Christmas 2009 Loot Haul

[Sanya Tagge]

Does anyone else feel like 25th has crept up on them incredibly suddenly? :o

[Carré Inirial]

A bit...I mean, we haven't even bought a tree for the house yet. Last few years (and this year is no exception) the flower shop has been so busy that we don't decorate our house anymore.

Has anyone other than me not even started their Christmas shopping yet?

[Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs]

I totally haven't started shopping yet, but I have my tree up.

[Emelie Shadowstar]

The wonders of the internet have made it so I get my shopping done super early. lol

We got our tree yesterday and later today I'll be making it all pretty. :D

[Dasquian Belargic]

I spent half an hour in my mothers attic, climbing around and trying to find all the scattered decorations. The tree is now unpacked but not dressed, because our cat is in a fragile state at the moment and it would probably stress him the hell out to deal with the tree going up!

Shopping wise, I am just about done. I don't have a whole lot of time off over Christmas so I don't suppose I will get to feeling festive until Christmas Eve itself.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

No tree. No shopping.

Christmas cards are ALMOST ready to go in the mail though. So that's something.

Secret Santa gift isn't bought yet, I'm having trouble figuring out what to get my person!!! :eek Hopefully I get my act together soon. :uhoh

[Dasquian Belargic]

I know at least one Secret Santa gift has already gone out...

:mischief

[Darth Turbogeek]

No decorations, no tree, presents done. Gone to Christmas church. Fine, I'm getting back on with life and forgetting the utter stupidity this what should be important observance of the birth of the Saviour has become for another year. When everyone is meeting up with relatives they barely tolerate and pretending the socks were awesome, I'll be on the road actually doing something I *like* doing.

Bah fucking humbug

[Nya Halcyon]

No shopping done since no money in bank (yet). No time for making presents. Probably all going to happen on the 22nd-24th, if my ebay sales come through since then and people from school leave me alone for a bit.

Did some baking at school with the kids, but none at home. I think my dad's got that covered. Tree is out in the yard all wrapped up, and traditionally won't be put up or decorated before the 23rd (not by me, thankfully). Know most Christmas songs by heart now, since I'm organising Carol singing event at school next Monday....

[Callista]

All my decor is in storage back in WY....I do have an Apple Cinnamon candle going? xD I have my shopping done! Had it done Black Friday. I suppose I did help my mother decorate her place before leaving...so that's something.

Oh and I'll do mass baking and goodie basket making with my Mom when I get back there next week :D

[Droo]

Had most of my presents bought and wrapped by mid-November. Been getting some food and drink in over the last few weeks. Got all the decorations up on Friday, no-one else but me is allowed to do that in our house, and I have a tradition: Christmas songs on while I dress the tree, particularly from my A Very Ally Christmas featuring Vonda Shepard and the Ally McBeal cast while enjoying my favourite port. That is when Christmas truly begins for me, I love the Christmas tree, I find something very therapeutic about it.

Anyway, yes, this year my Christmas is a polar opposite to what it was last year in terms of budget and preparation. Last year I left everything until the last minute and hardly had a penny to my name, this year I've been saving up for months and did all the shopping in advance so I can just sit back and enjoy while everyone else goes mad. :D

[Rutabaga]

I do very little nowadays...I used to laboriously put up a tree with all the Hallmark Star Wars and Star Trek ornaments, hang lights in my windows, etc. Over the last few years, though, I've given up on that and just have up a fiberoptic tree and a nativity scene with cats as all the characters. I don't care if some people might find it to be sacreligious, I think it's cute :).

Gift-wise, it's just me, my parents, and my sister back east. My parents just downsized into a lovely cottage at a local retirement community, so they don't need any more trinkets or junk taking up space. Plus we all basically don't need anything, and when there IS something we want to get, we just go get it. So this year we elected to only do gift cards. And boy, did that ever save a lot of time and effort.

I still enjoy Christmas, but it just isn't the big shindig it used to be when I was a child, and I'm perfectly okay with that.

[Sanis Prent]

Our tree is up, most of the presents bought, though I need to wrap all of them. Holiday food is next on the agenda. Our family recipe wassail has to be mad scienced together, and batches of it are being mailed to Denmark this year. On top of that, may either make cajun smoky pecans or pralines, probably the former since I can't be bothered to fuss with a candy thermometer.

