#problem solvin’

[red-engineer-blog]

…..Yuour workssshopp is warmmm….

You, uh, doin’ alright, slim? Watcha doin’ down here? Bit of a ways out just for a warm workshop, ain’t it?

…

Is that a bullet wound..?

[bernie-jsyk]

editing

[fifizero]

also i really like the idea of Seraphine being like the opposite of deaf. Like she can hear too well. Sort of like Dolores from Encanto, but like ten times. She can hear everything and it overwhelms her until all she can hear is just high pitched buzzing. Hence the creation of her hextech headphones that her dad makes her. (according to her lore) bc her lore just is like 'yeah one day it was just suddenly too much' like wtf shut up that's. boring and stupid

[nthflower]

You know it's sad that shady sands citizens lost their home etc but my theory is probably some war crime ncr did come back to bite them back or they probably bite something bigger than they can handle again.

[broareweabouttoviberightnow]

"We need cash." Two, Soda, Steve, Dallas, Pony, 'n Johnny crowd the living room in a loose circle like mourners at a funeral. Between them, the shattered, stacked, 'n swept together corpse of what had once been their TV.

"We? Ain't my fault it's broken." Dallas kicks at a shard of glass 'n Pony narrows his eyes at him. "Blame it on the kid 'n call it a night."

"Hey!" Pony stomps a foot before he can catch himself, crosses his arms. "It wasn't me!"

Steve scoffs, rolls his eyes. Pony's face darkens murderously. "Was too."

"No, it was not! You were the one who fuckin' threw me!" Soda 'n Two's eyes ping pong back 'n fourth between the two of them.

"Did not! 'N if I did it was only 'cause you started the fight."

"Bullshit!" Pony's voice hits a shrill high note 'n Steve smirks at him, self-satisfied. "I only started it 'cause you were fuckin' callin' me names you asshole."

"Well, I wouldn't have been callin' you names if you hadn't been actin' like a brat." Pony lets out an indignant wail 'n Soda has to fly across the group to snag him by the waist so he doesn't start right back up again.

"Ok, ok. Enough you two." Pony writhes around like a fish on a hook for another moment before Soda jabs him in the ribs 'n he howls but stops fightin'. "This isn't solvin' our problems."

"I don't see how this is an us problem." Dallas tries again, hooks an arm around Johnny's shoulder 'n pulls him close. "I just got here, Johnny wasn't involved, 'n neither was Two. Soda bites the bullet for not stoppin' 'em 'n Darry can string the idiots up as he so pleases. What's the problem?"

Steve 'n Pony both turn on him, united for the first time that afternoon, fingers pointed 'n accusin'. "'Cause Two was bettin' on us-"

"Hey! Look, all's fair 'n love 'n war or whatever they say. Nobody asked ya to start rumblin' in the livin' room of all places."

"Yeah, 'n Darry'll love to hear that." Steve grabs his hip, wags a finger in a pretty damn passin' imitation of Darry. "Two-Bit Mathews you're how old now? Glory God almighty when are you gonna get any sense- OW!" Steve hollers at the comic Two's rolled up 'n thumped him over the head with.

"Ok, Ok fine. But I wasn't fuckin' bettin' against myself!" Two glares pointedly at Soda who rocks back 'n forth on his heels, suddenly findin' the floor real interestin'.

"Soda!" Steve stops nursin' his head to glare at Soda with wide eyes.

"Hey! Look! I'm sorry!" He blinks, tries his best tip-earnin' grin. "It was all on you, Stevie."

"SODA!" Pony whips on him quick as quick, quiverin' with as much indignance 'n outrage a fourteen-year-old can manage. Soda swallows back a snort, grabs Pony's face in his hands. "I'm sorry-"

"Well. Tough shit for y'all. But I don't see what this has to do with me or Johnny 'n I'm of the mind to beat it before Darry gets home 'n raises hell."

"Uh, Dal." Johnny clears his throat 'n tries to ignore the pointed stares of the rest of the gang hot on his face, runs a hand up the back of his neck, blows out a long breath. "IhadfiftycentsonPonyboy."

