Presents

[Michel]

Two copies of a book called 'Grumpy Old Men'. A pen that is also an FM radio, (that will be going to a charity shop unopened.) two diaries for next year. There was also some good stuff.

Paul' you by now surely MUST be overdowed.

Mike

What was the good stuff?

I actually got a pair of wellies, I just thought it might be fun to write willies.

[Michel]

A Montblanc pen

Woe unto you, lawyers!

[knight66]

What was the good stuff?

I actually got a pair of wellies, I just thought it might be fun to write willies.

Fine re the wellies; you will get a lot more use out of them.

The good stuff: A book on the recently deceased political stand-up, Linda Smith. A case for my MP3 player that is also a speaker, so I can hear it in hotel rooms etc without bunging up my ears. My mother and I swapped cheques, a pointless exercises, but it makes her think she is giving me something. Chocolate, nuts, pullover, wine and some very good home made chocolates, ("prepared in a house containing nuts.")

Tomorrow we go to Oxford and that is a place from which I frequently bring back the kind of gift that was thought up as a joke by two drunks using a pin to stick into two contrasting lists of nouns; as a further joke they commission the product. Giraffe and CD rack was one such....so poorly made the CDs fell out of the slots running up its neck.

Mike

[Brian]

Book:  PD James - A Taste for Death
Book:  Martha Grimes - I am the Only Running Footman

My mom and I have both been exploring both James and Grimes; our favorite Grimes remains her first novel in the ... whatever that series was called where the books are all named after pubs. Anyways, PD James is extraordinary, maybe the best mystery writer alive; I really enjoyed The Murder Room and have a couple more sitting around waiting to be read.

As for my gifts:
- chocolate
- jelly beans
- one of those absolutely amazing CD-packaging openers that Barnes and Noble has for a dollar (cuts open the plastic and stickers)
- Alan Alda, Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself
- Oliver Sacks, Musicophilia
- Dave Eggers, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
- "Dancing on Water" album (Finjan, the Canadian klezmer ensemble)

That's right: no classical music.

[BachQ]

Rec'd a 40 CD set of ........ of ......... of ........... VIVALDI 

[orbital]

- Oliver Sacks, Musicophilia

I'd appreciate comments on this book if you do not forget It is being pushed heavily by B&N and I want to know if it really that good

[Wendell_E]

A couple of bottles of wine

A $30.00 Walmart gift card.  I don't normally shop there, but I went to their website and ordered the new Met Eugene Onegin DVD.

[Keemun]

My mom and I have both been exploring both James and Grimes; our favorite Grimes remains her first novel in the ... whatever that series was called where the books are all named after pubs. Anyways, PD James is extraordinary, maybe the best mystery writer alive; I really enjoyed The Murder Room and have a couple more sitting around waiting to be read.

I find James to be more literary, certainly the better writer.  But Grimes is more fun, even if a generally "lighter" read.  The Murder Room was the first James book I read and I was hooked after that.

Rec'd a 40 CD set of ........ of ......... of ........... VIVALDI 

And I thought Santa only gave coal to those who were naughty. 

[Brian]

I'd appreciate comments on this book if you do not forget It is being pushed heavily by B&N and I want to know if it really that good

Well, the first chapter was fascinating. It was a case study of a fellow - a doctor - who was hit by lightning and suddenly succumbed to uncontrollable urges to play and compose classical piano music (despite never listening to said genre before, and never having played the piano). Eventually he quit his job and his wife left him because he spent so much time at the piano. Sacks compares the case to others on record, including a young lady from the middle east who, after surgery to remove a brain tumor, became so passionate about classical music that she would play opera in the car loud enough to be heard in surrounding automobiles. Sacks doesn't seem able to explain these bizarre occurrences, but they make fascinating reading. I will gladly let you know more when I finish the book. 

Keemun ~ PD James certainly is literary; in fact she may be the best writer to write murder mysteries since ... well ... I don't know.

[orbital]

Well, the first chapter was fascinating. It was a case study of a fellow - a doctor - who was hit by lightning and suddenly succumbed to uncontrollable urges to play and compose classical piano music (despite never listening to said genre before, and never having played the piano). Eventually he quit his job and his wife left him because he spent so much time at the piano. Sacks compares the case to others on record, including a young lady from the middle east who, after surgery to remove a brain tumor, became so passionate about classical music that she would play opera in the car loud enough to be heard in surrounding automobiles. Sacks doesn't seem able to explain these bizarre occurrences, but they make fascinating reading. I will gladly let you know more when I finish the book. 

Thanks Brian, I'm already sold on the first case 

[The new erato]

Rec'd a 40 CD set of ........ of ......... of ........... VIVALDI 

Yes, lots of stuff in D minor in that box!

[Kullervo]

Well, the first chapter was fascinating. It was a case study of a fellow - a doctor - who was hit by lightning and suddenly succumbed to uncontrollable urges to play and compose classical piano music (despite never listening to said genre before, and never having played the piano). Eventually he quit his job and his wife left him because he spent so much time at the piano. Sacks compares the case to others on record, including a young lady from the middle east who, after surgery to remove a brain tumor, became so passionate about classical music that she would play opera in the car loud enough to be heard in surrounding automobiles. Sacks doesn't seem able to explain these bizarre occurrences, but they make fascinating reading. I will gladly let you know more when I finish the book. 

If you're interested, Anthony Storr's Music and the Mind covers much of the same territory.

[greg]

-Vaughan Williams Symphonies- Previn/London Phil. (almost listened to them all!)
-Rautavaara- Symphony 7, Angels of Visitations/Koivula (Naxos) (i actually liked the last work more than the symphony itself)
-Final Fantasy XII, my best gift
-a planner from my little brother
-Slim Jim, gum, Reeses  (i just realized how much i like Slim Jims.... way better than the Reeses, and Reeses are my favorite candy!  maybe Slim Jim are my favorite food even?)
-cell phone (finally, i'm not the only my age without one  )

i got my mom a guitar instruction book with 3 CDs inside, my dad a CD he wanted for a long time (and was surprised to get it, too!), and my little brother a DVD of Joe Satriani: Live in San Francisco (when i asked him what he wanted, that's what he picked).

[mikkeljs]

I got:

A cd box with Mahlers symphonies.

Xenakis: Formalized Music

A cd with piano music by Nørgård

Coffee

and other things. 

[greg]

I got:

A cd box with Mahlers symphonies.

Xenakis: Formalized Music

A cd with piano music by Nørgård

Coffee

and other things. 

i'm very very jealous.... which Mahler set did you get?

[MishaK]

A cd box with Mahlers symphonies.

Who's the conductor?

[greg]

oh yeah, i almost forgot to mention.... my little brother gave me a planner for 2008 and 2009. It fits in my pocket and everything, it's perfect! I needed one so bad, but never thought of buying a planner..... ok, i think that's everything for me.

[12tone.]

I got this one. 

Wow, what's up with the goth look?  Wagner is not goth music 

[greg]

Wow, what's up with the goth look?  Wagner is not goth music 

yeah, that should have Mahler on it, he's a bit more gothic...

anyways..... i bought a black Jimi Hendrix shirt at the mall yesterday, and it looks gothic, too! Hmmmmm that one makes the least sense 

[12tone.]

yeah, that should have Mahler on it, he's a bit more gothic...

anyways..... i bought a black Jimi Hendrix shirt at the mall yesterday, and it looks gothic, too! Hmmmmm that one makes the least sense 

I can't even see Mahler being goth.  Emo?