyhow, do they have some kind of computerized inventory? Or a printed inventory that doesn't involve going into the warehouse and counting them by hand? Yes. But the people who have the information aren't here today - Terrence

Modern Commentary
I like the idea of a generic clean smell. It's not exactly like mint or pine or soap or lilac. It might not have a smell, or at least not one that you'd consciously notice. - Terrence

Original Commentary

originally this comic called for walls of those cylinder metal tubs, but we compromised to a warehouse style background... your not getting tubs out of me in this one, Terrence.

This comic was originally a 3 panel comic, as Terrence was writing these as seven day a week for some reason that Terrence can only take a guess at- but it was a quick enough fix of juggling the dialogue around. I think it works quite nicely- or at least, nice enough for a rainy Sunday morning on five hours of unrestful sleep. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
There is absolutely no emotion in that "Congratulations".

Al does not care who's in charge. He does his job regardless, and his job is to keep the shipping department running

So when the boss's son-in-law comes over on his own with a bright idea, this is how it goes - Terrence