What did Santa Bring You?

The wife came thru with $150 in West Marine gift cards, among other things.  Add that to the $50 WM gift card (and $50 FW gift certificate) my sister & her family gave me, and I have enough for a fishfinder or handheld GPS unit... 

Now I just have to decide what to get...

So, I swung by West Marine today to take advantage of the extra 15%-per-giftcard.  In my case that added $30 to my spending pot.  After checking prices of both the Matrix 17 and GPSMap 76 online, I decided I'd save more money by getting the handheld GPS via the internet.  As luck would have it, I made the right choice.  West Marine had but one Matrix 17 unit in stock - the demo, which had been on display for about 6 weeks.  Because it was the last one, the sales gal offered me an additional 5% off the price, plus she threw in the extended warranty.  So instead of using up my gift cards, I ended up with almost $30 left over for future spending!    

I'm quite happy with the outcome...much happier than I was with Etoys  and DHL  , who together managed to deliver a $130 super pogo stick 5 days later than promised (arriving 2 days after after Christmas).  Neither of those companies will get any future business from this household, especially since the pogo stick leaks air (air spring powered) and has to be returned.  Luckily our youngest was more understanding that he might have been.  Now he just wants us to return the pogo and get him a new skateboard...

I got a new pair of kayak booties to replace my holey, porous, ragged and stinky old ones.

Mostly I buy what I need for fishing and my people do not have the expertise to know what to buy unless I ask for it.  What a great year though.  Natalie 10, got a 10-gal. fishtank now inhabited by Jordie the goldfish and just loves it.  If only I oculd get her interested in fishing.  She announced that she wants a "No Fishing" sign for the tank.  She will have to pay for her private MLPA herself.   

 

-Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6501 left hand reel
-Cabela's really  nice fillet knife (hope it's not just a hood ornament)
-2 books - Last of the Blue Water Hunters by Carlos Eyles, andManual of Freediving by Umberto Pelizzari (highly technical how-to)
Thanks Sherri!

and... a new garage to store my yak!

Santa was good to the hawkster this year. I got---

1)MAGELLAN explorist 600 with uploadable nautical and topographic software

2)7' SEEKER rod with light action tip

3) assortment of crankbait lures and Salmon rigs

4)Canon A610 with waterproof housing to compliment my digital 20D in pelican case

5)new shortwave radio for the lonely paddling scene here in Humboldt.

6)starter rod and reels for my 4 year old girl and 8 month old boy