12/21/2004 Entry: "The Christmas Sushi Roll!"

Everything’s updated. The link for the new Advert download is incorrect – I’ll fix that when I get home. It’s almost Christmas – this is probably the first year of my life that I’m actually more into Christmas itself that all the shit leading up to it. I’ve long touted the magnanimous glories of preliminary anticipation, but the combination of having zero time and having so much to do is making me look forward to what Christmas is really all about: a few days off and a fuckload of food. Finally finished shopping for my 10,000 relatives, and I must say, I am Santa Claus Reincarnate. I had no less than a dozen kids ages 1-15 to get gifts for, and through the magic of Amazon clearances and pot luck, it looks like I spent twice as much as I actually did. One of the best finds was for one of my younger nieces – it’s a big ass “Bratz” playset that normally goes for 110 bucks, marked down to 20. I’m living proof that people remember the gifts they got for decades and decades, and I know this particular niece will connect every success and moment of happiness of her life to the day I gave her the god damned stupid Bratz playset. Go me.

There’s a small group of us at work who order sushi for lunch roughly six times a day. In my short time being here, I’ve gotten much braver with what’ll try. (the Advent Calendar’s sushi entry was semi-inspired by this) I started off with California rolls, moved on to the many non-fishy fun rods, ultimately ending up where the party starts: raw fish, and lots of it. Though I’m not really down with the octopus crap and all that kinda junk yet, it’s becoming progressively harder to resist certain “specialty” rolls because the restaurants give ‘em such cool names. I mean, really, a “Godzilla Roll?” How am I supposed to turn down a chance to order food using the word “Godzilla?”

There’s a topical twist to all this: the pile of sushi shown in the lower part of that picture is called a Christmas Roll, a festive special combining rice, seaweed, avocado, caviar and too much raw tuna to create a Christmas-colored mass of something not from this world. I couldn’t really eat the thing (I can deal with the raw crap in small doses, but in fist-sized piles like that, I need hickory smoking), but it’s so pretty to look at. Perhaps I can have it shellacked and mounted on a stand among the many plastic Santas I sleep beside. Roe your boat.

What are you guys doing for Christmas this year?

Chestnuts roasted by Briana @ 12/21/2004 12:25 PM EST

"magnanimous glories of preliminary anticipation"

So damn poetic. I'm impressed!

Chestnuts roasted by Rosella @ 12/21/2004 12:31 PM EST

The advent calander has been pretty fricken awesome. The only bad thing about it is that it's almost done.

Chestnuts roasted by Mr. Mr. Mr. @ 12/21/2004 12:31 PM EST

watching the HeMan/SheRa christmas special. The vcr allmost ate it last year, then I would've had to pay 20 bucks for a horrible betamax copy from Ebay.

Chestnuts roasted by dr mindbender @ 12/21/2004 12:33 PM EST

And for Christmas this year, I'm spending it with friends. Probably spending Christmas night in a bar. I know, tragic, right? But my family lives all over the place now, the family I like is in New Jersey, and I'm in OK, so I'm not doing the family thing until early Jan. And even then, it'll only be a few of the fam.
I start think I'm getting scroogy in my old age (24). But this site, and the Advent calendar, totally remind me of why I've always liked Christmas so much. Thanks, Matt!

Chestnuts roasted by Rosella @ 12/21/2004 12:34 PM EST

Videogames. Food. Anime. Sanford & Son DVDs. Oh yeah.

Chestnuts roasted by God Animagnus @ 12/21/2004 12:36 PM EST

Doing the last bit of shopping today. Getting up way too early Christmas morning and then hanging out for the rest of the day. Quality stuff.

Chestnuts roasted by manimal789 @ 12/21/2004 12:42 PM EST

Going to 3 different family members houses and then to a friends house to end the night...Is what it is looking like for me. The running around aught to be fun. Little to no gift unwrapping this year...As it has been in the past few years...

Tim

Chestnuts roasted by LordSorrow @ 12/21/2004 12:53 PM EST

Hmmm, that line about "non fishy fun rod" reminds me that I need to call my boyfriend. You figure it out...

Chestnuts roasted by Jillybeann @ 12/21/2004 01:02 PM EST

For Christmas this year, I get to see my boyfriend of 7 years squirm in discomfort as he asks my 6'5" former University of TN footballer dad for my hand in marriage. Poor guy...this is the 2nd time he's proposed to me in 4 years. I turned him down the first time but he's proven that he's 1) a very good, patient man and 2) very whipped. I figure you don't find too many men out there willing to put up with my shit for 7 friggin' years- He's a keeper!!

Chestnuts roasted by Jillybeann @ 12/21/2004 01:08 PM EST

Writing a term paper (who sets Dec. 24 as a due date?) and hooking up the Beta out of curiousity of what's on an old tape marked "It's a Wonderful Life and Scooby Doo and the 13 Ghosts"

And then family, presents, and some fondue food fun.

Chestnuts roasted by Law Girl @ 12/21/2004 01:15 PM EST

Well before I tell ya what I'm doing for Christmas, I must send my kudos to Matt. I've had possibly the worst year of my life losing a good e-mail friend to congestive heart failure, a great uncle to a heart attack, my mom's cousin to cancer, and my grandmother just two months ago to complications from heart surgery. But Matt's site has been cheering me up on a daily basis with the advent calendar (which I shamely admit is the first time i've been keeping up with it) and have been loving all the other side reviews, ads, blog spots, etc. Thank you Matt!!!
As for Christmas, I'm spending the day portion with my boyfriend's family and then going to my aunt and uncle's with him for dessert. Unfortunately my mom's got a lousy cold so not sure if she's going to be joining the festivities. I told ya it was a crappy year.

Chestnuts roasted by Melissa Y. @ 12/21/2004 01:23 PM EST

Well, seeing as almost everyone I know will be heading off to visit their respective families this week, I am having a "Napoleon Dynamite coming out on DVD" party tonight. Oh, yes, there will be tots. And alcohol.

As far as the actual day of Christmas itself, it will be spent with my best friend, who, like myself, is too broke to fly home to visit family. We will probably watch Elf and Muppet Christmas Carol. Should be fun.

Chestnuts roasted by Randomness @ 12/21/2004 01:34 PM EST

Bringing the Mini Traj's to the Dollar Tree so they can shop for relatives (their choice, not mine - I know I raised thrifty kids). Going to MIL's for Xmas Eve, then to my dad's for lunch Xmas day. Top it all off w/ a stop at a cousin's house for the big family get together and gift exchange. I like seeing the family, but it really stinks to have to rush around on Christmas to see everyone and not enjoy the day w/ Mr. Traj and the Minis. I do plan on watching Stephen King's IT on Christmas night. Nothing says, "I love spending my holiday hanging out w/ distant relatives" like a shape-changing Killer Clown.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 12/21/2004 01:50 PM EST

I made my X-Mas foolproof by giving my wishist(from kbtoys.com) to the fam. Nothing says X-Mas like opening big ass toys. Well, that and getting trashed, which i will also be doing.

Oh yeah, and of course i will be checking in on the last advent box .....Tick Tock, Tick Tock.....!

Chestnuts roasted by KillaHill @ 12/21/2004 02:31 PM EST

I will be spending x-mas eve with parents and immediate family. Should be a lot of fun - plenty of kids to share x-mas with. X-mas morning we'll be at the MIL for breakfast and another round of unwrapping. Then later x-mas night going out to a Chinese restaurant then to the club to see a drag show. Nothing says x-mas like queens in sequined gowns lip-syncing to Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is You."

Chestnuts roasted by Traynor @ 12/21/2004 03:24 PM EST

It'll probably be the standard Christmas for me: Christmas eve at grandma's and gift opening, then Christmas morning gifts at home with the family.

As for sushi, octopus is great. So is eel (unagi, I believe).

Once we had a Japanese exchange student staying with us, and she was surprised to see Taco Bell, because tako is the Japanese word for octopus.

