Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy Okay, support group/share-time. Some of us are bound to have gotten a gift or two that we wish would have stayed in the store. So what odd, awful, useless, or "huh??" gifts did you get this year? Mine was my "big present" from my sister and brother-in-law. Christmas Eve I got a cool Pac-Man belt and Jim Henson's "The Storyteller" DVD from 'em, and was told not to open their other one fer me, cause that's "your big one for tomorrow!" (Christmas Day we go to Mom's family's and due to the drawing this year, my brother-in-law had me) So I'm wondering what the heck did they get me in this big lopsided box (and gettin' more 'n more excited)...was it a rare book I asked for, with a DVD she'd seen from my online "wish list" packed in? Maybe "Fraggle Rock: Season 1" or "The Golden Girls: Season 3" or another "Friends" season I don't have? Maybe "ThunderCats"? Perhaps a Hitchcock movie? Nope. It's a "Nightmare Before Christmas" t-shirt and mug. But the t-shirt is very dark and kinda hard to make out what's on it (which is Jack from a distance on the spiral hill), and the mug is black on a weird dark mauve color background with Sally and Jack on opposite sides of a graveyard/spiral hill scene with Jack in the distance. So I have to do the unfortunate fake-out-love-it ("Ohhh, cool! Thanks!"), and in our family the women usually get the presents "for" the men whom their husbands draw for, so then I secretly feel like such a clod when my brother-in-law with humble pride says, "and I actually helped pick out the shirt". Do I love it that he thought about what to get me? Yes; he's a great guy, and he didn't grow up getting into the holidays at all, so it really means something to me that he's adjusting some and trying to put his heart into Christmas more. Do I love that my sister's heart was in the right place when she smiled and said, "You said recently you didn't realize how much you loved the movie"? Yes. Do I regret saying that now? Yes. LOL I LOVE them and I love that they thought they got me things I would enjoy. But when it comes to NBC, I really pretty much just like the movie for the *movie*---not for any merchandise from it except for a few true-to-film figures of my favorite minor characters that I've seen at Hot Topic (Wolfman, Vampires, Witches, Possessed Wreath are big faves). My sister may have sensed some disappointment in me (which I tried to hide) cause she told me later while we were playin' piano that I could exchange 'em if I wanted, lol. But, hey---it's part of the Circle of Gifts, right? I got my dad somethin' a few years ago I thought was fun but he's never used, and I know I've given a few "duds" that I thought would be great/cool/fun; I guess this year was just my turn, lol. I love the other things I got, this was just an odd "oh...o..kay..." thing. So, anyone else with a "eh, thanks, it's the *thought* I cherish but the gift?--not so much" present this year?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Funny, I thought that sounds like a cool gift. Hey, I got a shoe buffer this year? You know, one of the machines you get in a hotel? Talk about a wierd gift.
Originally Posted By jasmine7 I got a nativity scene with strange, childlike characters from my aunt and uncle (think along the lines of Precious Moments). I mean, I appreciate the thought, but it's a teeeny bit creepy, and I'm not a Christian, lol. Ah, well.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Maybe we should start a HUGE Laughing Place Christmas gift swap? So far so good. Can't say I got anything I didn't like. I did drive all the way from Atlanta, Georgia to Richmond, Virginia and back, and all I got was two boxes of chocolates. ( Its amazing what I will do for a box of chocolates <grin> ). But seriously I had a great time. Definatley had my share of ham for the next year. I took lots of pictures which I will try to post.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I got a book on the history of Christianity (from my mother's Jewish partner) that would make the Encycolpedia Britannica look like Cliff's Notes. I have to start reading it now if I'm going to finish it by the day I die.
Originally Posted By FaMulan I have plenty of cuddly blankets and throws including my favorite U of M which was my Daddy's. So what does my sil get me? A micro-fiber throw. It'll find a home in my husbands car for when we take trips and drive home late so I can snuggle up and nap on the way home.
Originally Posted By beamerdog >>I have to start reading it now if I'm going to finish it by the day I die.<< LOLOLOLOLOL!!!
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Hey stichcrazy, where did you have to drive to get the chapstick gift?
Originally Posted By FaMulan Oh, and the same sil, who is a machine-quilter, made for everyone a Channukkah potholder with a holder loop that is too small and a fabric origami kimono Christmas Tree ornament. From a niece we got Jack and Sally Wreath/Tree ornaments. Trouble with the ornaments, is we don't bring in a tree because we don't have room for one.
