Disappointed with Christmas Presents ~ Yes I am!

[K'Ehleyr]

So for a Christmas present I sent one of my oldest friends ~ 30 years through first loves, first David Essex concerts, first bra fittings, first elicit ciggies behind the dung heap, first 'I'm going to be sick ~ hold my hair', first and second marriages (in her case!), first 'I'm in Dubai and I'm bored come and see me'... sorry I forgot myself...
So I lovingly wrapped a gorgeous pair of black suede gloves and sent.

What did I get in return? A bloody 'round Robin' letter of photos of her and her daughter on their new horses!

Sometimes you wonder why you are still friends with people!


(My tongue is firmly in my cheek whilst typing this ~ but )

 

[Jetfire]

I am not getting any presents and I cannot afford to give any out.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

I am not getting any presents and I cannot afford to give any out.

I can send you a photo of my friends new horses if you want

Or you can just take a K'Eh Christmas Hug'n'kiss xx
and I'll PM you a mince pie

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

I kinder already know that I'm getting, from both mum and dad. Not sure about siblings, but I generally either before or after Christmas buy things I want for myself, such as buying Inception a few weeks ago, as I knew no-one would buy it for me. If I receive anything from my sister it would be nice, but doesn't bother me if i don't get anything. As I get older Christmas isn't about presents, it's about family. This year it's gonna be nice and small.

 

[Dukat's Major]

That's a bummer. I never got the hang of Christmas presents myself---I either give way too much or not at all. I try to reciprocate the level of present I know I'm getting, but sometimes it gets mismatched. Perhaps she didn't know that you were exchanging physical gifts this year? If she did then yeah, a boilerplate letter is a crappy gift.

I used to get all sorts of awful gifts from my first boyfriend. Egads, he was a terrible gift-giver. When I was 19 I was interested in both philosophy and Star Trek, so he gets me a philosophy of Star Trek book. It adequately failed to be either a good book about Star Trek or philosophy. His other gifts were pretty similar in concept.

 

[Jetfire]

I am not getting any presents and I cannot afford to give any out.

I can send you a photo of my friends new horses if you want

Or you can just take a K'Eh Christmas Hug'n'kiss xx
and I'll PM you a mince pie

I will be ok.

 

[trampledamage]

I have young kids, so I know Christmas Day will be filled with squeals of joy! Helped along by the fact that young master trampledamage doesn't do waiting to find out about stuff - he needed to know he was getting a Woody doll for Christmas or he would have exploded in October!

And I got him a cuddly cushion/toy dog thing (little miss is getting a unicorn in the same range) and since he was helping me wrap the little miss's pressie I showed him what he was getting too - he's already named it Bullseye and has been talking to the wrapped present under the tree ever since

 

[BolianAuthor]

As I like to tell people who don't get presents from me... it's not that I'm cheap... it's just that it's not your birthday.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I have no idea what I'm getting from my parents this year. Last year they bought my Acer notebook and gave me money. I only asked them for three things this year "Inception" on DVD (The Limited Edition Set if they got it), Batman and Robin Volume Two, and Superman:Secret Origins. My brother got me "She-Ra:Princess of Power" Season One. My friends as far as I know haven't got me anything yet...they know I work from a list so they normally wait until I tell them what I want lol.

 

[JarodRussell]

Are you really judging your friends by the kind of presents you get from them?

And if you look at it closely... You list a long list of events in their live that you shared and enjoyed. And then get disappointed when - as a present - they send you pictures of another part of their life (probably hoping that you might enjoy that as well).

 

[K'Ehleyr]

I kinder already know that I'm getting, from both mum and dad. Not sure about siblings, but I generally either before or after Christmas buy things I want for myself, such as buying Inception a few weeks ago, as I knew no-one would buy it for me. If I receive anything from my sister it would be nice, but doesn't bother me if i don't get anything. As I get older Christmas isn't about presents, it's about family. This year it's gonna be nice and small.

If you've watched Inception already, and I hope you haven't, as it's a pressie! Then would you tell me what it's all about! I'm not going to Wiki it ~ I understand the premise, but I'm just not sure if I understand the outcome!

That's a bummer. I never got the hang of Christmas presents myself---I either give way too much or not at all. I try to reciprocate the level of present I know I'm getting, but sometimes it gets mismatched. Perhaps she didn't know that you were exchanging physical gifts this year? If she did then yeah, a boilerplate letter is a crappy gift.

I used to get all sorts of awful gifts from my first boyfriend. Egads, he was a terrible gift-giver. When I was 19 I was interested in both philosophy and Star Trek, so he gets me a philosophy of Star Trek book. It adequately failed to be either a good book about Star Trek or philosophy. His other gifts were pretty similar in concept.

The same happened with my neighbour today. I'd bought her and her son 'token' gifts and she showed up with a bag full for us! Now I feel I have to go out tomorrow and buy her something else! It is truly a sticky situation!

"Egads" ~ was that his name or an explaination Either would be excellent!

And never buy a book for someone else, although 'Egads' thoughts were definately in the right place ~ I could never buy a book for Man, as he is far too picky about subject, author, the 'way that it is written', lack of information contained in the preface, etc...
I managed to buy him one that he liked and he has bought everything the guy has written ever since ~ which is good for him, and the author, but crap for me as I know have to find another!

I have young kids, so I know Christmas Day will be filled with squeals of joy! Helped along by the fact that young master trampledamage doesn't do waiting to find out about stuff - he needed to know he was getting a Woody doll for Christmas or he would have exploded in October!

