X-Entertainment's Christmas Season & Advent Calendar, 2008.

12/15/2005: Bleh.

The bad news is that I miss being around to write more than just what I’ve promised, and that I’ve been too busy to take advantage of a very Christmas-heavy television schedule. The good news is that I have next week off and you’ll be hearing a lot more from me than you have. I hope you think that’s good news, at least.

Use this space to talk about some of the highlights and lowlights of your 2005 holiday season, because God knows I could sure use some people to live through vicariously this year. Advent’s updated, Advert’s not. You’ll get two of those tomorrow.

Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

Discussion Thread: 125 comments

So I went through my box of stuff I made in school while everyone was asleep. I didn’t get too far cuz I my mom woke up and I didn’t want her to find me sprawled across the cold garage floor oogling finger paintings I did in nursery school. But I did find a geniune letter from Santa circa 1989 and a letter I wrote to Santa circa 1991. There’s also a bunch of "Kid Bits" which were these big print-ups my 3rd grade teacher sent to all the parents so they could laugh at all the stupid shit we wrote throughout the year. Only the innocence of childhood combined with teacher-forced-writing could get me to spew something like, "I will make the world more beautiful by making sure most people don’t say bad words," onto a sheet of paper.

Chestnuts roasted by Mystie @ 12/15/2005 1:12 AM EST

WAITERBETTY: Honey, if we plan to ruin Christmas, we don’t have a lot of time.

WAITERBOT: I know, I know, stop nagging. We’ll fuck shit up old school starting tomorrow night!

WAITERBETTY: Why night?

WAITERBOT: Because Matt’s real job is sucking the fucking kidneys out of him by day.

Awesome. Just…awesome.

paul, I plan on doing that on my Xmas Eve party.

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 12/15/2005 1:22 AM EST

The reunion between Mare and Knacks was quite touching.

Highlights: Going to see King Kong tomorrow after I finish my finals.

Lowlights: Finals.

Chestnuts roasted by marioshoku @ 12/15/2005 1:27 AM EST

at least you’ll get your kidneys back next week!

naaah, I’m right here, right now!

Highlight: well, nothing yet…

Lowlight: having to move back into my parents house, and this being my first Christmas as a single person in a long time…
oh yeah, decorating was a bitch too, my mom’s really anal about where her decorations go.

heh heh, I said "anal" heh heh.

Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 12/15/2005 1:42 AM EST

Nice babycafe turn for Mare. I almost expected her to nail Waiterbot with the million dollar belt.

Chestnuts roasted by Dude McGuy @ 12/15/2005 1:57 AM EST

"Babyface" actually. Pardon the spelling.

Chestnuts roasted by Dude McGuy @ 12/15/2005 2:00 AM EST

The highlight of my holiday season thus far has been listening to the CD soundtrack of A Charlie Brown Christmas at least 100 times this December–lowlights include no "holiday" themed Pepsi this year, and John Cena still being World champion.

Chestnuts roasted by Review the World @ 12/15/2005 2:24 AM EST

Highlighs: None yet other than Matt breaking kayfabe on the Advent Calendar.

Lowlights: Mr. X let me down as I never received my Jones Soda, I’ve been out with the flu and various colds for two weeks, Mom isn’t coming for Christmas, online behind on online coursework, I couldn’t find a Kinder Egg Advent Calendar this year, I pretty much have already seen everything I’m getting this Christmas, Apple is gay because they won’t ship iPods overseas (at least not to APO boxes), I get outbid for everything I want on eBay, Astros are doing nothing to improve the team, the Texans are tanking games just to get Reggie Bush, I can’t run to Target or Wal-Mart…

Yeah, it is the verge of depression for me. Thanks for asking.

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

Chestnuts roasted by Erik Majorwitz @ 12/15/2005 2:36 AM EST

High: meeting a hot norweigen

Low: finals, six

Chestnuts roasted by conchristador @ 12/15/2005 3:06 AM EST

Highs include finishing finals yesterday…woohoo for no school for three whole weeks! Kong was pretty good too…best damn looking movie I’ve ever seen, in fact.
I also made some awesome Xmas cards featuring my cutie puppy that I’ll scan in soon for showing off.
Lows would include the fact that this is the busy season at my job and it’s escalatingly nuts and also that they moved me from a mediocre but passable window view into a tiny cube with a view of several lovely gray walls. It’s seriously so depressing, but the nice thing is now that I’m surrounded by cube walls I can check in on the blog whenevs.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 12/15/2005 3:34 AM EST

Highlights: I went on my first buisness trip last week (to Portland, Oregon). Good times were had by all.

Cool, Gozer; that’s where I live.

The highlight of this season for me has been planning out "Mulberry’s Surrogate Family," my site’s Christmas cartoon this year. It’s typically late, but it’ll be up in its entirety within the next few days. Its climax scene is hilarious and I don’t want to mess it up….nor tell you what happens; you’ll have to find out on your own!

Lowlights: Dealing with loneliness, and my apparent inability to break into where I want to get a job.

Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 12/15/2005 3:47 AM EST

Highlights (for children?): The good eggnog we had for awhile. Someone actually offering to take one of my hamster pups (don’t buy females from the crappy petstore in the mall. Lesson learned.)

Lowlights: Putting up with mom’s dumb boyfriend’s outdoor decoration obsession. It pisses off every one (even him), it doesn’t look good (it’s only impressive that he wastes so much time and money on something so stupid), he keeps adding stuff even though almost every circuit in the house is near max, ect.
The crappy 2nd jug of eggnog that just tasted "fake".

Chestnuts roasted by RewolfJ @ 12/15/2005 4:16 AM EST

Lowlights: the fact that three of my five animals have died this year, including my wild horse, the last one being my dog the week before Thanksgiving. Trying to achieve something with computer art, only to have important computer parts failing on me with a deadline looming. Being far away from family and friends, with no money for travelling.

Highlights: Your Advent Calendar. I was actually on the verge of not celebrating at all, then I read it and was cheered up enough to dig out the Important Christmas Decoration and hang it up with a few other things. This involved a hundred mile round trip, so you can see I was considerably motivated. Thank you, Matt.

BTW, I really like the nice twist in today’s.

Chestnuts roasted by Zhora @ 12/15/2005 4:36 AM EST

Mine haven’t happen yet but things will no doubt playsuit this year as it has every year.

Highlight: Grandmother’s house for Christmas.

Lowlight: 6 other places we have to go for Christmas.

Chestnuts roasted by dohopoki @ 12/15/2005 5:05 AM EST

Hole Eee Shit.

Chestnuts roasted by Mike Fireball @ 12/15/2005 5:44 AM EST

I’ve been flooded with work as well, so as a result my Xmas decorations went up one week late and the only Xmas movie I was able to see so far was The Flintstones Xmas that I managed to find during dinner yesterday on Boomerang.
And the fact that my parents wanna drag everybody, including me and my very pregnant wife to Copacabana for New Year’s Eve is doing "wonders" to my holiday cheer.
If you have know idea what’s New Year’s Eve at Copacabana, picture Times Square on the beach.

Chestnuts roasted by Roddy @ 12/15/2005 6:12 AM EST

Matt, even your "only as promised" updates are better (and more frequent) than most websites. Buck up, little buddy.

Highlights: The complete score to Fellowship of the Ring came out this week. That was pretty big. Almost done with finals. But I guess the most holiday-ish highlight was going through my and my mom’s 50+ Christmas albums and ripping them onto my iPod. 761 songs: Now THAT’S a real holiday jukebox.

Lowlights: I’ve had a pretty good run of things this year, but I know a lowlight is coming: my mom and sister will be bawling their eyes out all through the season because it’s the first one since my grandma died last December. Not that the rest of us won’t be upset by it too, but they are fountains of tears, emotions, and estrogen. So that’ll probably put a damper on the candlelight service on Christmas Eve night.

