The wonderful folks at ThinkGeek have some fabulous cookie cutters available, from Gingerdead Men to Pac Man, and Williams-Sonoma (I know, right?) has several sets of Star Wars cookie cutters. Time is running a little short to get any of these cool cutters in time to bake for this year, but with some creative frosting skillz, you can turn regular gingerbread men, snowmen, reindeer, and Santas into little zombies, or Cylons, or whatever. And hey, what geek is going to turn down cookies in any shape, even if they are just plain old snowflakes?

Now all you need is a cookie recipe or two, right? This week I am happy to share with you two of my favorites, one for gingerbread and one for sugar cookies. I typically mix up all my cookie dough in the evening after I get home from work, put it in the fridge to chill, then bake all the cookies in a marathon session the next day – it’s really nice to get up in the morning and have all the dough waiting for you. When it comes to frosting, I’ll admit I’m not a big fan of frosted cookies – I just decorate mine with colored sugar – so my advice if you don’t have a tried and true frosting recipe of your own is to buy frosting at the store.

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies

My parents don’t care for gingerbread, so my mom never made gingerbread cookies when I was growing up. I had to find my own way as an adult. This recipe is from one of my favorite cookbooks, Sei Unser Gast (Be our Guest) by the North Star Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. And yes, those are ginger-buffalo in the picture.

5 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground ginger

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt*

1 cup lard, butter, or vegetable shortening (I use butter! *If you use salted butter you don’t need to add any additional salt)

1 cup white sugar

1 cup molasses

2 eggs

Melt whatever fat you’re using and pour into a mixing bowl. Beat in the sugar and molasses, then the eggs. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda and spices. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until the dough forms (it will be kind of messy/crumbly). Pack the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic or put in a plastic bag and chill for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one-third of the dough at a time, leaving the rest in the fridge (if it’s too sticky to roll, chill it longer; if it’s too stiff to roll, it got too cold – leave it out on the counter to warm up for a little while). Roll to 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick, depending on how thick you like your cookies. Cut out cookies and place on parchment lined (or lightly greased) cookie sheets. Bake about 10 minutes or until cookies are rather firm to the touch and starting to crisp around the edges (bake a couple minutes less if you like softer cookies, a couple minutes more if you prefer them crisp). Remove to either cooling racks or spread out newspapers/paper sacks to cool. Makes at least 4 dozen, depending on the size of your cutters.

German Cutout Sugar Cookies

This is my mom’s cutout sugar cookie recipe. What makes it “German”? I really have no idea, but that’s what was written on her recipe card, so that’s what I keep calling it. Unlike a lot of cutout sugar cookies I’ve had before, these taste absolutely fabulous even without frosting.

1 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup white sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 eggs

4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt (If you use salted butter you don’t need to add any additional salt)

Mix the first five ingredients at medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Gradually add in the flour (and salt, if needed) and mix until the dough forms. Pack the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic or put in a plastic bag and chill for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one-third of the dough at a time, leaving the rest in the fridge (if it’s too sticky to roll, chill it longer; if it’s too stiff to roll, it got too cold – leave it out on the counter to warm up for a little while). Roll to 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick, depending on how thick you like your cookies. Cut out cookies and place on parchment lined (or lightly greased) cookie sheets; sprinkle with colored sugar or leave them plain if you want to frost them. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies are just starting to turn golden brown around the edges around the edges (bake a couple minutes less if you like softer cookies, a couple minutes more if you prefer them crisp). Remove to either cooling racks or spread out newspapers/paper sacks to cool. Makes at least 4 dozen, depending on the size of your cutters.

The Finishing Touches

Regardless of which recipe you use, make sure all your cookies are completely cool before frosting them. Decorating can be time consuming, so make sure you have a comfy chair and a couple hours to spare. Let the frosting set (overnight if you can) before you pack up goodie trays for everyone. I’ve learned that while a pretty presentation is nice, most people don’t care if those cookies come to them in a fancy tin or on a paper plate, so do whatever works for you.

It doesn’t take much to make a fun handmade gift – with these recipes and a little time and effort, you’ll be able to give all your friends and family a gift they’ll love and always remember. Just be warned – they’ll probably want more cookies next year!

Have you made geeky cutout cookies before?