"Johnny!" Dallas drops him but doesn't sound half as annoyed as he does impressed.

"Well at least someone was in my corner-" Pony shoots Soda an aggravated glance 'n Soda throws his hands up placatingly.

"Yeah, speakin' of which." Two whips his hand out, palm up, 'n makes a grabbin' motion. Both Soda 'n Johnny huff but reach in their pockets 'n pull out quarters, dumpin' into Two's waitin' hands. He hoots his laughter 'n shoves the dollars' worth of change into his pants.

"Wait, who were you bettin' on Two?" Steve crosses his arms at the same time Pony plunks his hands on his hips, both glarin' accusingly.

"Me? I wasn't playin' for neither of ya! I bet y'all were gonna break somethin'!" Two cracks himself up, howlin'. It doesn't last for long 'n Pony 'n Steve turn succinctly on him, draggin' him down to the floor 'n landin' jabs wherever they can reach.

"Good lord. Well, y'all have fun with that one. I'm peelin' outta here."

"Oh no you don't." Soda catches one hand deftly in the collar of Dallas' jacket as he turns to leave, hefts him back. "You even think about wormin' outta this I'll tell Darry about that time you smoked all that pot 'n threw up 'n I had to carry a bowl a soup down to Buck's for your scrawny ass."

"Yeah, or that time you got picked up for shopliftin' 'n when the cops called I picked up the phone 'n never told Dar." Steve pauses in his onslaught of Two-Bit to throw his hat in the ring. The moment he's not focused Two wriggles out, flips him easily onto his back.

"Or that one time with Tim-"

"OK. Goddamn! No wonder Darry's goin' grey. Y'all are enough to send a man to an early grave." Dallas scowls 'n throw his hands up, shakin' Soda off. "So what now?"

"Now we need cash." Two says plaintively 'n they all stare down at the wreckage again.

"Ok. Thanks, genius." Steve rolls his eyes, clambers back to his feet, offers Pony his hand 'n hauls him up. "What are we lookin' at here? Like what? Twenty bucks?"

"Twenty bucks? Steve, what world do you live on where a TV is twenty goddamn bucks?" Dallas toes at the the box 'n it sparks. "Jesus Christ, none of you unplugged it? Hurry up 'n yank the plug out before we gotta by Dar a new house too."

Both Soda 'n Johnny dive for the cord 'n Johnny pulls up at the last second so they don't crack their heads together.

"So what, like fifty?" Pony 'n Soda exchange a glance, avert their eyes.

"Uh, try more like eighty, man." Soda plops down on his ass, looks desolately at the hunk of plastic 'n glass again.

"EIGHTY? Guys. We're dead. More than dead. Dar's gonna kill us, bury us, 'n then dig us back up again." Steve chews at his thumbnail, paces quick back 'n forth.

"Naw, Steve. Be realistic." Two grins, stuffs his hands into his pockets. "He'd never go through all that work for us. I think just killin' us the first time around'll do it."

Pony groans, presses both his palms into his eyes 'n collapses back into the armchair. "Not funny, Two."

"Aw, not even a lil-" He's cut off by the throw pillow Steve beams at his head, hittin' him square in the face.

"Man focus. We got cash, right?" Dallas refocuses the room, looks at them each in turn. The silence is answer enough, the celin', floor, 'n walls becomin' real fascinatin'. "Man, y'all've got to be jokin'. Steve, don't you have some money from the DX or your da put away?"

"Uh, well, no. Not really. Kinda, uh, lost it. All." He twiddles the bottom of his vest between his fingers, refuses to look up.

"Whatta ya mean lost it?"

"Look you lose one goddamn drag 'n suddenly everyone's crawlin' up your ass! How was I supposed to know that? 'N hey, what about you, Two? I don't hear you offerin' anythin' up."

"Ha! What money? I didn't have anythin' to start with don't look at me. Ask Soda, he's employed."

Soda throws his hands up guiltily. "Don't look over here. I got six bucks to my good name."

