Dallas in the 90's

[Ome]

I'm not so sure about forums, but in fanfic I think there will also always be a group that just lurk too, the quiet ones that may not even have an account

Yes and that happens here. We get lots of traffic daily from members and guests who have very little to say or nothing at all. Some people like to be part of a community while others are very happy to just read and move on.

Many, many times over the years we get guests registering and saying they've been lurking in the background for years until they finally decided to join.

Plus, take note that this thread is the second highest viewed thread on Soap Chat and that itself speaks volumes on the continuing story. Also, bear in mind that some readers don't always feel comfortable with discussing a story/book and that's perfectly fine too.

 

[Ms Southworth]

Jumping in to say I do understand it in the sense that sometimes people just have nothing to say, they're very content to just read and enjoy, like you often do with books. Other times it's hard to articulate more than an "enjoying the story" comment and that can feel redundant to keep posting. Alternatively, I know for me personally I read on mobile a lot of the time, so comments are delayed, as they are when scenes are short and I wait to comment until I read thoroughly as one larger chunk rather than smaller bit scenes. I'm not so sure about forums, but in fanfic I think there will also always be a group that just lurk too, the quiet ones that may not even have an account; I know, I've been one in various places, interested enough to Google and read but not interested or confident enough to actually make comments. In my own writing I'll get 30+ individuals reading a new chapter as it's uploaded but regular feedback is often limited to about 5 individuals (shoutout @Presea @Honkytonkangel @Alexia @Mrs Bobby James Ewing

), I think to focus on the other 25 people though would be a mistake, their silence in written words isn't indicative of anything negative, at least not in my opinion, they keep coming back, something must be working. Does that make any sense? Naturally it's a better community if everyone is engaged in a conversation about a common topic, not everyone is like that in real face-to-face life or online though and I don't think a lack of engagement is always people being purposely negative or hostile.

Yes, a lot of what you said made perfect sense! However, if you have five faithful "commentators" who leave you useful and enjoyable feedback in regards to your fanfic, you DO get something in return for writing your fanfic and also taking the time to share it with others! :wink@

Why would @Karin Schill take time every day out of her busy schedule to share her fanfic, if she got nothing in return? I think that she (like anyone else) needs feedback that makes it interesting for her to keep on posting updates! Otherwise, she would just get fed up! Please correct me, if I'm wrong, Karin!

I wonder what would happen, if I stopped leaving daily comments for a month or so! Would Karin still continue to share her fanfic? Or would she get "tired" from getting very little in return? You know, we could take a chance and see, if I'm right??? Fall break and Halloween is coming up soon, so I can find other things to do!

 

[Miss Texas 1967]

Yes, a lot of what you said made perfect sense! However, if you have five faithful "commentators" who leave you useful and enjoyable feedback in regards to your fanfic, you DO get something in return for writing your fanfic and also taking the time to share it with others! :wink@

Why would @Karin Schill take time every day out of her busy schedule to share her fanfic, if she got nothing in return? I think that she (like anyone else) needs feedback that makes it interesting for her to keep on posting updates! Otherwise, she would just get fed up! Please correct me, if I'm wrong, Karin!

I wonder what would happen, if I stopped leaving daily comments for a month or so! Would Karin still continue to share her fanfic? Or would she get "tired" from getting very little in return? You know, we could take a chance and see, if I'm right??? Fall break and Halloween is coming up soon, so I can find other things to do!

I rated informative because I couldn't find one that kind of said "fair point" lol

I guess I kind of get what you're saying in that it's normal to want something to let you know someone is actually out there listening and enjoying, I don't think it's necessarily such a big deal in this case though, it's not like there's no activity here and words are just echoing around an empty room, feedback exists, it's just not super speedy feedback. Could it be faster? Yes. Will it be faster though? I don't know. I know for me personally (again... sorry) it's hard to comment on the smaller updates as individual storylines, I tend to read in book format as one larger piece of work, so even if the updates changed in regularity, I'd still wait to comment. I think I've made it clear that that's what I do. Other people, I don't know. I know they are there though, that much is clear from the feedback as it arrives, people are reading.

To add, with most of the other stories I read they are focused on a few characters rather than the whole cast, making it easier to comment on each chapter as a piece of the whole; with a story like this though, sometimes you have to wait a while to judge a storyline or the characters. That could be a contributing factor to slow feedback too, people are waiting for their favourites to pop back up before they get passionate and comment again. Whether that's true or not, I don't know.

I'm all over the place above, sorry. I have thoughts but can't quite articulate them right now.

 

[Karin]

Wow! I didn't expect this discussion today. But it was a welcomed surprise and I have enjoyed reading all of your opinions and points of views. So thank you for contributing.
Thank you also for the feedback on my story.

I think feedback is important to all writers, as it helps us improve our writing skills, let's us know if anyone is reading, what people like or don't like about a storyline and what people would love to read more about. So constructive feedback is important and it is because of feedback that I have received in the past on my first story written in English that I have learnt little useful things like that in English stories you write " " around the dialogue rather than to start each sentence with a - like we do in Swedish writing. I've also learnt that a certain bad word is not spelled Shiet!
Okay so maybe that last knowledge wasn't all that important to know but you get where I am going with this. Feedback helps us improve our stories and also in my case since I am writing in a language that is not my mother tongue, my language skills. So whenever someone takes the time to comment on what they have just read, I do appreciate it.

Jumping in to say I do understand it in the sense that sometimes people just have nothing to say, they're very content to just read and enjoy, like you often do with books. Other times it's hard to articulate more than an "enjoying the story" comment and that can feel redundant to keep posting. Alternatively, I know for me personally I read on mobile a lot of the time, so comments are delayed, as they are when scenes are short and I wait to comment until I read thoroughly as one larger chunk rather than smaller bit scenes. I'm not so sure about forums, but in fanfic I think there will also always be a group that just lurk too, the quiet ones that may not even have an account; I know, I've been one in various places, interested enough to Google and read but not interested or confident enough to actually make comments. In my own writing I'll get 30+ individuals reading a new chapter as it's uploaded but regular feedback is often limited to about 5 individuals (shoutout @Presea @Honkytonkangel @Alexia @Mrs Bobby James Ewing

), I think to focus on the other 25 people though would be a mistake, their silence in written words isn't indicative of anything negative, at least not in my opinion, they keep coming back, something must be working. Does that make any sense? Naturally it's a better community if everyone is engaged in a conversation about a common topic, not everyone is like that in real face-to-face life or online though and I don't think a lack of engagement is always people being purposely negative or hostile.

