X-E's 2008 Halloween Countdown is capable of soul-eating.

12/24/2007: Christmas Eve, 2007.

I have to get 20 hours worth of stuff done by 7 PM, so this will be quick: Merry Christmas!  #24 is up!  I hate stuffing mushrooms!  The final AC entry may be a bit late, but since those are usually short epilogues, we’ll be okay.


Hope everyone has a great Christmas Eve, Day, Day After and Day After The Day After.  Talk about your holiday adventures in the comments, from gifts to guests to food to reindeer.

Posted by Matt. E-mail me!


Discussion Thread: 248 comments

first!

Ghosted by darth pez @ 12/24/2007 5:33 PM EST


Well, looks like I have the good fortune of being first on the current thread.  Just relaxing here going through e-mails and sending out Christmas greetings.  So, I hope everyone have a safe and Merry Christmas EVe and Day, a blessed day after, or if you’re from Canada, a Happy Boxing Day, and a blessed New Year.  I’ll be on and off because I’m home and I’m not planning on going anywhere for the season!  Merry Christmas Matt and Merry Christmas all you fellow X-entertainment readers!

Ghosted by BJ @ 12/24/2007 5:34 PM EST


Yes, I finally made it to first. Also, Merry Christmas to everybody.

Ghosted by Darth Pez @ 12/24/2007 5:34 PM EST


Darn it, if I haven’t gone preaching like that, I would have made first.  Oh well, second and third are still pretty high.  Of course, now it’s probably fourth or fifth or LATER!

Ghosted by BJ @ 12/24/2007 5:35 PM EST


Well that was a nice way to conclude this year’s saga. It’s good that Knacks finally gets what looks to be a keeper. And hey, you can’t go wrong with pink unicorn friends. Good job this year, Matt. Felices Fiestas.

Ghosted by Frostor @ 12/24/2007 5:36 PM EST


Looks like Darth and I are fighting for top billing!

Ghosted by BJ @ 12/24/2007 5:36 PM EST


Okay, see, you know how I’ve been an anti-Christmas waveform this year? Well I had my Dad wrap all my presents and I don’t remember what I bought everyone or what order to give them out in.

Yeah. This could be a problem. Oh, and I have to go buy cards, like right now. Bugger!

Ghosted by Knegative @ 12/24/2007 5:37 PM EST


God bless us, everyone!

Ghosted by Darth Poop @ 12/24/2007 5:38 PM EST


Merry Christmas, Matt and to all!

And holy beans at your ChiaPet.  That thing needs a hair cut or a hedge trim or something.

I won’t be getting a loot for Christmas this year.  Considering I got a brand new MacBook, I think I’m set.  Although my Aunt & Uncle DID get me Seasons 4 & 5 of TMNT.

And my Christmas gift to all of you:  http://www.televisiontunes.com  (If you didn’t already know about it, that is.  I just discovered it.)

Merry Christmas :)

Ghosted by Brian @ 12/24/2007 5:39 PM EST


Kneg, someday, I’m going to take you into a Hallmark store and chain you to the front desk just to see how long it takes before you descend into madness. ;)

I have a similar problem: With five or six of the gifts we wrapped, I couldn’t remember which kids got what, and now I can’t remember what’s under the wrapping paper.

Ghosted by Matt @ 12/24/2007 5:40 PM EST


OUTSTANDING work, Matt!

As for adventures, my father is visiting us (we didn’t want him to be alone this close to my mother’s funeral). Aside from that, we’re not doing much Christmas stuff.

(Getting ready to give my father his gift though… A new computer!)

Ghosted by Cuddles @ 12/24/2007 5:42 PM EST


That was a really nice ending. I’m glad Cher and Hssxxlllo decided to stay.

I hope everyone is having a great Christmas Eve. Right now I’m just relaxing and listening to Mannheim Steamroller’s American Christmas on the radio. It’s a lot more sentimental than you’d expect from, well, Mannheim Steamroller.

I still have some gifts to wrap, and of course I saved the most awkward, massive, difficult ones for last, so I have no idea how to wrap them. I’ll probably just end up shoving them in bags.

Having international friends is annoying on Christmas Eve. In just a few hours, my Australian pals are gonna be hopping online to brag about all the loot they just unwrapped while I’m sitting here counting the hours and watching Santa fly over Nova Scotia or something XD

Ghosted by jazzy @ 12/24/2007 5:43 PM EST


Yay! I love these Advent Stories! I’m not even kidding when I say its my own personal Christmas Tradition to sit around and read them now. So thank you Matt, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without them!

Ghosted by Kyle @ 12/24/2007 5:47 PM EST


My sister and brother-in-law are supposed to be coming in from Omaha, but due to the weather here in Chicago, who knows when they’ll be in.  I’m relaxing as well, listening to ALL of the Chipmunks Christmas album and not just “The Chipmunk” song.  Gotta hop in the shower soon but may have a problem since it seems we ran out of hot water.  I was washing our dogs in the basement and my brother was washing the dishes in the kitchen and we both ran out of hot water at the same time.  Oh well, I don’t really need a shower, just a shave for now!

Ghosted by BJ @ 12/24/2007 5:47 PM EST


That was a good ending! Wrapped everything up nicely.

So is Hssxlo or whatever doing the Santa duties? While reading it I thought Waiterbot was going to leave Santa’s body and let 03 Santa (I think) do the rounds…but that Santa’s sort of a depressed little dude…

Anyways, I hope everyone has a great Christmas! I’ll be going to church in two hours and then watching A Christmas Story til midnight or something…

Ghosted by CrayfishV2 @ 12/24/2007 6:01 PM EST


Merry Christmas! Today my dad, my brother, and I hit up Dave and Busters. I wrecked some House of the Dead 4 and Lost World. Now it’s time to kick back with bourbon and cherry coke until the relatives show up, then presents and pizza, then I’m gonna play Puzzle Quest DS and watch Bad Santa tonight. Sure beats being in school. :D

Ghosted by Eddie Lightning Frog @ 12/24/2007 6:13 PM EST


Fantastic work. These advent calendars are the true Reason For The Season.

Ghosted by Daniel J. @ 12/24/2007 6:20 PM EST


Holy great mother of Chia that thing is outta control!!!

Great almost finale Matt!!!  Best year ever, but don’t sweat topping it next year.  Just keep it honest and enjoy doing it.  We’ll all show up to cheer you on.

Here’s hoping 2005 Santa comes back all tan from Tahiti to do the job!!

Merry Xmasses to all and to all a good night!!

FM

Ghosted by Fungusmungus @ 12/24/2007 6:30 PM EST


Merry Christmas to all X-E bloggers, webmasters and pretend plastic people.

You know what’s odd? I tried to get some other people into the Advent Calendar this year, but only got indifference. I thought the appeal of this sort of thing was universal. And these weren’t old people who wouldn’t “get it”–they were folks my age.

Ghosted by Mars @ 12/24/2007 6:33 PM EST


And a Merry Freakin’ New Year too!

Ghosted by Cigar @ 12/24/2007 6:52 PM EST


Whew.  Okay, four tins full of stuffed mushrooms are now in the oven.  I wonder if my family would mind if I don’t shower before going to the party.

Ghosted by Matt @ 12/24/2007 6:54 PM EST


Matt, you could set a party theme at the last minute “Blood, Sweat and Tears”, ask them to guess which you came as…

Ghosted by Guise @ 12/24/2007 6:56 PM EST


Well, since we’re spending the better part of tomorrow apart, my man and I decided to open presents today. 

He got me a really cute jacket, a broiling/roasting set (I can cook steak now! YES), and a cute plushie.

I got him Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and Contact for his DS.  He’s busy playing Phoenix Wright right now. XD

Ghosted by Annette @ 12/24/2007 6:58 PM EST


Merry Christmas to all !! I hope everyone is having a nice Christmas Eve. =) I’m gonna help my momma and brother with the cooking, and kick back and relax with some Christmas music. And of course watch A Christmas Story.

Ghosted by ULTRAMAN @ 12/24/2007 7:02 PM EST


Merry Christmas everyone!!!  Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without my fellow X-Ers.

Ghosted by Jeff Mack @ 12/24/2007 7:06 PM EST


Here we is, and I am about to do my own last-minute run-around.  Merry What-its-face, and Happy Thingamajig to one and all!  Give your loved ones hugs, eat however you want, enjoy what you give, and please think of the bunnies!

