Happy Holidays!

 So, I'm a known reindeer fanatic. I bought another reindeer from Daz set last year but ran out of time to use it.

This year I tried to work on my animatronic one and didn't make it. But I was determined to make the 3D model work. I tried several renders but they failed in Daz. I ended up porting the basic model over to Cinema a moment ago and came up with this.

I've been inspired by Blacmore's Night Christmas Eve video.

I'm not a big fan of AI art but I did like the reindeer and some shots and the song is cool.

So, there is that, I survived another Christmas Eve dinner, with help, and I am taking a break from cleanup.

Oh, Rea asked me to write a Christmas story but I ran out of time. (That has been happening a lot!) but I did have fun butchering a famous poem:

A Visit from St. Nicholas
By Clement Clarke Moore modified by Chris Hechtl

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Only one creature was stirring, Ember playing with her a mouse;
(“That better be the mouse Ember!”)
The stockings were hung by the DVD shelf with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
(Bark, Bark, Bark outside)
(“Rocky! Shut up!”)
The children were nestled all snug in their hotel beds;
While visions of sugary drinks danced in their heads;
And Dad in his boxers and I in my briefs wishing the neighbor’s dog would shut his yap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
(Bark, Bark Bark! Outside)
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains and looked out in a dash.
The moon on the breast of the black gravel below,
Didn’t give much of a lustre of midday to bestow,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
(Bark, Bark, Bark! Outside)
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew
With the sleigh full of electronic toys, and St. Nicholas too—
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As Ember dived under the bed, and I was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye at my briefs and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
(Bark, Bark, Bark outside)
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—
“Rocky Quiet! ...And Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
(Crash in the living room)
(Groan. “EM---BER!”)

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!