It’s that time of year again – the winter holidays. School exams wrap up, work slows down a bit, schedules open up. Sure, there might be holiday gatherings to attend, but not every single night – and the nights when you’re at home, there’s nothing on TV except some Christmas TV special from only a few years ago. There’s finally time to watch TV, but nothing to watch! Well, if you’re like me, you’re using the time for new viewing. Here’s what my TV (with computer) and I have been up to:

Playing Catch-Up

I may have watched all of my normal viewing, but a few shows didn’t make the cut during the fall line-up, and I’m watching them now. These two will stay even after the winter hiatus:

Once Upon a Time: I’m seriously liking this show. The balance between the our world and the fairy tale world mirrors the balance of drama and dark magic in the writing. And I’ve always been a fan of Ginnifer Goodwin (I tell myself she stole my haircut, too).

Grimm: This show is always unfortunately compared to Once Upon a Time, which is a shame, because they’re apples and oranges. Whereas Once Upon a Time is more of the dark fantasy that’s become popular in recent years, Grimm feels a little more throwback – it’s reminiscent of both the cop shows of the 90s and the early episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, walking the line between comedy and horror (with the extra-gross procedural special effects of today). It might not be cutting-edge, but it’s fun. And let’s face it, after watching children get booted out of castle towers, sometimes we’re looking for something a little less, well, grim.

Christmas Specials

I, for one, would love to steal the UK tradition of a special episode that airs on or around Christmas. I know it’s less needed, because some of our TV shows run practically year-round, but it would at least be a nice lead-in for those that are on the summer-winter schedule. In the meantime, here are the British Christmas specials that will make my Boxing Day:

Doctor Who: This should be a surprise to absolutely no one. Granted, the Christmas specials thus far are typically only… okay, but I take more Who where I can get it. Moffat claims we’ll cry “for a good twenty minutes” this year. I’ll put up with that just as long as it’s not the same Girl in the Fireplace/Amelia Pond and her suitcase/Girl Who Waited sadness again. Because, yes, that’s heart-wrenching, but not after the third time.

Downton Abbey: You may have seen this show sweep the Emmys and wondered what it was. I am in love with this British transplant, which, like Sherlock, is brought over as a Masterpiece show on PBS. I refuse to call this a chick show, so I’ll say it might be for you if you like period dramas, the early twentieth century, Maggie Smith being hilarious, or British television. Don’t go looking for this Christmas special if you haven’t yet seen the second series, though, which starts on PBS in January.

Winter Beginnings

Technically these shows won’t fall over the holidays, but I’m looking forward to their premieres with glee.

Sherlock: The second series will air in the UK starting in January. Sadly, it won’t air on PBS until May, so if I start rowing now… oh, it would probably be May. Hmm. Well, I’ll think of something.

Alcatraz: Will this show be any good? Who knows, but I’m excited to give it a shot! With Jorge Garcia, Sam “they do move in herds” Neill and Sarah Jones, I can honestly say I’d be looking forward to it no matter what. It starts in mid-January.

What about you?

Are you watching something I should be excited about? Does your TV lineup look anything like mine? Leave a comment and tell me what you’re watching!

Christmas in Japan is a bit of a different animal than it is here in the West; it’s not considered a major “family” holiday at all (that would be New Year’s), and it’s mostly only celebrated by very young children or by young couples. As a result, Christmas episodes and themes usually only show up in anime and manga if it’s meant for young children or if it incorporates some romance; often the most “Christmas-y” episodes involve finding a boyfriend or girlfriend to spend the holiday with, or the boy buying a ring or other piece of jewelry for his beloved.

There are quite a few good lists of good anime Christmas episodes to watch already, so I highly recommend checking some of them out… but they missed a few that, in my mind, are well worth a watch for fans of the medium… even if not for the reasons you might expect. So, if you’re looking to have a different sort of Christmas experience, here are my picks for some memorable Christmas anime.

The Nostalgic Fan Christmas

The Sailor Moon S movie

Yes, Sailor Moon did its own take on Christmas, albeit somewhat limited to the background imagery and a few character references. The story revolves around Usagi’s cat Luna and her… um… crush?… on a human astrophysicist, all while an evil snow queen attempts to freeze the planet for her own selfish reasons. Snow and Christmas lights line the streets of Tokyo, and the theme of love and giftgiving is consistent throughout, but… really, I mostly put this on here because it has the BEST. TUXEDO KAMEN ENTRANCE. EVER. It’s like some beautiful gem of Christmas dorkitude, and I love it. If you were a fan of Sailor Moon and feel like refreshing some cheesy, happy memories, dig this one up again.

