December 22nd, 2009
JEFBOT.200_The Christmas Pact
Firstly: we’ve hit the 200th strip, y’all! Woo-hoo! Once we get past the holidays, I’ll have a proper celebration. 
Nextly: this strip developed from a text message and email conversation I had last week with my sister, Linda. I sent the strip to her in sketch form to get her stamp of approval before I started inking it, and she was cool with it as long as I put her character in a Santa’s cap or reindeer antlers. As you can see, I complied.
Any of you have weird family gift-giving rules or traditions?
Oh, but of course. My brother decides every year that he doesn’t want anything because he’s “a man” and “has too much stuff.” He claims that we’re “in a recession, so we shouldn’t be spending.” Then, he delivers the coolest gifts (seriously, THE coolest), and I feel like a huge jerk for not getting him anything! The guilt sticks around until his birthday, when I can make it up to him =) Every year, without fail!
ha! sounds like it’s all part of an elaborate plan for you to get him awesome birthday gifts, Kate!
it’s funny cuz it’s true.
congrats on hitting 200!
thanks, skinny! woo-hoo!
I wanted to be first!!!!! %$#@&$
you gotta be vigilant and fast on the keyboard to be first these days, Xin!
Hehe this one’s great!
glad you liked it, Kev!
Xinda looks remarkebly good with christmas hat. Who would have thought that holliday cheer may affect her too. Think about it, she isnt even threathening Jefbot with a weapon while she agressively negotiates with him.
Merry christmass to everyone!
PS: I seem to be going to be lost in the woods for few days now. Big family gatherings are great, but I will be cut off from the net. So everybody, happy holidays!
ha! yes, Xinda not threatening jefbot is a Christmas Miracle, Maryz!
hope you have a Merry Christmas too, and have fun with the relatives!
Haha this was a cute strip! “This pact sucks!” That made me laugh out loud. I didn’t want to do it, but I had to point out that recently is missing a t. *Hides* Sorries.. I’m quite the spell checker and it was bugging me. (One of my little “quirks” so to speak I guess.)
Moving along.. Congratulations on strip #200, and I look forward to whatever proper celebration you may have planned.
Seriously looking forward to the annual Christmas Bat strip, and what the new year will bring for everyone in Jefbot world!
One tradition (that we are actually not doing this year for the first time in my 30 years of life on this earth, because of the recession and such.) is when the family and I get together on Christmas eve and exchange stockings. All the while we’re stuffing ourselves full of finger foods (fresh homemade polish sausage, shrimp with cocktail sauce, Christmas cut-out cookies and different various cheese, crackers and meats.)
My son and I usually end up spending Christmas eve night at my parents place in my old room, to wake up to presents under the tree in the morning.. but this year is different because we have a +1 (the boyfriend) so no room, so we will just head over there in the morning for present unwrapping and the traditional Christmas breakfast/festivities. Ok I’ve rambled enough!
Congratulations again on strip #200!!!! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!
heheh. glad you liked jefbot’s retort at the end there, Spanky! and thanks for the catch on that “l” – been a while since i’ved had a typo but it still drives me crazy when i miss those things. fixed!
thanks for the congrats! still scheming about what to do to celebrate…
that tradition sounds great! mombot always makes sure we have some stocking stuffers every year, even though we’re kinda old for it. (what am i saying!? i’ll never be too old for stocking stuffers!!!) reading about those finger foods is making me hungry!
although i used to hang out at my parents’ on Christmas Eve, now that day is usually spent frantically wrapping presents while It’s a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th St. plays in the background.
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you, too!
cograts on #200 man! that’s an accomplishment!
thanks, man! though looking at your strip inching up on #900 makes my achievement look kinda small.
*snerk* Poor Jefbot. I attempted to do something similiar to the no gifting thing, but I didn’t want to get anything either. Nobody is listening to me -_-; Christmas turns out to be a hard habit to break.
well put, Shan. Christmas is a hard habit to break! my other sister, Lor, is always trying to impose limits on what we spend on gifts but someone always goes beyond ‘em.
