WHATDIDYAGET?

[Bob23]

  Let's face it: We're just a bunch of boys in grown up bodies, right? Back in the days before we had to admit that, when we bumped into our friends the day after Christmas, our first question was "what did you get?"
 These days, I'm more  concerned with giving gifts than getting gifts. It's not that I'm a super saint, but I just enjoy giving more than ever. But I'll be the first to admit, I like recieving presents, too. Of course it goes without saying that the true reason for all the hoopla is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. But I celebrate that everyday so it's not that big a deal to celebrate it one more day of the year.
  I also enjoy the reuniting of family...wonderful to have our daughter visit us from Florida-she says she'll freeze to death- it's a balmy 26 up here now. It's wonderful to have family members that we don't see often gathered around the table. As one gets older, that becomes more cherished than ever.
  Back to the topic: I did not get hardy any sailing stuff nor any rowing stuff at all. A boat shop gift card, a waterproof notepad, a cruising journal that will hopefully come in handy next October, and a great looking coffee table book about old 2, 3 and 4 masted schooners of yesteryear. That's about it for the boat related gifts and I won't bore you with the others although some Double Chocolate Coffee Stout that I'm dying to try, a bottle of El Espolon tequila that I did try, 1 years subscription to Sirius radio because I'm too cheap to renew it myself, an LL Bean Woolrich style shirt, Acorn slippers to replace the stinky ones I have now, Deadmans Reach organic coffee (whole bean, of course), chocolate, movie tickets and my favorite Key Lime marmalade top the list.
  Looking around at the faces at the table last night, I realized what a blessed man I am. To have one's family around the table gabbing, eating and drinking and not fighting is a true blessing. It's almost beyond words to describe. And anyone who knows me knows that I'm rarely at a loss for words.
Next up?
Bob23
 

[Tim Gardner]

The Admiral and arose at 3AM and drove to St.Augustine FL, The destination being my younger daughter's home.  Arriving about 1 in the afternoon Christmas day.  Our older daughter and her family (along with my newest granddaughter, whom I have yet to meet) will rondesvous wuth us there today.

So here's what I got:  The whole fam damily together in Fl.  Best gift ever.

TG

[crazycarl]

we (i) went to mass with friends.  and the church did not burn down.

afterward, we went out for breakfast and then home to skype with our youngest daughter in denver.

then we headed over to our friends home where we spent the afternoon and evening.

no gifts exchanged, joanie and i ordered new double pane glass doors for the fireplace.

we'll have our christmas gathering jan 5th when our daughter from denver comes out.  we'll see our other daughters then also.

so, even though christmas is behind us, we still have something to look forward to


cc

[Salty19]

We had Christmas Eve day with my brothers side of the family with just the Admiral and I that evening.
Then Christmas day at the in-laws and the evening dinner with our neighbors, who are becoming close friends.

A noticeable absence was my father who passed away in late August of this year.  We don't tend to get too emotional on holidays, yet there was no doubt he was in everyone's thoughts as the mood was a little more somber than usual. Not a day has gone by where I haven't thought about him

Like a lot of you, we're blessed with family that gets along great.

The Admiral got me one of the small bluetooth Bose speaker systems. The two cheap wired speakers systems we've used over the years have been problematic when used on the boat, so hopefully this one will me more reliable. It sure sounds good!

[Mattlikesbikes]

No sailing stuff for me but I did get a new travel tripod for my camera.   But lots of presents for the ladies in my life. My wife and my 2 little girls and we also have 2 female dogs so I am way out numbered.  Out of all the presents my oldest one likes her plastic jeweler the best.  

[wes]

My amazing wife, who knows I do love a sailng book, managed to find me all of William F. Buckley Jr.'s memoirs about his sailing adventures: Airborne, Atlantic High, Racing through Paradise, and Wind Fall. All from the 1970s and 1980s, all out of print but she found used copies on Amazon. He's a very funny and engaging writer, once you get past realizing how rich he must have been to afford his enormous sailboat (30 tons displacement, 60' masts) and the staff to maintain and sail it.

