Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

TODAY

Sunday, October 13

Gapers Block
Search

Gapers Block on Facebook Gapers Block on Flickr Gapers Block on Twitter The Gapers Block Tumblr


Fuel

jennifer / December 20, 2006 2:04 AM

everything but my plane ticket home. I will be done with finals (and my first semester of my ph.d. program!) on thursday afternoon, so then I can fully submerge myself into craftster and figure out what my projects will be.

needless to say, people will be receiving their gifts on the 12th day of christmas.

Betty / December 20, 2006 5:02 AM

Absolutely nothing. :)

josh / December 20, 2006 7:36 AM

A $10 grab bag gift for a guy. Seriously, what can you buy for $10 these days?

anne / December 20, 2006 8:11 AM

I have a couple of agreements with friends I won't see again until after the new year, so I can shop for them later on. Other than that, I braved the post office lines to get everything shipped off home in time (I hope). I still have some things I'd like to make for folks, but whether I'll find the time is another story.

josh: you should try Uncle Fun on Belmont near Racine. You can get quite a lot (including actual grab bags) for under $10.

Pat / December 20, 2006 8:31 AM

Just about everything.

Well, to say I made a list is maybe a little presumptuous. I have a general idea of who i need to shop for, and have bought a couple things so far but I am not really believing that Christmas is just this weekend. I'm sure it's bound to hit me Saturday, when it hits the rest of the shopping public and the stores are gonna be mad. What was the question?

Hal / December 20, 2006 8:42 AM

Pretty much everything is complete at this point. Just got the box with the last bits for my partner last night. Mailed off the nieces' and nephew's presents yesterday. My dad and step-mother visit early in the month to celebrate, so that forces me to get the shopping for the two most difficult-to-buy-for folks out of the way first. The most pressure now is from those who are asking what else I want. And since I have enough non-school reading to last me a full year, I really can't think of anything more...

bill / December 20, 2006 11:05 AM

I do all my shopping on xmas eve. I find it more fun that way.... less time to meander, be indecisive and wonder if you're getting the right thing.

carrie / December 20, 2006 11:15 AM

Just my sister and mom. The sister and I have agreed to do after holiday shopping when I get home. This way we get sales.

Josh, try the toy aisle at Walgreens. That's what I did. It's perfect for gag gifts. I got a "learn to play the harmonica!" children's book, complete with a harmonica and an awesome "life-like" toy spider.

tony / December 20, 2006 11:22 AM

Count me in with the "everything" folks. :)

leah / December 20, 2006 11:29 AM

Meh pressies. I haven't bought any for anyone but myself.

Josh, $9.99 will buy one almost any CD on iTunes. That is fun!

fluffy / December 20, 2006 11:30 AM

A sketchbook for my nephew and bottles of Glogg for everyone else, including me.

Brandy / December 20, 2006 12:01 PM

The Yusuf Islam cd to musically sedate me since yesterday I decided to go back to MN to visit my mom in the hospital. That and I'm moving Jan 1. *oof*

All things considered, I think my family and friends will give me a pass on presents until January.

John / December 20, 2006 12:05 PM

Instead of talking about gift giving we need to start a campaign to talk about why noone is discussing the CTA crisis the last month with all the delays. I'm really getting sick of the incompetence.

Baldeesh / December 20, 2006 12:05 PM

Due to unforseen events, my Christmas list was chopped to my mom and only two out of three sisters. I'm not mad at the third sister - she's gone off and joined the Navy, and can't get presents. Financially, this is good.

But everyone knows why my list was reduced to 3 people, and so far everyone's been supportive.

paul / December 20, 2006 12:19 PM

The list itself needs to get put on my list.

Although I did buy one thing, so I figure I'm ahead of the game.

emyduck / December 20, 2006 12:43 PM

just waiting for those last minute gifts i ordered this week to show up. hopefully they'll arrive before we head out to visit the fam on the east coast friday afternoon.

oh, and i still need to make about 3 double batches of biscotti for friends, who we will see after the new year.

