so no-one got Peace On Earth this year - WHAT DID YOU GET AS A GIFT THIS YEAR?

[mdmc]

Happy Holidays, DU!
I posted a thread about two gifts that I received this year -
GIFT JUXTAPOSITION THREAD http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5983742&mesg_id=5983742
Basically, I got a video game and a couple tix to the opera.
Did you get anything interesting this year?
Please share!

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. My son gave me a beuatiful candle holder

that he bought at WalMart!!

He recently moved to a house that is right behind a WalMart and he doesn't drive so I suspected he may do some shopping there.

It's the thought that counts. :)

[lonestarnot]

58. Bob Marley CD Get up Stand Up

or is it Stand Up Get Up? My Son knows me well. Tee hee.

[Prophet 451]

2. Dual disc version of V For Vendetta

The book is better but I'm starting to appreciate the film more.

[Divernan]

3. CD Set - Beethoven Symphonies Nos 1-9, by London Symphony Orchestra

conducted by Bernard Haitink, recently described as even better than the "gold standard" Von Karajan box set. Beethoven's scores were all heavily annotated, i.e., he told the players exactly what to do. So success is defined by how well they follow his directions. These recordings do as they're told and also bring out more of the underlying emotions of the symphonies. Also some nice bonus tracks as well.

I'm feeling good about a couple of Heiffer International gifts I gave. Somewhere in the world, two families will be very happy to receive a sheep and a flock of chicks.

On edit: What opera will you be seeing?

[mdmc]

8. La Boheme at the MET in NYC!

Wildtown! I got tix to the opera AND the Bully video game!

[Divernan]

34. My favorite opera at my favorite opera house - I am jealous!

Have a great evening!

[mdmc]

72. I have never been

so I am interested in it all. Look for a follow up thread. Happy New Year!

[wellstone dem]

4. The letter n

For our first Christmas after I adopted my daughter at age 9, she and my mom made a christmas stocking for me. Over the years, the letter "N" had disappeared. For Christmas this year(9 years later), I got the same christmas stocking, with a new letter "N".

[mdmc]

74. too sweet

:kick:

[cynatnite]

5. I got two great kids...

My son asked me that this morning. I gave him a hug and a kiss, told him I got him for Christmas. We've had a great day today.

[tinfoil tiaras]

6. Clothes, bumper stickers, a digital camera

(one of those Kodak ones that have the printer that goes with it--very cool!), "An Inconvenient Truth" (the only good documentary the movie stores near us have) some ipod speakers with an alarm clock, jewelry, books...all that jazz.

[PADemD]

7. From my Son:

"Dreams from My Father" by Barack Obama
"The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama
He's a very good writer!
and for fun "New Rules" by Bill Maher

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. My annual amusement

I've worked for the same boss for 5 years. Each year he wants to give me a ham. Each year I tell him that neither I nor my husband eat ham. He gives me a ham. I give it to one of my coworkers who has a large family. This year he promises me that he'll get me a turkey, because he's finally remembered I don't like ham. He says he'll come to my house Saturday to deliver it. You guessed it. We stayed home all day Saturday and he never showed, never called. Hey, it's better than getting an unwanted ham--and I didn't have to go out and buy a pan to cook the turkey in (you see, I sort of figured out he would be a no show). So I'm eating a steak fajita and smiling.

[mdmc]

11. you should keep the next ham frozen all year

then give it back to him as a gift. You guys could keep giving the same old ham back and forth for decades:D

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. He'd be touched by such a thoughtful gift

and not realize that it was the ham from the year before!

[KarenS]

10. A DVD & Book of "The Quilters of Gee's Bend"

:) well,,,,, actually I got a picture of them because we live in Colorado and because of the Blizzard we haven't gotten any mail since last Tuesday,,,,

But I'm really excited about it!!

[mrcheerful]

13. Well lets see, I got 4 shirts, 1 pair of pants and a piece of

ass. The problem is all 6 were 7 sizes to big. Merry Xmas.

[gollygee]

14. Two books, a bird feeder, some ipod accessories

not bad :D

[global1]

15. * Got Sim City Baghdad For Christmas......nt.

[tinfoil tiaras]

16. lol. Or the Sims 2 pets so he can make himself and Barney

and play "Barney's Holiday" all day long...

[sam sarrha]

17. same as my no disposable income under class tax cut... nothing..

[japple]

18. Another day with Dad.

He entered into Hospice care on Saturday and they brought a hospital bed and morphine drops. We had a nice Christmas eve with our family and a couple of friends. He is not in pain and is resting comfortably. Soon he will sleep in heavenly peace.

