What did you get for Christmas? What was your best present? Do you have any stocking traditions?

-- Kymm Zuckert (hedgehog@hedgehog.net), December 27, 2000

Answers

This year, I got money, clothes, perfume,and makeup from my family and books, cds, movies, and flowers from my friends and s.o. It was nice.. The most thoughtful gift I've ever gotten was a couple of memory books of ticket stubs and postcards and what not. I love them.

-- linda (linda@healingstar.org), December 27, 2000.

I got some new sheepskin slippers and a Land's End cordury shirt, a bunch of plastic bugs and snakes and lizards to use as monsters when playing D&D, some dice, a carrying box for the lizards and bugs and dice, a complete ratcheting screwdriver set, and a new set of T-fal pots & pans. And a copy of Dark Forces II.

-- Colin (ethilrist@prodigy.net), December 27, 2000.

I got lots of things. It was a very good Christmas in that respect.

I have to be very superficial and confess that the best thing was also the most expensive, my new Handspring Visor, and I practically ordered Jeremy to buy it for me (after I bought him one off his wishlist). It really is very nifty, though, and it's going to make me more organized, more efficient, and an all-around better person, I just know it.

Unless I drop it. There's always that possibility.

-- Beth (beth@xeney.com), December 27, 2000.

I got "All About Eve" and "Jezebel" and a bottle of homemade mead from my sister's family; a Norelco razor, dishtowels, a tan ceramic bowl, a strawberry huller (which my dad calls a nosepicker), a disposable camera, and a check from my parents; a shirt I won't wear and a shirt I will wear, subscriptions to National Geographic and Reader's Digest, and a Swiss Army knife from my uncle; beautiful stationery from my cousin Audrey; a tin of homemade cookies from my sister's mother-in-law; chocolates and cookies from my Ballet colleagues; two -fabulous- Mondrian-inspired martini glasses, a cocktail shaker, and a "Diva" mirror from my friend Kathleen; and, last but not least, a picture of -me- at out Interlochen reunion from Kymm!

The best present was getting to spend time with my two nephews and my niece. I only get to see them once a year and they are wonderful!

We haven't had stockings in years, but my stocking is the most beautiful in the whole world. My grandmother made it for me when I was born out of red felt. It is richly encrusted with sequinned toys, the whole surmounted by a big Santa face. His mother-of-pearl sequin beard is a flap for the stocking!

Happy Christmas to All!

/Robert

-- Robert (rbdimmick@earthlink.net), December 27, 2000.

My pressies included a tailor-made leather coat that just kicks all kinds of butt, a portable DVD player, a VCR, a graphics tablet, a Zip drive, diamond and emerald earrings, antique mother of pearl haircombs, a pair of purple Docs and about two dozen novels with orders to actually read them. I made out like the proverbial bandit, but I give good gifts too. Two thumbs up for Hanukkah 2000.

-- Dreama (dreama@bluesilver.org), December 27, 2000.

I got the teensiest wee little Zen rock garden from a new friend which was spookily on target. My Squishy Santa bought me the one thing I wanted most from my wish list, a copy of "If You Want to Write" by Brenda Ueland, about writing and dreaming and the spirit. I got a little purple cd/radio from my mom and the chance to spoil my 10 year old brother, which is the best part, really.

I also got some weird cold that is hanging on like a beast and with it the voices of Demi Moore and Peter Brady in the voice-changing episode. These were the not so nice parts.

-- Erica Jackson (Erica@imericaonline.com), December 27, 2000.

Oh. I got lot's of stuff. LOTS of movies. Easy-Bake Oven Mixes- yum! and some other stuff, I probably shouldn't go into it, it's too much :)

I love my PSP7. Woowee. How nerdy of me to favor a graphics editor.

-- Jen (Winter@nyc.com), December 27, 2000.

My brother in law, who is Jewish, started the tradition of recognizing the person who "won Christmas". That's the person who spent the least on presents and got the most. Ever since she was born, my daughter (now 16) has won Christmas in our house. A few years ago, I started a tradition of buying her a classic movie video or two because she's interested in film and drama and I want her to see how some of the old pros did it. Last year, we did Audrey Hepburn (Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffanies, Roman Holiday) and this year I wanted to do Bette Davis but all I could find at Borders was "Watch on the Rhine" which is my personal fave but which I didn't know if she'd care for.

-- Jon Artur (rclover4@aol.com), December 28, 2000.

Well I got Chicken Run and Mission:Impossible 2 DVDs, the 'Angel' Season 1 box set, two books, one of them's 'Merrick' by Anne Rice, a new scarf, CD carry case, 'Carry on Doctor' video. I think the scarf was one of my favorites, don't know why though. My family doesn't even have stockings, the presents are always under the tree.

-- Michael (ace.greenhalgh@btinternet.com), December 29, 2000.