The D’AWWW Romantic Christmas

Episodes 4-5 of the 1993-1994 Oh My Goddess! OAV

This was the first anime version of Oh! My Goddess (or Aa Megami-sama), and managed to pack in a good deal of content for only 5 short episodes. The last two episodes form a two-part story-arc that is alternately touching, funny, and heartwrenching. After a series of strange events, Belldandy is told by God that she must return to the heavens and leave her beloved Keiichi behind; Keiichi, for his part, is driven to work himself to the bone to give her one last memento before she goes, a memento which has more meaning than he realizes. It’s an achingly sweet story about true love, sad partings, and family coming together.

The Bitchy Catty Christmas

Episode 33 of Death Note

Wait, Death Note had a Christmas episode? That series involving a crazed high school boy who uses a magic notebook to kill criminals and the equally crazed detective(s) trying to catch him? Merry Christmas! There is nothing particularly “Christmas-y” about the episode other than the snow, lights, and Near’s Christmas tree, but in many ways this works to its advantage as a deconstruction of the Christmas theme and what it means to the heroes and villains of Death Note. Heck, the fact the episode is called, “Scorn” might be a hint as to the big issue. Christmas is supposed to be a time of love and sharing, yet Light, with all his vaunted ideals of being the new god of justice and bringing about a happy peaceful world, is totally disconnected from the season and the people he’s using. The best moment, however, is the dinner shared between Misa, Light’s current girlfriend, and Kiyomi Takada, the woman who Light is having an affair with and using to further Kira’s ends. It’s a beautiful parade of cattiness and snide remarks that’s totally at odds with the beautiful, peaceful imagery of a snowy night lit up by the faint glow of candles and Christmas lights. If ever two people miss the point of Christmas, it would be these two… and that, in itself, may be the point.

The So Glad I’m Single Christmas

Episodes 11 and 12 of School Days

School Days is an… interesting series. It’s not exactly good, but it certainly succeeds at being highly unsettling and disturbing, to the point of pure squick. It’s a classic boy-meets-girl story, if the boy was a cheating jackass, the girl was an unstable stalker, and the OTHER girl is a manipulative temptress. The “hero” Makoto starts off with good intentions, trying to win the heart of elegant and sweet Kotonoha with the help of his friend Sekai… but then Sekai reveals her feelings and everything starts going downhill. What began as a friendly, happy school romance anime soon becomes depressing, then dark and forboding. Things reach a head on Christmas Eve, with Makoto suffering the consequences of his irresponsible and hurtful behavior (dumping Kotonoha for Sekai then cheating on Sekai with HALF THE SCHOOL), Sekai trying desperately to salvage a Christmas dinner for the boy she loves, and a poor, shattered Kotonoha wandering the streets in a daze, completely out of her mind. And then it gets WORSE. If your holidays are tinged with a bit too much happiness for your tastes, watch the last few episodes of this series and you’ll be miserable in no time. Just… bring a sick bucket.

What are your favorite Christmas anime episodes and movies?

During the busy holiday season, it’s OK to take a break from RPGs.

Don’t worry, I haven’t lost my mind, or (even worse) gotten burned out on RPGs. I love them more today than I did yesterday, and not as much as I will love them tomorrow. But this is a tough time of year for gaming, and instead of stretching yourself too thin, it’s just fine to admit you need a week or two off.

Too Much All At Once

As fun as RPGs are, there is work and effort involved in getting into character. RPGs aren’t a lazy activity – they require you to be actively “there”, paying attention and helping plot and plan. For any number of reasons at this time of year, that can be tough.

If you celebrate an assortment of winter holidays, your life right now is filling up with decorating, cooking, baking, cleaning, gift buying/making/wrapping, guests and/or traveling. Depending on how many obligations you have, you may find yourself burning the candle at both ends. You know you deserve a few hours away from it all, but while your rogue should be scouting ahead and looking for traps, you’re thinking about the three batches of cookie dough chilling in your fridge and whether you’ve got enough colored sugar to decorate all the little snowmen.

Even if you turn up your nose at all holidays, and don’t celebrate for whatever reason, much of the world is in full-out holiday fever. If you work in any sort of service industry (hello, my fellow retail workers!) you’re probably going to be putting in longer hours at work, and those hours are going to be more stressful. When you go to run your errands, businesses will be busier and lines will be longer. So even if the holidays mean nothing to you, they’re going to affect the amount of free time you have, and how much steam you’ve got left by game time.

