The X-Entertainment Blog

12/01/2008: Spumoni Claus.

It’s December! And it’s Cyber Monday! I may be in the minority, but I love the concept of Cyber Monday. If you aren’t aware, “Cyber Monday” is intended to be the web-version of Black Friday, featuring the year’s biggest online sales and assorted brouhahas.

There are some who claim that Cyber Monday is a myth — a baseless term created by retailers to turn a non-event into a cash cow. Bah. The same could be said for Black Friday. Despite its reputation, Black Friday isn’t the busiest shopping day of the year. It isn’t even the second biggest. And while Black Friday sales can be noteworthy, it’s mostly the aura of the thing that makes it so newsworthy. If a bunch of online retailers want to extend that aura to another day of the year, what’s the big deal? Surely we the people have more important things to worry about. Killer birds with razor talons, for example.

It isn’t easy to choose the “right day” to blow several hundred dollars on Christmas presents for eighty-four children who will each get at least ten other gifts that they’ll like better than whatever I give them anyway. I’ll take all the help I can get.

Click here for a vast collection of Cyber Monday promotions.

Spumoni, once merely a misspelling of one of Dick Tracy’s lesser-known adversaries’ surnames, is now also an ice cream flavor from Edy’s. More correctly, it’s spumoni ice cream based on spumoni ice cream. True Italian spumoni is a little more rustic, so I guess this is more of a Neapolitan ice cream (also based on spumoni) with extra pizzazz.

As the previous paragraph proves, I seriously enjoy the word “spumoni.” Say it aloud. Type it a few times. You’ll see what I mean. Makes me want to run out and buy some kind of toy breed just so I can name it “Spumoni” and have an excuse to say “spumoni” all day everyday.

What is spumoni? In this incarnation, it’s compartments of chocolate, pistachio and strawberry ice cream, fortified with nuts and little bits of cherries. The color combination is very on-brand for Christmas, and between that and my love for that special word, I can only repay Edy’s with a blood sacrifice.

If SPUMONI isn’t your thing, Edy’s sells holiday-themed ice cream in many other flavors. I reviewed their peppermint and egg nog flavors last year, if those are more your style. If they aren’t, there is no satisfying people like you.

Oh, and the Advent Calendar has begun. That too.

Survey: What’s the #1 thing on your wishlist this year? Note that “world peace” is so played.

Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

Spumoni, hmmm? Sounds tempting… I have got to pick me up a pack of Jones holiday sodas this year, as each year in the past I say I’m going to, then I forget.

Should try the Spumoni ice cream, and thanks once again for the Advent Calendar.

I’ve had that Spumoni ice cream before, and I absolutely loved it. I really want to get more but I couldn’t remember who made it, thanks for the refresher Matt! Three cheers of “SPUMONI!” to you!

I don’t really have a #1 thing on my list. There’s nothing I really desperately want. I think the best thing I got last year were 600 thread-count sheets. At first I was categorizing them into the same pile as clothes, but then I actually tried them.

Holy hell! The difference is huge! They are so much softer, and I daresay I actually sleep better since I got them! Possibly the best “now that you’re grown up” xmas gift I have received in a long time.

I guess getting the next thread-count higher would be nice, but I think I’d rather get a new comforter to match them better. Blue and toothpaste-green don’t work very well.

Number one thing on the wish list is a new MacBook Pro. But I know that isn’t going to happen as I don’t have any money and neither do my parents. Maybe in March of next year, after my birthday…

Edy’s makes the best peppermint ice cream. I cry tears of joy when it gets to be December, knowing that my mouth will prepetually taste of mint. Of course, I cry like a little girl come January, knowing I’ll have to crush up stale candy canes for the next year if I want my vanilla Edy’s to taste even remotely pepperminty.

Oh, and Guitar Hero: World Tour is my top gift. I am almost totally sure that I’m getting it though.

Considering I work for an e-commerce division, Cyber Monday is indeed a very real and big thing for some.

Like that Walmart trampling death thing. That happened at the Walmart in the mall I grew up in and literally a few blocks from where my parents live.

I hope we get another Jones Holiday review. The first one from years ago was hysterical. I think someone said their flavor tasted like burnt ass….

Mmm… ice cream, but ice cream is kind of inappropriate for such a cold season. I usually associate the Winter/Christmas season with cake, cookies and hot chocolate.

This spumoni stuff looks pretty fantastic. Pistachio ice cream is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind.

Also, number one on my wishlist this year is a digital camera, which I know full well I’m not going to get as a gift from anybody, and can’t really justify spending my own money on.

Second on my list is jeans. I need more jeans. Jeans that fit. Mine are all getting too big (a good problem to have!). Of course, this will probably not happen either.

I kept getting reminded of Dino Spumoni from “Hey, Arnold” whenever I read that word.

One question I’d like to get answered: How the hell did Cherry Cordials ie, Chocolate-covered Cherries, become associated with Christmas? They’re all over the place at my CVS.

My #1 Wishlist item? The 20th Anniversery MST3K DVD Tin. But on a realistic “Something that doesn’t cost $800 for awesome” note would be Animal Crossing: City Folk.

Spumoni is the worst flavor of ice cream I’ve ever had. Nads Hair Gel Ice Cream would probably taste better ;). I can’t say one nice thing about it.

However, I did eat a Blue Bunny Eggnog Ice Cream Sandwich today. We also have some peppermint ones in the freezer, too.

lets see…I’m hoping that on my Bar Mitzvah, in lieu of money, some folks will get me a 360/PS3, so I can rule that out…I’m gonna go with that new Star Wars Milennium Falcon toy. Technically, I’m told I have to get to sleep on time/get to the bus on time for a month until I get the toy, since I gotta “work up” to get something so expensive.

I JUST BOUGHT some Edy’s Peppermint Ice Cream today; my daughter and I had a bonding moment eating some in the parking lot at Giant…

there’s a restaurant here in Cincinnati called the Old Spaghetti Factory that serves Spumoni ice cream after every meal.. - personally, i love the stuff.. - i’ll have to see if i can find it at the local groceries so i can have some to snack on at home while i watch the California Raisins Christmas special a few more hundred times..

my number one wishlist item this year? - wow.. - nothing too big or wild this year.. - probably the recently released first volume of the Silverhawks cartoon series on DVD.. - but i’m pretty sure my wife already snagged it for me from an online retailer.. - my Amazon wishlist changes periodically whenever i get the random urge to be a completest and get the rest of the DVDs of a series (ex: Sonic X) i’d enjoyed..

