Christmas 2005 Wishlist

If you want to share some events in your life or thoughts about life in general with other MSCL fans or if you just want post a rant to let some steam off - this is the place.
Forum Newbies: Please introduce yourself here!
Post Reply
User avatar
starbug
Lifehead
Posts: 1082
Joined: Jun 25th 2002, 4:51 am
Location: UK

Christmas 2005 Wishlist

Post by starbug » Dec 2nd 2005, 5:22 am

OK folks, I held off until it was December... post what you'd like for Christmas, or any other December religious holidays where present-giving is a part of the celebrations!

I'll start:

DVD: CSI Season 2. Yes, I'm behind, yes, I love it! Ahh Grissom, the geek king!
The Moomin books; the originals. I have a few but they are SO tattered (over-reading as a child). I recently looked online and discoved that I have the UK Puffin edition of one, from the 1960s (my parents were obviously big fans of 2nd hand book sales).
products by http://www.greenpeople.co.uk - I don't appear to be allergic to these. Yet.
My article on the Armenian Genocide to be published online so I can show it to everyone I know. Boasting? Yup! I'm seriously proud of it. My normal state of humility (ha!) will return shortly.

My list is short, which leads me to the conclusion that I basically don't want for much, which makes me one lucky person. In fact, I'm conscious that I'm collecting rather too much stuff . That, and the fact that my brother has asked for (and his loving sister has bought him) The Complete Calvin & Hobbes boxset of hardback books, which I know I can borrow, so I don't need to technically own, although I would love my own set.

A new addition to this year's list, which I thought would be cool to discuss. Who knows, someone here might come up with inspiration - maybe we can all help each other out:
Who are you really struggling with on the gift-front this year?
Mr. S was surprisingly easy; normally he represents the biggest trauma for me because he just buys everything that he wants, when he wants it *sigh* and those things he can't buy (like a Porsche) I can't afford either.
This year I'm struggling with:
Both my parents. I cannot buy dad another book. Last year I got him a fish-smoker and he loved it, but that option is obviously exhausted for this year. He likes things like weird kitchen gadgets, and technology, and antique maritime thingys. But I just haven't found the right gift within the price range.
My mother is the biggest problem. Here, I draw a complete blank. She's into odd food-fad diets (! - I refuse to perpetuate this though), new-age hippy life-fulfilment stuff, and she does like to read but I always get her books so I'm not keen on doing that this year. She does also like gardening.
Mr. S's parents: yikes. I'm not even going to try to explain why this is so difficult, but it really is.

---------------------------------------------
http://www.urban-hills.blogspot.com
---------------------------------------------

User avatar
emmie
Liberty High Graduate
Posts: 606
Joined: May 27th 1999, 10:34 pm
Location: NYC
Contact:

Post by emmie » Dec 2nd 2005, 5:17 pm

is it this time of year already? yikes! ha ha

well, there really isn't much that I want. like you, I think I've acquired too much stuff. and since I'll be graduating and moving in May, I'm actually trying to get rid of things.

hmm, but I guess it would be nice to have:

Alias 1st Season DVD-I know I'm behind, but since I have netflix, I hardly ever buy dvds anymore.

an actual vintage Beatles t-shirt-don't know why I'm so obsessed with vintage lately. I'm also rather behind in fashion. ha ha.

cashmere sweater-I've never had one and actually felt cashmere for the first time the other day. wow, it's so incredible soft!!

yeah, I can't really think of anything. I'm pretty boring. haha.

this year, I'm not really getting gifts for anyone, can't really afford it. but I am getting one or two for my parents. as always, my mom is super easy, and my dad is really difficult. my mom insists on buying him all these weird gadgets and small electronics. and then she gets angry when he doesn't use them. but she just doesn't see that he's not interested in those things. he's really very simple. maybe I'll get him a t-shirt. I have no idea.

User avatar
SanDeE*
So-Called Addict
Posts: 989
Joined: Sep 24th 2002, 4:40 am

Post by SanDeE* » Dec 2nd 2005, 5:56 pm

-An apartment with no problems with it (I know... it's a long shot...)
-several dvds/cds, as usual... specifically "The Incredibles" and "The Red Violin" (I'm interested in the composers of their scores)
-a dress coat
-a bar stool (for practicing bass)
-a vegtable steamer

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. I also tend to just pick up stuff when I want it... but not lately, actually. I have had ZERO extra cash for the past couple of months. My rent went up because I got kicked out of my old apartment (I posted about that in the "moving" thread, I think).

