November 27, 2007
The Mic is On: We’re Talking about Gifts
ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:00 pm
It’s Like Open Mic Only Different
Here’s how it works.
It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.
There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.
We’re Already Thinking about Them…
We might talk about:
- Gifts we gave
- Gifts we got
- Gifts we had to take back
- Gifts we wish we never got
- Gifts we re-gifted
And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and flamenco dancing (because we always get off topic, anyway.)
Oh, and bring links about gifts to share!
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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245 Comments to “The Mic is On: We’re Talking about Gifts”
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Joe said
Am I first???
Ooohhh, what a great gift!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hiya, Joe!
It’s a gift to see you!
ME Liz Strauss said
This is that time of the year when every visitor is a gift, indeed. The blogosphere sure gets wonky after Thanksgiving.
Joe said
Hey Liz,
What was your favorite gift you got when you were a little girl?
Joe said
I know, it’s almost like people have real lives to live.
ME Liz Strauss said
Wow, Joe!
I think it was the toy train that I thought was my brother’s. I watched him play with it for almost an hour before I said, “Hey, can I play?”
He said, “Sure, kid, it’s yours.”
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Joe,
That real life thing can get in the way. . . .
What was your favorite gift when you were growing up?
Joe said
Too funny.
I think mine was a Drum set that my cousin got one Christmas.
It’s a shame it wasn’t mine.
I did get a toy guitar though and learned now to play real music on it.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Hey Liz and Joe! Looks like Liz and I have the same taste in gifts – see image at http://www.doitmyselfblog.com/2007/gift-ideas-for-youth-with-disabilities/
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Joe!
I didn’t know you could play the guitar!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hiya, Glenda!
It’s a gift to see you too!
I’m going over to check the image now!
Joe said
Hey Glenda,
That does look a little familiar.
Who thought of it first, I wonder?
ME Liz Strauss said
Glenda,
It appears that you and Sandy shop at the same wrapping paper store. What a lovely bow you made!
Marti said
Evening, all!
Love and friendship are the greatest gifts….then money – LOL
Joe said
Yea, and Accordian, Piano, Organ, Banjo, Bells (I can;t spell Glockenspeil), Drums, Bass.
I think that’s about it. I did try the Saxaphone, but I didn’t like all the wettness on the mouthpiece.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
You’re so sweet, Liz. And Darrell says hi and to tell you that our Tuesday schedule revolves around open mic night. Like there’s a problem with that?
Marti said
And books. Books make GREAT gifts (right Glenda? LOL)
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Marti!
Give me love, frienship and money!
I’ll be okay.
Marti said
I can give you love and friendship…money’s pretty hard to come by around here these days – LOL
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe,
You’re a regular one-man band! So musical. Do you sing?
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Hey Marti. And books are definitely a great gift idea! Not too late to order for Christmas http://www.doitmyselfblog.com/ill-do-it-myself-the-book/
bj said
Hey, everybody!
Geez, isn’t that weird, Christmas was always such a big deal when I was a kid, but I can’t remember a single “stand out” gift. It was all just stuff.
But I remember visiting at Aunt Marie’s house later in the day and playing with all the cousins. That made the whole day special. We’re all scattered to the four winds now, and Aunt Marie is gone.
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Glenda!
Like there would ever be a problem with THAT! Tell him my husband has resigned himself to the fact.
ME Liz Strauss said
Marti,
I see you with thousands of dollars.
Joe said
I did a little backup in the Band I was in as a teen. Oh well, maybe I missed my calling, huh?
Naah, I was never That good.
Marti said
Hi bj! What a great story!
bj said
Joe, do you know how to fiddle? I’m the worst fiddler in the world, but I’ve only been playing a couple months.
Joe said
But, people DID say I was GIFTED!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey bj!
So cool you found a second to come over.
Yeah I know what you mean about traditions fading when the center goes away.
Marti said
I am celebrating one of my greatest gifts ever…today is middle son’s birthday. I haven’t seen him today {{sniffle) First time in 22 years I haven’t seen him on his birthday.
(Sorry for turning a bit maudlin there)
bj said
Yeah, Liz, I have some time now, we finally got Barry launched.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
lol Liz, I think Darrell has done the same. I’ve invited him to join us, but he doesn’t want to intrude. So that leaves my dance card empty for a few hours!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Marti!
Have a Klondike and big Liz grin coming atcha!