See you Wednesday, posters!

Ghosted by kingklash the holly-infested @ 12/24/2007 7:07 PM EST


After spending most of the day working on a giant papier mache wizard Mickey Mouse for this year’s Christmas theme (we have a different theme every year on my mom’s side), it’s nice to kick back and read the advent for a couple minutes while skipping church.  Later I’m going to spend Xmas eve with the Italian relatives, luckily they don’t do they fish thing.  The AC has been especially nice this year because all the tapes with my favorite Christmas specials are missing or broken.  I loved the defeat of Hare (yay Leviathan) but I still miss Garfield.  :(

And there’s snow for the first time in several years.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Yule to the normal, non-Amalthean neo-pagans.

Ghosted by hobbitsubculture @ 12/24/2007 7:09 PM EST


MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!! Great job Matt. I actually liked today’s entry better than yesterdays. So now that you’re all burnt out from so much advent goodness I’m going to be the first dick to say: when do we get a new article? Lol. Whenever you’re ready my friend, we will be here.

Ghosted by Kris @ 12/24/2007 7:14 PM EST


I have the whole week off for vacation!  WOO HOO!  Merry Christmas everybody!

Ghosted by Timbo @ 12/24/2007 7:14 PM EST


Like I said in the last thread, I am going to give my best friend his presents and I’m going to put on a nice sweater he got me for Valentine’s Day that I haven’t worn ever since trying it on in the store (it still has it’s tags on it actually, it’s not that I hate it, when we go out to an appropriate place to wear it, I forget to put it on) And then we are going out to eat hopefully we can go someplace we want to go and not a last choice.  I am wanting something like steak, fries and a salad but we’ll see.

Oh yeah and Brian I bookmarked that site thanks, and I try to have joox.net be a contribution to this site all the time.  I have found some great movies on there, worthy of downloading and burning to dvds.

See you guys later.

Ghosted by Goob @ 12/24/2007 7:23 PM EST


James Lipton saves the day! A remarkaboulous ending!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Ghosted by Arkenor @ 12/24/2007 7:26 PM EST


It’s 11.30pm now, NORAD is reporting Santa in Mali so I know time is short. The Fat Man and I haven’t really seen eye-to-eye on my presents in the last few years, and this year I’ve been careful to counter-balance my naughty with nice to create a +1 credit. I will get my giant war peace-keeping robot mecha this year.

I have to wait for my brother to start snoring in the next room, so I know that I can creep out and fill the ‘blinking lights’ stockings with the stuffers and named bears I bought for everyone visiting.

Tomorrow morning, Yogi’s First Christmas and animated Grinch, and the annual wrapping paper snowball fight.

So, to Matt and all of you (with a huge nod and wink to the excellent Advent-urers), Merry Christmas to you, your families and friends and may you all have a very wonderful time.

Ghosted by Guise @ 12/24/2007 7:38 PM EST


Merry Christmas to all.  And Matt, thank you for another wonderful holiday season on X-E, I believe I speak for everyone when I say that we appreciate all your hard work.  This site has become a staple of my holiday season.  Thanks again!

Ghosted by Cap'n Ducky @ 12/24/2007 7:52 PM EST


I don’t think it would take very long, Matt.

Here is a the ongoing saga, as I sit here on the net, until dawn, doing nothing but complaining about it:

http://forums.ffshrine.org/showthread.php?t=49030

Ghosted by Knegative @ 12/24/2007 7:54 PM EST


My mom just handed me a check for $100… which is a great gift but it always makes me nervous when she gives me money on Christmas Eve, since it often means she got too lazy to finish shopping and there won’t be much to open tomorrow :/

Oh well. If that is the case, at least I can buy things I really want instead of cat figurines from the dollar store or something. And with my current uncertainty about work, money is always nice.

Ghosted by jazzy @ 12/24/2007 7:56 PM EST


Aw, good for Knacks! Little dude deserved a happy ending. :)

Ghosted by BlakeMP @ 12/24/2007 7:59 PM EST


Merry christmas to all. seriously, james lipton = awesome.  i love that he is still making bear references and that he pointed out his own bear reference.

Ghosted by Leigha @ 12/24/2007 8:24 PM EST


Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!
Me, I had to work today.  Roads were dangerous. Whenever I tried to go over 15 mph my traction control would kick on. Someone brought in a bottle of baileys and some of us went out for a nice, long wine/beer-tastic lunch so didn’t have to work much longer before we were allowed to leave at 3pm.  Tonight I’m sitting by the fire watching TCM - 1938 Christmas Carol followed by the Bishop’s Wife.  Does anyone else like the Bishop’s Wife movie?  It reminds me of It’s a Wonderful Life but less sad and more comedy.  After we put the kids to bed we’re going to make some Glog.  We have some Glog mix we picked up at Ikea last year and some dark rum.  I’m guessing it’ll taste like Rum punch or perhaps a more spicy version of the Grog I had a long time ago in Prague.
No big plans for tomorrow.  Have a few little gifts & new pajamas for the kiddies to open and if the weather holds might try to take them to a sledding hill a few blocks away.  Followed by Hot Cocoa of course!

Ghosted by Paula @ 12/24/2007 8:25 PM EST


Not doing anything interesting for Christmas, just eating food and hanging out with the family, which is just fine with me! So I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to Matt and all the other commenters! Feliz Navidad, Joyeax Noel or however you spell that, Mele Kalikimaka!

Ghosted by Bluejay @ 12/24/2007 8:28 PM EST


Oh and Matt - love the James Lipton + Bear combination.  It’s so perfect that I’m almost convinced that the real James Lipton really does practice Bear roars when he’s alone!  I was watching his interview with John Cusack the other day and I kept waiting for Lipton to ask John if he wanted to see his Bear impression.  Also makes me think of Stephen Colbert’s dislike of Bears.  If you should ever do a video of Lipton + Bear Roar combination, you should send it to the Colbert Report!

Ghosted by Paula @ 12/24/2007 8:35 PM EST


Nice denouement, Matt! And here’s an early Christmas present for the blog, courtesy of scans_daily:

Superman and Santa Claus team up to save Christmas!

Ghosted by TB Tabby @ 12/24/2007 8:40 PM EST


Cusack….wait a minute….I STILL NEED TO SEE 1408 BEFORE I WRITE MY 2007 BEST OF!!

ZOMG (That’s 4 Mystie ;))

Ghosted by Knegative @ 12/24/2007 8:42 PM EST


Woah, Prince is a giant fluffy rabbit?

Weird.

Ghosted by FangsFirst @ 12/24/2007 8:58 PM EST


HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Ghosted by Spiffy @ 12/24/2007 9:21 PM EST


I love that doctor survived. He’s the Wedge Antilles of the Advent Calender.

“I am Doctor. I survived the Battle of Clair Winningham. I survived the Battle of Evil Santa. Hell… Just a couple of weeks ago I watched a giant rabbit god abduct one of my roommates evil twins. The reason I’m still breathing when a lot of other good Lego Guys aren’t? Maybe it’s because I’m better. Or maybe I’m just lucky.”

Ghosted by Keyguard Active @ 12/24/2007 9:32 PM EST


Much love for the ZOMG, Kneggy.

Ghosted by Mystie @ 12/24/2007 9:36 PM EST


I do so love a happy ending. Amazing job, Matt :D Good luck with the hosting duties tomorrow!
Happy everything, everybody! People have been so eloquent already about what X-E means this time of year (and I don’t just mean the Advent but all the awesome posters) that I can’t really add anything else. Love you guys!
I got a lol out of that, Kneg. Maybe because I just had a similar moment, but with Sweeney Todd…drop a link when you’re done, yeah?

Ghosted by squee4242 @ 12/24/2007 9:38 PM EST


If we’re lucky, Santa will be bringing me a Photog!

That guy is/would of been completely awesome.

Ghosted by CrayfishV2 @ 12/24/2007 9:51 PM EST


Merry Xmas to you!!

Current peruvian time: 9:00 pm, still waiting :D

Ghosted by yelinna @ 12/24/2007 9:53 PM EST


Hssxxlllo stays! Woohoo! Another awesome Advent Calendar. But now I have to wait another year to see what they’ll do without a Santa Claus.

Also, question: How are we supposed to pronounce Hssxxlllo? I’ve been saying “Hiss-ix-loh” but that’s probably wrong.