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 12/15/2005 6:36 AM EST

Highlights: The new girlfriend has been working hard to get me into the Christmas spirit a little earlier than usual so I can enjoy it more (the warmth of the holiday season never fully hits me until about midnight on December 22. Maybe I should turn on the furnace before the winter solstice). We went to look at a big, elaborate light display last weekend, and she gave me her favorite Christmas music CD to listen to while at work or running errands.

Lowlights: I’m Jewish, so her efforts are futile.

Kidding.

Lowights: She’s going out of town to visit family so she won’t be here for the holiday weekend, and I’m still clueless about what to do in terms of X-massy activities for the night before she leaves. I’m also really bummed that, like Matt, I haven’t had any time to enjoy some of the traditional things I love about X-mas. Like Yogi Bear and Silent Night, Deadly Night.

Chestnuts roasted by John @ 12/15/2005 8:14 AM EST

The highlight–I’m graduating on Sunday from The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (I dare anyone to say they’ve heard of it–I went for an internship interview in March, and the interviewer told me he never heard of it–Bleh!) with my Communications degree. Another highlight–I’m going for a second job interview tomorrow since last week. I also gave my notice at my secretarial job, and my last day–I’m the master of convenience–is December 23rd.

The lowlight–I’m still waiting for my boyfriend’s Christmas present to arrive from Amazon.com. According to their damn website’s tracking number, its in transit, last seen in Jersey City, NJ on December 8th. Amazon.com’s customer service told me to wait until the end of the business day 12/15 (today) to email them so they can track it down. I just want a refund or a credit at this time–I’ll find the damn DVD somewhere else!! It’s not even a movie I liked–The Dukes of Hazzard. Bleh!

I’ve been using that word alot in this post-Bleh!

I was watching an SNL Christmas ep from 1986 last night–host William Shatner. Yuck–I hate Shatner. They didn’t even have a Christmas tree on the stage like they usually do! Blame Shatner! The Lost Ending of "It’s A Wonderful Life" cracks me up. Where else can you see people putting wrestling moves on a dummy that’s supposed to be Jon Lovitz? I swear, Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller, and Jan Hooks couldn’t have had better timing when they were hitting Lovitz’s dummy with bats. "Hark the herald angels sing…"

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 12/15/2005 8:25 AM EST

I really like where the advent calendar is going.

Highlight: As I mentioned in the thread about what I want for Christmas, my highlight is that my family’s traditional Christmas Eve party is going on in some manner.

Lowlights: My fiance’s mother jumped out of bed because in her dream someone pulled a gun on her and told her to get behind the couch, and in reality she broke her rib. Super-high on lovely narcotic painkillers the doctors gave her for the broken rib before sending her home to where she lives alone, she fell again once home, and broke her elbow and fractured part of her spine. She gets to spend Christmas either in the hospital, or if she’s recovered enough by then, the nursing home.

As if that’s not bad enough, this situation has brought a few things to light, one that she has been spending a lot of time with my fiance’s ex-wife and lying to him about it (ok, she "didn’t mention" that the wife of a man she introduced us to, a woman who she spends time with and who was going to take care of her while she recovered from the rib ALSO happens to be my fiance’s ex-wife, until AFTER my fiance offered to give the woman some money for her help with my fiance’s mother). Anyway, for obvious reasons, after finding this out, he has been trying to make sure he doesn’t have to see his ex, which makes him avoid his mother, which makes her make a tearful call from the hospital about how he doesn’t love her for not rushing to the emergency room once she broke her arm.

Because his mother is going to be in the hospital or nursing home for at least a month, we decided to take in her cat. We knew it had some problems, due to his mother really being a total fuck-up when it comes to taking care of anything (he fortunately had his father to do most of the taking care of him as a kid, not that his dad is a whole lot better). We had no idea how extensive the problems with the cat were, mostly due to her tendancy to go hide whenever anyone goes in the house. We assumed that like her previous cat, she would have a weight problem due to being fed all kinds of crap food (I swear that cat had been at least 50 pounds), and have the kidney problems, etc, associated with that. Last night in my home was the first I’ve gotten a real look at the cat, and it’s bad. She’s got something going on with her skin, which you can see because she doesn’t have any undercoat, she’s nearly bald. She walks as though there might be something wrong with her back or back legs. She isn’t particularly reactive or responsive, she just huddles and cries like a brain damaged child. We’re going to take her to a vet to see if there’s anything we can do for her. I will have the poor thing put down before I will ever let his mother take care of another living thing again, tho.

I’m finding it exceedingly hard to give a crap about his mother having to spend Christmas in the hospital, let me tell you, and I’m wrestling with my inability to be charitable to the old bat. I mean, after all, his ex-wife manages to be her "friend" (for money, which I wouldn’t take from her even if I needed it). I’m trying to suck it up about all my issues with the whole situation, my budding actual hatred of his mother (before it was simple dislike) and my feelings about his ex-wife and other issues about his past and our present and future that drags up, and just be there for him, and do as much as I can for him to make this whole thing a little better for him at least.

So, hospitals, ex-wives, upset soon-to-be-husbands, and neglected cats. Merry Christmas!

(and to think, in the "worst christmas" thread, I didn’t really have one that bad before! All I need to do is come down with some sort of evil cold/pneumonia like I did last month after I went to see my grandpa in the hospital- he’s doing a lot better!- from seeing that old bitch yesterday, and my Christmas will be complete!

Chestnuts roasted by mags @ 12/15/2005 8:29 AM EST

Just had a lovely evening last night - since I don’t see my dad, his wife and my half brother on Christmas we kind of had our own version of Christmas dinner last night. Burritos, guacamole and whatever you call it when you upturn a shot of tequila in beer, as well as watching A Christmas Story. It’s not very Christmassy or festive but it’s one of our traditions and I love it. Esp when my half brother cried at the department store santa in the movie, haha.
Lowlight = This weekend I go back home and stay at my sister’s, where there is no computer. I honestly don’t know how I’ll live without my adventy goodness.

Chestnuts roasted by Lizzy @ 12/15/2005 8:49 AM EST

Highlights- First, it’s a winter wonderland outside and I love it. Also, I get to go home to Seattle for Christmas, and to see my sister in Madison for New Years

Lowlights- I have to fly on a plane. I’m a bit of a control freak and flying scares me like nothing else. Also, I have yet to go to the Hollidazzle Parade in Minneapolis, which is pretty mech a tradition that I am slacking on.

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 12/15/2005 8:52 AM EST

Highlights:
1. I spent yesterday strapped to the front of a firetruck attempting to stop a grass fire in 40 MPH wind, in waist-high bone-dry grass. Volunteer fire department FTW!

2. Since coming home, I’ve gotten to hang out with a couple of my friends that I haven’t seen since graduation, and at least four more are slated to show up before Christmas.

3. The local radio station, which previously played the worst kinds of sheepfucker country music, has switched to a new format that includes decent music. Also, it no longer signs off at 7 PM.

Lowlights:
1. My firetruck was being driven by Roy, who is both incompetent and insane. Also, I only had half my turnout gear, so most of my clothing was not, in fact, fireproof. Boo.

2. Two of my cousins are getting married (not to each other) and we get to drive between four and six hundred miles to each of the weddings. Weddings suck.

3. The weddings some more. Because I like symmetry and really, really deplore weddings.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 12/15/2005 8:54 AM EST

Highlights: Besides all the advent/advert fun… being done with finals today. Having friends I haven’t seen in year(s) come into Tulsa for the holidays. Getting my house to myself for the break (roommate is going home). The Bing Crosby/Perry Como 2-disc holiday CD I got for $7 yesterday. I know Wal-Mart is evil, but it’s just so damn cheap.