Chestnuts roasted by marioshoku @ 12/21/2004 03:34 PM EST

On Christmas eve I have to truck to my aunt's house in NH with the stuffed mushrooms, and celebrate Christmas eve with my parents and family. Christmas day we head to my husband's parents around 2:00 to celebrate with them. Good food and lots of presents at both festivities!

Chestnuts roasted by B-Dawg @ 12/21/2004 03:58 PM EST

Presents... um, there's probably something else. Having some people to the house, lots of cooking, eating food, and more presents hopefully.

Chestnuts roasted by Grey Weirdo @ 12/21/2004 04:05 PM EST

This Christmas is different for us; my family is flying from Texas to Williamsburg, Virginia, for a Colonial Christmas. We'll be eating a lot, and enjoying Christmas away from everything for once. No presents either, though I did get a few things from my Godparents, and I got a new Trench Coat today.

But it's okay; I already bought what I wanted for Christmas--Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, some DVDs, and a few GBA games. So I didn't really want anything anyway.

We're leaving at 5:30AM in the morning, so I won't get to see the conclusion of the Advent Calendar until After Christmas.
So make it a good one, Matt!

Merry Christmas to everybody!

Chestnuts roasted by Cameron T. @ 12/21/2004 04:28 PM EST

Trajeal- Thanks for the advice on girl baby names, any idea on a middle name as well?

As for Christmas:

I'm stuck with my wife and our unborn child as the two others are with their father. God, I miss them.

So I'm away from home in a foreign land and have nobody to yell at, other than my stupid dog that poops everywhere.

Oh, and I still haven't bought the wife a present, I know, I suck. Any suggestions?

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

Chestnuts roasted by EMajorwitz @ 12/21/2004 04:34 PM EST

Those Bratz toys are slutty looking. In houses with children of both genders, Bratz will now be GI Joe's sure thing when he's turned down by Barbie.

Chestnuts roasted by Ubu Rex @ 12/21/2004 04:43 PM EST

Erik, jewelry is always a good idea. Trust me.

I'm excited because I get Christmas Eve off...three-day weekend, yahoo! Christmas Eve I plan on sleeping in and watching my Christmas specials tape from my childhood. 80s commercials, Garfield, Rudolph, Frosty, Claymation Christmas (anyone else remember that one?), The Grinch...it doesn't get any better than that.

Christmas day is the gift opening in the AM, then avoiding helping Mom clean the house so the rest of the family can come over. Then enough food to make me puke, more presents, and dessert with my uncle's family tagging along as usual.

Sunday I'll probably recover from food overload, watch the Garfield and Friends Vol. 1 DVD my awesome boyfriend got me for Christmas, and play with anything else cool I end up getting. And of course I'll be checking in here to see how the advent calendar is coming along.

Merry Christmas everyone! And thanks, Matt, for making the most wonderful time of the year ten times more wonderful. We all love you!

Chestnuts roasted by Nikkii @ 12/21/2004 04:47 PM EST

I havent done any shopping yet due to no time, but thursday is gonna have to be purely shopping day for me. I dont have many people to buy for but i want to buy a lot of different things for them Stocking stuffers and some gift cards most likely. maybe some crazy kitchen gadgets for my parents. Sadly I have no kids in the family to buy for so if Im'm gonna buy any toys they will be for myself xD

Chestnuts roasted by heeloyd @ 12/21/2004 04:48 PM EST

Let's see Home, then to Aunt's house, then to Sis-in-laws' folks. Then maybe spend the next day going to OKC and watching the mobs at the stores for returns and bargin battles.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/21/2004 05:26 PM EST

Now, I just have to wrap my presents. I've finished my Xmas shopping.

Sushi is great food, Matt. You should eat it more often. I just had a tray for dinner. My favorites are tuna and salmon. I've had both eel and octopus. Eel is okay, but octopus is like chewing on rubber.

Chestnuts roasted by Bert Raccoon @ 12/21/2004 06:17 PM EST

Random Jim's random ramblings rule: "I think something landed on my top."

Keep up the great work, Matt!

Chestnuts roasted by Scott @ 12/21/2004 06:46 PM EST

Spending Christmas by myself (again) while the boys go to their respective parents houses. But the GOOD news is, I get to spend New Years Eve with my new love!

Hang in there Matt, you'll get the hang of eating squid.

Chestnuts roasted by Cuddles @ 12/21/2004 07:13 PM EST

Fantastic work as always, but if I could offer one piece of grinchy advice, it would be to reverse the order of the calendars so that the latest update appears at the top rather than the bottom. By Christmas my scroll wheel finger will the size of a HO-HO. Thanks.

Chestnuts roasted by kentdog @ 12/21/2004 07:29 PM EST

Ok, no offense to anyone here who likes jewelry, but I personally Hate getting jewelry for any kind of gift. I don't wear it, it's too expensive to take a chance on losing, so to me, jewelry is a waste of money. If I were you, Erik, I would totally spoil my pregnant wife by buying her things to make her comfy. One of those long body pillows are great (when you're pregnant, sleeping w/ a pillow between your knees helps your backache). Or, maybe set her up w/ an appt. to get a manicure or a facial. A lot of times, people forget that a pregnant woman is still a woman, and only ask about her in a baby sense. She might want to feel pretty for a day, like a woman and not just a mother. You could make her up some coupons on the computer for "Free Footrubs" and "Good for One Load of Washed Dishes" and sign them all from you. When she's tired or having a bad day, she could cash in one of her coupons and you could take over one a job or help her to relax.

BTW, what's your mom's name? Your grandmother's name? Your wife's maiden name? You could use any of those for the baby's middle name. I'll be watching for your post tomorrow to see if you could see a "hotdog bun" (girl) or "turtle". :-) Oh, here's a cool site that shows "real baby" pictures of the baby at different stages of development: http://www.w-cpc.org/fetal1.html and here are some u/s pics: http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/ultrasounds/l/blusindex.htm I esp. like the 3-D ones. Good luck tomorrow!

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 12/21/2004 07:42 PM EST

Kind of obvious, but that's supposed to read: "hotdog bun" (girl) or "turtle" (boy). Duh.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 12/21/2004 07:44 PM EST

well, for a start, NOT ordering sushi even if it's a MegMan Prawn Pet...well, in that case even me would fail to an easy instruction of NOT ordering...

then lunch with family and at night some movie with my lady who's going back home for holidays so we'll be away for some days...
guys, i need love...i need Kuse!
Actually, I love Kuse!

Chestnuts roasted by melonian @ 12/21/2004 08:31 PM EST

If everything goes well, I'll be spending Christmas with my parents, siblings, and my younger sister's new son. We open presents Christmas morning, eat Dad's artery-clogging brunch afterwards, then go out to one of the nicer Cape May restaraunts (and one of the only ones open at this time of year) for dinner. (And no, NOT Chinese Turkey.) Dad will probably want to look at light displays again after dinner.

And I, too, will be checking the Advent Calender daily for updates, even when I'm at the parents' house. It's just getting more and more twisted. There's fighting in Good land, MegaMare is indulging in her artsy side, and Waiterbot has a new body and a new...friend.

And then, there's that little surprise awaiting the last present, and Claire in the background, ready to pounce...

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 12/21/2004 08:58 PM EST

Sadly Ill prolly be working on Christmas day ...but when I get off I get to eat lots and lots of food with my hubbys family!

Chestnuts roasted by IHAQ @ 12/21/2004 09:05 PM EST

I'll be visiting my dad and stepmom...then my mom and stepdad...then my bf's parents and sibilings and nieces. So yeah, Matt, I feel your pain when it comes to buying craploads of presents for family(or soon-to-be family). And that Christmas sushi looks tasty...mmmmmm.

Chestnuts roasted by Sara @ 12/21/2004 09:23 PM EST

Waiterbot: "Follow me."

