i am truly gifted

Here's what I received for Christmas this year (in no particular order):

• From a co-worker, a boxed set of four pairs of beautiful hand-crafted chopsticks and rests from Pier 1.
• From another colleague, a very attractive red tin (with an almost enamelized appearance) of delicious French "cr�pes au chocolat," light, crispy chocolate cookies made with Belgian chocolate.
• From Jeff, a gift certificate for a free haircut at the Grooming Lounge, about which he's posted on several occasions (here and here, for example). I'm still unsure if this is because I've talked for months about wanting to go there, or a not-so-subtle hint that my hair has become much too unkempt (on the other hand, the women in my life keep giving me compliments on my "sexy" curly hair; the waves and curls aren't apparent when kept at its usual gay-short length typified by the photo on this journal--but becomes very apparent when it grows out). Jeff and I also are gifting each other with theater tickets to several local performances, including Mamma Mia! at the National Theater.
• From Jeff's friend Rajani, a London Underground mousepad and several gifts from my Amazon wishlist, including Jasper Fforde's The Eyre Affair and the Monsoon Wedding DVD.
• From my sister and her family, the Family Guy, Volume 1 DVD set, also from my my Amazon wishlist.
• From my cousin Allyson, a children's book and associated CD about fairies and fairy stories.
• From my cousin-in-law Cricket, who drew my name in the family Secret Santa, a Thomas Kinkade blanket throw, a slate blue polo shirt, a pair of stars and stripes Old Navy board shorts, and a magnetic photo holder in the shape of a leaf.
• From my grandfather, cash.
• From my mother, a beautiful ceramic dish in the shape of a leaf; an absolutely gorgeous photo album covered in handmade paper, featuring a leaf design and showcasing the first picture taken of me by a professional photographer days before my first birthday (I was rather a chubby little baby to have turned into a skinny kid and relatively thin adult); a stunning, filmy gold table runner, also with a leaf design (yes, there's a pattern--much of my home decor incorporates leaves and trees, which are particularly favorite symbols of mine) and a calligraphed quote (from the Maya Angelou "Life Mosaic" line at Hallmark); an olive green turtleneck sweater; two pretty candles; a hanging lantern; two pair of Argyle socks; and some cash.