Wednesday, December 25, 2002 - 9 pm

I'm hoping I can get this log entry finished before my brother wakes up and kicks me out of his room. I have to say that Christmas wasn't so bad this year. At least it didn't degenerate into a miasma of manic-depressive shouting as has been wont to happen in other years. Still, I can see why I only see certain members of my family once or twice a year. (And to said members, if you happen to be reading this, I just want to tell you that yes, I know I've gained weight in the past year and no, I DON'T know when the hell I'll be getting married. Lay off, already!)

I just watched the Wizard of Oz for the first time in years tonight. Viewing this seminal work with a mature spirit and decades of worldly experience behind me, I am prompted to ask myself the following question:

"What the HELL were the people who made this movie smoking?"

Uh-oh. I think the sleeping dragon has just awoken. Time for me to split. I'll try to write another update tomorrow, if the Fates allow. Have Yourselves a Merry Little Christmas, everybody!

Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 3:40 pm

Christmas. I don't know what it is about this year, but it seems an extra layer of pain has been added to the default, low-level holiday depression I usually experience at this time. Granted, this year has been rather hard on me. A true annus horribilis in more ways than one. But at least the pain has been somewhat offset by my winning a Toastyfrog Plushy from toastyfrog.com, in their monthly donation drawing giveaway. Here you see said plushy on display, with some propping help from my cat Moonie, (who admittedly, looks positively demonic in this photo. She doesn't like Christmas all that much. Her favorite holiday is Halloween, for obvious reasons.)

So I don't depress you too much during this allegedly festive season with tales of woe from my so-called life, I think it would be best to just get right to the business of the day, which is to tell you that Hamlet: The Manga has been updated. Yeah. I know it's only one measly page. You were probably expecting more, weren't you? I'm sure the disappointment you're feeling is akin to that of a child hoping to get an X-Box for Christmas and finding only a Radica Pocket Poker Game under the tree. Or worse, those socks with the stupid plastic tire treads on the bottom of them. Yecch. Waitaminute. Those are the exact same things I got for Christmas last year. No wonder I hate this holiday so much.

I have to go now. I've a long drive ahead of me. I'm spending Christmas down in the Cities with the parents again this year, and my internet access from their house has always been a bit iffy. Best to expect not to hear from me for the next few days. I leave you with some Slayers Christmas fanart I made for a friend last year. (As I was kind of too lazy to throw anything together this year. Oh, like YOU'VE never recycled a Christmas present at some point.)

Merry Christmas!