"Where once was light, now darkness fools..." - Gollum's Song, Lotr: TT credits

Chestnuts roasted by springsprite @ 12/21/2004 09:48 PM EST

Hey Matt. You said you're not down with octopus yet? You really need to see this 2003 Korean film called "Oldboy". In it, the main character consumes a REAL LIVE octopus in about three bites. I really hope someones seen the movie on this board so they know how cool the scene and the whole movie is.

Chestnuts roasted by John C. @ 12/21/2004 09:51 PM EST

I'm going visiting with my mom and going to see my great-aunts. While my dad stays at home and watches the Raiders/Chiefs game yeah he's a member of the raider nation.

Chestnuts roasted by pikiachulover @ 12/21/2004 09:54 PM EST

I've been craving sushi like mad (ever since the sushi entry, now that I think about it, duh) so I stopped at Trader J's and picked up some Cali rolls as a treat for finishing my shopping. (There's a cool LJ community dedicated to posting pics of food, and there's always yummy sushi pics)
I took Xmas eve off (had to ask months ago) so I'm looking forward to a long weekend. Hoping to go to the aunt's on Eve for tamales. My big present this year was the new car I've been driving for a month, so after Santa comes I'll be watching the fam with their gifts and sending presents along to extended family for their enjoyment. Our local KB's liquidated, so I was able to get all the kids on my list pretty nice presents, though I'd say it only looks like I spent about 20% more than I really did. Picking presents was my biggest (non XE) Christmas kick this year, my only regret is I probably won't get to see many of them opened because of my hard partying, jet-set lifestyle.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 12/21/2004 10:38 PM EST

John C., I haven't seen that movie, but I have seen an episode of Nat Geo's Taboo where a bunch of Korean students eat live octopi. They squeeze all the water out of them to sap their strength, then they wrap them tightly around chopsticks and chow down. They chew and chew and chew, and the little tentacles are poking out of their mouths...freaking awesome.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 12/21/2004 10:41 PM EST

Chestnuts roasted by Minka @ 12/21/2004 10:54 PM EST

As long as we're talking about live dishes, I just thought I'd mention concha fina, a shellfish that's a delicacy in Spain. Just squirt some lemon juice on it, and when it starts wriggling, pour it down your throat.

Chestnuts roasted by TB Tabby @ 12/21/2004 10:59 PM EST

I want confirmation that what Tabby said isn't a goof.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 12/21/2004 11:00 PM EST

Confirmation! Scroll about halfway down, it says the exact same thing as Tabby! Here's another mention. And another! Still looking for a pic...

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 12/21/2004 11:10 PM EST

Finally, a break from college and time to relax. Christmas wise, I'm probable stay home, opening present, not mention having relative over, but the lastet advent adventure is getting more and more interesting. I would never thought (spoiler) that waiterbot had a working time machine and there some story with that dog. WOW :-0

Chestnuts roasted by Beta-Theta @ 12/21/2004 11:17 PM EST

Okay, I'm not a sushi person, but what Tabby is talking about is, to me, is just plain disguist.

Chestnuts roasted by Beta-Theta @ 12/21/2004 11:19 PM EST

Couldn't find any photos of the concha things, but I did find this. It's Michael Jackson's Thriller, stop-motion animated with Lego figs. It's the whole shebang, with the werewolf intro and everything. You gotta see it.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 12/22/2004 12:10 AM EST

Ahh yes, sushi. A chance to get a bunch of stupid laughs from drunk people by calling octopus "tako supreme" and saba "holy mackerel".

As for Christmas, I'll be spending it the same way I do every year. Working as a form of protest against the theocracy. I'll be damned if Jesusland will deny me the right to make a living.

(until I get a job with full holiday pay, in which case I'll toast the 2,000-year-old dead fucker.)

Chestnuts roasted by Monster Dog @ 12/22/2004 07:38 AM EST

Lest ye wonder why the bitterness, I grew up Catholic...in Boston. You think Michael Jackson's bad...some of my friends learned firsthand that "spreading God's love" means something different in Bernard Law's world.

Chestnuts roasted by Monster Dog @ 12/22/2004 07:40 AM EST

just discovered this site not too long ago, early december. been diggin it. thought i'd leave a note here. the octopii and squid really are freakin awesome, they're up in my top ten.
the concha thing...i've heard of a conch salad, but they didn't eat it squirming. that may help making it a bit more palatable. being raised in the boonies, i've eaten a lot...raw maybe, but not alive.

Chestnuts roasted by ceridwens_descent @ 12/22/2004 08:20 AM EST

You know, I think you can eat the testicles of sea urchins. Yea, I think I saw that on some cooking show. Ah, as for christmas... Spending it with my family and watching Strangers with Candy with my cat Henry after all the festivities are over. SCABS!

Chestnuts roasted by BettieBoo @ 12/22/2004 08:30 AM EST

Sometimes Calamari fights back...
http://www.ika-movie.com/ika_l.wvx
http://www.ika-movie.com/feel_l.wvx
http://www.ika-movie.com

Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 12/22/2004 09:11 AM EST

dang what's dat spaceship thang?

Chestnuts roasted by dfgdgf @ 12/22/2004 09:17 AM EST

Matt,

I just watched the Fruity Pebbles commercial. My Christmas is now complete. But I seem to remember at the end Fred would say "Merry Christmas, Barn" and not Happy Holidays. Am I imagining this or is this just another attempt to erase anything Christmas? Although you have to wonder how Fred even know about Christmas since he was alive 1,000,000 years BC!

Chestnuts roasted by King Chachi @ 12/22/2004 10:20 AM EST

For the first time in (number deleted, but too damn many) years, I will NOT be finishing my shopping on the 24th. I do, however, get to spend the 24th and 25th visiting family and friends of my other half. Lots of food but no raw fish. Well, can't have everything!
BTW, that Lego-Thriller thing is great!

Chestnuts roasted by Da'Frogg @ 12/22/2004 10:58 AM EST

I also saw that lego-Thriller video. Funny!

Matt, keep up the good work on the Advent Calendar!

Chestnuts roasted by J-Dog @ 12/22/2004 11:03 AM EST

Watching Rankin-Bass animation and drinking egg-nog until I drop.

My favorite has always been "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town." Something about Burger-Meister Meister-Burger falling on his ass makes me laugh out loud...

Chestnuts roasted by Scooter @ 12/22/2004 11:04 AM EST

Hey! I'm Spanish! so I might be of service for once...
Yes, here many sorts of clams are eaten alive...just like dogs, parrots and some sort whales...well, no...just the clams, but the idea of eating whales alive is quite amusing.

Also we're pretty evil when cooking whatever we is that we cook. For example, practically all shellfish has to be alive when it gets boiled...pretty disgusting sight...really!

Chestnuts roasted by melonian @ 12/22/2004 11:13 AM EST

Lucky me, I only have two cousins and one nephew in the 'toy age' to shop for. The two little girls will be getting My Little Ponies because 1) I'm feeling nostalgic and 2) They're still too young to really care what the toy is as long as it's a toy. Have to cherish those years.

Now if I can only keep myself from taking them out of their boxes and playing with them.

Chestnuts roasted by snowcalico @ 12/22/2004 11:27 AM EST

Christmas in my household always follows this schedule:

Christmas Eve Day: Order out and watch a marathon of whatever Christmas movies are on TV/in our archives

Christmas Eve: Attend church, come home and watch several hours of A Christmas Story, and I usually check X-E before I go to bed for any last minute Christmas stuff I missed. Oh, and there is also an annual special around here called "Christmas in Central NY." The local news team travels around the area and films what the various towns do for Christmas. It's so sappy and I love it.

Christmas morning: See what Santa brought us (my youngest brother is 9, so we still do Santa) and then open up the presents under the tree once everyone is awake.

Christmas afternoon: Christmas dinner at our relatives in Baldwinsville, NY.

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff Mack @ 12/22/2004 11:51 AM EST

Don't talk to me about live food. If you've ever seen "Dances with Wolves", you know how plains tribes really felt about the buffalo meat. Chomp! Bloody good.

Poor monster dog, first the Spanish Inquisition, now this. As a lapsed Baptist, allow me to pass on this advice gleaned from my childhood in Oakland, Ca.: At least once in your life, attend Christmas sevices at a African-American church. Sometimes, just being in the presence of unbridled Joy is enough.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/22/2004 11:52 AM EST

After I get done w/ my finals I'm going to hang out with some friends I havent seen since the semester started then spend the holiday itself w/ my family.

Chestnuts roasted by Zerohandel @ 12/22/2004 11:53 AM EST

Christmas Eve, I start wrapping at about 11:30 while watching the Christmas Story. Do that until about 3, go to bed, get up at 9 to make breakfast for my brother, sis-in-law, grandmom and mom, eat, open presents, watch more Christmas Story until it's time to go to my Aunt's for dinner.

Chestnuts roasted by Y2JB78 @ 12/22/2004 01:35 PM EST

Christmas Day will be spent at the boyfriend's house, pretending like I get along with his family (it's been almost 3 years; it doesn't look good that relations will improve.). But Christmas night...ah, Christmas night. Dad and I are flying to Vegas! It'll be the first time for both of us, so hopefully it will be grand fun. Thought the boyfriend would be bummed that he isn't going, but (a) he has to work and (b) he's getting a DS for Christmas and feels fairly confident he'd ignore me that whole week anyway...

Chestnuts roasted by purplegirl247 @ 12/22/2004 02:29 PM EST

Goin to Rochester NY

ya I know...

Chestnuts roasted by ANdrew @ 12/22/2004 05:31 PM EST

Erik, I agree with Nikkii--jewelry is always a winner. Just make sure it's something mid-priced, and that she can wear around her neck or on her ears...why, you ask? Because she'll probably want to wear it while she's pregnant, and she won't be able to wear a ring (and possibly not even a bracelet) because of the swelling. Make it mid-priced because when the baby is born, a super-fantastic gift of jewelry (better than last year's Christmas gift) is traditional. Possibly another piece to go with the Christmas gift?...but that's just my humble opinion.

On Saturday, we'll sleep late for the first Christmas in 4 years and open presents. Then we'll drive south for three hours to see MY family. I'm on 'His Family Overload' right now because they live in town. Ta-da!

Chestnuts roasted by Emily @ 12/22/2004 05:57 PM EST

THANK YOU, THANK YOU MATT!!!!!!
As much as I like Jim Cumming's work, I'm so glad you went with the "classic" Santa Pebbles ad. I don't know why they went through the trouble of redubbing Santa's line with a new actor for the more recent airings the past few years, but this how my childhood heard this ad, and now I have a copy of it! This alone should earn you a Merry Christmas from this old fogey. (For those of you who think 31 is "old".)

I'll be visiting my aunt and uncle, the same as every Christmas Eve. And I'll be half dead from working at the grocery store like I've been every Christmas Eve (except for last year) since I started working there. Thankfully, I have Christmas off, where I might be going to my cousins. *After* opening my gifts.

Chestnuts roasted by ShadowWing the Technorganic Reindeer @ 12/22/2004 07:17 PM EST

The greatest moment of the holidays has just occured:
hansolohatesyou (8:41:37 PM): matt, i just want to thank you for bringing alot of joy to my life with your great website
xe char char (8:41:55 PM): you're welcome, thanks :-)
hansolohatesyou (8:42:02 PM): :-D
-----------------

yay!

Chestnuts roasted by Sam @ 12/22/2004 08:51 PM EST

whens I posted, the number of comments was 69. Heh. Now it's senesventy. Yay fo' me.

Chestnuts roasted by Tom no like @ 12/22/2004 08:51 PM EST

I'll be hitting the old man's house this X-Mas.

Don't think there'll be Sushi but I'd like to try some.

Chestnuts roasted by Adam @ 12/22/2004 10:51 PM EST

I should go over my grandmother's since no one will be at home here... But I think I just wanna be alone. Bah humbug!

And sushi grosses me out. Too afraid to eat it after reading that National Geographic article on fish parasites! ><

Chestnuts roasted by Adrastia @ 12/22/2004 11:27 PM EST

It's officialy December 23 and you know what that means?

Today is Festivus!

And I SO wanna see how this ends!! What's with the Time Machine that vaguely looks like a Technodrome? Will Megamare eat the puppy? What happened to those gift boxes?

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 12/23/2004 12:29 AM EST

I've been enjoying this website for the last few years now. Thank you so much for creating it Matt, it always is good for a laugh and I especially enjoy the 80's commercials that I remember from my childhood. Merry Christmas to everyone!

Chestnuts roasted by Christine @ 12/23/2004 01:43 AM EST

I'll be spending Christmas at work in West Africa. No family, just a bunch of oil workers. Happy happy joy joy. The only good things about this Christmas are the Advent calendar and finding out my wife is pregnant.

Keep up the great work Matt. (On the calendar, not getting my wife pregnant, at least I hope not.)

Chestnuts roasted by bishopX @ 12/23/2004 02:15 AM EST

Christmas in Korea this year- my 1st Xmas away from home...me and the 12 other foreign english teachers are going skiing to ensure we have a white Xmas!! I still havent seen snow here. So, tonight (23rd) is "Xmas night" at our apartment where we'll open everything and watch "Charlie Brown", "The Grinch" (original) and "Muppet Family Xmas" before heading to bed early and gettin up at 5 AM for skiing...

Unfortunately, I will be in the mountains and won't be able to see how the advent calendar ends until AFTER Xmas....but Mare, Claire and the gang will be in my thoughts, along with Matt and everyone else at XE. Awwww

Have a Holly Jolly One!

Chestnuts roasted by Muppet Baby @ 12/23/2004 05:58 AM EST

I think I saw the phrase Dues Ex Machina in there somewhere...

Just like all evil villians, Claire spilled the beans about her Christmas Eve disaster. Sigh... Oh, eveil villiams, when will you learn?
Also, is it foreshadowing that the dog is covered in redness? Maybe this has something to do w/ the Time Machine? Which one of the Storm Troopers had a dog just like that when he was little? Will these questions get answered? Will turkeys fly out of Megamare's butt? Tune in tomorrow. Same Bat time. Same Bat channel.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 12/23/2004 08:34 AM EST

Why is the dog covered in blood?

Chestnuts roasted by jhnnywalkr @ 12/23/2004 09:05 AM EST

On the jewelry on Christmas line, I think I have you beat. I'm proposing to my girlfriend on Christmas. IIt should be a Christmas to remember.

Chestnuts roasted by Sam @ 12/23/2004 09:13 AM EST

Good luck Sam.

Chestnuts roasted by jhnnywalkr @ 12/23/2004 09:53 AM EST

Matt, you may want to tape/TIVO these for next year:

Cartoon Network Christmas Schedule
Friday, Dec. 24
2 a.m. Casper's First Christmas
2:30 a.m. 'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy
3 a.m. Yogi's First Christmas
5 a.m. A Flintstone Christmas
Saturday, Dec. 25
6 a.m. The Smurfs Christmas

Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 12/23/2004 10:09 AM EST

http://www.jinglecats.com/
Jingle Cats - Jingle Bells video

Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 12/23/2004 10:35 AM EST

The dog's got ketchup on him. The time machine is gonna work really well, or as well as it worked in DBZ. It never really took Trunks directly back to his own timeline's past, it skipped sideways a bit, then back. But seein' as there are no Lego DeLoreans about, Bulma's capsule will do. Tick.... tick.... tick.... tick.... leech.... tick....