Ghosted by Cass @ 12/24/2007 9:55 PM EST


My computer died. =(

That’s about it so far. Family’s over for food and whatnot, and I get to open my first present of the evening… Denny’s for breakfast (a tradition), I picked up the ham (another tradition). But I’m pretty bummed out about my computer. My songs are gone, along with my almost-complete run through Bioshock.

What am I saying? It’s freaking Christmas! Feliz Navidad!

Ghosted by Ben @ 12/24/2007 10:12 PM EST


We’ve put all our presents under the living room tree now, and of course my cats immediately jumped into the pile (which is why we didn’t put them out sooner). I took the most amazing and creepy picture of one of my cats (click my name to see). It goes along nicely with the theme of creepy Christmas mammals.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Ghosted by jazzy @ 12/24/2007 10:20 PM EST


Happy Christmas everyone.  And once again, great job Matt, thanks for going to all the work to give me something to read and laugh about during the day.  Hope everyone gets everything they want from Santa (even though it appears there is no Santa this year).

Ghosted by stonetumbler @ 12/24/2007 10:36 PM EST


Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays to Matt and all X-E bloggers!

As it turned out, my sister wanted to go down to Cape May County very early and there was no way I’d be getting out of work at a grocery store early on Christmas Eve, so I went to my dad’s girlfriend’s Christmas Eve party instead. I had a great time eating, chatting, giggling with my teenage stepsister and her best friend, and watching everyone else act drunk. Tomorrow, I think I’m going to my uncle’s daughter’s house for Christmas dinner and gifts.

And…that 23rd finale was the most amazing thing I ever saw. That’s one freaky stuffed bunny.

Ghosted by starwenn @ 12/24/2007 10:44 PM EST


Who is going to watch a Christmas Story with me right now?

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 12/24/2007 11:01 PM EST


Happy Decemberween everyone!

Today was busy. I went to my Gf’s Aunt’s house for “brunch” for her Grandma’s birthday, and then I went to Christmas Eve dinner at my own Grandma’s.

Reading #24, I thought “They might pull the Santa out tomorrow!” then sadly realized that Advent Calendars only go up to 24. :(

Also, since my mom ordered all my gifts from Amazon, a few days ago she got an email from them saying they were supposed to come on tjhe 26th!, but through some luck…a big box came today and I see some wrapped gifts under my tree!

But did all of the gifts ordered arrive on time? I’ll know tomorrow!

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 12/24/2007 11:03 PM EST


I am watching A Christmas Story right now!

Ghosted by Darth Poop @ 12/24/2007 11:04 PM EST


FIRST!

Ghosted by Arnold @ 12/24/2007 11:07 PM EST


You’ll shoot your eye out.

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 12/24/2007 11:08 PM EST


Best calender yet, best ending too.  This is getting to be such a tradition with me, thanks and merry christmas!!

Ghosted by bob @ 12/24/2007 11:13 PM EST


And…that 23rd finale was the most amazing thing I ever saw. That’s one freaky stuffed bunny.

Even better: That wasn’t a stuffed bunny. :)

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 12/24/2007 11:14 PM EST


FIRST!.

Arnold, what are you smoking? :P

Ghosted by Knegative @ 12/24/2007 11:18 PM EST


Anyone else’s pomegranite 7-up as explosive as mine is?

I unwrapped a cookbook as my Christmas Eve gift. :)

Ghosted by Moony @ 12/24/2007 11:24 PM EST


Good, you get can get all that cooking done you’re supposed to do for my parents tomorrow evening.

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 12/24/2007 11:28 PM EST


I’m watching so much A Christmas Story, you don’t even know… Also, it took over a year, but I finally got my god damn UNICORNS!!!

PRESENTS TOMORROW, WHOOPIE! :)

Ghosted by Mystie @ 12/24/2007 11:29 PM EST


Merry Christmas everybody!

I’ve been sick off and on since mid-November (nothing serious, just different respiratory infections), and I’ve just gotta say thank you, Matt.  The Advent Calendar has really helped to put me in the Christmas Spirit, despite having been couped up in the house for a month and a half.  God bless you.

Ghosted by Captain Will @ 12/24/2007 11:33 PM EST


I’m watching A Christmas Story as ,i’m typing this. This is my second viewing. After I finish my second viewing i’m going to bed. Have a great Christmas everybody. =)

Ghosted by ULTRAMAN @ 12/24/2007 11:38 PM EST


This movie is so rapid fire. I feel like I’ve watched 20 different sitcom episodes already.

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 12/24/2007 11:42 PM EST


I guess I’ll watch Jingle All the Way and wrap my Dad’s presents, now.

G’nite :)

Ghosted by Knegative @ 12/24/2007 11:43 PM EST


Watching It’s A Wonderful Life, and just finished today’s Advent Calendar. Glad to see you redeemed Hssxxlllo, and decided to keep both him and the newest Mare.

Well, anyways Merry Christmas, and I hope to see everyone sticking around on the threads after the holiday.

Ghosted by Tresjolie9 @ 12/24/2007 11:54 PM EST


Fra-gi-le.  Must be Italian. 

Merry Christmas!!!

Ghosted by FyarlGirl @ 12/24/2007 11:56 PM EST


Thanks for the great year everyone. Especially you Matt, you devilishly handsome rascal. The Advent Calendar was spectacular as always, and I look forward to the continuing adventures (and constant downplaying of the horrible deaths that most third tier Legomen seem to suffer) of the gang.

I’ll see you all in 2008!

Ghosted by Juggling Joker @ 12/25/2007 12:00 AM EST


I saw it, it’s a rabbit, it’s HUGE!!

Ghosted by Luap @ 12/25/2007 12:04 AM EST


Matt, just wanted to say thanks again for keeping us entertained this holiday season. I haven’t looked forward to an Advent Calendar so much since those little chocolate ones when I was a kid. I’ve been a fan of your site since 2003 (mostly a lurker), but I must say this is your best one yet. I’m sure others agree.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas with your families! In the sappy, but immortal words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us every one!” :D

Ghosted by godjilla @ 12/25/2007 12:04 AM EST


I’m watching Christmas Story now too.  He’s at the decoder part.  Remember sending away for stuff off of cereal boxes and lollipops?  I once sent away lollipop wrappers to order the Dolls of the World collection.  They sent me some stupid plastic popping Bugs instead.  Yet another lesson learned in the “Life’s not Fair” class!
Uh Oh…the sexy lamp just broke!
(Ps. If anyone’s interested that Glog stuff turned out awesome! Yum)

Ghosted by Paula @ 12/25/2007 12:08 AM EST


matt-my new tradition is reading about the stuffed mushroom fiasco on Christmas Eve.
We just did extended family dinner and presents and it was great.  I am staying in a hotel tonight so I have decided to tell the following lie to my son (who wants nothing from santa but a fish)
He will be presented with a voucher signed by Santa to be presented at a pet shop good for three guppies (his specific request)  I hope the pet store employees have a a good sense of humor when I make them take my cash beforehand.

Ghosted by kb @ 12/25/2007 12:10 AM EST


I would have watched A Christmas Story, but I was in the middle of Rudolph and you don’t just cut off Rudolph!  Besides, I’m saving A Christmas Story until tomorrow.

Ghosted by Moony @ 12/25/2007 12:14 AM EST


I hope the party is going well matt. 

We just got done with christmas eve with the wife’s parents.  We watched muppet christmas, and emmit the otter.  Now we just did the christmas eve single gift exchange and she is happy with the bootleg copy of the life and advantures of santa clause I got on line.  It was a favorite of her’s as a kid.  She got me sake…it’s a win win.

Ghosted by Thejyav @ 12/25/2007 12:23 AM EST


Why is that Ginger bread man’s son’s voice so deep?

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 12/25/2007 12:28 AM EST


Mom is cooking a Christmas dinner. We may go to a movie.  Or just sit around and play whatever new games we get. I’m sure I’ll pop up around here sometime tomorrow.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, EVERYONE!

Ghosted by JLAJRC @ 12/25/2007 12:35 AM EST


Matt: That ruled so hard… That words crumble in attempts to describe its rule-ness. I’m glad that Hssxxlllo is sticking around, he’s a cool guy. Anyone else think that retired santa is gonna be schlepping around the world this year?

