What did you guys get/give for Christmas?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Got: a pair of prescription ray bans.  So far.  My mother gave me my present early.  

About to give:  two scarves and a box of heart chocolates.  The heart chocolates are for Valentina Lisitsa.  But I need to find out where she lives so I can send them to her.  Outin should help me out here since she is her manager.

[zezhyrule]

I just bought everyone... gift cards to various places. I am not good at picking out gifts.

My dad got me Schiff's WTC album. Will sit nicely alongside my Gould and Richter recordings... I guess? 

[lloyd_cdb]

I bought myself a pair of shoes and some pants and gave them to my mom to give me.  I got her a new blender... for me to use.  My sister is a teacher and spends her entire day standing, so I got her a foot massage/heater thingamajiggy.  Got house stuff for my parents for their new vacation/retirement home... which I'm using for New Year's Eve.

[outin]

The heart chocolates are for Valentina Lisitsa.   But I need to find out where she lives so I can send them to her.  Outin should help me out here since she is her manager.

Just send them to me, I'll deliver...promise... 

[j_menz]

I got two kilos. 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I got two kilos. 

What?!

[outin]

What?!

Just google...

Fortunately I am not that fond of the traditional X-mas food...

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Just google...

Fortunately I am not that fond of the traditional X-mas food...

Chocolates are X-mas food?

[vsrinivasa]

Chocolates are X-mas food?

They apparently are now.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

They apparently are now.

I wonder what I should get her for Valentines day.

[vsrinivasa]

I wonder what I should get her for Valentines day.

You mean Valentina Lisitsa? Maybe roses?

[outin]

Chocolates are X-mas food?

Aren't they?

Not that I was referring to chocolate but never mind...
Merry X-mas from me and Val 

[williampiano]

Mozart Kugel

[vsrinivasa]

Didn't get anything, besides a couple of holiday gifts from students and colleagues, etc. We don't celebrate Christmas.

I gave a glass vase decorated with notes of Beethoven's Sonata Op. 106 to my piano student. She really liked it. Gave chocolate boxes (actually boxes made of dark chocolate-they're really nice) to some colleagues and a saree to my second cousin's Japanese wife. She wanted Indian clothes and is really into Indian culture, so I got her a saree last year and never gave it to her until now.

[j_menz]

What?!

2 kilos = 2 kilograms = ~4lbs

Perhaps because I certainly regard chocolates as Christmas food.

[Bob]

I also got a few pounds.  Hmmm.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

2 kilos = 2 kilograms = ~4lbs

Perhaps because I certainly regard chocolates as Christmas food.

Of chocolate?

You should have given me a ticket to your next concert in Chicago.

When are you playing here anyways?

[iansinclair]

Chocolate is good anytime...

My daughter gave me a fascinating book simple called "Piano" -- it follows the construction of one particular Steinway D from beginning to end, along with a number of side stories on Steinway in general (including one of the best explanations I've read to date on the problems in the dread 60s to 80s era...).  A "good read".

[outin]

I got exactly one x-mas gift (gave none) and it was from my mother. Completely ridiculous really, it's a robotic floor mop  

Well, unless my cats hunt down and kill it I guess I'll have more time to practice since no more floor cleaning necessary (as if I would do that often anyway...)  

[vsrinivasa]

I got exactly one x-mas gift (gave none) and it was from my mother. Completely ridiculous really, it's a robotic floor mob 

Well, unless my cats hunt down and kill it I guess I'll have more time to practice since no more floor cleaning necessary (as if I would do that often anyway...) 

Haha, a robotic floor mop would be a great present. No more mopping the floor ever again...

[starstruck5]

I got the best present ever -my sister is no longer in danger from cancer -she has been given the news that she is in remission!  Money can't buy those sorts of gifts!

She did recently fall down the stairs and miraculously escaped with serious bruising -other than that she is fine! 

[patrickd]

I bought myself the Dover publication of Leo Orntein's piano music .

[vsrinivasa]

I got the best present ever -my sister is no longer in danger from cancer -she has been given the news that she is in remission!  Money can't buy those sorts of gifts!

She did recently fall down the stairs and miraculously escaped with serious bruising -other than that she is fine! 

That's great! Glad to hear it.

[j_menz]

Of chocolate?

I wish. 

You should have given me a ticket to your next concert in Chicago.

When are you playing here anyways?

Sadly, its the same day as your Mysterium.

[outin]

Sadly, its the same day as your Mysterium.

I have to choose 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Sadly, its the same 7 days as your Mysterium.

Fixed

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I have to choose 

There will not be a single spectator.  All will be participants. 

So you can attend both at the same time!

[outin]

There will not be a single spectator.  All will be participants. 

So you can attend both at the same time!

Oh, great!

Although it really wasn't such a difficult choice, I am sure j_menz will be playing Bach...

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Oh, great!

Although it really wasn't such a difficult choice, I am sure j_menz will be playing Bach...

Jeez, I never thought of what his program would be.

You know what, never mind J Menz.  I don't want you to come to Chicago. 

[j_menz]

Although it really wasn't such a difficult choice, I am sure j_menz will be playing Bach...

