Best gift you received?

[begin_within]

I received 2 "bests"...

My sister gave me an oil painting that our grandmother painted back in 1969, in a brand-new frame.

My 7-year-old nephew made a little booklet out of notebook paper and drew little drawings of me and activities that he and I do together, and wrote things in it like "I like you Bobe" (supposed to be Bobby, but I guess he spells phonetically.) And handed it to me when he first saw me today.

[unsavedtrash]

1. a book and a CD that I have been wanting

book-Darkly Dreaming Dexter
CD- Great Days: The John Prine Anthology

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Having my kids here was present enough

One of them just left the nest and it was nice to have him here for a few days.

[Common Sense Party]

3. Santa brought me an iPod. Completely unexpected.

Not to mention undeserved.

I've been greedily loading it up with CDs all day.

[Pretty Go Pale]

4. My best gift . . .

. . . had to be the Tool t-shirt from my kids. Awww, hell -- who am I kidding? Best gift I received was the fifth of Wild Turkey I picked up at the liquor store Saturday night.

[Chico Man]

5. My wife got me a lump of coal

No joke.

[Skittles]

6. yet, that is more than I got my sweet

yes INDEED

but, I did not want anything - and I did give - to people in need :)

[Chico Man]

7. I liked what the NY Times prints at the top of the paper on Christmas

"It's Christmas - Remember those who are the neediest"

I too did not want anything, other than to be with those I love.

[Pretty Go Pale]

10. Same here . . .

. . . but I still wound up hanging out with my family. Christmas magic, my ass.

[Skittles]

11. alas, no family

AND I had to work, AND the Xmas meal fell thru so I ate out the vending machine! But I don't care, never cared much about any holiday.

[Broken_Hero]

8. Superman Returns the video game

gamers...imagine, GTA III, but you are superman...:D And the superman 14 dvd box set...

[JVS]

9. My mom got grandpa's watch fixed for me (I dropped and broke it a few months ago)

No more looking at my cell phone while I lecture

[Pretty Go Pale]

16. I got Guitar Hero II

I was showing my kids how I could handle the axe -- soloing like a God. Then, my 11-year old daughter knee-capped me, grabbed the controller, cranked up "War Pigs," and said, "Watch me fuckin' shred." Thank the Lord for whiskey.

[ghostsofgiants]

28. Damn, I am jealous, haha.

[deadparrot]

12. 30GB MP3/video player.

:woohoo:

Oh, yeah, and a mini-vacation to Denver in May to see a Cardinals/Rockies game and a performance of the musical "Wicked."

[Heidi]

13. New bed and mattress.

Bless CMW's mom's heart. It'll be delivered in January. :D

[Pretty Go Pale]

14. Nice . . .

. . . but my Wild Turkey is still frontrunning as best of '06 Jesus Birthin' Day.

[Heidi]

15. But, but, but . . .

my husband gave me relics for my altar, too: a medicine Buddha, a Tara, cymbals and a bell.

OK, I give in. You win. Wild Turkey beats bed and altar items. :hi:

[Pretty Go Pale]

18. Cymbals and a bell? .

Hmmm, a little drum action at the prefect moment could add to the, um, special evening where the magic happens. That said, the idea of Mick Fleetwood smacking the skins at the nexus of pleasure would be a bit creepy. Haaaaa. Sign me up!!

[terrya]

22. Wow! That's gorgeous!

Terry says, looking at his crappy bedroom. :-(

Seriously, that's a gorgeous bed. Santa (well, CMW's Mom) was very generous to you guys. :-)

[Heidi]

31. Thank you, Terry.

:hug:

Yes, CMW and I both have very generous in-laws. Since we got married nearly six years ago, we've had an uncomfortable mattress and really crappy, thrown-together bachelor/bachelerette bedroom stuff; I guess our main concern has been to make the bedroom attractive to The Wiley And Excellent Boy Cat Named Ginger so that he'd come in at night. :P But this year, Edith offered us the opportunity and we opted to make our bedroom a cocoon for all three of us: CMW, me _and_ Ginger. (The cat's really in charge, dontcha know.)

:* :loveya: , my friend.

[SoyCat]

17. My cat sat on my lap most of the afternoon and even hugged me. Getting an actual "hug" from him

rated higher than any material item.

[Pretty Go Pale]

19. I got drunk with my cat.

Nothing says bonding like Wild Turkey.

[begin_within]

20. My best moments were with the cats and dogs. The people were a disappointment.

[michreject]

21. A RCBS electronic scale for my reloading bench

Been wanting one of these for years.