I think I am going to try to copy Xinda, I’m a little low on cash.
Very funny
let me know how that works out for ya, Zolen. maybe Xinda’s on to something.
Hmmm…as a writer I’m not sure how I feel about the Kindle yet. I see pros and cons…but am willing to let let it slide in the face of great humor. Well done again, Jeff!
i’m not sure about the Kindle yet either, Jeff. there’s really just not a problem with books that i feel needs to be solved.
oh, and i love you letting things slide in the face of humor. i think more people should follow that policy!
I hate Kindles so much — I really want to be eco-friendly, but the printed word is just too near and dear to my heart.
I don’t hate kindle myself, as a writer I am neutral on it.
But as a reader I really think its annoying, I just prefer good old paper books.
Yeah…I had this experience once, but my family just forgot to tell me of their devious PACT. I shopped, wrapped, packed, and mailed their gifts, only to hear “Oh, we all decided not to do gifts anymore!”
Nice, family.
Ho-Ho-HO.
ha! sounds like you have a family of Xindas, Skipperdee! which, actually, is kind of a scary thought…
Merry Christmas! Congratulations on the first 200! What fun it’s been! Looking forward to the book and the next 200.
thanks for the Christmas wishes and the congrats, JF1! haven’t seen you in a while so glad to see you’re still here with us. would hate to think my #1 fan doesn’t read the strip anymore.
Oh man. Xinda never fails to evilness
*Bwuahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!*
I would get along so much with her if I wasn’t so afraid of her!
*hides under computer desk*
*blinks*
*takes laptop under to be able to keep posting*
And HORAY for the 200 strip. You really make my week with your antics, Jef. many “thank you” hugs from Puerto Rico.
i’m always happy to get some Puerto Rican hugs, Sonitan!!! thanks for the congrats! and yeah, you and Xin would probably get along, right up to the point where she stabs you in the eye with a plastic fork.
Congrats on #200!!! Awesome strip. I love Xinda. She is too funny.
I try to get my parents to at least tone it down every year, but they can’t break the habbit of buying us (especially the kids) everything in sight. I suggested we do donations in each others’ names one year, and that was summarily dismissed. “You have to have presents to open on Christmas!” But what if we really don’t need anything? Get the kids a couple of things each and call it good. But no. I have given up on them.
We don’t have any weird Christmas traditions. Our weird one is for Thanksgiving where my mom always makes the turkey dance puppet-style to Turkey in the Straw before she cooks it.
Yep, we’re an odd bunch!
Here’s my #200 celebratory suggestion: What about a T-shirt featuring the recurring characters, including of course Musashi and Abraxas. There were people clamboring for a Mombot and Popbot shirt, so it should definitely include the whole family, plus the critters, Cel, and CF. Did I miss anyone?? A few ideas are a BradyBunch-esque layout with the squares or maybe a Simpson couch-type scene. Or else you could just do a cool JefBot scene with everyone celebrating the milestone. Just a few thoughts off the top of my head…
Again, congrats! It’s been great and I look forward to the next 200!
thanks for the congrats, Shanna!
and your parents are right – the kids do need something to open on Christmas! i understand about not needing anything, though. each year the “giving” becomes more important than the “getting” and now it’s to the point where the “getting” really isn’t what it’s about at all anymore. i guess i am getting old!!!
that dance your mom does with the turkey sounds like it needs to be taped and put on YouTube.
thanks for the suggestions! i’ve actually thought about doing another BOTcrew shirt like i used to do (exhibit A/exhibit B), but i’d have to figure out how to do one that looks cool with just a few colors now that i do silkscreens. i like the brady bunch and simpsons ideas for layout. we’ll see.
woo-hoo! 200!