Yes Miss Texas1967 you make perfect sense to me. I agree that it's better to think positive. At least people are reading the story and hopefully enjoying it as they keep coming back. So that is the most important thing.
Also I get what you are saying about how you'd rather wait with commenting until you are writing from your computer and you have read more of the story. I often read this board on my mobile too and it's difficult to comment while on your mobile. The typing on that thing is painfully slow so whenever I read something on my phone I usually wait with joining in the discussion until I can get my computer started.

I know for me personally (again... sorry) it's hard to comment on the smaller updates as individual storylines, I tend to read in book format as one larger piece of work, so even if the updates changed in regularity, I'd still wait to comment. I think I've made it clear that that's what I do. Other people, I don't know. I know they are there though, that much is clear from the feedback as it arrives, people are reading.

To add, with most of the other stories I read they are focused on a few characters rather than the whole cast, making it easier to comment on each chapter as a piece of the whole; with a story like this though, sometimes you have to wait a while to judge a storyline or the characters. That could be a contributing factor to slow feedback too, people are waiting for their favourites to pop back up before they get passionate and comment again. Whether that's true or not, I don't know.

I think this could be true as I've noticed that some friends on here are more likely to comment after an update about their favorite characters or couples and there's nothing wrong with that. We all have our favorites.

Also you have nothing to appologize for Miss Texas 1967. I am grateful to you and everyone else who leave me feedback even if it's not after every update it's still much appreciated.

Yes and that happens here. We get lots of traffic daily from members and guests who have very little to say or nothing at all. Some people like to be part of a community while others are very happy to just read and move on.

Many, many times over the years we get guests registering and saying they've been lurking in the background for years until they finally decided to join.

Plus, take note that this thread is the second highest viewed thread on Soap Chat and that itself speaks volumes on the continuing story. Also, bear in mind that some readers don't always feel comfortable with discussing a story/book and that's perfectly fine too.

Thank you Ome. I was pleasantly surprised to see you commenting in here and I take what you said about the viewings of my story as a compliment.

Also I think some of the people who lurks here now are probably former members who's never bothered to sign up again after the big board crash last year. It's a pity as I am sure they are missed by the people who still posts in this community.

Why would @Karin Schill take time every day out of her busy schedule to share her fanfic, if she got nothing in return? I think that she (like anyone else) needs feedback that makes it interesting for her to keep on posting updates! Otherwise, she would just get fed up! Please correct me, if I'm wrong, Karin!

I wonder what would happen, if I stopped leaving daily comments for a month or so! Would Karin still continue to share her fanfic? Or would she get "tired" from getting very little in return? You know, we could take a chance and see, if I'm right??? Fall break and Halloween is coming up soon, so I can find other things to do!

You are not wrong Ms Southworth. If nobody was commenting on my story I wouldn't be sharing it. But I would keep on writing on it anyway since it's something that I love to do and that I can share with my sister.

Also I don't think you mean it the way it sounds, but the last comment implies that you think that your feedback is more valuable to me than anyone elses feedback. Although it's true that I love reading your feedback and I really hope that you don't stop posting feedback for a month :eck: I do value everyone's feedback the same. What's important to me is to know that I have readers who enjoy this story. Then whether they write long constructive feedback messages like you do or just send me a bunch of emoticons or one or two sentences I do appreciate all my readers and all the feedback that you give me. :group:

Great updates Karin! You are an amazing writer and I still enjoy reading your story daily when I have time. I have no complaints about any of the updates you posted for us this week because I enjoyed them all even though I feel sorry for Ray because he is slowly starting to realize that he, Donna, and Margaret have very different outlooks on life because of the people they socialize with on a daily basis. I hope Ray and Donna will be able to work things out and become a family with their daughter Margaret dispite their different outlooks on life and family.

Thank you Sanda. :ch:I'm glad you don't have any complains about the latest updates and that you still enjoy the story. Yeah sadly Ray has missed a lot of valuable time with his daughter so at this point in her life she's definitely taking after her mama more than him. Donna's influence has had a great impact on Margaret who up until this summer hasn't known anything but life in Washington. I don't think Ray and Donna have that different outlooks when it comes to family though, as it's something that they both value. Also having lost their parents early on in life they do share a bond that only people who's had that experience can understand. So if you scatch a little underneath the surface and look beyond her Washington lifestyle and his cowboy lifestyle they are not so different after all...

And for some reason I just came to think of an old country song that I used to hear on CMT some 20 years ago. It was something about not being that different since we all laugh, cry, hurt etc. It was beautiful but I can't remember who sang it right now...

Oh well moving on...

:bh:


You have promised that there'll be more babies in your fanfic, so I'm holding you up to that! And therefore, I still have a tiny bit of hope left that you just included the comment about Bobby and Pam being content about their current family size to "confuse" us as readers, and that there's a surprise waiting at the end of the "rainbow"!

I feel confident that Lucy will be become a mother at some point. Besides from Bobby and Pam, I can't see anyone else in the main cast becoming pregnant! But maybe that just means that Lucy will end up having twins like her parents did? At least, then you have kept your word about babies (i.e. plural) joining the storyline!

That is true and twins does run in Lucy's family!

Then as for the Dallas Cast. I think the ones who have children who were born in the 1990s are Cathy Podewell, Sheree J. Wilson, Audrey Landers, Mary Crosby and Ken Kercheval.

Victoria Principal never had any kids at all. So why people keep giving Bobby and Pam babies in fanfics I guess are because of two reasons, the first one being that because they couldn't have a natural child on the show and the audience were rooting for them to have that it's something the fans wants to fix and therefore it happens in fanfics such as RTS for instance. Then secondly I think its because VP did play an older woman who had a baby in a movie from 1997!
Oh and on Step by Step Carol and Frank (Patrick's character) did have a baby in 1995 too. So I guess since other characters they portrayed had kids born in the 1990s it seems plausible to the Dallas fans that Bobby and Pam could have a child born in the 1990s too...