Jeez, I never thought of what his program would be.

You know what, never mind J Menz.  I don't want you to come to Chicago. 

Bah! Philistines! 

[outin]

Haha, a robotic floor mop would be a great present. No more mopping the floor ever again...

Poor thing has been mopping my kitchen floor while I am eating breakfast... Anyway, decided to name him after my soon-to-be ex-boss, who is retiring

[clavile]

Mini ipad, $170, earrings, pandora bracelet and bead, and a beautiful little ring. Best of all, I had an amazing time with wonderful family and a good family friend!

I gave my dad some delicious hot sauce, a special dipping sauce, my brother a special bacon-cheese-garlic spread and some candy, and my mom a wonderful little mug, and white chocolate formed in orange slices.


And it snowed! Which is very unusual....that was probably the best Christmas present of all!!!!!

[vsrinivasa]

Poor thing has been mopping my kitchen floor while I am eating breakfast... Anyway, decided to name him after my soon-to-be ex-boss, who is retiring

Him? Your robotic floor mop is male?

[outin]

Him? Your robotic floor mop is male?

Yep, the way he acts clearly proves it

[vsrinivasa]

Yep, the way he acts clearly proves it

What does he/she/it do that proves he/she/it is male?

[outin]

What does he/she/it do that proves he/she/it is male?

Every time he hits an obstacle he just turns back and keeps going...hits the obstacke again, turns back and keeps going until he finally finds a route that gets him out of that part of the room...

[vsrinivasa]

Every time he hits an obstacle he just turns back and keeps going...hits the obstacke again, turns back and keeps going until he finally finds a route that gets him out of that part of the room...

Is that an insult towards males? I will tell you I am not like that at all! That only proves the robot can't see.

[outin]

Is that an insult towards males?

Definitely not! I respect such determination and ability to adapt to not having too many resources to high level.

If it was a she would stop and call for help or try to analyze why she is not good and smart enough to get through and maybe give up in the end...

[vsrinivasa]

Definitely not! I respect such determination and ability to adapt to not having too many resources to high level.

If it was a she would stop and call for help or try to analyze why she is not good and smart enough to get through and maybe give up in the end...

I would just find a way to "cheat" and get out without doing any work. I am lazy...

[outin]

I would just find a way to "cheat" and get out without doing any work. I am lazy...

My other personality is just like that, but the other one would not give up no matter what if it decides that something has to be done...that's the one that decided to learn to play the piano, the other one is just happy to enjoy listening to music and reading about it

[vsrinivasa]

My other personality is just like that, but the other one would not give up no matter what if it decides that something has to be done...that's the one that decided to learn to play the piano, the other one is just happy to enjoy listening to music and reading about it

I'm not lazy when I like something or something is interesting. If you asked me to solve complex mathematical equations or play piano, I would gladly do it. But if you asked me to go do construction work, I'd try to find a way out of it.

[outin]

I'm not lazy when I like something or something is interesting. If you asked me to solve complex mathematical equations or play piano, I would gladly do it. But if you asked me to go do construction work, I'd try to find a way out of it.

A very sensible approach to life!

Although I actually enjoy manual labor every now and then, especially building things...

[thalbergmad]

I got an update disk for my Audi Sat Nav.

Now when I go along the new section of the motorway, it does not think I am in the middle of a field.

Thal

[vsrinivasa]

A very sensible approach to life!

Although I actually enjoy manual labor every now and then, especially building things...

I hate manual labour. I'm rather weak and thin and therefore no good for anything requiring a lot of strength. But I'm a math person, which is why I teach engineering rather than doing manual labour.

[vsrinivasa]

I got late Christmas presents from some local piano teachers. They are:

A lovely copy of all the Chopin etudes, put in a beautiful leather cover with gold edges (really nice)
A vase with the Hammerklavier sheet music printed on it
A singing card which plays Mozart's 40th symphony (this is the strangest gift I have ever received)
A copy of all Mozart concertos (similar to the Chopin etudes above)

I also gave some nice editions of Shostakovich's Preludes and Fugues to local piano teachers.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

A vase with the Hammerklavier sheet music printed on it

You know there is a building With the score for Scarbo printed on it in Minnesota.

[vsrinivasa]

You know there is a building With the score for Scarbo printed on it in Minnesota.

I want to go there! Where is it? That's so amazing!

[cmg]

Got: a pair of prescription ray bans.  So far.  My mother gave me my present early.  

About to give:  two scarves and a box of heart chocolates.  The heart chocolates are for Valentina Lisitsa.  But I need to find out where she lives so I can send them to her.  Outin should help me out here since she is her manager.

My gift just came today from Valentina!!

An advance copy of the magazine -- "Keyboard Babes" -- where Valentina, who, of course, is on the cover, lists the top 10 loves of her life!!!! 


Guess who Number One is?  Well, she wouldn't say, but gave only ONE HINT:  "He's wearing RAY BANs," she said!!

Do you think it could be? . . . .  ?

[j_menz]

Do you think it could be? . . . .  ?

Good grief. Don't encourage him.