I got a Leadbelly CD, a Hitler biography, and a tape player/radio from my parents, a “travel guide” to weird sites in the US (with lots of urban legends) from my sister, and a gift card to Lowe’s from my brother and sister-in-law. Oddly enough, I also gave them a gift card to Lowe’s.
I got a refrigerator magnet from my aunt. I gave her a refrigerator magnet too (and also a chile ristra, but this is still getting weird.)
For myself I got a couple books on Josef Stalin.
My mother knows that I have to get college applications done this winter break. She also knows that I get nothing done once I get started on a really good book. So, of course, she decided to get me three big books that she knew I would love.
I got lots of horse stuff. Horse calendar, horse book, etc.
I got the Moulin Rouge CD (I had a burned copy, but it was all messed up and I wanted the original).
My father got me a talking bilingual tire guage. Like, it reads the air pressure in the tires and can either say “thirty-five PSI” or “Treinta y cinco PSI.” This is cool as I speak Spanish fairly well and want to improve.
I got Cosmopolitan en Espanol. This is cool as it also gives me a chance to work on my Spanish. Not taking Spanish classes this year (I ran out of available classes), I need the practice.
Hair and makeup stuff.
A couple of little white stuffed animal dogs. See, after I got my live little white furball, my mother got me a few stuffed animals that looked just like the little darling. Since then, I’ve kind of started an informal collection.
Lots of food stuff.
This.
I got:
[ul]
[li]Mythologica: A Treasury of World Myths and Legends (big, insanely cool book)[/li][li]A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay[/li][li]The War of the Crowns by Christian Jacq[/li][li]a moonflower-scented candle and perfume[/li][li]two Return of the King posters[/li][li]the Return of the King extended edition DVDs[/li][/ul]
Woo!
A low-key Christmas at Chez Lacha. Me, my wife and our 4 furkids.
My wife gave herself a super-groovy early present a couple of weeks ago: a scooter! We spent a while driving it around today; thank heavens for South Florida weather!
I received, among other things:
LOTR day-to-day ALL COLOR calendar
A cool walkman with Weather-Band (bring on the hurricanes!)
Family Guy DVD and
A old-fashioned, stove-top, turn-the-crank popcorn maker! YUM!
Thanks, honey!
(she received a new video game, a picture she liked, and a robe that’s WAY to heavy for our climate - it shall be exchanged…)
Finally got back from the folks. The total haul from wife and parents:
a Juice Squirt pocket tool
two LLBean sweaters
2 pairs of pants
a tactical flashlight
a very nice Ansel Adams print, framed
a catapult watch
misc. toiletries as stocking stuffers
a Curt Schilling Red Sox jersey
the new Jimmy Buffett book - A Salty Piece of Land
and my Mom made a rather sizeable contribution to the “new house” fund, which was totally unexpected and greatly appreciated
The wife is digging all the books and Buffy stuff she got, and is really enjoying the fact that both her husband and her MIL got her jewelry for Christmas! 
Got:
From my husband, mom and sister: About 10 books–all of which were on my list to read, the new Gone With the Wind DVD (lotsa juicy extras), a few more various DVDs I’ve been wanting, and various odds and ends
From my inlaws: a Quesadilla maker (which sounds really useless until you open it up and take a look–this thing is cool!)
From my brother (and this is my favorite present this year): A framed and matted copy of Fleetwood Mac’s album “Tusk”. He cut and rearranged parts of the album cover around the actual records and put it all into a big frame. It’s gorgeous and one of the most unique gifts I’ve ever gotten.
I gave: Books. Lots and lots of books to everyone. I’ve become a bit predictable in my choice of gift-giving but hey, who doesn’t need more books?
To my husband who specifically requested no more books, I gave a framed LOTR autograph of Ian Holm.
From my parents:
Family Guy vol.1
GTA: San Andreas
Father Ted DVDs (which haven’t arrived yet)
the nice iPod headphones
mini speakers, also for ipod
snowglobe
pajamas
shirts
Carl Hiaasen book (which is more of a promise from my dad to find all his old Hiaasen books and lend them to me)
The Sims 2
2 Calvin and Hobbes books
From others:
Necklace
Beatles tabs book
journal
mmmm, christmas.
A new distributor for my GTO. I’m finally get to go electronic ignition which means no more points to set.
A hat signed by Kasey Kahne.
A 300 piece drill bit and driver set.
A piece of dried fungus with a skunk painted on it.
A bunch of new clothes, only a pair of jeans need to go back.
