First off, a reminder to myself: flannel sheets are awesome. Mom and I realized that there ARE twin sized flannels at the farm (they didn't all go with me to college). There's a pair of flat sheets that were my Great-Grandmother's in the house. THANK JEEBUS. I'm so much more comfortable now. :D

Today it snowed. A lot. Stayed in and set-up the 'rents new Blu-Ray player. It's got streaming, so we watched some cheese getting made on youtube. Then we watched Super 8 on Netflix - geeze J.J. Abrams, you worship at the alter of Spielberg much? Also: lens flare! (taught my step dad that :P). Watched some Big Bang Theory, cause that's the step-dad's new favorite show. Then Tintin! OMG, I'm soooo happy I saw that. It was fabulous - story wise and cinematographic wise. Enough plot, enough slapstick, enough emotion, enough crazy ass chase scenes to keep it interesting. I love that they chose this traditionally 2D comic to translate into 3D, motion capture. It gave the story (especially the case scenes) such a sense of DEPTH. Thank you Moffat, thank you Spielberg, and THANK YOU Hergé.

Made a smashing stew today - browned some onions and garlic, added 3 kinds of chili powder and a dash of nutmeg. Added a package of frozen beef cubes (our last? that would suck! cows are you dinner yet?) and covered the whole thing with a home canned quart of tomatoes, added a bay leaf and a dried pepper. Added some leftover brown rice in the last 20 minutes, to warm it back up. So easy, no real standing over the stove and cook, and SOOO GOOD. Ate it with a bunch of deviled eggs. Spicy all around to warm us up.

Now, on family & Christmas. I'm both pleased and annoyed at the peeps. So last year my great-uncle died. As a single man, with no children (and boatloads of money), he left some inheritance. My other great-uncle, the only surviving member of that generation, was executor.

My mother, grandmother, aunts and uncles all got money last Christmas. Myself, being under 25, did not receive any money. And do you know what the aunts and uncles did? They just went around and around and around about how much of an ass my remaining great-uncle was. That he was an ass for moving my deceased uncle from California to St. Louis when he started declining health wise. That he was an ass, and stealing money from us. That he was just a tightfisted miser, who hates our side of the family and was out to get us all. Positively vitriolic. And here's me, the only family member with no money. And they're complaining bitching foaming at the mouth about getting their inheritance. When mom tried to change the subject and/or point out that I didn't get anything, they completely ignored it, and went back to their bitch fest. Last year sucked.

So fast forward to this year. I turned 25 and received my inheritance. Yes, I'm sure there was more money - frankly, I could care less. What I got was great, and enabled me finish school debt free. Thanks for being such a smart man, and good investor Uncle Bud.

And then I have to thank my mother. Who apparently said something (or possibly stronger than 'said') to the aunts and uncles. She told them that she was having trouble getting me to come to family events because of their pure HATRED. Which is mostly true. Being the only niece/grandchild has it's advantages when it gets them to stop being so FUCKING MEAN SPIRITED. What a relief this year.

What isn't cool is that I asked for ONE thing this year. I asked for an iPad. gave them a link to apple's website and EVERYTHING. Do I get it? NO. I got some money from my grandmother (frankly, I think it's part of her inheritance. I think she decided after she got her iPad, an upgraded camera, and a new dishwasher, that she didn't need anything else. she spread the love) so I can order it.

But then I started to realize. Other than my mother, and strangely my grandmother, no one is very tech savy in my family. Okay, so my one uncle maybe but he's ummm... not with it enough to order for other people. And my one aunt is as well, but she never buys presents in advance and goes and shops on Christmas Eve (WTF? I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO THE MALL. EVER AGAIN). And she doesn't update her amazon wish list because she "doesn't think people look at those things". ???? Also, she's the one that works as a freelance writer in Hollywood and gets TONS of swag at events. So her iPhone/iPad/other cool electronics came free. My other aunt, who supposedly makes her living writing technical manuals and help files, IS STILL TAPING SHOWS ON A VCR. She and her IT Specialist boyfriend COULD NOT SET UP THEIR TV/CABLE. She's CONNECTING TO NETFLIX THROUGH A WIRE TO THE LAPTOP. And you know what's worse? She says she doesn't want to change the way she records/watches/etc. *shudder* She and my dad are the same age (not related). Dad is still taping shows on VHS, but he'd be willing to change to TiVo, DVR or something. It's just I can't afford it for him, and he won't buy/set it up for himself. If I get it for him, like I did the streaming box for netflix, he will GLADLY use it. I can just do it faster than he can. Which may actually be why they didn't order an iPad for me. I'm annoyed to not have it, but appreciate the money to get it. And it makes me think, would my mother have actually gotten her one large item gift, if I hadn't ordered it? I'm thinking not.

I've ordered my iPad, should be here by the end of the week - baring anymore crazy weather shit *arrrrgh* I've gotten 'Here be dragons' engraved on the back. And I've bought a 2 cases - one with a keyboard and one that is map patterned :P

OH, and I wanted to ask my flist. How do you feel about kindle/e-books/noooks/etc? I have put all these books on my amazon wishlist as KINDLE editions. I don't want anymore books. I don't have the room, I don't want to use the paper, I don't want to hold the book while I'm reading. Kindle editions are cheaper (generally), create less waste in manufacturing, and take up a hell of a lot less space. And I can access them from my iPod, my computer, google chrome, my actual (soon to be defunct) kindle. SNAZY! So I put some books on my amazon wishlist, as kindle editions. My aunt, in all her wisdom, got me a hard copy of the book. Apparently my mother tried to convince her that I REALLY DID want the kindle edition, but no go >:( This makes me cranky, ya know. So what do you think? Do you ask for kindle editions as presents? Do you still prefer books? Why or why not? I've been asking everybody, I'm insanely curious what others think.