Great Christmas Gifts

[jne]

I'm having a hard time.  I'm usual known for giving funny/unusual/unique/um...geeky gifts, but I'm having a hard time this round.  Anybody have any great ideas to share that won't ruin a surprise for someone?

[cannon_fodder]

I gave a Jewish friend of mine a bobble head Jesus last year.  That was pretty funny.

Yard flamingos are always always nice.

Or the yard butt people if you want to go that way (person bending over).

Otherwise you can always fall back on Chia pets.  The best is seeing people open them and not be quit sure if it is a joke or not.

Sry, that's all I got atm.

[jne]

[pmcalk]

We got this one year from a store in California--it was a big hit:

http://www.answermejesus.com/

Don't know if you can find them in Tulsa.

[sgrizzle]

For geeky gifts, thinkgeek.com is the #1 source. They have stuff that appeals to about everyone.

T-shirts from bustedtees.com are fun as well.

The revised ipod nano is EXTREMELY popular if you'r looking to spend 150-200 on anyone. It's a very slick mp3 player.

If they have a game console and don't already have it, get them guitar hero 3.

[cannon_fodder]

I think this is form thinkgeek.com, but not sure...

anyway, my friend brought a water bottle that was also a solar powered lantern with us on an ill fated trip to the desert earlier this year (long, LONG story).  Everyone that saw it loved it.  If anyone does camping/hiking it would be perfect.

Solar lantern + water bottle.  Who would have thunk it?  But it was very useful.

[Hometown]

Purchased so far:

Men's valet by Fossil at Macy's (valets are trendy this year)

A set of Dessert Rose dinner ware on sale at Dilliards for $139.

If there really was a Santa I would receive.

An emerald and white gold jeweler's ring for men.

Thrifty and wonderful stuff.

Anything from Old Navy.  I love Old Navy.  They have the best packaged Christmas ornaments for $5 a box.  P.S. you can return things you order from Old Navy online to your closest Old Navy outlet.  Talk about super convenient.

See's Chocolates from a carousel at Woodland Hills Mall.

Planning to Purchase.

Gold coins for my coworkers and family if I can find some reasonably priced gold coins.  Any suggestions on where I can find such a thing?

Further down my list.

Books about Tulsa.

[RecycleMichael]

Our Metropolitan Environmental Trust Holiday newsletter has a article entitled "50 ways to Go Green during the Holidays."

http://www.metrecycle.com/

[cannon_fodder]

I was always hard on the environment during Christmas.  I'd get a double boxed over wrapped lump of coal with polystyrene padding.  Then I'd have to burn it in an open fire to stay warm when they kicked me out of the house in Iowa so they could have a peaceful dinner.

Mother Earth cried. []

(not to make light of your post RM, just feeling in a non-productive goofy mood so I felt like writing a mini story and you inspired me)

[RecycleMichael]

Since we are in a non-productive goofy mood...

I never understood the whole Christmas tree thing. I have heard a few explanations of why we do it, but still just don't understand it.

We kill a tree and then drag it into our homes for the holidays. To add irony...it is the only tree that most people ever water and it is a dead one.

First of all, I don't think killing anything is probably included in the biblical story of the birth of the son of God. They possibly killed something to eat that day, but I just have some skepticism that Joseph chopped down a plant just to give Mary a way to decorate the occasion. I also doubt it was a evergreen.

I just don't believe in killing in the name of Christ and even want to avoid having plastic, fake dead trees in my living room as well.

[pmcalk]

I think there must some deep connection between Christmas and killing trees.  Another big Christmas image--Mistletoe--is a parasitic plant that often kills its host tree.  Yet, we hang it up, and kiss under it.

Still, I wouldn't have anything but a live tree in my house.  We go and cut one each year at a local tree farm.  Say what you will, but I think anything that makes it profitable for someone to grow nothing but trees must be a good thing.

[RecycleMichael]

Yes...while those trees are growing they are producing oxygen, providing habitat for creatures and adding beauty to our world.

I don't get why many local retailers sell cut trees from states so far away. A number of them advertise that their trees are from Oregon or Washington state.

I can't imagine the pollution from the trucks that it takes to bring 'em here.

If you insist on killing a tree for Christmas, kill locally.

[jne]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

For geeky gifts, thinkgeek.com is the #1 source. They have stuff that appeals to about everyone.

T-shirts from bustedtees.com are fun as well.

The revised ipod nano is EXTREMELY popular if you'r looking to spend 150-200 on anyone. It's a very slick mp3 player.

If they have a game console and don't already have it, get them guitar hero 3.

Oh yea, think Geek knows me like a bartender knows the town drunk.  Most of my friends would resent a toy guitar, but I'd be stoked if somebody got me one of those:)

[AngieB]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

Since we are in a non-productive goofy mood...

I never understood the whole Christmas tree thing. I have heard a few explanations of why we do it, but still just don't understand it.

We kill a tree and then drag it into our homes for the holidays. To add irony...it is the only tree that most people ever water and it is a dead one.

First of all, I don't think killing anything is probably included in the biblical story of the birth of the son of God. They possibly killed something to eat that day, but I just have some skepticism that Joseph chopped down a plant just to give Mary a way to decorate the occasion. I also doubt it was a evergreen.

I just don't believe in killing in the name of Christ and even want to avoid having plastic, fake dead trees in my living room as well.

We have a vintage aluminum Christmas tree. Don't even think about asking me to bring it in for recycling!!! []