"Yeah, good 'n broke-" Soda pulls a face 'n kicks Dallas hard in the shin before he can duck outta the way.

"Where'd your paycheck go, Soda?" Johnny prods at him with his foot 'n Soda playfully catches it, yanks at him.

"Hey, I keep the lights on in this place!"

"And the rest of it?" Johnny pulls back 'n, when he realizes Soda ain't lettin' up, reaches down to jab at the ticklish spot on Soda's ribs.

"What? A man can't be afforded a lil' fun?" Soda yowls 'n drops his foot, wrigglin' backwards to get away. "How was I supposed to know a guitar was twenty-five bucks?"

"Soda!" Pony's jaw drops open. "You can't even play!"

"Hey! Yet! Gimme some credit! Plus I don't wanna hear anythin' from mister no job over there." Soda crosses his arms dramatically but he's grinnin' the whole way 'n all of them know he doesn't mean it.

"That ain't fair! Darry won't let me get a job. 'Course I don't got no goddamn money. Look at Dal. He's got a job!"

"First of all, I didn't even break the fuckin' TV. Second of all, how much money I got is none of your damn business." Dallas scowls, turns his nose up. Steve groans, drops down to the couch with his head in his hands.

"God so we're all broke."

"Hey-!"

"Shut up, Dal." Two cuts him off 'n Dallas' shifts his glare, damn near murderous. "Johnny Cakes?" He tries, weakly hopeful.

"Uh, I got three bucks." Soda quirks an eyebrow up 'n Johnny plops his hands on his hips.

"Where did you-"

"Ya gonna ask questions or are ya gonna take it?" Soda studies him for a moment, arms crossed still 'n doin' a cartoonish impression of a fussin' hen.

"Boys, we got a real hood among us here today." He hoots 'n Johnny kicks him in the hip, both of them still howlin'. "So that brings us up to, what?"

"Uh, nine bucks. Ten if someone can wrestle that change outta Two's pocket." Pony leans forward, elbows on his knees, 'n sizes Two up like he stood even a single chance.

"Man. I want lillies at my funeral. Can I put that out there? Should we do last rites now or-"

"Aw, hush up, Steve. Look, we just gotta scrape together a little money before Dar gets back. We can get, uh, what was it?" Soda frowns, counts absently on his fingers.

"Seventy more bucks." Pony dead pans 'n Soda's self-assured smile wavers a bit.

"C'mon, that's nothin'! We just gotta put our heads together." Soda climbs to his feet, rubs his hands together in thought. "How do we get our hands on some quick cash?"

Dallas 'n Two open their mouths 'n Soda throws out an accusin' finger to each of them. "'N nobody's doin' nothin' illegal 'cause if Dar has to pick one of us from the station before he comes home to no TV he's gonna start inventin' cruel 'n unusual punishments, y'hear?"

Dallas rolls his eyes 'n mutters 'n Two nods absently in agreement but they both don't offer any other ideas. "Anythin' else?"

"Uh, pawn shop?" Pony offers.

"Yeah, great idea, Pone. Anyone have any expensive jewelry they've been keepin' back?" Steve drawls, dryly, apparently resigned to his fate.

"Well, it ain't mine but I got, uh, a Singer we could sell." Dallas leans back in the doorway, waits for the onslaught of questions. They don't disappoint.

"A Singer? Dal, you've been watchin' me hafta hand hem 'n you had a Singer?" Soda howls, goes to kick him in the shin again but Dallas is prepared this time 'n dodges it.

"Where the hell did you get a Singer-?"

"Why-?"

"Look! It was Sylvie's, right? When I kicked her out she didn't get the chance to take it or nothin'. It ain't mine." He throws his hands up defensively, eyes Soda still standin' close enough to wallop him if he decided to. Soda glares back like he's still makin' up his mind about goin' for round two.

"Aw, man. We can't pawn off Sylvie's stuff." Johnny backs outta the way as Soda decides to give it another go 'n jabs at Dallas. "She mighta been a lil' mean but she don't deserve to have her shit sold off."