And I got him a cuddly cushion/toy dog thing (little miss is getting a unicorn in the same range) and since he was helping me wrap the little miss's pressie I showed him what he was getting too - he's already named it Bullseye and has been talking to the wrapped present under the tree ever since

Love it!
On the big clear out of my abode I found a Unicorn (toy, stuffed, smaller than 5" ~ sadly but then again had it been a real unicorn I wouldn't have been able to... ) and placed it on top of my new wardrobe.
Man looked up, noticed said Unicorn and enquired why it was there? To which I replied "For luck" Shook my head and went to sleep ~ sometimes Men just don't understand

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Are you really judging your friends by the kind of presents you get from them?

And if you look at it closely... You list a long list of events in their live that you shared and enjoyed. And then get disappointed when - as a present - they send you pictures of another part of their life (probably hoping that you might enjoy that as well).

No, JarodRussell, I am not really judging my friends by the presents I receive from them.
If you read the end of my OP you will see that I included the disclaimer that my "tongue was firmly in my cheek" whilst commenting on this.
All I am trying to point out is 'don't rub my nose in the fact that you and your daughter have two new horses' whilst I just have a fat cat that just won't rein on.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

If you've watched Inception already, and I hope you haven't, as it's a pressie! Then would you tell me what it's all about! I'm not going to Wiki it ~ I understand the premise, but I'm just not sure if I understand the outcome!

Saw it at the cinemas three times. So it wouldn't count as a pressie. I probably shouldn't have brought it for myself, as I skipped several Weight Watcher appointments during the month.

I do miss not having my siblings around. It's been around at least 3 years since the 4 of us were together at this time of year.

 

[trampledamage]

There's a brilliant scene in dinnerladies where Dolly's complaining about this very problem - hang on, I'll see if I can find it quoted...

*time passes*

Dolly: Bob's sister, who usually keeps my present pretty much at bath cube level, has upgraded me to a cafetiere!
Bren: You mean you've opened it already?
Dolly: Well, how else do I know what price range I'm batting back against? I'd done her a germicidal hand cream, but no, actually, that's not wasted, I can divert that to the paper boy.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

There's a brilliant scene in dinnerladies where Dolly's complaining about this very problem - hang on, I'll see if I can find it quoted...

*time passes*

Dolly: Bob's sister, who usually keeps my present pretty much at bath cube level, has upgraded me to a cafetiere!
Bren: You mean you've opened it already?
Dolly: Well, how else do I know what price range I'm batting back against? I'd done her a germicidal hand cream, but no, actually, that's not wasted, I can divert that to the paper boy.

Genius! I love that show
Whatever happened to bathcubes? Now you just get bath-bombs ~ personally I blame the Taliban!

My paperboy (I love saying that ~ almost as much as I love saying 'a bird within a bird within a bird' ) delivered a Christmas card with the papers obviously hoping for a tip.
I duely replied with a card and within gave to tip "never drink from the yellow snow, cos the yellow snow is where the huskies go" *drum roll please*

And now I'm off to bed, G'nite all x

 

[trampledamage]

I am the paper boy (old lady ), but no way am I writing 100 Christmas cards, even if they do give me money!

 

[JiNX-01]

I used to get all sorts of awful gifts from my first boyfriend. Egads, he was a terrible gift-giver. When I was 19 I was interested in both philosophy and Star Trek, so he gets me a philosophy of Star Trek book. It adequately failed to be either a good book about Star Trek or philosophy. His other gifts were pretty similar in concept.

Hmmm. I think I'd give the guy points for effort. At least he was paying enough attention to know what your interests are.

 

[WillsBabe]

There's a brilliant scene in dinnerladies where Dolly's complaining about this very problem - hang on, I'll see if I can find it quoted...

*time passes*

Dolly: Bob's sister, who usually keeps my present pretty much at bath cube level, has upgraded me to a cafetiere!
Bren: You mean you've opened it already?
Dolly: Well, how else do I know what price range I'm batting back against? I'd done her a germicidal hand cream, but no, actually, that's not wasted, I can divert that to the paper boy.

Hey, thanks for posting that. I love dinnerladies. Must go and watch a few episodes.

When I was 19 I was interested in both philosophy and Star Trek, so he gets me a philosophy of Star Trek book. It adequately failed to be either a good book about Star Trek or philosophy. His other gifts were pretty similar in concept.

I've read that book, it is pretty rubbish. But I actually think that's a thoughtful gift. Your boyfriend didn't know it was going to be a lousy book.

 

[Kestra]

I don't particularly like receiving presents. I think it's much more fun to give them. And I don't like giving everyone you know a present. Family, and maybe a Secret Santa with a group of friends. Maybe it's because we're at the age where people are getting married and having babies, but I feel like there are 1000 events a year where I have to purchase presents and I don't really think it's necessary at Christmas.

I did cards this year though. Proud of myself!

 

[Amaris]

I do my best to give gifts that have some kind of meaning between me and the receiver. For example, a few years ago, I gave my dad an 8x10 glossy (in pretty frame) of his grandfather. All he had was a dirty, torn, old, proof size picture. One night I sneaked into his wallet, got the picture, worked on it for weeks to get all the tears, scratches, dirt and everything off of it, scanned it, continued working on it, and so on Christmas morning, presented him with a large, clean, clear picture of his grandfather, the man who he had adored throughout his childhood but had lost to illness in his teens. It was better than any high dollar gift I could have bought him.

My mom loves black and white photography. When she was in high school, she took photography class and fell in love with it, but her family could never have afforded a professional camera. So, before Christmas (two years ago), I found a website selling used camera equipment, and bought her a (non-digital) Minolta SLR. I bought a case, a tripod, batteries, film, the whole works. You should have seen her face on Christmas when she opened that box. For one brief moment, she was a high school photography student again. When it comes to the people I care about, I listen all year long, or at least try.

This year, due to severe economic constraints, it's muffins. But they're homemade muffins.