Joe said
Hey bj,
My fingers were too big for that little neck on the fiddle, and the bow always screeched when I tried to play it.
The upright bass had the exact same tuning, so I played that.
bj said
Oh, sorry Marti! I can understand you being sad about that. *hugs*
Marti said
Aww, thanks for the sweet thought, Liz. Got a timeline on that? LOL
ME Liz Strauss said
I know, bj,
Barry’s blog is looking fabulous. You should drop a link here.
Marti said
Joe I bet you’re a helluva musician!
bj said
LOL! My fingers were always too small for the guitar and never strong enough to do much beyond the first three frets. The fiddle feels good in my hands.
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe,
We’ve known you are gifted. The music explains your mathematical genius, comment man.
bj said
http://barrymoltz.com
I did the coding into wordpress. The design isn’t mine. It was a bit of a challenge to make all the bits editable by Barry.
Marti said
Joe, King of Puns, is “gifted” – LOL!
Joe said
Sounds like you found your calling bj. Just keep the screeching to a minimum please.
ME Liz Strauss said
I heard there was a challenge or two at the end, bj.
What kind of tricky things were there?
bj said
I’ll try, but it’s not easy. Funny, I’ve been a vocalist for years and now I’m either singing fiddle parts or fiddling vocal parts. Or both, though then they both get screwed up.
Marti said
Last year, my daughter asked to rescue a cat from a shelter for her Christmas gift. Spike has given us joy every day since then. Right now he’s playing hide and seek with the Christmas tree, making me smile….
ME Liz Strauss said
bj fiddling around with idea of singing.
Joe said
Liz, the funny thing is I always hated Math when I was a kid. I got better at it AFTER I started taking music lessons.
Go figure!
ME Liz Strauss said
Marti!
You are such a wonder. Your smile probably lights the room more than that tree.
bj said
The site was originally designed as a static html site, to be coded by someone who codes “old style” (think tag soup.) Trying to shoehorn that into wordpress and a (mostly) tableless design was the issue. Also coming up with a way to present the video so people didn’t come into a page that automatically started downloading a HUGE video file. There were some glitches too re forms and autoresponders for each and . . . ah, it’s launched, it’s working. Enough!
Marti said
{{blushes}}
bj said
Oh, SPIKE! What a cool Christmas gift! She’ll remember him all her life long.
bj said
Joe, that makes perfect sense. The music taught you math. Twelve tones, fifths, thirds, sevenths, diminished sevenths . . . oh yeah.
Joe said
I was thinking more about 1-2-3-4
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi bj,
So it was cleaning up an old structure to make for what will work elegantly. YEA for you!
Aruni said
This is my first year blogging and I now see what you mean by the ‘blogosphere getting wonky.’
I’m a hard person to buy gifts for because I feel like I have most of what I want/need. I don’t usually know what I want or need until a few days before I see it or think about it. My husband is the opposite. He has an Amazon wish list and he often sends me emails of the things he would like.
It takes the guessing out for me which is good.
My daughter probably would like anything Dora related. Dora is kind of like you Liz…a girl inside of a computer having all sorts of fun adventures!
My son would probably want anything Transformer related (or most other super heros).
ME Liz Strauss said
Marti,
You’re beautiful in that blush color!
Joe said
But really, music did help me with math, everything could be broken down into the smallest part and made total sense.
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe,
You made me laugh!
Marti said
Yes, Spike is adorable. Looks like he is wearing a tuxedo, black body with white belly. He’s very loving, always wants to cuddle. Indeed, I am sure she will always remember choosing him. I was so proud of her when she told me that was her choice for Christmas, was to rescue an animal.
Oh lord, Marti is gonna get all weepy again….quick say something silly – LOL
bj said
2/4 time, 4/4 time . . .
Thanks, Liz! We also got Barry squared away re SEO. The video was 99% of his problem.
Joe said
This year I bought all my gifts for the family Online. Already done and most of them are here already.
Thank God for PayPal.
ME Liz Strauss said
Marti is dancing with a cat in a tuxedo.
Marti said
Congrats to you, Joe!
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe.
You are a Christmas shopper extraordaire.
If I did that, I would only buy more.
bj said
Male cats are the most affectionate. Mine is usually a big purr puddle on my lap the whole time I’m working in the afternoon. Then when it gets near 4PM he gets even more lovey. Obnoxious lovey. That’s feeding time at the zoo. He’s trying to get my attention.