But hey that's just my two cents and you know the point I am trying to make with this is that who actually had babies in this decade in real life doesn't matter when it comes to this story...

That's right, I am not telling you what's gonna happen, as I don't wanna ruin the story for anyone.

There is nothing wrong with a couple shopping for rings together in the "real" world. But this is the world of soap operas, where there needs to be MUCH more romance than in real life!

As you already know, I was disappointed the way that you and Jenny handled the "marriage proposal", because we as readers missed out on EVERYTHING and was given no romance what so ever! And now it seems that Bobby and Pam supposedly are planning to shop for rings together. Honestly, I expect a lot of ROMANCE in a soap opera (even if it's a fanfic). Especially, when it comes to the "Romeo" and "Juliet" of "Dallas", who are now finally back together again!

Sorry, but that's just my humble opinion!

Thank you for explaining. I see the point you are trying to make and I can understand why you would expect more romance from a soap opera than from real life. Still maybe the scene when they go ring shopping will be better than you imagine it is...

It's not Bobby carrying things for Pam that was my problem. It was the fact that he went shopping with her. Not just for a single item, but for many, many hours!

Honestly, I don't understand women who insist on bringing their boyfriends or husbands to the mall! Generally, most men just don't enjoy it (even if it means spending time with the love of their life).

Whenever I see a man "dragged" to the mall by their better half (and trust me ... it does show that he's not really enjoying himself, but just following through to secure peace in the home), I feel so sorry for him! In cases like that, I find men to lose their masculinity and attractiveness! :wink@

Interesting point, so I wonder if a woman went with a man to let's say a Hockey game, football game or car race would you then think she has lost her femininity?

I do enjoy re-watching shows that I've loved for years and years. But because I still (on occasion) have nightmares about the double-digit seasons of Dallas, the Dallas movies, or Dallas TNT, I chose to stop at Swan Song (just before Bobby dies)! The glory years of Dallas is one of the greatest television memories of my life!

Right now, I'm re-watching the complete DVD collection of Little House On The Prairie with my 7 year old daughter! And I enjoy it just as much as she does!

Oh I love Little House On The Prairie. I just re-watched that last year and I enjoyed it a lot still. In fact I even made a couple of fan music videos of that show but I haven't put them up on my youtube just yet.

Also give your daughter another 4 years, then show her Dallas and I am sure you would love re-watching the show together with her...

Please update soonish, as I'm anxious to find out what's going on with MANY characters of this amazing fanfic!

Thank you. :bh:

Also an update will follow in the next post.

 

[Karin]

The next day at Southfork, John Ross walked into Sue Ellen’s room with a grin on his face, “Hi Mama, you’ll never…” John Ross stopped mid-sentence, as he realized that his mother was tied up on the phone. “I’m sorry I can come back later.”

“No it’s okay,” Sue Ellen motioned for John Ross to stay. Then she turned back to her phone call and said, “Look Mama, John Ross just came in so I’ve gotta go. But I’ll call you later with the details, ok?” Sue Ellen smiled. “Okay bye now,” Sue Ellen hung up the phone.

“Was that grandma on the phone?” John Ross asked.

“Yes,” Sue Ellen nodded. “So how would you like to go see her this weekend?”

“In Santa Fe?” John Ross grimaced. “I’m sorry mama but I can’t. I’ve already made other plans!”

“Oh?” Sue Ellen asked. “So who is she?”

“Why do you think it’s a girl?” John Ross smiled sheepishly.

“Isn’t it always?”

“Well not this time, Chris and I just wanna go to the movies…”

“Sorry sweetie, but you can’t. Remember you’re grounded?”

“Not anymore,” John Ross grinned, as he handed Sue Ellen a bunch of papers. “My school work is all done!”

Sue Ellen smiled, as she looked at the papers, “That’s excellent John Ross. I knew you could do it.”

“So all you have to do is send this in to my school, so I’ll get my transfer grades and then its bye, bye England!”

“Yeah I guess it is,” Sue Ellen said sadly.

“So that means I am not grounded anymore and I can go with Chris to the movies.”

“Yes you can, but don’t you rather wanna come with me to visit grandma instead?” Sue Ellen asked. “I mean you haven’t seen her in over a year!”

“I know but now when we’ll be moving back to Texas she’ll be just a few hours away, so I can go see her some other time instead!”

“Alright then, I guess I’ll be going alone to Mama’s then,” Sue Ellen sighed.

“Well you don’t have to, I am sure if you ask daddy he’d be happy to go with you,” John Ross gave his mother his best shit eating grin.

“Oh I’m sure of that, but no. I’m going alone!” Sue Ellen insisted.

 

[Jessie]

Wonderful updates, I'm loving your story. I love how Jenny and you write, all the characters.
Sue Ellen and JR kissed it was wrong but Don showed up just in time to see the kiss. I hope Sue Ellen divorces Don, I really don't think she really loves him anymore. I think she needs to really think about her future. She needs to talk with JR, and discuss everything that went wrong in their 2 marriages.

I'm not impressed with Jenna, she needs to pay more attention to Lucas.

I like Ray spending time with Donna, and Margaret. I hope he doesn't get stubborn, and pull away from them because he feels like he doesn't fit in with their lifestyles.

Pam and Bobby, I love that they are happy, but I feel Pam is hiding something from Bobby.

I love the bond between Cliff and Rebecca, but I'm not a fan of Afton. I didn't like her on the series either. Her first concern should be her daughter. If she wants to marry Mario she should have included Rebecca in the decision. I'm sure Rebecca is going to give Afton trouble if she marries Mario.

I'm glad Sue Ellen didn't drink. I want to see her stay strong.

I can't wait to see what happens next. ❤❤❤

 

[Ms Southworth]

Yes and that happens here. We get lots of traffic daily from members and guests who have very little to say or nothing at all. Some people like to be part of a community while others are very happy to just read and move on.

Many, many times over the years we get guests registering and saying they've been lurking in the background for years until they finally decided to join.

Plus, take note that this thread is the second highest viewed thread on Soap Chat and that itself speaks volumes on the continuing story. Also, bear in mind that some readers don't always feel comfortable with discussing a story/book and that's perfectly fine too.