[idgiehkt]

23. I just got it.

In the form of a pm from a Du-er. Amazing how two simple words ('you okay?') can change your entire day. I don't get into Christmas that much but it's amazing how just knowing that someone out there is concerned about your well-being can change your whole day and whole outlook, especially when the people you might think should care don't appear to. So, thanks, my friend, you know who you are. :loveya: :hug:

[buddhamama]

24. i am sorry,

i have been thinking of you these past couple of days, i had noted your absence here in the Lounge.

i should have written to you as well,

i wish that i had.

glad you're OK. :hug:

[idgiehkt]

26. Bless you Buddhamama

I have been thinking about you too because I saw your new photo in the photo thread and we look so much alike we could be sisters. I have an old picture of myself sitting on a chair holding my guitar and holding my head in the same position as yours in your 'swing' picture, and we really resemble each other.

thanks for caring, about everyone as well as about me,

:hug:

idg

[bertha katzenengel]

25. Ever: my first baseball glove. I think I was 7 or 8 years old. eom

[Zavulon]

27. I got the day off.

I told my girlfriend that if we do everything she and her parents want to do on Christmas Eve, all I want is the house to myself on the 25th to watch football in peace and quiet while they do whatever they're planning on. I've done all the errands, all the shopping, all the driving, all the wrapping, and even most of the cooking in preparation for this holiday season, and the only thing I asked for is a pass on Christmas Day itself. Amazingly, I got it.

I haven't been this happy with a Christmas present since getting an air hockey table at age 12.

[MrSlayer]

29. A dominating win over the hated Cowboys.

Best thing I received.

[rustydog]

30. 1964: first BB gun. Shades of Christmas Story!

[Seabiscuit]

32. My wife's cousin played guitar, my 2-yr old son danced and danced and

laughed and laughed and danced and laughed some more and I got it all on tape.

[Deja Q]

33. I'll let you know the day I get married...

:spray:

[In_The_Wind]

34. Supper out with a friend.

I didn't get any Christmas presents this year.

[Roon]

35. One of these from my Mother

[ThomCat]

40. I once got a $1 bill from a neighbor.

She was a kindly old lady named Rose who lived on the corner of my street and had the best flower garden I'd ever seen. I used to visit her and talk with her while she worked in the garden. When I was a typical starving freshman, and back on break, she pressed a $10 bill in my hand and told me she was proud of me.

I will remember that gift for the rest of my life.

It is amazing how valuable money can be when the right person gives it to you, and gives it to you in the right way.
:cry:

[ThomCat]

50. Oops. Horrible typo. It was a $10 bill.

Which was a respectable amount back then. Changes the whole meaning of my post. :(

[ThomCat]

36. A guy.

I was visiting a college friend over the holiday break. She walked me over to a house nearby and knocked on the door. A gorgeous guy who was an old high school friend of hers answered. She introduced him to me, and me to him. She pushed me into his arms and said "Thom, I'll see you in the morning. Merry Christmas, boys."

Then she turned and walked home, and I didn't see her again until lunchtime the next day. :9

I'm not sure if he was the gift, or if I was, but either way, it was a good holiday. :7

[lukasahero]

43. Woohoo!

That's entirely cool, TC. Merry freakin' Christmas!

[ThomCat]

45. Absolutely!

I was given a once-in-a-lifetime gift, and I have always appreciated that. That's a story I've rarely had occassion to share, but it's one I'll tell when I'm an old man. :7

[Dervill Crow]

37. Finding out my older daughter is pregnant!

Both my girls are "with child." I'm ecstatic.

[lukasahero]

38. One more Christmas with my big old dog

He's almost 13 and at close to 100 lbs, that makes him pretty old. He's been sick since Thanksgiving and we were really worried we were going to lose him. But he was back to his old self Christmas morning playing mightily with his new toys. Just having him here with us is the best present of all.

[ThomCat]

39. That's awesome!

I can absolutely understand that feeling. :)

[lukasahero]

41. Hey ThomCat

Glad you're around - I usually get totally ignored when I post in the lounge. :( But my big old guy really had me and my husband worried. We're so relieved now and Christmas was just awesome as a result.

This was him last year:

Can you believe he was 12?

Hope you had wonderful holidays!

[ThomCat]

44. I'll never ignore you.

You're one of my favorite DUers. :hug:

He's beautiful. :)
I'm glad your whole family could be there for the holiday.

I didn't do anything. I sat at home. And now my office is closed all this week, but I'm here voluntarily working because someone has to cover things in case clients call. :shrug: It's a normal week for me.

Next month I get to hang out with some DUers. And then at some point after that I get to travel to hang out with some DUers. Now THOSE will be my holidays. :)

[lukasahero]

46. Awww

:hug: And right back at ya', ThomCat. :)

If it's any consolation, I'm working this week too. All the "regular" employees are on vacation. Oh well, party time! :)

[Guava Jelly]

42. A really good friend

But i got that months before christmas got here.

[Godhumor]

47. Best material gift?

For me that would be a new Wacom tablet that I have been wanting for my miniscule digital art hobby. I love that thing dearly.

Non-material would be having the entire family together for longer than just a few hours. My sister left yesterday, my brother left 20 minutes ago, and my wife heads to Jpaan for 3 weeks tomorrow, so I enjoyed it while it lasted.

[ceile]

48. My sis and her family were in town.

Got to see my 14 month old nephew. I didn't need anything else.
But I do like my new IPod Shuffle.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

49. Santa was too good to me this year...

I think it was because I didn't raise a ruckus when Mr GoG told me he wanted a plasma TV.

Anyway, not only did I get the printer/fax/scanner/copier/ I had put on my list; but Mr GoG gave me a gorgeous blue topaz necklace.
I feel a little overwhelmed, really. Not that I don't appreciate the gifts; but it's kind of over-the-top...