I can not wait to sink my spoon into some Egg Nog Ice Cream, maybe topped with actual egg nog and some Spumoni floating in the cup.

Macbook. But failing that (and honestly, I expect it to fail) I’m hoping for a new long coat and Animal Crossing for the Wii. I think I’ll get both.

I don’t really want anything this year. I guess if I could pick anything, there’s this one latex mask I’d be happy to get, but nothing fits my giant head anyway.

I don’t know if it’s just me, but as a third generation american Italian, I am very, very self-conscious about the pronunciations of Italian foods. To say them the Italian way feels pretentious and phony, like Giada on food network with her mooootzadella and her rrrrrrrigotta. Ugh. But to say them the American way seems artificial as well.

Spumoni is pronounced the same way no matter which side of the fence I sit on. Praise Spumoni.

Yes, the Advent Calendar has begun! I was thinking it wasn’t going to be up until this evening.

The Number 1 item on my Christmas list is the 2-disc Special Edition of 2001: A Space Odyssey that was released last year. Number 2 is the DVD of 2010: The Year We Make Contact. That is my entire list for this year.

#1 Wishlist: There’s a cool looking geiger counter online, plugs into the RS-232 port on your laptop. I obtained a few pieces of Trinitite not too long ago (which I keep in a metal box out in the shed) and I want to see how “hot” they really are. Also, my wife was taking this vitamin supplement from GNC or somesuch store, and it’s supposed to contain trace amounts of all these rare earth minerals that your body supposedly needs. And 2 of the ingredients are Thorium and Polonium. I’d like to see hot hot this stuff is too. This geiger counter keeps a log and history of the millicuries recorded. A total big-boy grown up toy…

i think i have a new favorite Waiterbot quote:
“Let’s just do our business in silence and head home, also in silence.”

Review the World, I’m so sorry. but if I ever meet Giada, I’m gonna cave her face in. Because her voice and her words and the way she shows every single tooth when she smiles makes me want to get a little rough with the girl. And she’s a fellow big-head like myself, so you’d think there would be a little empathy.

My number#1 wishlist gift? ipod. I LOVE music! I love ice cream in general, so i’m sure i’d love that kind. Also , all those clues about destroyed houses, giant crabs and circus’s FINALLY make sense!

I wanted to make a joke I’ve used before in reference to Giada’s hotness and a bowl of her fecal fettuccini—but alas, this isn’t the time nor place, I wouldn’t dare have December 1st before forever known as the date Brian went there.

I guess the main thing on my wishlist is any random Simpsons box set that I don’t already have, because I get one season each year. Honestly I’m not all that worried about what I get this year because I’ve reached the point where if I want something that bad, I just buy it myself. Plus, my biggest Christmas gift will be 2 weeks off work. Employment in the school system has its perks.

jazzy
As an employee of Higher education who is getting 10 days off for Christmas: Hi5!

I’m sorry, but that looks disgusting. If you mixed it up it would turn all brown…like Trix yogurt

Not something I would ever eat.

Advent calendar is awesome, but I missed like half of last years so I’m a little lost

Maybe you could post a link to the old one? That would be awesome

I swear, an hour into work I was sitting there contemplating the elephant training sessions. Like, at length. Thanks for what you do, Matt.

I think #1 on my wishlist would be the whole set of LOST Kubricks, including the special rare Desmond and Benry figures, but somewhat more feasible is the super snazzy collector’s edition of Tales of Beedle the Bard. Also super expensive, but I’m still hoping I might get an email today from Amazon telling me I can buy it at a steal. Anybody else try that voting dealie they were pushing?

Lately we’ve been stocked with both spumoni and Spumante at all times. I’m still working on getting to like Spumante but to not love spumoni is to not love life.

Probably the Metal Gear Solid Essentials Collection, an Xbox 360, or Left 4 Dead.

The number 1 thing on my Christmas list is a blue 8-gig Zune.

Also, huzzah for the Advent Calendar! Other Advent-urers, I apologize for my lack of attention. After December 11 (when the semester ends) I will be able to devote my full time to furthering the cause. As long as Fallout 3 doesn’t eat my life.

My #1 wish is a wii. However, I cannot imagine anyone who will buy it for me, SO I may wait until student loan time next year and by a video game system with it. I might as well be eighteen years old

Waiterbot is my favorite character I have decided. Because when he swears, it’s funny. (also a point which ages me at eighteen)

I don’t really have a number 1 item…most expensive item is a Wii, but I don’t expect it. I mostly want books, CDs, DVDs, and iTunes gift cards. Or a Christmas miracle where I wake up and can suddenly walk. :/

Mmm, Giada…the second hottest thing on Food Network. The first? Let’s just say she’s yummo.

My number one thing is some version of Photoshop…I’m tired of my pictures being underwhelming! And I would LOVE to afford to be able to give my parents in-law a Wii…but that’s not going to happen

SO super excited for advent this year! Thanks in advance for all its wonders and glory, Matt.

My #1 wish this year is for the voices in my head to go away, I hate hearing them chant icecream and master bait over and over again. Merry Christmas!

The number one thing on my wish list is The Real Ghostbusters Complete Series dvd box set.

Oh I forgot to mention the ninja turtles that they keep pouncing on me and won’t go away either.

Number one on my list WAS Guitar Hero World Tour, but after seeing not only the band pack’s hard-to-find status for the Wii, but the realization that I have no place to keep the drums and another plastic guitar, I’m getting myself, um, I mean asking Santa for “Mario Kart Wii,” which I’ve wanted for a long time anyway. That, and I can get ANYBODY to play “Mario Kart” with me. Any “Guitar Hero”/”Rock Band” games tend to involve a lot of unsuccessful cajoling of friends and family members. They’re intimidated by the instrument controllers and the fact that I play “old-people guitar” in real life. (Admittedly, I’m better on guitar than on “Guitar Hero.”)

Also “asked for” The Dark Knight Special Edition, and a swanky Alfred Hitchcock boxed set.

