Original Commentary

Have you ever had a sangria? It's a sort a fancy spiked punch with chunks of fruit in it- fairly good if done right. I'm not sure if Dan is going to make his own... for all their sakes, I just hope he knows a good shop that sells it. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
Brisbane just got bulldozed. This happens to him a lot. It'd be a little awkward for him to have spoken up at the beginning, so he's stuck going along with this... - Terrence

Original Commentary

I've been feeling sick with a fever on and off for the last few weeks. I have no idea what's wrong with me outside of congestion and fever... some days I'm fine and can get a lot of work done, other days I'm lucky to get up before five at night. Today was the latter, although I didn't get to sleep in. The fact that this comic went up - on time- is in itself amazing. I was having a lot of trouble visualizing this one- I didn't want them on the couch again... it makes them look like a couple of lazies (and makes that couch seem awfully comfy). I was playing with a few ideas that didn't get very far- most were blurry half thoughts that were rejected, as is the mind of a cooty. I actually almost started drawing a panel with Kimberly baking a cake- that's how sick I am. I mean, how many years has it been since we've seen her bake anything? A few. So back on the couch like a couple lazies they go. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
He was going to have to tell her eventually. You he at least considered not telling her until Saturday afternoon. - Terrence

Original Commentary

Kimberly is painfully a minimalist- either due to genetics or simply because her father had a lot of money "on paper" only.I don't think Brisbane was anything above middle-class, but had enough pocket money. Of course, once he was on his own, he became a bit paranoid about his cash- but that's how it goes sometimes. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
She doesn't mind living like that. She minds other people knowing that she lives like that. But also, if the place looks old and run down, doesn't that reflect poorly on Lola? - Terrence

Original Commentary

I added in that last line to Kimberly's dialogue in panel three last minute... to add more to the "ick" factor this all is for her. Dan probably seemed more like an uncle to her when she was growing up (although, I'm sure after the little "lets make soap" coup from the troublesome troubles 2, Kimberly feels a lot less family affection for him... if any at all- I'm sure that fake family bond wasn't too strong to begin with). -Isabel

Modern Commentary
I mean, they have a nice couch. They live how they live and don't need to impress anybody.

I do wish we got a bit more into Dan and young Kimberly back in the flashback days. That would've been fun. My first thought is that she'd want to hang out with a calm, stable adult when her parents were fighting. My second thought is that he was smart enough to stay out of Taylor family drama, and that's backed up by the fact that he never had to be told to call her Kimberly rather than Kimmy. - Terrence

Original Commentary

Yes, Brisbane's old bedroom. This is a reference to an old Unlike Minerva comic, where Brisbane first stays over at Kimberly's - Terrence

Modern Commentary
That's Kimberly's other fear. If Lola sees a scuff on the wall or a stain on the countertop, that'll come out of their security deposit... - Terrence

Original Commentary

I was trying to think of a good parody name for IKEA, but in the end I really couldn't. So, I just went with "House", nice, generic, and you can tell it's some sort of home furnishing catalogue. Is $1,400 too much -or too little- to redo all those rooms? It depends, of course, just what Kimberly plans on doing... although knowing her, she's either over-doing it, or under doing it, it all depends on if she instinct to impress is overriding her need to save. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
How much should you invest in decorating an apartment? You're going to move out eventually; either you lose your improvements or, worse yet, you need to revert everything and re-paint the place.

That was one of the biggest changes once we bought a house. We can just put stuff on the walls. We can install permanent shelves instead of standalone bookshelves. - Terrence

Original Commentary

My original idea had this comic take place back in the mail room. But I really didn't want to bother with it again... and I'm sure you all have seen more than enough of it. This is Brisbane's office, or rather, the receptionists room to Miz Taylor's office. This, if anything, should show how serious Dan is about this dinner- he's more than willing to (ironically) set foot into the lion's den for this.

So, why set this up and then not show it directly? Honestly, I don't want this to be a huge story arc over every part of the process of refurnishing their apartment... and besides, other things need to happen very soon. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
Yeah, if Brisbane told Kimberly that they didn't have to do this and Dan had rescheduled, she'd still keep on it. Because who knows when the next guest will come over and they may be less avoidable. - Terrence