Let’s not forget that the holiday season is difficult time for some, as well. The same decorations and music that make some of us happy will just make things harder on hearts that are already heavy. While social interaction is important when you’re down, sometimes the mental commitment of an RPG is too much to handle when your emotions are going in a million different directions.

Do Something Else

At this busy time of year, it’s more important than ever to take time for yourself, and most of us are going to want to turn to our friends for that fun time. But it’s tougher to get the gang all together, and for any of the reasons I’ve outlined above, as much as you want to hang and blow off some steam, you just might not have enough left in you to play your role in a game of thrones.

So instead of forcing yourself through some mediocre gaming sessions that aren’t as enjoyable or stress-relieving as you’d like them to be, do something else! Have a board game night, or poker night, if that’s your thing. You don’t have to play games at all – turn game night into a movie night! You can spend a few hours watching your favorite comedies, horror movies, anime, or even imperfect holiday classics (I can’t get enough of A Christmas Story). Whatever you want to watch, it doesn’t matter, so long as everyone’s happy. If everyone’s stressed about getting holiday goodies done (or can’t bake, but loves to eat) have a cookie decorating party.

It really doesn’t matter what you decide to do, just so long as you’re together and everyone has a good time, and is able to forget for a few hours that the inflatable Santa on the front lawn is lopsided and that they have to be at work early tomorrow for the doorbuster sale.

Do you have to take a break from your regularly-scheduled RPG just because of the holidaze? Of course not! If that routine game session is what you all need to stay sane and you’ve still got the mental acuity after a week of writing out Christmas cards and selling UGGs to spoiled teenagers, by all means set up the GM’s screen and have at it! But if you’re seeing spinning dreidles in your sleep and feel like you’ll snap if you hear Suzy Snowflake even one more time, maybe an evening of mindless party games or movies will be the better option for you.

And if a little extra eggnog helps you out, too, I’m not judging.

Are you able to find the time and energy for RPGs at busy times of year? If not, what do you like to do instead?

Believe it or not, I don’t actually exchange many presents for Christmas. When I was growing up and we didn’t have much money, having a gift extravaganza at Christmas made sense: if a little kid wants something you say “Christmas is coming,” and if they still even want it by Christmas you take it seriously. Similarly, you might pick things up on sale year-round and save them, so on Christmas morning the kids are rolling in presents.

Here’s the thing, though: now, my family is giant. I have ten million siblings to begin with; now some are married, some have children. The list of people to buy for became ridiculous – the very definition of holiday stress. Now, my adult siblings and I throw our names into a hat and get one person to buy for – something small. And for me, that’s pretty much it.

Does this mean I am lacking in Christmas spirit? Absolutely not! Here are a few of the ways you, too, can geek out over the holiday season without emphasizing gifts.

Go Full Clark Griswold

Whether you’re shooting for a “Gingerbread apartment” look, or you’d like planes to know they have a place to land that’s full of holiday cheer, nothing cheers up a place faster than some blinding LEDs, C9s or bubble lights! Hey, these midwinter celebrations are a way to remind us that the days will eventually get longer and we’ll see the sun again, right? I say, who needs a SAD lamp when you’ve got fairy lights!

Geek-theme Your Tree

I think there’s someone in every family who has a tree’s worth of Star Wars ornaments – one of my sisters claimed that distinction when I was still in high school. Instead of being guilted into a more traditional look, why not fully embrace what makes you happy? Ooh, I wonder if they make Doctor Who ornaments… my tree needs a TARDIS!

And who says your theming is limited to the tree itself? One of my favorite youtube videos is this person who took the idea of the train set below the tree and turned it into a spectacular trip to Disney World.

Gingerbread Like a Boss

Who says crafts are just for little kids? Try getting a bunch of your friends together for a holiday get-together wherein you put architects, confectioners, and maybe even the Mythbusters crew to shame. I wonder what Winterfell would look like in gingerbread?

