BS: What did you get for Christmas?

Subject: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 01:57 PM

Well..... I received an eye-pad and an eggs box.... how abo
ut you????

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: kendall
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 02:13 PM

A silver hip flask, a battery powered drill, two bottles of Glen Livet and a bottle of Johnnie Walker double black.
Anyone would think I like Scotch.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 02:57 PM

A book called "Out of Sight" which is about minstrelsy through the 1890s of which the text is nothing but clippings from black newspapers of the day. Lots of cool pictures. Got a book on Paganini. A 1900 edition of a biography of Cromwell. Some much needed clothes and a squishable Cthulhu to sate my Lovecraft jones.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: GUEST,Songbob
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 02:59 PM

A Kindle Fire and a bottle of rum. Somehow, that should be read, "A Yo-ho-ho and ..." but it didn't turn out that way. Though the first Kindle book I bought myself was "Mr. Midshipman Hornblower," so, Yo-ho-ho indeed!

Bob

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Will Fly
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 03:00 PM

Brian Cox & Jeff Forshaw's book "The Quantum Universe", a cashmere sweater, some wine glasses, part-payment of a 1960 vintage Otwin archtop guitar, Belgian chocolates...

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 03:10 PM

I got Polish food - borscht, pickled herring, stuffed cabbage, cheesecake, and beer - what more could a guy ask for?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: theleveller
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 03:13 PM

CDs: Harp and a Monkey, Feist and Victoria's Requiem 1605 by The Sixteen - and a copy of Seamus Heaney's Sweeney Astray.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 03:14 PM

///what more could a guy ask for?////

A squishable Cthulhu, of course!!

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 03:19 PM

I unexpectedly got a Kindle too and I'm really excited by the possibilities. I often stop myself from buying books because I already have too many (and yes I have cleaned out the bookshelves, donated books, etc.). But the Kindle can hold up to 3,000 books - and there are lots available for free if the copyright has run out. I probably wouldn't have bought myself a Kindle, but I'm glad I got one.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 03:31 PM

An electric blanket throw from my grandson with his parents' help.:-) Some beautiful notepapers made by my sisters, a gift card for anywhere, and the no-scent votive candles I really, really wanted. Also, a much nicer day than expected. A few other "goodies."

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 03:36 PM

A bottle of Dallas Dhu, and other things too.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: gnu
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 04:09 PM

Crap. I shall be visiting the food bank with the crap chocolates and nuts and visiting the Red Cross with the crap clothes. Next year, I shall buy crap for them from the same stores they bought this crap for me. It'll be cheaper.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: ranger1
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 05:10 PM

I got a wonderful evening with my wonderful in-laws. And no, that is not sarcasm. I really, really adore J-boy's family. There were plentiful gifts under the tree as well. A new pair of flannel pjs, two gift cards to my favorite video game store, the new Captain America movie on DVD, a winter cap, a pair of wool socks, and assorted odds and ends in a stocking. I also got to see the delight a nine-year-old got from the promised gift of time alone with her uncle and aunt. And you know, I think that was the best gift of all.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: bobad
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 05:27 PM

Nuthin.....as usual.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 06:05 PM

And that's what you're gettin' fer new year's too!

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: rumanci
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 06:15 PM

Well it really warms the cockles of my heart to see how much the Canadians around here enjoy Christmas ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: gnu
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 06:15 PM

I did get to see my autistic great nephew freak out over some kinda fancy electronic hand held whatever the hell it was. That was the best part of Kissmeass for me. He disappeared after eating enough to satisfy Mum... his mum was not pleased with his efforts and told him to finish his plate but Mum said, "I think he did very well. There is no reason the rest of his plate cannot be saved for later." With that he was gone to enjoy his Xmas present. 85 trumps 45.

Well, I was happy for the lad. I know Mum was too.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: maeve
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 06:16 PM

We got a home.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Gurney
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 06:29 PM

11.5 hours of CDs, 2 DVDs, and a bottle of J&B.
Won't be going out for a while.

