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What did Santa bring everyone?

Allan

Allan

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I got the usual stuff.

Some clothes - socks, scarf, a nice cable knit sweater and 2 toques.

Books - Annie Ernaux's Shame, Principles of Computational Cell Biology by Volkhard Helms.

Wine - Robert Mondavi Vint Bourbon Barrel Aged (a whole case!)

​

 
We buy gifts for the both of us, instead of gifts for each other.
So we bought a Ratio 6 coffee maker after breaking the pyrex pour over carafe the 3rd time in 3-4 years.
It makes coffee as close to pour over quality that I have experienced.

Secondly we also bought a Typhur Dome air fryer, touted to be the next generation of what an air fryer is. High quality that comes with an unheard of 3 year full replacement warranty. Self cleaning, can broil at 450, enamel coated tray that is dishwasher safe - no more cheap teflon coated baskets that are a nightmare to clean.
 
This year, my oldest is moving back in with us to go to college, so our Christmas week has mainly been focused on that. That’s a Christmas present to me as a dad though.

My wife cleaned up. The other two kids mostly got clothes (youngest) and spending money (middle who is also in college).
 
Allan said:
This is a very good gift!
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Yeah, life experience taught that being poor sucks.

Kid is going into computer science and we found a good program that teaches java and .net (good languages for work) but also C++ due to a huge interest in Linux (good language for hobby but also can be for work).
 
Allan said:
Little ones rekindle the joy of Christmas I find.
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Indeed. It has been a long time since the kids, were kids. (34 and 30 years old)
Without children, Christmas is kind of meh... with the best thing being time off from work.

I do miss what Christmas was in the U.S. many years ago.
My son and his wife got back Monday from a trip to Ireland, he was talking about how Christmas is such a big deal there with decorations everywhere.
Just like it use to be here.
 
iamwhatiseem said:
My son and his wife got back Monday from a trip to Ireland, he was talking about how Christmas is such a big deal there with decorations everywhere.
Just like it use to be here.
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I've never been to Europe at Christmas but cities like London, Vienna etc look magical.
 
Allan said:
I've never been to Europe at Christmas but cities like London, Vienna etc look magical.
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When I was a kid (born in 1965) the downtown was totally decorated with lights everywhere. Every single store had lights and decorations.
We took drives around neighborhoods to look at houses lit up. Several churches hosted Christmas choir singing, so many people came that they had busses taking people to these churches.
Now - downtown barely looks decorated. The courthouse is still lit up, and stores only have muted decorations. They even had speakers where the whole downtown had Christmas music playing in the evenings - that is obviously gone.
More homes decorate for Halloween now than Christmas.
 
iamwhatiseem said:
When I was a kid (born in 1965) the downtown was totally decorated with lights everywhere. Every single store had lights and decorations.
We took drives around neighborhoods to look at houses lit up. Several churches hosted Christmas choir singing, so many people came that they had busses taking people to these churches.
Now - downtown barely looks decorated. The courthouse is still lit up, and stores only have muted decorations. They even had speakers where the whole downtown had Christmas music playing in the evenings - that is obviously gone.
More homes decorate for Halloween now than Christmas.
Click to expand...
My hometown of Winnipeg used to go all out with decorations that went for blocks.

1000023113.webp

In addition there were two large department stores (Eaton's and The Hudson Bay Co.) That decorated their facades and had very nice window displays.

One quirky decoration is something everyone in Winnipeg has seen since we were kids. A very large apartment building has a resident who for more than 50 years has a lit "Humbug" decoration that can be seen for miles.

1000023112.webp
 
iamwhatiseem said:
I love the FAIL videos of people running into walls, tripping and falling and punching holes in TVs and walls while using them.
Hilarious.
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When you first use the VR glasses the Playstation will map out your room in 3D. You can then define a safe area in which you can freely move around. If you wander outside the safe area a grid will show up warning you that you're at the edge and to be careful on what you're doing.
 
dmpi said:
When you first use the VR glasses the Playstation will map out your room in 3D. You can then define a safe area in which you can freely move around. If you wander outside the safe area a grid will show up warning you that you're at the edge and to be careful on what you're doing.
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Yeah but... people are stupid... Haha!!
 
I'm not sure why he thought I'd like to play these old games again, but my younger son gave me this...

 
My husband and I don’t typically exchange gifts. I do the shopping and put things under the tree and in stockings for both of us. Mainly so it’s not suspicious that gifts only come for the kiddo. (I stopped him buying gifts years ago because a girl can only have so much jewelry and I’ve got way too much 😂)

But he and my son apparently went out shopping this year and snuck some gifts under the 🎄 for me and I was pleasantly surprised.

New shortie Uggs, a Sherpa lined blanket, a plush new robe, new slippers.

And my “early” gift was a heated coat (full length, with a rechargeable battery pack…heated like an electric blanket)

(Sensing a theme? I HATE the cold 😂)

And then my two absolute favorite gifts - a necklace my son chose which is an anchor and a keychain my son made which is like a “shrinkie dink” of a “Dear Mom” letter in his handwriting. My son was adamant that he wanted to get me this particular necklace and I love it.

I was completely surprised and spoiled.
 
We don't do gift exchanges with family anymore since the kids are all older. We just spend time together and eat.

From my friends I got candles, bath products, a book, sweet treats, earrings.
From my students I got a couple bottles of lotion and lots of drawings that are up behind my desk on the bulletin board. ❤️

I enjoy giving gifts more than receiving them. I got my best friend a hand-embroidered box that she can put her jewelry in when she travels (which is all the time), my teacher friends all got flowers with a card, my students all got a stuffed animal and a Biscuit book. I also do the angel tree for three kiddos every year.
 
iamwhatiseem said:
When I was a kid (born in 1965) the downtown was totally decorated with lights everywhere. Every single store had lights and decorations.
We took drives around neighborhoods to look at houses lit up. Several churches hosted Christmas choir singing, so many people came that they had busses taking people to these churches.
Now - downtown barely looks decorated. The courthouse is still lit up, and stores only have muted decorations. They even had speakers where the whole downtown had Christmas music playing in the evenings - that is obviously gone.
More homes decorate for Halloween now than Christmas.
Click to expand...
As the cost of electricity started climbing, Christmas lights slowly began to disappear. Happily, my son next door goes whole hog, and it's very pretty. Reminds me a little of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation :)
 
iamwhatiseem said:
We buy gifts for the both of us, instead of gifts for each other.
So we bought a Ratio 6 coffee maker after breaking the pyrex pour over carafe the 3rd time in 3-4 years.
It makes coffee as close to pour over quality that I have experienced.

Secondly we also bought a Typhur Dome air fryer, touted to be the next generation of what an air fryer is. High quality that comes with an unheard of 3 year full replacement warranty. Self cleaning, can broil at 450, enamel coated tray that is dishwasher safe - no more cheap teflon coated baskets that are a nightmare to clean.
Click to expand...
Happy Crisping!
 
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