I like chocolate, cherries, and pistachios, and ice cream ain’t too bad either. But, I can safely say I’d NEVER eat that Spumoni.I’m close to 30 and I eat like a 4 year old. I fear new food.
*I was hoping for a Killer Klowns From Amalthea Advent Plot, but this calendar is rockin already.

The star on the top of my wish list is a new camera because I’m an idiot and lost mine.

And a Blu-Ray player I guess, but I’m not sure if I want to buy all the shit I already have again.

review,i went to the old spaghetti factory in edmonton on vacation,this summer and the waitress was so fucking snooty,bitchy and up in my fucking grill i all most puked.i wrote a really harsh comment card to get her fired but alas i didnt give it to them.the ice cream was fab,though

hmmm #1 on my Christmas list???? Money! and a job in my chosen career path of medical billing and coding or as a medical receptionist.

other than that, wii fit and money for a 360 or ps3 and a ds lite because my top screen is gonna die soon in my old ds.

We’re officially going into Christmas, and I’m apparently still hung up on Halloween…CD I’ve been listening to the past three days? “Rocky Horror Picture Show” 20th Anniversary soundtrack that the girl my mom used to babysit gave me last year. I like how it’s got the dialogue in it as well, and has the ENTIRE soundtrack.

I was at TrU today….and I saw the Playmobil Circus set! I kinda looked but kinda didn’t bc I was afraid of spoilers.

They had a cool looking Mare type lady with a stripe shirt and brown purse that came with the kit. And some kick ass animals too.

Oh and one more wish list thing….I saw this as well at TrU….an Ewok FLASH DRIVE!!!

I want a DS with Tecmo Bowl and all the good RPGs…Final Fantasy IV, Chrono Trigger, etc.

If Santa is really good to me, I definitely want a Mac laptop…this Dell is on life-support.

I’m not sure what big ticket items I would want. I seem to get the most mileage out of encyclopedia-style books about bugs and monsters and fish that cost ten bucks a piece.

#1 secret wish: that my step-step nephews have to spend Christmas with their mom and not with us.

The number one thing on my wish list is my boyfriend being safe. Since that isn’t a gaurantee, some polymer clay would be nice.

Chrono Trigger DS is at the top of my list, though I wish it was $10 less than it is. Come on, it’s a pre-existing game, development cost had to be less than half.

My nephew and I get the 10$ gigantic books of knowledge every year. Elvis, dogs, muscle cars, the universe, dinosaurs, we’ve got ‘em all. For x-mas, I wouldn’t mind some MST3K DVD’s; all my old “taped from comedy central or sci-fi” vhs’s are burning out. Maybe a DVD recorder where I can dub my old vhs’s over to dvd. That’s be sweet.

My wish for this year, a simple computer cart, with a nice open back, so I can hook whatever I want in without having to move the computer around. If I just get the one perfect computer desk or cart, I will be happy.

I have been wishing for one for about three years now- someone tried to appease me with a gimpy ass sewing kit two christmases ago and that only infuriated me.

Or a new bedding ensemble. I’m sick of my sheets not matching my pillows OR my blankets.

I bought Chrono Trigger DS because I’m a total sucker. And the Playstation version of it sucks.

Number 1 Want: a few acres in the mountains that I can farm, with a dome house and dome barn that houses a couple adopted wild mustangs and a lil brown wild burro (all tamed and trained by me, of course).

Number 1 Need: New CPU that can run XP (so I don’t have to replace all my expensive software), new printer, gift certificate for lots of money for getting my car all fixed and stuff.

Other wants: anything non-2007-movie Transformers, especially a calendar. Of all these things, this is the least likely to happen with my family, but most likely with friends!

what i really want for christmas is a wii. but the chances are quite slim, so i guess i would just like to know that we’ll be able to pay our bills till better jobs come along. we live in a county where a gm plant just went under, and they seem to get first pick of what’s left…which isn’t much. yay lame-ass auto industry!

Top priority on my wish list this year? Clothes. No, seriously. I’ve lost quite a bit of weight over the past year and a half, and most of my clothes are hanging off of me. I badly need a new winter coat, too, preferably waterproof. And I need a new CD player, too, in the old-looking “Victrola” style that my dad got me a couple of years ago. Oh, and “The Chronological Donald Vol 4″ Walt Disney Treasures DVD set; has that awesome “Trick or Treat” cartoon on it, and “Donald In Mathmagic Land.”

I’ve been selling that Edy’s Spumoni Ice Cream for years now. I’ve been told by customers that it’s divine, but I’m not a big pistachio fan and have never have any myself. The Eggnog Ice Cream, though…that’s some good stuff. I really need to get me some the next time Edy’s on sale.

And a great start on the Advent Calender! The circus setting is certainly different, the plots sound wonderfully evil, and Waiterbot verbally abusing circus animals is hilarious.

I guess maybe a Wii game. Maybe “Family Game Night”. As dorky as it sounds,that seems really fun.

I went to Target tonight,and I got the new CD by the Cure,and it owns. Seriously,I was a little turned off by their last two albums,but this one is really awesome.

Also at Target NEW ROBOT HEROES!!! Or at least they’re new to me,sorry if they’re old news. I got Arcee and Rumble. What’s funny about Rumble is he’s one of the biggest Robot Heroes,even though he’s also at tape. I don’t want to get anyone riled up or anything,but I’m just letting you know that by “Rumble” I mean the RED tape,because that’s what it calls him on the box. Take it up with Hasbro.

They also have: Hound/Blitzwing (these have been out forever),Rhinox and Waspinator (a big fan favorite) and Optimus Primal and Tarantulas. Primal’s a little bit of a disappointment. His face looks a little weird.

Kid Nicky - aren’t they just ADORABLE? :D I still haven’t decided whether or not to decorate my Decepticon purple tree with them or not.

The Grinch is on! The Grinch is on! (The REAL one, too!) That does it - tree is going up tomorrow!

My number one thing on my list? Unfortunatley, it’s a tie between five things.
WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2009 (Wii)
Animal Crossing: City Folk w/ Wii Speak
Sonic Unleashed (Wii)
Mario Kart Wii
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time
Can’t wait for later tonight. Shrek the Halls and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon) is on ABC. Also, Monday Night RAW, with John Cena facing Kane, Melina facing Jillian Hall, Rey Mysterio vs. The Miz, and Finlay vs. John Morrison (with more to come!)! I love wrasslin, in case you can’t tell

Also, I’m going to wait till I’m off for Winter Break before I by Sierra Mist: Cranberry Splash, 7-Up Pomegranae, Canada Dry’s Christmas soda and the two Eddy’s brands (so I don’t devour it before Christmas).