Joe said
I’m having a problem NOT giving everybody their gifts NOW.
Maybe shopping too early is not a good idea afterall.
Aruni said
bj – speaking of SEO, I’m looking for some affordable help in that area for my company. I’ve never done any formal SEO. I’ve been meaning too but lack of time and money have prevented it. Now, I’m focusing on a bright future and I need to get some great SEO to even put us in the game.
ME Liz Strauss said
Ah, a guy . . . a guy cat . . .
Hungry . . . must eat.
bj said
Actually, Joe, I must be getting better on fiddle, since Briggsy doesn’t run out of the room and hide under the bed with his paws over his ears anymore. He just gives me those looks that can kill. But he doesn’t leave.
Marti said
I try to pick things up throughout the year. My eldest son’s fiancee loves the circus, and I found a vintage Circus Christmas ornament for her. Big problem THIS year, is that daughter wants a Wii
bj said
I’d be happy to speak with you about that, Aruni.
Brooke said
Hello All! I can’t stay – but I wanted to say hi and hope you have a great time talking about gifts!! What a great topic!
Joe said
Hey bj,
Have you ever heard of a program called WampServer? (not to get too far off topic)
I just downloaded it so I can play around with my stuff offline before I really break something inside the server.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Joe, I think you may have missed buying one gift. Paypal works for my book too.
Just teasing! [kinda]
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Brooke,
Are you shopping tonight?
bj said
Yeah, Joe. And I hope you’re behind a router and know how to secure that server. Otherwise your machine will be a zombie slave sending out zillions of spams. You opened a port when you installed it.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Aruni!
Thanks for coming!
Marti said
I am a code terror. A friend does my blog for me. I managed to kill a Blogger template more than once. BLOGGER! I mean that’s like not being able to walk and chew gum, right? LOL
Joe said
Now, Glenda, how do you know I didn’t ALREADY buy your book?
Brooke said
Liz – I wish. Baaaaad cold, kids driving me nuts, a computer crashed and I am trying to get quicken working!
bj said
ROFL! Marti, if you touched the blogger template and you don’t know what you’re doing . . . blog go boom!
Aruni said
bj – I’m talking to a local company later this week about SEO. He’s going to give me an initial proposal. They gaurantee that the profits we make from their SEO work will at least cover their fee. I have never evaluated SEO before so it sounded good. On your site greenspeak do you do your own SEO?
BTW, a gift subscription to our web and mobile applications (Baby Insights and Baby Say Cheese) make great gifts for the expecting friends, relatives, co-workers, bosses in your life. Here’s a link: http://www.babblesoft.com/.
Marti said
Uh, Paypal also works here
(said the slacker self-promoter)
htttp://lulu.com/martilawrence
ME Liz Strauss said
Oh Brooke,
So sorry about the pile of “noisy intrusions” think of a big empty blue sky filled with peace when you’re working on it.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey code terror,
Sometimes, I think it’s EASIER to screw up a Blogger template.
Joe said
Yes bj, I made sure I and only I have access. Offline. No connection to port 80 without my knowledge.
You should know how much I HATE SPAM. I had to make sure that wouldn’t happen.
bj said
Greenspeak is a relatively new launch. The site I’ve done the most work with is http://kickasswebdesign.com which is my first dev site, though I’ve launched another since. And it’s going to be redesigned next month, it’s way overdue. I think kwd has backlinks into the stratosphere.
Brooke said
oh wow – thanks Liz! My head feels a lot less pressure already. Got quicken working! Hubs is putting kids to bed…I am halfway there!
‘Nite guys!!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Hmm, should I recheck my paypal orders, Joe? Do I need remove foot from mouth?
Marti said
Nice to see you for a moment Brooke! Hope you feel better soon
Joe said
Nite Brooke, nice talking to ya.
bj said
Oh, good Joe. I thought I knew how to secure a server. I found out I didn’t. Luckily I caught the problem within a very short time of it happening. The mouse moving like it was at the bottom of an ocean of molasses was the tipoff. I reformatted the disk within 15 minutes. PITA.
bj said
‘Night Brooke!
Marti said
I don’t want to be a party pooper, but I’m feeling kinda blue, so I will say adieu
(wait, Joe is the poet, not me – LOL)
Love you all. Best wishes for peace and joy in your lives!