Lowlights: Working too many damn hours at my second job (retail sucks during the holidays). Having a final in 2 hours that I should be studying for now…

P.S. Erik–Hope things get better soon!

Chestnuts roasted by Rosella @ 12/15/2005 9:05 AM EST

Highlights and lowlights? I got some good ones so far.

Highlight - After shoveling snow for over an hour I decided to go stomping through the snow and make snow angels and the likes. Then I took pictures of myself completely covered in snow and ice. I went inside and on the news they asked the viewers to send in snow photos. So I e-mailed the one of myself covered in snow and they actually put it up on the news saying my name and city. I just about peed myself laughing.

Lowlights - I was Christmas shopping all afternoon and on the way home I stopped at the porn shop to pick up a new DVD. Next thing I know some guy is creeping next to me and I can hear him messing with his zipper. I didn’t dare look over. Then he waits for me in the parking lot and starts propositioning me. Even AFTER I told him I had a boyfriend.

Chestnuts roasted by Mystie @ 12/15/2005 9:14 AM EST

Highlights: Many holiday parties to attend and DJ with lots of new Christmas remixes, people digging on it and a little extra cash, plus a feeling of satisfaction that I have earned it when things finally settle down after this weekend.

Lowlights: Too many Xmas parties to attend and to DJ in snowy downtown hotels where they make you load in at an icey loading dock, through the kitchen, down ridiculously long and narrow hallways, to a tiny, slow service elevator, and there is no parking, and the speakers barely fit through the goddam door.

Chestnuts roasted by dj BC @ 12/15/2005 9:30 AM EST

OLLYOLLYOXENFREE = Gold

Highlights - All the snow falling from the sky. Having the most money I’ve ever had and buying lots of gifts for peoples. Shopping online.

Lowlights - losing my bumble. Real quick, since I was 6 or 7, each year my family buys a christmas related stuffed animal and we put them on display, we have amassed a rather large collection. 2 or 3 years ago I bougth a bumble that roars. This year he is missing, I have no idea why. Maybe Jesus got jealous.

I posted this in another blog, but if you click my name a nice christmas surprise is waiting for all. Donald and snowballs, thats all i’m saying.

Chestnuts roasted by Geoffinsanity @ 12/15/2005 9:31 AM EST

Matt, never fear. You know that we appreciate whatever you can do for us, and that we all understand. I hope you get to really relax on your vacation, because you deserve and need it. And today’s Advent is hands-down the best one so far. Love!

mags, man, that’s awful. My sympathies. I know what it’s like to have a "mother-in-law" (I say that in quotes because thankfully, I wasn’t dumb enough to marry the guy) who’s a heinous bitch. I hope things get better for you!

Lesse…
Highlights: Hm. Well, I was able to actually buy presents for my family this year, due to finally having a real job. I’m finally moving out of my parents’ house in January and moving in with my boyfriend. I finally got my dad to drag out the decorations from storage, so the house is starting to look Christmassy. Going to a Christmas party that my editor is having on Friday, should be fun. Looking forward to a nice Christmas bonus. My brother’s coming home from college this Friday, it’ll be nice to have him around again. And of course, having X-E around once again to keep me in Christmas cheer.

Lowlights: My damn computer blowing its motherboard. My parents having next to no money, making Christmas pretty uncertain– I don’t even know if I’ll be getting anything this year. My grandfather not being around for the holidays. Not being able to spend Christmas with my boyfriend. Work picking up and making me exhausted. Having to pack up everything I own in the span of about 3 weeks and not even being started yet. But really, nothing too terrible…yet.

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 12/15/2005 9:36 AM EST

Highlights: School is over starting today for 3 weeks, Get to head back to Upstate New York in a 7 hour car ride with the bitchinest, most flabtabulous Christmas mp3 disc…. EVER.

Lowlights: The new 50th anniversary version of the Muppet Christmas Carol is Missing the song "When Love is Gone"… But only from the amazingly remastered widescreen version. Luckily the fullscreen is also on there, with the song.. but no remastering, and no widescreen. Ugggh… why can’t they do something right?! Also, I’m allergic to my house so going back there starts a sneezefest I could do without… But It’s Christmas! Merriness to all.

Chestnuts roasted by Mattman @ 12/15/2005 9:55 AM EST

Great day for the advent calandar. Mare is back!

Lowlights - I am working until the 23rd so I have almost no free time to bum and enjoy Christmas in all it’s gleaming glory. Also, I got married in May so this is the first year I will be forced to stay at the in-laws on Christmas day and will miss my family’s feast and the thrill of Santa delivering to my parents house.

Highlights - My Christmas bonus this year should cover the cost of a new i-pod and part of a digital cam I want.

Chestnuts roasted by Tigerfan @ 12/15/2005 10:01 AM EST

Rosella-

Another Tulsa reader!! I will be in Tulsa for Christmas this year also! Pretty cool that someone besides me in my old home town reads XE. Thought it was all New Jersey folks

Chestnuts roasted by Terror Claws Cole @ 12/15/2005 10:09 AM EST

Umm, did anyone notice the green tint to the home page pic of the latest Advent entry? AND the fact that Mare is winking?! Ha! Cute.

Chestnuts roasted by Ryane @ 12/15/2005 10:10 AM EST

mattman: I was hoping, now that the rights have reverted to Disney, that the days of oddly edited and incomplete Muppet releases was over…it’s unfortunate to see that’s not the case.

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 12/15/2005 10:17 AM EST

I’m in Tulsa, too!

Chestnuts roasted by Amanda @ 12/15/2005 10:36 AM EST

I’ll do the bad stuff first so I can end on a high note:

Lowlights

1) I received the wrong order twice and all of my attempts to contact those people/companies has been futile. Add to that the fact that the Mr. and I are down to one income this Christmas and we just don’t have the money to lose on wrong presents. On that note…

2) A couple of months ago, I fried the firewire port on my camcorder and my friend’s camcorder (I won’t bore you with the long story.) So, we put their camera in the shop (run by incompetents) in October and my husband finally demanded it back (unfixed, though we’d paid $160 on it already for parts and labor when they told us it was fixed.) Now it’s on its way to Canon for repair. This is their son’s first Christmas, so they’re taking my camera and I’ll have nothing. I’m such a home video girl that thinking of not taping Christmas makes me want to cry.

3) Too much MIL. My sister-in-law had a baby that she gave up for adoption in October (also a downer for me this Christmas.) I generally try not to spend too much time with my mother-in-law, but she was here three times in October for things related to that. Then, we had to go see her in November because I’d been given tickets to a show in DC (where she lives) for my birthday. Then we were back for Thanksgiving. I can’t abide the thought of another visit with her so soon and I’ll be glad when January comes and I can be free for a while. She’s not a horrible person, but our personalities conflict and she thinks I’m weird for not being exactly like her (and has no problem telling me.)

4) We got overcharged for a tree that ended up being crooked. That’s another long story.

5)I ordered an electric hedge trimmer for my husband for Christmas, which Home Depot shipped in its shelf packaging (which got obliterated by the way). Then, UPS didn’t even ring the bell to let me know it was there, so when he got home it was just sitting there on the porch. Surprise ruined.

I think it’s definitely time for The Highlights

1) I got some good deals on eBay for my husband for Christmas. (The best? Unopened CSI Season 4 for $29.99)

2) I made our own Christmas cards this year with a collage of family Christmas pictures (old and new) on the front. I got some nice responses of how much that meant to some people to see those.

3) Lights on the house! My parents never did that when I was a kid.

4) The living room smells like pine and apple cinnamon candles. It’s so Christmasy.