Those are really cool! I especially like exhibit B. I haven’t seen them before – they must be from before I was a JefBot reader.
glad you like ‘em! they were to commemorate hitting strip #25 and #50, respectively. i’d still use that process since full-color shirts are kinda cool, but it was expensive and the print didn’t last as long as a screened shirt.
Congrats on #200!! I like Xinda’s idea of a pact…only when I am on her side tho
I’m with you. This pact is for the birds, cuz I’m on the other side.
and it sucks being on the other side!
unfortunately, you don’t get to choose, JK, and Xinda doesn’t like other players on her team.
As one of your aunts called it, we like to eat “legitimate” food…CoolHand, you know what I’m talking about!
Yes, the food pact for Xmas Eve is all must bring legitimate foods. I think the jury is still out on the stuff you brought last time. Heh. Who knew pacts could be so difficult?
illegitimate food needs love too, Pearl!
somebody just taught me how to make maryjane cakes! i can give you the recipe. i heard it’s really good!
You mean she wants the Hitchhiker’s Guide? I want one
heheh. well when you put it in that context, i want one too, DJ!
xkcd has corrupted my thought process
what do u expect JB…this is xinda we’re talking about…lolzzzz…good to see her xmas spirit of receiving still high
isn’t that what Christmas is all about JF3? if that’s the case then she has enough Christmas Spirit for us all!
Shouldn’t really be a tradition, but is one that still tends to occur is that my sister and I will get each other the same thing (book, DVD, Galileo thermometer (???), bubblebath…) and then giggle hysterically at each other. Heh.
Xinda never fails to make me laugh. I think she is a genius for coming up with that pact.
sounds like a great tradition, Mia! at least you can’t be disappointed by what you get since you’re giving the same exact thing. heheh. Xinda never fails to make me laugh, either. or cry, sometimes.
If that pact had been agreed upon, it would have replaced the purchase of Manhattan Island in my rankings as the most one-sided agreement ever, in large part because I would have been one of the parties getting the short end of the stick. That’s sad. Hmm. Maybe it’s even sadder that I have rankings for one-sided agreements.
yes, i’m glad that her pact did not come into effect this year, SL! or did it? i guess we won’t know ’til Christmas morning.
My friends and I make this pact…and then we all fall through and spend way too much money on each other anyway. DX Nice hat on Xinda though. Major Congratz on the 200th jefbot….and good luck for the next 200.
yeah, i think that’s how these pacts tend to go, Ahero, at least with good friends.
my sister Linda will be glad you like the hat on Xin, since it was her idea.
and major thanks for the major congratz!!! i’ll need that luck for the next 200, for sure.
the pact more than sucks, it down right blastphamy.
apparently, Xinda has no qualms about making sucky and blasphemous pacts during Christmastime, ZL.
My siblings and I decided a couple of years ago that we’d draw to see who would give to whom and we’d all give to the kids. My parents were included the first year, but then decided they hated it so now we all give presents to them and vice versa. With 4 nephews and a niece that’s plenty of gifts for a poor student like me to afford!
Great work on the strip!! Good to see Xinda again, can’t wait to see the first meeting between her and Cel!
yikes! you should get your family to agree on a pact that makes students exempt from buying Christmas presents, willow!
glad you enjoyed seeing Xinda again in the strip. and yeah, when she and cel meet should be pretty interesting.
I feel your pain, Willow. My mom’s family is totally crazy when it comes to gift-giving and I was never exempted when I was a full-time student either. One year my school’s bookstore had a promotion going where they would give you one school ornament (like the glass ball w/ the school colors, the name, and a pretty picture of one of the old buildings) for every $50 in text books you spent. I figured this was a great way to be able to give gifts to the family while buying what I needed for school – and as much as text books cost, I was able to get A LOT of ornaments! Yeah, that went over like a lead balloon. My mom told me later that a lot of the family were really pissed to not get “real” presents. :p Maybe you’ll have better luck w/ your family!