I am buying fewer gifts this year. For my cousins, I think I'll just burn some cds. Probably for my dad too. I'm drawing a picture for my gramma, and going in on a gift certificate with my bro for our mom's parents. My boyfriend is going to be the tough one, because I want to get him so much stuff, and I don't want to just get him something like a dvd or cd, that's just boring. I want to get him something special. He needs to get better about dropping hints.
Um, in my room, one seam is a little off and I stare at it constantly. It's, like, destroying me.

~~Kristin~~

User avatar
Natasha (candygirl)
MSCL.com Team
MSCL.com Team
Posts: 5374
Joined: Dec 7th 2001, 3:05 am
Location: California

Post by Natasha (candygirl) » Dec 4th 2005, 8:51 pm

Most of my Christmas list is books and DVDs, but nothing too crazy since I have this awful habit of buying them for myself when they are released. One of my friends scolded me last year for not waiting until Christmas to see if anyone (read: like her) would buy me stuff I wanted. This year, however, I've been on a pretty strict budget because I'm going to be in my friend's wedding in a few weeks and I've been trying to plan for all the expenses (bridesmaid's dress, hotel, airfare) knowing that it would be very close to Christmas. Translation: bunches of DVDs and books that I haven't bought myself over the past few months are now on my Christmas list!

There other things that I'd like but know I won't get - like a new refrigerator with a freezer that doesn't melt everything down to room temperature or a dryer that doesn't melt my socks and underwear to the inside of the drum, but I know I won't be getting any household appliances under the tree!

:mrgreen:

I am almost completely done with my Christmas shopping. My dad is the difficult one in the family to shop for. Even if we buy him practical things that he can use (clothes, a lighter, travel coffee mug) he never uses them. I have found clothes I gave him hanging in the closet with the tags still on. Instead of using the handy insulated travel coffee mug, my dad kept using regular kitchen mugs and spilling coffee in his car. The Zippo lighter is still in its box (and this was a huge concession - we didn't want to encourage his smoking but since all of our other past gift ideas went unused we thought he would at least use a lighter when smoking).

Mr. CG can present a challenge too. It's not that he's difficult to shop for. I know what he likes, but after being together for so long I feel like whatever I give him isn't very original. It's not like I buy him the same books/movies/clothes each year, but I've given him these things so many times that it seems almost like the easy way out. Still, they are things that he wants and he likes them, so if he isn't complaining I suppose I shouldn't worry about it too much.

starbug, since your mom likes gardening, how about some nice stuff that she wouldn't buy for herself? If your mom is like my mom (who loves gardening too), she probably has just enough stuff to get by and would never buy herself the nice tools or really comfy gardening gloves. I recently saw a nice line of gardening gloves designed by women so they fit female hands better.

Don't feel too behind the times emmie - I meant to put Aliason my Netflix list LAST year so I could get totally caught up and start watching S4 when it began airing this January. I never got around to it though.

:oops:

I craved cashmere for a long time but never let myself buy it due to the expense. Last year, I managed to buy a beautiful cashmere sweater at an after Christmas sale for almost nothing and I looooove it! Of course, I managed to drop a chocolate morsel on it last week and didn't notice until it was completely melted from my body heat, so now I'm trying to figure out a way to get the chocolate out without ruining the cashmere. Being a cashmere novice, I'm not schooled in proper care.

Kristin, I love The Red Violin! I saw it on Netflix ages ago and have been meaning to buy it. The soundtrack is awesome.

I finished my Christmas cards this weekend too. I am beginning to feel old because it seems like there is a certain segment of the population (that would be the older people I know) who bother with holiday greetings anymore. Is this practice falling by the wayside along with birthday cards and thank you notes? I guess people think they can just send text messages or emails and they suffice.
Natasha aka candygirl :: MSCL.com

Look, if this is weird for you, being tutored? I don't mind helping you a little longer.
You could have sex with me if you really want to help...I guess that's a "no"?

User avatar
SanDeE*
So-Called Addict
Posts: 989
Joined: Sep 24th 2002, 4:40 am

Post by SanDeE* » Dec 5th 2005, 12:26 pm

Yeah candygirl on The Red Violin! I've seen it only once, and earlier this semester we had Josh Bell come in as a guest soloist with our orchestra. Josh Bell does all the solo violin work on The Red Violin and also Iris and Ladies in Lavender. So... curious about that too. He was really wonderful to play with in concert!
Um, in my room, one seam is a little off and I stare at it constantly. It's, like, destroying me.