Breads will be given again this year. I haven't decided if I want to fuss with challah or if I maybe want to make some other things. We will see depending on what people like. Not going to fuss with flavored oils this year but I may try to do something else fun. I know I have to make tapas for at least one Christmas dinner, if not two. Mom wants a whole case of Jumilla wine which I'm only too happy to buy.

Will be visiting my grandpa and relatives next weekend, and before that is hereafter to be known as Lobster Day, or the day where I get disgusted and leave the kitchen.

I work until Christmas Eve :( but I get off mid-day and may have enough time for carolling I hope.

I love Christmas so much, and my only regret is not having the time to really devote to enjoying the build-up like I usually do. Mark's right, it matters to realize why Christmas is important, and I find so much peace in carolling the old religious songs of all things. I've always got a spot in my heart for O Holy Night, I'm such a sap.

[Droo]

I've always got a spot in my heart for O Holy Night, I'm such a sap.

Hahaha! I got laughed at the last time I admitted to that and here you are - let us stand together in solidarity and sing O Holy Night shamelessly before the scowling cynics!

[Crusader]

50% of the Holiday shopping is done but I still need a good gift for my mother.
I am not in a Xmas mood yet but I guess this will change at the end of the week.

[Rutabaga]

I've always got a spot in my heart for O Holy Night, I'm such a sap.

Hahaha! I got laughed at the last time I admitted to that and here you are - let us stand together in solidarity and sing O Holy Night shamelessly before the scowling cynics!

O Holy Night is my favorite Christmas song...if sung by the right person, it can bring shivers and tears.

[Kassandra Distorith]

Yay! :D I'm not the only one!

O Holy Night is my absolute favorite as well...*sighs happily & fetches her iPod*

And I agree - with the right voice, its absolute magic.





I've always got a spot in my heart for O Holy Night, I'm such a sap.

Hahaha! I got laughed at the last time I admitted to that and here you are - let us stand together in solidarity and sing O Holy Night shamelessly before the scowling cynics!

O Holy Night is my favorite Christmas song...if sung by the right person, it can bring shivers and tears.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Josh Groban's O Holy Night is magical. :D

I love Christmas music - not the secular Santa Babys of Christmas music though. I hate that working in retail has ruined a lot of Christmas music for me.

[Xavier Synik]

I have 25% of my shopping done. But since I only have to buy for like 4 or 5 people I don't have to really worry about much. Know what I'm getting for everyone that I have left with the exception of one person. just have to find the time to actually go out and brave the shopping malls.

[Wyl Staedtler]

We never really made a big deal of holidays when I was growing up, although now we try to put a little more effort into it for the kids. Usually we take a family trip, but this year we thought it best to stay close to home. My father is here, as is my brother and his wife and kids will be flying out tomorrow, which is excellent.

The kids each have their big gift and little gift, and we'll do the traditional stuffing of the boots on Christmas Eve. Then we'll have brioche and tea the morning of, and go out to see a matinee before coming home for dinner. A bunch of surfers and farming friends are coming over; Dad's making boerwors for the carnivores and the rest of us will have smoked kale and grilled portabellos.

Then after everyone leaves, we'll hopefully be awake enough to do a sappy family sing-song. :love

[Shadow Storm]

If there was anything to put a damper on the Christmas spirit, it's news that two of the three major bookstores in town will be closing down. I live on the northside of town, and both Barnes and Nobles and Waldenbooks, both located on the northside, will be shuttering their doors, leaving only a Books-A-Million on the southside of town open. :(

[Droo]

Now I don't mind the secular Christmas songs, some of them are quite beautiful to be honest, and I don't mind that people don't go to Church or pray on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, as long as they commit themselves to spreading a little extra warmth and happiness. I cannot fathom any objection to it for two reasons really: first of all, the date on which Jesus Christ was born, as far as I'm aware, has never been set in stone and the date celebrated may have just been chosen to fit in nicely with either winter solstice or a Roman holiday so if we're being literal here then for all we know December 25th could be anything but the anniversary of Christ's birth. Secondly, what's wrong in people, Christian or not, using the holiday to spend time with their family and celebrate, exchanging gifts and being generally quite festive and happy? If I were the Catholic I used to be, I know I wouldn't have resented it but would actually take a little pride in the fact that non-Christians are also spreading a little love and happiness during the season.

