Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this column are those of the participants and the moderator, and do not neccessarily reflect those of the GIA. I wish I had a leg lamp. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Well, this is it. You get to enjoy the holiday itself for one entire day before it's all over, and the ensuing clean-up and recovery process begins. Unless, of course, you happen to be a member of a family that chooses simply to leave the Christmas lights up for the entire duration of the year, and uses the artificial tree as a coat rack for the remaining 364 days. In which case, all of your relatives probably live with you anyhow, so you don't need to worry about shooing them off, and you can just feed the tin foil and newspaper used to wrap the gifts to the goat in the backyard. Just try not to slip on the last six Halloweens' worth of rotted pumpkin pulp on your way out.

For most of you, it's either time to fight your way through the traffic on the long journey home, or to find non-offensive ways to make your relatives realize that it's about time for them to be taking their leave. For some reason, many get a bit huffy when you tell them to "get the hell out." Some people can get to be rather irascible around this time of the year. And then there's always the supreme thrill of trying to walk on the ice-coated roof to make the removal of the Christmas lights a quicker process. The fact that the roof is at a 45 degree angle doesn't help matters any. The initial sliding may be enjoyable, but it's that final descent that will get you every time.

Or if you're like me, it's just about time to climb back out through the window that you busted into your vacationing neighbor's home through.

Also, now that Christmas (or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or whatever holiday it is that you celebrate in order to make yourself feel as though you're a member of some kind of exclusive clique) is over, it's about time that I hop onto the Millennial Eve bandwagon, like the societal flunky that I am. It's only a matter of days before the millennial bug causes the oceans, rivers, and lakes to disappear into the nothingness of Mu, the world's animal and plant life to whither and die, and all of the vehicles made after 1986 to transform into humanoid robots, break off into two opposing sects, and wage a battle with one another that will ultimately leave the planet a smoldering ruin.

So, we may as well just make the most of the time that we have left before we're all eating top soil for nutrients and getting our liquids Waterworld-style. And what better way to do so then with a good ol' fashion Double Agent specified topic? So, here's a little something to keep everyone busy until I may finally reclaim my soul from TNT and its 24 hour "A Christmas Story" marathon. As a matter of fact, I'll give you two topics to choose from, just because I'm feeling particularly creative at the moment. To start with, I realize that it's always fun to write in about your own personal plans and goals, so I ask you: how are you intending on ushering in the quasi-new millenium come New Year's Eve? And just so that my own personal group of pundits doesn't write in to scold me for straying from videogame-related topics like a naughty little boy: what changes, innovations, and general upheavals are you hoping to see in regards to gaming during this coming year? Okay, so that topic's a bit unoriginal, but it's always a good one. At any rate, I'm off for now. Tomorrow the fun begins.

-Drew Cosner