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash for the rest of us @ 12/23/2004 11:44 AM EST

If the dog has ketchup on him, does that mean that MEGAMARE will eat him? Personally, I hope that they save Santa and put Claire in the box with the bomb. Now THAT would be awesome.
oh yeah, and a shout out to Matt again: I hope you realize how important this site is to so many of us. For most, YOU have made X-MAS the event that it was in our younger years, and for that we are all greatful. Keep up all the hardwork and good stuff, you are doing an incredible job.

Chestnuts roasted by KillaHill @ 12/23/2004 12:54 PM EST

I can't take it anymore! What is going to happen? What ever happened to Waiterbot's cat? And Waiterbot for that matter, who is now using Random Jim's body? Holy cow! There are so many loose ends to tie up, I cannot wait for tomorrow. Especially because I will be at work tomorrow and this is about all I have to look forward to. Matt, you rock; your genius astounds me.

Chestnuts roasted by Randomness @ 12/23/2004 01:19 PM EST

Greetings from Germany again!

Baby Update:

Well, went in for the second ultrasound and it certainly was memorable. Just seeing the life you created and watching the heartbeat is awesome. No word on the sex yet as the doctor couldn’t tell (keep praying for a boy people, as unlike Matt’s clan, this is my one shot at a son and unsure if my in laws will want to have children and give me a nephew to spoil). We are at 9 weeks with a margin of error of 1.5 weeks, though we and the doctor lean toward the 10.5 week prediction. We go back in a month.

Trajeal- Again, thanks for the wonderful baby links. A baby growing is truly awesome to see. I sat there engrossed for about an hour surfing the sites. As this is my first baby, her third, she doesn’t really get into the whole “baby stuff” as a newbie father like me.

She didn’t have a middle name, so that when she married, her last name became that, which I thought was cool.

Boy- We are pretty much set on Brett David Majorwitz. Brett for Green Bay Packers Iroman QB Brett Favre as he was on the tube playing when we found out and David is her father’s name. It also is the name of Houston Texans QB David Carr, so it works twofold. It also happens to be the sunflower seeds I’m craving everyday, which disgusts her to no end to see me spitting them everywhere.

Girl- Leaning towards Emily (thanks by the way for the gift suggestions but the coincidence of us thinking of your name and you posting locked it in for me), but not sure what for the middle name. I had two great aunts named Emily and Marie…

Her dad is David O. (won’t reveal the middle but I’m sure you know any O name is bad) and mom is Pamela.

My mom’s name is Mary Elizabeth, though Elizabeth is already taken by my youngest stepdaughter’s middle name and my father that passed away was named Frank Edward.

Hope that helps Trajeal, work your magic.

Congratulations are in order for bishopX. Hope you and your wife are happy about it as I am about my future bundle of joy.

Muppet Baby- It has already snowed here in Germany, I’m sure I could FedEx you some down there via MPS. I’m alittle disappointed that I only have one more Kinder Egg on my Advent Calendar to open, but I’m hoping I can find some more the day after Christmas…Though I think eating 24 Kinder Eggs for a meal is a bit excessive.

Last but not least…Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

P.S. Matt, my wife loved the mushroom recipe, but she is still peeved you don’t like the taste of Kinder Egg Chocolate.

Chestnuts roasted by EMajorwitz @ 12/23/2004 02:04 PM EST

"Emily Marie" is just beautiful...I love that! Kinda want to change my name now...

Emily is a great name. There's really nothing to rhyme with it, therefore she will have a tease-free childhood. (Ha.) Everyone calls me Em or Emmy, so that would be in her future. I was supposed to be Emily Claire, but my dad vetoed it. I ended up being Emily Erin Bridget because no one could make a freaking decision between the two middle names.

I'm still pulling for a boy for you, though! Good luck!

Chestnuts roasted by Emily @ 12/23/2004 07:09 PM EST

flying home for christmas and driving down to see the grandparents and raiding their fridge!

Chestnuts roasted by mcblue @ 12/23/2004 07:15 PM EST

Wow, you have a lot of names to work w/, Erik. Let's see, what about Emily Francis (after your dad)? I was just as excited over baby #3 as I was baby #1. I get a little excessive, though. :-) I'm glad you liked the sites. It's cool to see a dad who's jsut as excited about the baby as the mom. have you been to babycenter.com? They have bulletin boards for every EDD month. So, she's due in late June/early July, or thereabouts? Try here: http://bbs.babycenter.com/board/bbshome/bbs-birthclubs/birthclubs2005/1379764 Here's a Dad's Zone that you might like to check out: http://parentcenter.bbs.babycenter.com/boards/bbs-preg

Congratulation to bishopX! Wow, two babies now.

Good luck, Sam! Did you get her a ring?

Wow, good feelings all around. That's why this site is always the first place I check in the morning, and the last one I visit before bed. No matter how insane the holiday traffic/shopping/cooking/begging can get, there's always a little bit of childhood (in one form or another) to remind me why we celebtrate this holiday in the first place. Thanks, Matt.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 12/23/2004 08:01 PM EST

Jesus' birthday roll looks mighty tasty. The usual for Christmas for me; open gifts, dinner, drinking.

Every sunday, the local sushi restaurant has a sushi buffet for $16. I might have to hit that up for the day after Christmas.

Chestnuts roasted by Jason @ 12/23/2004 08:59 PM EST

MEGAMARE: MMM, HOTDOG. SEE SPOT BECOME DIGESTED. RAWWWRRR, GULP!

Maybe it is ketchup.

Regardless, the show must go on.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt(#2?) @ 12/23/2004 10:32 PM EST

Crack, then PCP..THEN I KILL !!!

Chestnuts roasted by Kuma Chan @ 12/23/2004 10:53 PM EST

Erik,
We too are kicking Emily around for ours that is due in 3 weeks (!). I am not to big on it but Ms. Manimal is a big fan. My compromise is that we call her M. Not Em, just M. Could there be a classier girl name?????

Chestnuts roasted by manimal789 @ 12/23/2004 10:57 PM EST

D'OH. That post should read "MRS." Manimal since we are married and all. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.

Chestnuts roasted by manimal789 @ 12/23/2004 10:58 PM EST

Tonight while finishing up my shopping, I found some new and appealing additions to the candy aisle. One them caught my eye the most - Candy Cane Tootsie pops!

Candy cane surrounding the tootsie roll center. Best idea ever. Check your local Savon for them.

Chestnuts roasted by heeloyd @ 12/24/2004 01:14 AM EST

I really should use the preview comment button when posting. That should have said "One of them" not "One them"

Too much sugar in me, messed me up.

Chestnuts roasted by heeloyd @ 12/24/2004 01:17 AM EST

I've been feeling less Christmas-y due to the replacement of "Happy Holidays" for "Merry Christmas" for reasons I find kind of ridiculous. I'm sure on the 25th I'll be good to go, but I just find the whole thing crazy. Soon it'll become "Have a Satisfactory, Politically Correct, Non-Specific, Winter Themed Rest Period".

As far as this year goes, it'll be the same as previous. Our relatives are too lazy to celebrate together, so it's just clusters of families doing their regular Christmas thang of eating a lot and opening stuff. I just hope that this year, and years to come, I don't start to give or recieve practical things (Toys. R. Us. Kid. Re. Pre. Sent.). It just doesn't fit when someone gets soap in a wicker basket.

---

Suggestions to EMajorwitz: Off the top of my head, Emily Catherine/Alexandra/Jane/Louise. Basically, I'd go with any middle name that flows well with the first name.

Chestnuts roasted by Dr. Acula @ 12/24/2004 01:49 AM EST

hahahha, ohh man, poor Mare! Best advent day yet!

Chestnuts roasted by KillaHill @ 12/24/2004 10:02 AM EST

100th comment !

I have become an empty husk of a man

Chestnuts roasted by Paul B @ 12/24/2004 10:48 AM EST

Hey, Matt! Last night, I went shopping at borders, and I saw--get this--a LEGO Advent Calendar! It looked about the same as the Playmobil calendar, but you get to assemble all the little people and junk, and I know at least some of them could be used as Christmas tree ornaments. I would've bought it, but I had a limited amount to spend. Maybe you could try finding one next yeat.

Chestnuts roasted by TB Tabby @ 12/24/2004 11:18 AM EST

I know! Emily Killer Duck Majorwitz!

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/24/2004 11:45 AM EST

Hehe, Congrats, I salute you in your fish eating venues! I've been eating it since I was 7, currently going on 20 as of monday. I'm home from college to visit the family, and will be reciving a new scanner and hopefully the Gargoyles season 1 DVD

Chestnuts roasted by Gingitsune @ 12/24/2004 01:57 PM EST

Every year, our family eats a mighty Christmas Pizza, a troo holiday de-lovely, with red peppered-onies, green 'shrooms, and snow white cheese mixed with yellow grease the color of the Star of Bethlehem. My brother foolishly discards the crusts, which are um... reindeer turds, probably. Yeah, we keep it in our own way, alright.

Chestnuts roasted by Zen @ 12/24/2004 02:25 PM EST

My favorite line "Where did all that giant tape come from?" Hahaha! And then you had to kill my laughter with the big boom. Dare I hope that Mare is okay?

Chestnuts roasted by Kay @ 12/24/2004 07:21 PM EST

Well, okay paraphrasing the giant tape line, but you get the picture.

Chestnuts roasted by Kay @ 12/24/2004 07:24 PM EST

I'm poppin' The Muppet Family Christmas in ye olde VCR in a few minutes. Can't beat that shit!

Chestnuts roasted by Kristal @ 12/24/2004 07:24 PM EST

Ah The advent calander has been the high point of my Satisfactory, Politically Correct, Non-Specific, Winter Themed Rest Period ( Dr. Acula) Anyhow, I like most people am curious how it's all gonna end. Is Mare dead? What of Waiterbots cat? Is Santa gonna play any major part in the end? and what of Claires fate? I guess we'll have to wait to find out!

Off topic I find it interesting (and kinda heartwarming) how a lot of the regular posters on this site seem to have almost a family thing going on...suggesting names for EMajorwitz's child...it's great...like a big X-E family! Can I be adopted into it?

Chestnuts roasted by Jabo @ 12/24/2004 07:46 PM EST

Well, the last of the wrapping has been done. Getting ready to finally leave the Gallery for home. Little Brother is coming in late tonight. So, see you guys Monday! Hug your family, tell 'em all how much you love 'em. Think of those away from home tonight, soldiers and civilians alike. This is kingklash signing off for now, Merry Christmas, and be unreasonably joyful, unmercilessly happy, and for Pete's sake, put that away! You want Santa to see you doing that? Later!

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash-mas @ 12/24/2004 08:07 PM EST

Christmas.

It's not the giving.

It's not the getting.

It's the loving.

There I've said it, now get out of here.

Chestnuts roasted by Luap @ 12/24/2004 10:52 PM EST

No. You get out.

Chestnuts roasted by Rick @ 12/24/2004 11:24 PM EST

First Merry Christmas post!

Chestnuts roasted by Law Girl @ 12/25/2004 12:06 AM EST

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Hope everyone enjoys their holiday.

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

P.S. I'll return later and talk baby stuff.

Chestnuts roasted by EMajorwitz @ 12/25/2004 12:06 AM EST

First official Christmas post!

Chestnuts roasted by Law Girl @ 12/25/2004 12:07 AM EST

Merry Christmas to all! I just got engaged!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Jillybeann @ 12/25/2004 12:28 AM EST

Congrats to you, Jillybeann! And Merry Christmas to everybody!
Found another fun movie: Pulp Xmas. It's Rankin Bass' Rudolph with dialog from Pulp Fiction.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 12/25/2004 02:48 AM EST

Congratulations Jillybeann! How big is the rock? lol

Careful though. I got engaged to my wife a year ago today and now we are married and expecting a baby. So I guess it better be a big rock?

Again, congrats!

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

Chestnuts roasted by EMajorwitz @ 12/25/2004 03:16 AM EST

Hey Jabo- Well, I think the family thing is due to the whole Nathan Bitner and Photog episode. If you have a couple of weeks to spare, I suggest you read it.

As far as being adopted, just posting here makes me feel like you are apart of the family, at least mine anyway.

The more the merrier I say, why?

I was adopted myself.

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

Chestnuts roasted by EMajorwitz @ 12/25/2004 03:21 AM EST

Merry Christmas and X-Emas. I hope everyone got buzzed and got home. See you tmrw, after I play with my new Transformers, hehe.

Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 12/25/2004 04:15 AM EST

http://www.xbn.us/Tidings.mp3
http://www.lambertstudios.net/demos/lambert/twas/

Someone posted these to an e-mail list I'm on for Voiceover artists. (Don't ask how I got invited to it, since I'm not a voiceover artist. So I don't know.) Thought you might like them. Merry Christmas! (Take that, PCers!)

Chestnuts roasted by ShadowWing the Technorganic Reindeer @ 12/25/2004 10:44 AM EST

Got my Xmas socks and underwear from Mom again. (I'm in my 40's- family traditions/jokes die hard.) Got dvd's, got gloves, got shoes, but got NO TOYS! Adulthood blows! Oh, well, always the after Christmas sales!
Ho Ho Ho to all, and hope you got what you wanted!
PS - EMajorwitz - how about Rebecca as a middle name?

Chestnuts roasted by Da'Frogg @ 12/25/2004 11:15 AM EST

Claire gets eaten by a giant cat-- cool.

Chestnuts roasted by -- @ 12/25/2004 11:22 AM EST

Hey everyone! Long time no post! Been busy here back at home with my family. But I just wanted to say that I'm looking forward to the final conclusion to X-E Advent Calendar 2004. I'm sure it'll be up sometime this afternoon (and then the crowd said "Thank you, Captain Obvious.". Anyway, gotta lotta stuf to do today. Later.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 12/25/2004 12:26 PM EST

vcr has eaten HeMan and SheRa crhistmas special 4 or 5 times,could it be a sign from God? or should I stop buying electronics from Radio Shack

Chestnuts roasted by dr mindbender @ 12/25/2004 04:48 PM EST

This morning I(27yr old) got for Christmas: Castle Greyskull with 4 figures, Unicron(black version), Megatron(latest plane version), latest Starscream, Snow Cat(tf), 2pk gi joe, Lego At-At, April O' Neil, 2 Star Wars figures, and a softair H&K MP-5(w/ laser sight). Best Chrsitmas i've had in a long, long time. It kinda sucks that matt hasnt updated the site yet, but its kinda cool that i still havent opened my X-Mas present from X-E.
Merry Christmas Everybody.

Chestnuts roasted by KillaHill @ 12/25/2004 04:52 PM EST

Got the extended Return of the King on DVD and Yoda's lightsaber.

Chestnuts roasted by Joe in OH @ 12/25/2004 07:08 PM EST

Festivus: silly or serious?

Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 12/25/2004 09:43 PM EST

Halo 2 stuff all over. Posters, watch, figures... And Doodolph the jellybean pooping reindeer.

Matt, PLEASE conclude the advent calendar so I can rest easy with the end.

Chestnuts roasted by ShadowWing is a name thief! @ 12/25/2004 10:19 PM EST

I told ya - it ends when claire gets eaten by a giant cat.

Chestnuts roasted by -- @ 12/25/2004 11:11 PM EST

Ok, I'm about to perform a random act of senseless violence...I need the last installment of the Advent Calendar or I don't know what's going to happen!!!!

ARGH!

Chestnuts roasted by melonian @ 12/26/2004 05:18 AM EST

Get a life, man! How long did it take you to copy and paste that here? You could have spent that time doing something creative, like counting the Christmas lights on the tree before they blink again, or figuring out how many Red Shirts actually croaked in the entire run of the original Star Trek. You know, something we might be interested in reading, and not ruining everyone's holiday spirit by posting such a crapper of a post. Go piss on someone else's parade.