I agree with everything you said, @Ome! :group:

However, I don't think that @Karin Schill would be content, if this fanfic didn't spark some chat or discussions amongst the readers. After all, didn't she begin posting her and her sister's fanfic, because the Dallas Writer's Room was too "quiet"?

It's one thing for Karin to know that she has hundreds of fans lurking behind the private curtains (driving up the number of views), but if they rarely show their "face" or comment on the storyline, I honestly think that Karin would stop taking the time to post updates on this thread!

PS. If you want me to shut up, @Karin Schill, just say so!

 

[Ome]

However, I don't think that @Karin Schill would be content, if this fanfic didn't spark some chat or discussions amongst the readers.

I don't dispute this at all and I know that she values all feedback, I was just pointing out that this thread is the second most viewed thread on Soap Chat. It would be awesome if more people participated, but that's the nature of forums.

 

[Ms Southworth]

You are not wrong Ms Southworth. If nobody was commenting on my story I wouldn't be sharing it.

:bh: I'm glad that I did "interpret" you correctly (even if we are "only" cyper buddies)! :bh:

But I would keep on writing on it anyway since it's something that I love to do and that I can share with my sister.

Oh, I have no doubt that you would do that! :heels:

Also I don't think you mean it the way it sounds, but the last comment implies that you think that your feedback is more valuable to me than anyone elses feedback. Although it's true that I love reading your feedback and I really hope that you don't stop posting feedback for a month :eck: I do value everyone's feedback the same. What's important to me is to know that I have readers who enjoy this story. Then whether they write long constructive feedback messages like you do or just send me a bunch of emoticons or one or two sentences I do appreciate all my readers and all the feedback that you give me. :group:

I can see why my words can be misunderstood, and for that, I sincerely apologize to anyone who I've offended! :forgive:

When you read my former post, you need to focus on the word, daily (and thus not me personally).

What I meant to say was that if you (Karin) more or less only got emoticons (or very short comments that didn't open up for a "soap chat") a few times a week, then you'd most likely slowly lose your motivation to keep sharing your fanfic!

Please correct me if I'm completely off base!

Then as for the Dallas Cast. I think the ones who have children who were born in the 1990s are Cathy Podewell, Sheree J. Wilson, Audrey Landers, Mary Crosby and Ken Kercheval.

When I referred to main characters possibly becoming pregnant, I - of course- meant the ones in your fanfic!

Besides Bobby and Pam, I'd love to see Ray and Donna have another child! It would be absolutely wonderful to follow both couples going through pregnancy for the first time!

Victoria Principal never had any kids at all. So why people keep giving Bobby and Pam babies in fanfics I guess are because of two reasons, the first one being that because they couldn't have a natural child on the show and the audience were rooting for them to have that it's something the fans wants to fix and therefore it happens in fanfics such as RTS for instance. Then secondly I think its because VP did play an older woman who had a baby in a movie from 1997!
Oh and on Step by Step Carol and Frank (Patrick's character) did have a baby in 1995 too. So I guess since other characters they portrayed had kids born in the 1990s it seems plausible to the Dallas fans that Bobby and Pam could have a child born in the 1990s too...

But hey that's just my two cents and you know the point I am trying to make with this is that who actually had babies in this decade in real life doesn't matter when it comes to this story...

Uhhh, I'm just thrilled to hear you say that, i.e. your very last comment!

(... unless if, for instance, one of the Ewing teenage boys and his respective girlfriend would have to deal with a teenage pregnancy, ... or if one of my not-favorite characters would be the mother-to-be! ).

Thank you for explaining. I see the point you are trying to make and I can understand why you would expect more romance from a soap opera than from real life. Still maybe the scene when they go ring shopping will be better than you imagine it is...

I truly hope that I'm in for an amazing and very romantic surprise!

(... ... because I just don't like it, when an engagement or a wedding becomes too "practical"! For instance, it might be "better" for children to be born into wedlock from a legal standpoint, but that's not a good reason to get married! ).

Interesting point, so I wonder if a woman went with a man to let's say a Hockey game, football game or car race would you then think she has lost her femininity?

I'm not bisexual, so I can't answer that!

But if I was to guess ... ... as long as the woman is taking an active and positive approach to whatever she's been invited to, then things are fine, IMO!

Oh I love Little House On The Prairie. I just re-watched that last year and I enjoyed it a lot still. In fact I even made a couple of fan music videos of that show but I haven't put them up on my youtube just yet.

Also give your daughter another 4 years, then show her Dallas and I am sure you would love re-watching the show together with her...

LOL ... oh yes, it'll be interesting to see, if my daughter will enjoy one of my favorite television shows of all times! After all, she will have to imagine a time, when Southfork had no internet access, no one had cell phones, the cars had no GPS installed, no social media, etc.

PS. I'd love to watch your fan music videos about Little House On The Prairie!

 

[Karin]

Thank you everyone for the feedback and comments.
Jessie, I am delighted to see that you've now caught up with both of my stories. :ch:
I'm glad that you love the way Jenny and I write all of the characters and thank you for telling me what you hope will happen.
I agree that Sue Ellen really needs to divorce Don.
Yeah your gut is right, Pam is hiding something from Bobby and you will find out what it is sort of soonish...
Oh and you bet that Becky is going to cause trouble for Afton and Mario. She is not happy that they are getting married...

Ome, I agree that we have always had lurkers on these forums. Some who eventually sign up and join in the discussion and some who never does. It's fine. Also if I had posted this story ten years ago I probably would have received more feedback for it as the boards were busier then. I think at the most I used to get 20-30 feedback messages for each new fan music video I posted!
I miss those days when the forums were more active. But sadly things haven't been the same since Larry died and Dallas TNT was cancelled.

Ms Southworth, I think the main reason I began posting this story was because we had lost all of our history after the board crash last year and I wanted to help rebuild some of what was lost. I hoped that by posting my story others would follow and repost their stories. Also by posting something "new" I also hoped it would help keeping the fandom alive and make people check in regularly for the updates.

