Photobucket Album

Ellen's List:

Chocolate brown pashmina (or similar) shawl
Wallet
Thermometer for outside of house (like Classic Brass Thermometer at LLBean)
Piano lamp
New Robert Parker book

I know I thought of more, but my mind is a sieve these days.

After much ado tryinig to figure out how to get to post on this blog, Ellen juggled some things and here I am. Several requests have come my way to give you all some ideas for Christmas.
I only have a few, besides the ones I've already given to Margot and Ellen.

In no particular order:

Mozart Piano Concertos and/or symphonys

Books - Good reads

Tony Bennett "Ultimate American Songbook"

Small dustbuster

Robe - not too bulky but cozy

I can't think of anything else. I tried for Peace on Earth last year but it got bushwhacked.

Dear Santa,
On the chance that you are getting me presents this year, here are some ideas:
-Uggs Classic Tall in chocolate, size 7 (yes, I wear 8 1/2, but they run large)
-Book light
-Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation "Fairly Light"
-Medium Refillable Double Decker Compact Trish McEvoy (already have the "Skin Luminizer" that goes in it)
-Joe's Jeans "The Honey" (Harvey wash or other dark wash) size 29.
-Honey pot/jar with dipper/dripper
-Cookbooks such as Joy of Cooking/Giada's Family Dinners or Everyday Italian
-The Strassburg Sock (sock to help heal plantar fasciitis)
-$450,000 for The Writers Junction*
Please let me know if my siblings or neices and nephews send you their lists.
Best to Mrs. Claus and Merry Christmas,
Eileen
*this item to be shared with brother Jay

SECRET SANTAS - 2007!

Well, this year the Secret Santa process was a bit traumatic for the coordinator. The selection went very well -- not too many sibling picks to do over, and it all matched up well. Then, I lost the list at Patsy's house. I reconstructed it, then misplaced (lost?) the reconstruction. By dint of straining my memory, and those of the children who were present on the selection day, we now have a viable list that does not repeat any givers and givees from last year.

As has become the tradition, I've published the list as a comment to this entry, so that it is not visible on the front page, in case any children happen to see the blog. If you do any trading of names, you may want to memorialize trades as comments to the blog.

Ho ho ho!

Dibs on this. I'm getting Ellen Peace on Earth.
Mom

McGinnis Lists for Christmas 2006

Anna

• Carpet skates
• Vmigo Pet
• Gryffindor Quidditch Robes
• Candy Factory (The Science of Sweets)
• Friendship Wheel
• Designers World (interactive video game (plug into TV?))
• Music and accessories for iPod (if Santa brings one)s
• Webkinz of any kind (but she now has 4)
• There's more, but her mom can't read her handwriting and will have to add those items later

Patrick

• Guitar
• SuperGarage with cars (Toys to Grow On Catalog)
• Pirate Island (ditto)
• Star Wars Light Sabre
• Snow Block Snowmaker Set
• Paper Airplane making book
• Spiderman Laptop
• Silly Putty
• 3-in-1 Sports Arcade

Ellen

• Peace on Earth
• Sports headphones/ear plugs for iPod
• Carry on suitcase (roller)
• No whining
• Good books

David

• Socket set (Kobalt - Lowes brand)
• Cold weather cycling jacket (Pearl Izumi Barrier or Gavia/Gore Function or Xena)
• Other cold weather cycling gear (as yet unspecified)

Comments:

The kids' lists are unedited. They know they can't always have what they want, so please check with parental units on suitability of lists. Also, Santa is reading the same lists. Patrick has announced he doesn't want the light sabre, but instead wants a gun like those guys in white in Star Wars carry. Mom is opposed to such weaponry. But pop-guns are OK.

Santa told me that he has already planned to drop off the new Star Wars 2 computer game at Julia's house. So, please cross that off your lists.

Clan Richmond Gimmie List:

Julia is crazy about Star Wars these days. We suspect genetic predisposition. The cheapest Star Wars trinket will send her into spasms of delight. She also loves Webkinz. But really, you can't go wrong with Star Wars. There may be a Princess Leia or Padme action figure in her stocking come Xmas morn, but other than that she doesn't really have anything except a couple computer games.

