Redeemed - Barnes & Noble

On Tuesday I got the following items with the $25 gift card Dad & Ma gave me for Christmas:

• The latest issue of JUXTAPOZ magazine (art).
• The latest issue of Art New England (art).
• The novel "Dies the Fire" by S. M. Stirling (it tells what happened to the people in the present, 'concurrent' with his 'Nantucket' series).

Amazonian Haul

What I bought with the 3 Amazon gift cards I received for Christmas (from Dad & Ma, Sarah & Jon, and J & Stacie):

• Replacement blades for my Norelco razor.
• Replacement filters for my sink faucet Brita.
• "Black Widow: The Finely Woven Thread" - Edmondson & Noto (Marvel Comics)
• "The Emerald City of OZ" - Shanower & Young (Marvel Comics)
• "Lost Cat" - Jason (Fantagraphics)

PS3 & GTA:V

After several weeks of thought, much convincing by old coworkers & friends, and a $100 Visa gift card that expires on Halloween, I finally bought the PlayStation 3 bundle that includes "Grand Theft Auto: V". I'll be able to watch movies again on the DVD player, and I'll be able to play live games with several members of my Burlington chums and my brothers & nephews. I also snagged "LEGO: Marvel Super Heroes"...

Amazonia

I got two Amazon gift cards for Christmas, and this is how I recently spent the $30 one:

• "Sorcerers of Majipoor" - Robert Silverberg
• "Lord Prestimion" - Robert Silverberg
• "The King of Dreams" - Robert Silverberg
• "The New Teen Titans: Games" - Wolfman & Perez
• The 'MAXIM' 2012 calendar

Christmas Day

I set my alarm for 8 am so I wouldn't sleep through the day. When I got up I fed Mr. Ween, made coffee (the always amazing Peet's Sumatra), and had a pear, scallops wrapped in bacon, and a few Christmas cookies for breakfast...

...and then I frittered the day away in front of the television, reading, and online, ignoring the world after a hectic holiday retail season. I used my $50 Amazon gift card for the following items:

• "Flight" Volume 4.
• "Flight" Volume 6.
• R.E.M.'s final compilation album.
• and the "Flyboys" DVD.