Also I know that you are only trying to encourage more people to join in the discussion and post their feedback too and discuss the plots of the story with us. But I think we should drop the feedback topic now since I don't think that talking about it is going to change anything. If the lurkers who read this wants to join in the discussion they will do so and if they prefer to remain lurkers that's nothing we can do about it. Like I wrote yesterday I suspect we might have several former Soapchat members reading this thread who just hasn't bothered re-signing up after last year's crash...

When I referred to main characters possibly becoming pregnant, I - of course- meant the ones in your fanfic!

Besides Bobby and Pam, I'd love to see Ray and Donna have another child! It would be absolutely wonderful to follow both couples going through pregnancy for the first time!

You do realize that Donna is like 46 years old and Ray will be 50 soon in this story?
So I think it's a bit late for them to have another child. In fact I think you have a better chance of them having another child in @Ray&Donna 's wonderful fanfic "The Cowboy & The Lady" which is set in the 1980s...

Also although it's not uncommon for people in their 40s to have a first, second, third or fourth child today things were somewhat different 20 years ago.

Uhhh, I'm just thrilled to hear you say that, i.e. your very last comment!

(... unless if, for instance, one of the Ewing teenage boys and his respective girlfriend would have to deal with a teenage pregnancy, ... or if one of my not-favorite characters would be the mother-to-be! ).

Well I suppose Charlie is in her 20s and in a steady relationship so... :rlol:
Just teasing, I don't think she's that interested in becoming a young mom like her mom was...she is not ready for that kind of responsibility.
Then as for the teenagers, I think I've had enough plots dealing with teen pregnancies in my two movies/mini tv-series...

If anyone wonders what I am talking about you can check out this thread:

http://www.soapchat.net/threads/my-mini-tv-series-sista-Året.3224/

I'm not bisexual, so I can't answer that!

But if I was to guess ... ... as long as the woman is taking an active and positive approach to whatever she's been invited to, then things are fine, IMO! .

I think you are completely missing the point I was trying to make and it has nothing to do with sexual preferences!
I just mean that although there are some things that are traditionally considered more feminine or masculine, gender is not just a biological fact but also a social construction. So well it is possible for men to enjoy things that are considered more feminine like shopping and for women to enjoy sports that are considered masculine such as hockey. IMHO there's nothing wrong with that. It's just social norms that influence our expectations and opinions of things like that and the only way we can change society is by being aware of it. Like for instance blue clothes = baby boy, pink clothes = baby girl. But hey it is possible to dress a baby boy in pink too and a baby girl in blue. So it's all about how we construct gender.

LOL ... oh yes, it'll be interesting to see, if my daughter will enjoy one of my favorite television shows of all times! After all, she will have to imagine a time, when Southfork had no internet access, no one had cell phones, the cars had no GPS installed, no social media, etc.

PS. I'd love to watch your fan music videos about Little House On The Prairie!

Thank you, I will try to add those music videos to my youtube sometime soonish.
So far I've made one Charles/Caroline, one Laura/Almanzo, one Mary/Adam, one character study of Laura and one of the Olsens. :tv2:

You know the Ewings lives in the 1970s and 1980s might seem almost as ancient to your daughter as the lifestyle on "Little House On The Prairie"...:lolo:
Okay so maybe not quite, but yeah the world was different back then and I love how classic TV shows captured that...in a way it's almost like a time capsule that can bring you back in time. Like for instance I love watching "I Dream of Jeannie" and "Bewitched" on TV although both shows began about 15 years before I was born!
Of course for your daughter Dallas began more like 30 years before she was born but still chances are she will enjoy watching it and if not she can always check out Dallas TNT that is more contemporary!

Enough about that and I will post an update in the next post.

 

[Karin]

At Ewing Oil, in JR’s office were Bobby and JR sitting in a meeting with Luke Nelson, who they were trying to sell a field to. “So are you interested in buying the field?” JR asked.

“Well it does seem to be a very good field,” Luke replied.

“It is, it has much crude left,” Bobby said.

“So why exactly are you selling it?” Luke asked.

“Well we’ve expanded a little bit too fast and need some cash, for our new investment,” JR explained.

“Sounds logical,” Luke nodded. “And you’re in luck. I’m actually looking for a new field right now.”

“So you’ll buy it?” Bobby asked.

“Yes you’ve got yourself a deal,” Luke grinned.

“Well good,” JR grinned back and they shook hands.

Bobby also shook hands with Luke before he said, “Then I’ll draw up the paper work and cable it over to you until tomorrow.”

“That would be good,” Luke nodded. “Nice doing business with you.”

“Likewise and who knows maybe we could do more business in the future,” JR grinned.

“I’d like that but I’m not sure the cartel would approve,” Luke replied.

“Why not?” Bobby asked.

“Yeah we just closed a deal with Marilee two weeks ago, so I’m sure she wouldn’t mind…” JR insisted.

“Well Marilee’s not the one I’m concerned about. It’s that new fellow, Barnes who…”

“Hold on,” JR interrupted Luke. “Are you telling me that Cliff Barnes has joined the cartel?”

“Yes and I have to tell you, I don’t quite like the man, he seems obsessed with revenge and I think he’s bad for business!”

“You’re not wrong,” Bobby sighed.

“Well Luke with Barnes in the cartel you’re gonna need other business partners more than ever, as believe me that man is a looser and if you don’t watch out he’ll drag you down with him!”

“Thanks for the warning, I appreciate it,” Luke replied, before he picked up his briefcase and went on, “But I’ve gotta go now.” They shook hands again.

“Okay bye now,” JR grinned. Luke then left the office and JR’s facial expression turned into a grimace as he turned to Bobby, “Thanks for the warning Bob!”

“Hey what’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know very well what it means,” JR snorted. “You could have told me that Cliff Barnes had joined the cartel!”

“Well I’m just as surprised as you are.”

“You mean to tell me that Cliff didn’t mention this when you had dinner with him this weekend?”

“No he didn’t,” Bobby shook his head. “We just talked about Pam.”

“Figures,” JR sighed. “That Barnes woman comes back into your life and you play nice with her brother while he turns around and stabs us Ewings in the back. But you’ll just wait if it’s a feud that idiot wants then it’s a feud he’s gonna get!” JR said grimly and Bobby sighed heavily, as he was sick and tired of being stuck in the middle of JR and Cliff in this ridiculous Ewing-Barnes feud.