Ghosted by DocDragon @ 12/25/2007 12:36 AM EST


Merry Christmas everyone!  :-)

It’s nice to know that there are other people out there who also visit websites on Christmas Eve.

Ho! Ho! Ho!  Hopefully Santa (Lego, Playmobile, or other) is good to all of you.

Ghosted by Spike85 @ 12/25/2007 12:45 AM EST


Oh yeah, sorry for the double post, but I gotta say.  I LOVE THE CHI-PET.  Thanks for the photo update Matt.  Merry Christmas.

Ghosted by Spike85 @ 12/25/2007 12:46 AM EST


Who is going to watch a Christmas Story with me right now?

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 12/25/2007 1:02 AM EST


Have it on as I track Santa, right now he is in Iowa!

Ghosted by Tresjolie9 @ 12/25/2007 1:10 AM EST


So who else would like to randomly hear from our Advent friends in say… like the middle of the year. Maybe we could get an update around The 4th of  July 8)

Ghosted by Kyle @ 12/25/2007 1:16 AM EST


Track santa? what??

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 12/25/2007 1:18 AM EST


Merry Christmas, everybody!

Ghosted by Chris Martin @ 12/25/2007 1:44 AM EST


dohopoki I’m still watching A Christmas Story with you right now. I don’t know how much longer I can last without sleep though. I’m fading fast.

Ghosted by Darth Poop @ 12/25/2007 1:49 AM EST


Right now he is in Guatamala, after spending more than the standard ten minutes in Cancun.

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.htm

Hope he can ride that sleigh after taking an extended stay in Margaritaville!

Ghosted by Tresjolie9 @ 12/25/2007 1:53 AM EST


You know what has always bugged me about A Christmas Story? When Ralphie gets his essay (theme?) back in class, the hand writing on it looks very un-teacher like. The words are written in all capitals and aren’t spaced correctly.

“listen jerk, when I tell you to come, you better come!”

Remember a couple years ago when FX did 24 hours of Jingle All the Way? I think someone watched a little too much Conan O’Brien. Jingah ah thah wah!

Ghosted by gonzo @ 12/25/2007 2:19 AM EST


I keep thinking she used the wrong your too but I think it’s the e in eye that gives the illusion.

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 12/25/2007 2:21 AM EST


Merry Christmas Everybody!!!! It’s 12:21 AM here so it is actually Christmas day!

We are sleeping in and then opening presents and having traditional waffles.  Then we’re having a big dinner at 4:30 or so.  It should be a great day.  I might check in sometime, we’ll see.  If not, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Ghosted by Cameron T. @ 12/25/2007 2:22 AM EST


Joyeux Noël, everyone.

Ghosted by Tom @ 12/25/2007 2:24 AM EST


doho, I’m watching now! It’s just about to wrap up and start again. Or was, when I started this post.
Just got back from the festivities at my aunt’s house, where the tamales, pozole, buñelos (sp?) and tequila were in ready supply, as always. I was talked into a shot of Patron Silver that I regretted for about five minutes, but now that I’m back home I’m wishing I had a whole bottle. That is smooth stuff…You guys should have seen the look on everyone’s face when I admitted that I’d bought some tamales at the bakery.
It’s still a little early over here, but Merry Christmas to all! And to all a good night :)

Ghosted by squee4242 @ 12/25/2007 2:41 AM EST


Why is that Ginger bread man’s son’s voice so deep?

If it’s that Go Phone ad, I have no idea why they cast Norn MacDonald as the son and Steve Buschemi as the dad. Norm obviously sounds older. And that brings up the question of why Norm was shilling a cell phone to begin with? I thought he would be above such things.

Buschemi I can understand, but not Norm.

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 12/25/2007 2:42 AM EST


Waiterbot Could Sing Better Than This!

Don’t click on while eating or drinking…

Ghosted by Moony @ 12/25/2007 2:46 AM EST


Home…drunk…full… proud owner of new DVDs…and an octopus lamp…can’t wait for the fallout thread… can’t wait to fall down…

Ghosted by Matt @ 12/25/2007 2:59 AM EST


Who is going to go to bed with me right now?

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 12/25/2007 3:01 AM EST


The same octopus lamp from the shell shanty? Yes, please.

Ghosted by clumsyonice @ 12/25/2007 3:07 AM EST


No thanks, think I’ll hit my OWN bed! :D

Ghosted by Moony @ 12/25/2007 3:07 AM EST


Merry Christmas!

Ghosted by D-Roc @ 12/25/2007 3:36 AM EST


I’ll go to bed with Doho. I’m always open for new experiences. I get the bottom bunk. Me landing on you would not be a pleasant experience not to wake up from :?

Okay, so I watched Jingle All the Way, wrapped some presents, and then watched Serendipity. Oh yeah, I’m feeling pretty emo right now.

I told everyone over at Shrine that I loved them, so I’d better say it here, too ;)

I love you guys.
Happy Birthday, Mithra!

Ghosted by Knegative @ 12/25/2007 3:38 AM EST


Octopus lamp? THE octopus lamp? I suppose any octopus lamp is more awesome than a non-octopus lamp.

Ghosted by squee4242 @ 12/25/2007 3:43 AM EST


Yes, THE octopus lamp. Fate brought it to him, across time, distance, and adversity.

Ghosted by Knegative @ 12/25/2007 3:46 AM EST


Indeed, it is THE octopus lamp.

Ghosted by Matt @ 12/25/2007 4:01 AM EST


Merry Christmas to everyone.  I also want to give a special thank you to Matt for the calendar this year.  It brought me Christmas cheer when I needed it most.

Ghosted by Jackfrost @ 12/25/2007 4:10 AM EST


Merry Christmas to all of you!

I’ll have to catch up on the AC on Wednesday. :(

I hope you all get what you want and deserve under the tree and around the dinner table.

Ghosted by fistpittingnork @ 12/25/2007 4:13 AM EST


Congrats on the octopus lamp! That thing was pretty darn awesome. Isn’t that the thread where everyone was talking about octopi/octopuses/octopoden?

I’ve just watched THREE different Flintstones Christmas specials. Plus A Christmas Story. Jetson’s Christmas special is on right now, but I really gotta go to bed. Everyone else is asleep, which is weird because usually my mother puts all the presents under the tree, and she hasn’t. I guess we’ll haul ‘em out in the morning.

I second the thought that it would be nice to see a quick update from the Advent crew at another point in the year.

Well, good night everyone and have a wonderful, joyful, rabbit-free Christmas! Oh, unless it’s Hssxxlllo - he’s adorkable. MERRY CHRISTMAS to Matt and my fellow X-E’ers, and love to all of you!!!

Ghosted by Frakkyfire @ 12/25/2007 4:22 AM EST


Okay, the gf and I just exchanged…I am now the proud owner of, among other things, a cigar humidor, Mario Galaxy, and a Pikachu doll the size and general shape of a pillow.  Christmas is all about dichotomy.

Hope everyone’s having a merry one!

Ghosted by Matt @ 12/25/2007 5:01 AM EST


Well, so far the only gift I’ve gotten is a yukata. Probably going to get more in the morning.

Well, I’m sure I owe a lot of people an explanation for my ominous thing in an earlier post here.

I have a weak heart. Since I was a kid, actually. So during a check-up, I’m told that I’ll be lucky to make it to next Christmas.

Now that I’ve had time to reflect on it, and my own nature, and given the nature of the holiday season, I say to hell with that. I may be some ugly cuss, but I’m a survivor. My goal is to not jut make next Christmas, but to the tenth one after that at least.
I may have made a few mistakes in my life, but by God I’m not going down without a fight.
So here’s to the holidays, and the will of man to keep trying, even when it seems hopeless.

Peace out, y’all.

Ghosted by The Good Guy @ 12/25/2007 5:13 AM EST


‘Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.’

Rock on, GG :)

Ghosted by Knegative @ 12/25/2007 5:35 AM EST


MERRY CHRISTMAS! Here in Michigan it’s 5:50 am. I had trouble sleeping most of the night and just woke up. There’s a big box exactly the dimensions of a PS3 box and it’s real heavy, maybe that would explain why there’s not much under the Tree…

Either way, this is my favorite day of year and I’m thrilled! Thank you so much for the Advent Calendar Matt!

I won’t be opening presents til like 11:00 probablly because my mom likes to wake up at 7:00, make a HUUUUUUUUUGE Breakfast and then let the family open gifts. I’m off to watch A Christmas Story some more.

