What are you asking for?

[rattran]

You could always grow a beard. No sandpaper effect, no shaving.

I'm asking for socks, and an envelope with $2 in it from the one set of cousins that ALWAYS send me a generic xmas card with 2 lonely $1 bills in it.

[Sky]

Rattran beat me to it. I haven't shaved in about four years now. Nice soft beard and my fiancee loves it. Could turn out interesting, I've had the beard the entire time we've been together. And I'll shave it off at some point, it's what I do (change things up).

I used to use a norelco el cheapo when I was shaving, triple rotating head style. Before that I used bic disposables and rubbing alcohol. Well, I still finished with the alcohol even with the electric, I like the bracing clean feel.

I kinda feel like shaving now :)

[murdoc]

My wife and I are buying a new kitchen table and chairs. Rumour has it that my family is getting together and getting me an iPod touch. I'll be totally happy if both of those things work out. We're at a spot now where if we want something, we go and buy it, within reason. Makes gift lists hard and stuff since all I can think of putting on it are big ticket items, like a new car.

[FatuousTwat]

I hate electric razors. I hate razors. My beard grows in faster than anyone's legally should, I nearly never shave close. I generally use clippers with no attachment and just bring it down to a 5 oclock shadow, but if I need to shave up, I use a Mach-3 or whatever after I shave it down, generally right out of the shower.

When I actually shaved, that is what I did.

Now I have a beard, and I have to deal with trimming it, which SUCKS.

[Nerf]

I'm feeling generous this year, as such everyone gets a lovely donation made in their name.

[FatuousTwat]

I got that from my sister a couple of years ago, but it had a different design... I use it as a bookmark!

[Paelos]

My list this year:
 
Sharp 32" Class 720p Flat-Panel LCD HDTV
Gift Certificate to Men's Warehouse for a new suit
5 or 6 quart Dutch Oven
LEGO Castles "King's Castle Siege" set
Amazon.com gift certificates
Atlanta Braves Holiday 6-game gift pack (check Braves.com)
New Polo Shirts in solid Dark Green, Purple, and Light Blue
Simpsons Season 11 DVD
Family Guy DVDs Vol. 1 & 2
A Sleeping Bag for gameday travel
Sensations II 8-pc. Nesting Bowl Set (Target.com)
Starbucks Coffee Christmas Blend Gift Box (Regular and Decaff)
4 Large Pilsner or Ale Glassware
Cocktail Shaker Set
2 Martini Glasses, plain glass

and in picture form:

[apocrypha]

We've got a Le Creuset one of those (we call it a casserole) and it is without doubt my favourite cooking utensil ever. Cast iron, enameled, fantastic. 

[Reg]

I would really love one of the Sony readers for reading ebooks when I'm traveling but they're still just absolutely ridiculously expensive at 300 bucks Canadian so I probably won't tell anyone.

re: Shaving. I don't how you guys are using up Mach 3 razor blades so quickly. I've found that as long as I rinse them out properly so whiskers don't dry between the blades they each last me two or three weeks.

[Le0]

Lego castle = win 

I've asked for, hmmm nothing actually, I'll get surprises ! My GF supposedly bought me something quite expensive, but I have no clue really because I don't really need anything actually, We bought the Wii recently, my PC is top notch, I already have plenty games I have barely any time to play.

I could buy new needles for my turntables tho!

[Oban]

I've been trying really hard to stimulate the economy recently.  Been a bit.....irresponsible with my money.

As such, I'm going to Paris for Christmas.

You are stimulating the wrong economy.

You are still single, yes?  Paris around Christmas is cold and kind of empty.  Maybe not the best idea...

[Oban]

http://www.knifecenter.com/

Seriously, I love you.  I have been unsuccessfully looking for a straight razor for the past three months in London, Paris, Rome, Munich, Stuttgart, Geneva, Los Angeles and Brussels.  Literally actively looking and unable to find.  I click on this thread and bang, there is an image of the most beautiful straight I have seen in two years.  What do you want for Christmas man?

[NowhereMan]

On shaving: I gave up on Mach3's, the cost of the cartridges was ridiculous, and got myself a nice traditional safety razor. Decent razor blade are cheap and it gives as close a shave as I want it to (from slight stubble to little drops of blood and slightly raw skin if I overdo it). Much better than cheap bics, I've also got a non-alcohol moisturising thing to keep my skin soft and fresh

[MrHat]

I've been trying really hard to stimulate the economy recently.  Been a bit.....irresponsible with my money.