 

[Honkytonkangel]

Poor Sue Ellen, all that drama with Don, making out with JR and NOW she has to go and visit the witch on her own (regardless of everything else she's going through that alone makes ME wanna drown myself in vodka).
I hope it's not too stressful for her and that the witch doesn't try to take over give her any stupid advice like she always seemed to on the show.
All caught up on everything and everyone else now and trying to get thoughts in order but all I can think of is how much I wanna punch Afton and Jenna and knock some sense into them (though it would probably just knock any sense they might have out).
Lucas and Becky really should try their luck in the wild.

 

[Miss Texas 1967]

Caught up now.

I can't quite believe Sue Ellen really had thoughts that "ever since the movie had its US premiere she’d been so focused on divorcing Don", she went back and forth for ages before even considering arranging a meeting with a lawyer. Or I guess you did say US premiere so that was more recent, still though, Don disrespected her wishes and pleas for far too long before she did anything about it.

I did like the conversation between Don and Sue Ellen though, he showed his true intentions there, money and fame is more important to him than their marriage and her feelings. I also thought Sue Ellen was hilariously shallow thinking she'd go to New York with Don for a second honeymoon because even if she wasn't sure about their marriage, at least she could work out some of her sexual frustrations and not feel bad because she did it with her husband rather than her ex-husband.

I liked the conversation between JR and Sue Ellen the next morning too, their familiarity with each other benefited them in a situation like that. JR not pushing her to move on with him so quickly was a positive thing on his part too. Taking advantage of her when she was vulnerable like that would have only ended up hurting the situation. I think Don had a point about the Ewings, however the conversation at breakfast and everything recently proves too that their relationship with Sue Ellen isn't so black and white, they are there for her if she needs them, even if they haven't always been.

I don't know if we need another character in the Wade storyline right now. Unless aunt Martha is connected somewhere else too? I really did like Lucas asking to speak Italian though, this whole trip back to the US must be such a culture shock for him and Jenna and Charlie aren't really helping things, so it's nice to see someone actually listen to him and fulfil his request.

How did Pam not find it weird that a letter arrived asking for her to go for a checkup at a Dallas hospital? She and Bobby have hardly been in Dallas long enough to even begin the process of getting her medical records transferred back to Dallas for primary care rather than California.

Jenna is so negligent not checking who Lucas was meeting next door. This was the 90s, stranger danger was definitely a publicised concept. It seems like this Kurt guy is bad news too, shaking my head at Jenna right now.

I can't imagine Cliff driving a Hummer, however, he was always a bit of a try hard when he had money so maybe he would lol

I like that JR now wants Rebecca to be Bobby's daughter, not because he likes Pam much more but because he actually likes Rebecca. Nice twist.

Cliff reacted to the engagement news in quite a human way imo. Thank goodness someone actually asked about how Christopher was taking the news too, it always seems like Bobby and Pam forget that he went through a lot with her leaving too.

Good, JR might end up getting out of Marilee's bad deal before it turns completely sour. On the other hand, he might not...

The conversation between Pam and Sue Ellen was interesting. In a way, Pam is right about JR, they really can't get together right now and expect it to be any different to their previous reconciliations, they haven't put enough work into moving past the problems that pop up between them. On the other hand, I don't know if she was right to encourage Sue Ellen to get back together with Don. To talk to Don is probably a good idea, but they did kind of already do that and it got them nowhere. To throw away a marriage too is a pretty serious thing, you don't marry someone promising the world to them only to part at the first sign of trouble. I'm really not sure there's a way back for Sue Ellen and Don anymore though, he's already shown that he would choose money and fame over her.
What I didn't like regarding what Pam was saying was all of that stuff about April, like she always seems to forget that she left Dallas, she left Bobby in pieces, naturally everything didn't just go back to the way it was, not with Jenna and not with Christopher.
The stuff about Cally was interesting, Sue Ellen's description was funny, she did look young and they didn't skirt around that fact on the show. I thought it was interesting for Sue Ellen to mention how she felt when JR married Cally though, you could see it on the show, but to hear her say it was nice. I liked the way Sue Ellen and Cally interacted on the show, it wasn't bitchy, it was more sisterly.

Afton should really listen to her daughter's feelings about Mario, they're only going to grow and they aren't lies.

Why did Bobby even go shopping with Pam if he was going to complain? As for Pam, I always find her pouting over Bobby's exes to be silly, she left him and didn't even try to let him know she was still pining for him. What was he supposed to do? Not move on at all? Ugh.

I like the idea of Pam going back to work, it might give her something to do and think about other than Bobby lol

Do people still care about Jenna Wade? She's not really relevant in Dallas society anymore is she? I'm not sure she'd sell as many newspapers now as she did when she was 20 years old and running off to start a new life in Italy.

Haha I wouldn't be so sure JR would be keen to go and visit Patricia if it was sold just like that. As a trip away with Sue Ellen though, John Ross has a point.

 

[Karin]

Thank you everyone for the feedback. I really enjoyed reading your detailed feedback.

Honkytonkangel, you will find out very soon how Sue Ellen's visit with the witch will go! :lolo:
Patricia sure wasn't a good mother and yet I thought the character was really hilarious when she appeared on the show. It was so apparant that not even Miss Ellie liked her. Sue Ellen loved her of course and yet her parenting skills left something to be desired.

Oh and speaking of, both Becky and Lucas sure has it tough right now but things will get better for them eventually.

MissTexas1967, that's great that you've caught up again.
I'm glad that you like the beginning of this episode with Sue Ellen finally deciding to divorce JR and the conversation with JR that followed the morning after.
There is definitely more to aunt Martha than meets the eye and I can promise you that her plot will become more interesting...

I suppose Pam being called to that doctor in Dallas might have been a bit early. I think when I moved town while studying at the University it took about a half year for my records to be moved over so that I was called to the dentist and stuff in my new hometown. However I imagine that it would go faster in Pam's case considering that she is going on regular medical check ups. I assume those normally take place about once/month or something and she's been in Dallas for about two months now.

You will find out soonish if JR will be able to get rid of the Marilee deal or not...

