We've (me and the cats) been working 'round the clock to make sure X-E's Christmas season starts on time, and it looks like we're on target. Jesus -- four designs in four months. Thank God this is the last holiday for a while. Looks like the best was saved for last, though -- the Christmas crud is coming out great so far. Those who enjoyed last year's advent calendar will probably bust a nut over this year's -- each entry is sort of like three mini-articles, and yep, they'll be new entries everyday from December 1st till Christmas. That'll be the bulk of next month's content, and considering the amount of effort that's going to be needed to do it right, I'm not sure how many regular articles will pop up in December. I don't think you'll mind when you see what's coming, though.

Speaking of Christmas, the first holiday article looks to be a doozy, and it's one I've been saving since September. That'll be up by early next week, along with everything else. Also gotta dedicate time to (finally) doing another Top 11 for UGO -- Eric was nice enough to let me slide for a while since November turned out to be incredibly busy. (though, looking at the number of updates in November, you probably wouldn't suspect that) He reminded me that I promised to do one on Christmas toons a while back, so even if sleep sounds more attractive than finding time to squeeze in another article, at least it's about something I love.

Oh, incidentally -- looks like the networks have wised up. Check your local listings, 'cause a lot of the X-Mas specials are actually being broadcast this year. I don't know what Cartoon Network has planned, but they usually do some great Christmas stuff as well. I wonder how many times I can possibly use the word "Christmas" in this update. Is 70 too much?

Anyway, Thanksgiving was nice, even if it was the first one that I didn't get to spend with my family. The stuffed mushrooms -- one of the four things I'm capable of making -- were a big hit. They might've been humoring me, though. Still, I had to stab and gut a few of the not-in-laws for using Stove Top instead of making real stuffing. Stove Top? I'll eat it everyday of the year...cept Thanksgiving. You don't fuck with the stuffing on Thanksgiving. Most of the afternoon was spent trying to help clean so I wouldn't have to feign interest in the designated Football Game Room. I didn't get to see any of the parade, but on Thanksgiving Eve, a few of my friends drove to the top secret balloon warehouse and snapped some pics. One of them is a cop -- obviously, the biggest coup of being a cop is getting access to the top secret balloon warehouse...

I was worried that they'd can Pika, considering that the Pokemon fad is about as hot as a tin mailbox in Alaska these days. WHahjsjasakak. I'm not so sure Pika will be this lucky next year, so I hope you enjoyed his balloon while it lasted. Click "more" for "more" pics. WHahjsjasakak.

Crash them cymbals.

Rhythm is gonna eat you.

YES. Charlie Brown balloon. Awesome. Big bald head. Happiness is a big bald head.

Clifford. The red dog. The very red dog.

Hmm. Even when it's a giant, helium-filled Macy's balloon, a dog's gotta be a dog.