"The bitch- Soda get offa me- two-timed me? Remember?" Dallas knocks Soda's hands deftly away 'n Soda sneaks in on more solid kick before retreatin'.

"Oh, yeah." Johnny rocks back 'n forth on his heels, still clearly uncomfortable with the whole idea.

"Maybe Soda 'n Steve could pick up some extra shifts for a bit?" Pony tries again, clearly not as willin' as Steve to lie down 'n take his medicine.

"Yeah, another winner, Pone. 'N when Darry comes home to no TV tonight?" Steve scowls at him 'n Pony glares back, the two still dangerously close to another all-out scrap.

"Well, at least I'm comin' up with somethin'."

"Doesn't help if it's all stupid-"

"Alright you two, knock it off. We can't afford to have to buy anythin' else y'all broke 'cause y'all can't keep your traps shut." Two cuts in 'n they both round on him, glarin'.

"Look who's talkin'!" Steve mutters 'n Two grins 'n flips him off.

The laughter 'n bickerin' trail off, lapsin' into silence again. Each lookin' guiltily at the disaster, eyein' each other. "Well, uh, is anyone not above beggin'?" No one says anythin' 'n Two clicks his teeth, nods. "Yeah, didn't think so."

"Hey, guys." Six heads turn to look at Pony, suddenly ashen 'n lookin' past them up at the clock in the kitchen. "Is this a bad time to tell y'all Dar told me to tell y'all he'd be home early this afternoon?"

"Pony." Steve flies to his feet, grabs Pony by his shoulders. "How early?"

Somehow, Pony manages to pale even further. "Uh. In like. An hour?"

As if it had heard, the TV hisses, flashes, lets out one final death rattle 'n falls silent so it's just the seven of them, eyein' each other like men at the gallows.

"Dallas?" Johnny gives himself a shake, grabs his jacket from the back of the sofa.

"Yeah, man?"

"Let's get your girlfriend's stuff."

[wilwheaton]

But there is a growing panic down in Trumpy Town. Celebrity Punk Joe Rogan says; You know, I sure like that Kennedy guy and I’m tired of the same old Democrats and Republicans. Then, after the cult came after him. Rogan back peddles furiously, But don’t ask me! I don’t know nothin about nothin, about no politics! Joe knows paychecks. The cult is unforgiving, and you can only fall from the high wire once and that’s it. They’ll move on, and the circle just gets smaller. White Redneck Nick Fuentes has denounced Big Brother to the inner Party faithful. They see something and are trying to say something. Trump is losing his edge and losing the lunatic fringe. He’s lost a step and they know it. He’s not as sharp as he used to be. Check out this pearl of wisdom, “Which is incapable of solvin’ even the sollest…smallest problem. The simplest problems we can no longer solve. We are an institute in a powerful death penalty.” Real Gettysburg address stuff, huh?

Panic Down in Trumpy Town

I love this for them.

[sylaurin]

I'm a trouble shooter with a troubled past Solvin' problems with a shotgun blast~

[zero06iranosaurusrex]

TW:red splatter and knife

Daffy: welthcome to the quackbusther club! we'll solvthe your problemsth either quickly by our hands only with some penniesth or- Bugs:-or solvin your problems by creating new troubles to ya Lola:either way,please come by if you have some creepy stuffs occured or happens or...even if you just want to ask for some carrot cakes and tea! finally can draw another stuff from this au JAFSKDGSDJG don't worry that red splatters belongs to huge monster/yokai they just slain together

[thuganomxcs]

𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 | @tsukuharuko | 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆

That evening, Haruko was surprised to find Yusuke already in her flat... And a whole dinner prepared for her, now cold. "Oh! Have you been here long?" She asked, mortified. "Sorry! I was studying with a classmate of mine for an assignment and it got late! I didn't know you'd visit, I could have returned sooner..."

━━   ❝   𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐢?  ❞  Well no biggy, she often hung out with them, if he knew she would have been there then he would have just made lunches for the three of them, a little brain food to help out with the studying. “Don’t worry about it, figured I’d surprise ya but the food’s still good enough t’ enjoy as leftover tomorrow..meaning I can just make ya dinner instead.”