[Steepler0t]

19. A pack of smokes for the household from a good friend

And getting to watch local punk rockers play baseball with Christmas ornaments last night in the middle of a deserted Haight St. on Christmas eve while enjoying a beer with great company at my favorite bar.

[lostnotforgotten]

20. Nothing - Stopped Sharing Gifts About 10 Years Ago Now

Just part of my war on Commercial Christmas :-)

[dogday]

21. I get to stay in my home of 14 years

with my family and have the support of friends and others.... The greatest gift I have ever received....

[libnnc]

22. My SO was wonderful to me this year--I got a laptop

I'm in grad school and I really, really needed it for my papers. She was very sweet and generous to get me what I needed. I'm truly a lucky duck.

[judaspriestess]

23. I got a new blender, a food processor

and a coffee maker. All things I asked Santa for.

Now I can make homemade hummus with my food processor YUM!!!
:)

[wavesofeuphoria]

24. New slippers, a scarf my daughter made for me, the

dvd "An Evening with Kevin Smith", and my daughter's happinesss

[Blue_In_AK]

25. Santa was very good to me this year.

He gave me a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens for my camera :wow: and a Dyson vacuum cleaner so I can finally suck up all the cat hair around here. I also got some slippers and a new bathrobe, a Maxfield Parrish calendar (my perennial favorite), Al Franken's "The Truth With Jokes," a bottle of French champagne, and more cookies that we can possibly eat ... although we're going to give it a good try. :)

[mdmc]

40. Peace and low stress

Although it is hard to imagine someone as naughty as you getting all that great stuff. :D

Happy Holidays! Stay Kind!

[LiberalEsto]

26. My very own little blowtorch

For weeding, naturally -- "Mother's little blowtorch"

Bill Bryson's "Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid"

Pajamas and a cozy bathrobe

Witch's calendar

Gift certificates to Borders and Barnes & Noble

[cui bono]

27. I don't know yet...

I had to stay home to nurse my dog who got a pacemaker for Christmas this year. :(
Thankfully he's doing great now, back to like he was before they put it in. So I guess what I got for Christmas so far is having his life saved so I can continue to enjoy his wonderful company. He's the best. :loveya:

[Renew Deal]

28. Instead we got a war started on Christmas Eve?

What crazy bullshit is that? :wtf:

[Chipper Chat]

29. I got no gifts. Is this unusual?

I live alone. Some family is way 1000 miles away. Did get lots of Christmas cards in the mail though. Last night I ordered a pizza & watched midnight mass from Rome, but I hated the voice overdub "telling" us all what was happening. Kinda spoiled it in my opinion. Today I'm going to eat the rest of the pizza for dinner. Oh yeah, my neighbor gave me a pumpkin roll.
I'm not complaining or feeling sorry for myself - just posting to let all the multiple-gift receivers know there are some not so fortunate. I'm sure there are others like me.

[michreject]

30. I got a limited production gun

A Smith & Wesson M66, .357 mag with a 3-1/4" barrel. Most of them were either 2-1/2, 3 or 4"ers.:)

[WinkyDink]

31. M-O-N-E-Y, Baby! What it don't get, I can't use!

[sproutster]

32. I was severly bummed over being broke...

My sister said she had a present that would cheer me up. She said my bro-in-law and her best friend said it was perfect for me.

I'm thinking - yea like they know me. I'm flipping drownding in bills *sigh*

Then I opened it.

:) At this moment Bush has 756 days, 5 hours, 8 min and 12 sec before he is ousted.

A clock set to washington/bush gone Coundown. :D

I smiled.

[Neecy]

49. I got my mom one of those....

And she LOVED it! I got her the keychain version, and she said it was very comforting watching the seconds spin by to mark the end of this horrible criminal administration. It was the envy of the whole family. What's sad is thinking of all the crimes and disasters that can and probably will take place before our countdown clocks finally run out.

My favorite gift this year was "Wake-Up Call: The Political Education of a 9/11 Widow" by Kristen Breitweiser. I've already finished it and....wow. Very powerful.

[roody]

33. I got a major dog party. A big one

came today for a two day visit, and another big one comes tomorrow. Already have two little dogs.

[kineneb]

35. small oven, printer, rock tumbler

My family bought us a small convection oven, printer/fax/copier/scanner, and a hobby rock tumbler for Hubby.
-We needed to get something smaller than our gigantic propane gas oven; baking/roasting anything in the summer was impossible.
-The fax machine died so the printer replaces it. We live 10 miles from the nearest copy shop.
-Hubby has found a hobby he is able to do (rock hounding/geology) between dialysis sessions, so my brother and sis-in-law gave him a rock tumbler. From me he got a rock hammer and a book on minerals.

