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Q. First of all, the one question that continues to bother me: how concerned should I be about the fact you've seen me sleeping all of these years?

A. Actually, when I come in the house and I'm bringing presents to the tree — I may peek in and see you there. I really haven't watched you sleep hardly at all. I've got plenty to do on (Christmas Eve). I've got places to go and things to do. I come in, I eat the cookies, and I'm pretty much out of there quickly.

Q. What do you tell the kids that catch you?

A. I tell them, "SHHHH!!! Don't wake Mom and Dad; I need to get this done. Go back to bed."

Q. My mom has been telling me all these years that if I stay up late on Christmas Eve, you are going to skip my house. Is that really true?

A. If you happen to be up, I'll just give you a wink and go about my business. But you need to be in bed fairly early on Christmas Eve.

Q. Back in the old days, naughty kids would get coal and switches in their stockings. Is that still the case? Or are you leaving something new?

A. We are kind of out of coal and switches these days. But the kids that are good may get what they want for Christmas, whereas the kids who are naughty might not get the presents they want the most.

Q. How's Rudolph doing these days?

A. He's always my favorite reindeer. ... I always like to see Rudolph. He makes my day go well and my night go well on Christmas Eve.

Q. Have you ever had a close encounter with a jet?

A. Rudolph's nose is so bright that the jets can see us ... and we don't have to worry too much about it.

Q. Why do you keep loaning that outfit to N.C. State men's basketball coach Sidney Lowe?

A. Sidney Lowe is such a nice man that I couldn't give him a Grinch outfit. Red looks good on him, just like it does on me.

Q. After all of those cookies, it continues to amaze me how you maintain your jolly figure from year to year. Any tips for the rest of us trying to shed those extra holiday pounds?

A.If you deliver as many presents as I do, it's hard to gain weight. I do enjoy the cookies and milk, but I try to take a little bit and not eat them all. I stay pretty hungry after working so hard.

Q. With you staying so busy right up until the holiday, how do you find time to shop for Mrs. Claus?

A. That's a good question. Mrs. Claus and I, after Christmas is over, we often take a little vacation and consider that as our gift to each other. So if you see this heavy-set man on the beach with a big beard and sunglasses on, you might wonder if that's us.

Q. Is there any hope for those of us trying to get our names off the naughty list this late in the season?

A. Yes, there is. Santa always tells the kids ... that from now until Christmas, it's very important that you be good because I'm really going to be watching. If you are good from now to Christmas, I might be able to bring some presents.

Q. What's the story behind the Slinky? Is it just a brainchild of one of the lazier elves?

A. Well, you know, there were many toys years ago with a lot of springs in them. One of those springs wasn't very strong, and just so happens one of the elves left one on the workshop stairs one night, and it started walking down on its own. We were like, "Gosh, this is Christmas magic! Let's make some more of those."