Though he wondered what she meant with ‘coming back sooner?’ It’s not like she was far away or anything. “Did the three of you get most of your work done? You were probably solvin’ all the problems cause yer smart…well sometimes too smart.”

[red-engineer-blog]

how is willow doing?

@doctors-order-coffee

👁 👁

Well, why don’t you tell me where y’ heard that name, partner?

[flightlesstrash]

whats my problem? well i want you to follow me down to the bottom underneath the insane asylum keep your wits about you while you got em cuz your wits are first to go while youre problem solvin and my problem?

CLANCY DIDNT TAKE THE FUCKING JACKET

[anaughtythane]

Seduce your muse! Gin: “Ah’ve a problem ah need yer ‘elp solvin’.”

Seduce my muse (still accepting)

Never been less turned on | Ugh no | I’d give you a try | Yes, yes, YES | I’M READY NOW DAMMIT

Thane tried to be swuave and cool but his beet red blush hid nothing.

"Well, Miss Gin, I might have the solution to your problem. But it seems to be a recurring issue, can I trust you'll cooperate for a long time on this. We can do our best to solve that problem. What is it this time, specifically?"

[voidaxolotl]

Sitting here watching Jurrasic Park for the milli-fuckin-th time and have been thinking about ways the parked could've worked if they had, like, at least one person who ran a successful zoo with animals that weren't depressed.

Theres a whole post somewhere about giving the dinosaurs enrichment within their enclosures- like a giant pumpkin full of goats for the t-rex's, puzzles and doors with handles for the raptors, etc- and I can't help but to agree.

If Hammond had been patient and set up at least a year of just watching and researching the creatures they made, on the island were there are no cages and whatnot, then "paid no experience" to get some kind of animal handlers or something who have worked with apex predators- the carnivores in the park would've been too preoccupied with whatever lil toys and games that were made for them to be running at electic fences or noticing that said fences weren't elecrified anymore (like eventually they would've probably noticed? But if you have the big-boi-T-rex busy all day trying to get his lil arms into a giant verson of one of those dog treat things where you coat the inside with peanut butter? Big-boi would be too tired at night to go poke at a fence)

Now yes, the "raptors" (apparently the ones in the movies are closer to Utah raptors, not velocerapters?) could still pose a large problem with those large craniums the movies give them (those girls are sitting like, from well trained dog to tested monkey level of problem solvin). Solution? Don't breed raptor?

Yeah they'd miss out on one of the most popular dinosaur attraction, but the park would totally be safer. (it alsp would of they just, didn't put any of the carnivorous boys on the island but lets be real, that would be asking too mich of a large corporation) If they REALLY want raptors they could probably start with a much larger encloser to let them run around and check out the entire thing, then probably place different mazes with different prizes given to them at the end (maybe not food unless tbey see a human giving saod food to them or they'll associate "escape" or "getting in/out" of something = "food at the end" and end up eating whatever they see on the other side unless they are trained to associate "human" as "food giver" and not food)

But yeah. If Hammond had gotten a research team to go watch the "wild" creations he made for at least a year (if not each creatures life spans), hired trainers, handlers, etc who have worked with apex predators and large herbivors, had paid for larger enclosers and any enrichment for the animls- maybe his park would've held a better chance.

Oh, and firing Henry Wu. That was something the post I referenced earlier added- and I agree. Also, no making up "new dinosaurs" the things you made are already "new dinosaurs" because they're different to fossils and will have a diffierent behavior due to the new ecosystem they have been thrusted into (I believe both Henry and Grant make comments about this? The fact that what was made for the park weren't actually dinosaurs, just creatures we started giving that name to for lack of a better one)

Just make more dino merch if they park starts failing! But lets be real, with the emount of neurodivergent people who hyperfixate on dinosaurs, and the amount of kids that have a dinosaur phase almost right away, Jurassic Park would always have some kind of audience.

Anyways- theres my TED talk-

[berrypass-de-murdler]

S-7, The Chancellor's Classic Mansion Mystery

I am home now so this is not as late

DON'T READ THE EPISODES WITHOUT READING THE BOOKS!!