It FINALLY started to snow AND hail in my neck of the woods! Howdy Christmas, I MISSED ya! =D

we got Sleet today

. Just got done watching the specials on TV , i thought they were tomorrow .ABC really popped a surprise on us old folks thinking that the holiday specials only come on Tuesdays and Thursday . Well next Monday is the Peanuts Christmas ..i guess I’ll be a Monday TV watcher till Xmas

Inside the Actors Studio: Daniel Radcliffe [8 PM, Bravo] - James Lipton drools as Harry Potter coyly discusses his opinions on wizards, Quidditch and stage nudity.

Starscream77, I think ABC is putting a Christmas special on every day till December 26th.

Number 1 on my wishlist? G4tv’s Olivia Munn in my bed Christmas Morning. Oh man, if there is a Jesus Santa hybrid, and he’s listening please make this happen. Chances are I would need to be more famous then Matt and Spumoni combined, but hey I can hope, pray, and wish.

Number one on the wish list? An Imperial AT AT driver helmet so I can wear it to work.

Rev. This isn’t just a contribution to my daily attempt of ass kissery in your direction. Really it isn’t. But I loathe it too when people use an accent when saying certain words. It is like my skin is coming in contact with a cheese grater.

Teddy Ray About 3 years ago I had a crush on Rachael Ray. I wanted to come home from work and have her wear a nice red and white checkerboard apron and greet me at the door with a smile and a kiss on the cheek. I think time is what made it wear off and I laugh with her now when she acts like a total spaz. I can see why there are anti Rachael Ray sites now. I am not one of them but I can see why people would love to hate her. They call her Raytard, Teddy Ray! Our poor thing

gingela5 I prefer paint shop pro. I have the latest pirated version on my computer from a torrent site. Photoshop and Paint shop pro are very expensive and IMO not worth buying for casual use. I rarely buy software anyway but that particular product I don’t think I would ever buy a copy of. I mean come on I really don’t think it’s worth that much money. I think it’s nonsense when one piece of software is 10 bucks and another is like 600. I understand there is more time involved but still.

I’ve been watching Giada’s new show, and I think I have a crush on her husband.
And now that the Advent Calendar is here, I’ve gotten what I wanted. The Advent Calendar, not Giada’s husband.

I personally like to try to say stuff correctly, be it in Spanish, Italian, Japanese, whatever. Yeah, I get some weird looks but I don’t give a crap. XD

Yeah Kid Nicky, I have those Robot Heroes now too. I think I mentioned this here the other day already, but it bears repeating: I decorated my tree with the Robot Heroes that I didn’t have room on the shelf for, complete with Optimus Prime opening the Matrix at the very top, since I don’t have a tree topper. Looking at it makes me smile.

Everything is right with the world again…the advent calendar is back!
Thank you Matt for creating an amazing tradition.

I must admit, didnt expect a circus theme this year, but I welcome it with open arms.

ShadyDave I have a thing for her too!! She looks like she smells and tastes good. Like seriously. I just want to say I am not obsessed with her I just found that picture one day randomly and saved it.

WolfMan I’m curious. You want to abort yourself, right? It’s just you were so vague I didn’t understand the details.

Goob: No no no… I meant the fetus inside my ex gf. And I’m kinda half kidding about it… I think

Awesome. The return of Mista Snowman, tigerboy, and James fucking Lipton. Not to mention all the others.

The advent calendar (and the entire x-e site) has become kind of my in cube Christmas vacation when I need to get away from the morons I work with.

Thanks Matt. I know it must be a ton of work to keep it all up. It sure is appreciated by a geek like me.

I’ve seen Spumoni in the store and I’ve always been afraid of it - this post may have given me the courage to try it.
I can’t think of anything specific I want for Christmas.
However, my birthday is tomorrow (!) so I hope there are some precious advent gifts that I can pretend are for me on my special birthin’ day.

Anyway, had a great time tonight watching an old Voltron episode. It was like the next to last one, so if I keep watching this week I might see those coveted final episodes I never saw as a kid.

BTW, I’ve noticed Voltron (along with G.I. Joe) are the few shows from back in the day I enjoy JUST AS MUCH as I did back in the day.

Terror Claws: I always liked the villains on Voltron. The robeasts especially. One of my all time fav is the one with drills on his chest and a gremlin head.

Hmmm well, I’d say a Wii but that’s kinda in the bag already. I’ve been swelled up with tears since Friday that my fiance actually went out to the mall on Black Friday morning to get me one. The gesture is just like… holy fuck. Still debating on return gift, I was considering the Champagne Towers but maybe I’ll save the fuck-a-palooza for his birthday next month.

It was so wonderful to wake up and read me some advent! I’m officially back to checking X-E before Facebook!

The number one Christmas gift for me would be 3rd season of The Muppet Show or Fraggle Rock.

The number one Christmas gift for the grown-up responsible me would be a crib for #3 due in March.

Click my name to see my #1 wish list item. Just looking at it makes me want to touch myself inappropriately.

Wolfman Ahhh ok. I am a woman but I can kind of sympathize with men in that situation. I have three male cousins that have a child with an ex gf.

Goob: How did that go for them? Makes no sense why chicks think that’s an ok thing to do. Just have to make the best of it I guess.

WolfMan, if you don’t want to make children, don’t have sex. Your girlfriend feels it more than you, because its her child growing within her, and the hormones are running rampant changing her body to accomodate it. So naturally there’s going to be ‘illogical’ decisions like not wanting to kill it, and then wanting to keep it regardless of whether its really a good thing or not. Man up and take responsibility like a father should if she doesn’t want an abortion.

DREW DO: Those new MOTU figures are boss as shit. Glad to see Mattel still wants to try with their classic property.

Can I change mine to what Cheetara wants? I also want a Kindle. I am blowing through about 2 to 3 books a week and I think that will do nicely.

