I've got to ask ... What cool stuff did Santa bring you this year?

Even a lump of coal would be interesting from an ETS perspective!

For me:
--Fenix TK10 Flashlight - gift to myself mentioned earlier
--Princeton Tec Rebel EOS - the 4-mode one with the new Rebel LED, not the EOS II - even nicer than the original EOS!
--Midland HH50 Pocket Weather Alert Radio - the tiny black 3-AAA one - tiny, but so far not the best reception.

and best of all ...
--John Deere Wind Chimes - I see this as a weather monitoring device, plus it sounds real nice too - not the tiny irritating chimes, but has bigger tubes for nice sound.

My kids have now officially moved from Legos and Disney to video games (DS & Wii), books (Ripleys & that vampire series), and camping gear. They're growing up! Did I ever mention that they both earned their junior black belts in Taekwando this fall? A proud Dad couldn't have asked for a better gift.

Merry Christmas!!

Ken K.

Although I'm employed, and business for my company was really, really strong in 2008 and 2009 contracts are signed and look great, we are aggressively containing our expenses.

In a good year, we don't really "do" the gifting thing at Xmas, limiting total spending to $500 or less on all purchased gifts.

This year, we dropped that budget by half. The kids got a few handmade gifts, one or two store bought ones, and that's it. My wife and I didn't exchange gifts. Instead we had a really nice dinner of Goose today (MMM!) and it was good.

I was planning to apply money received toward M1A SOCCOM 16 to debt reduction, but it was a gift certificate instead. I know the owner, so I may try to get the cash back, but his policy is no cash refund. Don't know what to do if I don't get cash back. M1A or M4. I already have M1ANM and M21.

I'm currently in the mode or reducing my accumulated possessions, not adding more. My wife and I agreed not to exchange gifts this year, and focus on charity and frugality instead. She's currently off delivering gifts, but I stayed home since I'm feeling a bit under the weather.

Jeff

Being very selective (picky) about my outdoor gear I ordered myself a few books online and my kids wrapped them up when they arrived.

Titles I received:

Wild,erness Survival 2nd Ed. by G. Davenport
Tom Brown's Field Guide, Wilderness Survival
Wilderness Survival by S. Swedo
One Man's Wilderness by S. Kieth/R.Proenneke
Survive! by L. Stroud

The trouble is that I am only 1/2 way through reading "When All Hell Breaks Loose" by Cody Lunden and am determined to finish it before I start on a new book.

I also received the DVD "Apocalpse Now - The Complete Dossier" I am looking forward to watching it on the new television I surprised my DW with.

In my Christmas stocking I got a "Speedy Sharp" tungsten sharpener, it looks interesting and really bites into steel.

Lastly I got a little cash to spend, I am thinking; a Cold Steel shovel, Silva "Clipper" watch compass, Petzl e+lite headlamp, stainless steel flask with bottom cup and Mors Kochanski's 17 Instruction Booklets.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday's everyone.

Mike

I got some flack from family on this same decision. How about you?

No. Even most of my nieces and nephews are adults now, and my family is always been pretty big on charitable work and giving, anyway.

In any case, neither my wife nor I could think of anything we actually wanted and didn't already have.

Jeff

<Drool> I'm still trying to come up with a reason why I NEED to buy one. No luck so far.

Jeff

One of Cabela's $30 cammo Camelbak MULEs ! and a sweet little Remington 700ADL in 30-06. No knives or survival equip this year! Oh wait, my daughter managed to find some Rocky (made in USA) merino wool socks for me

Merry Christmas!

Rain gutters, beef jerky and the movie "House of Flying Daggers". DD1 got her first wristwatch and two night gowns, DD2 got "Moon Sand" and a nightgown. DW got a package of Pringles, and candybar and a nice headlamp.

-Blast