Here We Go A-Wassailing

…Or, as some might like to call it, a pub crawl with singing. Seriously, this pagan tradition can be molded to your sensibilities in any number of ways, from caroling for your neighbors to a rowdy marathon of Rock Band. Just remember that the more mulled wine or eggnog you consume, the less angelic you may sound…

Movie Marathon

We’ve all got our favorite holiday movies, whether or not they were intended to be holiday viewing. I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to say that Harry Potter or the Lord of the Rings movies have become as much a part of the holidays for some as the Muppets Christmas Carol or Scrooged. I personally like to watch the Thin Man movies while I decorate my tree (the first one happens at Christmas, anyway). And what about Die Hard or Lethal Weapon? Whether on your own or with a group, watching your favorite holiday films can recharge your spirits far better than that miserable Christmas Shoes song.

What about you? What are some of your favorite geek holiday traditions?

I’ve written numerous game reviews, and last year even made a list of ten great games to break out during the holidays. That’s all fine and good if you’re having the holiday feast at your house, or if you thought to (or had the room in the car to) bring a collection of games with you to Mom and Dad’s. But there’s a good chance that you’re back at your parents’ home, or that of another relative or a long-time friend, and your collection of cool new games is far out of reach.

Never fear! Tucked away in a closet, on top of a bookcase, or somewhere in the basement, are bound to be some old school board games that are well worth blowing the dust off. Are they geeky? Probably not. Are they still fun? You bet!

(Admittedly I realize most of you are not actually reading this article on Thanksgiving Day – but there are plenty of gatherings to be had over the next couple months. Go hunting for games like these at any of those gatherings to have some fun!)

Pictionary

This was one of my favorites as a kid – I have many fond memories of playing it with my parents and their best friends on cold winter nights with a plate of cookies and fudge to fuel us. For those who have never played, it’s a little like charades, except instead of acting out the clue, you have to draw a picture for your partner or other team members to guess. A great game for most ages, and you really don’t have to have any sort of artistic talent at all. Sometimes the funniest moments come from the missed guesses due to less-than-accurate artwork. (“What do you mean it was peanut?! You have clearly drawn a potato!”)

Trivial Pursuit

I love trivia games, even though I seem to have gotten worse at them over the years. Trivial Pursuit is a classic that’s always fun, because you never realize how many odd pieces of information are stored in your brain until the perfect question comes up. Older outdated versions of the game are still very playable, and can trigger some fun debates when the answer the game lists is no longer correct. (I do recommend avoiding the very specific versions of the game, like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, unless everyone is a huge fan. It’s not very fun to be at a table of serious Star Wars nerds and watching them rack up pie after pie while all you can do is pray for an easy question like, “Who played Han Solo?”)

Masterpiece

Another great one from those winter nights at our neighbors’ farm, this art auction game is tons of fun. There’s plenty of strategy involved as you try to trade/buy the most valuable pieces of art, because some of them are forgeries! The game is long out of print, but I bet many of you can find a copy hiding somewhere in your grandma’s basement. (And pay attention to those art pieces you’re bidding on. You just might find that you have a real treasure in your own house.)

Monopoly and Sorry!

I lumped these two together because at this time of year, even if you somehow can’t find an old copy tucked away, you can get one at major discount retailers for less money than you’d spend on two holiday drinks at Starbucks. While Monopoly can be a lengthy (and cutthroat!) game, Sorry! is more usually pretty quick (though still cutthroat!).

Jigsaw Puzzles

Does a puzzle technically count as a game, or a toy? I don’t really know, but I do know that with a few people sitting around a card table, that 500 or 1000-piecer suddenly seems less daunting. I honestly haven’t worked a puzzle in years, but it was one of my favorite things as a kid, and I remember many a holiday where distant relatives found some common ground in looking for the edge pieces.

And Many More!

These are just the top games that came to mind for me. Who knows what childhood games of yours are still in the closet in your old room? When conversation starts to wane at your next family gathering, don’t just sit there bored (or worse, glued to your smartphone and ignoring everyone): go on the hunt for some old games. It will get rid of those awkward silences, and it just might get you out of doing the dishes.

What are some of your favorite old games to break out after a big holiday meal?

Looks like geeks really are taking over the media!  Some of the most popular movies and television shows this past year have been from niche genres.  But how do you know you’ve really made it?  When you’re represented alongside Dora and the cast of Wicked at the Thanksgiving Parade, of course.  Following are some unconfirmed*, anonymous sneak peaks at what properties we’ll be seeing represented tomorrow:

Game of Thrones

This float will feature Santa perched gingerly on the Iron Throne.  Behind him, a Winterfell Tower stands in for Santa’s workshop; plush Brans are intermittently punted out into the crowd.