Ghosted by Crayfish @ 12/25/2007 6:52 AM EST


The Good Guy: Good on you for deciding not to give up!! Doctors are so often wrong about those kinds of predictions anyway.

It’s 6:20 here and there’s little point going into the living room yet, as our rule is no presents until daylight. This usually results in a good-natured argument as to what constitutes “daylight” :)

Ghosted by jazzy @ 12/25/2007 7:24 AM EST


Yay, Christmas! I was up early to watch Yogi, Grinch and The Town Santa Forgot and to unwrap gifts with family, and now it’s rather peaceful until I have to start cooking!

Hope everyone has had a good night and will be having a great morning to wake up to.

Looking forward to the fallout!

I’m BUBBLY! :mrgreen:

Ghosted by Guise @ 12/25/2007 7:31 AM EST


Good Morning, so far only my dad and I are up, and are watching the very unchristmasy Tora, Tora, Tora. But soon everyone else will be up and it will be present time.

Also yesterday I got a box of toys from ebay. It was like getting a present from me.

Ghosted by mrjayberry @ 12/25/2007 8:39 AM EST


To Matt and all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Ghosted by Shawn @ 12/25/2007 9:41 AM EST


Yaaay presents have been opened!! I’ll wait for fallout to go into what I got, but it’s a really nice assortment. Nothing too fancy, but I love everything I got.

I gave my mom an 80s mix CD, so I just spent like an hour assembling a 4,000 piece cat jungle gym to the sounds of Blondie and Culture Club. Very surreal, and very awesome.

Ghosted by jazzy @ 12/25/2007 9:46 AM EST


Oh and excuse the double post, but I forgot to say - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! :D

Ghosted by jazzy @ 12/25/2007 9:47 AM EST


*passes out* Can’t wait for the Fallout thread. Bet Matt’s is gonna be fucking awesome this year, can’t wait to see the Octopus Lamp!!

Ghosted by Mystie @ 12/25/2007 10:33 AM EST


Merry Christmas y’all !! I got up at 5:45 a.m, but then I went back to sleep. Then I got back up at 8:00 and i’m staying awake this time, lol. I’m the only one awake at the moment, so I’ll have to wait to open presents. Very peaceful morning so far though. Until everybody wakes up , you guys will have to keep me company. =)

Ghosted by ULTRAMAN @ 12/25/2007 10:33 AM EST


Oh how I wish I possessed goddamn fucking flamethrowers inside my hollow tube-like arms.

Ghosted by Kev @ 12/25/2007 10:38 AM EST


Merry Christmas X-E!

Ghosted by Dane @ 12/25/2007 10:47 AM EST


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Ghosted by def @ 12/25/2007 10:47 AM EST


Wow, Good Guy, that was really inspiring and good to hear (read?).

Once again, Merry Christmas, all.

Ghosted by Bluejay @ 12/25/2007 10:54 AM EST


Happy Holidays everyone!

Ghosted by Kal @ 12/25/2007 11:10 AM EST


NEVER GIVE UP, GOODGUY!

Anyway, we just opened gifts.  I got a gift certificate to my favorite comic shop, along with three superhero shirts:
A Fantastic Four Marvel Zombies shirt
An Alex Ross Justice League Shirt
An Alex Ross Legion of Doom shirt.

We also started a new tradition this year where we all got a hundred bucks to buy whatever we want.  Combine this with my birthday and I got a good haul.

Ghosted by JLAJRC @ 12/25/2007 11:24 AM EST


I sneaked into the kitchen and made myself a sandwich. I couldn’t help myself because all the food just smelled so good. For the moment i’m still the only one awake.

Ghosted by ULTRAMAN @ 12/25/2007 11:40 AM EST


Merry Christmas everyone!

Thanks for all the hard work you put into the calendar Matt… ’twas very awesome.

Sorry I can’t think of anything wittier to say, I’m running on about three hours of sleep.

Ghosted by Magic Toy @ 12/25/2007 12:15 PM EST


Merry Christmas!

Matt- best Advent Calendar yet!

This year for Christmas I have a new TV (My old one died after 17 years, RIP, 19″ Zenith.) and received the Playstation 2 game, God of War II from my sweet Grandma which I find delightful in and of itself.

Tonight we are having the traditional Christmas dinner of hot wings, shrimp, cheesecake and subs.

Ghosted by Dragonstorm @ 12/25/2007 12:27 PM EST


Hmm, a year sans Santa…isn’t that one of those things that could cause to Universe to implode or something?  Like when you buy a gift card using a gift card…only completely different and unrelated?

Ghosted by Tom @ 12/25/2007 12:38 PM EST


Merry Christmas guys!
I’m pretty sure there’s still wrapping that needs to go on over here, as the roll of paper I was asked to pick up yesterday remains untouched. So I think presents hour is still aways away over here. Kinda lame :P
Good Guy, I appreciate that you’re giving us a little more detail. I’m sorry to hear about your health issues, but you’re damn well going to be here for a long time yet as long as you keep that attitude. We’re pulling for you, buddy :)
Can’t wait to hear what everybody’s got!

Ghosted by squee4242 @ 12/25/2007 12:44 PM EST


Merry Christmas to the masses.

Christmas Story still on and going strong, for instance…

“Wow, whoopee, a zeppelin!”

Ghosted by James Mayn @ 12/25/2007 12:44 PM EST


holy shit guys, i got a new computer.. check it out: http://www.sonystyle.com/webap...921665089218&storeId=10151

Ghosted by Andrew @ 12/25/2007 1:03 PM EST


sorry for the double post - MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

Ghosted by Andrew @ 12/25/2007 1:04 PM EST


Merry Christmas Everyone!!
I’d like to thank Matt and eeryone who posts here for being such a great group of people you guys are like my extended cyber-family.

Goodguy
Sorry to hear that man but I know that your gonna be around for a long while to come.

Ghosted by Dan H @ 12/25/2007 1:20 PM EST


The first thing I had to do after opening X-mas presents???

Check out X-E of course!!

Merry Christmas to my second family!!! Hope y’all got what you asked Santa for!  I DIDN’T get an octopus lamp, but I can live vicariously through Matt this time I guess.

FM

Ghosted by Fungusmungus @ 12/25/2007 1:23 PM EST


Merry Christmas everyone!  I don’t post very often, but I check this site and blog non-stop, and I want you to know people are still here even on Christmas.  Matt, thank you so, so much for all the hard work you put into the AC.  I too checked XE first thing after opening presents.  The Advent Calendar has become one of my absolute favorite Christmas traditions.  I just want you to know that all your hard work is worth it, because you really do make the holiday season for many people like myself.  I hope you know how much we all appreciate all that goes into making the calendar.  I think of Knacks, Kuse and Mare the same way I think of Rudolph, Ralphie, the Grinch, and Frosty.  And for a Christmas fanatic like myself, that means something.

Ghosted by Y2JB78 @ 12/25/2007 1:39 PM EST


Well, all my loved ones just woke up about an hour ago, and we just finished opening our presents. I got a Wii, a game, an extra controller(the classic model) and the Dr.Katz complete series DVD box set. So i’m a happy camper.

Ghosted by ULTRAMAN @ 12/25/2007 1:42 PM EST


Another awesome advent calendar Matt. This place is the source of my Christmas joy. I hope your holiday goes off well and it looks insane there.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Ghosted by That Guy @ 12/25/2007 1:42 PM EST


ULTRAMAN: Dr. Katz!! I loved that show so much. I didn’t realize there was a DVD set… now I’m definitely gonna have to look for that.

Ghosted by jazzy @ 12/25/2007 2:02 PM EST


6 movies and an Appel oPid featuring play button & volume control (I kid, if I got a real iPod I wouldn’t have gotten those movies). Less interesting stuff you don’t need to know about.

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 12/25/2007 2:35 PM EST


Merry Christmas everyone!  We just finished opening our presents.  I’m told I’m getting harder and harder to buy for which makes sense since I’m not home that much anymore.  Nothing really special to report from my loot.  Got some new sleep clothes, a sweater and fleece top, a Spider-Man 3 T-shirt and beanie cap from my sister, and my aunt got me this goofy glove holding a torch.  It’s a promotion for the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium next season.  My brother got me Jars of Clay Christmas Album, and the one of course I will make the most use of is the $25 gift card from Borders.

