Well, there you have it! Brandon J. Carr’s smurfing last contribution to his series of guest strips. I think it turned out pretty smurfing good, don’t you?

Actually, I’m a little disconcerted at how well Brandon can draw a Smurf…

BUT NO MATTER! Brandon really came through for me and I can’t appreciate it enough. Thank you, Brandon, for your excellent work.

I think everyone should visit and bookmark Brandon’s site so they can stay current on what our dear chap is working on next. Yes. I think that will do nicely…

As you know, Avatar comes out today. But, for me, it’s almost been an after-thought. I haven’t really been anticipating the movie like I’m being told I should. I don’t know. Neither the concept or the visuals have hooked me just yet. When the comparisons to Delgo and Fern Gully cropped up with the first teaser images of the film, it left a bad taste in my mouth. If Cameron is supposed to be one of the most innovative filmmakers in the business, these comparisons to kids films shouldn’t be at the front of everyone’s mind.

I’ve given a few reviews a cursory glance and the majority of them are overwhelmingly positive. People are really tossing around the “IT’LL CHANGE MOVIES FOREVER” praise. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t.

I guess I’ll say that I’ve been half-purposefully keeping my head in the sand on this one. Because I do have faith in Cameron’s vision and I think I’d rather be surprised by what I see on-screen than what is being described to me in a review.

Despite the fact that I’m not entirely enthusiastic about the film, I still want to see it. Does that make sense? Keep in mind Cami and I just had a baby two weeks ago and I think my brains are leaking out of my ears.

If anything about Avatar has surprised me, it’s that Cami told m that she was excited to see the film. I don’t know if that’s because she’s at home with Pearl, is watching more television and has been exposed to more commercials for the film than I have. But I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth! I fully expected seeing this one by myself a few weeks ago!

Speaking of Avatar Cami and gifts, it’s likely I will see the film on Sunday with Cami as my parents watch over Henry and Pearl. We’re going over to their house this weekend to celebrate my 32nd birthday – which is actually on Monday, December 21. The Winter Solstice, baby! Shortest day of the year!! Woo?

If you’d like to get me anything for my birthday, boy would a pledge to the Kickstarter fund raising campaign for Theater Hopper: Year Three would be nice. I mean, really, really nice!

As of this writing, we’re 66% funded with 13 days to go. I’m getting VERY nervous about the time we have left in the campaign. I’m approaching it mentally as if we only have 10 days because I’m really afraid that the holidays are going to negatively affect fund raising efforts and people will forget to pledge.

Take this opportunity to pledge today! Right now you can get a copy of Theater Hopper: Year Three for $15, signed and numbered by your truly. The important thing to remember is that YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET THE BOOK FOR LESS. If you pre-order the book by pledging to the Kickstarter campaign, you don’t have to pay for shipping! If (and when) the book is published and put up for sale here, shipping becomes a factor.

So take advantage of this offer while you still can! And if you’re feeling extra generous, just look at all the other rewards for pledging larger amounts. Lots of great stuff!

I’ll leave it at that. I don’t want to push too hard.

In the meantime, let’s talk about Avatar a little bit in the comments section below. Who is excited to see it? Who is skeptical? Will it really “change movies forever” like they say? Leave your thoughts below!

Thanks again to Brandon J. Carr for an excellent series of guest strips this week and thanks to you for coming to the site and checking them out!

Have a great week!