5) THE BIGGEST! I get to spend Christmas day with my family (parents/grandparents/extended) for the first time since 2001. I’m so psyched I can’t even tell you!

6)Thanks to ABC’s 25 Days of Christmas, I have (or will end up having) 12 hours of Rankin-Bass specials on tape to warm every Christmas from here on out.

If anyone managed to make it through this whole list, thanks for reading.

Chestnuts roasted by Lori @ 12/15/2005 11:04 AM EST

Highlights for me:

I’ve got a job, so I can actually buy people Christmas presents! Which makes me happy. And I’m going to my boyfriend’s family’s house for winter break, and I get along with them a lot better than I do my own family. I forsee a very Merry Christmas heading my way.

Chestnuts roasted by Beth @ 12/15/2005 11:40 AM EST

Nice reunion in today (12/14)’s Advent calendar.

Dare we hope that Megamare will show up too?

Chestnuts roasted by Plainsman @ 12/15/2005 12:04 PM EST

I LOVE the Advent Calendars! I’ve been a fan since Mare first came into existance from the very first Advent Calendar. It’s something I look forward to, it’s a new tradition and I love it.

Your abilities as a writer really shine during it. What started as just a clever way to tell what you got each day from the Advent Calendar has become a story, with characters, humor, suspense and history. Sure the entire idea and concept is absurd, but I’m right there with Knacks and Kuse waiting for the next present and hoping they survive another year.

Chestnuts roasted by Tenchichan @ 12/15/2005 12:14 PM EST

highlights:

i haven’t read the calendar in a week so i have something to do this morning.

Chestnuts roasted by mongoose @ 12/15/2005 12:15 PM EST

Nothing too interesting, but:
Highlights: I went on my first buisness trip last week (to Portland, Oregon). Good times were had by all.
Lowlights: My work piled up while I was gone and there are a few deadlines right before the holidays, so I’ve been pretty swamped at work.

Oh yeah, another highlight is I just found out that Ducktales is now on DVD.

Chestnuts roasted by Gozer @ 12/15/2005 12:24 PM EST

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Chestnuts roasted by andrew @ 12/15/2005 12:27 PM EST

Fourth comment? Chip n Dale’s Rescue Rangers is also on DVD.

Chestnuts roasted by turdsdonkey @ 12/15/2005 12:27 PM EST

I wrote this a few minutes ago on the previous blog entry, but then Matt had to go and update. The highlite of my holiday season, as of yet, was at my friend’s Christmas party tonight. I watched some guy drink half a bottle of flat turkey and gravy soda w/o puking. He is my new hero.

Chestnuts roasted by Karen @ 12/15/2005 12:36 PM EST

Woo hoo 5th post. Odd how the advent calendar has become a tradition to me already. And Matt don’t feel bad for not being around as much, the fact that you do what you have already more than makes up for my otherwise shittacular holiday.

Chestnuts roasted by Ed @ 12/15/2005 12:36 PM EST

A Chance to see my sister for the first time in two years. Worth more than anything

Chestnuts roasted by Zerohandle @ 12/15/2005 12:39 PM EST

"Because Matt’s real job is sucking the fucking kidneys out of him by day."

Seriously sad. But it made me laugh out loud. Merry Christmas, Matt–at least you’ll get your kidneys back next week!

Chestnuts roasted by Rosella @ 12/15/2005 12:46 PM EST

Highlight: Getting a whole crowd of friends at my Christmas party to help me drink all 9 Holiday Jones flavors out of little shot cups.

Lowlight:< .u> Pukin’ all that soda up after everyone left. Salmon and Brussels Sprouts are freaking brutal. Ugh…the thought alone is enough to make me wanna blarf again.

Chestnuts roasted by paul @ 12/15/2005 12:55 PM EST

Low: I’ve only had time to do a little bit of shopping so far.
High: http://www.rr.org/gallery/audio/rr/Linus_Lucy.mp3

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/15/2005 1:32 PM EST

Highlight: Definitely the advent calendar.

Lowlight: Everything that’s not the advent calendar. I’m just not feelin’ it this year. My mom died right before Halloween so all my favorite holidays have sucked this year. Next year, though, it will be better. I mean, it has to be. Right?

Ooh, another highlight I almost forgot: Artichokes for Christmas dinner! Yum!

Chestnuts roasted by violetdied @ 12/15/2005 2:14 PM EST

Hey Terror Claws Cole and Amanda–nice to know there are others stuck in Oklahoma here on X-E!

Chestnuts roasted by Rosella @ 12/15/2005 3:30 PM EST

Sweetness, Rosella and Amanda! If I could think of something cool to do, we should start regional XE parties, like Fark. But I’m boring so I’ll just watch Santa Claus: The Movie from the 80s again.

Chestnuts roasted by Terror (Santa) Claws Cole @ 12/15/2005 3:45 PM EST

my highlight so far is my christmas bonus. my company is awesome!

lowlight would have to be the super shitty weather we’ve been having here in western pa. i have a few more gifts i need to pick up and i can’t seem to get out of the driveway!

Chestnuts roasted by bitchpants @ 12/15/2005 4:21 PM EST

I’m enjoying the advent calendar too. Sorry about the kidney-sucking, Matt, but your audience is well entertained regardless.

Lowlights: Two weeks ago, my 88-year-old great-grandfather was in the hospital and really not doing well. We weren’t sure he was going to make it. That made the first part of December pretty rough, but he’s bounced back and is doing well now. So I guess that turned into a highlight at the end.

Highlights: I had a great annual review at work, my gift shopping is nearly done and I found great stuff for everybody, King Kong is awesome (as is V for Vendetta, which we saw last weekend at Butt-Numb-a-Thon), I’ve been making cookies and candy like crazy, and last night I dropped by my parents’ house and saw all the old decorations I grew up with, so now it feels like Christmas.

My husband and I stumbled into a great Chrsitmas Eve tradition last year, where we have a good dinner, wrap gifts while watching Smokey and the Bandit, then drink a bottle of honey mead while watching pay-per-view pr0n and go at it like tipsy rhinos. I suppose we’ll have to quit this tradition once we have kids.

Chestnuts roasted by Annie @ 12/15/2005 4:25 PM EST

Highlights: I have a really good reason to be into Christmas this year with having a baby now, Ive been able to look up lots of lyrics of Christmas songs that I dont remember the words too and sing them all to the little guy. Now that I live in a house not an appartment my DH and I got to get a tree and decorate it!! Plus we get to decorate outside too.
I also saw Miracle on 34th street for the first time and I saw Mickey Christmas Carol which I havent seen in years! Its been so great so far!

Lowlights: For some reason everytime I try to listen to the XE jukebox from last year it crashes and its driving me nuts!

Chestnuts roasted by IHAQ @ 12/15/2005 4:38 PM EST

Regional parties would be fun. But we’d probably just sit around reading X-E.

And Santa Claus: The Movie is good! I think. I haven’t seen it in ages. Actually, it was pretty dark, wasn’t it?

Chestnuts roasted by Rosella @ 12/15/2005 5:43 PM EST

Highlight: Got free tickets to Vegas in a suite at the Mandalay Bay! I think I’ll be spending Christmas on the stripe in a stripe club….YES!

Lowlights: Ran over a turkey yesterday, and crushed it so bad I couldn’t eat it….damn it.

Chestnuts roasted by Nicky Corrozzo @ 12/15/2005 5:44 PM EST

Highlight:
The Advent/Advert calendars.

Lowlights:
We haven’t even put the tree up yet.
Too much snow.
Finals! After being lucky enough to not have a cumulative final yet, I get stuck with TWO this semester. 16 and 14 chapters each. And my last day is the 22nd, which is not as nice as it could be.

