Yours truly (FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney) is already posting video in anticipation of the big trip. Can’t wait.

But poor Grumpy Santa; it’s his trip, but even before it gets underway, his pal “Big Elf” is already garnering much of the attention (be sure and listen for the woman who says, “that’s the biggest freakin’ elf I’ve ever seen!”)

Bon voyage, gentlemen! Meanwhile, click “more” for the video.

The Vegas finale: yes, FareCompare’s Elf dropped a bundle. No, not at the gaming tables (you’ll just have to watch the video…)

All in all, it was a fun night. And it was somehow touching to watch Grumpy Santa & Elf ride off into the sunset together. Well, into the neon.

Click “more” for the video. You’ll be glad you did.

FareCompare’s Elf has this handy little gadget called the Knee Defender; use it correctly, and the guy in front of you can’t lower his seat, which means his seat won’t crash into your knees.

Elf gave it a whirl, and by golly, it worked! Only problem is, that was Grumpy Santa seated in front of him, and he was not amused. Neither was the flight attendant.

Better take a look at the video, by clicking “more.”

Here’s the latest: I wasn’t feeling so hot when I got into Billings, Montana last night; so my colleagues arranged for me to see a doctor, AND, even better, they cut today’s schedule way down.

I’m afraid we’re losing some states from my epic journey, but between the 10-hours of sleep I had and the antibiotics, I’m a new man! Well, no, I’m still a slightly run-down, unshaven, disheveled man, but I am doing better.

Anyway, the doctor’s visit was the finale of a terrible day…the worst of it? The Very Worst? Click “more” if you dare…

Finally we got the Continental cancellation sorted out. But we had to do it in person (Grumpy Santa and his director did the honors); I never could get through on Continental’s 800-number (busy, busy, busy).

Our problem: Continental canceled its Newark to Charleston flight last night, then canceled its Boston to Newark flight this morning. As you can see from Grumpy Santa’s itinerary, that really messed us up…

Our FareCompare Santa is on his way to Boston, but his flight from Boston to Newark has been canceled along with Newark to Charleston, South Carolina.

Continental who in the blink of a credit card button press extracted “it’s” cash is graciously noting on their website:

Continental is providing the option to re-schedule or re-route your travel ONCE, without penalty, if you are ticketed to/from one of the cities listed below.*

New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty)

Other airports: Albany, NY (ALB); Bangor, ME (BGR); Boston, MA (BOS); Burlington, VT (BTV); Hartford, CT (BDL); Buffalo, NY (BUF); Manchester, NH (MHT); New York, NY (JFK); New York, NY (LGA - LaGuardia); Providence, RI (PVD); Rochester, NY (ROC); Syracuse, NY (SYR)

Ok, everyone — lets grab our Continental Contract of Carriage and see what we do next …

You won’t believe how hard I’ve been working. Putting together a trip of this magnitude is horribly difficult (66-flights, 25,000-miles, 48-states, all in 12-days). And most of it falls on me.

Grumpy Santa can’t help; he’s too busy trying to make his planes under crushing deadlines. Santa’s “little” pal, Elf can’t help, because, well…he’s…useless.

But I do have a “secret weapon”, to aid me in this tremendous quest: the really secret part is, she’s my daughter Stef, and she’s just 7-years old. But watch her go!

The Grumpy Santa Tour of America is certainly no picnic for our erstwhile Christmas icon — 66 flights, 48 states, 12 days — enough said …

We expected a few glitches and for our normally cheery Santa to get a bit — well … grumpy from time to time — and he delivered.

Now my job is to keep Grumpy cooking — make his life as easy as possible — and reroute his 44 reservations based on what is happening on the ground in real-time — I personally haven’t gotten much sleep and was getting a bit — surly.

But the ELF and I had to perk Grumpy up with with a short Skype Video Chat in the Detroit Airport (I was able to upgrade them to First Class and it was 90 minutes not 30 as Grumpy has some time zone issues).

My 7 year old daughter got into the act — she was at first frightened by our 6′ 7″ ELF, but warmed up as soon as she thought “Santa’s Helper” might deliver some goods …

Grumpy Santa “as you may now know” is less like the Grinch and more like — well … a Santa.

He has a few rare moments of grumpiness with a whole lot of fun and merriment sandwiched around it. (I for one wouldn’t mind parking in the captains chair of a jet — if even for a moment).

I spent the day (except during the Cowboy game) re-booking (with our CTO Graeme’s cheery input) several portions of “Grumpy’s” itinerary to give him more time to catch his breath, de-ice his plane in Chicago tomorrow (and some precious moments to upload some video).