The Merry Christmas and did you get anything outstanding thread!

[CharlesB]

I hope everyone is having a very superb christmas and/or hannukah.

I was fortunate enough to make my way back home to see my family.

THe one thing that blew me away gift wise this year was a swiss gold pocket watch my father gave me thats quite old. Even better, my great-grandfather was a highlander scot and businessman during the late victorian. The gold chain for the watch actually is from my great-grandfathers waist coat pocket watch from that time. Its between 110 and 130 yrs old according to my father.

 

[db5zx]

I received a beautiful pair of two-tone dance shoes and - since I have been learning to dance Lindy Hop for a few months now - two months worth of Lindy Hop lessons with my regular teacher.

That should get me back to the 40s in no-time.

Merry Christmas!

Jens

 

[KittyT]

I will be boycotting this thread. In a time when Christmas has turned into a mass commercial nightmare, I see threads like this as having a tendency to turn into royal pissing contests, in which each participant tries to show up the others with the "coolest" of their gifts, which also tend to have a price attached to them. As someone who is incredibly aware of (and sensitive to) class and economic discrepancies, you can count me out.

 

[CharlesB]

I will be boycotting this thread. In a time when Christmas has turned into a mass commercial nightmare, I see threads like this as having a tendency to turn into royal pissing contests, in which each participant tries to show up the others with the "coolest" of their gifts, which also tend to have a price attached to them. As someone who is incredibly aware of (and sensitive to) class and economic discrepancies, you can count me out.

Ah, I just want people to share their greatest holiday joy be it expensive, cheap, sentimental. There is no price one can put on the joy of something special given or recieved, even if its something as simple as someone baking you your fav. cake or pie.

 

[BegintheBeguine]

We had a similar thread last year and it was lots of fun.

An heirloom watch and pair of dance shoes aren't the stuff of a mass commercial nightmare. It's loved ones acquiring items they know the receiver will be thrilled about and want to share with friends.
I inherited my red hair from my daddy and my taste from my mom. She deals in antique costume jewelry so she sees a lot of neat stuff and picks it up for me. As I go out at least once a week I want cocktail dresses and that's what she sent, 8 from the 50s and I'd be surprised if she paid more than $30 for the entire package. I'm pleased.

 

[RondoHatton]

I wasn't out standing, I was walking!

I got to see a clerk in a corner store give an old man in a walker a $50 supermarket gift card, telling him "someone left it for you", then winking at me and whispering it was from the clerk, but a secret.
I got a silly gift at the company party raffle, one which the firehouse down the street tells me will suit a teenager just right.
I got to see the neighborhood Christmas parade I thought I had missed, on Christmas Eve, as one neighbor called it a wonderfully cheesy kitch little affair, and worked up enough nerve this year to follow along in the joyous, smiling crowd. That's where I met a nice single neighbor lady who complimented me on my style (white tuxedo shirt, black ascot, red satin smoking jacket, linen cap, cigaret holder & flask). After a few blocks I got, to me, a compliment - "Are you a writer?" she asked (no, just a typesetter). This good woman insisted on refilling my flask ("make sure it's empty" "No problem!") with her home made hot spiced wine before giving me a goodnight kiss on the cheek (and her phone number).
Outstanding.
Merry Christmas Day to all my Lounge friends.

 

[imoldfashioned]

My big present to myself this year was going to the Queen Mary event but I did receive several wonderful presents from others. A bottle of white rose perfume, a bar of soap in great deco packaging, a book of reproduction art deco christmas postcards, a silver bracelet from a friend who went to Portugal this year, a hand knitted pin, the audiobook for I Am America (shouted by Stephen Colbert) and a really lovely art tile in a nouveau/deco style.

 

[Jonny's Angel]

I got a great book on War rationing with repro pictures in, a 50's blue glass vanity set, Soap and Glory stuff, a beautiful peach satin and lace dress, some forties-ish shoe-boots, a make-up palette and some chocolates. Still have more presents to come from my family, so I have been really spoiled this year

 

[CharlesB]

I got a great book on War rationing with repro pictures in, a 50's blue glass vanity set, Soap and Glory stuff, a beautiful peach satin and lace dress, some forties-ish shoe-boots, a make-up palette and some chocolates. Still have more presents to come from my family, so I have been really spoiled this year

wonderful. btw where outside of london if you dont mind me asking do you hail from? Some of us over on the FL facebook group were thinking of a late January cocktail get together.

 

[kysaddletramp]

Stay on line

I will be boycotting this thread. In a time when Christmas has turned into a mass commercial nightmare, I see threads like this as having a tendency to turn into royal pissing contests, in which each participant tries to show up the others with the "coolest" of their gifts, which also tend to have a price attached to them. As someone who is incredibly aware of (and sensitive to) class and economic discrepancies, you can count me out.

OH SHUCKS! Just when you were about to receive an expensive gift in the mail!

 

[RedHotRidinHood]

I will be boycotting this thread. In a time when Christmas has turned into a mass commercial nightmare, I see threads like this as having a tendency to turn into royal pissing contests, in which each participant tries to show up the others with the "coolest" of their gifts, which also tend to have a price attached to them. As someone who is incredibly aware of (and sensitive to) class and economic discrepancies, you can count me out.

A better way to protest would have been to avoid it altogether. Why make a statement like that when folks are just trying to have fun? It seems very mean spirited and honestly, rather crass.