Chestnuts roasted by Rainbowfeet @ 12/15/2005 5:58 PM EST

So far, my holiday highlight is X-E. Work is gay because I don’t get any bloody vacation. All I get of is the 26th. Work is also gay simly because it’s gay- but not literally. Furthemore, in recent years, my family has come to have less celebration in them than Oscar the Grouch, so it hasb’t been as much fun hanging with them. Despite this fact, I will be forced to spend Christmas hanging with them. Man, I gotta get friends and move out and shit. Anyway, I hope I’m not depressing any of you.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 12/15/2005 6:21 PM EST

Mags, my sympathies. My ex-boyfriend’s mom was a bitch, and she liked the ex’s best friend (who is a girl, and a complete bitch) better than me. At least, that’s the impression that I got. She ignored me for the most part, when she was visiting my ex, whose parents are separated and she lives 4 hours away. His dad, whom he lives with, always liked me though.

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 12/15/2005 7:27 PM EST

Highlights: First off, we’re getting a Dachshund puppy as soon as they’re old enough (should be mid-January). Second, today the school I work at had our Christmas party. Something about seeing kids enjoying Christmas gets me in the spirit faster than anything. Also, my very classy great-aunt invited us to her big Christmas party this year. She’s a great cook and has a gorgeous house, and she is CONSTANTLY giving us stuff. We went over to decorate her tree last Friday and she kept giving me and my mom bags of (very expensive) clothes. And she will finally be meeting my boyfriend, which is important because my great-aunt is kind of the family matriarch (its a long story as to why but she basically raised my grandfather). And it’s my first Christmas with the boyfriend living here. Oh, and I got a B in my college algebra class which I REALLY thought I was going to fail.

Lowlights: I’ve been so busy that December is flying by without me getting a chance to get in the spirit. I’ve had some good moments here and there, but I just haven’t had that "it’s Christmas and life is wonderful" feeling I usually get this time of year. I really hope it’s just this year and not a side effect of growing up. Also, the boyfriend is working 60 hours a week (no, that’s not a typo) and he’s only 18 and it’s heavy labor, so when I actually get to see him, he’s all stressed out and tired, plus he’s been spending every spare moment Christmas shopping, which incidentally is where he is right now. I just wish I could have some nice family time for Christmas.

Chestnuts roasted by jazzy @ 12/15/2005 8:44 PM EST

Well we should all be grateful that PepsiCo. decided to give "Holiday Spice" Cola the axe.
For those of you old enough 7UP had a candy cane flavor many moons ago. Suffice to say, I was about 8 and knew it sucked. Anyways Happy Holiday’s to all!

Chestnuts roasted by Jerry Horror @ 12/15/2005 9:53 PM EST

So Matt… I emailed ya….. with HUMBLE BUMBLE Haikus no less……

No Answerr. How sad that I am reading the archives listening to disco?

Chestnuts roasted by Kat @ 12/15/2005 9:57 PM EST

Allison, I went to Richard Stockton College for Communications and graduated January 2002…and one of my best girlfriends will be finishing her teaching degree there this year.

Highlights: Speaking of said girlfriend, she and I just got together and had our Christmas tradition of exchanging presents while eating out (Olive Garden this year), then going shopping. I got most of my shopping done today. My Christmas decorations went up about a week after Thanksgiving. My sister and her son are finally moving out my parents’ house and into a nice apartment in North Wildwood. I’ve been able to watch lots of Christmas DVDs and videos, including a couple of oddities I’ve never heard of before and the wonderful "Christmas On Sesame Street." I’ll be moving to Oaklyn, 5 minutes from Philadelphia on the New Jersey side, in February.

Lowlights: February can’t come soon enough. My job at the grocery store is driving me crazy; it’s a pain for me and the store to have to take the bus there and back. I can’t find the one thing my mother wants. (I’ll keep looking or ask her if she wants something else.) Many of my friends and reletives haven’t had a good year and aren’t in the happiest moods, including my mother, who normally loves Christmas (although she’s seemed a bit better the past few days). I mentioned the big Sam’s Pizza fire in North Wildwood a few entries back. Wildwood is no fun at Christmas; only a few local businesses decorate, and my Hispanic neighbors either don’t have the money to do elaborate holidays, or it just isn’t part of their culture.

Oh, yes, and I encountered "The He-Man She-Ra Special" on DVD for the first time at Best Buy and Suncoast Video today. I didn’t pick it up today, but if I have any money left after I get Mom’s present, I may see if it’s avalible down here. Looks way too…80s…to miss.

I remember the "insane" commercials for Crazy Eddie’s well, though I never went into the closest store to here up near the Shore Mall. My mom had her stereo in one of those big, heavy containers for years. She used a speaker container as our toy chest for years, and that sucker was HEAVY!

Oooh, yay, let’s all welcome the return of Mare! It’s going to be a holly jolly Christmas after all at the Advent Calender…IF they can find out how to stop the Waiterbots’ plotting…

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 12/15/2005 11:33 PM EST

Phenomenal job thus far, Matt!

A highlight for our familia has been doing our own Playmobil Advent calendar at home and watching my kids (2 and 4 years) get excited over stuff like feeding troughs and gerbils.

One lowlight came after a trip to a department store, and my 4-year-old had a Chernobyl-style melt down over not bringing home any toys. Ah, memories!

Chestnuts roasted by Pastor Dave @ 12/16/2005 9:02 AM EST

I just found out that the building that Crazy Eddie was in on SI (the one that is now a Jembro) used to be a movie theater… just thought that was cool.

Chestnuts roasted by Lou @ 12/16/2005 9:25 AM EST

Highlights
-I start vacation come 5pm today.
-I’m going to TRU in midtown at lunch
-I’m very much alive
-I’m going to TRU in midtown come at lunch
-I got Final Fantasy I & II for GBA last night

Lowlights:
-he was a pretty cool G.I. Joe character
-I missed my company Christmas party last night
-The last 2 weeks have flown by before I could even let the holiday spirit seep into my pores
-I won’t get to see my best friend and his wife till after the holidays (I consider them family)
-Got bad tension in my neck so it’s been nagging for a while now.
I think that’s all for now.

Chestnuts roasted by Double G @ 12/16/2005 9:26 AM EST

there’s a thundercats ad on the front page with a poll asking who would win in a three way fight. Lion-o, Batman or Superman? Of course Superman is way in the lead and it really makes me wonder who thought that ad would help thundercats any. No one is going to pick Lion-o unless it’s a pity vote.

Also there’s another ad with a trivia question asking for the real name of the second Robin. Your choices are Tim Drake, Harvey Dent or Bruce Wayne. Now it doesn’t say so in the question but the ad is clearly for the animated series. Still that question irks me and I’m sure it irks many other Jason Todd/A Death in the Family fans.

Chestnuts roasted by dohopoki @ 12/16/2005 9:26 AM EST

Lou Yeah it was. I remember going in there as a kid a couple times. And Jembro is the worst.

dohopoki Where are those?

Chestnuts roasted by Double G @ 12/16/2005 9:29 AM EST

The 2 pictures that show you the latest updates, to the right of that is a blue box with different advertisements.

Chestnuts roasted by dohopoki @ 12/16/2005 9:42 AM EST

well it might be a black box but it looks like a dark tent of blue.

Chestnuts roasted by dohopoki @ 12/16/2005 9:43 AM EST

Ok, I’ve got some.

Highlight: Getting a REAL tree of my very own in my very own house with my very own wife for the first time.

Lowlight: Having said tree fall over at 3:30 in the morning last night.

Ugh! Matt please make with the laughter. Stat!

Chestnuts roasted by Rhino @ 12/16/2005 9:46 AM EST

advent calendar…A-mazing!!!

ooh ok so errr highlights…..new video ipod fully loaded with episodes of battle of the planets!

and lowlights…..not having enough time to watch em GRRRR!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Stoner @ 12/16/2005 9:48 AM EST

Highlights- Main one has been not freakin’ out about Christmas and just enjoying it with my family and not being anal about who gets a card, making such and such for so and so, etc. My attitude has been just have fun. Difficult to do for someone with OCD like me.
Oh- and Advent/Advert calender!It has been awesome this year with the Lego/Playmobile duality. Anyone know where I can find a Lego one? I haven’t found them yet.

Lowlight- feeling a little guilty for not being so anal sometimes- but the plus side outweighs it so who cares!

One other highlight has been enjoying doing Christmas write-ups on our site. X-E is a big inspiration. This week we did Top Ten Classic Christmas Villains. Check it out by clicking on my name - let me know what you think.

Chestnuts roasted by J.C. Loophole @ 12/16/2005 10:52 AM EST

Highlights: I can finally travel in my own car and look at all the cool Christmas displays around town. It’s nice to see that some people in this world still have the Christmas spirit.

I’ll be getting cash for Christmas and I can get myself what I really want and not be disappointed.

Lowlights: I pretty much found out through my therapist that my mother has some kind of depression mixed with reocurring suicidal thoughts and it’s the type where the person will talk about it and obsess, but not act upon.

I also discovered that my grandmother has cancer, which really sucks and makes life more depressing.

We’re not going to be having much of a Christmas this year, no real presents, just stocking stuffers and nobody really seems in the mood to put up decorations and stuff.

*sigh* Sometimes life really bites you in the ass.

Chestnuts roasted by MrsDanFielding @ 12/16/2005 11:05 AM EST

Lowlights: not much, just work. I’m there 50-60 hours a week and don’t have time to send off presents and cards on time. Also, I have to work the days before & after Christmas, so I can’t travel to be with family for the day. But it could be so much worse, like others here–relatives in hospitals, not a lot of money for buying those (late) presents, etc. I’m truly thankful for what I have.

Highlights: having a job I really like for the first time in my life, making so much money that I don’t know what to do with it, ski trip to Utah over New Year’s, and seeing old high school friends while I’m there.

Happy holidays, everyone! This site, along with all its regulars, have made my past two Christmas seasons awesome. Thank you, everyone!!!

Chestnuts roasted by emily @ 12/16/2005 11:37 AM EST

I remember the big electronics stores of the past. There were a lot more local chains back then. The two big ones here in the Sooner State were Soundtrak (80’s) and W/D (70’s). Another way to see the home entertainment equipment we used to have taking up half the living space is in movies like "Boogie Nights" when Don Cheadle’s character is at his legit job. Anything sold at the time had either the harvest color scheme, or real/fake wood paneling. And, quite often, both. If you were really lucky, you got chrome trim as well. There’s nothing like watching someone in your neighborhood get the big boxes of Hi-Fi stereo equipment delivered.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/16/2005 11:56 AM EST

ah that crazy eddie, one of the most intriguing corporate fraud stories I think I’ve ever read. He got away with quite a bit that wouldn’t fly in todays world.

Chestnuts roasted by Gene @ 12/16/2005 12:10 PM EST

Highlight: The fact that I’m making more money doing overnight shifts at TRU.

Lowlight: The fact that I’m working WAY more hours (about 60 a week), and have about 3 gifts bought out of umm, 8 people I need to buy for, and have absolutely NO time whatsoever to go shopping because of work and the damn weather. Well, ok, if I don’t get the shopping done tomorrow or the next day, I’m absolutely screwed.

Chestnuts roasted by Ryane @ 12/16/2005 12:18 PM EST

Allison, is that the same William Shatner ep where he told the Star Trek nerds to "Get A Life"?

Highlights: -The Advent Calender

-the Rankin-Bass Marathon on ABC Family 2 weeks ago

-Gonna have chicken wings for an Xmas Eve party along with other foods.

-and then last saturday, the annual Fire Truck Santa came around my block once again, and the holiday season for me has begun!

Lowlights: Someone ate the rest of this bag of Christmas Marshmallows thay I had. They were sooo delicious too…

-And Ugh, this happened to me today: I had a total panic attack during my Computer Programming Final. I mean Total. Panic. I’m still trying to calm myself down from that…:(

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 12/16/2005 12:38 PM EST

High: My new movie is out

Low: People keep calling it "Buttfuck Mountain".

P.S. I’m not that gay.

Chestnuts roasted by Heath (Buttfuck) Ledger @ 12/16/2005 1:48 PM EST

Highlight(so far): Sent homemade fudge(milk chocolate, semi-sweet w/ cherries, white peppermint, and orange creme) with my wife to her work, and her co-workers sent home such compliments as "better than sex," "I get to marry him next," "why isn’t he selling this stuff," "actually, I hope he doesn’t sell it because I want more without having to pay."

Also, finished Christmas shopping 2 weeks early, everything that has to be shipped has already been shipped so it will be on time(with the exception of one small afterthought gift I purchased on eBay last night), and of course the Advent/Advert calendars are infinitely entertaining.

Lowlight: not looking forward to paying down my gift-debt charged to the credit card.

Chestnuts roasted by ZiZak @ 12/16/2005 1:50 PM EST

Highlights - My boyfriend gave me a candycane for saint nick day. (dec 6th for all the none catholics)

Lowlights - Where he wanted to put it. (I’m so embarresed)

Chestnuts roasted by Dick Owithurtz @ 12/16/2005 2:00 PM EST

I slipped on some ice early this morning, fell on my back, and split the back of my head open like a ripe canteloupe. I may need stitches, but my holiday spirits have not been dampened in the slightest. I’m loving the calendars so far!

Chestnuts roasted by The Yeti @ 12/16/2005 2:28 PM EST

A Low, then High all in the same moment from a few years ago.
A really good Calcutta Bus Ride was going on in a Wal-Mart in, Yukon, I think. Elbow to elbow, nose to nose, elbow to nose, all that good holiday rush kind of thing. Well, after depositing my latest haul into Ma’s cart, I set out for the far end of the store for a pair of gloves for Brother-in-Law, and came across a small clot near the Men’s dept. Cutting towards Electronics, I heard the clenched voice of contained frustration. A young couple, with two toddlers and a baby, were on the verge of meltdown. the hubby was really close to blowing his stack, and taking it out on the young lady. I didn’t like where the situation seemed to be heading, so I lingered at a clearance CD bin and waited to see if any assistance was needed. he was making jerky, sudden movements towards her, and she was losing gound and trying to make peace. Of all the effort I make to be generally laid-back, pacifistic, and halfway decent good egg, one of the three or four things that make me lose my cool is domestic violence. I began to ease my way over, because I was getting some bad vibes off the guy. And I mean Bad Vibes, kinda like the opposite of static cling. By this time, a space began to open up around them, as shoppers realized that this was not normal, even for a Xmas Crush. he was getting more strident and she was putting herself in front of the kids. I’m five nine, and over 200 lbs (thanks steroid-based asthma medication, and rheumatic fever meds containing steroids, for giving me hard to get rid of weight.) but what I noticed made me feel puny. I just got in the clear, and was waiting for the putz to make a move for his wife, when he looked at the crowd. I followed his gaze, and aside from me, there were five other dudes giving him the ol’ horse-eye. And these guys were freakin’ HUGE! At least, these were the ones I noticed, there were probably others wanting a chance to bruise their knuckles on a so-called man verbally abusing his spouse. He made a quick estimation of his survival, and quickly hearded his group toward the check-out. Two of the big guys casually strolled that direction, if you can say someone the size, and apparent disposition, of Godzilla "casually strolled" anywhere. Weirdest holiday miracle I was ever party to, the fact that there were others, besides myself, who willing to help a young mother by puttin’ the boots to someone who meant her harm. Somehow, that brought my spirits up for the rest of the season.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/16/2005 3:13 PM EST

**The Yeti**: your post gave me pains just reading it. I hope your ok.

Chestnuts roasted by Geoffinsanity @ 12/16/2005 3:27 PM EST

kingklash - i have nothing but respect for you. you and those other guys are part of a dying breed. a friend of mine literally got the shit kicked out of her by her boyfriend in front of a party full of people and not one "man" stepped in to help her.