{{hugs}}
Jeremy Steele said
Gifts… heh. Having a nice Christmas dinner (mmmm…. roast!) with my siblings and parents is much better than trading gifts we forget about a day later. Plus we are all broke.
Joe said
Come on guys, we’re only averaging 1.58333 comments per minute.
See, music lessons DO pay off.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Brooke!
Keep that blue sky working for you!
bj said
‘Night Marti! Feel better! **blows kiss**
Joe said
It’s Ok Marti, I don’t have the patent on poetry.
Nite.
ME Liz Strauss said
Aw, Marti!
I’m sorry we couldn’t do a better job of lightening up your life.
I still see thousands all around you!
bj said
Joe, that music taught you well . . .
*Hums along to Flora Purim’s fab brazilian jazz*
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Jeremy,
Great food and great company is a perfect solution . . . and being broke makes is a fine price as well!
ME Liz Strauss said
Okay, Jeremy, bj, Glenda,
What was your favorite gift as a child?
bj said
LOL! Liz, I told you, I can’t really remember any gifts, at least none that stand out. I remember the people and events a lot better than I remember the gifts.
ME Liz Strauss said
I thought maybe a flower or a cookie or something, bj.
bj said
I do give a great gift every Christmas. Anonymously. But I can’t tell you about it. It would give it away if anyone googles to try to find out the secret.
ME Liz Strauss said
a birthday gift, a friendship gift, a surprise from a parent.
Joe said
I know one thing…
If a guy gives a girl a gift, no matter what the occasion, he BETTER remember giving it to her and when and for what reason.
If not, she will drop him like a hot potato.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Liz, it was my kitty Amber from my brother. Just a sec, I find the excerpt from my book, if you’d like the story. [Faith kitty just brought me a toy. Never know if that's meant as a gift or if she wants to play.]
ME Liz Strauss said
HA!!
So bj,
you’re the person who sends a coconut to the guy in Peoria every year.
bj said
Liz, I’ve never been one for “stuff” or “money”, and I know that’s hard to believe. Learning new things is the thing that does it for me. The other stuff is just . . . stuff.
ME Liz Strauss said
I gave Julia a rock on my birthday.
Joe said
Even moreso, if She gives Him a gift. He Better Remember. Or else!
bj said
ROFL! A COCONUT? Nope, not me!
bj said
Joe, you’ve been dating the wrong women (or marrying the wrong ones?
)
Joe said
Right on both parts bj.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
And Joe, you offer this piece of wisdom from personal experience?
bj said
Joe, any chance you might someday get it right?
Joe said
bj, I’m actually living with x-wife #2 and we are getting along much better than we ever have.
Now, you have to guess if I’m telling the truth or not.
ME Liz Strauss said
Oh Joe!
A test . . .
bj said
And is her new husband sharing the house with you as well?
Joe said
My gift to you Liz.
Joe said
I think bj is trying to trick me into revealing my living arrangements.
bj said
Nah, I’m not that nosy, Joe. Though if you care to share . . .
ME Liz Strauss said
You’re on your own, Joe,
You devised this trap you’re about to fall into. . . .
Joe said
I think I revealed my relationship on my blog about a year and a half ago.
I think it had something to do with working at home together separately. ;=)
(is that a cheap trick to get people to go into my archives or what?)
bj said
LOL! Like I said, I’m not that nosy . . .
** singing along to Harry Belafonte’s “Women are Smarter” **
ME Liz Strauss said
bj,
Joe’s just toying with you.
I’m more interested in how your anonymous gifting got started. Can you answer that without giving anything away?
Joe said
I knew this night had a music theme to it. ;-
)
bj said
It started by accident. I’ve been doing it every year since. This year will be year 13.
Timothy Johnson said
Ho Ho Ho everybody… how are all the good little boys and girls tonight? (and the rest of you who frequent this little virtual party)
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Any mint-flavoured Klondikes left? My mouth is craving something cold even though we had our first snowfall yesterday.
Joe said
bj, is the gift always to the same person? Or is is someone different every year?
bj said
And yes, definitely a music theme. And Liz, that’s a hint, actually.
Weirdest thing was once overhearing a conversation about me . . . as this anonymous gift giver. That was year 9, and has kept me going since. Apparently it’s become very important to a lot of people. I can’t disappoint.
