Ok, just to preface, 'legal disclaimer' ... I don't celebrate the religious aspects of Christmas (no church for this Catholic!), but I do enjoy giving presents to family and so.
Actually, one of the things I've liked most about getting older is I look forward to Dec. 25th to give much more then I care to recieve.
Anyway, Monday is shopping day ... thats the day I'm heading out and buying presents for my parents and sister.
* DVD Player for my folks. They love renting movies, and if I don't buy it for them, they'll still be watching VHS in 15 years (they didn't buy a CD player until last year ... honestly)
* The Princess Bride - DVD also for my folks. It's their favorite movie -- and mine, too.
* "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" for my Mom. She read the first Harry Potter book for a job she applied for at a library, and although she didn't get the job, she said she liked the book ... so, why not, right?
* "The New City: A Novel" by Stephen Amidon for my Dad. The book is a satiric look at Columbia, MD ... a planned community that didn't quite work as planned. Set in the '60's, the book illustrates the tragic turns that follow after a misunderstanding between the white lawyer and black manager who run the city. Since we lived in Columbia for a number of years, it seems oddly appropriate.
* "Enchantment" by Orson Scott Card for Emily (my sister). Really, I've got to thank Simon for alerting me to this book. It's a modern re-telling of Sleeping Beauty and is really good, I think she'll like it.
* "Briar Rose" by Jane Yolen for my sister. Also a re-telling of Sleeping Beauty, I think I'd rather quote from the back cover: It is an old, old tale, the German story of Briar Rose, the Sleeping Beauty. Now one of America's most celebrated writers tells it afresh, set this time in the forests patrolled by the German army during World War II. A tale of castles, of mists and thorns, or a beautiful sleeping princess, and an astonishing revelation of death and rebirth.
* "The Complete Idiot's Travel Guide to Hawaii" for my sister. Since she's spending next semester over in Hawaii, I think this'll be great for her.
* A Big Stuffed Frog for my sister. Probably have to go to Toys "R" Us for this one ... my sister loves frogs, especially Kermit, so I think she'll get a kick out of this gift.
* For my friend Keith, The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb. Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father's gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz's blood runs the magic Skill - and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family. As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom. Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
Enough with the miniscule writing already! Christ I've got a headache as well as eye-strain from reading all that!
Nice to see that you are a family guy and actually enjoy giving stuff to people. I have problems thinking of things to get my family - they all buy stuff as they need it! ARRRH! What a nightmare birthdays and christmas are!
Posted by MIB (Member # 426) on :
Same is true with my family. We usually just give each other some cheap trinkets, but mostly cash so we can buy our own "perfect gift."
Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :
wait, I'm supposed to GIVE stuff to other people?
Geez, I never knew...
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
I've always been in a pretty strained financial situation, so my gift-giving hasn't exactly been on the level that I wish. In spite of that, I've always managed to save some money to get my family and closest friends something for the holidays. This year isn't going to be much different despite the fact that I have a good-paying job and the ability to splurge on gifts this year.
My sister and I are saving up a lot of money to buy our mother a really big and really nice gift on her birthday this February. She's turning half a century old, so we're going to make a big event out a day that she'd not have to deal with.
Still, I do have to do some shopping. I gotta get gifts for my father, mother, and sister at the very least. I still have no idea what to get them; I haven't even attempted to shop for them yet. I guess I need to get moving on that.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
I've only had an income for two months. Only one person that I've ever really bought anything for, and she's... well, not a consideration any more.
Posted by The Antagonist (Member # 484) on :
You're friend should really like the Farseer Trilogy, Snay. I have read it twice in the last two months, I liked it so much. If he likes it, you may want to tell him about the sequel to the trilogy, the Tawny Man Series, the first book of which comes out sometimes in January. The first book of this sequel is called "Fool's Errand," and if you have read the series, you'd be interested in it as well.
If you haven't read it, but plan to, let me warn you ahead of time - this series is very depressing.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
I read the Farseer trilogy many a year ago, back when it first came out. I only just found out about the continuation of the Fitz story, but I'm eagerly looking forward to it.
I didn't care as much for The Liveship Traders books ... but I gotta say, it was cool that both take place in the same 'world' ...
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
I hate getting and giving money for Christmas. I mean, I like it in a "ooh, I got �20 for doing nothing" kind of way, but I hate it for two reasons.
1/ It's really lazy.
2/ It's easy to compare. If different people buy you proper presents, you don't think "Hmm, he got me a DVD, worth �15, and he got me a Harry Potter book, worth �10, so my first friend likes me a third more". With money though, you automatically think that. I got �10 off so and so, �20 of so and so, and �50 of her. You rank them.
3/ It's really hard to by presents for certain people, but that's part of the challenge and the fun.
I occasionally buy christmas presents early in the year. If I see something that I know a mate will really like, I'll buy it and put it away for his or her bithday or Christmas. But I am great. Rargh!
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Money == good. I hate getting actual presents, because they're rarely what I want. And I don't rank people by it. If one person gives me $10, and another $20, I just assume they have different ideas of what makes a good present. Just like some people are willing to pay $20 for a product that someone else wouldn't pay more than $10 for.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Antagonist,
I think there is a conspiracy against 'Assassin's Quest.' I went to Barnes & Noble, Borders, Walden, and three used stores today looking for it. I got the first two, but no luck on 'Quest'
Have you read 'Lords of the Sky' by Angus Wells? It's good!
Posted by Michael_T (Member # 144) on :
It's a good thing that I ask my family what they want for Christmas, at least you know what they want.
As for friends, I make specialized gifts for them according to what I know about them. I have a friend going to UC Berkeley who is a chocoholic so I bought her chocolate themed items like mints and 5lbs of edible chocolate.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
As opposed to the industrial grade chocolate used primarily as a de-icing agent in airports? Posted by CaptainMike (Member # 709) on :
Weapons-grade chocolate? The kind that terroristrs are always smuggling in action movies?
[ December 19, 2001: Message edited by: CaptainMike ]
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
I think, as opposed to cooking chocolate, which isn't something one would enjoy eating by itself...
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
But don't forget that, with the right equipment and materials, it can be converted into weapons-grade chocolate sauce. 8)
Posted by Jernau Morat Gurgeh (Member # 318) on :
Well, get your average Mars bar, expose it to radiation, and you essentially have bio-weapon grade chocolate.
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
*GASP* You'd do. . . that?! That contravenes all known laws and moral codes! Don't you know how hard a melted Mars Bar gets when it re-solidifies?
Posted by CaptainMike (Member # 709) on :
Kang Kor and Koloth know.. look what happened when they each got one stuck to their heads.
Oh god im recycling The Completely Useless Trek Encyclopedia jokes