On a lighter note, Matt, I'm as excited as everyone else to find the conclusion of the Advent calander, but I totally understand why it's not here and I'm not going to complain. Hey, I bet you banked some cool stuff yesterday and I'm just as curious about that. What kind of toys did you get? I got all toys this year, myself. Well, toys in DVD form - Dazed and Confused, Special Edition, The Best of Christopher Walken on SNL and Carnivale, Season One. Whoo! Of course, I had to fight the Mini Traj's for the tv, since they all got new Game Cube games and I wanted to watch my stuff on the big screen. Stinkin' kids.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 12/26/2004 07:45 AM EST

Thank you, Squee and ErikM for your kind congratulations! Yes, I must say, I was very pleased with the size of the rock. Aren't I the mercenary one?

Chestnuts roasted by Jillybeann @ 12/26/2004 01:34 PM EST

Aaaaaargh where is Dec 25 on the advent calendar?

Chestnuts roasted by Soj @ 12/26/2004 03:12 PM EST

hey people its been a million years since i have posted but i thought i'd drop a line and see what's up. hope y'all had a good holiday and i'll try to keep up with ya.

Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 12/26/2004 04:48 PM EST

Hey traj I got the Carnivale DVD too! The only disappointment was that one of the special features they promised wasn't included. I also got Arrested Development season 1 and Boy Meets World season 2.
Waiterbot is a dick. I can't believe I rooted for that jerk.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 12/26/2004 05:28 PM EST

am i the only one who sees the last advent calender entry....pretty crazy ending

Chestnuts roasted by pewing33ny@aol.com @ 12/26/2004 06:06 PM EST

I don't get it. Was the cat EATING Jesus or being killed by Jesus? Anyway, why the hell didn't Santa just ressurect mare normally? He did that for Mistah Snowman. Overall though, this advent callender was a lot better than last years. And abazillion times better than 2002's. Still, I still think you should make a sequel. Maybe you could combine it wit the Chia Saga and have Cobra's egg turn out to be this years Mare (Not Clare, the good mare).Oh,and Knacks and Kuse, they should appear in there too.
MERRY SORTA CHRISTMAS!

Chestnuts roasted by TOM @ 12/26/2004 06:14 PM EST

Ugh, such a typical ending. If I had a nickel for every time a giant cat ate baby Jesus I'd be a gazillionaire!

Chestnuts roasted by Kate @ 12/26/2004 06:15 PM EST

Oh God, Matt, I love you. That was the best ending!! I love Little Kitty. Thank you for sticking it through and making us all laugh during this stressful time of year.

Just think everyone, only 364 more shopping days until Christmas...

Chestnuts roasted by Nikkii @ 12/26/2004 06:17 PM EST

I just found from another post that Mare/Jesus gets eaten by a giant cat.

That is sad/wrong on so many levels.
AND YOU CALLED "BASKET CASE" DEPRESSING! SHAME ON YOU!!!

Chestnuts roasted by TOM @ 12/26/2004 06:17 PM EST

You know, after a few beers, the advent calendar and it's story is aboslutely awesome...no soap has done anything better this year. Matt, you're wasted....get yourself a TV programme slot and write the most kick ass adventure ever. Oh, and do more Turtles/Ghostbusters/G.I Joe/WWF/E articles please! Thank you for an amazingly fun 2004 and here's to a better 2005!

Chestnuts roasted by Stew @ 12/26/2004 06:31 PM EST

I was right! I knew a real cat would come in for the first "little kitty" and be an agent of destruction. Cute cat, BTW. What's its name?

Chestnuts roasted by Divaah46 @ 12/26/2004 06:48 PM EST

I don't know how waiterbot shot himself to the past in the ages where men wore skirts and passed as strait, but I don't know how to bake a cake, so I assume is my fault.

What I know is that Mary would kick the hell out of any super mega cat no matter how grey it was. She had the help of the angels and the lambs, which under all those circumstances, they wouldn't be that silent...

wonderful advent calendar history stuff...thanks

Chestnuts roasted by melonian @ 12/26/2004 07:26 PM EST

Matt, thanks for the laughs. I eagerly read the advent calendar everyday and I loved it. I'm looking forward to next year.

Chestnuts roasted by Kay @ 12/26/2004 07:29 PM EST

Great...although strange ending to the advent calander. I loved it none the less. Was awesome how you were able to tie up all the loose ends Don't know where you come up with these ideas but if you took Stew's idea...that would be one of the most kick ass shows on television...and everyone here would agree with me that we'd watch religiously anyhow, great stuff and look forward to what you got planned for X-E in 2005! And to the X-E family which I've adopted myself into...have a Happy New Year!

Chestnuts roasted by Jabo @ 12/26/2004 08:06 PM EST

Oh, heavens, Matt. You killed baby Jesus. The odds in Vegas were 20:1 that he's resurrected, though. I think I'll keep my money.

So, what ever happened to Ketchup Dog? What's his Christmas gift? Where is Randon Jim's soul now that he's been taken over permanently by Waiterbot? Where on earth did you find that Playmobil Nativity?

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 12/26/2004 08:09 PM EST

Has it really been so long since I've read any responces on the blog? I recognize almost noone....oh well, no biggie. I'm amazed that alot of the comments have been suprised at the ending, or at least it's style. I admit that I didn't see it coming, but it's 100% X-E style since day 1. Oh yea, for those of you who really love random endings try www.whiteninjacomics.com my favorite one is http://whiteninjacomics.com/comics/wizard.shtml. have fun with it everybody!

Chestnuts roasted by brandon @ 12/26/2004 09:02 PM EST

Ahh, sacrilege, glorious, wonderful sacrilege!

You made an atheist's Christmas joyful with that one, Matt.

Chestnuts roasted by Monster Dog @ 12/26/2004 09:03 PM EST

You fed the baby Jesus to the cat?! Truly that was the greatest Christmas.

Chestnuts roasted by Trippy the 8th Dwarf @ 12/26/2004 10:22 PM EST

Tom Goes to the Mayor RULES!!!!!

RATS OF TO YA!!!!!!

Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 12/26/2004 11:45 PM EST

Hello everyone!

Welcome to the family again Jabo!
Those odds still sound good trajeal!
Details, details Jillybeann, we really want to know how big the rock is!

What did I get for Christmas? Well, since you asked so nicely, I'll tell ya.

A new slimmed down verison of the PS2 (I feel bad as now I have three PS2s while my cousin still tinkers with his original and can't get a new one due to not being able to find one)
GTA: San Andreas (PS2)
Smackdown vs Raw (PS2)
Shrek 2 (PS2)
An Eyetoy (Why is it everytime a camera is on me I act like a total idiot?)
A Princess Bride book (with a heartwarming inscription by my wife, love ya babe!)
A Houston Texans nightlight
A Football remote control for the T.V. (I have the best in-laws!)
And a baby to be named later. (still hoping for that boy ya know?)

On that topic I present to you yet another reason (Reason 6,292) I need a boy:

I was in pink hell for Christmas. Not the pink hell you get by going down the girl toy aisles at stores, I mean right in my own living room. Other than my oldest getting a Cheetor Transformer (this due to her loving Cheetahs and my miserable attempt at trying to reform her a bit) and the younger one getting a Bratz doll (which I can't stand to look at with those huge Angelina Jolie lips), everything they got was Barbie. EVERYTHING! Literally, Barbie all around: Princess and the Pauper Serafina talking cat, Princess and the Pauper microphone, Princess and the Pauper Castle, not one but two Princess and the Pauper Barbie horse drawn carriages, Princess and the Pauper Wedding Set, Princess and the Pauper Erika w/King Dominick, Princess and the Pauper Annelise w/Julian, Princess and the Pauper dress up clothes, Princess and the Pauper microphone (super annoying), Barbie Fun and Sun Power Wheels Jeep. Barbie Mermaid dolls (3), Rock and Roll Barbie, etc...

