Ok, we all can admit that we're just boys in grown up bodies...and we all know that the first thing boys do after Christmas is tell each other what they got. Of course we all know that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth but, let's face it: everyone loves to get presents!
The Admiral bought me a new Tilley hat- I think she was embarrased to be seen with me when I wore my old torn, sweat-stained one, which I will never part with. Wanting to ensure Koinonia stays in top shape and I stay out of her hair, she also got me a gift card to the local boat shop. (No, not WM). My son and daugher in law supplied a 2013 Eldridge Tide and Pilot book as well as a rowing friendly life vest, the Stormy Seas SV-100, which hasn't arrived yet but I hope does soon as I'm planning my New Years Day row- going around Cape Horn this year!
In the non-sailing catagories: Movie tickets (they all know I'm a cheapskate and detest the high cost of going to the movies), whole bean coffee, some great cold weather base layer clothing (a foretelling of a cold winter?), a new pair of green low top Converse sneakers (my boat shoe of choice) and more than a few bottles of red wine.
My daughter, a very thoughtful gift giver who unfortunately couldn't make it up from Punta Gorda this Christmas, sent a very nice card, more red wine and this:
http://www.milagrotequila.com/
If the Tequila is half as nice as the bottle, it'll be wonderful. I have resisted tasting it yet but it smells absolutely smashing!
One of the things I enjoy about Christmas is buying gifts for my family and some friends. Although I'm a confirmed procrastinator and this year has had more than it's share of distractions, I had a great time, suplied some thoughful, funny, and ridiculous gifts. We all ate too much, sang carols too little and enjoyed yet another family gathering, both very young to the very old. These are precious days!
Ok, enough about me but I had to go first because, well, I started this thread! Who's next?
Bob23...the blessed!
My "Admiral" bought me a set of charts for Lake Huron. Maybe She's sending me somewhere this spring. I think She said She's going
with me. I bought Her a Nexus 7 but haven't told Her yet that I'm going to convert it into our new Chart Plotter. By the way, if anyone
is taking their teak off to work inside, be careful. That stuff through the Com-Pac Co. is REALLY expensive. (I broke some of it during the removal process), "darn that 5200".
I got a Vizion headlamp and a single burner alcohol stove for the boat.....
But most importantly I got to see my family, whom many I havent seen in almost two years!
I also got a Frodors Guide to the Virgin Islands...we will be going there in March.
It was a great Christmas indeed.
our oldest daughter gave me 2 books, "sailing alone around the world" and "the greatest sailing stories ever told".
my wife, joanie, gave me 4 books, all part of a series by tim dorsey.
our middle daughter gave me "the bourne trilogy" on blueray.
and our youngest daughter also gave me reading material, another book in the series by tim dorsey.
(if you haven't read his books, and love a good laugh, check them out)
carl
The best Christmas present was to have my three sons and their families with us for Christmas. It was our year.
At our age Sheri and I have difficulty finding things that we either want or need. The only thing I got for the boat was a Blue Wave 2 gallon water container with a spigot. Plan to mount it on a yet to be made platform in one of the cabin bulkhead cutouts. I got several books, "Six Frigates" the history of the founding of the U. S. Navy, and "Running with the Kenyans". And various running shorts and socks, always wearing them out.
Crazy Carl reads Tim Dorsey. No wonder he's crazy.:D
It's always nice when you get stuff you were hoping for. Of course, nautical things were at the top of this years list (seems like since the arrival of my CP 16, Pegasus, nautical goodies are really coveted - of course it didn't hurt to drop hints!). I tend to encourage my four off-spring to pool their resources so they can chip in and get something cool. This year it was a HawkEye D10D Depth Sounder. Nice to know where the bottom is (or isn't!). I'll be heading over to the "help" forum regarding installation of same. 1st mate (or is it Admiral?) never fails to know what's inside my head. So, on Christmas morning appeared a Seahawk 2 inflatable boat - with a motor mount (I'll leave the rowing to Bob23!).