Originally Posted By stitchcrazy Luckily - not far, only like 15 minutes. Although I felt like a total chump for worrying so much about if she was going to like her gifts we got her or not!
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 A car battery charger from Sharper Image from DH. Granted he got me some great gifts, like the onyx and silver Mickey head bracelet and the new lit candyshop and cokecorner Disneyland piece (he shops on Main Street) BUT the funny thing about the battery charger is that I drive a fairly new car. Have never needed to charge my car battery or called AAA. He on the other hand drives 2 clunkers and has a habit of leaving the car lights on..............hmmmmmm I wonder who the gift is really for? LOL..oh and one of those big tins of popcorn because he said he noticed that I didn't buy one this year and he really likes the cheese popcorn What a guy!
Originally Posted By DlandDug JBStew and I had a "moment" on Christmas morning. We both got a DVD of Sound of Music 40th Anniversary. (I bought her one, she bought me one!) Luckily, I kept the receipt!
Originally Posted By RangerPooh I received a sweater from my mother inlaw that was more for her age than mine. And it was a few sizes too big. Hubby said how insuling it was before I could. Of course I just told her that it looked too big instead of saying I'll look like a 70 year old lady in this. Then there was hubby who felt jipped because all we got from his parents were the two sweaters neither of us are to keen on. Apparentl;y his step mom did all the shopping and his father appologized by saying that he had no say. Which explains why the older grandkids all got expensive jackets (over $100) and the baby got an inepensive stuffed animal. Oh well.
Originally Posted By wendebird <<I have plenty of cuddly blankets and throws including my favorite U of M which was my Daddy's. So what does my sil get me? A micro-fiber throw. It'll find a home in my husbands car for when we take trips and drive home late so I can snuggle up and nap on the way home.<< I had the same thing happen. I have a ton of blankets because I make those no sew fleece blankets. Plus I have a Tinkerbell blanket from the best secret pal ever from 2 years ago. What did I get for Christmas? Not 1 but 2 throw blankets. Ah well. It's the thought that counts, right?
Originally Posted By pennyring I don't want to sound ungrateful but... Erik's step-mom gets me a Disney cookie jar every year. EVERY year. I now own Minnie Mouse, Reindeer Eeyore, Eeyore laying in the flowers, Eeyore with Pooh and Piglet, and uhhh I think one other Eeyore one. That's five cookie jars from one person. Where am I supposed to put 5 cookie jars? 5!! It's one thing if several people give you a cookie jar not realizing that you already have a cookie jar, but five cookie jars from one person!?!?! It would ok if I collected cookie jars. (And I mean, I think vintage cookie jars are cool and maybe I would consider collecting them... but what's with other people deciding FOR YOU that you're now collecting something huge and breakable?!) Oh and did I mention that I already have an Alice in Wonderland canister set (including cookie jar) *and* a Halloween black cat cookie jar that I purchased for myself? So that brings the total to 7 cookie jars!!! 7, people!!! I know step-mom collects cookie jars and that's great. My house is about 1/3 the size of hers though. My kitchen/dining area is tiny in comparison. Just where do I put these cookie jars?? Aaaauuuughhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe Erik can build me a shelf or something. Speaking of shelves, he's gonna have to build one for the bathroom because his mom got us this heavy bath salt rack. It's really pretty, but not really my style and I'm afraid it's too heavy to attach to the wall without pulling out plaster. Yet I feel obligated to display these things. Sigh. I think we need two houses. One we can decorate how we want and live in. The other one, we can decorate with random presents and let people visit us in.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut thats like Jaynas mom, every year she gets a quilt from Jaynas sister. They are hand made and all, but EVERY YEAR.....she has no place to store them anymore. As for me, I guess I have been lucky. I havent gotten anything that I can remember that I didnt like. Alot of times people get me things I didnt even think I wanted or needed. Which is odd because I usually just buy whatever I want for myself and dont leave much room for people to get me things.
Originally Posted By MissCandice Boy, I am glad I didnt get Pennyring a Disney Cookie Jar! This year was okay for me in that department, and hopefully what I gave others was satisfactory to them. When I do get a clunker I just think like Wendebird, that it is the thought that counts even if you wonder what the heck were they thinking when they thought you would want that!
Originally Posted By pennyring Hehe, you were an AWESOME pal, Candice!! Thank you so much for *everything*. I'm happy because I get take all your scrapbooking presents to my sister's tonight. (We get together to SB about once a month.) My puppies are still excitedly playing with all their presents too. You were the BEST pal! I so appreciate everything from the e-cards and links right up to reveal day. Thanks for everything that you did.