Just a little thought I wanted to throw out there since every year I always hear someone complaining that "Christmas has lost its meaning" and so on when I find myself wondering if the issue is that big a deal. Let's face it, we're not going to run out of Christians to properly celebrate the birth of Christ so let's all get in on the fun, after all, I bet there's at least a few Christians here who've had a bit of Halloween fun over the years and that's a pagan holiday!

[Sanis Prent]

Yeah, the whole date of the 25th is definitely a Christian white-washing of pagan holidays. I don't really think that's a big deal at all, especially if you know how cobbled together Cultus Deorum was anyway. People who get hung up on it are pedants, and miss the point I think. I feel largely the same way you do Droo, and although I do keep to the Christian underpinnings of the holiday, I think that there's good and worth to be found in pleasant times with friends and good deeds in the season. It's all a good thing as long as it's heartfelt.


brioche and tea

I may steal this idea. Brioche would be a wonderful kick-off to the day.

[Crusader]

Just a little thought I wanted to throw out there since every year I always hear someone complaining that "Christmas has lost its meaning" and so on when I find myself wondering if the issue is that big a deal. Let's face it, we're not going to run out of Christians to properly celebrate the birth of Christ so let's all get in on the fun, after all, I bet there's at least a few Christians here who've had a bit of Halloween fun over the years and that's a pagan holiday!

Amen! Great speech!

[Darth Turbogeek]

Now I don't mind the secular Christmas songs, some of them are quite beautiful to be honest, and I don't mind that people don't go to Church or pray on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, as long as they commit themselves to spreading a little extra warmth and happiness. I cannot fathom any objection to it for two reasons really: first of all, the date on which Jesus Christ was born, as far as I'm aware, has never been set in stone and the date celebrated may have just been chosen to fit in nicely with either winter solstice or a Roman holiday so if we're being literal here then for all we know December 25th could be anything but the anniversary of Christ's birth. Secondly, what's wrong in people, Christian or not, using the holiday to spend time with their family and celebrate, exchanging gifts and being generally quite festive and happy? If I were the Catholic I used to be, I know I wouldn't have resented it but would actually take a little pride in the fact that non-Christians are also spreading a little love and happiness during the season.

Just a little thought I wanted to throw out there since every year I always hear someone complaining that "Christmas has lost its meaning" and so on when I find myself wondering if the issue is that big a deal. Let's face it, we're not going to run out of Christians to properly celebrate the birth of Christ so let's all get in on the fun, after all, I bet there's at least a few Christians here who've had a bit of Halloween fun over the years and that's a pagan holiday!


QFT

However if I get through this fucking time of year with the now hard deadlines for 5 jobs and people screaming for shit to be completed without running onto the road out for blood with an axe, I will be shocked.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Everyone else has gone from my house! Now just a couple of hours of tidying the place up, doing some chores, then I am off to my parents to stuff myself with food food food :3

[Mandy with an I]

^ same here. Today we head out to my mums house for food and fun :) Last night we picked up my brother and drove home singing along to Dirty South rap songs, lol.

Since this is now the loot thread, I will post what loot I have gotten :3

- fancy watch from my "adopted" Grandma and some of the worlds strongest rum balls
- Zombie doll from Holly
- book store gift certificate, which I used to buy "Generation Kill"
- Money/gift cards from my dad and step-mum, money from my little brother in a Spider-man card :D
- Bath stuff
- Marvel pyjama pants, vanilla tootsie rolls, Hulk Vs. dvd

[Droo]

That's it! Work finished! Everything done! All that's left now is a nice night in the pub with my mates, chill out at home with a bit of mulled wine before bedtime and then, in the words of Noddy Holder, it's Chrrriiiiisssstmaaaasssss!!! :dance

[Serrena Alcine]

Even though I'm at work, its been an actual good day (minus trekking up 8 floors worth of stairs). Very few calls, nothing to get out on a deadline, and a boss who say we could leave an hour earlier than the company said we could.

