Happy New Year to my 2 readers! Somehow I didn’t manage to update since July, but hey, 2010 was especially busy. I also just realized that on August 6, 2011, this site will be 10 years old. Crazy. And like clockwork … my Christmas gifts this year (technically last year ):

Grandpa and Mary:
- Space Bags
- bamboo hook rack
- shower rings
- Bed, Bath & Beyond gift card
- stocking: bookmark, post-it notes, lotion, coffee, Ghirardelli chocolate, peppermint bark, pancake mix

Aunt Ann and Ed:
- magazine rack
- waffle maker
- remote control caddy

Uncle Chris and Mary:
- berry colander
- newegg.com gift card

Grandma and Bob:
- money

Dad:
- Bed, Bath & Beyond gift card

Ross:
- Bad Cat calendar (wall & 365-day versions)

Mike:
- Yule Log Fireplace Blu-ray
- Avatar Blu-ray
- wall clock
- Audio-Technica USB turntable

Mike’s mom and Paul:
- Tommy Bahama perfume/lotion set
- Pyrex containers

Amanda:
- Nordstrom gift card

Nikki:
- Bubbly shampoo/body wash/bubble bath

Mike’s dad and Susan:
- “Mr. and Mrs.” photo mat
- star earrings and necklace
- scarf

So I don’t forget … what I got this time

Aunt Ann and Ed:
- Amazon.com gift card
- black umbrella

Grandpa and Mary:
- MoMA Gorillapod tripod
- MoMA Ramen Spoon & Fork
- Master of Illusion/Rob Gonsalves 2010 calendar
- Gap gift card

Uncle Chris and Mary:
- Owl City “Ocean Eyes” CD
- hanging toiletry bag
- colored thread eyeglass holder

Grandma and Bob:
- wedding money

Ross:
- Harry & David multigrain tortilla chips

Mike:
- 10-pound dumbbell set (5 pounds each)
- Planet Earth Blu-ray
- remote keyless security system for my car!

Dad:
- wedding money
- stocking: Best Buy gift card, Harry & David strawberry jam, Harry & David pear chips, Emily Post on Weddings book, Starbucks gift card

Mike’s mom:
- green sweater
- UP Blu-ray & DVD
- Scene It? The Simpsons Deluxe Edition

Mike’s dad:
- Hanson “3 Car Garage” CD
- Hanson “I Will Come to You” CD single
- L-O-V-E framed picture
- Frontline (for the kitty)

Here’s what I got for Christmas!

Aunt Ann and Ed:
- stocking: cookie-scented candle, Starbucks gift card, The Complete Worst-case Scenario Survival Handbook, jumbo cherry candy cane, chocolate biscotti, Orbit gum (2 packs), and various food/candy items
- Amazon.com gift card

Grandpa and Mary:
- 2009 horse wall calendar
- Across the Universe Blu-ray
- fair trade silk purse from Thailand

Uncle Chris and Mary:
- label maker
- Urban Outfitters fingerless gloves

Grandma and Bob:
- money

Ross:
- Wall-E Blu-ray

Mike:
- Friends: The Complete Series Collection DVD box set
- Cold Stone gift card

Dad:
- trip to Tampa

Mike’s dad:
- Schmitt t-shirt
- Christmas bandanna

Mike’s mom:
- necklace

Is it just me, or did Christmas come really fast this year? Anyway, here’s what I got!

Aunt Ann and Ed:
- stocking: Blistex, Basis vitamin bar, Orbit gum (2 packs), mini kleenex (3 packs), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End DVD, and various food/candy items
- Starbucks gift card
- Gap gift card
- brown Gap sweater

Grandpa and Mary:
- Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind DVD
- MoMA Hug Salt & Pepper Shakers
- MoMA Stacking Coasters
- wooden Christmas decoration

Grandma and Bob:
- moose PJs
- teal hand-knit scarf

Uncle Chris and Mary:
- TuneBuds
- The Italian Job DVD
- motorized coin sorter (and extra coin wrappers)

Ross:
- Simpsons Movie DVD

Mike:
- bi-color LED blow on-off candle
- mono/kissing disease plush microbe
- HTTPanties (413 Requested Entity Too Large)
- Castle in the Sky DVD
- Sleepwatching (Vol. 1) DVD

Mike’s mom:
- basket of vanilla shower gel, bubble bath, lotion, bath salts
- stocking: chocolate, date nut bread

———————————————

And for graduation (which we basically combined with Christmas):

Grandma and Bob:
- official JMU diploma frame

Uncle Chris and Mary:
- necklace
- small wooden “running horse” box

Grandpa and Mary:
- money

Aunt Ann and Ed:
- money

Mike:
- Shrek 3 DVD (with Donkey beanie baby)

Lois:
- Barnes & Noble gift certificate

Amy:
- Diana Krall “From This Moment On” CD

!

So, I turned 23 six days ago. Over the weekend I was in Manhattan with my grandpa (and dad and brother) to celebrate, and it was awesome: 3rd row center seats for Rent (at first we were like, are you sure these are our seats?), visiting MoMA and its design store, the Apple store on 5th Avenue, dinner at a nice Italian restaurant, and the American Museum of Natural History! I took tons of pictures too. So yeah, it was pretty sweet.

I also got the following:

Grandma and Bob:
- Sheetz gift card

Mike:
- Treasure Planet DVD
- trip to Harrisonburg (sort of)

Aunt Ann and Ed:
- money

Grandpa and Mary:
- magnet from Turkey
- purse from Turkey
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail DVD
- Gap gift card
- digital picture frame

Dad:
- money

I saw the coolest car on my way to the mall today — a bright red Thunderbird with stuffed reindeer antlers sticking up from the front windows and a white “tail” stuck to the trunk! Dunno if there was anything on the front, but it was kinda like this … and now I want one lol.

This is mainly for my benefit, but here’s what I got from everybody — guess I was good this year lol:

Brian’s mom:
- Phantom of the Opera DVD
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest DVD
- iflops pig
- sword letter opener
- blue L.L.Bean fleece jacket
- stocking: cow and sled ornaments, Burt’s Bees lotion and lip balm, rubber duckie soap, glow stick, CD/DVD openers, and various food/candy items

Grandpa and Mary:
- black JanSport “Air Cure” backpack
- Spirited Away DVD
- Gap gift card
- stocking: 12/25/06 issue of Time, impressionism and MoMA mini calendars, sketchbook, “The U.S. Constitution and Fascinating Facts About It” book, “God Bless Our Pad” magnet, blue snowflake mug, fair trade organic coffee, and various food/candy items

Grandma and Bob:
- Phantom of the Opera DVD
- pink L.L.Bean fleece jacket

Aunt Ann and Ed:
- Animatrix DVD
- tall black Naturalizer boots
- iPod click wheel protector

Uncle Chris and Mary:
- car tissue box holder (with bonus tissue boxes!)
- Sims 2 Pets Expansion Pack

Dad:
- black Land’s End vest

Ross:
- Stuff on My Cat 2007 daily calendar

the Lees:
- cow ornament

Brian’s dad:
- Macy’s gift card
- dark blue long-sleeved Gap shirt

Brian:
- Dali 2007 calendar
- Jones Soda 2006 Holiday Pack
- Tulsa, Tokyo & The Middle of Nowhere DVD (Hanson)
- mono/kissing disease plush microbe
- desktop carnivorous plant set
- HTTPanties (200 OK)
- Trader Joe’s French truffles

Olga:
- manicure set