I'm not sure if Pam really encouraged Sue Ellen to get back together with Don. All she did was tell her to talk to him before she divorced him since she doesn't want to see her make a mistake like she did when she divorced Bobby. But of course it's two completely different situations. Also I think it makes sense that Pam is not pro JR/SE getting back together considering everything that has happened. Sue Ellen is her friend and she doesn't want her to get hurt again.
You know I saw Cathy Podewell in a guest spot on "Growing Pains" where she was flirting with Mike Seaver. She was a few years older than him and yet I must say she did look better matched with him than with JR!

Oh yeah Sue Ellen's true feelings about JR marrying Cally were written all over her face on the show. I loved that.

Well I think the Pam pouting over Bobby's ex scenes are really a reaction to us thinking that Bobby moved on way too fast after Pam left him.
I liked him with Kay and I loved him with April. But I found his one night thing with Tammy annoying. He was still married to Pam then but instead of looking for his wife who was very sick and might have been kidnapped by Katherine for all we knew he decided to just forget her and pretend like all the years they shared meant nothing to him. I found that annoying. Of course in this story Katherine only helped Pam and she left of her own free will because she was pregnant with Rebecca.

But the way Katherine popped up on the show again could very well have been used as a kidnapping if they had wanted to. After all a letter Katherine wrote destroyed Bobby and Pam's first marriage so who's to say that she didn't write that second letter too?

I think people care about Jenna because she is sort of married into the Ewing family and the Ewing family have always been newsworthy in Dallas and even more so right now with Sue Ellen's movie running in the cinemas...

Okay moving on to tonight's update:



On Friday in Houston, Sue Ellen came walking out of the arrivals area at the airport. An older woman with short curly grey hair came to meet her. She was elegantly dressed in a white suit jacket with matching skirt. It was Sue Ellen’s mother Patricia Shepard, “Sue Ellen,” Patricia smiled, as she greeted her eldest daughter. “It’s so nice to see you.”

“You too mother,” Sue Ellen replied and the women embrace.

“You look wonderful darling,” Patricia replied.

“You do too mama,” Sue Ellen returned the compliment.

“Thank you,” Patricia smiled. “Cruising is really the perfect way to travel. All that sea air and sun is so good for the soul.”

“I can imagine,” Sue Ellen replied.

“So do you got any bag to pick up?”

“No just my carry on,” Sue Ellen nodded.

“Perfect then we don’t have to wait by that awful conveyer belt,” Patricia said. “This way dear,” Patricia and Sue Ellen started to leave the airport. “So how is John Ross doing?”

“Oh just fine mother, he’s really happy to be back home,” Sue Ellen replied.

“Well naturally that English weather is really a bore, all that rain dampens your spirits.”

“Tell me about it,” Sue Ellen sighed.

“So dear how long have you been back in Texas?”

“About a month,” Sue Ellen replied.

“Oh too bad I didn’t know then I would have come home earlier,” Patricia remarked. “So how long are you staying dear?”

“Just for the weekend,” Sue Ellen replied.

“Oh that’s too bad, so then I won’t get a chance to see John Ross before you’re going back to England.”

“Actually John Ross isn’t going back,” Sue Ellen informed Patricia. “And neither am I.”

“You’re not?” Patricia’s eyes widened, as this news surprised her.

“No I’ve realized it’s in Texas I belong,” Sue Ellen replied.

“So how does Don feel about this?”

“Honestly I couldn’t care less,” Sue Ellen replied. “I’ve filed for divorce!”

Patricia clapped her hands together and smiled, “Oh honey that’s the best news I’ve had in a long time. If you ask me, I never thought you should have married that Brit in the first place…” Patricia went on bad mouthing Don and Sue Ellen sighed heavily as she realized that this was going to be a long weekend.

 

[Ray&Donna]

Okay, now I am all caught up Patricia was a horrible mother who encouraged Kristin to pursue J.R. while Sue Ellen was suffering the effects of post-partum depression, but then I suppose the show wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable without bad parents who screwed up their children

 

[Karin]

Thank you for the feedback Tommie.
I'm glad that you've caught up. I agree with you about Patricia, she was not a good mother and yet it wouldn't have been as much fun to watch if her daughters weren't somewhat dysfunctional.

PS. I'd love to watch your fan music videos about Little House On The Prairie!

This is OT but the first Little House On the Prairie video can now be found on my youtube.

Okay so back on topic, here's tonight's update:


Later that evening at Southfork Ranch, Becky was sitting in the living room sofa by herself when Lucy and Mitch entered the room. Lucy asked, “Hi Becky, what are you doing down here?”

“I thought you were upstairs playing with your cousins,” Mitch said.

“I was but aunt Pam came in to read them a bedtime story and I didn’t feel like listening to Cinderella again,” Becky rolled her eyes in a way that indicated that she thought she was getting too old for that particular story.

“I see,” Mitch said.

“So what do you feel like doing?” Lucy asked.

“Nothing,” Becky said.

“So how about watching a movie?” Lucy suggested.

“I don’t know…”

“Come on I can make popcorn,” Lucy said persuasively.

But Becky wouldn’t fall for it as she was too bummed out, “No thanks.”

Mitch gave his niece a concerned look, “Becky are you feeling ok?”

“Not really.”

Mitch sat down next to her and put his hand on her forehead, “You’re not running a fever!”

“No I’m fine,” Becky insisted.

“You don’t look fine,” Lucy said in a concerned voice, “So why don't you tell us what's wrong?”

Becky sighed, “Mom’s gonna marry the jerk!”

“What?” Mitch exclaimed.

“Are you sure?” Lucy asked.

“Very, she told me herself,” Becky confirmed.

Mitch and Lucy exchanged a concerned look, “Oh God, this is so not good,” Mitch said unhappily. “I don’t want that idiot as a brother in law!”

“Think about me, I’m the one who gets him as a step-dad!” Becky exclaimed. “My life is ruined!” Becky started crying and Mitch and Lucy did their best to comfort her.