I've begun my Christmas Eve celebration with fresh chicken ramen and chicken dumplings from a restaurant here in Boston (called Wagamama), I have several bottles of wine and fresh pastries for dinner/dessert/midnight celebration.

So far, the only gift I've received and opened is the FANTASTIC Darth Vader Alarm Clock from Mu, as my Secret Santa :D *hugs again*

[Nya Halcyon]

Ya know, calling it a "loot haul" cheapens it somewhat... :p

Anyway, since we get to unpack our presents a day earlier (Only German tradition I like, this whole celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve thing :D) here's what I got (so far - there's one or two things left to come):

- 6 glass tea cups and a porcelain Christmas mug, from my grandparents
- a giant, framed picture of my daughter from my parents
- a snuggle blanket with sleeves (so I don't freeze at night when I'm up late at the PC), also from my parents
- 200 € from my grandparents and my great-aunt
- a set with shower gel and body lotion from my sister (at least it's better than nothing, which is what I got from her last year)
- a box of chocolates from friends
- a gift card for the tea shop from the couple living downstairs
- a necklace with an Italian glass amulet, from a great-great aunt
- a set of special cooking oils (chili and garlic) from my colleagues at the afternoon school
- lots of home-made cookies, cards and little lanterns from the kids at school

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Money and a $50 Dick's Sporting Good's gift card from the brother.
A Stormtrooper mug from a buddy of mine
$30 gift card to B&N
$100 gift card to the mall (meaning, walden books gamestop and fye)
slippers
2 IZOD zip-up heavy fleeces
2 zip up sweater things for work
1 pair of khakis
1 package o socks
1 package o under t-shirts
1 pair of american eagle boxers <3
a windshield cleaner thingy for the inside of the car (mine really really needs a good scrubbin)
3 long sleeved polo's
A norelco (sp?) personal groomer kit (beard/mustache, etc)
a Braun self cleaning electric razor (I think the parents are trying to tell me something...)

Hmm... I think that's it. Tomorrow, though, I am probably going to buy the big "family" (ie: me) gift. Hello Wii!

Also, Merry Christmas to all!

[Jamo Jakatta]

Battlestar Galactica complete series boxset
Dynamo torch (shaped like a penguin!)
Spider-Man head mug
£90 to go towards a new graphics card
$80 to go towards Burning Nerd :eee
Beautiful big wooden book that is actually not a book but a box to hidden secret things in
Fancy pants ;) (aka lots of slinky, silky underwear)
Thermals, to help me survive the winter
Tickets to the Chinese State Circus (I got this as a joint gift for myself and the parentals)
Hand-painted glass tankard, which is covered in pictures and writing to do with my interests... very sweet gift :)

[Carré Inirial]