Becky McCray said
Hiya, Glenda, Liz, Joe, and BJ! I’m snacking on apple pie and ice cream and thought I’d drop by.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi! Tim!
I just sent you an email!
Welcome ho! ho! ho! -er!
Joe said
Hey Becky,
I hope you brought enough for everybody. I know I could use some pie ala mode
bj said
Gift is to a group of people in the same place every year.
Hey, Timothy!
You’ve got good taste, Glenda. I don’t have Klondikes but I just took some homemade Apple Brown Betty out of the oven. Anyone want some? I picked the apples myself, they’re Lodis.
ME Liz Strauss said
bj
Your anonymous gift sounds wonderful and fun at the same time!
Aruni said
Good night all!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Hi Becky and Timothy!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Becky!
That apple pie sounds delicious. Does it have that crunchy sugary stuff on the top?
Joe said
Nite Aruni, sure you don’t want to talk a Klondike with you for the ride?
ME Liz Strauss said
Klondike bars in every flavor. Here you go, Glenda!
ME Liz Strauss said
Good night, Aruni!
Thank you for being here.
bj said
Yes, this particular gift giving is enormous fun for me. My own Christmas Tradition.
Mike said
But are you including custom flavors, Liz?
Jeremy Steele said
Well… actually my favorite gift was a wireless mouse about 4 years ago, and a 20″ display last year (I was 17 last year… if that counts as being a child
), and an N64 many many years ago.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Sounds good, bj.
bj said
‘Night, Aruni!
I’m outta here too. Have fun, everybody!
Mike said
Hey Becky!
LinkedIn keeps taunting me to connect to you. What is your e-mail address?
[If you don't want to associate with riff-raff like your truly, I totally understand. You can e-mail me at mdewitt@alum.mit.edu if you want to link up]
Becky McCray said
[mmmmmm]
Goodnight, BJ.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
hmm, what about eggnog Klondikes? Or, better yet, rum and eggnog!
ME Liz Strauss said
What flavor will you be having, MIke?
I really, really think we should find a way to get Klondike to sponsor SOBCon this year. Someone HAS to know someone there.
Becky McCray said
I’ve got the rum covered, Glenda!
ME Liz Strauss said
Good night, bj,
One day I want to know the story of your Christmas gift . . . before it’s a LifeTime channel movie.
Mike said
Hiya Glenda!!
I’ll leave comment 150 alone, but egg nog Klondikes sound marvelous – especially if they’ve got the grog in them! LOL
Mike
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Hey Mike, the white coats released you for this week!
ME Liz Strauss said
Jeremy,
I still think that my wireless mouse is the coolest tool I have on my deak.
Susan Reynolds said
Hi all – I may be late but at least in my mind I bring gifts for all of you.
Mike said
Hey Liz,
I’ll do a little snooping re: Klondike. Tonight Glenda’s egg nog (full strength) version sounds awesome. Not sure how fast they’d melt, but my Russian buddies could probably keep them on dry ice until needed…
Mike
Mike said
Glenda,
The white coats know I’m their meal ticket, so it’s sort of like Wile E and the roadrunner.
Mike
Mike said
Susan Reynolds! Let the animated festivities begin!
Joe said
I just Googled Klondike bars and there are lots and lots of blogs about them, but NONE are by the Makers of Klondikes.
Where’s HART when you need the guru of looking up things on the internet?
Mike said
Watching A Charlie Brown Christmas…awesome after 40 years!
Jeremy Steele said
What type do you use Liz? I got one of those 6 button Logitec cordless click pluses.
Mike said
Jeremy,
A six button model?
Slowly step away from the computer and dial 911. That thing is about to absorb you into the Borg.
Mike
Susan Reynolds said
Great to see all of you.
Jeremy Steele said
Mike, I totally agree. charlie brown christmas and how the grinch stole christmas are the best shorts ever made – nothing even comes close
Timothy Johnson said
Hi again Liz… got your email and “my mommy” says I can play next week.
ME Liz Strauss said
Mike@
Klondike would be awesome!
ME Liz Strauss said
Jeremy!
I’m not six-button cool, but I’m still loving my wireless mouse.
Mike said
Jeremy,
Roger that! Boris Karloff is awesome as the Grinch!
Mike
ME Liz Strauss said
Tim!
That’s wonderful! Tell your mom that I said thanks!