Of course, we (wife Barbara and I) got non nautical stuff as well. My wife and kids are always dressing me up. They are like fashion police! So, I got some really nice sweaters, jeans and a mac type coat (for wearing while shoveling that sure to come 2' snow!). Barb got a new TV for her brand new mega-kitchen (which is now 98 percent done!). The kitchen wasn't ready for Thanksgiving, or her birthday 12/12, but thankfully was ready for Christmas breakfast for most of the clan. My favorite "toy" was a Roomba that I was talked into buying. I don't know how well it cleans, but it can't be beat for entertainment value as the grand-kids chased it around the kitchen and then ran screaming when it turned around and appeared to chase them.
I hope all the CPYOA members had a great Christmas and will have a great sailing New Year!
Marty K.
Most importantly we are seeing our entire family over the holidays.
Sailing Goodies;
Two coastal self inflating life vests
Two cooking aboard books
Sailboat shaped wine bottle cork
Sodastream soda maker
Ordered our new 115 furling headsail
Brenda also gave Mike a hint with the gift of a fishing book. "Fishing For Dummies". It has something to do with the fact my total fishing tally for two years averages one fish per year.
Mike and B
For sure the best gifts are the times we spend with family. Heck, I don't know about you, but I already have more "stuff" than I can possibly use in one lifetime. But the relationships we have with others are the real "stuff" life is made of. Probably the best gift I recieved was the card from my daughter. We are very close and often tell each other how much we love each other.
This Christmas we had some family gatherings ranging from 82 years to 3. And everything in between. As I watched the grandkids (no, not mine) dance, I realized one needs to cherish these moments because they are one of a kind, maybe not to ever be repeated.
May we not waste our time being caught up in trivilalities, drinking cheap beer or sailing ugly boats. I think we've got the ugly boat thing licked!
Bob23
Now, where's that Tequilla?
Here's what I got for Christmas (somebody took this picture and emailed it to me - taken of my new-to-me CP19):
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8079/8312902876_d29af16f68.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/esler/8312902876/)
I gotta tell you my Christmas story. We had to travel to Sun City on the other side of Tampa Bay for Christmas. On a normal day it is a fun trip over the Sunshine Skyway and a country drive. On a holiday it is pure hell.
We were in no hurry to get home so I drove the speed limit which is 70 mph. Most others on that road were blowing my doors off - had to be close to 90. It was no surprise upon approaching the bridge toll booth that someone cut me off just as we got in line. On any other day I would have been upset, but it was Christmas day and my wife and I were enjoying sharing the day s events too much to care.
As I handed over my money the toll taker waved me on stating that the guy in front of me- the one that cut me off- insisted upon paying my toll - It was a small gift that made a big impression on me - There is hope for us after all methinks --- Merry Christmas-Matt
Santa left me a used Genoa for my CP-16 and that'll include a trip to Sailcare to get it cleaned up :)
Matt: Great story! It's nice when even a little faith in people is restored.
Ted: That's gotta be one of the nicest photos I've seen. And a great present.
bob23
(PS: Gotta love Admiral B's boat shoes!)
I'm in the dog house with my gift :-[
For several weeks my wife has been hinting what she wanted for Christmas, to begin with,
1. It had to be sporty looking
2. Red was her color of choice
3. it had to be able to go from zero, to 250 in about 6 seconds
4 She wanted a big red bow tied to it when she would see it on our drive way Christmas morning.
After doing some looking I found it, a nice red sporty Italian model with just enough chrome on it. Capable of doing well over the 250 in 6 seconds so , I rushed home with it and had it positioned just right on my driveway with a nice red bow.
First thing Christmas morning the wife rushes out the front door to the driveway, A few minutes later she enters the house slamming the door behind her and continues to walk right past me, nothing was said!
OK, by know your asking your self, What did I buy her..................
A bathroom scale!
Glenn B.
i got three "sailing" books (thanks for the input mike and brenda) and not one but two dashboard hula girls for the 52. pretty sweet----oh yeah some socks too haha
Quote from: Glenn on December 27, 2012, 10:13:34 AM
OK, by know your asking your self, What did I buy her..................
A bathroom scale!
Glenn B.
And you're still breathing and able to write this?? wow
mel
Glenn:
You got off easy. I'd still be in intensive care with the surgeons trying to remove the scale from my skull. Maybe you need to take some courses on gift buying. The Ferrari is cheaper than medical bills.
