Bill O'Rights

Awww, next year, guys, just remember...nothing says Merry Christmas like a box full of frozen raw meat.

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"Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus

It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

K-Wise

Haha okay that one discombobulated me for a sec there

Asta!!

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El Kaz

Aaah the curse of moving into a new house/apartment. It seems if you do that remotely close to your birthday or christmas, you lose all rights to expect anything but "stuff for your place" as gifts.

I agree with Halx... sure, if you get stuff you need, it saves you cash and you can therefor buy stuff you want with saved cash, but what's the fun? With that mindset you could as well determine the budget you have for everyone you want to give a gift to, and give them the money instead *shrugs*.
Point is, Christmas gifts, in my opinion, should be stuff that, as Halx put it, brings a smile to your face. Sure, a microwave is handy but darn, it kinda says "I had no idea whatsoever what to gove you, so I took the easy way out and got stuff for your apartment".

keyshawn

well, i just opened the rest of my gifts from my mom's side,


plastic shotglass that lights up when you slam it down [btw, im 18]; scooby-doo basketball wastebasket top [not the trashcan, just the hoop that goes on top of a trash can]; a scooby-doo jack_in_the_box, but it doesnt wind up, just you press a button and says various stuff; a paper shredder [somewhat cheap one] and Katamari Damacy for ps2 [game].

What is bothering me is:
- What should I do with the crap that I don't want at all ? [both of the scooby-doo things][got them from my aunt who's in the living room right now]
They are seriously pieces of crap of plastic; even ones that underprivledged children shouldn't have [they deserve more entertaining and more importantly, more enlightening/educating gifts]. To be more blunt, crap like that doesn't need to be sold.

- Some of the things my parents bought me, I noticed, were from wal-mart. I'm not fond of that store at all, especially when a napoleon dynamite dvd was purchased there for $22.99. [BTW, I LOVE that movie, and it would have already been watched already by me.] [On the basis, its a wal-mart purchase and I know I could get the dvd for cheap elsewhere, though my time spent on returning it plus my satisfaction on walmart lost sales, probably isn't worth 5 bucks.

Next time, though, should I tell others not to buy stuff at stores that I don't approve of ? [wal-mart, gap, and more]
hmm...i dunno.

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scout

My momma always told me to smile, be gracious and thankfull for any gift received because after all it's the thought that counts. It seems we have lost something along the way. I reckon I'm old fashioned but telling someone not to buy you something because you don't approve of the store seems a little rude.

Cujo

Around the end of November my Mom announced that we (as a family) would only be buying presents for the kids this year. At first this didn't bother me much because I guess I figured that someone in my family would break this decree and I'd end up with a gift or two. Well my Sister decided that she, my Brother and I should get something for my Mom and Dad so we did, and of course my Brother got them both presents anyway (stuff he got back in the summer for them). So yesterday morning there we all are. My two nieces have a shit load of presents, my Mom got 4, my Dad got 4, Sister and Brother have a few each and I have ZERO. Absolutely SQUAT!!! I've never been so pissed off in my life. Felt like shit all day and my Sister-in Law has the fucking nerve to ask me what my problem is at dinner. I just about told them all to go fuck themselves. Real fun sitting around the tree with nothing while everyone else enjoys their gifts.

ARTelevision

I always buy myself the best gifts - the ones I just want for no useful reason. This year I got myself Cabela's Deer Hunt 2005, some DVDs, and I'm gettin' ready to pick up a couple of bows...at post-Xmas discounts.

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Halx

Art, you crack me up. You've always got this "What's all the fuss? I seem to do well for myself" attitude. I suppose most of the gripes people have would disappear completely if they relied on only themselves. Christmas, though, is about relying on others. I do like your method, don't get me wrong, I utilize it throughout the year.

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ARTelevision

heh - heh - yeah - I look forward to my self-gifts - best part of xmas if ya ask me...