Chestnuts roasted by bitchpants @ 12/16/2005 3:43 PM EST

Thanks for the story Kingklash. It’s good to know that they’re still good people out there to help others in need/trouble.

Chestnuts roasted by J-Dog @ 12/16/2005 3:47 PM EST

New Hightlight: I’m now holding a crisp $100 bill I got at work for the Holidays (I’ll also get a "real" Holiday Bonus later I think). I’m pretty sure all the employees get it, and there are over 2000 employees here! That’s a lot of holiday cheer. Anyway, I’m now trying to find a good way to spend it….

Chestnuts roasted by Gozer @ 12/16/2005 3:51 PM EST

kingklash, I could hug you right now for sharing that story. It gave me warm fuzzies. I freaking love this site and the people who help Matt make it rock so hard.

New Lowlight: We got completely slammed last night and this morning with a lovely winter storm…had about 1/2" of ice on my car and it took me 1.5 hours to get to work, when it normally takes me 20 minutes. I honestly thought I was going to go off the road on multiple occasions, and I was only going 10-20 mph. Cripes, I need to move south.

The Yeti, feel better…I had to have staples in my head once and it was not fun at all. Don’t get up much if you can help it. Owie.

Have a nice weekend, everybody…can’t wait to see what happens here over the weekend, Matt!

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 12/16/2005 4:42 PM EST

Some new highlights for me: It’s Christmas break now from college AND work, so I can relax and enjoy stuff. Also, this morning one of the kids came in with a gift for me (being a volunteer I don’t usually get gifts from the kids, their parents already have a teacher and an aide to buy for). Inside was a HUGE four-wick cranberry scented candle (she bought toe socks for the teacher and aide, so I really think she overheard me yesterday saying how much I love scented candles). This candle makes my whole house smell like cranberries *without even being lit*.

Another highlight was finally seeing the Polar Express (the kids watched it today). I have a little more sympathy for the kid in the book though, because he didn’t know he had a hole in his pocket. In the movie he had noticed the hole several hours before and STILL put the bell in that pocket. I think I’d be a little more careful with a gift that came directly from Santa.

Chestnuts roasted by jazzy @ 12/16/2005 4:50 PM EST

Wow! Crazy Eddie’s–that brings me back. Crazy Eddie was the standard if you grew up in the NY/NJ/CT Tri-State area. Those commercials were extremely local and yet they were way too much fun. Never heard of the "Record and Tape Asylum."

Another commercial I saw from 1986 was for a store called "Brick Church." My mom remembers this store from when we lived in Central Jersey–I think there was a location in Paramus. Anyone from this area familiar with this store? I think it has since closed down. It was a simple ad–just a title card with "Brick Church" in large red lettering, and white lettering above and below it about a holiday sale. Anyone remember this?

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 12/16/2005 5:25 PM EST

New highlight: we took the cat I mentioned in my lowlight to the vet today to see if there was anything they could do. She claims all the problems very well may stem from an allergy, and gave the cat a steroid shot. The cat is still hiding from us mostly, but has perked up a whole lot, and is acting more like a cat rather than a zombie. And she finally ate something.
woo-hoo!

Chestnuts roasted by mags @ 12/16/2005 5:51 PM EST

I just spotted the Christmas Holiday Jones Soda Pack. Three of the flavors are old (Turkey/Gravy, Corn on the Cob, and Salmon Pate.) But it had two new flavors: Brocolli Casserole and Pecan Pie. Can’t wait to see a mini review.

Chestnuts roasted by JLAJRC @ 12/16/2005 6:00 PM EST

The Yeti–hope you feel better soon. Take care of yourself, and try not to move too much.

Kingklash–you are definitely one of a dying breed. It’s horrible that in modern times, and especially in our culture, men act this way. this is common of the Arab world, though it should not be the case anywhere. My boyfriend would have gone over there, and god bless him, he likely would have said something to the guy. He’s very protective–if I cough, he thinks something is wrong. My ex-boyfriend verbally abused and berated me, and I took it from him. Like an idiot, I let him tell me what to do, what not to do, I convinced him to dump me (though I should have grown a set and did it myself) just so I didn’t have to deal with it anymore. A story like this pisses me off that men can do this, but, even having only casually chatting with you on this site, your reaction gives me nothing but respect for you. As a formerly berated girlfriend, who is now in a much better relationship with a caring and wonderful guy, thank you. If you have a girlfriend/fiancee/wife she is lucky. If you don’t, the woman you choose will be very lucky.

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 12/16/2005 6:13 PM EST

Go Mags!! Good luck with your new kitty. I’m not fond of cats (I have to take allergy medication to be around them–on an allergy scale of 0-4 at the allergist’s office when I was finding out what I was allergic to, the hive that showed up from the shot was a "4"), but my boyfriend’s 12-year old kitty, Lexus, is sweet and funny. She acts like a kitten, and is extremely affectionate. I fed her a piece of turkey, and made a friend for life–she licked my fingers, and walks under the palm of my hand when she sniffs me.

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 12/16/2005 6:20 PM EST

This is really, really, really off-topic, but I’m going to post it anyway, figuring that nobody will read it. It’s based off of what kinglash was talking about.

This girl moved in behind me about a year ago. She’s sort of all right looking, but she hada boyfriend and she’s not really my type anyway, so no big deal. Then one night I hear a bunch of screaming and yelling (their front door is right outside my bedroom window). I look out and the guy is just thrashing on her. He’s pulling her out of the apt. by her hair. Really frightening, disturbing stuff. I called the cops and they were there within minutes to break it up and haul the guy off to jail. So far, so good, right?

Well, the guy gets out of jail (she refused to press charges - surprise, surprise) and moves back in. It isn’t a week later when I’m hearing the sounds of domestic disturbance again. So I call the cops again. They’re well acquainted with these two. I’m not home all that much, but they’d been there a lot when I wasn’t around apparently. This time the guy is bleeding from the gut. The girl’s stabbed him. I’m think, "Good for her. Should have aimed a little lower." This time they haul off the guy and the girl.

So either the girl gets wise or the guy decides to move along. Either way, there’s relative peace for about a month. Then a new guy moves in. This guy is a lot younger. Clean cut. Christ. I think he even worse a letterman’s jacket. Seems like a nice kid. It isn’t long before I start hearing the screaming again. I want to give the kid the benefit of the doubt, so I listen for a while. The bitch is goading him on. She inhales a big mouthful of beer and spits it in this kid’s face. You can tell he’s steaming - fists clenched, not saying a word. She’s screaming at him, "What are you going to do about it? Come on! Be a man!" You can tell this kid would like nothing more than to just take one of those clenched fists and bury it so deep in her face he could take her tonsils out. Instead he turns around and walks off.

So this is the pattern. There have been at least three other guys since then. I haven’t seen any sort of violence from any of the guys, but this crazy bitch sure does try as hard as she can to provoke them.

I’m not saying that this lady at the store did anything to provoke that asshole. There’s never a good reason to hit a woman. But you’ve got to be careful of the situations you put yourself in the middle of. I thought this girl was some meek little flower in a bad situation. Instead, she’s one of the most vile human beings I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting.

