Christmas gifts that mystify?

So, how many out there got a Christmas gift that you can't figure out why the giver gave it to you?

For example, my parents gave me a backpacking water filter. I haven't done any backpacking for a good 10 years, now, and all the "camping" I've done lately is car camping, where there's a readily available supply of potable water. Are they perhaps suggesting the water from the taps in LA isn't safe to drink? Giving me a start on putting together an earthquake kit?

Oh, well... I guess I'll have to start doing some backpacking again.

I guess I'll have to start doing some backpacking again.

Perhapse that was the response they were after? A gentle nudge out the door for you?

Wish I had the time to go backpacking. I haven't been in almost 3 years.

Back to the topic at hand, most of my presents were spot on this year. Including this kick ass monitor.

I didn't really have any gifts that begged for an explanation from myself, but several that would confuse other people. For example, I saw this great coffee table book in a bookstore on my trip to Seattle, but I wasn't able to find it anywhere back home. Well, one family friend got it for me:




But I also got the Western Digital 250GB SATA drive (I went for size over speed). I know my 450GB doesn't stand up to those of you here with nearly a terabyte of storage space, but I love it

Twas a fine Christmas

several that would confuse other people.

Yea, I have an old books fetish and asked for a few by some obscure acient authors and got a few odd looks from relitives.

I got the "Arnold Schwarzenegger Workout" CD. Luckily, it's a compilation of semi-popular songs, instead of anything related to him.

We're still trying to figure out why he chose "It's Raining Men" (ack!) as one of the tracks...

-brrendan

I guess I'll have to start doing some backpacking again.

Perhapse that was the response they were after? A gentle nudge out the door for you?

I got my answer, and that wasn't it. They had a bit of a misconception about the hiking and biking I've been doing (a few hours at most), and thought it would be useful. But also because I've been doing a bit of travelling in (a) 3rd world country, although there's bottled water everywhere you look. But they won't mind if it turns out to be the gentle nudge out the door.

I know my 450GB doesn't stand up to those of you here with nearly a terabyte of storage space, but I love it

If it makes you feel better, I've got about 25GB total, spread between three machines.

We're still trying to figure out why he chose "It's Raining Men" (ack!) as one of the tracks...

Heh. Is the CD marketed towards women, perhaps? What's the rest of the track list like?

A LEGO Star Wars Yoda. 1078 peices.

Woah, that would be cool! Unless it's Yoda from the prequels.

Ask and ye shall receive:

1. Save The Overtime For Me - Gladys Knight & The Pips
2. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
3. 867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone
4. Let Your Body Rock - Champaign
5. Love Not War - Michael Case Kissel
6. Think I'm In Love - Eddie Money
7. I'm So Proud - Deniece Williams
8. Save The Overtime For Me - Gladys Knight & The Pips
9. It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls
10. Let Your Body Rock - Champaign
11. Love Not War - Michael Case Kissel
12. Burning For You - Blue Oyster Cult
13. I'm So Proud - Deniece Williams

ouch!

-brendan

The one I really can't figure out that I get once every couple of years is a really nice Cross pen set. Different family members have given me this and always say something along the lines of "everyone needs a really good pen set" when I open it. Perhaps that's true, but I don't think it's meant for me. The reason? I can't keep up with the stupid things. I loose every pen I ever use no matter how hard I try. So I NEVER use the nice pen sets people buy me. They just sit in a drawer and collect dust because I'm afraid to take them out and lose them. Yet every couple of years, I acquire another set . . .

Maybe they know you lose a lot of pens?

At least it's not as bad as what happened to me a couple years back. I got about 9 different ties off different people. I think I've only worn about 2-3 of them ever as the rest have eye strain inducing patterns. Wave patterns are fine but having wavy bright yellow and blue stripes just doesn't work.