Merry Christmas

I hope you have had a Merry Christmas. For me, this year will be tough to beat. While I received some amazing gifts from my wife and kids, the most amazing gift I received is time with my family. My youngest son surprised me by flying in from Ohio. Then I got to spend the morning skiing with ALL of my grand kids. I got to do my favorite activity with my favorite people. We had a great time.

When my kids were young, I used to get them what I call Christmas toys. They are toys that the kids love to play for only until about New Year's and then they are quickly forgotten. As I get older, I actually miss those toys and continually ask my wife for one each year. Today she surprised me a couple of inexpensive remote-control cars. Both of my grandsons love cars and will enjoy playing with them over this Holiday season. They are really fast and tough to control so I imagine it won't take long before someone launches them off the stairs and we will see how indestructible they are. I'm not banking on both of them surviving too long.

Hopefully you have gotten to spend today with people you love and received at least one gift you hoped for. For me, this year has been all about the people and it has been a great day. 

2012 Christmas List

It is a bit later than usual, but I thought I ought to put out my annual Christmas list. All of my kids have shopped for me, but my wife is still looking. At least she says she is looking. I gave her a few ideas last week and she may have picked one of them up. She likes to play her proverbial cards pretty close to the vest this time of year.

I am really wanting a new TV, however they are still rather expensive unless you want something small. I don't. I want a big one and so that will have to wait for next year. I also want a new phone but still have not decided which one to get. It will probably take me several months of vacillating back and forth before I make a decision. While it would make my life easier if my wife would just get me a phone, it is something I want to pick out myself.

Here are some other ideas that almost everyone can afford:

An Electronic Transmitter Kit - Computers have replaced the hardware tinkering that used to take place, but building something you can show your friends without having to lug your computer around is still cool.

An Electronic Game Kit - Here is a kit that helps you build a small electronic memory game. While the game is pretty fun, building the kit is half the excitement.

A Remote Control Helicopter - Something to get the one you love outside. Well you could fly it inside, but might mark up the inside of your house.

A Hand-Crank Radio - Just in case those Mayans were onto something and the world really will end this year. You can open this gift a little early and listen to the news long after the power has gone out.

A Cable Tamer - To keep all of those computer cables from getting tangled behind your desk, or worse, in front of your desk.

A Computer Joystick - After playing with video game consoles, it can be tough to go back to the keyboard and mouse for computer games.

Hopefully this gives you a few ideas for that hard-to-shop-for guy in your house. If not, I'm sure there are a ton of other gift ideas on the Internet. Merry Christmas.