Christmas surprise

[RaceGrrl]

I finally managed to surprise Richard with one of his gifts: a flatscreen monitor for his computer. (The better to see Left 4 Dead with...) It was nice to give the unexpected.

Which gift surprised you? :)

[extramundane]

The Missus surprised me with a new Weber kettle. I've got so many inside projects to knock out during my time off this week, so I won't get to break it in 'til Friday. But it's looking good for some ribs along with our New Year's Hoppin' John. :thumbup:

[miatanut]

One of my employees (who's also a gearhead) gave me a Mario Andretti signed 1:18 model of the Lotus 79 he won his championship with. I know he likes to be extravagant, but geez!

[Sean Malone]

My wife surprised me with a new Jawbone bluetooth headset and a MIDI controller that I only mentioned to her once many months ago.

My sister surprised me with a t-shirt that has Micheal Scott from 'The Office' on it with the words "that's what she said". A saying that I have elevated to a new level of annoyance. :D

[Al Czervik]

One of my employees (who's also a gearhead) gave me a Mario Andretti signed 1:18 model of the Lotus 79 he won his championship with. I know he likes to be extravagant, but geez!

It wasn't made in Florida out of processed wood pulp, was it?

<ducks>

[Andrew Longman]

It wasn't made in Florida out of processed wood pulp, was it?

<ducks>

:rofl:

We put our Chrismas budget to the kids, but the missus got me a big new skillet, another Alton Brown cookbook and a copy of Shop Class as Soul Craft by Matthew Crawford

http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Class-Soulcraft-Inquiry-Value/dp/1594202230

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/books/29book.html

I think most here would REALLY enjoy it. I am.

[TKGAngel]

Santa surprised me with a fantastic Paul Newman book (http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Racing-Life-Paul-Newman/dp/0760337063/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262038476&sr=8-6).

[miatanut]

It wasn't made in Florida out of processed wood pulp, was it?

<ducks>

:rofl: :thumbup:

[Elmo T]

:rofl:

Alton Brown cookbook

Waiting for a review. :thumbup:

My 6yo bought an F1-ish toy car for my desk from the school's "secret shop", a pack of Disney colored pencils from my 9yo, and an Anthony Bourdain book containing a collection of short stories and articles from my wife.

Neatest gift this year was a digital tape measure (http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1644417&navAction=jump) from my step-father.

[nrc]

Yes, I was surprised. If I post images too big for your screen you can blame RaceGrrl. :)

I surprised Grrl with a collection of her favorite boop boop games (http://store.steampowered.com/sub/1606/). Downloads are hard to gift wrap.

[dando]

I surprised Grrl with a collection of her favorite boop boop games (http://store.steampowered.com/sub/1606/). Downloads are hard to gift wrap.

Ummm, hello...not if you dld them onto a device. :gomer: :p

-Kevin

[extramundane]

Shop Class as Soul Craft by Matthew Crawford

Great read. That dude runs a motorcycle repair/fabrication/craziness shop (http://shockoemoto.com/)here in town. Word on the street is that as good as his writing is, his motorcycle wizardry is even better.

[Sean Malone]

Great read. That dude runs a motorcycle repair/fabrication/craziness shop (http://shockoemoto.com/)here in town. Word on the street is that as good as his writing is, his motorcycle wizardry is even better.

Hoping he's in the Bottom and not up in the Slip?
Cool pics and some cool bikes. Will check out his writings.

[RaceGrrl]

My 6yo bought an F1-ish toy car for my desk from the school's "secret shop", a pack of Disney colored pencils from my 9yo

I love how kids buy you the gifts that they'd like for themselves. I remember doing that.

One really cool tradition Richard's family had when he was a kid was to save the Christmas stockings for New Year's morning. His mom told him that Santa came back. The kids had something else to look forward to during the holidays. I LOVE that tradition. :D

[Sean Malone]

I love how kids buy you the gifts that they'd like for themselves. I remember doing that.

One really cool tradition Richard's family had when he was a kid was to save the Christmas stockings for New Year's morning. His mom told him that Santa came back. The kids had something else to look forward to during the holidays. I LOVE that tradition. :D

When my mom was young her family observed the traditional 12 days of Christmas with presents each day and a party on the 12 day (Jan 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, considered in the old days a greater celebration than the Nativity). Mom still waits until Jan 6 to take down her tree.

[cameraman]

My wife got me what she expressly told me she wasn't going to get...

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii35/Cynops/kasten30a_1.jpg

And just about everybody else gave me a rather large pile of these:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii35/Cynops/CPEB-1_EI.jpg

In my mind it was a very good year.:thumbup:

[Elmo T]

I love how kids buy you the gifts that they'd like for themselves. I remember doing that.


You are assuming I wouldn't want a toy F1 car and Disney pencils! ;)

What is amazing is that they didn't buy anything for themselves, but put a great deal of thought into their secret shop gifts. They each had $20 to spend and both came home with change.

Including the above, they bought thermal socks for the great-grandfather, pot holders for Grammie, golf ball candles for Grandpop, etc.

And those Christmas traditions are so great. Each year, we all get matching Christmas pj's for Christmas Eve and take a group photo with the camera timer after the presents are all opened. The photo goes in a new frame for Christmas. Dorky - probably, but it has become our tradition!

[Robstar]

I got 4 laps around Eastern Creek in a V8 Supercar with John Bowe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bowe_%28racing_driver%29)...

My God - insane... :thumbup::thumbup:

[nrc]

I got 4 laps around Eastern Creek in a V8 Supercar with John Bowe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bowe_%28racing_driver%29)...

My God - insane... :thumbup::thumbup:

That's awesome. Be sure to wear your two-ply underoos.