Oh, and a tiny soldering iron.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: gnu
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 06:57 PM

rum... you got cockles? Lucky lass. Canucks are like that eh? >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 07:24 PM

That is so wonderful, maeve.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 08:31 PM

Kevin Enoch finished my H C Dobson model clawhammer banjo .. It has brass hardware and nylgut strings with PegHead tuners.. .. Oh and Discmakers got my new Cd to me in time for the shoppers to take home with them .. It was a perfect Christmas !! Ho Ho Ho , Yours Guy

Here's what it sounds like

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRyJ0Lrj-kI

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Cats
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 09:22 AM

A fairy grand daughter [see thread My Best Present]

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 11:17 AM

11.5 hours of CDs, 2 DVDs, and a bottle of J&B.
Won't be going out for a while.

Oh, and a tiny soldering iron.

Mulled J&B anyone?

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: gnu
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 02:28 PM

Guy... sounds gooood. Congrats.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 02:32 PM

Ditto gnu, Guy. Nice work.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Darowyn
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 02:34 PM

It was the silly, unexpected things that were best, like the Fender Telecaster cufflinks.
I appreciate all the books and useful things, but Tele cufflinks are just a joy- they even match my actual guitar!
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: gnu
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 03:05 PM

Dave... now THAT is Stevie Ray shit man! Cool!

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 09:10 PM

Well, I received the following via e-mail which I hope causes no jealousy amongst my peers:


"Good day Sir/ Madam,

My name is Fred Ma-Ad Lintosh, Am a business man and investor with

B[******] Corporation Firm both in Europe and in America. Am using this

medium to search for credible people that are willing to work for

me. This job is an easy one as it does not require stress. All you

need do is work from your home.

If you're interested, please write to my email and i will send you

the full details of the job and forward you your paper work for

confirmation.

Details

Name: Fred Ma-Ad Lintosh
Email: [I removed Fred's e-mail address because I don't want anyone trying to cut my grass--but it was a hotmail account]

I hope to get your response.

NB: This is not a SCAM."


Ahem, not to sound immodest, but the offer is from one of the world's biggest engineering firms and I don't know sh#t about engineering. How lucky can a guy get, I ask you?

Dorothy, you're not in Kansas anymore but be assured there really IS a Santa Claus.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 09:53 PM

An e-reader - no more paper, no more books, no more Barnes and Noble looks!

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 10:19 PM

Ain't gonna be a problem if Bobert winds his new atomic clock.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Melissa
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 12:30 AM

Yay maeve!!




I got to give three ukes..and received absolutely no sneers from the lucky uke-getters.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: autolycus
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 04:50 AM

We agreed that there'd be presents for children only. We did grasp, pedants, that even the grandparents were also children.

My one pressie was a terrific photo framed of my first grandchild.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 06:03 AM

I did pretty well for music-ralated items, thanks to my Amazon Universal wishlist! A black T-shirt ("I play kazoo like a badass"); Ken Colyer's biography (Goin' Home by Mike Pointon & Ray Smith, includea a CD), CD by George Melly/Mick Mulligan, the DVD box set of Martin Scorsese's blues documentaries.

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: gnu
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 02:34 PM

"We agreed that there'd be presents for children only."

Now, THAT is a great pressie!

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 02:57 PM

Books, DVDs, Socks, Fed, Jammy bottoms, Rum, indigestion and good feelings.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Janie
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 03:46 PM

5 lovely days with Mom, Sis and Son at Folly Beach and Charleston, SC, a wool hat with a reindeer face and antlers, and a flashing red ball with an indentation for my nose. Fortunately, (or unfortunately, depending on one's point of view), the hat, as well as the elastic band that holds the "nose" in place were too small and therefore could not be worn on our strolls around the Low Country.