My friend gave me a humorous book on chickens. We gave her a place to be with friends who care (us); her mother died on Thursday.

[ThomWV]

36. The BIGGEST Computer Screen You Ever Saw

24" high definition LCD, so god dam bright that I'm getting a sun tan even as we speak.

That, a fishing reel, a flash-light, and a pair of long underwear.

Ain't it great?

Got the good wife a pearl necklace ....

[tinfoilinfor2005]

37. hmm, if I can remember all since most came in mail weeks ago:

A gift certificate from Pier One.
A gift certificate from Outback.
A gold plated Christmas ornament from Denmark. My friend gives me one every year and now I have twelve of these gorgeous things.
Two Eiffel Tower calendars and some French note cards from my frined who I will be going to Paris with in November.
A Hickory Farms gift basket.
A wine and cheese and sausage gift basket.
A Figi smoked duck gift basket.
A digital camera from our local bank.
A gift box of sunkist oranges.
An orchid.
A joke book about George Bush.
Two DVD's from my grandson.
Unknown presents from my kids, since we won't be together for our Christmas celebration for yet another week.
A gold bracelet from my hubby that spells out Key West, our favorite town where we run away to every few months for mini vacations from work...we live a couple of hours away.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to make a list...now I can print it out for when I do my thank you cards!

[shanti]

38. not to be a party pooper

but i personaly believe that christmas is for GIVING not RECEIVING. sorry. :shrug:

[mdmc]

41. did you GIVE anyone a set of juxtaposed gifts?

I got tix to the opera and the BULLY video game FROM the same person.:kick:

[shanti]

45. no, i gave money

to my four children and my mother.

[cui bono]

51. not to be a party pooper

but I personally believe that gifts should be something THOUGHTFUL. :p

[shanti]

53. well la-di-da

it's what they wanted. now what?

[cui bono]

55. So you're raising your children to value money above a thoughtful gift?

I'm really just busting your chops because of what you posted, but I don't see how you can possibly make the judgmental comment you made when you give $ to your kids as a gift. Remember the saying "it's the thought that counts"? Well there's no thought to giving money. And by giving them money you end up teaching them that it is about receiving, imho.

[shanti]

57. no, i'm giving them what they NEED

giving money IS giving, whatever you might think. and you better believe there's plenty of "thought" to giving money when you don't have all that much to give in the first place.

i just don't care for the "whatja get" posts. this isn't the only site where people do this - these kind of posts just seem rather childish to me. personally, i don't enjoy christmas, don't celebrate it, don't decorate, none of that. i do understand that others do however, which is why i limit my gifting to immediate family who would be hurt if i forgot them.

ps-are you against giftcards too?

[cui bono]

63. why would I be against gift cards?

That makes no sense whatsoever.

[shanti]

64. it makes plenty of sense

in relation to your previous post. it's just money :eyes:

[cui bono]

66. Ah... my bad. I saw card and thought greeting card. Still...

I never really expressed what I feel is appropriate, I was playing devil's advocate with you because you made such a strong statement about how the spirit of Christmas is about giving and then you simply give money which to me seems to lack the spirit of which you were speaking and, IMHO, teaches kids who are receiving the money the exact thing you were criticizing. I'm not objecting to the fact that you give money, just noting that it seems somewhat hypocritical.

But it doesn't really matter, I wasn't really trying to get into an argument. Peace.

[shanti]

69. and peace to you as well

n/t

[mdmc]

71. peace to you all

low stress too

[GliderGuider]

47. There's another way of looking at it

By doing this we are celebrating the taste, insight and love of those who gave.
If we were to talk about the things we gave, we would be celebrating our own good taste...

That being said, the best gift I gave this year was a gift of literacy for two women in Nigeria, given on behalf of my mother.
Giving gifts to people in third world nations on behalf of others in our lives in an idea that took off this year. It gets across how little money it takes to make a real difference in this world.

[shanti]

54. an excellent gift!

:thumbsup: kudos!

[LizW]

39. An Inconvenient Truth

We've watched it twice already.

[AngryAmish]

42. $250 bucks worth of booze

[Mad_Dem_X]

43. Two tickets to see Martin Short

in NYC for his show "Fame Becomes Me," on January 6th. We'll be spending the weekend up there; can't wait!

[BlackVelvet04]

44. I received

some jewelry and clothing items from The Southwest Indian Foundation. (http://www.southwestindian.com/swindian/sitelite.nsf/vContentW/Products--Products!Opendocument) The Foundation exists to lessen the poverty and unemployment among the Indians of the Southwest....Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, Laguna,Acoma and Apache tribes.