Moony You’re telling me… if there is no sex, there is no baby? Wha… where were you two months ago? Hormones or not, a stupid decision is a stupid decision. And by “man up” do you mean moving to another street and changing my number so I don’t have to deal with it? Cuz… that’s been my plan so far.

By ‘man up’ I mean if she decides to keep it, that you stick around and be a father.

Ohhhhhh, I guess that’s an option too. (The former was actually her family’s advice for her)

Well, if her family’s that way, maybe *she* ought to move and change her number instead.

;)

As promised, I am here. Hearty lols all around, even if I feel like I missed backstory by not participating in Box 23

When you actually get the wii in your posession I guess at Christmas, you NEED NEED NEED Animal Crossing City Folk!

#1 on the gift list this year was a Wii — until the husband’s car died, so instead we got a new battery and a new alternator.

#1 on my personal wishlist is a piano, like an electric one or something. I miss playing music, and I’m afraid one day I won’t remember how.

Am stocking up on confectioners’ sugar, chocolate chips, and other assorted cookie and candy-making ingredients around here, and will start the first round of holiday baking soon. I always get really excited before I start it, then by the end I’m sick of washing bowls and cookie sheets and pans and such, but I like having scores and scores of sweets to enjoy and give away.

Oh how I laaaaaaugh when young guys get slapped with consequences…especially the kinds of consequences that last at least 18 - 20 years!

Spumoni! I remember getting Safeway’s Lucerne brand Spumoni ice cream when I was little. It was terrible. It was entirely green, and had a sort of black liquorice flavour, with little nuts or candied things mixed throughout.
In my mind now I imagine them to be those weird macaroni bits you see cross-sectioned in that luncheon meat.

Annette-you mentioned the tree,but I didn’t know these particular characters were allready out. I’m out of the robot loop,I guess. Alot of the stores around here are still stuck with overstock of the Cheetor/Blackarachnia packs.
Terror Claws-Voltron is awesome as hell,whether you’re young or old.

#1 Wish Item: That special-edition Starscream that came out a few years ago that looks just like original Starscream, but the stuff that was white on him is grey, and it’s huge. Anyone know what I’m talking about…?

Here’s a quote from Goob: Rev. This isn’t just a contribution to my daily attempt of ass kissery in your direction. Really it isn’t. But I loathe it too when people use an accent when saying certain words. It is like my skin is coming in contact with a cheese grater.

Goob, I’m replying to this so my wife can see that I am not the only one! There is this reporter on the big news station in the DC area. I presume she is Hispanic. A very good reporter, I like her sound. I mean, he diction is perfect; big city, major market radio. No “accent”. But when she does a news story, at the very end of the story, when she says her name, it’s like she turns the special effects knob to “Ricky Riccardo”. Rolling the R’s and all that. You don’t want to deny someone their heritage. But my wife can’t understand why it drives me nuts. I can’t explain it, but it does!

The newscaster probably has the same problem I do. While I loathe having to fake an authentic Italian accent at dinner time, my grandparents would never let me live it down if I asked them to pass the ri-COTT-a, or the Ma-ri-NA-ra or whatever.

Since we were all wet over nutella in here recently, I will tell you the one thing Giada made that really made an impression on me. Brownies, I think from a box, with a thick coating of nutella and crushed hazelnuts sprinkled on top. Not exactly chef like cooking, but it looked really good. AND she was able to fit an entire brownie in her mouth without getting any on her face or teeth!

I’m a Rachel Ray fan mah self. Her food is at least do able to the average wannabe chef. My mom and grandma make “stoup” all the time…its what Rachel calls a stew /soup type of dish. I heard tell that she is a bitch on wheels in person though. She was at the local Borders last year and the staff said she was ungodly rude and mean.

I think it’s maybe bc she was on her period or pissed at her foot fetish husband…that had to be it. She doesn’t seem to have a mean bone in her body!

I think that Giada has a square head. I didn’t think those existed until I saw her.

Hey, not to be a whiner, but when is todays AC? I’m loving it so far, can’t wait for the next chapter – maybe we’ll see the return of Legotron!

I’ve reached that sad state of adulthood where my love of getting random crap on the holidays has been eclipsed by my stress over where to put stuff. I never thought I’d see this day. This may be the first year I really don’t have anything high on my list. If we’re being unrealistic, I’d love a new house.

To join in the Photoshop conversation, I agree that your average person does not need PS. PS is made to be a professional application, and the price you’re paying is for lots of high-end tools and settings that most people will never need or know what to do with. It’s like buying a Hummer to go to the end of the driveway and pick up your mail. If you’re just looking for a way to spruce up family photos, I highly recommend Photofiltre (www.photofiltre.com). It probably does everything you need and, best of all, it’s freeware for personal use. GIMP is another freeware image program, but I honestly find Photofiltre more user friendly. If you really need Photoshop for some reason (I frequently need to work with .psd files with my job), Photoshop Elements is around $100 and is a good basic alternative to the full-blown version.

To chime in, if you have the training, Photoshop is amazing. I got my undergrad in Graphic Design and the limitations of crappier programs are frustrating to say the least.

Rev., let’s snap Giada in half (or Giardia as she is affectionately known in my house). Ewwwww. Plus, one time she had her mom on her show and was all “My mom’s a crappy cook, watch as I try unsuccessfully to teach her how to cook something super easy! Hahaha, she doesn’t understand!”

On the other hand, Alton Brown is my hero. Hooray for nerdiness and food! I met him at a book signing once and was a nervous little school girl.

I have an unfair bias against Alton for my made-up theory that his rise to prominence is why so many of the Food Network’s old guard have been shuffled down and/or out. Besides, Marc Summers is still the champ.

Kind of an odd year for me - I already got what was #1 on my wish list. A friend had a beautiful Fender Telecaster guitar that I fell in love with, and he decided to sell it to me. The timing presented a problem, since it’s Christmas-present-buying time of year, and I didn’t have a lot of extra cash. However, my wife was cool about it and agreed that if I bought the guitar, it would be her present to me this year. The downside is that I guess I won’t have much to open on Christmas. Guess I’ll have to just play my new guitar instead!

Come on, Matt. Rachael Ray’s rise to prominence is why the Food Network largely went to hell. I don’t even hate her, but the intense marketing around her brand spelled doom for everyone else.