Well, I think I’m going to lie down now.  Had a little too much for dinner last night.  Was going to watch Christmas specials until I fell asleep but only got through “Pink Panther Christmas.”  I still want to watch Rudolph, Frosty, and of course I need at least one viewing of “A Christmas Story.”  Well, Merry Christmas again and I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday!

Ghosted by BJ @ 12/25/2007 3:09 PM EST


i’m pretty depressed christmas is almost over..

Ghosted by Andrew @ 12/25/2007 3:24 PM EST


The Good Guy That’s rough, but good on you to not take it lying down. Wishing you the best, man.

And everyone else, hope you’re having awesome Christmases. I’ve tried to get into Christmas the past two years and haven’t really been able to, but even when I’m not feeling Christmassy, Christmas at X-E is one of my favorite times of the year. You all are awesome.

Ghosted by clumsyonice @ 12/25/2007 4:03 PM EST


Wow, only two new comments since I last posted.  Everyone must be off enjoying their holiday.  I decided to go with “A Christmas Story” since some years have passed since I last viewed.  Of course, why is it that no matter how many times you view a movie, you always notice something different.  For instance, in the scene where Ms. Shields looks at Ralphie’s paper and writes A+++….. all over the board, she’s using blue chalk.  I had never noticed that it was blue chalk.  I didn’t even know colored chalk was around back in the 1940s.  I also have to ask if anyone has ever been able to change a flat tire in the amount of time the old man said he would change his in.  Four minutes is an awfully quick time for me.  I can’t even do it in eight minutes, which was the time it took him in the movie after Ralphie lost all the lugnuts and blurted out the most famous phrase in the whole movie, “Oh FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUudge!”

I also want to mention something about the parade scene.  It makes you wonder how the sponsors of the parade were able to use the characters from The Wizard of Oz, and was able to use a bootleg costume for Mickey Mouse.  Now, this movie is set in the 1940s which is before Disneyland even opened.  I don’t know the history but you would think Walt Disney was the one who licensed his characters to be featured in his amusement parks.  Before that time, you would think it was just clowns and animals that were featured at amusements parks.  As I said, I could be wrong on this and maybe it’s something I need to look up on Wikipedia.  Oh yeah, I wonder if the kids thought to themselves after seeing Santa in the parade and then seeing him at the department store, “Wow, how did Santa get here so fast, and how did he know we were coming?”  I can remember being a kid many years ago and being in downtown Chicago over Christmas.  We went to see Santa at one store but the line was too busy so we go to another store to see him.  All I can think in my mind was, “How did know we were coming here?”  Ah, the innocence of childhood.

Okay, two quick observations before I end and get back to my Holiday Special marathon (going with Frosty next), who doesn’t think it’s hilarious that Ralphie’s parents sleep in separate beds?  Also, I never knew until I saw the ending of the credits that the movie was actually filmed in Cleveland.  I guess that makes sense being how they live on Cleveland Street so why not film it in Cleveland?  Of course, throughout the narration Jean Shepherd keeps refering to where they live as northern Indiana.  It makes me wonder if it isn’t Northwest Indiana since they make reference to two Chicago teams, the Bears and the White Sox.  Of course, this is the 1940s and therefore, before the Colts came to Indianapolis (they weren’t even in Baltimore at the time) and the NBA became popular, the closest city that had any professional sports was Chicago.

Oh okay, while I’m at it let me ask this question.  I know there’s no reference but does anyone know the year the story takes place?  I thought it would be something like 1947, but that’s only because the first time I saw the movie was in 1988 and the popular movie at the time, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” was set in 1947.  I could be right because it seems to late to be 1940, and there’s no reference to WWII so you would think it would be after the war.  There’s also no reference to TV, but that didn’t take off until the late 1940’s.  I could be right on my guess of 1947, but who knows how long the radio program “Little Orphan Annie” stayed on the air.  Boy, I feel like I’m giving a history lesson instead of making a post.  I suppose I need to hear the Audio Commentary and watch the “Making Of” documentaries to get my answers.  I can’t believe how old my edition is.  It’s the 20th Anniversary Edition so this came out in 2003.  You suppose there will be a Silver Anniversary Edition next year?  Of course, if E.T. didn’t get a 25th Anniversary Edition DVD release this year, I doubt “Christmas Story” will get a special edition for it’s Silver Anniversary next year.  Of course, that’s like comparing Apples to Oranges, or in this case, Reese’s Pieces to Skittles (M&M’s would have been too easy of a choice but these two movies are very unlike each other so I had to go for something a little further out there).

Anyway, I would have said that now I’m going to go back and watch some more Christmas specials, but instead I’m on Wikipedia and going to find my answers, if any, to my questions I asked.  Anyway, Merry Christmas and I’ll be back later!

Ghosted by BJ @ 12/25/2007 5:24 PM EST


anyone else like those peppers stuffed with cheese and prosciutto? i got a jar of them and i’ve had a few already, they’re pretty good….

Ghosted by Andrew @ 12/25/2007 5:33 PM EST


Well, after reading the Wikipedia entry, I was confirmed that many references go through pretty much the whole 1940s decade, but they concluded that if anything, the story is set in 1939 because that’s the year “The Wizard of Oz” came out and the “Little Orphan Annie” radio show stopped airing their Ovaltine commercials in early 1940.  Other references would indicate later, but I won’t get into those.  Anyway, guess I found my answer.  Now I can go back to my marathon.

Ghosted by BJ @ 12/25/2007 5:42 PM EST


BJ: The simplest answer to your question about the licensing is probably that people were just a hell of a lot less litigious back then.

I love the Wikipedia article on A Christmas Story almost as much as I enjoy the movie itself. So many fascinating little tidbits of history all crammed onto one page.

Ghosted by jazzy @ 12/25/2007 5:50 PM EST


THERE’S NO CORN ON THE COB. CANCEL CHRISTMAS, THERE IS NO COB.

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 12/25/2007 5:57 PM EST


Woah, awesome Christmas here.  Lots of kitchen stuff for my new apt, an 80 gig ipod classic, docking boom box, Superbad, Stephen Colbert’s book, and new clothes. 

My brothers each got a Wii so we’ve been beating each other senseless all day with Wii boxing…I find it the most fun of the sports.

Ghosted by Jeff Mack @ 12/25/2007 7:38 PM EST


where did u get that rabbit? i want my own leviathon!

Ghosted by ReesiePuffs64 @ 12/25/2007 7:41 PM EST


I had thought TNT did the marathon originally. Now I have confirmed it.

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 12/25/2007 8:37 PM EST


I can’t wait to get my last Christmas present, the key to my new apartment!  No more barely lukewarm showers in a supposedly heated apartment in the middle of the winter…among many other things!

Ghosted by Moony @ 12/25/2007 8:49 PM EST


I got tons of smaller stuff, but the big present was the Guitar Hero III bundle. Of course, as everybody knows, that friggin’ piece of crap wireless controller doesn’t work one bit. I’m taking it back tomorrow.
Ah, the joys of the post-holiday exchange rush.
Merry christmas!

Ghosted by Claudia @ 12/25/2007 8:53 PM EST


Good Guy Glad you’ve decided to stick around!  If I was in your position, at this point I’d say screw the doctors, and find natural health information online and work on staying around on my own versus continuing to pay someone to keep telling me something I already know.  Actually, I kind of had to do that myself a couple of years ago, with a different problem.

Ghosted by Moony @ 12/25/2007 9:03 PM EST


I don’t want to say too much because technically it’s not over but truly the best Advent Calendar yet.
If I may be allowed to:
1. Loved the dynamic between Mista Snowman and the more fleshed out (no pun intended) Waiterbot. Hilarious.
2. Loved the Kuse at the daily grind angle.
3. Loved the special effects, video clips, etc. Avant-garde, man.
4. Big death toll. Action and suspense.

Well, I am done egging Matt’s nog now so may I just say, I HOPE EVEYONE HAS HAD WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS. If you are not sure if you want to have children, do NOT let Christmas be the time to decide because you will end up with 15 of them. So much fun. Details when the fallout thread begins.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Ghosted by The Manimal @ 12/25/2007 9:06 PM EST


The Good Guy It’s not over until it’s over.

