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scott_p_1 · 12-20-2004, 08:05 AM

With the big day approaching, and me spending a few days at my parents house, I'm reminded of what Christmas really means to me: Snooping for Christmas Presents.

We've all done it when we were younger (well, maybe not all, but most). Anyway, my question for you is, How much did you snoop and how did you snoop?

For myself, I was horrible. When I was young, I'd start snooping casually once December hit. Once school got out for Christmas Holidays, the race to ruin my Christmas was on. Both of my parents worked during the day, so I'd be home alone with a house full of presents.

Back in the day, my parents relied solely on the "hidden present" method, completely unwrapped. I'd turn the house upside-down looking for presents. They were good at hiding, but I was better at finding! That lasted for a few years, but they began to catch on.

Then began the big war. The semi-hidden wrapped present. As soon as the present came in the door, it was wrapped, and shoved into their closet under a few sweaters, or underneath their bed. The hiding was little more than to taunt me I think! Then came the present unwrapping skills. Carefully peeling back the tape from the wrapping paper to open the present just enough to get my peak. This was difficult, as it was very easy to ruin the paper around the tape, taking the design of the paper off with the tape, and completely ruining the wrapping job. I fell prey to this a few times.

Anyway, this morning, I managed to catch a glimpse of a rather large and (upon further inspection) heavy gift. Since both their kids have moved out now, I guess my parents have even done away with the semi hiding. Well, curiosity got the better of me and I just had to know what is was. Quick inspection of the gift proved the normal 2 layer, heavy on the tape style wrapping. I guess some old habits die hard for my parents. A quick attempt to peel back the tape showed that it was a horrible combination of wrapping paper and scotch tape. It would tear at the slightest amount of peel back.

Ah, but having nearly completed my degree in Computer Science, this wouldn't stop me! I'm smarter than they are now (book smarts, at least) and I wouldn't let them defeat me. Then it dawned on me. The hair dryer! Direct the hair dryer at the tape for 2 seconds, and it was like the tape wasn't there at all, and it reapplied perfectly afterwards! If only I had known that as a child, I would have had so many more Christmas mornings faking surprise.

In closing, yes, I am 22 and realize what I'm doing is rather childish. And to those, whose first thought wasn't that snooping was very childish, I'm getting a set of Altec speakers. Hey, it's not completely ruined; I don't know what model of Altec speakers they are.

12-20-2004, 08:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
scott_p_1 Crazy	Christmas Present Snooping With the big day approaching, and me spending a few days at my parents house, I'm reminded of what Christmas really means to me: Snooping for Christmas Presents. We've all done it when we were younger (well, maybe not all, but most). Anyway, my question for you is, How much did you snoop and how did you snoop? For myself, I was horrible. When I was young, I'd start snooping casually once December hit. Once school got out for Christmas Holidays, the race to ruin my Christmas was on. Both of my parents worked during the day, so I'd be home alone with a house full of presents. Back in the day, my parents relied solely on the "hidden present" method, completely unwrapped. I'd turn the house upside-down looking for presents. They were good at hiding, but I was better at finding! That lasted for a few years, but they began to catch on. Then began the big war. The semi-hidden wrapped present. As soon as the present came in the door, it was wrapped, and shoved into their closet under a few sweaters, or underneath their bed. The hiding was little more than to taunt me I think! Then came the present unwrapping skills. Carefully peeling back the tape from the wrapping paper to open the present just enough to get my peak. This was difficult, as it was very easy to ruin the paper around the tape, taking the design of the paper off with the tape, and completely ruining the wrapping job. I fell prey to this a few times. Anyway, this morning, I managed to catch a glimpse of a rather large and (upon further inspection) heavy gift. Since both their kids have moved out now, I guess my parents have even done away with the semi hiding. Well, curiosity got the better of me and I just had to know what is was. Quick inspection of the gift proved the normal 2 layer, heavy on the tape style wrapping. I guess some old habits die hard for my parents. A quick attempt to peel back the tape showed that it was a horrible combination of wrapping paper and scotch tape. It would tear at the slightest amount of peel back. Ah, but having nearly completed my degree in Computer Science, this wouldn't stop me! I'm smarter than they are now (book smarts, at least) and I wouldn't let them defeat me. Then it dawned on me. The hair dryer! Direct the hair dryer at the tape for 2 seconds, and it was like the tape wasn't there at all, and it reapplied perfectly afterwards! If only I had known that as a child, I would have had so many more Christmas mornings faking surprise. In closing, yes, I am 22 and realize what I'm doing is rather childish. And to those, whose first thought wasn't that snooping was very childish, I'm getting a set of Altec speakers. Hey, it's not completely ruined; I don't know what model of Altec speakers they are.