Moving on, I got some lovely things, but what I loved the most was the meaning behind them, which is the most important thing to me. There was not much under the tree this year, but my son proclaimed it "the best Christmas ever!" with his 7-year-old enthusiasm. It was a fun night (we do our thing on the Eve) and it was warm and loving, if sparse.

My mother gave me this beautiful sequined and beaded purse that my grandfather had given her when she was 12, in 1956. I am joyfully using it on New Year's Eve when we go out. I cried when I opened it-I didn't even know she had something like this. If receiving this makes me guilty of "mass consumerism", sue me.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Miss Brill]

My most outstanding gift was a $250 check from my cousin & his wife, that was in addition to them spending as much in October buying me new kitchen floor tiles (the peel-n-stick kind w/25 year warranty).

 

[Drea]

RedHotRidinHood I completely agree with you on the comment :eusa_clap completely unnesessary. Anyway, I got a golden doodle... which is half poodle half golden retriever..she's so adorable and so tiny!! she looks like a little black ball of fluff..greatest gift ever

Merry Christmas everyone xoxoxo

 

[CharlesB]

RedHotRidinHood I completely agree with you on the comment :eusa_clap completely unnesessary. Anyway, I got a golden doodle... which is half poodle half golden retriever..she's so adorable and so tiny!! she looks like a little black ball of fluff..greatest gift ever

Merry Christmas everyone xoxoxo

you better post pics ASAP!

 

[KittyT]

A better way to protest would have been to avoid it altogether. Why make a statement like that when folks are just trying to have fun? It seems very mean spirited and honestly, rather crass.

Because I find that most people completely fail to think about things like this altogether, unless someone points it out to them.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

A better way to protest would have been to avoid it altogether. Why make a statement like that when folks are just trying to have fun? It seems very mean spirited and honestly, rather crass.

I'll second (or is it third or fourth?) the motion. Charles started the thread all in good fun, and bravo to that. It spreads a little joy and happiness seeing what others got. When you decided to boycott the threat, you should've done just that - boycott it and not post your nastygram.

And now, back to our program...

So far, I haven't gotten what I really wanted yet - some snow - but it's been on our forecast since last Saturday continuing through Friday. I made a dash to the market yesterday afternoon for a few things and when I came out, a car was just pulling in to the spot next to me with a good inch on it. I asked where they'd driven in from, and found out they come from less than 10 miles away and they'd been getting snow all day while we were sitting high and dry and sunny (at 28 degrees) here. But I got several Amazon gift certificates from friends saying "I hope you find some more cool old movies to share with us!"

 

[Spitfire]

I had a wonderfull christmas with my 87 year old father, my sweet mother in law, my oldest (29)son and his friend and my youngest (19) son - and not least my beautifull wife.
Just being together was the greatest gift.

But I also got some good, welchosen CDs, a nice bottle of Old Bushmill Irish whiskey, a DVD version of Harry Connick jr's fabolous, classic New York koncert, the book Life's too short to cry by Tim Vigors - a Battle of Britain Ace, And the best gift of all - from my darling wife - a long weekend in Rome in january. At a beautifull hotel opposite Pantheon. Cant wait.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

I got to see a clerk in a corner store give an old man in a walker a $50 supermarket gift card, telling him "someone left it for you", then winking at me and whispering it was from the clerk, but a secret.
I got a silly gift at the company party raffle, one which the firehouse down the street tells me will suit a teenager just right.
I got to see the neighborhood Christmas parade I thought I had missed, on Christmas Eve, as one neighbor called it a wonderfully cheesy kitch little affair, and worked up enough nerve this year to follow along in the joyous, smiling crowd. That's where I met a nice single neighbor lady who complimented me on my style (white tuxedo shirt, black ascot, red satin smoking jacket, linen cap, cigaret holder & flask). After a few blocks I got, to me, a compliment - "Are you a writer?" she asked (no, just a typesetter). This good woman insisted on refilling my flask ("make sure it's empty" "No problem!") with her home made hot spiced wine before giving me a goodnight kiss on the cheek (and her phone number).
Outstanding.
Merry Christmas Day to all my Lounge friends.

Firstly, congrats on what might turn out to be a very memorable Christmas eve!

Secondly, I live two doors down from the man who organizes the Magical Christmas Truck and has for more than 20 years! It is truly a joy, and wondefully kitsch, to see it coming down the street. And, living in L.A. being isolated as it is, it gives people the chance to meet that neighbor or special someone that they may live right next door! Any reason, in this town, to bring people together. Merry Christmas!

 

[John in Covina]

My best gift so far is that mom was feeling better today than yesterday, she said Merry Christmas back to me and smiled a big smile.

Also that Max the Dachshund who hurt his back yesterday but the good news is he is still fairly mobile although in pain. He got a shot and meds from the emergency pet hospital yesterday. We'll try to see his vet this week when they come back.

It's not as bad as it could be and that is good.:eusa_clap

To be honest when it comes to the gift portion of Christmas for me, it is usually a bit of a let down since no one will bother to ask what i want. (Or get it if I for me if I should happen to tell them.) I get clothes I don't like a lot and things I don't want or need most of the time.

I give gift certifacates so others can select something they just might like or need and by doing so I try to lead by example. (Hint Hint!)

 

[FedoraGent]

Magneto.

My best present was Magneto's love that goes well past Christmas. I couldn't hope for anything more.

FG.