Assassin's Creed II
Prince of Persia & its Prima Game Guide
Dragon Age: Origins Collector's Edition
Rise of the Argonauts Prima Game Guide
$25 Target gift card
$25 Best Buy gift card
$100 cash
Two very pretty tops (one screen printed top, and a nice red one for work)
Three Dunkin' Donuts gift cards (my family knows my addiction all too well)

~~~

Only problem is, I don't have an XBOX 360 yet, so I can't play any of the games, and I won't have one until the 30th (I had anticipated having had one by now, so I put games on my Christmas wish list). Right now, the games are staring at me. Dragon Age in particular in its pretty metal tin...

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I got new pillows, a fuzzy blanket, new sheets and a laundry sorter for the garage. Practical. :) I also got the two latest Dean Koontz books and an HD camcorder (technically this was bought with my birthday money so..). :D

[Peter McCoy]

Droo got me Modern Warfare 2 (PC) as well as Firefly on Blu-Ray - cheers again mate, you're a star.

My mum and dad got me a gorgeous 23" higher than Full HD 2048 x 1152 resolution Dell widescreen monitor, as well as some nice christmas socks and a box of Pirate Lego. My little sister got me a voucher for HMV (a Wii game will be acquired with it ASAP)

My nan and dads friend both gave me some cash (again, some game-age will be getting down with its bad self)

My girlfriend bought me a box of Bob Ross goodies (some paints, liquid white, a 1" brush, a fan brush and a palette knife. I'm just waiting on my dad to make my easel now and I can get cracking.

She also got me some more Lego, a dragon for my desk, and a pullover. Her family also got me an assortment of clothes, socks etc.

It's been another good Christmas and as we speak, MW2 is installing and I can't wait to play it on my new widescreen monitor. I've had a lousy 15" monitor for soooo long - I can't wait to re-play Bioshock and Fallout 3 on it :)

Merry Christmas guys!

[Rutabaga]

It's just me and my parents here in town, and my sister back in Virginia. After many many years of overdoing it on Christmas, my elderly mother just didn't have the stamina for it anymore, plus we all have more than enough stuff anyways. So we radically downsized and made a decision to make things very, very simple from now on. It was great, and a big relief too.

So overall I got (from parents, sister, and co-workers):

- a very generous check from my parents which right now is planned to go toward finally upgrading to an HD TV sometime in the spring
- the Lost season 5 box set
- gift cards for iTunes and Yankee Candles
- a chocolate football from my sister (which was like the funniest gift ever, it made me and my parents laugh like hell)
- a little flipbook photo album to put pictures of my kitties in
- a soft fuzzy scarf
- a couple of candles
- a set of kitty dish towels
- a little kitty book
- a kitty notepad
- a little Christmas ornament
- a reed diffuser

So not nearly as big a haul as in previous years, and that's perfectly okay by me. I'm one of those people who feels that Christmas is way overcommercialized, so this was a much welcome change for our family. :)

[Blade Bacquin]

This going to sound really bad but I actually didn't get anything for Christmas. Honest truth absolutely nothing in fact other then giving a few gifts I did not celebrate Christmas.

Why you ask because I snowed in and unable to go home for the holidays so as of yet I have not got my loot nor given the rest I have bought. lol

[Callista]

I asked for money this year, however I did make an Amazon wish list 'cause mom told me to give her some "small" gift ideas...she bought everything on the wish list -- haha...

- power drill & drill bits
- various other home improvement pieces
- food chopper
- various other kitchen gadgets, dishes, etc
- $300
- $50 gift card
- fuzzy robe!
- Wii accessories (the "saber" ones and then the pack of ones with the gun, tennis, golf, etc)
- Jillian whatever workout Wii game
- electric blanket
- this gorgeous silver necklace that's a circle and around it it says "Mother, Daughter, Friend" :) My mom is like my best friend so it's perfect
- couple "J" ornaments
- cute little snow man globe that lights up and changes colors and says my name
- alien laptop bento box (http://www.amazon.com/Laptop-B630-Alien-Insulated-Carrier-Utensils/dp/B002IAJFSS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1261845873&sr=8-1) (so cute! xD)
- drawing pens
- other little various organizational thingies for school and travel
- Stealth Flyer II!! So fun! it's an indoor helicopter...It's either going to terrorize my cats or they're going to try to take it down xD
- cat calendar
- some lip gloss
- lots of candy to which I pawned off on my brother and his sibling-in-laws
- electric throw blanket
- 180 day WoW subscription

my problem is getting stuff back home...I did bring an extra suitcase...and we'll ship some of it Monday...but still xD

[Mitch]

Didn't have a family Christmas this year, instead spent it at home, since I'm in Texas, now.

Did get:
- Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires (360)
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (360)
- New! Super Mario Brothers (Wii)
- Some Army stuff from my brother
- A new jacket from my mom, which I sadly have to take back and exchange
- A bunch of candy

[Charlotte Tur'enne]

I got awesomely amazing things...

- A blender that has a food processor attachment (margaritas, here I come!)
- A really nice mixing bowl (must...make...cookies!)
- Some gift certificates to Best Buy, iTunes... one of those fancy visa ones I can use anywhere.
- Cute little Nightmare Before Christmas shot glasses (from my mother of all people)
- Sgt. Pepper DLC for Beatles Rock Band :3
- And to go with my insane RB addiction, the boyfriend got me a wireless bass controller that is in this godawful shade of sea-foam green/teal that I absolutely love. :lol