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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

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No thanks, think I’ll hit my OWN bed!

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!

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!!!!

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
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/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665089218&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.

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

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