Got: Mechanix gloves, 4D Maglite, The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide, cash, a few shirts, some more cash, flannel pants, Smartmedia card for my digital camera. And a cowboy-hatted smiley face antenna ball 
(thanks, Chikkiboo!)
Gave: a Vostok amfibian watch (admittedly it was to me, from me), a piece of my Jeep (to the Chikkiboo, be made into a necklace), socks and a belt (to my bro–I had a Beall’s gift certificate left over from graduation :D)
I got some sweaters, a field guide to western plants (to go with the bird guide I got last year), my mom’s old portable CD player, an Elvis CD, a floor-length nightgown (?), more clothes, a little cash and a gift-certificate for more clothes. I also got one o’dem window screens to keep my car cool.
All and all the best gift was seeing my grandfather on Thursday. He died on Saturday. I’m not going to say anything about how my mother is dealing with his wife – that’s for the pit.
Tied for second best gift was a phone call from my aunt to my parents and a surprise visit from an old boyfriend. (EEK! How can he possibly have that much gray hair! I’m not that old yet!)
My family got many dozen homemade cookies. I gave my mom a Winnie-the-Pooh watch, some new cookbooks and kitchen widgets. Dad got a lot of books, a shirt and a CD. Grandma got a box of Godiva chocolates, a set of mixing bowls and kitchen widgets. My brother’s gift was two videotapes he’d asked for. My gift to my sister-in-law was a cookbook she wanted, and another I hoped she’d like. The kids also got books and a game to share. Brother got an extra $200 to come out for the funeral.
Bravo, xtal, for handling a Christmas death in the family with such aplomb.
Mom died 9 days ago and we’re all in shock and kicking little balls of wrapping paper around among the funeral flower arrangements. That’s when my brother and father aren’t despairing about the future and my sisters aren’t bolting for the door.
It’s to my younger sister’s credit that even during Mom’s illness she found time to unearth a gorgeous coffee-table book of Edward Hopper watercolors for me.
The best thing I got for Christmas was that Mom is finally at peace and the struggle (yep, cancer) is over at last.
I’m gonna go plunder the post-Christmas sales to make myself feel better, now.
{{{{{{{{{xtal}}}}}}}}}}} {{{{{{{{{Roachman}}}}}}}}}}}}}
(I hope you guys don’t mind hugs from strangers.)
I got lots of good stuff:
scanner, camera, $$$, knick-knacks (mostly cats, but some lab. retr. and ladybug), amazon.com gift certificate (thanks, Dan), a porcelain doll (???), a few clothes, dishes–which I really needed, good stuff like that, gift card for K-mart from my boss (Guinastasia will love that-- :rolleyes: )
I gave:
to hubby–handheld color tv thingy, beard trimmer, leather jacket, shoes, cologne (Drakkar Noir, mmmmmm), watch, something else I can’t remember…
to others–Christmas dishes (12 place sets) to my mom and step-dad, gift cards to Home Depot (dad) and Best Buys (brother), jewelry, a nice tote bag to my college-age step sister, dolls and stuffed animals and toy trucks to the little kids in the family, digital camera (cheap one) and hair dryer and fishing pole to older kids, calendars, electronic organizers, these really neat software CD’s with over a million recipes each, searchable by ingredient or cooking method, really good baking pans, I dunno what else…I have a huge family. The pile of gifts under my tree waiting to be give was enormous.
Got: A computer :), 2 sweaters and a rechargable Metro card; portable CD player with car adapter; 2 shirts, jeans, a pair of pants, water filtering pitcher, George Foreman grill…
Gave: Pants, shirts, Simon & Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits CD, Everquest, X-Men DVD, underware, Coach purse, toys, jeans, sweaters, waffle maker…
Browning Buckmark Bullseye with the rosewood grips.
Hey Roachman, Please accept my best wishes for the speedy recovery of your family. I’ve had a month to get used to the idea, my Grandfather had a nasty stroke on Thanksgiving Day, so he’s kinda been dead already for the past month.
Thanks for the hug, TroubleAgain.
Anybody else who doesn’t know who Edward Hopper was can check out http://www.tfaoi.com/newsm1/n1m461.ht
And if the pen ever quits working, the gold rings make beautiful toe rings.
After my mother in law died and we were sorting through her things. In a desk drawer, I came across a small thick gold ring. Just a tad too small for my second toe, so I took it to my local jeweler for resizing. I was informed that it was indeed gold but was not originally a ring for jewelery and was probably a ring from a fountain pen. I asked if it could be sized to a 5 and they said no problem.
It is sturdy and beautiful and looks lovely on my left foot second toe, where I never take it off.
Just a thought. 
I got a purse, the EggWave, Toy Story 2, some CD’s, a stuffed kitten, an “Emergency!” lunch box (with the thermos!), a Chinese cookbook, a cape, coasters, gourmet cocoas, a Dr. Scholl’s air cushion with heat and massage, two pewter unicorns on a chunk of iron pyrite, a candle, various edibles, cat and dog treats, and more trinkets and goodies than I know I need or deserve, but that I’m grateful for.
I gave: books (“Shattered,” by Dick Francis, “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft,” by Stephen King, and “Clara, The Early Years: The Pug Who Ruled My Life”), videos (“Dr. Who and the Curse of the Fatal Death,” “Rumble in the Bronx,” and “X-Men”), a Japanese good luck kitty clock, a pillow, make-up, a subscription to “Writer’s Digest”, a tool box, candles, lottery tickets, CD’s (Ferlin Husky’s Greatest Hits, The Beatles’ “One,” The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies’ “Soul Caddy”), chocolate, and calandars. I did most of my shopping on Amazon.com this year and am quite pleased with the results (I was not paid for this endorsement).
A unicycle! Woohoo!
Also a nice toolkit, a gift certificate for some cookware - much needed, and some books.
Gave: a really cool framed print, a lamp, a ticket to Paris, and some chocolates.
I got a 5 foot jewlery armoire from my husband that I’ve been wanting. I got clothes from my parents and candles from my brothers. My sister though got my husband and I 30 bucks of scratch off lottery tickets. They were fun!