~~Kristin~~

User avatar
starbug
Lifehead
Posts: 1082
Joined: Jun 25th 2002, 4:51 am
Location: UK

Post by starbug » Dec 6th 2005, 5:46 am

emmie wrote:
an actual vintage Beatles t-shirt-don't know why I'm so obsessed with vintage lately. I'm also rather behind in fashion. ha ha.
You actually reminded me of my longstanding desire for a Guns n Roses t-shirt, circa 1989. You pretty much can't get one now without parting with a gigantic pile of cash, and it's going to be in dire condition. So I'll settle for the reproduction ones you can buy.
candygirl wrote:starbug, since your mom likes gardening, how about some nice stuff that she wouldn't buy for herself? If your mom is like my mom (who loves gardening too), she probably has just enough stuff to get by and would never buy herself the nice tools or really comfy gardening gloves. I recently saw a nice line of gardening gloves designed by women so they fit female hands better.
Yes, that's a good idea; I don't think she's bought an actual practical tools for a while, and so her old ones must be fairly ropey. Maybe I can source some decent things like that :D
SanDeE* wrote:My boyfriend is going to be the tough one, because I want to get him so much stuff, and I don't want to just get him something like a dvd or cd, that's just boring. I want to get him something special. He needs to get better about dropping hints.
Yeah, boyfriends are the toughie. I was once chatting to a guy I know, and we were talking about how men are completely useless at knowing what they want as gifts, and then dropping the appropriate hints. His response was that if you get a man in their 20s something that is shiny and metal, and is alot heavier than it looks, that will pretty much keep them happy. I don't know how much this holds true, but it was an interesting theory, even if it does have the (dis)advantage of treating men slightly like neanderthals! oooooh shiny! ooooooh heavy but looks light! hours of fun!
candygirl wrote:My dad is the difficult one in the family to shop for. Even if we buy him practical things that he can use (clothes, a lighter, travel coffee mug) he never uses them.
My dad is exacty the same! what is it with Dads? The fish-smoker last year was a big hit but we usually struggle. Usually I resort to something food-based, so some really expensive food that he'd never buy himself, like pate, really expensive chocolate, maybe a bottle of vintage port; something consumable from a specialist shop somewhere. This works with my dad because he actively cultivates a belly and has been known to have gout.

---------------------------------------------
http://www.urban-hills.blogspot.com
---------------------------------------------

User avatar
Natasha (candygirl)
MSCL.com Team
MSCL.com Team
Posts: 5374
Joined: Dec 7th 2001, 3:05 am
Location: California

Post by Natasha (candygirl) » Dec 6th 2005, 6:06 am

My dad loooooves Almond Roca, but even when I gave him a big tin of it one year, he never bothered to open it and eat any.

:evil:

Sometimes I'm tempted to think he does these things just to vex me!
Natasha aka candygirl :: MSCL.com

Look, if this is weird for you, being tutored? I don't mind helping you a little longer.
You could have sex with me if you really want to help...I guess that's a "no"?

User avatar
SanDeE*
So-Called Addict
Posts: 989
Joined: Sep 24th 2002, 4:40 am

Post by SanDeE* » Dec 6th 2005, 7:46 pm

starbug wrote:
SanDeE* wrote:My boyfriend is going to be the tough one, because I want to get him so much stuff, and I don't want to just get him something like a dvd or cd, that's just boring. I want to get him something special. He needs to get better about dropping hints.
Yeah, boyfriends are the toughie. I was once chatting to a guy I know, and we were talking about how men are completely useless at knowing what they want as gifts, and then dropping the appropriate hints. His response was that if you get a man in their 20s something that is shiny and metal, and is alot heavier than it looks, that will pretty much keep them happy. I don't know how much this holds true, but it was an interesting theory, even if it does have the (dis)advantage of treating men slightly like neanderthals! oooooh shiny! ooooooh heavy but looks light! hours of fun!
Ha! That's hilarious!!! :lol: Seriously, I don't know what to get him. Probably something really small, but light, and probably not shiny, since I am so broke. Honestly, I'd like to just spend a nice romantic evening with him and a bottle of wine, some candles, a movie, I dunno. We haven't done something like that in a long while. Or is that more for me? Money is just so SO tight this year, for us both. I don't care about gifts much anyway, even with the family. I wish we could have two thanksgivings - all the great family time, food, and fun without the pressures of gift-giving (debt, what to get?, chaos, etc.). Who's with me?!
Um, in my room, one seam is a little off and I stare at it constantly. It's, like, destroying me.

~~Kristin~~

User avatar
lance
Ed Zwick Wannabe
Posts: 1983
Joined: Jul 6th 2002, 4:47 pm
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Contact:

Post by lance » Dec 25th 2005, 4:20 pm

Did decently,

Got Federation and Empire, and Arkham Horror both neat board games. Managed to find my old Avalon Hill Civilization game. Got the 1st 3 books of the Saga of Seven Suns series by Kevin J Anderson. Lastly got a nice screen capture card.

-LanceMan

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests