Because my children have wonderful teachers who know I have been out of work for 9 months, we were "adopted" as the class family this year. My children received clothing, toys, and books as presents that were completely unexpected and welcome. I got the greatest gift of all. Happy, smiling children on Christmas morning. I hope that you all received the gift of joy and happiness this Christmas, and pray that you receive health, wealth and wisdom in the upcoming new year!
It's not so much what I got but I gave my grandson a pealess whistle and a flint and steel fire starter (with tinderbox). I think my son (a commando who served in East Timor) was more excited about it than my grandson, but I foresee a little son and grandson bonding time discovering the mysteries of firelighting. I think I may make a fire drill for them to play with next....hmm an atlatal, plumbatae (under parental supervision of course!)...(it's my son's birthday soon). I gave myself a few books. Roman Body Armour Amazon.com: ROMAN BODY ARMOUR (9781445603599): Hilary Travis, John Travis: Books Running the Roman Home Running the Roman Home : Alexandra Croom : 9780752465173 How to Be an Existentialist Amazon.com: How to Be an Existentialist: or How to Get Real, Get a Grip and Stop Making Excuses (9781441188434): Gary Cox: Books Easy Pruning Easy Pruning: Simple steps to success (RHS Simple Steps to Success): Amazon.co.uk: Dorling Kindersley: Books
Received a Walmart gift card with $100 on it from an unexpected source. Spent a little more than the $100. Got a pair of boots, a pair of shoes, and 2200 rounds of Winchester copper plated 36 grain .22 cal Long Rifle Hollow point cartridges. . Damn good price on the 525 round bricks of 22 LR at $18.95, Federal was same price, and Remington 525 rd bricks were $19.95 ..... all 36 gr hollow points and copper plated
Well thanks for making me feel like a materialistic jackass! Also you win max points for the Awwwwwwwww factor!!
WRC...I think many of us have been in your current situation, I know I have. I recall one of the folks delivering Christmas stuff to my home (I was 29) saying to me, when she saw how upset I was at the "charity", that years before they had been in grave difficulties but after a long struggle they had made it through to the place where they could give to others again. She said, someday you will be there too so remember to pass it on and I have. I hope and pray that 2012 will be a much better year for you and your family and for any other Monkeys who are having tough times for whatever reason. And for the Believers out there....Lean and Trust, brothers and sisters, Lean and Trust.
Running the Roman Home? Chapter One: What to look for when buying your Slaves. ???? LOL. And re your ancient weapons...I guess the roos better all watch out, eh!
Oh shoot! I've done it again....sorry, folks, it was Falcon I should have replied to, not WRC.....mea culpa. Senior moment and all that....
I got an electric awning for the motorhome and silk longjohns with feet in them. My youngest son and his son made me a gun rack for my "cave"...
My wife got me a Silva Compass watch... pretty cool and not a bad price either... was like $40 with shipping
I got exactly what I wanted: To be surrounded by family and a stress-less dinner enjoyed by those I love.
My favorite gift was a remote control helicopter from my 4 yr old. It's just about the coolest toy I never had as a kid... My wife followed my list and I got a nice SSD, a 2nd HDD caddy which replaces my DVD drive, socks and jeans. We follow a pretty strict Christmas budget which may be more or less than others spend @ $350 per person. The way we budget, this comes out as $29.17 per person, per month and goes into the Christmas envelope. Kinda nice to do our Christmas shopping and not have to either pay off CC bills or live on rice and beans for the next 2 months to cover the hole in the budget.
I budget monthly for Christmas too, it's the only way to have peace of mind....I spent too many years when I was younger and had my small children, trying to play catch up with the bills in January! Now that I find it physically too much for me to shop and put together parcels etc., I give my middle-aged children book certificates (they are all avid readers), I make online purchases from World Vision or other charities in the names of my Grandchildren and the great grandies get some money which they can spend at the Boxing Day sales if they wish. If any of the clan are in financial or other trouble, I give them a cash gift to help out. Those who live with me get "regular" gifts, mostly bought online, but we have cut back on that also and this year we didn't do much more than fill stockings (but with pretty good stuff). I abhor the crass commercialism that goes on but I go with the flow because I figure at least it helps the economy. But nowadays I am not sure which economy I am actually helping (China, Taiwan, India and Sri Lanka come to mind!) And although I have nothing personally against the folks in any of those places, I wish more of the goods were made here in Canada, or at least the U.S!
