Once upon a time...

Happy holidays to all! Instead of focusing on our differences, let us all remember that whether through cultural, national, religious, or just familial observance, people all over the world use this time of year as a season of renewal, generosity, and reflection. It's the end of one year and the start of a new that joins us, not divides us. The celebrations at this time of the year stem all the way back even before the Greeks, predating all modern religions, and that, in my book, is pretty awesome and something worthy of pause. Hug your friends, hug your family, be grateful for what you have, and stay strong with the hope that things will get better.

I'll post my noel_of_spike entry here tomorrow, but I hope to have a short holiday-related ficlet up later today. :D

Since it's my first Christmas in my own apartment (and because I was too much of a cheapskate to buy an actual Christmas tree), I made my own tree from a Styrofoam cone, craft paint, a bottle cap, and old magazines (I guess it's a little bit of upcycling). It cost me less than $5 to make, and it fits within my teeny apartment. XD

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- A signed copy of Eleanor Herman's Sex with the Queen.
- Ghost of the Robot's new album Murphy's Law (even if part of the proceeds will be used to get Charlie de Mars some cigarettes while he's in a California jail, but what else is new?).
- Pizza rolls from Mr. Plinkett. "Who's been ****in' with my medicine?!"
- For my book to be published.
- All of my student loans magically disappear.
- And for all the little children in the world to hold hands and sing.

Seasons greetings to everyone! May the new year bring everyone better days and calmer seas. :D

I've spent the day baking, cleaning, and watching holidays movies (Fat Albert's Christmas, A Muppet Family Christmas, A Christmas Story, Tom & Jerry's Christmas Special, Mickey's Christmas Carol, A Snow White Christmas, He-Man & She-Ra's Christmas Special, the Star Wars "Life Day" Special, Hanson's Christmas Special, The Snowman, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Merry Christmas- Charlie Brown, Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, and each and every Rankin & Bass Christmas special including the 2-D animated ones).

( The Pre-01-01-11 To-Do List. )

Title: Away in a Manger.
Artist: fenderlove
Rating: Mostly worksafe besides shirtless Connor.
Summary: For noel_of_spike 2010. Thanks to lilithbint for the inspiration. I wanted to try out a new style I am working with, and this is my new Christmas artwork for the year. Fred and Spike decide to put on a Nativity pageant complete with cardboard cattle, stuffed animals, Puppet!Angel, Puppet!Gunn, and Puppet!Wesley. Starring Fred as Mary, Spike as Joseph, and Connor as the "baby" Jesus. No blasphemy intended. XD



( Click here to view the art. )

x-posted on noel_of_spike.

Title: Twelve Christmases in the Life & Unlife of William H. Pratt
Author: fenderlove
Pairing: In these sections, Spike/Buffy, Spike/Fred (friendshippy), Spike/Tok (from the Spike: Shadow Puppets comic), and Spike/Ursula (from my London Calling comic).
Rating: R for mentions of torture and things of an erotic nature... though not at the same time.
Summary: When you live as long as Spike, you've had a variety of holiday-related experiences. Here are twelve glimpses into some Christmases in the life and unlife of our favourite vampire.

( Click here to read Parts 9-12. )

Previous: Parts 1-4, Parts 5-8.

Title: Twelve Christmases in the Life & Unlife of William H. Pratt
Author: fenderlove
Pairing: In these sections, Spike/Drusilla and Spike/Buffy.
Rating: R for mentions of torture and unpleasantness.
Summary: When you live as long as Spike, you've had a variety of holiday-related experiences. Here are twelve glimpses into some Christmases in the life and unlife of our favourite vampire.

( Click here to read Parts 5-8. )

Previous: Parts 1-4.

Title: Twelve Christmases in the Life & Unlife of William H. Pratt
Author: fenderlove
Pairing: In these sections, Spike/Drusilla.
Rating: PG-13.
Summary: When you live as long as Spike, you've had a variety of holiday-related experiences. Here are twelve glimpses into some Christmases in the life and unlife of our favourite vampire.

( Click here to read Parts 1-4. )

Title: Advent.
Author: fenderlove
Pairing: Spike/Fred
Warnings: This ficlet is rate PG for language.
Summary: Spike is having a bad Christmas until he gets a few unexpected surprises. Set after IDW's After the Fall. I wrote this for nekid_spike's Nekid Numbers; my prompts were Fred and an advent calendar. This is a bit late, but I never thought that this would be as long as it turned out to be. :D

( Onward to the fic! )
x-posted on nekid_spike.

Have a groovy rest-of-the-season and a wonderful New Year!