Alice / December 20, 2006 2:16 PM

I feel like my gift list is shorter this year, too. But maybe that's just because my cousins are getting older and I just got them all gift certificates this year rather than foolishly trying to brave the crowds at the Lego store or American Girl. Praise jeebus they're over that phase of their lives. So, I'm done with all my shopping. Woo hoo.

D / December 20, 2006 2:25 PM

Nothing left, all done, thanks to the wife taking care of the gifts for most on our list.

I did have to brave Old Orchard mall today at lunchtime, what a mess. That place is always a madhouse, and I try to avoid it at all costs.

I'm trying to get the list shorter in general. There are too many relatives on there that we usually have no idea what to get for.

Bill V / December 20, 2006 3:06 PM

I never know what to buy my Mom & Dad. I'll figure something out on Friday afternoon.

ken / December 20, 2006 3:45 PM

The "Lords a Leaping" has been giving me some trouble and the "Geese a Laying" have proven to be quite elusive.

Meems / December 20, 2006 3:47 PM

Ugh, I tried to get a reprint of a picture my boyfriend and I took at the Beatles :Love show in Vegas because it's an excellent pic. I was going to frame it for the grandparents, but oh, no its copyrighted. So that and some things for a few friends.

maardvark / December 21, 2006 12:44 AM

Rum balls! From the Swedish Bakery!

Allan / December 21, 2006 10:17 AM

A new job for me. I'm thinking about going to bartender schoo0l.

jj / December 21, 2006 10:38 AM

I spent a ridiculous amont of money at the bookstore last night, but I think I'm now done.

Now, the wrapping begins...

printdude / December 21, 2006 11:42 AM

I've got a Gift to find and buy (but I know what it is) for my friend, a grab-bag gift to buy, and I am sure there's something else i am forgetting.

But mostly, I am done and wrapped.

jasmine / December 21, 2006 11:51 AM

my dad: belt and jeans and birthday gift (thanks mom and dad for both having december birthdays!)

17 year old cousin: gift card

grab bag: gift card

fluffy / December 21, 2006 2:32 PM

a cute sweet guy for me

Flynn / December 21, 2006 2:39 PM

A Wii. I keep holding out hope I'll find one.

Sue Snediker / December 21, 2006 2:53 PM

A nice leather wallet for my husband.
A Wii for our oldest son and a couple of hostess gifts for my sister-in-laws. This is the FIRST year in 11 years since our first was born that I have my act together and actually pulled a late- nighter and wrapped ALL their gifts! (3 boys, a husband and 9 nieces and nephews!)Hey! Have a great holiday season!

wordup / December 21, 2006 2:57 PM

Didn't do a damn thing. I'm skipping the entire ordeal. Am I evil?

stuart / December 21, 2006 4:20 PM

I'm selling world peace if anyone's interested in buying.

Allan / December 21, 2006 4:43 PM

Hey stuart! How about Santa's boot with some shit on it. Get it? Ha, Ha, Ha... cause it's holiday time.

Eamon / December 21, 2006 5:10 PM

Pretty much everything. Cue blind panic.

Andrew / December 22, 2006 10:11 AM

I finished up most of my share yesterday -- I still have a couple things in mind for my girlfriend, but that can actually wait until she gets back from visiting her mom after Christmas. She was supposed to take care of presents for my mom, but apparently she hasn't yet. I need to get something for my brother-in-law, but I can blame my sister because she didn't tell me what to look for until yesterday afternoon. Also, despite Amazon's guarantees, the James Bond box set I ordered for my dad over a week ago won't arrive until after Christmas... time to make him a nice card.

GB store

Recently on Fuel

Urban Ethos [26]
What is Chicago's "urban ethos"?

Cool Glass of... [16]
What're you drinking?

Supreme Decision [22]
What's your reaction to the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Care Act?

Taking it to the Streets [20]
Chicago Street Fairs: Revolting or Awesome?

I Can Be Cruel [9]
Be real: what is the meanest thing you've ever done?

View the complete archive

GB Store

GB Buttons $1.50

GB T-Shirt $12

I ✶ Chi T-Shirts $15