Timothy Johnson said
No problem… you can give me the particulars off-line… it will be fun to do it. I’ll make it required participation for my students.
Mike said
Hey Tim,
I’ll ride shotgun if I have connectivity!
Jeremy, any list of top shorts has to include The Great Pumpkin, which is right up there with Charlie Brown Christmas. Love the night skies in Great Pumpkin!
Mike
Joe said
Hey Liz,
Here is the homepage to make contact for Klondikes.
http://www.icecreamusa.com/
Their media contacts are in CHICAGO! Don’t know how you missed that one.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Susan Reynolds!!
You sure get around. You’ve been blogging like crazy!
Timothy Johnson said
Great Mike… I’d love to have you as my co-pilot (God was getting tired of my driving).
ME Liz Strauss said
Ah Joe,
That’s just their media relations . . . they don’t give out money. They look to be a PR firm.
Mike said
Tim,
Tell your students it’s obscure literary reference night, but that if no one gets it in ten comments they have to restate it in Three Stooges context. That’ll teach ‘em.
Mike
Jeremy Steele said
Wow, how could I have forgotten the great pumpkin!
Joe said
Anybody live in Wisconnsin? That’s where their Corp HQ is located.
Anything for some free Klondikes!
Timothy Johnson said
I wonder where Erik and Eric are… probably putting the finishing touches on their presentations.
Mike said
Tim,
That’s why He makes me take the bus!
Mike
Karen Putz said
Wow, this is still going! Hi everyone!
Timothy Johnson said
Hi Karen
So, did I miss any good gift ideas? I doubt I’ll ever do better than I did my first Christmas with my wife. I hit the jackpot on sentimental gifts.
Mike said
Hey Joe! I’m from Wisconsin, which is why I live in Arizona now!
I have lots of friends there, since I moved here in 2004. My only regret is that I didn’t meet Phil Gerbyshak before I moved…
Where I WI is HQ?
Mike
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Karen!
Welcome to the asylum!
Mike said
Tim,
Which one is the ‘alf a bee?
Mike
Char said
Oh my! Is it Tuesday already??? I almost missed this and you know that would just not be right.
Hello everyone!!
Timothy Johnson said
Come again, Mike?
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Char!
Are you making any special Klondike bar Christmas gifts?
Joe said
Mike,
Check the link in comment #178 for Unilever, they own Klondikes now.
And Liz, they do have a Skype contact # so they can’t be all bad.
Karen Putz said
Hi Timothy, I tried reading back 150 comments but there hasn’t been a whole lot of gifts missed.
So tell us about the jackpot for your wife.
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe,
You have a point about the Skype number.
Karen Putz said
Ah Liz, that would be cool if you can get Klondike to sponsor the next SOBcon and give away the ice cream at the end of the conference.
Char said
I hadn’t planned on it bu that is a great idea. I do have a good list of clutter free gift ideas, though – I am so “over” stuff..
Clutter Free Gifts for Everyone on Your List
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Hi Karen and Char!
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Karen,
I wanted to last year, but I couldn’t get through and I started trying too late.
Timothy Johnson said
Hi Karen… yeah, I gave up trying to retro-read on open mic night, too.
It was our first Christmas as husband and wife. My wife’s grandfather had passed away about two years prior, and she was very close to him. Like many farmers, he had his name printed very clearly on his big red barn in huge white letters. I acquired every photo I could of the barn and commissioned an artist to create an oil painting of the barn. She had no idea. It was fun surprising her.
ME Liz Strauss said
Char,
I’m with you on the clutter thing.
I can’t imagine what it would have been like with more than one of my son . . .
Char said
Tim – what a great gift!!
Liz – yeah, three kids means too much stuff.
Hi Glenda…
Karen Putz said
Awww, that’s a nice gift– I bet your wife really treasures that one!
Karen Putz said
I have three kids but my daughter takes the cake– she’s like having three more. I can’t even walk in her room. She gathers stuff the way Pigpen gathers dirt…
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Hi Char, I enjoyed your post. I stumbled it, I think. Need some stumble lessons!
Karen Putz said
Hey Glenda, how’s the Blog for a Year thing going?
ME Liz Strauss said
Tim,
You’re a romantic.
My brother did something similar for my dad one year. He commissioned a semi-famous artist to paint the photograph on the matchbook covers from my dad’s saloon. All my dad did for an hour was stare at it.