There’s no time for chessboxing. Logico hears the mighty roar of Tuscany, and must see what’s wrong. The big problem is, it’s pouring rain and storming. And with Logico’s compact structure, it’s gonna be pretty dangerous getting to the office. But he must find his mother! 

So he squishes through the mud, drowning in his own coat. But, having doubled in weight, he makes it there, flopping onto the floor and squeezing out all the excess.

LOGICO: I… made it… TUSCANY: Logico! It’s so good that you’re here. The chancellor has something he’d like to say. OAK: …oh… y’mean me? Ur, I guess… look, kid… you’ve been doin’ a good job, solvin’ murders…  VOICE: So I would like to present you with an award. LOGICO: Who is that?

It’s a jacketed turtle with a helmet… and wings!

TUSCANY: This is Dean Celadon. [patpat] I have brought her here to help with our maintenance duties and keeping students in order. OAK: Jus’ one problem…

He weakly points to a body. 

OAK: Do that one first, then you can get the ‘ward.

Logico instantly suspects the new girl. Her eyes follow him everywhere, and she’s stiff as a board. And yet, her jacket is just too soft for words. Logico yearns to touch it.

CELADON: [small hiss] TUSCANY: Focus, Logico…

Logico notices that Tuscany’s fur is damp, she must have been outside. Oak is always moist, but his clothes aren’t wet, so he probably stayed indoors. This logic is so much fun! But then the phone rings.

OAK: Yup. M’kay. It’s fer you…

Logico handles the phone proudly, assuming it’s his father. It isn’t.

VOICE: Listen, Logico. What I have to say is important, and cannot be dismissed. Something is happening. You need to save the school.

They hang up. Logico sweats at the threatening message. But then the phone rings again!

VOICE: I’m watching you.

That’s worse. Logico’s instincts are correct and the murderer was Celadon, but that doesn’t comfort him in the slightest. 

CELADON: You’re going to fire me, aren’t you.  TUSCANY: Yes!  CELADON: Well great. Now I’ll have to head to a place that doesn’t fire you for killing people. The government… it’s perfect.

Oak slowly waddles up to Gico and he swears he feels something drip on him again.

OAK: Yer now with us… part of the Chancellor’s Foundation… we’re gonna give you special privileges so you can do all the stuff in exchange fer solvin’ murder. LOGICO: That’s incredible! OAK: …an'na hefty stipend. LOGICO: MONEY??

He starts to jump around the room very fast. Money! But isn’t there something bigger to worry about?

The end!

Little Cel

I am the world's only Celadon fan

The power of Goat Lord compels you!

See you next time murdlers!

[asmokeadaykeepsthedevilaway]

Wow.. not that I’m judging but— How can you go from battling demons to bagging groceries?

@zatannazee

John glares at her slightly while stocking marshmallows...turns out it's really hard to be intimidating with a bag of marshmallows in hand

"what're ya doin' here lass? Ya may not be my Zee but I don't need word gettin' round that this's what's become of me...'n I don't need another person disappointed in me I'm plenty disappointed in myself already luv"

John sighs and slumps back against the shelf and looks down at the bag of marshmallows avoiding eye contact with Zatanna now

"the universe is just dead set on fuckin' me over luv, I was at a good point with supernatural bollocks, I felt alive 'n I was solvin' problems with the snap of a finger, things were going good 'n i felt like I was actually making a bloody difference...then again maybe I was just getting too good at my job because slowly but surely supernatural disturbances started becomin' more 'n more rare, sure they still pop up now 'n again once a month or so almost as if the universe is tauntin' me but other than that it's just 'bag boy johnny" day in 'n day out"

[yourpalmickeymouse]

Hi, Mickey. How are you?

Since it's almost Christmas, how do you usually spend Christmas? And... Christmas is a family holiday, so... Can you tell us about Aunt Melinda?