The Walking Dead

Anyone who’s been in a marching band knows that the slow pace of a parade is excruciating.  But for this year’s featured band, The Marching Dead, it’s just right.

Doctor Who

The float features a giant cuckoo clock.   Elves come out of the door on one side and head for the entrance to a Cyberman conversion chamber on the other (well, really an entrance covered in plastic sheeting with some sparks behind it).   Instead of an actual cuckoo, we’re treated to a medley of spinning blades.

Harry Potter

With the movies completed, the franchise moves to the next logical step: the musical.  This five-minute mini-show will feature a first look at two songs that are sure to be hits: “(I’m Just) Slytherin Around” and “Dumbledore’s Shriveled Hand.”

Twilight

Several have mentioned that there would be a large-scale balloon of a sparkly vampire baby.  Alas, there was apparently a scuffle/entanglement with the one of Clifford the Big Red Dog.  Both are punctured, and the feud continues.

How about you?

What geeky float would you love to see in the parade?

*…or maybe entirely fabricated

But if you’re a broke little gamer geek, that pressure is even worse. You want to show your GM and fellow gamers that you’re thinking about them, but by the time rent and bills are paid and your car is filled with gas, you’re lucky to have enough cash left for some non-Ramen food. Just how are you supposed to come up with money to buy presents?

Trust me, I feel your pain. The bad news is that for the most part, it really does suck to be broke at the holidays. But the good news is…well, it’s two-fold. The first part of the good news is that most geeks have probably found themselves broke as hell a time or two, so unless they’re completely unreasonable, they’re going to understand that you can’t afford to buy them something expensive. The second part is even better: you don’t have to spend much money at all to show your gaming group that you care about them.

Options If You Are Flat-Ass Broke

If you have zero money for presents, don’t despair! You can still show your gaming group some love.

Gaming Coupons. When you were little, you probably at least once made a little book of coupons for your parents that they could redeem to get a free hug, or to get you to take out the garbage or clean your room. Kind of corny, but you had no money and your parents were probably thrilled.

If you play GM as well as Santa this time of year, why not make a coupon book for your players? Most of the coupons should be for minor things, like One Free Reroll or One Successful Skill Check, but you may want to put a couple more significant ones in there, such as One Automatic Critical Hit, One Successful Saving Throw, or One Cure Light Wounds Potion Magically Appears In Your Pouch.

If you’re a player, the coupon game is a little more difficult to play, but with a little creativity you could still come up with some great things. I’m sure my GMs would love to redeem a coupon with me for One Session With Zero Phone Interruptions (because I sometimes forget to turn my ringer off – sorry!).

The Gift of Time. We all have friends who keep putting off doing something because they don’t have time. If you have more time than money, taking on that task can be your gift to them. Whether it’s transferring another player’s handwritten character sheet to an electronic one, organizing/sorting his minis, or putting all their Magic cards in sleeves, the gesture is meaningful and will be remembered for a long time to come.

The Gift of Services. Maybe you can do something your friends can’t. If one of your fellow gamers has been using the same unpainted paladin mini for months, and you have painting supplies at home (and don’t need to buy any new colors), offer to paint it for them. Rip CDs full of gaming music for the friend who can’t figure out how to do it on his own. Get all the wires straightened out so his PS3, Xbox, and sound system all work at the same time. Whatever you can do that will save them a headache will be appreciated.

Options If You’re Not Broke Yet (But You Sure Are Bending)

If an overtime shift or extra sales commission has left you with a little extra money, but not enough to buy everyone what you think counts as a “nice gift”, reconsider what counts as nice! You can do a lot with a little money.

Gaming Supplies. Rulebooks are expensive, but they’re really the only pricey thing needed in a tabletop RPG. Think about all the other things you use in the course of a game session, though, those things you take for granted until you really need them: scratch paper, pencils, erasers that don’t smear… For just a few dollars, you can get everyone a couple pocket notebooks, writing utensils, and a really good eraser. If you have a little more to spend, an inexpensive set of dice (my FLGS has some sets that are only about $4) or a deck of cards (essential for playing Deadlands) makes a nice addition too. Put it all in a 50-cent gift bag from the dollar store, put a bag at everyone’s seat at the table, and you’re done. And you’re awesome.

