So, what did YOU get for Christmas?

[Azure Trance]

My family and I have this odd feeling during Christmas; the presents started to become a chore. So we didn't get each other presents, though still for our other family members (extended).

Still, today I got Traveler D20, Guardians of Order, Mutants & Masterminds, etc ...

 

[PA]

PA: I'm glad you started this by saying you didn't get anything... Otherwise I'd feel too bad to post in the thread, because it would seem inconsiderate to the people who don't have the privilege.

I got some nice stuff this year... Can't afford to buy things for other people, which I'm not going to let myself feel too bad about.

You really ARE a Guilt Puppy, aren't you?

Anyway: Some music (Joy Division's Closer, and David Bowie's Earthling), the finally-released DVD of UHF, a book of Egon Schiele drawings (which are absolutely delicious), and The Philosophy of Andy Warhol: From A to B and Back Again (or is it the other way around?)

All of which I really like (especially Closer and the books... My sister got these for me, and while they were probably random Amazon.com selections, they're still a really dead-on package of goodness.)

Unfortunately, no one bought me alcohol. I was hoping to get rip-roaring drunk for Christmas -- all my roommates are gone, and it would be a shame to have the apartment to myself and just sit around feeling sorry for myself all day.

There is an alternative: sit around feeling sorry for ME. I mean, not only am I alone, but I actually had to refuse invitations to be able to work on articles and stuff. Because I have to. Because I live on a fellowship. Because I have... wow... That's more info on my life than even I care to read about.

There is a lot to do, even on your own. Even just enjoying a good book, I'd love that! YOU can do it. So treat yourself, hot chocolate rather than alcohol, and enjoy some hours of peace if nothing else. My best wishes for a merry Christmas.

 

[jdavis]

Man I feel like the king of the world, I got clothes and extensive credit card bills (for some reason children just don't understand Daddy being broke at Christmas, and I'm a sucker). I was sort of let down by the all clothes Christmas until I read this. My real present is the one I'll get myself after Christmas, I got my eyes on a Sony DVD/VCR combo. Next year I'll try to get a new stereo with surround sound and TV input for home theater, course the TV will probably give up the ghost before then but it's good to dream, home theater by 2004.

 

[orbitalfreak]

So far I've received two Hallmark Ornaments (Mischievous Kittens 4 and the Star Trek:Enterprise NX-01 ornament), $20 cash, and a cool dragon t-shirt, all from a big family gathering at my grandparents on my step-dad's side.

Tomorrow (err... make that today in about 9hrs) I'll be going to my grandparents on my mom's side, dunno what I'm getting them.

For my family, I gave them 256MB of RAM, and last week I gave them an early present of dinner and a movie, LOTR:TTT.

For those who are alone this season, and those suffering through hard times, remember this: As long as you have hope and faith (in whatever), there is a Light to brighten your Life. So, chin up, big smile, good luck, and peace.

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!

 

[PA]

For those who are alone this season, and those suffering through hard times, remember this: As long as you have hope and faith (in whatever), there is a Light to brighten your Life.

I have complete faith in Murphy's Law.

 

[Sixchan]

I didn't think I was getting anything much this year. I've had a really bad one, my girlfriend left me, I slipped into depression, I was unemployed, conned out of over £2000 by a relative who used it to buy drugs.

But everyone puled together for me. I got a DVD player, Evangelion: Death and Rebirth on DVD, the Civilization 3 expansion pack, a boxed set of LotR and The Hobbit, and an absurdly expensive book on Animals that will be a handy Monster Manual 3.

I feel all teary eyed, too. Family and Friends are a wonderful thing. Never neglect them, you might end up without either.

 

[Zappo]

I got an old Dragonlance book, a new CD burner, a... uhm... I can't ever remember the names of cloths in English... oh well, I think it's called a sweater. A heavy cloth, anyway. And a bunch of scratch-and-win lottery tickets (won nothing. Damn).

And a great party with my friends and family. Really, that's the best one!

 

[drakhe]

Over the years I've been noticing something I find rather disturbing. Xmas is no longer a peoples feast. Its commerce. Shops and TV-stations and radio and ... go to a lot of trouble to decorate and promote and stuff. So we should feel all xmas'y I guess.

But when I send out my xmas cards (this year down to lowly 9, past years I sent more) I get only 2 or 3 in return. One year I was late (didn't send out any cards until after new year's day. I got only 1 card (from my parrents) and none from my so called friends .... It must realy be a chore (and a deep feeling of friendship < heavy dose of sarcasm >) that cards are only sent IN RETURN.

The reason I post this is because of this: I get more friendship from my roleplaying buddies (whom I don't send cards because from most I don't have an adress, we don't fuss about that stuff, we just come together and play!) then I get from my so called real friends and family (parrents definetly excludedd, they're about the only folks who DO care!)

Actualy, reading back what I just wrote, I think I'll never ask my RPG buddies their adress. I'm affraid I'll jinx the good relationships there. Sometimes this world s*cks. No, actualy, the world is great, it's people that ....

Anyways: MERRY XMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR !

[edit added some sarcasm]

 

[Henry]

1) 40x12x48 CD-RW Drive
2) Jensen CD/MP3 Car Stereo
3) Too many other really cool things to mention

I hope everyone here got the christmas they really wanted!

Good tidings to all,

Henry

 

[Henry]

Over the years I've been noticing something I find rather disturbing. Xmas is no longer a peoples feast. Its commerce.

This is true, and has been noticed for many years (anyone remember the theme of the Charlie Brown Christmas Special?) But what I have noticed among my own family has been a swing AWAY from gift-giving and getting, and back TOWARD the true gifts of Christmas: getting extra time to spend with friends and family, that we have less and less of these days.

The reason I post this is because of this: I get more friendship from my roleplaying buddies (whom I don't send cards because from most I don't have an adress, we don't fuss about that stuff, we just come together and play!) then I get from my so called real friends and family (parrents definetly excludedd, they're about the only folks who DO care!)

You know what they say: You can CHOOSE your friends...

The second greatest truth I have ever learned out of life is that all humanity is a social being - to stand alone is to live alone and to die alone, and this affects our psyches more than anyone will ever admit, to be truly alone. Everyone needs a family, regardless of its form, and families can take every possible shape and size. (It's the whole "urban tribes" thing, but writ much larger than that.) If it happens to be in the form of your actual family, great! If it's the three or four people that you game with every week, and who shares your sorrows, joys, announcements, and hesitations, then that works equally as well. If you have a family, no matter the form, you are truly blessed. The form does not matter; its STRENGTH does.

Merry Christmas to all, and I hope 2003 brings happiness to you - without a trace of sarcasm whatsoever.

Henry