dolari | Prices are so high, I went to buy a pound of hamburger, and had to have a co-signer! WAKA WAKA WAKA

Dec 23:
Kyeli's/Pace's/Sera's handfasting party. Interesting party, although I only knew a few people there, so I was in wall-flower mode most of the night. I did manage to mingle with the friends who were there (shout outs to Andy, Samantha, Michael, Sabrina and Joyce), and meet a few I'd never talked to before, which was really neat considering that Pace's parties tend to to tilt more to the logical analytical programmer types that don't really exist in my life.

One thing I really enjoyed was talking with Andy and one of the others whose name I forgot (I'm sorry, I don't even think I got your name), talking about scriptwriting. Listening to two folks just talkign abou different scripts they've worked on was a lot of fun, since it's something I've always wanted to do but decided I couldn't.

It confirmed for me that the attitude you need to have for that business is not one I can do. You have to see your work as a seed for someone else to develop, instead of taking ownership and developing it yourself. Not that I see that as a bad thing - just not something I could do.

Now I don't feel so much like I missed out on something good by not going down that path. At least in webcomics, I can keep ownership of my stuff, and develop it as I see fit. Guess I just skipped over the ladder and went direct to being a producer? ;)

I also got to see The Third Comission up and displayed! About a month or two ago, Kyeli comissioned me to make a handfasting present for the Triad. After some worrisome issues about drawing folks I knew issues about it becoming caricaturish, issues about a looming deadline, and issues about me really needing to clean up my room I got it all done. It now sits in the Hall of Angels, along side one of my AWFW originals.

When I got home, I opened the gifts I'd recieved here and there over the last few weeks. I got COFFEE CRISP from Jenni (JOY!), The Muppet Show Season 1 DVD from Nathan and Jenesta, the Wonder Woman boxset also from Jenni (FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS! IN HER SATIN TIGHTS!), a Darth Vader mug from Gina and a copy of an old Star Trek Starfleet Chronology book from the 70s from Mike Moon (with bonus Babylon 5 credit cards! Sankyuu!

Dec 24-25;
And this was where worry began to creep in. I was going to home, to meet a lot of family I hadn't seen in ten years. This time for real. While I went androgynous, my boobs are really noticable, and I was wearing blouses instead of t-shirts and what not. They'd all know something was up...would they say anything?

I got prepared for the confrontations, practiced lines I had in my head ("While I'd LIKE you in my life, I haven't seen you in ten years - I don't NEED you"), and....nothing happened. I reconnected with nearly all of my dad's side of the family, and while no one said anything, and I didn't volunteer anything, they straight up didn't seem to care.

I did see the one uncle on my mom's side, (who wouldn't look me in the eye, and shook my hand last time I saw him). He and his family seemed fine, but he obviously knows something is up and wont say anything. He hugged me when he left, and very un-subtley felt me up. :) Yes, there was something there, dude. And I'm rather proud, thanks. Please don't do that again.

In all, a good time was had, nothing strange or wierd to report, and I got home with $100 from the folks to cover the horrible overdraft from the Houston trip.

Once I got home, I got my present from Emily - pancakes!

Tasty pancakes served by a tasty pancake wench! ::kisses her::

And the Rest:
I got home from the Christmas thing to a bill for $200 from UPS. SUPPOSEDLY it's all taken care of, but I'm worries. It tunrs out all the labels I was charged for were unreadable, and probably marked to me by accident. But UPS was not very helpful. Despite complaining repeatedly that these were not my packages, the agent continually insinuated they were my packages, and that I knew these people. I had to keep reminding him I've sent ONE package with UPS in my life, that I didn't know these people, and that I don't care if I'm "linked" to the main account, I don't know them. UPS says my account is cancelled and I've been "creditied" the amount against the invoice...but that doesn't sound like "You didn't send those packages" to me.

Jill and Dean got me some Magnetic Toys to play with (The kind that are magnetic plastic links, and ball bearings), desperately needed CD cases, a $30 HEB Grocery Card, and loads and loads ad loads of candy. :9

A few days later, the network card from Phaed and Rach came in, and it's nice to have portable internet again. Sankyuu, too.

I think I suffered a gall bladder attack a few days ago, keeping me up for 36 hours straight. I wasn't exactly sure what it was, only that something was stabbing me in the lungs for several hours straight. One warm shower later, and it all passed. Still, it left me worried and scared...but there was nothing that could really be done. Health is for the rich.

And now we're all caught up. Dunno what I'll be doing tomorrow. Maybe some chinese food and a quiet intro to 2006. Although I'd really like to see what Austin has up for it's First Night stuff. The State College First Night stuff was a LOT of fun...and 24 hours for a full week before, :D

So now you're all caught up. How're you?