Funny thing is with all of this mounting debt, er I mean great gifts they received, my oldest was only upset that she ran over her Kinder Chocolate Santa while trying to drive the Barbie Car.

Reminds me of when I was 11 and running a real truck through my garage.

Good times, good times.

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

P.S. Oh Matt, the Advent Calendar ending was great, sorry if I didn't heap enough praise your way this Christmas season.

Chestnuts roasted by EMajorwitz @ 12/27/2004 04:39 AM EST

I was laughing for a good 15 minutes at your poor cat's misfortune. So sad.

Chestnuts roasted by ShadowWing is a name thief! @ 12/27/2004 05:23 AM EST

Erik, you certainly need to reform your stepdaughters. I have the three girls, and for Xmas they recieved: 2 Zip Zaps RC cars (Spiderman and Incredible Hulk) w/ track (which they are playing w/ right now), Shrek 2 and Mario Party 6 for the GC, books for homeschool (you still have to be practical, even if it is Xmas), a dragon and knight Little People playset (for the smallest Mini TraJ), a 3 concert Raffi DVD (big hit), tons of arts and crafts stuff, two big piles of books, and I Spy and Pinball for the PC. Although, they did get a Care Bears playset (there is a specific rule in our house that NO stuffed animals pass through the door. They are never played w/ and they take up tons of room, so they are a waste of money. If one is bought, it stays at the respective relative's house to take up their room) and some Polly Pockets. I also specified - NO BRATZ DOLLS. They look like hookers and I don't want my kids thinking that dressing like that is ok. MIL bought my niece one and she was so excited until Mini Traj #1 told her the story of how Bratz dolls want to kiss boys, so they're icky. Niece promptly dropped it and they ran off to play hide and seek. Not being exposed to kids in the school system probably helps, even though Mini Traj #1 is six and technically in First Grade, so most of her friends go to school. Wanting to have what other kids have makes a big impact on gift giving.

Kerplunk! Off my soapbox now.

I'm curious as to what Matt has gotten from the Large, Red Elf.

Oh, who has today off? Mr. Traj had to work, but all of his vendors have the day off, so he's going to be twiddling his thumbs all day. He did ask for and get Friday off, so that was nice.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 12/27/2004 09:15 AM EST

Matt, never expected that ending as it truly was hilarious! Good stuff!

Chestnuts roasted by J-Dog @ 12/27/2004 09:39 AM EST

Ah, leave us with a cliff-hanger, had my insides all squirmy

Chestnuts roasted by Briana @ 12/27/2004 09:54 AM EST

Happy Holidays, all! Back from skiing and drinking- what a great Xmas! The folks still managed to spoil me even though they had to mail all my gifts to Korea to do it. Got killer DVDs including 'Shrek 2', 'Harry Potter 3', the 'Care Bears movie', the 'Star Wars' trilogy, and 'LITTLE MONSTERS' starring Fred Savage. Also, the 'Lion King' triolgy from my boyfriend and both 'A Christmas Story' and 'MUPPET FAMILY XMAS' on DVD!! Next Xmas will be even better now that those are in the collection!

Thanks to Matt and all the other XE crew for keeping the site and the blog a very merry place to be. I'm so glad I stumbled here 2 years ago.

This year's Advent was amazing.

Chestnuts roasted by Muppet Baby @ 12/27/2004 10:04 AM EST

POW! Entertainment Armed with a New Superhero
Jay J. Armes Action Figure

Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 12/27/2004 10:37 AM EST

To someone's comment above- why would an atheist celebrate the birth of Christ? Isn't that what Christmas is? (see Linus)

OK 2 more questions- matt, whatd you get for Christmas?
And what's the cat's name?

I think Mista Snowman shoulda made an appearance

Chestnuts roasted by ANdrew @ 12/27/2004 11:10 AM EST

Good morning to you ladies and gents, cats and kittens, boys and girls, and the rest of you! Sounds like most of you had all kinds of happy. Three cheers for the jillybeann! Hooray! Shibby! Zabagabee! I got the usual groan-up gifts, gloves shirt, etc., but the two best ones were a Tangram puzzle from Little Brother and his Wife, it has a book of thousands of shape to replicate, and from Oldest Sister, a TV Guide reference book of every show that was ever on American TV, complete with schedules for every year sin the Golden Age of my secondary god. Give me puzzles, robots, or TV trivia, and I'll be your loyal vassal for life.
Great ending for the Advent. Right up there with the Harlem Globetrotters short on TV Funhouse. Shouldn't Big Mama MegaMare have gotten a gift? Or was getting out of her box it? F-U-N nonetheless.
Now, the next thing is to get Little Brother a present for his Birthday on the 29th, the big monkey-obsessed lug.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/27/2004 12:05 PM EST

Man, Matt must be wasted after this weekend.... would be nice to read a new article though.....
Come on Matt, i know you can do it! Give us a big ass article about all the crap you got, we have already told you what we all got.

Chestnuts roasted by KillaHill @ 12/27/2004 02:10 PM EST

Part of my gift was that my whole fam came out to our casa (so that the g/f and I could spend x-mas together) from NY. But in the much more enjoyable material real I scored:
a TiVo, some nightmare b4 xmas swag, ATHF vol 3 dvd, prince of persia 2 for GC, the Clone Wars Yoda Maquette from Gentle Giant, America the Book, Nirvana box set...not a bad year for me.

Chestnuts roasted by oldschool @ 12/28/2004 12:39 PM EST

I've been reading x-entertainment for the last few years and the articles you write are down right hilarious and bring back many a good memory.

Where the heck do you get all those old school 80's commercials?

Where do you work at? Do you get to write for work? Would you do some writing for cash on the side?

Keep up the good work!

Regards,
Blade2XS

Chestnuts roasted by Blade2XS @ 12/29/2004 04:18 PM EST

I got a DVD burner so that in combination with my capture card, I'm making the worst collection of DVDs ever. Dumbo's Circus, Under the Umbrella Tree, Are You Afraid of the Dark, The Chipmunk Adventure, My Little Pony the Movie, Care Bears in Wonderland... it just goes on and on really.

Chestnuts roasted by Mystie @ 01/02/2005 07:18 AM EST

Mystie, sounds intriguing. You know that there's a new Care Bears movie in CGI? From the thirty seconds I saw of it, I can safely say that my dreams are less bizarre than this.

Oh yeah, I got Star Ocean 3.

Chestnuts roasted by Yamamanama @ 01/09/2005 03:33 PM EST

I love buying Christmas presents for my family when I have the cash, but now and then I end up picking up a gift that is somewhat inappropriate.
This year I bought Princess Mononoke on DVD under the assurance that it was suitable for preteens. Only found out about the animated decapitations AFTER I gave it to my three little cousins. What a fiasco.

Chestnuts roasted by PippinZ @ 01/10/2005 09:35 AM EST

I watched MST3k's "Track of the Moonbeast" about 20 times in a row and drank a bottle of port wine

Chestnuts roasted by bunnymud @ 01/10/2005 05:41 PM EST

This Christmas I spent my time avoiding the subject of school and devising cunning plans to postpone the unveiling of my most recent and stunning work: "Dear mom and dad I failed college but in the third semester rather than the first thereby paying for three complete semesters for nothing plus I don't have a job right now and I know you got me a 1337 computer for my birthday tomorrow thinking I'll need it for school whoa are you ever going to be furious". It's a long title and you need to take two breathes in between but it's appropriate.

Chestnuts roasted by Dave @ 01/11/2005 11:57 AM EST

BTW 1337 is nerd slang for elite.

Interesting historical fact: before 1337 there was L33T but I guess people decided spelling with numbers is cool and that a 1 could substitute as a lower cas "l" and if you used your imgination the number 7 could be a capital "T"...sort of. Oh and using 3 like a backwards "E" was damn clever.

Chestnuts roasted by Dave @ 01/11/2005 12:05 PM EST