What I Gave/Received, Pt 1

I looooove buying presents. I hate the physical act of shopping, but I love picking out things for the people I love, and Christmas is the time of year I most yearn for extra money, because I tend to go overboard. But it really makes me happy to give. (Also, receiving is pretty cool.)

So, this weekend I went to Nacogdoches and Houston, and had 2 rounds of "Christmas" with my various family members. Here is what I gave:

• to my dad: a fish-cleaning knife set, a Dallas Cowboys christmas ornament, Firefly- the complete series on DVD, a 6-pack of various beers from World Market, some new work gloves, and a Sudoku book.
• to my step-mom: a windchime, a picture frame, and a nice bottle of Portugese wine.
• to my sister Carrie: The Time-Traveler's Wife.
• to my brother-in-law Jerry: The Short History of Nearly Everything.
• to my Uncle Al: two Apple books, iWoz- Steve Wozniak's autibiography, and The Perfect Thing: How the iPod Shuffles Commerce, Culture, and Coolness.
• to Jule: this shirt and the BBC mini-series Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth, which she already had so will be exchanging it for something else

I have also sent two shirts to Tom (the one I gave Jule and this one). People I have gifts for who have not yet received them, because I am lazy: Kiddo, Krysten (and Bryce), Bill, and Erin.

OK, and here's what I got:

• from my dad & stepmom: a new digital camera, and some money to buy Doctor Who season 2 when it comes out on January 16th
• from my sister and brother-in-law: a book called Fierce Food, which is crazy and awesome, and a candle that smells like "fresh linen." Love it.
• from Jule: Singin' in the Rain, which I already have (do we know each other well or what?), to be exchanged after Christmas for something else awesome
• from Uncle Al and Auntie: a smaller version of my food processor, which I predict will be used practically daily, the first season of Doctor Who, and the 4th Harry Potter movie.

And I came home from my travels to two presents on my doorstep!! Kiddo sent me an awesome orange Batgirl shirt, which I am wearing tomorrow, and Krysten sent me a flask, which I totally needed, natch, and a Krysten Original Scarf. It's frakkin' amazing. On one side it looks like this*:



Which is awesome in and of itself, right? But then, on the other side, it looks like this*:



WHOOOOOP! How cool is that?? I am so blown away by her craftiness. And also, I love skulls!

*pictures taken with new camera. Rad.

So, there you have it. First round of What I Gave/Received, 2006. More to come when I get back from Ohio. I will miss the internet, and you, dear readers. New Year's Resolutions coming soon.