FOOD! I’ve yet to meet a gamer who doesn’t like to eat, or who will turn down a gift of food. If you have max ranks in Cooking or Baking, a big batch of lasagna, chili, or cookies will make you look like a gift-giving rock star. You can go as far as making everyone their own cookie tray or individual mini pan of lasagna, but you can make life a lot easier on yourself (and your checkbook) by just bringing food for the whole crew one game night, and saying “Merry Christmas, guys!”

Can’t cook? No problem. Instead of the usual everyone chipping in for pizza, foot the bill yourself. Or buy the snacks and drinks for everyone for one game night. Everyone will appreciate it and know you care.

A Group Gift. For the close-knit game group, why not buy one thing that everyone can enjoy? A new board game, the latest Dominion expansion, a bigger battlemat… You can buy just one great gift that everyone can get use out of and make everyone happy, for far less than the cost of buying everyone an individual gift.

What About Regifting?

Regifting is always a touchy subject, and not always a good idea (in fact, often not). But consider this: you have some old game books on your shelf that you haven’t cracked in years. You may not even remember where or how you got them, and they don’t mean much to you, but hey, they’re game books, so you keep them. Your gaming buddies drool over those books every time they come to your house, because they had them once years ago, or have just always wanted them. Instead of watching them spend their hard-earned money on Ebay for copies in far worse condition than yours, why not pull your books off the shelf, wrap them up and give them to your friends? They’ll be ecstatic, you’ll look like a holiday hero, and all it cost you was the wrapping paper. (You may get a gift back in return when your friends use those books to run an awesome new campaign for you to play in!)

Remember What Matters

The most important part of the holidays is letting the people you care about know that they’re special to you. Words and actions convey that far more than any object can. When it’s obvious that there has been thought and love put into a gift, even the smallest present can shine and forever stand out in someone’s memory.

So don’t worry if money is tight. With just a little time and effort, you can give awesome gifts and still go to the grocery store. So stay home on Black Friday and relax – you’re good to go.

(No, seriously. Stay home on Black Friday. I have to work retail, and as much as I love you guys, I don’t want to see you when the store doors open.)

What little gifts have meant the most to you over the years?

Why give it a try?

For years, I scoffed at Black Friday.  ”Why would I stay up all night just to get a deal on a toaster?” I’d say.  “Thanksgiving break is about sleeping in and being lazy!”  Then I graduated college, became an adult, and had my own household wares to buy.  Suddenly, paying two dollars for a toaster seemed like an amazing idea, especially if I wanted to get the new Rock Band.

With today’s economy, any deal is attractive, but I can particularly see the allure when it comes to holiday gifts.  Why spend $15 for a toy for one of my nephews when I could get it for $5?  If I had kids of my own, you can bet I’d be hitting up places like Toys ‘R’ Us.  So far, I’ve only tried more generalized big box stores – WalMart, K-Mart, Target, etc.

The skills are all there

Who here hasn’t gone to a midnight launch of something – concert tickets, a video game, a book release?  Geeks are pros at waiting in lines.  And if the crowds get rowdy, well, that’s nothing a seasoned concert-goer couldn’t handle.  Remember – solid footwear!  With laces!

Honestly, though, the Black Friday craze appears to have died down in the last few years.  Stores are better able to anticipate and handle the crowds.  Instead of letting people run wild through the stores, there are tons of intricate queue systems for the big items.  Which is where the geek skill really comes in: it’s important to…

Strategize!

Going to Black Friday is not unlike going to a convention.  If it’s your first time and you’re unprepared, chances are you’ll wander around aimlessly, maybe stumbling onto some good deals, but potentially missing out on the reason you were interested in coming in the first place.  Last year I waited in line with my mother for a TV to replace one from the early 90s.  The store technically opened at midnight, I think, but when we arrived we found out they were letting late-night shoppers in and just letting them hang around early before the midnight “launch.”  First lesson – find out what the policy will be for the opening time!

Since we wanted a big-ticket item, first we had to get in a massively long line designated for the TV.  After awhile, we were counted and marked off on a clipboard.  In theory, if we’d made it this far we might get a TV, based on the number they had in stock – but since there was no item limit, it was possible someone could buy 20 of them.  After some more waiting, we were eventually given the Golden Ticket – a wristband that meant that when the TVs actually became available, at 5 am, I could wait in yet another line to get one.