But now my landlord has finally evicted her after another argument that ended with her breaking all her windows. That’s my highlight for Christmas.

Chestnuts roasted by Chris Martin @ 12/16/2005 6:33 PM EST

Chris, the only thing missing from this story is a description of what kind of iron-ons she has on her T-shirts. She just seems the type to have many T-shirts with iron-ons and/or funny slogans.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 12/16/2005 7:03 PM EST

Good to see something updated! That Andre commercial’s music reminded me of the violin setting on those old, cheap 80s Casio keyboards! Good work, Matt, and I can’t wait to see the Advent furthered along!

Chestnuts roasted by psyKlone @ 12/16/2005 7:48 PM EST

I totally bought the leg lamp for my dad!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Neo Anderson @ 12/16/2005 7:54 PM EST

I totally bought the leg lamp for my dad!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Neo Anderson @ 12/16/2005 7:54 PM EST

That insane music on the Andre commercial make me question everything I thought I knew and believed in. What in the hell WAS that?!

Chestnuts roasted by Bludge @ 12/16/2005 8:20 PM EST

Or "made" me question it. See, it even screwed up my tenses!

Chestnuts roasted by Bludge @ 12/16/2005 8:23 PM EST

Chris that is quite the story!

I love the music on that Andre ad, it sounded like a music/jewelery box song that you wind up. I can just picture that little chick in her tu tu spining around.

Chestnuts roasted by IHAQ @ 12/16/2005 8:28 PM EST

The music in that commercial is awful. It’s so freakin’ repetitive–take Andre home (cling) take Andre home (cling). It’s like a subliminal message that isn’t subtle enough. Won’t you take Andre home? Hell no! Great ad though–nice and classic.

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 12/16/2005 9:21 PM EST

That is definitely quite a story, Chris.

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 12/16/2005 9:22 PM EST

That’s one helluva story Chris. I wonder if any of those men are her baby daddies? Anyway tomorrow is the highlight of my holiday season, I celebrate the day my daughter was born. Tomorrow my sweet 7 yr old becomes an obnoxious 8 yr old, thank God she still believes in Santa. Happy holidays to all!

Chestnuts roasted by bloodybrilliantme @ 12/16/2005 9:40 PM EST

Matt, please write/produce an homage commercial to that Andre one. I miss slideshow-inspired television production.

Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 12/16/2005 9:49 PM EST

Ugh, how did that ad ever pass inspection? Even for the early 80’s, which was stuffed with off-key synthesizer music, that’s some seriously OFF-KEY synthesizer music…

Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 12/17/2005 1:30 AM EST

HOLY COW: You guys lost interest before I could reveal that I am, in fact, a talking cow.

I don’t want this to end. Ever.

Chestnuts roasted by Mars again @ 12/17/2005 4:26 AM EST

What is that imprint on the back of mare’s head?

Chestnuts roasted by dohopoki @ 12/17/2005 7:43 AM EST

Nate, that made me think of the last time I went to a Chuck E. Cheese. I went with my very pregnant cousin (she actually started leaking amniotic fluid sometime that day, and delivered over the weekend) and my other cousin, the pregnant one’s older sister. The pregnant one was the first of our generation in my family to have a baby, so we all were pretty excited about the soon to be kid.

We walked in the door, and this approximately 16 year old employee looked at us really funny and said "you know this is a place for kids, right?" It was like he thought us three women, one of us pregnant, were going to bust up the place.

It would have been so much funnier if she had gone into labor and had the baby in the middle of Chuck E. Cheese! But you said it was a place for kids!

Chestnuts roasted by mags @ 12/17/2005 8:42 AM EST

I’m a long time lurker just making myself known…..

-Vlad

Chestnuts roasted by Vlad @ 12/17/2005 10:40 AM EST

I just remembered meeting a guy that did professional slideshows for a living almost a decade ago. He must hate PowerPoint.

Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 12/17/2005 11:18 AM EST

Mags,

The last time I went to Chuck E. Cheese’s was with my friend about a year ago. At the front you have to have all the kids in your group go through what is rather like a coat check service so that nobody but you can leave with the kids that you came with. They were surprised to find that we didn’t have any kids amongst us.

Since it wasn’t anything like how we remembered it as children, back when it was much cooler and had way more video games and a guy in a Chucky suit would actually come out and meet everybody, we decided to go to the very arcade/amusement center that I had mentioned in my previous post. It was much more fun. Too bad it’s closed for good now. I miss real, genuine, traditional arcades.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 12/17/2005 12:34 PM EST

I just made the saddest discovery. I snuck out of work early today to go hang out at Paradise Island, one of the few real video arcades/amusement centers here in Sacramento, only to find that it is now out of business. Arcades are a dying entertainment venue. This is why I want to go to Japan where arcades are alive and well. I am soooo sad that I’m spending time with a bottle of rum. Practically all I have left is Chuck E. Cheese, and looking at what that place has become…well…we don’t wanna go there.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 12/17/2005 12:45 PM EST

I think Holy Cow just replaced Spider-Man as my #1 favorite hero.

The Andre music is a scuzzy arrangement of "Carol of the Bells."
Zing zinga-zing *clink*
Zing zinga-zing *clink*
Sometimes, I imagine Andre the Giant knocking heads together in time to that music.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/17/2005 1:52 PM EST

Mars
HOLY COW: You guys lost interest before I could reveal that I am, in fact, a talking cow.

I don’t want this to end. Ever.

1) awesome ending to that part

2) Am I the only one who thought the lego guys were gonna turn into the Chia Plot guys?

3) UPDATE!!!!!

That is all…for now

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 12/17/2005 2:08 PM EST

Well I’m off to my hometown where I will be without a computer, so an early merry christmas, happy holidays and best wishes in the new year for you all! Matt, you rock. Alot.
Enjoy the festive madness! xxoo

Chestnuts roasted by Lizzy @ 12/17/2005 2:08 PM EST

Have a great one, Lizzy.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 12/17/2005 2:10 PM EST

OK, I have got one - this week I am making a trip to the US of A, which is a 10-hour drive for me, to get me some Jones. If I succeed, it will be an incredible highlight. But if they are, God forbid, sold out, it will be one of the biggest disappointments evah. I’m not going to give up easily, though - if I’ve already driven 10 hours for this I’m gonna scour the whole damn state before I give up!

Chestnuts roasted by Sparkly @ 12/17/2005 4:21 PM EST

Highlight - getting an Ipod video for an early Christmas present.

Lowlight - Losing it on The Incredible Hulk Rollercoaster 5 days later.

Chestnuts roasted by Brett @ 12/17/2005 5:32 PM EST

Kingklash, good for you…and I thank you, on behalf of all women, for having the brains to pay attention to your fellow man. I think, even as a girl, I would’ve had no problem hanging around and seeing what I could do to help/defuse the situation, just like you. Of course, I’m Texan (NOT Southern), so I may look and act like the embodiment of Peter-Pan-collar-sweetness-and-light, but as soon as a man starts his white trash sheepfucker shit on another woman, I will be the first lady in line to put my very dainty, sweet-smelling, patent leather boot up his ass.

Chestnuts roasted by emily @ 12/17/2005 6:03 PM EST

Please excuse my language, everyone. I do apologize.

Mele Kalikimaka, y’all!

Chestnuts roasted by emily @ 12/17/2005 6:04 PM EST

new lowlight - some fucking numbnuts broke into my car and stole all my shit out of the boot, or trunk for all you non English folks out there at the weekend!!

Chestnuts roasted by Stoner @ 12/19/2005 8:25 AM EST

YES! I got the Jones holiday pack!

Chestnuts roasted by Sparkly @ 12/23/2005 2:34 PM EST

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