A laser level.
A new electric shaver.
And my favorite, a picture of a 2005 Toyota Tundra. Depending on how contract negotiations go between my employer and union, there could be a real one in the driveway this next September.
DVDs:
Invader Zim Vol. 2 – Progressive Stupidity
Invader Zim Vol. 3 – Horrible Holiday Cheer
The Iron Giant – Special Edition
Vampire Hunter D – Special Edition
King Arthur – Director’s Cut
FAKE (a really fun anime OAV :))
Knight Hunters (Weiss Kreuz) Vol. 1 – Dead Ringer
Books:
Only The Ring Finger Knows
Kizuna Vol. 1 – Bonds of Love
Selfish Love
Desire
CDs:
The Best of The Church and New Order – Substance (from my brother in law, who likes 80s music too. Eee.)
Brian Wilson – Smile
Clothes:
sea green LL Bean sweater with seashell buttons
blue stripey sweater from Lane Bryant
red penguin jammies from Lane Bryant
leopard print gloves, hat and scarf (my mom is so flamboyant at times…)
socks, underwear, etc.
Miscellaneous:
the typical haul of candy, nuts and snacks, including five kinds of Pocky (yum)
Hello Kitty 2005 calendar
a blue insulated lunch bag from LL Bean
an Incredibles flashlight
a Scrabble page-a-day calendar
a fatally cute ornament of Winnie the Pooh dressing Eeyore up like an angel
a little angel teddy bear holding a star
many other silly miscellaneous things
Yeah, I’m totally spoiled
I got an immense bag of Goldberg’s Peanut Chews.
Almost impossible to find on the West Coast and soon, well… anywhere. Some evil company bought out Goldberg and has already drawn up plans to tamper with perfection. 
Add:
[ul][li]$25 more to Barnes & Noble[/li][li]$10 to Starbucks[/li][li]A Clairborne men’s cologne gift set[/li][li]A hoodie[/li][/ul]
It was a gooooood year at Chez Elle. I got:
[ul][li]A five diamond anniversary ring – as of today I have been married to Mr. TeaElle for 24 years, huzzah![/li][li]This amazing thing[/li][li]All of Eddie Izzard’s concerts on DVD[/li][li]A cashmere hat and scarf[/li][li]Leather gloves[/li][li]A pair of seriously sex-ay black leather boots[/li][li]Two gorgeous barrettes, since I’m growing my hair out for the first time in years[/li][li]A gorgeous red chenille sweater – super soft![/li][li]A pair of super soft fleece pajamas[/li][li]A silk nightgown[/li][li]A pair of slippers that look like bear paws[/li][li]A pair of amethyst earrings and a matching cross pendant[/li][li]A black velvet dress I bought for myself as my gift from my kids[/li][li]A beautiful calendar with photos from national parks bought by Mr. TeaElle as a gift from my kids[/li][li]A wok and tools from a Chinese restaurant supply company in NYC[/li][li]Five books from my Amazon wishlist[/li][li]The two Duran Duran CD box sets and three re-released videos on DVD[/li][li]The traditional box of powdered sugar donuts, tin of International Foods coffee and bag of Hershey’s Kisses which commemorate the gifts that a very poor Mr. TeaElle gave me the first year we dated[/ul][/li]I bought Mr. TeaElle an assortment of clothes, books, music, this lovely thing and this scary thing that he really really wanted.
[QUOTE=Cisco]
[ul][li]$60 to Barnes & Noble[/li][li]$100 to Basha’s (local grocery store)[/li][li]$100 to AJ’s (local very nice grocery store)[/li][li]$50 to AMC theatres + a couple free large popcorn coupons[/li][li]$25 to On the Border (Mexican restaurant)[/li][li]$100 in cash so far, and I expect more[/li]
[li]The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra Special Edition DVD[/li][li]America: The Book[/li][li]A 2005 Futurama calendar[/li][li]Two nice shirts from the GAP[/li][li]A pullover fleece[/li][li]Socks (yes, I was excited)[/li][li]Lots of candy[/li][li]A 2-year subscription to National Geographic Traveler[/li][li]Some portable excersize equipment[/li][li]A DVD game[/li][li]A bottle of rum (yo-ho-ho!)[/li][/ul]
Add:
[ul][li]$25 more to On the Border[/li][li]A Gwar DVD[/li][li]Reno 911 season one DVD[/li][/ul]
You guys don’t understand . . . I’m used to getting maybe 5 presents. I think I only got 2 or 3 last year (which was totally cool.) I don’t know what’s going on this year.