 

[Mrs Bobby James Ewing]

Great updates Karin! Your story is so amazing and I still enjoy reading it daily. I love Bobby and Pam as couple but I wasn't a fan of the Barnes-Ewing feud constantly coming between them on the show and I am not really looking forward to reading about Bobby having to deal with Cliff being in the cartel because I know that will definitely cause problems for Bobby and Pam in your story. I feel bad for Sue Ellen right now because she has to deal with her mom Patricia for the weekend without JR's help. I wasn't a fan of Patricia's on the show but I did enjoy her scenes with Clayton and Miss Ellie during the dream season because the both of them knew how to deal with her and lousy attitude about parenting and marriage. I feel bad for Becky as well because her mom is engaged to Mario. I hope Mitch and Lucy will be able to talk Afton out of marrying Mario since no one likes him.

 

[Karin]

Thank you for the feedback Sanda. I do appreciate it.
I wasn't a fan of the Barnes-Ewing feud either but it was essetial to the original Dallas dynamic so well if JR and Cliff wasn't at each other's throats it wouldn't really feel like Dallas now, would it?

Oh yeah Sue Ellen is in for a fun weekend at her mothers.
Well you can rest assured that Mitch will try to talk to his sister about the Mario situation...
How it goes you will find out later this episode...

Okay so time for an update:


At the multiplex down town, John Ross and Christopher came out of a projector room after watching a movie. As they walked into the movie area John Ross suddenly spotted a girl that he couldn’t take his eyes off, “Hey Chris you see that babe over there?” John Ross nodded towards a tall slim blonde young woman, dressed in a black mini skirt, a blue tank top and high heels.

“Yeah, so…?”

“I need your help,” John Ross said. “This is what I want you to do.” John Ross whispered something to Chris who nodded and then went to shop a coca-cola. When he returned he bumped into a guy and dropped the cola over the girl that John Ross had checked out.

“Oops,” Christopher said.

John Ross came running. “What have you done?” John Ross pretended to lecture Christopher. Before he turned to the girl and said, “I’m so sorry my little brother is so clumsy.”

“It’s okay I know how it is with little brothers and sisters. I have four!”

“Oh I’m John Ross.”

“Paula Haynes.” The girl smiled at John Ross as they shook hands. “So which movie have you seen?”

“Batman forever!”

“Nice. I’ve seen the one about those dreadful Ewings,” Paula said disapprovingly before adding in a flirting voice. “So do you have a last name?”

“Ew...” Christopher was just about to reveal that they were Ewings when John Ross elbowed him to get him to shut up before he ruined everything.

John Ross then said, “Shepard!”

“Shepard. Oh,” Paula said.

“How old are you?” Christopher asked suspiciously. Sure the girl was pretty to look at but she seemed awfully old.

“22,” Paula replied.

“Oh. I’m 19,” John Ross lied.

Christopher gave him a funny look. But one look from John Ross and he knew better than to tell on his cousin. So instead he just said, “I’m soon 14.”

Paula totally ignored him as she had all her attention focused on John Ross. “You drive?”

“If I drive?” John Ross repeated the question somewhat uncomfortable before he told another lie. “Yes of course.”

“Hmm…how about a date?” Paula asked to Christopher’s astonishment, as he’d been convinced the woman would have called the bluff and lost interest in John Ross already by now.

John Ross couldn’t believe his luck, as the hot babe was easier to charm than he had expected. “Oh I’d love to,” John Ross grinned.

“Great, so pick me up Saturday, at nine?”

“I’d love to but I can’t…” John Ross sighed. Paula gave him a weird glance before he went on stalling. “You’ll see my car’s at the mechanics…”

“Oh we can take my car. Where can I pick you up?”

John Ross bit his lip, as there was no way he could ask the girl to pick him up at Southfork without calling his bluff. So he just said, “Why don’t I meet you here.”

“Here?” Paula looked surprised before she agreed. “Okay fine. We can watch a movie. See you Saturday!” Paula smiled at John Ross before she left.

When she was out of sight John Ross pulled his arm down with his fist tight in a victory gesture saying, “Yes! Did you see that Chris?” John Ross asked and then went on without an answer. “I’ve got a date with a total babe!”

Chris smiled, “You sure do. I don’t know how you did it.”

“Well either you’ve got it or you don’t,” John Ross grinned. But then his smile faded as Ray came walking up towards them.

“What have you been doing?” Ray asked angrily. “I’ve been waiting outside for a long time!”

“John Ross met a girl. They’ve got a date on Saturday!” Christopher said excitedly.

“Oh that’s nice,” Ray smiled.

“Yeah,” John Ross said.

“And she’s twenty-two!” said Christopher.

Ray stopped dead in his tracks and exclaimed, “What?”

“What can I say?” John Ross said nonchalantly. “I’ve always liked older girls!”

Ray smiled before saying, “Look John Ross older girls are nice but I don’t know how JR and Sue Ellen...”

Ray didn’t even have the chance to finish the sentence before someone recognized them and screamed out, “Ewings! Ewings are here!”

“Oh no not again,” Ray sighed as he hated being recognized by complete strangers. “Come on boys we’ll finish this talk in the car!” Ray, John Ross and Christopher then hurried out of the multiplex where everyone seemed to be staring at them.

 

[Ms Southworth]

Would you happen to have a photo of Tammy?

I watched some of your [@Karin Schill] old Dallas music videos this past weekend, and Tammy was in one of them!

It's all coming back to me now (i.e. why I disliked those seasons so much). Sorry, it just made me upset ... ...and I feel pretty convinced that Miss Ellie wouldn't have approved of Tammy either!

 

[Karin]

@Ms Southworth I think I know which video you happened to watch, "Looking For Love". It was meant to be sort of a Bobby character study after Pam left. Anyway as far as I can remember that should be the only one of my videos that included clips of Tammy! :lolo:

Anyway I am glad you're watching my videos. I hope you enjoyed the other videos you watched!

Okay so it's a short update tonight:

Randy’s car pulled up in front of the Wade’s rental House in the Cedar Hills area of Dallas. Charlie turned to Randy and said, “Thank you for dinner. It was nice just being the two of us.”

“Yeah I thought so too,” Randy said.

Charlie leant over towards him and said in a hoarse voice, “You know maybe we should get back to your place, continue this night alone?” She raised an eyebrow.

He smiled at her but said, “No now that we’re here, we might as well just stay.”

“Okay,” Charlie said, glad that he had agreed to stay. “Then my room it is!” They got out of the car and Randy locked it. He then put his arm around her and they walked over to the front door not noticing the man standing next door with his camera pointed right at them.