I hoped to hit the ground running on my first week as a full-time cartoonist, but it didn't happen. Gene and I just got back from three days in Kansas City, MO, where we spoke to a conference of the nation's military librarians. It was a great trip, and the attendees were fantastic, but I'm beat. On top of that it is the last week for Christmas orders and we are just swamped. Finally, we are moving to our new house on Monday so most of our energies are spent packing. It would have been a good week for repeats, but instead Wednesday's and Thursday's strips will be posted on Friday.