It's been a good Christmas. What did you get?
I got several gift cards. One to a local car wash from my wife good for a year's worth of car washes at the rate that I get my car washed. She also got me a fancy bottle opener and a beer stein. I got a Tim Horton's gift card from my mother-in-law and father-in-law. I have taken to getting a bucket of coffee from there in the mornings. They also got me a gift card to a very nice local Italian restaurant and several gift cards for Sirius/XM that will be enough to renew my satellite radio subscription for the next year. I got a gift card to Red Lobster from my dad.
I have one more Christmas party to go to tomorrow.
We are working people. My father-in-law is semi-retired. He works part time for a funeral home. He's been in that business for most of his life. His boss gave him a nice cash bonus this year as well as gift cards to a nice local restaurant and to Dillard's. I'm a truck driver and I got a nice cash bonus from my employer for Christmas. I really needed it, too.
We feel fortunate in that we have what we need as well as a little extra to spend on each other. We had a nice dinner today and relaxed in each others company. It would be nice to have a lot of money, but I think that as long as we have what we need with a little breathing room, we will be okay.
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The patterns are really intricate and complex. She is also into something called zentangle which has the same objective that you have described. It's like the zen of doodling. Here is an example of one of her creations.
Today, most of the hubbub was about our son and nephew, both of whom are ~very~ happy young men today.
One got an acoustic/electric hybrid guitar...
The other, a PS4.
Nevertheless, my people know my quirky interests and affectations well... and so:
1.) "Crow" stuff -- a 'POP!' figure and a vintage movie t-shirt
2.) Crescent moon pendant with a rainbow accent
3.) an assortment of books on the funeral/death-care industry (trust me... this was perfect!)
At the pub's Christmas party last weekend, my 'Secret Santa' (and favorite bartender) found me two "Big Hero 6" Baymax t-shirts, as well as having me a work-shirt made with the pub's old logo on the front, and the words KITCHEN MAGICIAN on the back!
(her dad owns a screen-print shop that used to make the work uniforms for the pub, and he still has the stencils)
it's been a good year...
you can watch videos and movies, read books, get newspaper subscriptions, play games and surf the web (lousy for posting on, though). do you know if she got you a prime account or has one you can tether yours to? that opens up a whole world of free music and movies.
sounds like you had a great day 
What did you give?
I also got her some gift cards to her favorite restaurant. We got my father-in-law and mother-in-law a gift card to their favorite restaurant. We also got fil some blue tooth headphones and a huge jar of pretzels. We also got mil some jewelry.
We got my dad one of those dog-shaming calendars, a picture frame that says "World's greatest dog" for a pic of his puppy, and some cologne. We got his dog a gift card to Wendy's. He really loves his dog.
We did a drawing for my siblings, mom, and step-dad as well as my brothers-in-law (I have three sisters). I drew my step-dad and got him a couple of bottles of his favorite liqueur.
I have four nieces. We got them all a few items of clothing and a few toys. I also have bank accounts for them that I started when they were born. Each year on their birthdays and on Christmas, I make a deposit into their accounts. The money will be given to them when they graduate high school.
my 2 boys spent the night Christmas Eve, woke to make coffee and waffles for us all... spent the day clearing brush and tending burn piles out back 
as has become the custom we didn't exchange presents
as they love to tease me, my youngest shared this "news article" when we came in for supper 
http://www.theonion.com/article/family-knows-better-than-to-fall-for-moms-little-b-37673
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From the top this is a pair of 5.11 boots for work which are super comfortable.
Under that is a dice game called AGE OF WAR
Next to the dice game is a ivCar bluetooth adapter for my car. I despise morning talking dj's and their insipid ramblings about nonsense that happened yesterday.
Next is a pair of Nike Air Max 95 in a sick colorway & oh so comfortable. Like walking in cotton. [link:http://www.amazon.com/Nike-Mens-Cave-Purple-Running/dp/B00CJZ475I/ref=sr_1_15?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1451259294&sr=1-15&nodeID=7141123011&keywords=nike+air+max+95|
Next to the nike is a Casio GD-350 in badass gray [link:http://www.amazon.com/Casio-Mens-GD350-8-Shock-Watch/dp/B00BU6TXEC/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1451259499&sr=1-1&nodeID=7141123011&keywords=casio+gd350|
My haul ruled so hard. My wife knows me so well.
Some handy-dandy gardening items, a corgi calendar, some books and other things. It was a wonderful holiday.