At that point, it was only one or two am.  We could go home and sleep, or we could peruse everything else.  We decided to stay, since we weren’t sure we’d wake up and come back if we left.  The biggest deals were probably the DVDs – tons were purchased, many for only one or two dollars.  Rather than have everything picked over in the first hour, the store employees brought the merchandise out in waves, restocking every hour or so.  My sister, mother and I found ourselves stalking the employees with the boxes that we knew contained DVDs, looking for that elusive movie we saw in the ad.  Lesson two: scour the ads, know what you’re looking for, and try to figure out what to expect with the queue system.

Be flexible

It’s possible that the big-ticket item you wanted will sell out early, or that the crowds will be way more than you’re willing to deal with.  In cases like these, it’s good to be prepared with a Plan B.

Based on a previous Guitar Hero launch, we knew that K-Mart was not the store that would be swamped right at midnight, so it was our Plan B.  We knew what that store was offering, too, and what we’d be interested.  As it turned out, we didn’t really need our Plan B, but after the successful purchase of the TV, we headed over, hoping it wasn’t entirely picked over.

As it turned out, our hunch was correct – the K-Mart was busy, but not overly so, and there was still plenty of merchandise to be had.  We wound up buying a microwave for a ridiculously cheap price for a sibling who seems to go through electronics and appliances like candy.

Know Thyself

I’m probably misquoting her, but my mother always used to say something along the lines of: “When it comes to charity, you either spend money or time.  If you don’t have money to donate, you can donate time.”

It’s kind of the same when it comes to shopping.  If you don’t have much money to spare, it’s entirely worth it to wait all night to get a TV for less than half the price.  However, if you’re naturally an introvert who gets sapped by large crowds, well, it might be worth spending the extra cash.  And then, like almost everything that involves social interaction, there’s an alternative…

Go Geek

There’s always the internet!  And now, it even has its own version of Black Friday: Cyber Monday.  The Sunday night after Thanksgiving, be prepared to once again stay up late – but this time, from the comfort of your own home.  In your pajamas, perhaps with hot chocolate.   And you can wake up, make your purchases, and go back to sleep if you wish (remember to sleep-shop responsibly).

So whether you like the thrill of the hunt and late-night, slap-happy camaraderie, or the comfort of your bunny slippers, there’s a shopping deal for you.  Just bear in mind that no matter what you choose, remember to approach it like a geek – go for maximum efficiency and plan ahead!  Your wallet, and your sleep-deprived body, will thank you for it.

Oh hai, Jebus iz bornd

1 ‘Roun dis tiyem, Caesar Augustus wuz like, “I can has cenzus?”  2 (‘Coz while Quirinius was Teh Boz of Syria, is invisible census!) 3 And all teh doodz went home for teh saying, “I is heer!”  4 So Joseph went from Naz’reth to Judeeah to Bethlehemm whar David wuz borned, ‘coz David wuz hiz graete-graete gran-daddie,  5 An Mary went wif him, ‘coz she was gonna be married wif him an she was preggerz.  6 When wuz time for teh baybee,  7 it wuz a boy, so he wuz wrapd in blanket like burrito an placd him in fud dish, cuz innkeeper wuz liek, no room here kthxbye!

Sheep-doodz n Angels

8 Then there wuz sheep-doods in teh field, an they wuz watchin teh sheep in teh dark. Iz vry vry boring. srsly.  9 An suddenly, visible angel! An glory! O noez!!  10 But teh angel sed, “DONT AFRAID OF ENYTHING! it r ok, you can has gud news for all teh doodz!  11 Todai in da city ov David, you can has sayvur! is Christ da Lord! w00t!  12 Iz sign fer u, find da baybee wrapd like brrito in a big fud dish.”  13 An suddenly, moar angelz! They sez,   14 “w00t to teh Ceiling Cat! An peace fer doodz he luffs! Kthxbai.”

15 An when da angelz go invisible again, sheep-doodz sed, “sweet, nao we find teh brrito-baybee sayvur!”  16 So dey left da sheeps (sheeps r vry borng) and found Joe an Mary and da baybee in da fud dish.  17 An when dey saw it wuz baybee an not brrito, they told evrywun he wuz kewl,   18 An all teh doodz who herd were lyke, “neat-o brrito!”  19 An Mary wuz lyke, “o rly?”  20 Teh sheep-doodz sed, “Yay fer Ceiling Cat! Was not invisible brrito!”  21 On dai noomber ate, it wuz tiem 2 circumcize him (iz laik getting fixd) an they called him Jebus, ‘coz teh angel sed tht wuz hiz name.

Merry Christmas to all!