# What Was The Best Present You GAVE this year? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 26, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437 "2010-12-26T17:39:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/61 "2010-12-29T06:45:54Z")
My 6-year-old son got a Hot Wheels bike! In a box. Uh-oh. He also got all the tools one would need, in another box. Yay! The dad helped, and it was really cool when air was added to the tires, as the Xmas day parking lot was empty and ready for riding and learning. So, that. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/62 "2010-12-29T06:54:26Z")
So the folks across the street started a big volleyball game. I went over and asked them if he (my son) could play for a little while. They said yes. (how’s that for a broken edit?) ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/63 "2010-12-29T06:55:31Z")
fuck all, i give up. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/64 "2010-12-29T12:47:34Z")
The best present I gave was a couple of kilos of prawns, some lobsters, bread rolls, mayonnaise, and half-a-dozen long necks to the homeless guys that live in the park because Santa should live on for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/65 "2010-12-29T13:44:55Z")
My winning present: the complete That 70s Show for my 12-year-old nephew. We are currently on season 6. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/66 "2010-12-29T15:06:20Z")
The most sentimental was the beach sand snowflake ornaments I gave to my inlaws. They have been vacationing on the same spot on Cape Cod for a million years and it’s a Big Deal in the family. I got each family grouping (i.e., MIL and FIL, BIL and his family, SIL and her family, and my husband and our kids) ornaments that were (allegedly?) made from the sand on the beach that they stay at. That way, everyone has a little piece of the Cape throughout the rest of the year. I also gave my husband the 3-volume Calvin and Hobbes. That seems to have been a big hit. The gift that got the most use, at least immediately, was a LEGO guy headlamp, though. I gave one to each of my kids and my son wore his for 3 days straight. We had to sneak into his room and take it off his head while he slept. I\*\* love\*\* giving gifts. It’s partially what makes winter doldrums bearable for me. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/67 "2010-12-29T15:50:49Z")
Based on the reaction, the best gift I gave was the set of speaker stands for the new speakers my mom got a few months ago. Even though the bases of the stands sink into the carpet too much for me to run the wire through the stands, she’s still very pleased with them. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/68 "2010-12-29T18:05:09Z")
Motivated by a couple of SD threads I went to see True Grit at 10:40 a.m. on December 24 and on way in tipped the ticket tearer. “Are you allowed to accept tips?” “I wish.” “Here you go.” ($5) “Seriously?” “Merry Christmas.” I think we both got a kick out of it. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/69 "2010-12-29T20:14:17Z")
Gave my son 5 pounds of veal. What? Any kid would love to have that! You have any idea what that costs these days? Seriously, we gave our 17yo and 13yo their own Ipads with scads of accessories and $200 to itunes. You have any idea what \*\*THAT \*\*costs today?😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/70 "2010-12-29T21:51:42Z")
I got my husband an iTouch. He longed for one, but thought it was too expensive and no one would even consider getting him one. So I told him it was out of our price range and did this incredible song-and-dance of misdirection and suggested that I was getting him a Furby. He was actually scared. And I canvassed my parents for money and we got it for him as a mutual gift. He hasn’t really put it down since Christmas. I’m so proud. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/71 "2010-12-29T22:08:41Z")
I got my wife her first brand new car. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/72 "2010-12-30T00:24:19Z")
> [@labtrash](#): > > I got my wife her first brand new car. OMG. Please tell me you got a big-ass bow for it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/73 "2010-12-30T10:26:15Z")
My last contract finished in November so it was going to be a bit of a struggle. But I persuaded some of my friends to cough up some of the filthy lucre and I arranged a party for 200 mentally handicapped kids and young ( and not so young adults) at Elsie Gaches village for abandoned and handicapped kids. Pony rides, inflatables, face painting, dancing, happy meals and give-aways ( including half a metric tonne of rice!!) My friends are the best! And the smile on little Mildred’s face ( a Downs baby) says it all [![](https://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd283/slippy333/Photo0326.jpg) ](https://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd283/slippy333/Photo0326.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/74 "2010-12-30T10:48:21Z")
> [@manila](#): > > My last contract finished in November so it was going to be a bit of a struggle. > > But I persuaded some of my friends to cough up some of the filthy lucre and I arranged a party for 200 mentally handicapped kids and young ( and not so young adults) at Elsie Gaches village for abandoned and handicapped kids. Pony rides, inflatables, face painting, dancing, happy meals and give-aways ( including half a metric tonne of rice!!) > > My friends are the best! > > And the smile on little Mildred’s face ( a Downs baby) says it all > > [http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd283/slippy333/Photo0326.jpg](http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd283/slippy333/Photo0326.jpg) Some great presents all around but I think you win the thread for that one! ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/75 "2010-12-30T13:21:12Z")
Can’t top some of the stories (especially the party for the disabled kids - WTG Santa!!) but… As background: You know when you get a book as a gift, you read it once, then it sits around gathering dust, or you donate it somewhere and feel guilty because it was a gift after all, and you JUST GAVE AWAY A GIFT? So, about 8 years ago when we were in the midst of a MASSIVE decluttering fit preparatory to putting our house on the market, and it was Father’s Day and I didn’t want to get something that would have to be stored and then moved, and there was this book coming out that I knew **Typo Knig** had been wanting to read… … so I borrowed it from the library, and wrapped it up, and he was delighted. He read it, I returned it, nothing to move. We’ve done this several times since then. So this fall, Lois McMaster Bujold released a new Miles Vorkosigan book. I put a hold request back in November hoping we’d have it for his birthday. No luck (there were 30+ people ahead of me in line). No luck for Christmas either. It finally arrived yesterday. I picked it up, and gave it to Typo - who laughed, and said “I put a hold on it for _you_, just before Christmas!”. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/76 "2010-12-30T13:24:31Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > I gave my brother, a math professor, a necktie with equations written all over it. I bought online it without getting a really detailed look at it, so I had assumed it had the same few items repeated. But it had the equivalent of pages of equations and formulas, and my brother spent half the evening going over it. So, based on recipient feedback, that was probably the best gift I gave. Ooooh, I want to see pictures of this. I love nerdy gifts! Do you have linky goodness? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/77 "2010-12-30T13:49:31Z")
I bought my mom a Back Roads of Ireland book. It shows pictures and 1-4 day trips of Ireland. Ireland pron for her. She loves it. ( I bought the Backroads of England book for myself.) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/78 "2010-12-30T14:04:26Z")
I gave my niece some earrings. She made a special call to thank me. That was sweet! They came in a little turquoise cardboard box. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/79 "2010-12-30T14:29:41Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > Ooooh, I want to see pictures of this. I love nerdy gifts! Do you have linky goodness? [Might this be it?](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CP1OCA?&tag=shopwiki-us-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325) mmm ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437/80 "2010-12-30T14:46:13Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > OMG. Please tell me you got a big-ass bow for it! 😃 Would that be a bow that actually goes to the ass of the car, or just a humongous one? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-present-you-gave-this-year/565437.md?page=5)