I got a 100 dollar bill in the mail a few days ago from my Grandma, and from my best friend I got a camcorder early November and a 2gb memory card for it and that is supposed to be my Christmas present from him.  And he paid for shipping and for three gift cards for some members of my family for Christmas so I guess I could make that count as my Christmas present from him too.  The gift cards were two usbank gift cards for 25 dollars a piece and a 10 dollar burger king gift card for my cousin.  She got a cheaper amount because she got other presents I have bought this summer for her.  The shipping was 30 bucks for 4 presents. 

One of the presents went to someone I actually have never met because I signed up for a Tacky Christmas Gift Exchange on a message board I visit.  I don’t know if she has gotten it or not I got a delivery confirmation on the other presents and not hers so I am assuming she’ll say something about it sometime this week or the beginning of next week.  I am kind of regretting not getting the delivery confirmation on it.

My cousin is going through a hard financial time so that is why I just got him a gift card, I would of got a more specific gift card for my mom but I don’t know really what stores she lives around.  The reason why I specifically wanted to get that particular cousin a present is because before when his gf had a really good job as well as his job (she got fired and is working now at a job that is touch and go) they always got my best friend and I really nice presents.  Like at least 30 dollars on a present which I think is pretty good.  No one other then them has gotten my best friend presents (except my Grandma got my best friend a present the first year, we’ve been best friends for 7 years now long story short my family thinks I am better then him but you know what he has done so much for me I don’t take what they say to heart about the subject)

  I got my cousin some kids books, I put some free samples that I got for myself (gum and teeth whitening strips on cards w/ coupons on them) I also sent her a pink youth sized softball helmet.  She is really into softball she played it when she was growing up and in high school and I thought that would be a great present for her daughter she’s 1 but lol it would be a great decoration for now.

Also I sent my other cousin that has a daughter (they all have daughters!  I want a cousin to send gi joes and transformers to dammit!) that is 3 a few books in a beautiful pink gift bag that was the perfect fit that is a Disney Princess gift bag.  Anyway I also sent her a my little pony coloring book, and a toy that is wooden blocks with colored blocks that go inside that are shaped as animals.  There are three games you play with them one is memory. 

For some reason I thought this gift was beyond cool and ever since I got it this summer I can’t wait to hear the reaction of that present.  I got it for 2 dollars it’s new it had the packaging on it still I looked it up online it goes for 15 dollars retail.  She’s three so it doesn’t matter now but it’s embarrassing to have huge sloppy sharpie handwriting on the front that says 1.99.  Doesn’t matter just yet I don’t think :)

Also him and I went out to dinner last night it was a Steak, baked potato and salad so that was a christmas present too.  Also we went a couple of hours later to another restaurant and I got a chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream.  It was warm and nice and soft.

  I also got some little debbie gingerbread cookies (not as good as my aunt’s cookies she makes every year but it’ll do) and a box of Liberty Orchard fruit delights.  They are fruit flavored jelly cubes with nuts in them with powdered sugar on them.  We got them at bi mart they are one of those things to accent the holiday season.

Ghosted by Goob @ 12/25/2007 9:48 PM EST


*curls up under Xmas tree and goes to sleep*

;.; Wish I had tomorrow off, too….

Ghosted by Mystie @ 12/25/2007 10:52 PM EST


I’ve written about my Christmas adventures here:
http://forums.toonzone.net/sho...read.php?p=2741374#post2741374
With pictures!

Ghosted by Mars @ 12/25/2007 11:04 PM EST


Mars: Sounds like you had a fun, busy Christmas :)  I got loads of crap this year but honestly, I would have rather gotten less and had friends and family around to share the holiday with.

Oh well. It WAS a nice Christmas, so I suppose I can’t complain.

Ghosted by jazzy @ 12/25/2007 11:13 PM EST


The Good Guy, never give up, never surrender!!! I’m sure that you’ll have many more merry Christmases!

Ghosted by Darth Poop @ 12/25/2007 11:21 PM EST


Well, I had a GREAT Christmas !! We all played games(both board and video), ate great food , danced to great music and watched great movies. I guess if I had to pick one word to describe my Christmas , it would be GREAT!! lol. Hope y’all had a great one too.

Ghosted by ULTRAMAN @ 12/25/2007 11:31 PM EST


My Christmas was okay, I guess.  The best presents I got were from my fiance, but I think I mentioned that here somewhere already.  I can’t remember. 

I got 50 dollars from his grandfather; otherwise his family didn’t get me anything.

Dad didn’t get me anything, as usual.  Mom gave me a bunch of body wash/body spray crap, as usual.  My sister gave me some makeup and some of those cosmetic bags that I already have like 15 million of.  They’re cute, but I don’t know what the hell I’m gonna do with them.

I also took some more of our old pictures from my mom.  She has a whole big box full of them, some of them are
like, triple exposure, so I think she can spare some. :P

This is gonna sound whiny, but I didn’t even get to eat any good food.  At my dad’s, all they had was like, pies and cookies and stuff.  I was looking forward to some meat and heaping piles of vegetables.  Instead, I got a piece of ham (bleargh), some snickerdoodles, pasta salad, a random…cookie…thing, and a piece of apple pie.  Better than nothing, I guess.

The best part of the whole day was hanging out with my three nephews.  Those kids are freaking cool.

Ghosted by Annette @ 12/25/2007 11:50 PM EST


Geez, I’m such a jerk.  I forgot to say that I really hope everyone here had a wonderful Christmas.  You guys are awesome.

Ghosted by Annette @ 12/25/2007 11:51 PM EST


First!

First?

First!?

First for me?
The suspense is killing me. 128 mins left in my time zone, give please give me the [ nessacary? Try...] end.

Ghosted by Sean @ 12/25/2007 11:56 PM EST


We had a great X-Mas…hope you all had the same.  Fallout/Advent coming tomorrow.

Ghosted by Matt @ 12/25/2007 11:58 PM EST


Fallout tomorrow? YES! Usually it’s a few days after. Now I’m excited :D

Ghosted by jazzy @ 12/26/2007 12:04 AM EST


jazzy: Yeah, I want to fufill all of my holiday obligations tomorrow so I can kick back and relax on Thursday. :)  Also, we’ve been so crazy busy for the past few days that I can barely remember what my presents were.  Looking forward to dragging them out for photo ops.

Ghosted by Matt @ 12/26/2007 12:12 AM EST


My Christmas went okay.  It was smaller than previous years, in terms of the number of gifts.  I got a Wolfgang Puck 4-knife block set, 20-piece cookware set with tools, various gift cardage (Target, Layton Hills Mall, Cinemark Theaters, Visa gift debit card), etc.  Not the best Christmas I’ve ever had, but what gifts I received, most were things on necessity for when I move out.  Tomorrow I’m going to go and find a something good at target, before I whittle away my $50 on groceries and random Christmas clearance items.  Same goes for the Visa.

I love the Advent goodness this year, as well as the selection of Christmas stuff entries. I am a bit sad, though, that we didn’t see a fuller review of one of my all-time favorite specials, the Garfield Christmas Special.  I have long thought that that special had a great balance of goofiness and sentimentality.  Especially the scene where Grandma Arbuckle is talking to Garfield about her husband and past Christmases.  Chokes me up a bit, to be honest.  Oh well, maybe next year.

Tomorrow it’s back to work, Christmas clearances, and increasing amount of Valentine’s Day crap at the stores, -_-;  (Way too f’ing soon).

(I’m going to miss the Christmas music goodness, too.)

Ghosted by Tom @ 12/26/2007 12:19 AM EST


I’ll wait for the Fallout Thread tomorrow to publish my loot, but my favorite gifts this year today were:

-Bender’s Big Score (AWESOME movie if you should see it)

-”The Time Machine Did It” by John Swartzwelder

-and a Digital Camera (my mom & I shared hers up til now). Joke’s on me, because even though it’s the same camera, hers is 3.2 Megapixels, while MINE is 4.0! Slightly Better Resolution! :)

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 12/26/2007 12:59 AM EST


Er, Joke’s on HER. My mistake.

And I watched my DVD of “Garfield Christmas Special” earlier tonight.

Fortunately, Binky The Clown did indeed save Christmas again this year :)

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 12/26/2007 1:01 AM EST


I got a digital camera, too. I didn’t have one, so now all kinds of shenanigans can occur. Hopefully, I can sneak in a link in my name, since everytime I try to get one up normally, I get approval binned.

Let’s see what happens.