Timothy Johnson said
Kids and clutter… you mean they are not synonymous? I just tell people that our house is decorated in modern American toddler.
Char said
Karen – I have one of those too.
Glenda – thanks so much! You did just fine.
Karen Putz said
I can’t really figure that Stumble stuff out!
Mike said
Tim,
I’m so disappointed in you.
Semi-carnally,
Mike
ME Liz Strauss said
Glenda,
I checked when I stumbled it just now. Your stumble was indeed successful!!
Mike said
You mean there are daughters that DON’T generate huge piles of clothes/refuse?
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Karen, I’m getting smoked on that Blog contest. Still need about 7500 votes at http://blogforayear.com/profiles/glenda-watson-hyatt by New Year’s. I have an idea for one last push. That reminds me, I should add you to the email list I’ll send out tomorrow. Anyone else want in on the caper?
Karen Putz said
Hmmm, we need to do some viral marketing for Glenda…
Timothy Johnson said
On the topic of clutter, it’s time for me to whip out my favorite link from my own blog:
http://carpefactum.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/08/thoreau-it-out.html
Joe said
There ya go Glenda. I never seem to forget to vote on Tuesday nights for some reason.
Karen Putz said
Ah, time for me to get off and corral up the kids and toss them in bed. G’night all! Maybe next week I can make it here earlier!
Timothy Johnson said
Good night Karen… see you next week!
ME Liz Strauss said
Good night, Karen!
It’s fun to think that last year at this time, we hadn’t even met.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
G’night Karen!
ME Liz Strauss said
So Glenda,
What’s your secret caper? [grin]
Ann said
Feck…I missed the party tonight! I blame the alien abduction.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey, Ann,
I’m not sure you missed the party.
But I’m delighted you got to meet the rest of my family!!
Char said
Hi Ann – there are still a few of us hanging around…
Ann said
I need to add a reminder to my calendar or something so I don’t miss out on these fun nights.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Ann,
I just added you to the weekly email reminder list.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Liz, you’re on the caper list! Don’t want to post publicly in case an opponent happens across it. But the idea is quite simple, basically change your homepage for one month. Enough said???
Steli Efti said
Ahhh…am late…but anyway…this is by far the greatest gift I ever received in my life!!! And the best part is that I’m going to give it to a kid:
http://avc.blogs.com/a_vc/2007/11/and-the-winner-.html
Much power to you!
Steli
Ann said
Liz that will be simply spectacular I get such a kick out of hanging out here for open mic.
Time to head to bed..night!
Mike said
Ann,
Alien abductions may be viewed skeptically in most quarters….and we’re one of them.
I welcome you back to Earth by annointing you with my hammer…
ME Liz Strauss said
wow!
Steli! I’m so delighted and proud for you! You are a wonder!
I was just thinking of you today!
ME Liz Strauss said
Great night, Ann!
It’s so fun to have you!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Wow, that is awesome, Steli!
Joe said
After conversing with all of you tonight
I found that getting gifts is not the height
But giving and loving and caring are
The gifts we all want by far
The talents we are given we turn around
To share with our friends and love abounds
So a beautiful night with dreams to come true
I wish a great holiday season to all of you.
Berma Shave
Nite Liz
Nite All
Timothy Johnson said
Night Joe… you poet stud
ME Liz Strauss said
Good night, Joe
Sleepy swell!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Well, pizza is ready and NCIS has started, so I must go spend time with hubby. I’ll pop in during commercials.
Thank you Ms Liz. Always a great time.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Glenda!
Enjoy the pizza!
Timothy Johnson said
Well, I think this little angel (ahem… cough, cough) is going to hit the hay.
Good night my good friends! Until next week!
ME Liz Strauss said
Good night, Tim!
Thank you for everything!
Steli Efti said
Thanks Liz! Thanks Glenda! Life is such a wonder!!! And I keep forgetting how special this blog is! I’m so busy right now building Supercool School and getting my act together here in the US that am not that active in the blogosphere anymore but there is really no other place like this…hahaha…it is hard to be on this blog and not overwhelmed and inspired to start blogging immediately
Liz – you are and always will be my blogging mentor – thanks for that and many other gifts I recieved from you!!!
Ok – I gotta go back to work. You all keep being amazing…
ME Liz Strauss said
Steli!
I want to talk with you!
. . . in real life!