My #1 gift wish this year is a big flatscreen computer monitor. I’m still using my 10-year-old, 17-inch CRT, and it’s time for a change. #2 on my list is gift certificates to Lowe’s where I will be purchasing a new front door and storm door, plus a sliding screen door for the patio. That’s how you know you’re old: when you want doors for Christmas.

love Christmas around these parts!!!
whats number one on my wish list….
probably the new nintendo DSi. Only out in japan right now though =(

I honestly have to admire Marc Summers for the fact he hosted Double Dare and suffers from OCD. I saw him on a TV program once and he is obsessed with cleanliness, order, and neatness. Definitely not something that Double Dare was known for.

I disagree as well that Alton Brown is why Food Network went to hell. If anything, he’s the only shining beacon of hope left besides Marc Summers. And I’m pretty sure that the dumb “How’d That Get on My Plate?” was a half-assed attempt to rehash “Unwrapped” by adding in an unecessary middleman.

These people, however: Giada, Sandra Lee, The Neelys, Bobby Flay, Rachel Ray, Guy Fieri, Paula Deen. We can only hope that some of Sandra’s “konkoktions” poison the lot of them.

Jeez…remember when Emeril was the Chef everyone loved to hate? He seems like such a saint compared to these guys.

Apparently the time is right to click on December 23rd on the Advent Calendar, but what does this odd directory of seemingly unrelated images mean to my second favorite holiday? Feels very Cloverfieldish…

Alright, did I totally miss something between last year’s calendar? Giant crabs, Kuse in a waking coma, Mista Snowman still alive?

I think that these are the events that happened in the interim between the two calendars. Time continues for our Advent-urers as it does for us.

I think I did a bad thing. December 1st came and I dove into my Xmas food cache, and I started listening to my Xmas music as well. Am I starting too fast too soon? I don’t want to get burned out two weeks in.

No, you are doing fine. Your home should be fully festooned by now. The supermarket had the Christmas music cranked last night, and the girl behind the fish counter already looked dazed by it.

Do like I do. Find something you enjoy and smash your face into it repeatedly for at least a month. That’s the Rev. Back It On Up 13 way!

Add me to the list of X-Ers with a thing for Olivia Munn and to the list of X-Ers who are fans of Alton Brown. I also enjoy Guy Fieri and the crew from Ace of Cakes. Some of the gals in Duff’s bakery aren’t too bad on the eyes.

Now I really want Spumoni and I can’t go to the store till later this week. This is so not fair : )

I LIKE The Neeley’s and Paula Dean! I like watching the cake contests and food network challenge. An online friend of mine was a contestant on Food network trivia or soemthing like that. Marc Summers hosted it. She won a trip I think. She totally kicked everyones asses and it was on youtube i believe

Hey, tonight ABC is playing Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town for those Holiday nuts (99% of us). Saw Shrek the Halls and How The Grinch Stole Christmas last night. Loved every second of it. Also, I might go to the store and by the Christmas soda tonight. If I run out I’ll just buy some more! Can’t wait till the Advent Calander is up for today!

Oh, and I got my first Christmas gift from my friend Mike! They were:
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (The Animated Series) Bonus Disk
Peter Griffin plushie
The Best of the Colbert Report (that I let him borrow back in January). Overall, not a bad haul! I’m loving it! (Oh, the Ace Ventura also has a Christmas episode on it. Added bonus!

)

Just opened the Ace Ventura DVD. He also put in the live action movie to go with it! I now have a new best friend!

For my last post, just to randomly say, it’s holiday icon day at school today. I brought my Roudolph plushie from home. Can’t waot to go back home to watch my new DVD’s!

Rachel Ray is a talentless hack. Sorry, but I can’t understand how what she makes qualifies her as a chef. If she’s a chef, than so am I and I should quit my day job.

Besides that, she has the voice of a she-man, and looks like the Daughter of the Joker. What a creepy, overly toothy smile.

Alexander - The 10 PM newscast on Channel 11 here in NY has someone like that who does sports. Her name is Lolita Lopez. She constantly throws in little Spanish phrases, like when someone score a 3, she says “Dame tres!” and then immediately translates that into English. It just sounds ridiculous and forced. I’m Latin, and I’m proud of my heritage and culture, but it’s like me coming to work and speaking in Spanish to the people I work with and then translating in English, just to drive the point that I’m Latin.

I want to grab that broad and slap her and say “We get it, you’re Latin, if you’re so insecure about it, go work at Telemundo. You’re making other Latins look ridiculous”

Actually, that whole news cast pisses me off. Mr G. needs to get hit by a fucking lightning bolt and Kaitie Tong looks like a re-animated Asian corpse.

Maybe that’s what I want for Christmas. For the WB11 news studio to catch on fire!

Last night, the Season officially arrived for me. I saw my first BC Clark jingle ad. A OKC jewelry store was founded 116 years ago around this time of year, so Christmas brings ads that are fondly remembered by Okies, native and transplanted, the world around. Although, Ma saw one last week while watching the Macy’s Parade. What local holiday ads do you guys look forward to?

kingklash
I don’t know of any Local ads, but my Dad and his college roommate used to have a contest to see who would see the first “Champagne glasses crashing together to the tune of Carol of the Bells” ad that I never can remember what it was for.

Oh, I do look forward to the Hershey’s kisses bell ad. And lots of other Christmas ads. but I can’t for the life of me think of a local one right now…

Really love Man Eating Chicken, however I hope he doesn’t become part of Legotron eating chicken…

mandy_Reeves There was an Unwrapped Trivia show on a few years ago. Marc Summers did host it. I think it only lasted a season or two.

Annie I saw a commercial the other day for Rachael Ray dog food. The money is going to charity but still.

Mystie I am truly happy for you. I kind of had a feeling that you would eventually marry him with you talking about him moving in and such. You are going to have one bad ass wedding it sounds like!

WolfMan Heh it’s kind of a long story. Interesting though. The oldest cousin that is in his 40’s has a son that is about 14 years old. He dated the mother for 3 months and about a month after they broke up she called up one day and said guess what? So he gave her about 500 I think dollars for an abortion.

