Christmas Gifts!

[Moonitic]

Ok, even thought it's three days early, I thought I'd start the thread. Especially since I got one of mine today. It's a BIGGIE, in the literal sense of the word.

Hubby decided that I needed a new, flat screen computer monitor. 19 inches, baby! I'm totally excited. It's like being in a movie theatre (we upgraded from a piddly 14 incher).

Oh yeah, one of the fencing teens stopped by with gifts today. Her family gave us a gift box of Mackinac Island Fudge. Anyone in Michigan will know just why this stuff is so neat a gift. She bought my son one of those little folding chairs in a bag. Now all three of us have a place to sit for fencing tournaments & such...hee hee...

Wow...those Graemlins are HUGE <img src="graemlins/blah.gif" border="0" alt="[Blah]" />

[DamedEscrime]

Okay, I've only gotten one present so far, but it was a really nice thought. We had a gift exchange at the office and I'm the "new kid" on the block. We all put a small list of things we would like to have on a pad in the break room. I just put down a few silly little things and didn't get any of them. Instead the gal that got my name went online and found PBT. She ordered a T-shirt for me. I think that was so thoughtful. She said it had to be PBT because it said Hungary and she knew my new coach is Hungarian. I never worked in a place where people actually cared enough to really pay attention to what I was saying. I am blessed this year by this eventhough it is NOT the job I was seeking and only took it because I didn't get what I wanted.
Recently, some truly wonderful people have come into my life and not just at the office. Some of you know who you are and I cherish the friendships we are developing.
Love,
Dame

[Peach]

I'm an elementary teacher, and I got 58 gifts (I teach 4th & 5th grade science) most of which are chocolate and almost all of the rest of which are appalling bric-a-brac. I'm halfway through writing the thank-you notes & have managed to give away some of the nicer useless presents to a resident of the assisted-living facility where my Mom lives, a woman who doesn't have any family. I'm trying to give away the chocolate but it keeps somehow opening itself and waving itself under my nose. Darn it.

One nice gift (well, aside from the Far Side desk calendar and the six bookstore gift certificates) was The Fencing Master, a book given to me by one of my students who is also a member of the fencing class I teach after school.

[ledgerto]

Hi just popping in to say Merry Christmas to all of you!

[anam_cara]

wow, peach....I certainly hope the parents of your students (not to mention your students themselves) don't read this thread.....to call a gift, even if it's not something you WANT, 'appalling', seems harsh. I know my children, when they were that age, spent long-saved allowances in purchasing gifts for their teachers....the gifts were never very valuable in a material sense, but the time they took and their thoughtfulness in giving a gift were precious. It would have hurt them deeply to think one of their teachers might have had the same thoughts you have. Kind of kills the spirit of giving.

Perhaps next year, you might provide your students with a list of your wants (or maybe mention your favorite charity....)

Just a thought....
~~cara

[Peach]

You do not know the circumstances, so I will explain: I work in a wealthy private prep school where the parents endlessly calculate how they can give their children an advantage in a world which no longer automatically rewards privilege. The gifts of which I am speaking are indeed appalling bric-a-brac - they cost a great deal of money, did not involve the children at all, and don't show any interest in or knowledge of me whatsoever. Bottles of wine, shrink-wrapped boxes of gourmet chocolates, Tiffany crystal jars, silver candle snuffers, food baskets, and expensive perfumed soap are not presents from my students. I know that. They know that.

I love my students, and they know it. I love it when they give me presents they expended thought on, and I tell them so. But I would never dream of giving the students a "wish list" because it would convey to the parents that they can lobby me even more fiercely for special attention. One of the boys did ask me what I liked, and I told him pens and note cards; his gift was an expensive designer pen.

What presents meant something to me? A card created by one of my students. The Fencing Master. A Far Side desk calendar. One year a boy gave me a container of plastic insects (and had to fight his parents to let him do it, bless his soul). A pen. A box of note cards. That is the kind of present you are talking about, and it shows care.

You see, you made the mistake of thinking I meant lumpy ceramic ashtrays or $5 perfume sets from K-Mart. Those are not appalling bric-a-brac. They are gifts of the heart. The stuff I get is expensive, anonymous garbage.

[quote]Originally posted by anam_cara:
<strong>wow, peach....I certainly hope the parents of your students (not to mention your students themselves) don't read this thread.....to call a gift, even if it's not something you WANT, 'appalling', seems harsh. I know my children, when they were that age, spent long-saved allowances in purchasing gifts for their teachers....the gifts were never very valuable in a material sense, but the time they took and their thoughtfulness in giving a gift were precious. It would have hurt them deeply to think one of their teachers might have had the same thoughts you have. Kind of kills the spirit of giving.

Perhaps next year, you might provide your students with a list of your wants (or maybe mention your favorite charity....)

Just a thought....
~~cara</strong><hr></blockquote>

[Haze]

I haven't opened any yet, will leave it until Christmas day. Haven't wrapped many yet either!

Anyways...

Happy Christmas, to you all, and a Happy New Year to follow.