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ngdawg

I redeemed myself re: my son's deep disappointment. He took me up on the offer to go halvsies on his beloved Nintendo DS. It can be written on to send wireless messages-when he got home with it this afternoon, he wrote 'thanks, mom' to show me the gadget.

amonkie

The best gift I've ever gotten was not having to spend Christmas at the hospital this year like we did last year. My mom had a stroke Christmas Eve, and was in the hospital well past New Year's Day. It made a world of difference to be in our own home, with everyone healthy.

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slimshaydee

Hey halx at least you got a deck of cards, I didn't get squat to "play" with the rest of the day. I got clothes from everyone
I specifically asked my sisters not to get me dvds or clothes...they both got me clothes.
I'm still grateful that I got to spend christmas with my family (unlike some others on the forum who would have loved to have been with their families).

McG

hahah so true, I got a box of meat from my uncle's cow. God i love beef!

Met22

I'm with you here. Basically I get those things I need and I seem to give the things people want. It's fucked up. I never thought anyone should get an appliance or sensible clothing for christmas. Give me the impractical, the thing that I can play with. They say I'm hard to shop for, I have everything! Everything I need is right, I make enough to by the escentials, give me that wierd thing that you can only get in Chicago at that little store where the stupid little marbles run through the maze and land on the nipples of a gifted woman. Practicality has little to do with Christmas.

By something that someone wont buy for themselves because it doesn't make sense.

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amonkie

Yeah, like those sleeper jammies that I couldn't justify buying on my own

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Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

SpikeQX99

I think it's time for a "Buy Phred a Bed" Thread! We all should pitch in a few bucks and try to get them a new bed from ikea!! What do you say?? It'll be a nice holiday type thing to do!

on a side note, i must be getting older, because I got excited about socks! Yes... SOCKS! But they are really nice adidas ones and since I've got this huge thing about socks fitting just right... well, they are awesome.

Other than that, I got an Ipod adapter for my Alpine stereo in my car, and a gift certificate for window tinting in said automobile! So all in all, I'm a pretty happy camper!!

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ShaniFaye

Christmas is for KIDS and about what KIDS want plain and simple

if I were in a new place and people took the time to get me stuff for it no way I'd be bitching....

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pinkie

I can't complain at all. My husband got me everything I could have wanted and vise-versa... One thing I got, I returned for a better one yesterday, but it's cool. I'm just grateful for the people who love and care about me. My mother-in-law even gave me this gorgeous pin that belonged to her grandmother. I love it, and I was truly touched.

Halx

Shani, if you no longer have any KID left inside of you, I have a solution. Go to an orphanage, kill one of the weak ones, rip out their heart and eat it raw. You will inherit their spirit. You will be young again and long for the pleasantries once more. Yum!

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ShaniFaye

I have a daughter....christmas is for her not me....no presents were exchanged at all except with her.....I have plenty of kid in me....but I enjoy christmas thru my daughter

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BoCo

Hal's right. I do that twice a year and it keeps me quite youthful.

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SecretMethod70

1) those cards ROCK - any idea where I could get a deck?
2) I completely agree. Getting people thiings they're going to get anyway sort of nullifies the whole effect of getting the present.

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"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

Halx

Unfortunate side effect of eating children: It stunts your growth. ..well duh.

I'm the youngest in my family, so for no happy fun gifts to be exchanged for the lack of KIDS would be a tragedy.

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Sue

I love all the stuff I got. Granted, what I could have used the most was just plain ol money, but regardless, I'm enjoying everything I received.

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ShaniFaye

What makes you think I have no spirit? I thinking complaining about your gifts isnt right when there are a LOT of people in the world that dont get anything for christmas. The people that got those gifts did it with the best of intentions, I just think its kind of sad that just cause you didnt get anything to "play" with those presents are discounted.