She spent it on other things and because she is a raging bitch she decided that my cousin was the best thing to happen to her so she decided to give birth. That might sound offensive to some women but trust me she isn’t the type you want to get involved with in any way. I feel sorry for his son more then him. He is an adult and got into it as an adult but his son is not developed as well in his life as he should. He is very sexually repressed and immature for his age.

She is very controlling and lies to her son and everyone else all the time. The last go around I heard about is my cousin got custody because she left with their son for about 4 months without a phone number to reach her or address or any way to contact her. She said she got a job out of state and well the family she was working for was tired of her and kicked her out.

So she moved back to the same state. She started to have medical problems from years of a disease her heart or something like that and she was in the hospital. Well she asked my aunt (my cousin’s mom) to take care of their son during that time. She took him out of school before that to take care of her. So my cousin’s son (my cousin as well of course) went to summer school to catch up.

So he was behind in school and caught up with my aunt. The judge gave my cousin custody because of her lying and being sick and not having a job. Their son moved in with him during the next summer and so it was him his son and his gf that they were dating for two years whom I really like his gf and they seem to be soul mates. But anyway his son started the I am a teenager so I am not listening to you phase and started arguing and stuff.

Well his mom started telling him you don’t have to obey the gf she isn’t an authority and you can lie to her etc. there was a big conflict with him arguing with the gf and my cousin and he took off and ran away. So anyway he ran away to his mom’s and his mom lied and said my cousin beat him and so he was afraid. She has so much control over him that he would lie in court and say my cousin did that. I don’t know the update that was about 2 years ago when he just turned 13.

I have another cousin that is about my age he just turned 26 about a week ago. He has a daughter that is about 5 years old. He doesn’t have as much of a clusterfuck but the mom does get very particular and he was in Iraq and got a ton of money and she got a pretty high percent and he felt like he just had to deal with it and felt like he couldn’t really do anything. They said they dated but he met her at a party and they had sex but I don’t think they dated before I think they just met at a party and had sex lol. That cousin’s younger brother that has a 2 year old. The ex gf admitted she knew the relationship was about to end and she was in love with him and so she stopped taking her birth control. Augh. Women like that give women in general a bad name. He doesn’t have to pay child support though she I guess didn’t want to be that much of a bitch but he visits his daughter and does the father thing.

They have a younger sister whom I love as a sister that has a 2 year old too and she is going to marry the father of the daughter someday. She is young, 20 years old, and so they are trying to get steady jobs and go to college first I think before marrying. Which I don’t understand why people do that. Is it a taxes thing? I don’t know.

Goob
Getting married costs a lot of money. Plus, School/finding a job takes a lot of time and you wouldn’t be able to develop a relationship. Most people are now waiting much later to get married.

Myself, I’m wanting quite a few books on WW1/WW2 I’ve been browsing, like I need any more, and I tried to think of something I needed for the reenactment (or as i like t call it “geekiness defined”) stuff, but I keep comming up blank. Maybe some Family Guy dvd’s ? Who knows.

Cameron T. I understand people want to get married later but when you know you want to get married to someone why wait several years introducing this person as their fiance and then finally marrying them? I mean what if something unfortunate happens to them during that time. People don’t look at you as the grieving widow they just look at you as the gf. And you can’t have privileges like when you are married. Like if they are in the hospital and they need someone to sign consent forms.

I think it’s more romantic to just go to city hall and get the marriage license then going and having a huge expensive wedding. I understand the parents want to be involved, the Dad wants to give the girl away etc. but for thousands of dollars? I read a girl online said she and her husband spent 1500 dollars on their wedding and it was even better because of it. She said that her and her bridesmaids did the flower arrangements and decorations themselves and had good quality time because of it.

She said right after they got married they drove to a Denny’s and had dinner. They got strange looks because she was still in her wedding dress and he was in her tux. I guess the family didn’t go as well? I don’t know, she didn’t say that her family joined them.

I am just saying that I think women get caught up in flower arrangements and what cake to pick and all of the materialistic shit to realize they are going to have to be with this person forever and they will have to stand that person for longer then their honeymoon lasts. No offense to all the women here that have had big expensive weddings or are planning on doing that that is just my opinion.

Goob
If, god willing, I ever get married, my (potential) wife can do whatever the hell she wants for the wedding.

But I’m with you, I don’t do the materialistic stuff. That’s not important…

Fun story: A fraternity brother of mine got married and they spent the Wedding night at the same hotel the Bridal party was staying in. About an hour or so after they got to the hotel (enough time for *wink wink, nudge nudge*), the best man gets a phone call.. “Hey..can you get us some Taco Bueno?” We thought that was hilarious.

And actually I agree with you on the getting married thing…I think I read your previous statement wrong; I didn’t realize the girl’s already engaged. If you are engaged, you shouldn’t be engaged for more than 6 months. Just get the wedding over with already. I too don’t understand the mentality of “oh, we’ll wait…”

Personally, if I found the right woman I wouldn’t want to wait another second….

I’m with you on the wedding thing. And in fact, I did have a big wedding, with all the traditional stuff, but it was because it was fun for us to do the traditions. At no point did we ever stress over it, or go into debt over it. We just saved up, threw a big, fun party, had no headaches and it was a blast. I have been to a lot of weddings where everyone looked miserable and uncomfortable and it clearly cost $50,000+.

My husband is in the funeral business, which has a lot in common with the wedding industry, so our limo drivers, florists, officiant, etc. were all personal friends. I do remember that the florist was appalled that I didn’t know the lengths of the tablecloths we were using. I’m guessing a lot of brides care deeply about that sort of thing?

Paula Deen is BY FAR my fav of the food network! Can’t say I watch anybody else. =)

I think everyone has a horrible story about a cousin or brother or friend with a crazy, nasty ex-gf. I know I do, and I’m saying that as a chick!

I personally like Ina Garten the best. Giada makes awesome-looking food but I dunno if I’m necessarily a fan of her.

I didn’t have a wedding. We just went to the courthouse. Honestly, I regret that we couldn’t have some kind of ceremony. :( I never wanted to spend 5000 dollars on it or anything, but having something would have been nice.

When I get married, it will be to a woman who can put up with my brain, and gently guide my random tendencies. High intelligence, and amazonian stature are pluses. Either that, or that half-gallon of spumoni at the top of the page. I ain’t picky.

A little tip for ya’ll. NEVER watch the food network when yur hungry. Just trust me.