So Julia is crazy about anything related to Star Wars. And Aidan is crazy about anything related to Julia. Therefore, by the transitive property, Socrates is mortal. Also, Aidan loves Star Wars. Rumor has it that Santa is bringing him a Mr. Potato Head that looks like Darth Vader, and perhaps a Darth Vader action figure, so steer clear of those. (He thinks Darth Vader is a "nice guy," as he puts it. And I suppose he was, when he was Aidan's age.)

Jane and I just want everyone to be healthy and happy in the New Year.

SECRET SANTAS - 2006!
As is the tradition, Anna and Patrick picked names out of a hat the day after Thanksgiving for 2006 Secret Santas for the cousins. Remarkably, with the exception of several "put backs" for picking siblings, and one shift by me, the list came out with no duplications of the two prior years. A & P do not know who has whom, other than their own giftees.

As I did last year, I've published the list as a comment to this entry, so that it is not visible on the front page, in case any children happen to see the blog. If you do any trading of names, you may want to memorialize trades as comments to the blog. Merry Merry!

If the most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother, then Dad gave you all the most important thing. Never was anyone as truly loved as I was. Remember when Dad and I went to the Marriage Encounter? The one great realization that I took from that exchange was the awareness that I was totally loved. Whatever I was and whatever I did and whatever I said, I had a rock supporting me. I could be who I truly was, mad or sad or glad.

It is from that reservoir of his love that I draw the strength to go on living this life without him as fully as I can.

Today he would be 70. I know he is singing somewhere.

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.
-Theodore M. Hesburgh

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love the most is soap-on-a-rope. - Bill Cosby

Happy Birthday Dad! XO
Love,
Pat, Ellen, David, Bob, Marian, Joe, Margot, Jay, Erin, Alex, Jim, Jane, Eileen, Anna, Patrick, Grace, Maggie, Kate, Bobby, Irene, Lauren, PJ, Jack, Max, Helen, Julia, Aidan...etc...etc...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

We love you!

XO

Ellen, David, Bob, Marian, Joe, Margot, Jay, Erin, Alex, Jim, Jane, Eileen, Anna, Patrick, Grace, Maggie, Kate, Bobby, Irene, Lauren, PJ, Jack, Max, Helen, Julia, Aidan...etc...etc...

Christmas is about GIVING... that's all I've been thinking about... then Ellen called tonight and YELLED at me for not posting a list. She made me realize that it was selfish to think of ME giving... and that I should let others give too...

take my girlfriend, Julie (please)... I helped facilitate her spirit of giving when she practically aquired majority share in Banana Republic by giving me everything from sweaters to pants to socks... so I'm all set in that area... she's a giver. She was also a little worried about how I dressed.

So... to for all of your sakes... my Christmas list:

New curtains for my bedroom
Anything from West Elm furniture
Nike ID certificate for the Nike Free 5.0 running shoes
Set of sheets (2 billion threadcount) for queen size bed
Investors for the Writers Junction
books on CS Lewis, Tolkien (letters, bios etc...)
DVDs from my Amazon wishlist... http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/3TTFKJ0V1EPQ5
Current pictures of all of you!

remember.. its all about GIVING. Glad to help.

Addenda to my list;

Billy Collins Live - reading his poetry at the Norton Symphony - available on Amazon

Eileen's Christmas List Thoughts

It seems I never get too old for a Christmas list. I can't think of much I need, with the exception of item number 5, which is really a gift for both Jay and me...

-The White Album, Beatles
-XtremeMac TuffWrapz for Ishuffle (3-PK Pnk/Pu/Yel) or the iSkin Shuffle Duo (Blue/Green)
-XtremeMac Black SportsWrap for iPod shuffle
-Good books, no weight restrictions
-Investors for the Writers Junction
-Good kitchen knife
-Diptyque Muguete/Lily of the Valley candle

Special Santa item:
Konika Minolta x50 digital camera, which they're not making now, but is still available. The sound guy on On the Road trip who is much like Dad in his techiness, recommended it. Reasons I like this camera: really compact, has a short delay time between pressing the shutter and taking the picture (paramount), takes good photos, has many setting options, and retains the view finder with the screen on the back (the more recent model only has the screen).
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/X50/X50A.HTM#specs

Ho ho!