Hiya mafik-sun,

'Round this time of year, I'm always doin' great. I can't believe it's almost Christmas!!! 🎅🦌

Gosh, what don't I do for Christmas? I feel like I have so many holiday traditions that Christmas ends up feelin' more like a marathon than a holiday, ha ha. Though don't think that I mean that in a bad way. I just love Christmas 💝 and everythin' that comes with it. It's actually my favorite holiday ever, and I don't mean for the gifts 😉. There's just something 'bout this time of year that feels so magical and musical, the world just feels like a better place...

But back to your question. I would argue that our Christmas technically starts on Christmas Eve. Goofy and his son always invite Minnie, Pluto, and me to go carolin' in the evenin'. In fact, they're gonna be here in a couple of hours. I love carolin' so much. It's always a ton of fun and gets me right into the Christmas spirit. Sometimes if we're lucky people will even give us some holiday treats or even come out and join us. I think last year we had 'bout 15 people in our group. I would love to see that number grow this year. After that, we'd stop by my house and pick at least one present under the tree 🎄 to open, with Max and Goofy bringin' gifts from their tree.

After that, we'd leave out some freshly baked cookies for Santa and watch Christmas special after Christmas special in the livin' room until we fall asleep. The next day we would then wake up to even more gifts from Santa and spend all mornin' opening them. I admit I always enjoyed watchin' the other's faces light up when they see what I got 'em. After that Minnie and I start preparin' the Christmas lunch while Max and Goofy start workin' on some crafts. They have this neat tradition where every year they sew a new patch onto their stocking, though usually, Goofy ends up sewing his sweater instead, ha ha. 😆

Oh! And this is usually the time Aunt Melinda arrives. Gosh, what can I say 'bout Aunt Melinda? She's really kind, supportive, and probably one of the smartest people I know. It truly does feel like she knows everythin' sometimes as she always knew exactly what to say. It's probably how she kept me out of trouble when I visited her as a kid, which is real impressive if you knew how I used to be 😅. But I really think she's responsible for fosterin' my creativity and love for problem solvin'.

When I was young, every time I saw her she would always give me a small puzzle to solve by the end of the day. I remember lookin' so forward to these (I still do actually) and would spend hours tryin' to figure it out. Every time I did, she would hand me the tastiest piece of candy I ever had. I could never figure out what brand it was or where to get more, which I guess meant if I wanted more I had to solve more puzzles. She also got me into my favorite book series "The Chirikawa Chronicles" as it was one of the many books she would read to me every night. Ya know it's funny, she can be a bit overprotective and from the outside can even come across as just a homely country lady, but I always felt like there was more to her that I just couldn't see. Almost like she was hidin' it.

But back to Christmas, 'bout lunchtime is usually when everyone, includin' our friends from Duckburg, arrives. We'd open a couple more gifts and then have a massive potluck lunch together. After that, we'd have all sorts of competitions and activities. There was Christmas karaoke, ugly sweater fashion shows, ornament making, and probably the most anticipated event of 'em all, the Annual Gingerbread House Contest, also known as the AGHC. Every year was always competitive and I bet this year will be no exception. I'm the judge this year since my gingerbread hotel won last time and I'm excited to see what everyone makes. Daisy claims to have a gingerbread "condo" that will blow everyone else's out of the water, but I guess we'll have to see. 😉

But after we've had our fun, we actually finish the day doin' somethin' a bit different to help us remember what this time's really 'bout. Every year on Christmas day, everyone heads over to the Mouseton Soup Kitchen and spends the rest of our evenin' passin' out food to those who need it. This is always my favorite part as I get to help people out and listen to all their wonderful stories. I really feel like I'm fully getting to understand all of Mouseton and the people who live here through this moment. There are so many wonderful people here and it's so nice to give back durin' such a wonderful time of the year. I actually managed to make a deal with a local department store to donate some extra stock to the families in need as gifts, I can't wait to see how that turns out.

But that is usually how I spend my Christmas. Thanks so much for the question. I gotta start layerin' up for tonight, but I would love to hear how you spend this time with your friends, family, or whoever.

I hope you and everyone have a Great Holiday Season and a Happy New Year! 🎊

See ya real soon,

- M.M.