Plus, what’s up with day 23 of the advent calendar? Is there some kind of mystery to solve?

The Advent Crew gets shipped to Jupiter’s moon accidentally, and the only supplies they have are various canned goods, a flashlight, many cans of sterno, and some sambuca.

sadly the only thing on my christmas list this year is rent money… and more old records… or new ones… whichever…

also, the word “spumoni” has appeared 21 times in the comments thus far…. i mean 23… SPUMONI!!!!

I just put my SECOND tree up! Might do a little decorating tonight. On the trees I mean. Naturally I have the X-E Christmas Jukebox going too. =) Oh how I ABSOLUTELY LOVE Christmas!

Did I miss some sort of box 23 discussion thread? I pieced together the email in Untitled-10. It was fun. XD

Goob: Son of a whore, that’s one crazy ass bitch. I bet your cousin just wants to suffocate her sometimes! I’m glad the judge sided with him though, as that is rare from what I have heard. I think I am in the situation that the Iraq guy’s brother is in with the chick giving women a bad name
…yeah. However, it does give me hope that they were able to be civil about things.
Not sure where I stand on the marriage thing especially since here in CA 1 out of every 2 marriages ends in divorce and the rates are even higher for younger couples. Just doesn’t seem worth the trouble. We werewolves can love and trust a person and still be monogamous without a piece of paper. I think the idea that you have the freedom to break up if you wanted to actually makes you stay together, you don’t feel constrained or anything. If i had a girl like kingklash described I’m pretty sure I would be good and after a while, if she really wanted to, I’d marry her. I would just have to be sure she didn’t show any signs of being like that chick your 40 year old cousin got pregnant.

Thanks guys for the congrats. ^_^ I haven’t gotten the ring yet, well, at least a “real” one anyway, but the fake one is fine, most women wind up not even wearing theirs after a while. But we’ll do the whole official down on one knee with a ring thing at some point. We both changed our MySpace status, so that totally makes it official.

The sad thing, tho is it’s made my single friends like super emo. Which is especially odd because my bf is a raving occultist, insists his kung fu is better when he’s high, sweats like a maniac, makes me watch terrible horror movies, and medically is considered mildly autistic (but I think it’s total crap). But he loves the hell out of me, so it’s all good… my friends just need to go out and actually meet some guys.

Oh and Mandy, my CPC exam is this Saturday at Hershey. I’ll let you know how it goes!!

I had a decent budget wedding myself. 2000 dollars. We had it in my sis in laws back yard on the deck. it was fun. we blew bubbles instead of throwing rice. and we all went to this BIG buffet place for dinner.

Oh the best part, is my car was totally decorated with just married stuff, and driving down the highway toward maryland to our honey moon in ocean city, everyone kept honking and truckers blew the air horns
it was AWESOME!

Alton Brown is pretty cool. I haven’t seen his show in years though. My favourites are Nigella and Jamie Oliver (his actual cooking shows, not those stupid reality-start-a-restaurant-with-wayward kids shows). I like how English the shows are, and how English the food is, and Jamie’s enthusiasm for vegetables from his garden. And even though Nigella is always giving smiles to the camera, I like how she seems normal and uses normal shortcuts, plus she raids her fridge at the end or Nigella Express. Unfortunately FoodTV here in Canada shuffled the listings and now these two shows are on at inconvenient TV watching times, I think because of the east coast/west coast time difference.

If I could have anything in the world…. I would want my world to go back the way it was a few months ago. I miss having a husband, and not just a reclusive stranger in my house.

If I could have any MATERIAL thing? Um. I really want Lyrical Magical Girl Nanoha DVD boxset.
No one is going to buy that for me. But I really, really want it in a desperate way.

I like the word Spumoni. When I was little there was a line of clothes called Spumoni for children. They made these puffy design shirts that had cute animal scenes on it (I had one with animals in Christmas stockings, there were teddy bears camping and roasting marshmellows, bunnies for easter, etc). I wish they still made those, my kids would love them. Though they do like Gymborees clothes quite alot anyway.

Night Gallery Season 2 on dvd. Finally, I can review Pickman’s Model and Silent Snow - Secret Snow at my leisure and not whenever I happen to catch them in syndication.

He’s also a kung fu teacher and we’re in a doomsday cult. You might want to back away a little faster!

Darth Galvatron, I’ll take Rachael Ray off the air for you. Take her off the air, take her to a cheap motel, and…perhaps I’ve said too much.

kingklash, I can’t think of any local holiday commercials, but I agree with Cameron T., I love the Hershey’s Kiss We Wish You a Merry Christmas commercial.

Rachel Ray has one of those smoky, gravelly voices that only ONE of the girls in the “popular” kids group was allowed to have in High School. And it just so happens that the girl with that voice also happens to be the loose, slutty, fun-loving girl with a tramp-stamp tattoo of cherries.

Another thing I’ve noticed about Rachel Ray is that she’s very small in just about every way. She has stubby little cocktail-frank fingers that match her stature perfectly. At first glance she appears to have two fried eggs under her shirt, but then you realize those are just her breasts. She’s pretty weird looking and sounding, and a lot of people are really put off by her.

Not me though, what hotel are you going to Teddy? I’ll bring the packing tape.

My #1 wish this year is the same as it has been every year - for someone to buy me a good CD without asking me what I want. Like a box set of Elvis’ early stuff. I’m not sure if such a thing exists, but that would be rad to have.

People think I have so many CDs that there’s nothing they can buy me. That seems counter-intuitive to me. If I have a zillion CDs, I obviously like them, so just buy me more!

Morfblorsh, I’ll leave her for you when I’m done, but I want Rachael all to myself…just us and a great big bottle of EVOO.

Mitch, there are indeed box sets of Elvis’s older stuff. I’ve got a ton of Elvis CDs, due mainly to those box sets, three different ones: ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. 5 CDs each…I love Elvis, but…damn, that’s a lot of Elvis.

I dig Rachel Ray’s husky voice. She’s got Demi Moore’s voice, but in a little pixie body. I would shag her rotten. The fact that she could cook me a meal afterwards is just gravy.

Dorothy’s father’s nickname for her as a little girl was “Spumoni Face”.

Spumoni Face was also what Dorthy’s Dad secret nickname for her on The Golden Girls.

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