Haha! I wish I could be doing that. I wanted to get everyone Kindles this year, but it just wasn’t in the budget. Maybe next year…or birthdays….
oh and just as a follow up from the other day, I’ve seen Avatar twice now
i hear ya, Eptha – those e-readers are still pretty expensive. and now not sure whether to go Kindle or Nook. *sigh*
how did Avatar hold up on the 2nd viewing? better/worse?
the hat does negate the evil
and to negate Xinda’s evil powers means those Santa hats must have some powerful hoo-doo in ‘em, Amai.
Yay, 200th! Congrats on the fun run so far, JEFBOT! Hope you can keep on truckin, dood. <3
As for family traditions, we have something called “The Slipper Act of 1990″ when a barefoot yours truly stepped on a rusty nail. I was 6. Since then everyone gets a new pair of slippers on Christmas and are required to wear them when not in shoes. The slippers are mandatory, no exceptions (flip flops are not slippers.) The Slipper Act has worked out rather well, I might say, for two reasons:
1.) We have pets, ‘nough said.
&
2.) It’s unseasonably warm in the Inland Empire almost year round. Slippers allow me the chance to wear my “black footed hippie” moniker with pride while protecting my cute teeny toesys. :3
Also, I reinforce my previous statement about having a contest. It should be an art contest too, ’cause I’m good at that and you’ll be able to load up the site with awesome fan art. AWESOME FAN ART.
thanks, Foxmouse! i have so many ideas and storylines yet to be realized, i think i’ll be cruisin’ to #400, easy!
the Slipper Act of 1990 sounds like a smart family ruling, especially if there are rusty nails and pet droppings to be stepped on. heheh. i remember stepping on a piece of glass barefoot one summer playing Shark in the Dark in a friend’s garage, and that was not fun.
huh. great suggestion for the #200 celebration. i like it a lot! i’d love to see your entry, too! hmmm…
Ooo, shark in the dark. Is that a version of tag that’s played in the dark? If it is then growing I played a version of that only my friends and I called it Ghost Hunter, where one person was the Ghost Hunter trying to find the hiding ghosts. The last ghost found was it, but that last person could turn the tables and scare the ever lovin’ crap out of the Ghost Hunter. If the Ghost Hunter got scared, they were it again and the round would start over. It was fun! Most of us spent our time hiding since we didn’t really know how many of us were left to be caught, but some of us would get good ‘n scared. *snicker*
…Aaand I’m rambling. Anyway. Slippers are comfy and art contests are cool.
Be careful about making a pact with the She-Devil (sorry, Xinda; I just couldn’t resist *that* allusion!
), Jeff — she’ll *ALWAYS* get her due…and a Kindle!
Also, congrats on making it to #200! On to 300!
be careful when commenting about Xinda, reynard61! just cuz you’re in a comments section of a semi-autobiographical webcomic doesn’t mean she can’t hurt you!!!
and thanks for the congrats! yep, onward to #300!
Dude…
My fairly JEWISH mother-in-law hosts an almost over the top Currier & Ives Anglo Saxon Protestant Christmas… Complete with holly green tights, a red sweatshirt and a santa hat with “Mrs Claus” in red and green GLITTER SCRIPT on the white fur trim. Scares Me, and my mom was BAPTIST.
And people wonder why I’m a Pagan… LOL. Blessed Solstice!
that’s hilarious! i approve of all mash-ups of tradition, Samuraiartguy! Merry Chrismukkahstice!
Ha! I’ve been a part of pacts like that too!!! It’s never any fun… That’s why I just give everyone the same gift every year… A framed picture of me. …they never can seem to find the one from the year before…
Awesome strip as always Jefbot!
thanks, man! does your framed picture look like your Funnyshaffer gravatar?
Congrats on 200 strips man, here’s to (at least) 200 more, as good as the first 200. Have i used the number 200 too many times here?