My daughter got me and Dave a gift each.....his was a 500 piece glow in the dark dragon puzzle from big lots (2 bucks) and mine was a wooden nutcracker dressed in a KILT carrying bagpipes from walmart (3.99) and I will cherish that present until the day I die because I knew the thought behind when she bought it. Can I play with it? No I cant, can I enjoy it in the christmas spirit it was given? YES..

I would rather watch her enjoy her "santa claus" than anything else.

All Im saying is I dont think its fair for an ADULT to complain about any present they get.

/my rant over

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Bryndian_Dhai

Both my hubby and myself always come away from christmas with an obscene haul of crap. My hubby's an only child, so he's always been the center of the universe for his folks, and they are surrogate family for me, and they've really taken me into the fold. That said, we always get an assload of shit that absolutely is wonderful, but that we really don't want, need or have the room for. But we are grateful that they have taken the time and effort to make sure that their gifts reflect the interests that we have, and the hobbies that we enjoy.

But... this year, I think the light FINALLY came on for my hubby. I had to tell him firmly no appliances... not just because buying me a can opener, even one I want, is a cop out, but because I like to pick out my own tools. He's never understood that I prefer one well thought out gift over several.... if he's going to buy me jewelry, for example, I'd rather he buy me one piece that really reflects my tastes than several pieces that are nice but not exactly my thing. I'd rather quality-on-the-money over quantity-pretty-close-but-not-quite. This year, he seems to have gotten the message.... I got a couple of the usual sort of gift, but he went to a clothing website and picked out a pair of pajama pants and matching socks that I absolutely adore.... they are soooooooooooooo me, and so cute and comfy.... they are the RIGHT size, they ROCK..... and I knew the light was on when he said "I could have ditched everything else, wrapped up just the pjs and you'd have been completely happy with c'mas." NOW you've got it, lover! *grins*

That said, I like a mix of need and want.... yes, I might run out and buy myself the showerhead I got for c'mas this year, but it was very sweet of him to remember that I like a rain head, coveted the new waterpik one, and get it for me. And I certainly don't need yet another John Cusack DVD, but he got it for me anyway. And for things he knows I need (like clothes), he gets a gift certificate, acknowledging that he knows I need it, but letting me choose for myself. It means he braved the mall to get me something I need, indulging the want side of it by letting me pick it myself.

For our friends to whom we only give one or two gifts each, we definitely err on the want side. I like to indulge them with gifts I know they'll love but would not buy for themselves, or I make something special for them that they can't get anywhere else.

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Bryndian_Dhai

I'm really sorry to hear about your loss Ella.... We lost my hubby's stepmom c'mas eve four years ago, and I had to put my dog (my baby) down on c'mas eve three years ago. I know how hard it is to face the holidays after something so difficult and painful. All I can say is not to worry about dealing with the holidays unless it helps you get through the grief. Only time will heal your heart and make this time of year easier.

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Halx

I didn't say anything about you.. where did you come up with me saying you have no spirit? Can you not read a morbid little joke as it is intended? I think surely, if anyone can get a morbid joke, it's you, Shani. Geez.

So, while everyone is so righteous about Christmas and complaining, let's just look at the facts here. I am not poor or starving. I do, however, donate many things to those less fortunate. I have a loving family whom I contribute many helpful things to. Everyone in my family has a job. Christmas is a tradition that we've practiced every year and by now, everyone should know the drill.

To those of you who are telling me it's not right to complain about what I got for Christmas, do you EVER complain? Do you EVER wish things had turned out better than they had? I could just as easily tell you to get over it because there are families out there who don't even have computers or internet connections, or even enough money to even live within the feasible viscinity of an internet cafe. So get over yourselves. We're all vain. Don't try to take the high road.