Many of the items are handcrafted works of art and 65% of the sales price is tax deductible as a donation.

My husband has been purchasing from the Foundation for about 5 years. In that time I have only received 1 item that was defective and it was promptly replaced with no hassle.

It's a win-win situation for us. I get things I love and the foundation gets money to help build homes and provide emergency help to those in need.
We make donations above the cost of items as well.

Having southwestern items around me helps me with my homesickness for Arizona.

[GliderGuider]

46. Two years of wind power for my laptop.

I now have a sticker on the keyboard that reads "Wind Powered PC". How cool is that?

http://www.pembina.org/index.php

[scarlet_owl]

48. I got a wonderful gift. My aunt made me a photo book

full of old pictures of us as kids. It was the best gift ever.

[Auggie]

50. A bottle of 1997 Napa Valley Insignia (Red Wine) from Joseph Phelps Winery

Gotta be worth several hundred now (at least).

[uppityperson]

52. I got to hang out with my family

UPjr was home and willing to be with we aging parents. It was nice.

[ripple]

56. A friend donated $50 to the UN in my name for Darfur relief

Another friend gave me an impeachment board game.

They know me well! ;-)

[pitohui]

59. fistfuls of cash and some airplane tickets

a nice haul, it's a little embarrassing

[ebayfool]

60. Laid off ... on Friday night. Nice one, huh!?

Was a 2 day-a-week client - she's a mortgage broker w/a major bank & works on commission. She said she hasn't 'made a sale' in over a month, & rather than give up the $100 a week diet doctor (for her legal speed), the hummer or the new sports car or the jeep or the new 4wd pick-em-up truck, tithing to 2 - count 'em TWO - churches (she's cheating on the catholic church w/a pentecostal one but wants to keep her toe in, just in case, but they're okay cuz they are very discrete when they speak in tongues!) etc, etc, etc.

What burned my butt was that she had to have known she was going to lay me off for a while, even I was concerned @ the local housing market slowing down! She should have let me know sooner than a day & a half before Xmas.

I guess since she's now semi-unemployed she can enjoy cleaning her own toilets.

Yeah, I'm a little bitter w/this 'gift'.

[mnhtnbb]

61. Hubby was laid off Dec 15th 40% time from his 2 day/week work at the

county mental health clinics. Merry f*cking Christmas.

[ebayfool]

65. Yupper - I'm just worried @ my other 2 day client, she's a real estate appraiser.

She & her hubby are wealthy (they don't just think they are like my others ... they are!) - but she likes to think she HAS to work for a living. I'm a 'legacy' housekeeper - worked for her mom before I moved to town & started w/her. Her mom had a rather callous disregard for the hired help. And I'm afraid that it's been instilled in the daughter - & her hubby doesn't like paying for housekeeping. Chauffeur, gardener, pool guy, stable cleaner ... yes. But housekeeping bothers him - HIS mama says it's his wifes' duty, or something to that effect.

Losing 2 days a week is bad, losing another 2 day a weeker would be catastrophic around here! I think I need to start checking out THEIR creds when I take on new people - not bunch too many in the same field (like real estate!).

At least the mortgage brokers' hubby wanted to cut the speed doc & the tithe before me, even if it didn't work out - made me feel a little better. Then again, he's probably gonna miss the hot meals & clean undies I insured him of twice a week! :rofl:

Hope the edges hold together for your house. :pals:

[mnhtnbb]

67. We'll manage. The time MAY be replaced in January at another clinic.

If it isn't, then we start cutting out the extras or supplementing from our retirement funds. We need to last another 18 months to get our son out of high school, and then we can sell this house (we hope!)and seriously cut back into retirement.

Thanks for the best wishes--hope you can manage, too.

[mnhtnbb]

62. Power outage from 5:45 pm until 9:15 pm Christmas Eve.

We were doing the final prep for dinner--at least I have a gas stove. We ate by candlelight (hubby and 2 sons) in the dining room. Then we took about 2 dozen candles into the living room, along with 3 flashlights. We opened our presents, finishing right when the lights came back on. Since our oldest boy moved to an apartment two years ago, we've celebrated Christmas Eve--so he can sleep in on Christmas day!

The only explanation we saw in the paper the next day was that a transformer had gone out. No storm, no wind.

[NoPasaran]

68. UPS lost my package

I didn't get anything.

Christmas was a lot better before Santa started using subcontractors.

[mdmc]

70. I am very sorry to hear this

:hug::pals::kick:

[mdmc]

73. kick

:hi:

[jazzjunkysue]

75. The House and the Senate. Just what I wanted.

[mdmc]

76. lol

:D