As such, I'm going to Paris for Christmas.

You are stimulating the wrong economy.

You are still single, yes?  Paris around Christmas is cold and kind of empty.  Maybe not the best idea...

I've already bought myself that Samsung TV (46" 120Hz), a PS3, and fantastic new clothes.

Meeting the family in Paris.  Because that's how we roll.

Edit: Do we need a shaving thread? As one of those "god damn its grown again!" men, I shave pretty frequently.  Usually rock a goatee, but the beard is good for winter/lazy.  Keeping it trimmed up isn't too much effort.  The biggest thing I've found to not be sadface all day is to use one of those 'preshave' lotions.  Gets rid of the razor rash.  Of course, avoid wearing a tie that day too.

How the fuck do you shave w/ a straight razor? I get so fucking nervous.

[Sky]

We've got a Le Creuset one of those (we call it a casserole) and it is without doubt my favourite cooking utensil ever. Cast iron, enameled, fantastic. 

I had a Lodge that I loved, but somebody (who shall go unnamed...ok, me) burned the fuck out of it and destroyed it. Then Wellymart wasn't carrying the Lodge enameled anymore, so I had to get a Tramonti or something, which is ok. Only thing the frenchy one might have is a more heat-resistant knob. I bought three for the price of one frenchy.

Beard trimming? Pussies.

[apocrypha]

Only thing the frenchy one might have is a more heat-resistant knob. I bought three for the price of one frenchy.

Hmm, nope, you put an oven-glove on to lift the lid up, only way 

[Sky]

I meant more temperature-resistant for the oven. Cheaper knobs might not withstand the same levels of heat. I think mine is a 400º knob.

[MrHat]

I think mine is a 400º knob.

 

[apocrypha]

I think mine is a 400º knob.

 

lol 

[Signe]

I love knob jokes!   

[Hindenburg]

How the fuck do you shave w/ a straight razor? I get so fucking nervous.

Experience. And blood.
Pain makes most people very fast learners.

[Sky]

I love knob jokes!   

Now I'm scared, with all the pinching going on...

[Yegolev]

We've got a Le Creuset one of those (we call it a casserole) and it is without doubt my favourite cooking utensil ever. Cast iron, enameled, fantastic. 

I have one of those.  I didn't know it was a dutch oven.  Looks like an enameled iron pot to me.  I also don't love it, so maybe I am doing it wrong.

I don't know what I am getting this year, but it's not what I want: Nothing.  Really, I already bought all the games I want and whenever anyone buys movies for me they get a retarded format like fullscreen or something.  Probably getting shirts this year since last year was a pants year.  I'm thinking about the feasibility of asking for a time period to be left the hell alone so I can play games like Left 4 Dead, but that's just not Christmasy and likely to generate ill will.

I also bought some original art recently that ran about $1000, so that should be my present.  Also the $3000 HDTV back in the summer.  I don't need a present unless I can convince someone with a separate bank account to get me a new graphics card.

My wife bought a bunch of junk for the boy.  My idea was a marker tray since he's been using a random pile of markers in a plastic tub, which is sad.  Now he will have a full set of markers in a toolbox-type thing.  I am thinking about getting Da Blob (Wii) for him, too.

My wife has had her eye on a GPS system but she didn't know which one, yet she expected me to research and pick one for her.  I spotted this trap from a mile away and refused to do anything until she had at least a set of hard criteria for me to go by.  This led to a session persusing Amazon in which she found the one she wanted, then she says "Are you going to order this for me?" and I say "Sure."  Then she says "Maybe I should just order it now."  "Sure."  "It's pretty sad when I have to order my own Christmas present."  "Do you want me to click the Submit button?"  "*sigh* Just go away."  "Hey... put some gift wrap on that, will ya?"  *eye roll*

I should probably get her something for real.  I just have no idea what since she took the GPS away from me.

[rattran]

I suppose I'm going to have to ask for/buy myself a new microwave for xmas. Had some friends over, one decided to reheat her cocoa in the microwave. In a big metal cup. She offered to replace both, but can only afford to pay for the cup. 

I'm partly to blame, as I was the one who apparently added too much rumplemintz.

[Yegolev]

Maybe you should put the rumplemintz on your shoe and add it to her ass.