Gnu - our family started drawing names several years ago, and also put a pretty low limit on how much to spend. We have fussed at Mom each year since we started this because she still always buys at least a little something for her kids and grandkids. This year we made her promise not to do it.

So...Christmas morning, out come an assortment of "items" that she just happened to find "2 for 1, or "Gee, I ordered one for myself and for some reason they sent me 3 and I thought you girls would like the extras." As far as she is concerned, they weren't wrapped, therefore they are not Christmas presents.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 04:07 PM

Today my sisters dog came in with to furry dog in its mouth. I assumed it was one of her toys, and went into the pull, grrrr, pull back, my turn to pull, grrrr, your turn to pull routine....and the toy doy dog's leg came off.

Turned out Nelly the dog had stolen the toy dog, which belonged to one of the children and it had batteries inside and played a tune - but not any more.

Me and Nelly the dog in the doghouse

So I went down to the newsagent's shop and bought a replacement - a dog which flapped its ears and sang I wish it could be Christmas everyday. the kid was terrified of it of the ear wagging dog, and ran away screaming and is still in shock.

I got a shubb noir.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 06:56 PM

Four lovely peaceful days in our (rented) cabin amidst snow-covered trees. One day was even sunny. A wonderful time visiting a neighbour and making a new friend. A battery charger and booster pack - the car did not start on Tuesday - AGAIN!

So glad to hear Maeve is in her wonderful new home!

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Elmore
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 08:42 PM

9 opera dvds, 3 folk dvds, 3 books, 2 grandchildren went home early, 1 bottle whisky.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 08:45 PM

Which operas?

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Neil D
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 09:01 PM

I got a relatively healthy husband, I'll take that over any store bought gift any day :)

                                        Christina

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Elmore
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 09:04 PM

Marriage of Figaro,Turandot,Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci(2 operas on 1 dvd),Otello,Aida,The Magic Flute,Don Carlo,La Traviata,Anna Bolena.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 09:07 PM

an excellent present, Christina, who could ask for more?

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: GUEST,punkfokrocker
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 11:14 PM

the ability to levitate and fly and destroy distant objects with hyper intensified radioactive thought beams from my eyes..

oh hold on a sec... that was the rough farmhouse cider....


I got a nice plywood 1x12 75watt speaker cab and a Behringer ULTRA-G GI100..

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 30 Dec 11 - 06:44 AM

2 wonderful Celia Johnson DVDs, a Mini Pod Flexible Digital Camera Tripod from one nephew, 2 superb bottles of wine from another nephew, a jumper which fits perfectly from my sister and not forgetting a new PC from my wife.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 30 Dec 11 - 09:54 AM

Mother in law made me a quilt and pillow. Carol got to see her son for a few days, well worth the 14 hours of driving. Sweatshirt and a few other practical things. Over all a great Christmas.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 30 Dec 11 - 11:14 AM

A pair of slippers! (Church's finest). And an A4 hardback sketchbook, two Romeo y Julieta tubos No.3 (cuban cigars), a bottle of Johnnie Walker Green Label and some chocs.

More importantly, some great company over the past few days, especially my old friend Hilary Pavey who stayed for a couple of nights and seranaded me and Judi and joined in (and greatly improved) all my chorus songs. Just bliss.

Hic.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Dec 11 - 07:42 PM

the operas sound like a brilliant present! well done!

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Elmore
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 04:57 AM

Attn: Big Al. My musical interests seem to have widened in my old age.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: GUEST,Bruce Baillie
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 01:31 PM

I got a new secondhand 5 string banjo made by the late Andrew Whale, marvellous instrument, can't put it down!

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Joe_F
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 05:33 PM

My buddy Jim cleaned all my LPs (with my help), preparatory to digitizing them.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: catspaw49
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 08:12 PM

Many of you are familiar with what my son Michael went through starting about age 13 with depression and the resultant RAD with cutting and even attempted suicide. After 3 hospitalization and time in a treatment center along with a load of drugs and counseling, he began making a comeback in late 2007, age 16. He still struggled with school and the schools were struggling with him. After a year of home school we tried public school again and then gave up and just went for the home school route permanently.