Anyway, congrats also to Xinda. I’ve employed a similar scheme since the early ’90s, except i refuse any gifts. All in its a lot easier to lock my front door after ensuring a sufficient supply of booze and other ‘head’ supplies. Correctly stocked i can ignore the rest of the world until at least the 5th of January which has the added benefit of keeping me safe from new years celebration and anyone who thinks i actually want to celebrate the anniversary of my birth.
To recap, a Bah Humbug to all, and to all a rude gesture!
since we’re celebrating #200 use the number 200 as much as you want, Deaconvorbis! 200!
i like the idea of stocking up on supplies and hermitting out for a couple weeks to avoid all the holiday craziness. i’d probably add my game consoles and some rpgs like Dragon Age, Fallout 3 and Final Fantasy XII (i need to finish that before XIII comes out) to your list so i wouldn’t get bored.
200!!!
Congrats Jefbot!!!! Great strip!!! Merry Merry!!
thanks, Mary! you have a Merry Merry Christmas, too!
This is hysterical only cause it’s true. Xinda doesn’t stop for anything, even Christmas. Congrats on your 200th strip, bot! You are the Michelangelo of the internet, baby! Can’t wait for the next 200! Happy Holidaze!!!!!
thanks for the kudos and happy holidaze back atcha, MC! how’s the weather in connecticut? l.a. doesn’t seem so cold now, does it?
Well, I wouldn’t really call it “weird” in any significant respect, but my family always makes a HUGE deal out of Christmas Eve. We gather everyone we possibly can, cram them all into the same house (and eventually room for presents), slow roast a full, fresh butchered pig over a charcoal pit (an all day ordeal), and then we feast, get irresponsibly drunk, open presents about midnight, and go home at like 2 am only to wake up four hours later and open presents with our more immediate families.
Reason behind it all is that my family is Cuban, and migrated over here from Cuba (LEGALLY, mind you, no floating doors involved) on December 24, 1969.
On a random note, I’m curious to hear your opinion on Avatar. I remember you mentioning you were going to see it over the weekend, and I wanna know if your “lethargic nerd” feelings were justified.
Bah, I’m a noob. “Apathetic geek” is the term I was looking for, not “lethargic nerd”. Close, but no cigar.
And no, that was not supposed to be a Cuban pun.
ha! i think i’m both, Alexander! for this movie i think it was good i wasn’t an “excited fanboy.”
that’s actually a really sweet, holiday tale, Alexander! i know a few friends who have their big celebration on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, but not for such a fantastic reason. it’s really cool that your family made it over and celebrates the occasion annually!
as far as Avatar goes, i saw it on Saturday of opening weekend, at Citywalk in Universal City on an IMAX 3D screen and thought it was a really fun moviegoing experience that i’d recommend to anybody. however, while i thought the visuals were cool and didn’t really feel the long running time, i thought the story could’ve used some work as well as the characters. in the end, i was glad i wasn’t too hyped on it, as high expectations might have made for a disappointing movie.
xinda’s really cute! in contrast, did anybody notice da bunny in her shirt? is it just me or does it seem seriously evil?…ah well, merry christmas everyone! i love it. my christian friends stuff me up da whole week n wen i was younger i used 2 get cool gifts 2….
heheh. yeah, chances are that bunny’s evil, faehiir. Xinda’s counterpart in the real world used to raise bunnies as pets, and they made the Vorpal Rabbit in Holy Grail look positively cuddly.
merry christmas to you, too!
Wow, that’s a lot of comments. And no, no christmas bat or anything, but i have accidentally created a tradition at my house. My best friend gave me this awfull reindeer ornament that is a total eyesore. I put it on to be polite, but i accidentally created a tradition that that ornament always rests on the back of the tree.
yeah, i was surprised and delighted at the number of cool comments readers left on this one, Mister Volcano.
sometimes the accidental traditions are the best! one of my friends has a light-up, christmas lobster that gets re-gifted among family members every year and my other sister, Laura, traded some weird doll back-and-forth with my aunt for years.
Hilarious! Sorry it took so long for me to read this — I’ve been out of town without internet access. I still have the shakes