Wes

[brackish]

I got to go to a funeral Christmas Eve day.  It was OK, my 86 year old neighbor who was a really great guy and wonderful neighbor lost his battle with cancer and truthfully it was his time to go given his very painful condition.

Christmas day I got to remove the stove and hood to locate the source of an odor emanating from the region.   Turned out to be a squirrel that had managed to find its way into the vent hood stack from above and pass away.  So after three hours of pulling out appliances, dewiring, removing the carcass, cleaning and disinfecting, rewiring and installing, all back to normal in time for the cooking of Christmas dinner.  Clark Griswald has nothing on me.

I got to feel the reason I will not be attending the Florida get together kick up a storm.  My next grandchild, a girl, is expected to be born on May 9th, and the Admiral, who does not trip drive anymore will need me as a chauffeur to get her to Nashville to help out with the event.

I got to surprise the Admiral with a shiny new girly style beach cruiser bicycle despite the fact that I've had it hidden at the house for several weeks and had to delete any computer references to the purchase before she saw them.  We have a new rails to trails 43 mile bike path very close to our house that we both plan to take advantage.

All in all a pretty good Christmas.

[kickingbug1]

   best thing i got from was from my daughter------an official bad news bears baseball jersey---with chicos bail bonds on the back.  they loved it at the tennis club this morning. thats my kid for you.

[skip1930]

nothing.

skip.

[BruceW]

I got an electric power washer I can use at the dock; it might help a bit with barnacles, too,  if I ever get a trailer so I can haul the boat out. Also have a new LED lantern; mainly for camping I think, but I could use it aboard as well.

Oh, and a virus....ugh. I have "lost some weight."

Best part was son home for the xmas holiday. We had a good time!

[Lafayette Bruce]

Wifey made a last minute decision and got me a coffee table book "Sailing" by Onne van der Wal.  284 pages of sailing eye candy.  Awesome!
Lafayette Bruce

[jthatcher]

i got a waterproof, floating  thingy for my iphone..   but, i don't have an iphone!   maybe my handheld gps will fit in it     

I got my wife a full set of foul weather gear...   it is raining today, so we may take a hike and test it out     Happy new year to you all!   jt

[DougN]

December 20th out of the blue I received a call from my old union hall in Detroit asking (with no effect on my pension) if I would come out of retirement for one week to work one of the Christmas shut-down jobs.I was shocked.A labor shortage in Detroit!Thinking my working and climbing days were behind me I reluctantly agreed.Having been gone for 3 1/2 years I was really worried about being able to keep up.I had to promise my wife that I would come home if it was too demanding.I was both surprised and proud that even though I'm "not as good as I once was" I was able to hold my own and occasionally even set the pace,but it took all I had.Came home last night greeted the wife and the dogs, didn,t even bother unloading the truck,and slept for 14 hours.I'm not kidding myself but even with all scrapes,bruises,couple of butterfly stitches and every single muscle aching,for a geezer like myself to be allowed to feel like a young man again if only for week was the best Christmas present I've ever had.Would I do it again?Don't really think I could........Everyone have a safe and happy New Year!........Doug                                                                                                    p.s.the best part is when I go to Chicago in a few weeks I'll have a check in my pocket to finally get that new outboard!

[waterwks4me]

Every Christmas my family meets at my sisters house in Pennsylvania.  As the family has been growing we are now up to 20+ members all staying at the same house.  Good thing we all get along so well.  The only somewhat sailing present I got was a waterproof case for my iPhone that has a external battery as well as a built in solar charging unit.  Kinda bulky but will be good for the boat and dinghy.

[BruceW]

that iphone thingy with the extra battery sounds interesting. What kind is it? I have a decent waterproof case for mine; also one of those music player portable gizmos that keeps the phone safe and plays music through its waterproof speakers. No extra battery though, which might be pretty cool.