[apocrypha]

We've got a Le Creuset one of those (we call it a casserole) and it is without doubt my favourite cooking utensil ever. Cast iron, enameled, fantastic. 

I have one of those.  I didn't know it was a dutch oven.  Looks like an enameled iron pot to me.  I also don't love it, so maybe I am doing it wrong.

I didn't know it was a Dutch Oven either, I thought that was something to do with farting in bed (thankyou Sporanos). How do you use yours? We use it for stews, soups, casseroles, risottos, pasta bakes, all sorts really. Great for slow cooking and pot roasting. You can brown stuff off in it on the hob then transfer to an oven or leave on the hob on low, etc.

They do tend to burn sometimes so you gotta be careful but a bit of a patina isn't a big problem.

[Oz]

As one of those "god damn its grown again!" men, I shave pretty frequently. 

Yeah, add in the fact that I am forced to shave my head, due to nature, I am always looking for a good razor.  Usually do the mach 3 in the shower.  I've always been interested in straight razor to save cost on blades, but not sure how smart it is to use one on my head...in the shower...with no mirror.  sounds like a bad idea...like darwin award bad.  maybe i'll add one to my xmas list. 

We had an early xmas at the wifes family during turkey day.  I'm happy.  got a game i wanted (Valkyria chronicles) and several good cds (Jimi Hendrix: blues, Yonder mountain string band vol 5, and the new North Mississippi Allstars).

Who knows what i'll get for real xmas (hopefully that Djembe i asked for, or some of those effect pedals/simulators, or a nice harp mic)

[MrHat]

How the fuck do you shave w/ a straight razor? I get so fucking nervous.

Experience. And blood.
Pain makes most people very fast learners.

How's the shave though?  Better or worse than a Mach3?

[Yegolev]

How do you use yours?

I make soup in it or boil pasta, then I scrape the burned shit off the bottom before I put it into the dishwasher to rust some more.

[Sky]

Jimi Hendrix: blues

Who knows what i'll get for real xmas (hopefully that Djembe i asked for, or some of those effect pedals/simulators, or a nice harp mic)

Fuck yeah, I love Hendrix, love the blues, love that album. Some stuff is middling, like Born Under a Bad Sign (sing it, Jimi!), but the opening track is one of my favorites since I was a kid and had a VHS with him playing the 12 string. Just so humble yet mind-blowingly tasty.

Head over to the guitar thread for pedal talk :) I just plunged into pedals again for the first time in 20 years.

[shiznitz]

My wife hasn't bought me a real present since our first anniversary. She knows she sucks at it so I just buy what I want. That said, this year my brother gave me an iTouch for my birthday last month so I have no idea what to get myself. I am reading  this thread for ideas.

[Viin]

I make soup in it or boil pasta, then I scrape the burned shit off the bottom before I put it into the dishwasher to rust some more.

Either you have a cheap imitation or you have jacked up your pot. It shouldn't be rusting and the reason you have burned stuff on the bottom is because you have the heat up way too high. It takes 1/2 to 2/3 of the heat that a "normal" non-stick pot does. (We also don't dishwasher ours, but I don't know that that would hurt it).

[Prospero]

My wife hasn't bought me a real present since our first anniversary. She knows she sucks at it so I just buy what I want. That said, this year my brother gave me an iTouch for my birthday last month so I have no idea what to get myself. I am reading  this thread for ideas.

Get one of these

[Hindenburg]

How's the shave though?  Better or worse than a Mach3?

Only thing that beats it is depilation. And laser shave, I guess. Always found lazors too expense.

[Stormwaltz]

I don't actually expect anything, except perhaps a few items my friends from home pick off my Amazon wishlist. My wife's been out of work since our second child was born in October, so we're focusing on bills and Jeremiah (who'll be four in a month -- bizarre).

I have a lot of ideas on what to get the kid, but my nostalgia argues for a stocking full of toy cars. One of my best Christmas memories was when my parents filled my big Christmas stocking to overflowing with Matchbox cars. Those were the days when they still came in little cardboard boxes, not plastic blisters.

If BioWare gives out Best Buy gift cards again this year, I'll use it (and the unused one from last year) to get a PS3. We don't have an HDTV, but our nine year-old DVD player has started choking on newer discs.

That's another bizarre thought, actually. I got the DVD player in December of 1999, when I was a bachelor and working at Turbine. I've been doing this a while.