Black silk bathrobe and lounge pants
Black leather coat
black cashmere-lined gloves
black jeans
sterling necklace with cross
sterling lapel pin
6 pair of socks
copy of “The Graduate”
copy of “Auntie Mame”
toiletries (including boar-hair shaving brush, shaving mug, and silver-plated razor)
glass and walnut case for displaying my grandfather’s pocketwatch
shirt
A very good Christmas, even though I’m beginning to think I’m Johnny Cash.
Well, I’ll go there… where’s LOTR ROTK EE?
I was evidently much better than you… I got it, why didn’t you???
[ul]
[li]LOTR ROTK EE[/li][li]Oriental Tea Set[/li][li]Space Invaders All in One game set (I’m a child of the 80’s, and am in heaven!)[/li][li]Ms. Pac Man all in one game set (Oy! Pole Position!!! Galaga!!!)[/li][li]Chinese decorations (Yay!)[/li][li]A lovely schifflera that’s been braided and potted in an oriental planter[/li][li]Money. :D[/li][/ul]
And when I say that, I mean I was a good girl… oh hell. Never mind. 
A new down comforter
Two gift baskets of food
A bottle of wine
A new sweater
A book about the company I work for
From my best friend
Green Day’s American Idiot
George Carlin’s new book
Eric Schlosser’s Reefer Madness (about America’s blackmarket)
a child’s huge seaside sand bucket filled with wee chocos
From my schoolfriend
handmade lapis lazui earrings
from my Dutch penfriend
a heavy rough silk bag she made (she’s a textile artist)
handmade notecards all featuring mediaeval scenes and paintings
floating candles for the bath, shaped like stars and filled with sparkly beads
from my American penfriend
a handmade bag to carry my lunch and things to work
from my auntie in Blarigowrie, Scotland
a desk calendar featuring sheep (we’re both spinners and weavers)
souvie tea towels from her year’s travels through the UK (my uncle washes, I wipe when I’m at her house)
a cheque for 100 quid
from my mum
cashmere socks
balance to pay for my lute master class in January
coupla bags of chocos
paying my tuition for my museum certification so I can change my life – it’s on-going, actually!
from a music friend
score to Bach’s Unaccompanied Cello Suite No 1 in G Major, transcribed for the guitar (you can hear Yo Yo Ma play it on the cello in Master and Commander, if you know that film.)
From me
small black pearl cuff bracelet
Shaun of the Dead on dvd
A Young One’s vid (Boring, Flood, Oil)
From the Arsenal FC
A goal from Mr Pires, and a Boxing Day win!
From my other friends in the Uk and Australia and Europe and the States
Much love and good laughs and continued support through some tricky times for me – thanks awfully, mates.
LMAO. Yeah…yeah, I know.
Actually I did get LOTR: EE. Not sure why I left it off my list. I was referring to other things. Christmas Day didn’t end very well, but I guess I should say I’m not surprised by that, either.
Ah well, no sense dragging the thread down…those '80s games totally rock. I have that compilation of games for my PlayStation, and I still obsess over Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga (my favorite game ever) to this day.
Good to hear from you, DWD. I was curious as to how your Christmas went! 
Me too! Me too! And I got my copies from Eddie himself (sorta - actually from his publicist, for a magazine review, and I got them all personally autographed when he was here in Chicago back in November.) As far as I was concerned, Christmas was complete right then and there.
But noooooooo… I am quite spoiled. The WryGuy bought me pearl earrings (they’re yellow gold, which I don’t normally wear, but they’re gorgeous and HE WENT TO A JEWELRY STORE ALL BY HIMSELF AND PICKED 'EM OUT!!) Sirius satellite radio with both car and home units, a Henry Rollins CD and an Eddie From Ohio CD. The Terrible Teen got me the movie Ever After on DVD. The in-laws gave me a crisp $50 bill shaped into a bow and attached to a very pretty silk flower arrangement. A bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream and a heat-in-the-microwave ricebag thingie from my sis-in-law, a $30 Borders GC and a new coffeemaker from my husband’s aunts, a $40 Victoria’s Secret GC from a friend, a new floofy winter scarf from another friend, some really cool white gold earrings from Mom, a calendar with a photo shot by a photographer friend on each month’s page, a gorgeous mouthblown vase from my brother, and a squishy rubber frog from my 5-year-old niece.
And my birthday is this coming Friday!