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ShaniFaye

Sorry....I've just heard a LOT of "complaining" the last few days....maybe it hit me the wrong way...of course I can take a joke....but also....I am one of those people that buys "need" gifts for the grownups in my life--if indeed there is a need. Silly me, the way I grew up things like that were appreciated, not griped about

Of course I complain....all the time....your post just seemed to belittle the thought behind what you were given, and sounded well...selfish, just because you didnt get anything to PLAY with and I didnt think that was right.

make another morbid joke.....I'll put my mindset at the moment aside and enjoy it

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Psycho Dad

Well at least it stunts the kid's growth. But on the plus side, I'd figure that they are low carb.

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Slavakion

Exactly. We're all greedy bastards sometimes. I got clothes for Christmas, which I asked for. I got some stuff for college. All thoughtful, useful gifts. Yet I was slightly disappointed that I didn't get a "fun" gift.

Oh, and those cards are badass. Now I'm jealous.

Halx

My mom said she got them from Bed Bath and Beyond... how ironic.

They're really good to shuffle and they don't warp. I haven't actually played a game with them, but their only downside that I can tell is that you can't just peek at the corner, you have to view the whole circle, which is slightly inward on the card.

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cyrnel

Waterproof? They'll be good for "strip-search poker"!

samiam

I'm sure that much of this has already been said, but if I want something and can afford it, then I get it for myself. I don't wait for a specific time of year or occasion. That way, when a holiday comes, I never complain that I didn't get exactly what I wanted because I did. When people are generous enough to give me things that I need and would have to buy anyway, I am really appreciative because I now have a budget to buy things that I want when I get a chance. Maybe its all in the way I look at it. Being remembered and staying in the thoughts of people who are significant in my life is more important than a bunch of stuff that I may want today and forget tomorow.

StormBerlin

And I'm one of those people that wants stuff I can USE for Christmas. I asked for a nice TFal cooking set and some new silverware and some wooden spoons (call me weird all you want). And then my bro got me a really nice candle set that goes with the decore in the living room (he's really intuitive like that) And of course money. What am I gonna use that money for? To pay off my credit card debt that I accumulated for Christmas. I bought my mom a new DVD/VCR player, my dad got two new Hakamas and my brother got two Thomas Kinkade puzzles.

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chickentribs

I understand what Halx means, but with a twist. The gifts I love giving, and in return mean the most are things that show a bit of connection between the two people. Something that says "I thought of you when I saw this." For example, every year my sister asks me point blank what to get me. I tried to steer her this year and told her to pick up a book for me, interested to see what she thought I might like. She literally called me from the bookstore and said "What book do you want"? I even tried to send her in a direction at that point and she just repeated herself.

This is just one small example. Even when I get something I would never like, I really appreciate and consider the thought that went into it, and it deepens the relationship. Gifts shouldn't come from a shopping list.

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raeanna74

That sucks. There's no way they couldn't notice that you didn't get anything. I'd have given you one of my presents at least. What a bummer. Next year go buy yourself presents, a bottle of wine, and stay home and watch movies. Couldn't be any worse right?? I just can't believe how that would suck. Not that you're begging for gifts but when you're the only one without...UG! Sorry that happened to ya.

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Bryndian_Dhai

I had such trouble for so long getting my hubby to understand the quality-right-on-the-money idea over the quantity-sort-of-close idea (not just for the holidays but for birthdays and anniversaries, too) that early in our marriage, I offered to give him a list. He flat out told me that if I did that he'd go out of his way not to buy a single thing on the list.... he doesn't believe in it (neither do I, but I thought it'd make it easier on him.... I was really relieved that he turned me down, lol) He really does believe in the idea of putting thought into getting a gift and having it be a total surprise. He's getting much, much better.... I guess for him it's a trial and error sort of thing.

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ShaniFaye

my mother always said(and I find myself saying it too, now that Im older)....if you dont know me well enuff to know what to get me without a list...dont bother getting me anything at all

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Cimarron29414

Remember to always gift yourself! There is no shame in it. I must say, I have grown more fond of myself over the years and I always buy myself a treat for Christmas. This year: 1 bottle of Oban 12-year-old single malt Scotch.