Bob23
I must admit,
I heard this joke some time ago and I still get a laugh out of it!
Glenn
That was good....I didn't think you'd actually be alive if you'd really pulled that scale stunt. I have a friend who bought his wife a lawnmower for her birthday. They're still married, amazingly!
bob23
I got my 16 a year and a half ago. Told the admiral if I get it not to worry about Christmas, BD, or anniversary presents for the next few years. I think I got a good deal.
You got a great deal, Knots! Where do you sail?
Bob23
For my wife she told me I just had to get her the trip to Oklahoma to be there for family. :D
I did all the work for the most part, and took care of any issues while we were running along.
I would do this even if it were just a trip, ;) but I also have to be able to handle any stresses that come up like schedule issues, etc. I guess one could say I am the detail oriented guy. I keep the wife out of trouble while she enjoys herself. ;D
I was very lucky with weather and such, and everything went off with very little hitches.
For me, well, The truck needed a lot of work as it had a few things wrong that would have costed big money. Luckily I just agreed to work with my mechanic friend doing graphics again, and he had been on my case about buying a set of headlights for my truck telling me the difference was huge.
So the wife said "Merry Christmas from me!" when I asked her about her thoughts about them. :o SHE GOT OUT EASY.......but I am hard to buy for. ;)
The lights sucked on my truck, but these now are HID lights. REALLY AWESOME. 8)
Driving at night is like driving during the day. :o
I was hoping she was going to tell me that the bottom job and foiled rudder job were all done......... looks like I still have to do all of that yet >:( ;D
Time with the family was cool, cant wait to get the vid up, finishing the editing now actually. :)
Mac
B and I just received a set of four boat glasses with "Wrinkles" printed on them. We got these from our youngest son's girlfriend who really is a keeper. Her family is full of sailors, so she knew just what to get us.
I'll use them to drink that bottle of Drambuie that Bob is going to owe me after the 2nd Annual Dinghy Rowing Challenge.
Mike
I was just looking at Lexan glasses for the boat after I realized I hadn't bought Koinonia anything for Christmas! They look great and I'm sure you will indeed put them to good use-drinking the wine of defeat after the CLR 2013 ADRC! Maybe you can loan me one glass so I can have a taste of Drambuie- while I'm waiting for you to finish! Hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!Hahahaha!
This Annual Dingy Rowing Challenge could be fun...there could be a prize which is passed around from year to year. I expect some basic rules would be laid down- No racing shells, the rower must use the tender standard to his mother ship, bumping and cutting off as well as general cheating would be not only encouraged but rewareded!
Planning the 3rd annual New Years Day Row...can't wait!
bob23
My special friend (who's a woman ), got me some Tea Tree products that smell really nice and she knew I was out (not that I smell badly), she also got me a very large, softsided luggage with rollers (I think its for booty call night), the most glorious soup mug ---- although, I think its the perfect size for coffee, she thinks not. I also got from my lady "friend" a Weather (FXi) Bushnell forecaster --- problem is that it needs to be hooked to a computer with internet access. I consider that a little redundant, since I have a bazillion weather sites for each occassion. I makes a hardware style forecaster obsolete unless it has its own satellite receiver to have it on all the time or on the boat or in the car or somewhere that my internet connection isn't. She gets to return that one.
This just in -
My good friend Ed (amazingly after our November cruise, still is) came by to wish me a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. He brought a little gift - An Embarrassment of Mangoes (A Caribbean Interude) by Ann Vanderhoof. The very first chapter is: Island Time. Hmmm. Salty19? ;)
Looks like it'll be a great read, but it is probably better suited to be read by my 30 year old son who still has dreams (my dream had already arrived in the form of Pegasus!). Maybe in my next life... or if I can back up 40 years! ::)
Marty K.
My wife had this made for me.... https://www.5buckdecal.com/sail-life-decal-with-a-picnic-cat-sailboat-p-1097.html?zenid=b82d4ad61bf6b8157901bc584161ab02 (https://www.5buckdecal.com/sail-life-decal-with-a-picnic-cat-sailboat-p-1097.html?zenid=b82d4ad61bf6b8157901bc584161ab02)