I shall be in Devon for the new year, with fellow students, ex-students and (I suspect) far too many morris men! The first time I will have been away from my family for new years - the south-west of England had better watch out!

[Sabresque]

[quote]Originally posted by Peach:
<strong>
One nice gift (well, aside from the Far Side desk calendar and the six bookstore gift certificates) was The Fencing Master, a book given to me by one of my students who is also a member of the fencing class I teach after school.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Great book. You'll really enjoy it.

I haven't opened any presents yet, but to my horror there are NO FENCING SHAPED GIFTS under the tree! Oh dear, how will I ever afford that new jacket or knickers. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[ 12-23-2001: Message edited by: Sabresque ]</p>

[Zelda]

I got my best christmas present last week when my dad showed up out of the blue on his way home to Brisbane from Beijing! 3 days of being spoilt rotten, it was wonderful. It will be a quiet christmas for me this year, spent with friends in Aberdeen, however watch out Edinburgh I'm coming for NEW YEAR!

[anam_cara]

[ 12-23-2001: Message edited by: anam_cara ]</p>

[Moonitic]

Awww, Zelda...how sweet.

I'm far too sentimental this time of year, especially due to my ever expanding belly. I think it's all the estrogen that both Bethany & I are full of. I really enjoy just spending time with friends & family. On Friday night, hubby & I attended a dessert party with the board's own HilandDoug & the rest of the Schoolcraftian fencers. Today (Sunday), we went as a family to dinner with friends that I went to high school with. Before that, Fantasy Land's crack up author Lord Tellurine & his lovely wife stopped by to deliver a traditional Christmas goodie called "crown loaf." Tomorrow night, we visit the family of one of the teens who fences with us. On Christmas, we'll be at my mom & step father's house.

On Wednesday, I'll be in bed after all the running!

[Jeeves]

Just one gift of note here.
A Far Side Calendar. I love that type of twisted humor, it suits me.
I look forward with much anticipation toward Boxing Day.
Happy Christmas!

[Moonitic]

My mother gets me a Far Side desk calendar every year. Too bad this year I'll have to tuck it away to keep (since it's the last year that Larson will be doing them). I'll have to get another one just to USE! <img src="graemlins/blah.gif" border="0" alt="[Blah]" />

[Iwant2bafencer]

I haven't opened any of my presents yet, and that doesn't really matter.
(If I sound sappy and to sentimental then . . .get over it ) See if you can guess what it is.
The best gift that I've ever gotten is something we all received.
It's hard to believe how small it was.
you can't hold it in your hand.
You can't put it on a stand.
It's no where to be seen, so you can't touch it.
Still, there's much of it.
This gift was given long ago.
And my last clue before I go is simple . . .
It's with you when you smile, it's with you when you cry.
So I ask you to try your best to pass this test.

yea yea I know it's corny, but hey it's for the Christmas season. (and you come up with a riddle on the spot like that.)

-----------------
Carpe Diem

[Haze]

[quote]Originally posted by Zelda:
<strong>...however watch out Edinburgh I'm coming for NEW YEAR!</strong><hr></blockquote>

I have friends near Edinburgh, and elsewhere in Scotland... I will warn them!!!

[sallearmourer]

We got a box from BG and much to our surpise
Amanda had sent My wife and me sweaters for Christmas. That was awful nice of them.


Sallearmourer

[Swordsman]

[quote]Originally posted by Iwant2bafencer:
<strong>I haven't opened any of my presents yet, and that doesn't really matter.
(If I sound sappy and to sentimental then . . .get over it ) See if you can guess what it is.
The best gift that I've ever gotten is something we all received.
It's hard to believe how small it was.
you can't hold it in your hand.
You can't put it on a stand.
It's no where to be seen, so you can't touch it.
Still, there's much of it.
This gift was given long ago.
And my last clue before I go is simple . . .
It's with you when you smile, it's with you when you cry.
So I ask you to try your best to pass this test.

yea yea I know it's corny, but hey it's for the Christmas season. (and you come up with a riddle on the spot like that.)

-----------------
Carpe Diem</strong><hr></blockquote>

Great, wannabe! I love it!

Me, I want some decent snow here...

[Iwant2bafencer]

haha wow thanks! I thought it was a little . . .corny. Thank's though.
Hehe you can't have any of my snow! lol it's mine all mine! muahahaha! <img src="graemlins/evild.gif" border="0" alt="[Evil]" />

------------------
Carpe Diem

[Purple Fencer]

My wife gave me yet another day of snuggles and hugs...far more important that anything from a store.

I gave myself the gift of a phone hookup for my business so I can stop running my cell bill through the roof...and a laptop for the business next week!

I've also run a number of several hundred dollar orders, which is ALSO a gift to me!

[DamedEscrime]

Hehe, "Josephine" received a dragon dagger with an unusual double blade. Watch out, she has no idea how to use it.
"Dame," on the other hand, now has her handy dandy hard travel case so when she goes to Reno her swords and stuff will be intact. She also received all she needs to pursue sabre. Unlike Jo, she does know how to use her equipment. And she wishes the club were open today...