I'd like a nice Christmas Pam, or at least some Pam chops

MY LIFE
My communications class has almost all the ingredients to be my own version of the Office. There's a crazy teacher (she started out as a naval officer, then became a clown, and finally settled on teaching) who often makes awkward comments - enter Michael Scott. There is also an incredibly boring class - enter mid level paper supply firm. And finally, a power-driven, uptight, socially-inept student...who sits beside me - enter Dwight (except, sadly, without the geekiness). We already know that I am like Jim, or at least aspire to be like Jim. Could it be I was destined to sign up for this class and live the part of Jim in reality? Unfortunately, not quite. I need a Pam. Whenever pseudo-Dwight says something ridiculous, I immediately give a perfectly executed Jim look - usually the half smile. But who should I give the look to? There is no camera, so that's not an option. I need Pam to share glances with, to make sure that someone else understood how amazingly stupid or funny pseudo-Dwight just was. I need Pam to help me prank pseudo-Dwight (let's call him Lou) . By the way, I do plan on pranking him sometime, with or without a Pam. Lou really might drive me crazy if I can't respond or react somehow. Hope is not lost however, though there is no one who can truly be a Pam replacement in that class, there are a couple girls who do understand some of the absurd moments. Hopefully, they will start to catch on to my need for my own personal Office reality.

THE OFFICE
There's an episode tonight, Ben Franklin. You should check it out. I'll be seeing it late because I am staying at the school for my break-dancing club (no, I can't break dance, I just like watching people who are good at it). NBC's episode description mentions Karen confronting Pam about her relationship with Jim. The rest of this season could very well hinge on this moment. Or the moment could at least influence the rest of the season. Or this moment could mean nothing, because the episode descriptions are very often misleading. If the conversation does go down, I present three theories on how it will go - wow, I am such a nerd sometimes.
1. What I wish would happen (win, win, win)
Karen asks Pam bluntly, "do you have feelings for Jim?" Pam pauses/stammers for a while, then gets an excuse to abandon the conversation, but Karen can tell the truth of it all. Notice the similitude between Karen's talk with Jim and this proposition? Ahhh, magnifique!
2. Worst-case scenario (lose, lose, lose)
Karen asks Pam, how she feels about Jim. Pam pauses for a while (letting Karen know the truth) then spouts out crap about them always being friends and nothing would ever happen between them - courageously sacrificing herself in order to save Jim's relationship. Then to pile on the hurt, Jim catches only the end of the conversation, and is heartbroken yet again.
3. A compromise (only a win, win)
Basically, a mix between number one and number two, without the wonderful similitude, and without the horrible heartbreak.
I believe that the next few episodes will have at least Jim and Pam suspecting that the other might like them. Yet, the show will need to keep the tension up so maybe Jim and Pam will have a fight, or something else will come between them, (Toby????????) so catch-22. I can't wait to see all my over-analyzed predictions fall apart later tonight! I'll post my thoughts on Ben Franklin - the episode, not the man - tomorrow.

Jim and Me - height is the only difference

MY LIFE
Predictably, my empathy and understanding of Jim has grown over the past week of my life. At first I kind of wondered why Jim put so much distance between himself and Pam. Not only did he transfer to another branch, but he didn't contact her after she rejected him on Casino Night. I am beginning to understand exactly why. I had a night similar to Jim's on Halloween night of 2006. I told my "friend" of 4 years how I really felt, and she told me she "valued our friendship" too much. Well, after that I tried to distance myself from her for a little while. Following three weeks of getting used to a new viewpoint, she left me a wonderful message on my answering machine. It was funny and friendly, and she asked me if I wanted to come watch the Office with her that Thursday (the office has really made my life into some bizzare irony-fest, it's kind of freaky). We hung out and it was fun, but there was one problem. I fell for her again. Never mind my heartbreak, never mind her unequivocal rejection of my feelings, never mind the fact that her plea to hang out was probably out of pity. I realized the danger of our meeting and left her alone for a while longer. Next, she asked me to come to her house for Thanksgiving - with her family. Ignoring the awkward moments, it was really fun, and I realized that I wasn't really over her at all. Well, things have continued similarly up until this last week, and then it all blew up. The long and short of an hours-long conversation was that she had "forgotten" to tell me that she had been going out with a couple different guys for the past several months. I felt like a fool for thinking that there was ever a chance. Now I'm back to "ignore" mode, except with a more damaged heart this time. Jim is right to hold back. As much as I want him to get back together with Pam, he can't allow himself to fall into her "trap" again. Pam will need to be more agressive to get Jim back, and I hope she does. My Pam, Jane, will need to do the same, but I know that won't happen. Sigh, oh well. I can still root for Jim.

THE OFFICE
As I become more like Jim, I hope desperately that he branches off the path my love life has taken. Jim's groundbreaking, astonishing, almost whispered "yes" in The Return fills all office fans with several questions. Will Karen give up on Jim, or fight harder for him? Will Pam make the first move, or will it again be up to Jim? Will Jim and Pam get together by the end of the season? One question my friends and I have pondered is somewhat disturbing. Can the Office survive without the dramatic tension between Jim and Pam? As much as I want to see those two pranksters get together, I want the Office as a whole more. While I do feel that the Jim/Pam tension drove the show through its first two seasons, I think the Office has grown. Dwight and Angela now actually tugs my heartstrings a little bit, and the over-the-top Michael has undergone changes as well. I think the writers have purposefully used this season to set up a more serious Office where Jim and Pam can get together, without abandoning all drama. I don't think that Jim and Pam will be "happily ever after" from now on, but I think they will be a true couple by the end of the season. On the other hand, I might just be overly optimistic...