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So, what do you want Channuka Harry to bring to your house on Dec 5th?

Oh yeah, by the way Dec 5th is Chanukah... The one holiday when my brother embraces his Judiasm for the simple reason, he gets stuff.

Our family usually does the "Big gift, Big Gift Accessory, Lesser Gift, Lesser Gift Accessory, Gift that's actually a subtle hint, Candies, Trinkets and Batteries.

For example...

First night "Wow, an X-Box 360"
Second "Wow, Halo 3"
Third "Hey, a power drill"
Fourth "Hey, drill bits"
Fifth "Ok, Socks, I must be shaming the family with my holey socks again."
Sixth "Hmm, 50 flavor Jelly Bellys"
Seventh "Oooh, a new wallet"
Eighth "A 12 pack of D Cell Batteries for... wait what?"

I already know my subtle hint gift... my mother wants me to refinish and polish up her countertops in her kitchen, and I said I couldn't do it without a power buffer. So I'm expecting something very black and decker for night 5.

I'm out on my own, and don't really get Chanukah gifts at my age. That's mostly for kids. But my bashert and I get one another gifts, and this year it's all about replacing my computer, my bashert's monitor, and getting my bashert an iPhone. No surprises, but that's okay. We don't really like surprises, anyway.

Funny side-story. I know a lot of women -- very young all the way up through very old -- who keep getting practical gifts from their boyfriends or husbands. They sometimes complain, "I've got enough kitchen appliances, furniture, computer memory... Can't he get something romantic? What's wrong with a nice bracelet or necklace?" Meanwhile, my dad buys my mother beautiful jewellery almost every year. As a "surprise." Almost every year, she confides in me, "I have more jewellery than I could ever wear. Has the man never heard of new furniture or computers or kitchen appliances?"

well I always buy more for others than what I usually get.

This year I'm getting the subtle hint gifts. I.E. something to do work with, that's what I'm getting from mom and dad.

I'm gonna redo the basement at my parents house for their gifts.

My eldest nephew is going to get a shelf installed in his room for him to build a pagan shrine to egyptian gods. (I don't care if he's a pagan, I'm just glad he's interested in religion.) The younger nephews are going to get me to repair their bedroom since they knocked some of the plaster off their wall and said "Oooh, I wonder how much we can pull off."

My sister is getting more yarn

My brother in law is getting a Cyma airsoft rifle.

and my actual brother is getting my scorn and distain which I will disguise as "Best Wishes" in card form.



If I'm lucky, I'll get a new tent as my old one has outlived both it's warranty and it's structural integrity.

I got an advance on my gifts this year since it got too cold ahead of schedual, and I had no winter coat since my last one got burned when someone dropped a match or cigarette on me.

I got a really nice black wool toggle coat that I love. and 2 hollister shirts, and jeans.

Thats all I really wanted. IF I get anything more from my parents I would truely be shocked. I know my brother, and older sister, and cousins are getting me s**t for christmikka (our cousins do christmas, my fam does hannukah.)

As for gifts I'm giving out to everyone else..

Well.. I teamed up with my sister this year. She is giving everyone a picture of herself for the holiday.

And I'm giving everyone frames to put that picture in!

team work yo.

yeah i did luck out.. no one really expects anything from me or my little sister because we're the youngest and don't really have jobs yet and still in school and what not. but we like to give too! ^___^

My little sister wants to be somewhat of an actress/model, and wanted to give people something they could put in their offices and whatnot to remember and think of her.. Xp They're really nice pictures she took.

I build my families sukkah alone.. its really hard because its the old style sukka with pipes and bolts and canvas.. pain in the butt to set up.. I used to have my older brother help me with it, but he isn't really that helpful anymore..

I'm hoping that in the next house we move into (according to all psychics, we move out of this place within 5 years into a beach front property.) will make it easier to have a sukkah..

I remember about 4 years ago, I went to my rabbi's house for succus cause he invited my family over, and i remember his succa was indoor.. I thought it was the coolest thing ever..

Unfortunately, he moved to israel.. He was like the coolest rabbi I've ever met. I miss him.

thats what my brother is doing...

my problem with gift cards is that there is never enough money on them...

like i once got this $25 gift card to this one store.. but the cheapest thing in the store was $60... :/

i would've rathered real money..

but it is that thought that counts....

I think those are good ideas!

Once upon a time, while working at a family style surf and turf resturant. My boss asked me how if I was offended that there weren't any jewish decorations and if I had any suggestions of a crossover holiday decoration ideas.

I said, "No, that's unnessecary, you don't need to put up Chanukah decor on my behalf. (being the only jew on staff) Besides? the only way you could really truly combine Christmas and Chanunka is to get 8 trees and set one on fire each night."

I really don't like the "American Shinto" of Christmachanukwanzeid. The all encompassing holiday, where everyone drinks eggnog, eats latkes, roasting goats over a Yule log, while wearing pirate garb and singing songs about Eris, Bob, and Xenu.

(oh 50 coins to the person who tells me every religion referenced in above celebration)