Socially and emotionally he was making progress and last year when I spent two months in the hospital he stepped up to the plate and really grew up. One of the great joys of my life has been to see the truly wonderful relationship he now has with his Mom. When I hear them laughing together in the kitchen it is hard to believe that just a few years back he screamed at Karen, "You stupid fuckin' bitch."

Mike is now off all meds and all counseling and really doing well but I still worried about school and getting his GED. A few months ago he just finally said, "Dad.....that's enough. Let me take the test and then we'll see what I have to do next." I agreed. I hoped he would pass a portion of it and then he would have a better feeling about what else we might need to work on and any special accommodations we might want to apply for. So he turned 19 on 11/25 and he took the GED on the 16th. On Christmas Eve we got the results via computer at sister Connie's prior to our Christmas Eve supper.

And he passed. He passed them all. He passed them all with some fine scores and on the first sitting and without special accommodations. I cannot tell you how proud of him we are. If he was graduating from Harvard with a PhD I could not be happier.

I suppose most parents find that moment, that epiphany, with their children and even though we had it with Tris and could see a future for him, I feared Mike would never pull it together but he has..........and somehow in that moment my view of him changed completely. Now he is an adult...and he at least has a shot.

Thank all of you who have been supportive of us and thanks for reading. I may stick this post on a couple of threads so if you find it have pity on this happy Dad and don't bitch!


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Elmore
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 10:37 PM

Spaw: I've been there. Sounds like Mike is going to be just fine. All the best, Elmore

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 10:47 PM

So happy for you, 'spaw. It's so hard to imagine, in the middle of the tossing waves, what the shore might feel like.

Enjoy, and all of you pat each other on the back.

Happy New Year.

Dani (who got many wonderful, simple, lovely gifts. And one emerald green tutu)

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 10:56 PM

Dear Sweet Maeve...***HAPPY DANCE***** I am soooo happy for you!!!!!

As for Christmas here, I had a stocking full of fun goodies and an electric blanket!! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 11:25 PM

Of the intangible gifts that arrived a bit early in the month, my son flew home for a few weeks from university two states away, and my daughter graduated cum laude with a double major (English and Theater Arts) on Dec. 16 from a state university 45 miles from here. She goes into graduate school in the spring, library science, same school.

We don't give many gifts these days - college pretty well sucks up available cash, and we don't need much. Most of what my daughter and I gave her father was a big batch of homemade empanadillas (she helped me this year to learn how to make those, plus a big pot of rice called arroz con gondules). I was given an oil radiator for the greenhouse and my daughter is sewing a couple of things for me.

That's great news that you're in the house, maeve. It has been a long time coming!

Kendall, I like Scotch also, but this year I self-gifted a case+ of mixed wines (good sale at a local liquor store). My wine rack looks lovely. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Neil D
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 03:04 PM

That is wonderful Spaw, and congratulations Michael! That GED test is tough no matter what anyone says. I got mine at 39 and it was a LOT of work. WTG, and don't let anything hold you back Michael !

                               Christina

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: gnu
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 08:17 PM

Gosh... near tears here. Thanks fer sharing.

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 09:47 AM

Maeve, how wonderful!!!

Spaw - there are no words - I'm so glad for your family!

Subject: RE: BS: What did you get for Christmas?
From: bbc
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 10:04 AM

maeve, I'm so happy for you! Pat, absolutely *wonderful* news about Mike; thanks for taking the time to share it! My strangest gift, this second Christmas since my older son's marriage, was a shelf-stable peanut butter & jelly sandwich in a can! I have to say, it really creeped me out & I passed it on a friend who has school-aged grandchildren. They thought it was spiffy! On to the new year!

best to all,

Barbara