Ghosted by Knegative @ 12/26/2007 1:02 AM EST


We had a great Christmas.  Started last night with Christmas eve services at church (times 2, because we sang in both the 6:30 and 9pm services). 

Christmas morning we slept in (until 9 or so…LATE!) and opened gifts around 10:30 when my Granddad got here.  I’ll save the details for the fallout thread but I got a lot of nice things…My main gift I knew about, though…getting new Tires for my car.  Maybe a little boring, but a necessity!

After presents we had traditional Christmas morning brunch of waffles, paired with Eggs Benedict and bacon and some nice hot tea.  I messed around with my gifts for a while and then we put on “Scrooge” (it’s a musical version of Christmas Carol made in 1970 with Alec Guiness and Albert Finney), which is another tradition. 

About the time that was over my Granddad’s girlfriend came over (yes, it IS really weird to type that) and we started the preparations for dinner.  Around 4 we began the wine and cheese appetizers and a friend of my parents who is from Paraguay came over to join us for dinner (since his family is in Paraguay…).

Dinner consisted of Beef tenderloin with a pepper rub, Peanut Soup, Devilled Eggs, Mashed potatoes, fruit salad, cheese rolls (made by a friend…they are her speciality), steamed vegetables, and lots of wine.  I didn’t save any room for dessert but had a glass of Port in its stead.

Following dinner we visited for a while, and then I excused myself and  (partly in thanks to the wine) worked up the courage to call this girl I’ve been dating off and on (I’m hearing impaired so calling somebody on the phone is a major, nerve-wracking ordeal for me).  We visited for a while and then I went out to the hot tub.  Perfect end to a perfect day.

Hope everyone else’s Christmas has gone well and see you in the Fallout!

Ghosted by Cameron T. @ 12/26/2007 1:11 AM EST


Invader Norbert,
Let me know how the Swartzwelder book is. I really want to read it but…it hasn’t materialized yet.

Ghosted by The Manimal @ 12/26/2007 1:14 AM EST


Merry Christmas!  I hope everyone had a good day.

I realized about half an hour before midnight that I hadn’t watched the ‘Garfield Christmas Special’ yet this season, but I did manage to watch it before the clock struck 12!  Whew… Yeah, my wife thought I was nuts, but I’m trying to start some traditions for us, dammit!

Ghosted by Big McLargehuge @ 12/26/2007 1:14 AM EST


Matt,

Check this shit out. You obviously didn’t get what you really wanted for Christmas.

Ghosted by Cotter @ 12/26/2007 1:50 AM EST


Merry Christmas everyone!

The best part about vacationing in rural Maine: tons of free time.

Ghosted by Jessica Marie @ 12/26/2007 2:01 AM EST


God that Chia looks so tasty right now.

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 12/26/2007 2:10 AM EST


For what it’s worth: I made it back home finally! :)

Hope everyone else got to and fro safely!

Ghosted by Shaunfu @ 12/26/2007 2:37 AM EST


Hey all.  ^^  Glad to see the Christmas day went nicely.  I spent it w/ my sisters, screaming how much we’re gonna punch each other in the throat while playing Mario Kart DS (I got the Nintendogs pink DS lite bundle yay!!).  Violence in my family means luv.  XD

Good Guy: Way to survive, my good friend.  I hope you have a wonderful new year.  KICK ASS.  ^^

I also spent most of my day playing NiGHTS Journey of Dreams, which is a dream come true.  I never thought I’d finally be playing as my lil jester friend.  I’ve officially sent my soul to Nintendo as payment.  All I have left is Integrity, since I sold my sexuality and first born son to various other people for things like passing Art 113 A and getting a Wii.  lol

I’m hella behind on my drawing calendar, since the holidays ate it up, but keep an eye on my Deviant Art account (click my namey), and I gurantee one more full color Advent Calnedar work will be up before the year’s up.

Matt: This was the best holiday event I’ve ever been a part of.  I thank you for the experience, the love for the fans, and the memories.  XE Love.  Now have yourself a great fallout, new year, and holiday season.  Don’t kill the Chia, kay?

I’m heading out to bed (its 11 pm here in sunny cal), so stay warm, safe, and eat some cookies, cuz Christmas cookies rock.

Ghosted by Dio and Lex @ 12/26/2007 3:12 AM EST


That Chia pet is starting to look shaggy.  Now I don’t know if you go to the vet or a gardener, but trim that puppy!

Ghosted by Anonymous @ 12/26/2007 5:01 AM EST


We had like a four day holiday extravaganza.  Sat night we had a pre Xmas dinner at my Aunt’s house.  Some of her grandkids were in from Florida so she invited us too so my kids could play with her great grandkids.
Sun we went to a Christmas lighted zoo thing.  It was cool, most of teh animals were asleep but the white bengal tigers woke up to prowl around their area which was awesome.  For something that pimps the fact they have so many lights, its kinda sparse.  There are some cool wireframe/light custom jobs of realistic animals that are neat though.

Mon was the official Christmas party with relatives.  It was alright, hadnt been in years so that was cool to some respect.

Now after that party, it was bedtime right, well the kids considered it a nap cos teh oldest got up at 2 in the morning wanting to open presents.  She made enough racket that it woke up everyone else so by 4 we were opening presents.  We had a Little Tykes kitchen setup by the tree so it would be the first thing she saw when she walked out into the living room (which was turned into a Christmas cubby hole really) and that was it… I could have just got her that and she woulda been happy since she spent the rest of the morning messing with it and ignoring everything else.  hah

My haul was good as usual.  Eye of Judgment for PS3 plus 3 booster packs and a second theme deck, a wilderness fairy, a butterfly diamond necklace with some stones that look like a pinky purple, Care Bears 25th  anniversary bracelet, a pillow, some new headphones and heart ring.  Not bad…

We are going over to another Aunt’s house tomorrow who’s daughter and grandkids live with her.  I bought her two girls several presents after they told me the crap they got them.  Socks and clothes are NOT acceptable presents for a 3 and 5 year old.  No.  Not at all.  The 3 yr old is getting the Candy Land Castle game, a Color Wonder Disney Princess set and a Strawberry Shortcake DVD and the 5 yr old is getting the Sleeping Beauty pop up castle playset and a Disney Princess story collection book.  I think they will both be deliriously happy after their “real” christmas.  Everyone made me feel like a idiot for doing that for them but I dunno, if they are pleased, I will be too.  Ive only seen them a few times in my life but I just cant stand for kids to get shiatty presents on Xmas.

That reminds me, my Aunt always has a gift exchange at her holiday party, some relative I didnt recognize brought his kid but brought nothing for him to open under the tree so he ended up crying for like 30min and was still sobbing when we left.  That just sucks.  From now on Im going to keep a couple of generic presents in my vehicle for cases like this. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidayz to all!!

Ghosted by kittygirl @ 12/26/2007 5:14 AM EST


The start of christmas day was horrible. My husband and I were about to leave our apartment when we noticed our bikes weren’t where there were supposed to be, then we found out that someone cut the lock and stole them! Fucking merry Christmas to me! First time my bike was ever stolen. Breaks my heart, I loved that bike. Oh well, I still have good rest of christmas day.

Ghosted by trellian @ 12/26/2007 8:54 AM EST


Arrr…morning after with a headache. Well, Christmas went off well again this year, but man I’m beat. Made a four hour drive back to KC last night. Nothing blows more than not sitting around bored watching Christmas Specials than driving home. :( Miss the fam already, but got some cool stuff. Unfortunately I bought all the good presents for myself the weeks before hand. Might have to watch DVDs all day now. Can’t wait for fallout/advent! And…are we gonna get a new Santa? Perhaps Waiterbot’s host isn’t really dead and he could be resurrected.

Ghosted by Terror Claws Cole @ 12/26/2007 10:28 AM EST


Well, according to all the Christmas specials I’ve seen in the past, Christmas is supposed to be about spending time with the family. I live a couple states away from my family, so my husband and I spent Christmas alone. It was lonely and sad. I got to talk to my parents and my sister, but they had gotten into a big fight because she only went there for an hour then her new hubby had to take the kids to his mom-in-laws house (even though they’d been there all morning), and my sister was crying on the phone because everyone was mad at her. She was going to get drunk and didn’t know if she was still in love with her new hubby, her new hubby can’t stand my dad now.. It was depressing drama and even worse because I&