Author Topic: 2014 Christmas Giveaway #3 "" WINNERS ANNOUNCED ""  (Read 17428 times)

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Offline martinyeah

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2014 Christmas Giveaway #3 "" WINNERS ANNOUNCED ""
« on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 11:34:15 »
Congratulation to all the guys below :


#1  swill
#2  Lu_e
#3  scubaste
#4  ZimmunD
#5  drewba
#6  fabian101



Thank you for all of your support ,Wish you all have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year  :)





-- 2014 Christmas Giveaway --


Since I started in GeekHack, I met a lot of friends from all over the world and i got to learn about different types of keyboards, and i had the pleasure of viewing many precious keyboard collections.

I am most grateful that we have a lot of supporters and now I wish to share our love to everyone. :)



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


How to WIN : All it takes is for you to share with us your most memorable Christmas moments with us.
 

Time : From Today up to 24 Dec 23:59 (EST)


I will pick up "6 winners" and will announce the Lucky guys on 26 Dec, each winner will get 1 keycap (I will random and sent out)


Good luck to all , i m waiting for your story.
« Last Edit: Wed, 08 July 2015, 09:17:31 by martinyeah »

Offline martinyeah

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 11:47:54 »
Everyone is welcome to join  :D

Offline Tactical_Towel

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:04:35 »
Great idea, let's give it a shot :)

My best Christmas moment  was 1995. I was 10 years old and had just been a "gamer" for roughly 1 1/2 years, owning my precious Sega Mega Drive. The Playstation released earlier this year, I was pretty stoked, but already figured that it was too much money for my parents (I have 2 sisters, also). I made up a tough savings plan to reach my goal around summer next year, even got a small job as a paper boy.

On Christmas Eve (Germans exchange gifts in the evening of Dec 24th), my dad came up to me and told me he was very proud. He gave me an envelope and inside there was a self made coupon, it said "Financial Gamer Support" and that they would help me get a console of my choice. The list was "Sega Game Gear", "Super NES", "Game Boy". I looked at it and as you could imagine, as a 10 year old, I was pretty down, totally not getting the joke.

My dad looked at me and asked if there was something wrong with the list and I asked him if the support could go to a PSX, too. Then he smiled, "oh, you want a Playstation?", went to the kitchen and came back with a box. You guys can imagine what a joyful moment it was to take out not only a psx, but also a copy of C&C 1 and one of Destruction Derby. I played C&C the whole evening and even got one of my sisters to join in. It was her first time gaming and she's still on it until today.

I guess that's my best Christmas I can remember. Although it's a material story, it was the best of all :D

Merry Christmas folks!

Offline Spwize

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:06:50 »
Well, here goes...

I remember one Christmas that I was in North Carolina with relatives. Sounds fun? Not exactly. It never is fun.
Now, it is at least tolerable, but I had the flu around that time, which just kicked the tolerable meter down quite a few notches.

I was in a hotel -and yes, before anyone asks, I was about seven- when I felt a horrible feeling stir in my gut. I ran from the room only to realize in horror my mistake. The bathroom in the hotel was out the other door. I tried frantically to get back in, gagging as I did it. Before I finally woke someone with my pounding, I puked all over the "nice" hotel carpeted floor.

On the bright side, I didn't have to go outside and got to lay in a hotel all day, so that was nice.

May your holidays be better than mine,
Merry what-ever-you-celebrate!

Offline Lurch

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:14:07 »
One of my most memorable Christmas moments, was waking up to over 4 and 1/2 feet of snow in like, 1996, a few days before Christmas.

I friggen love the snow! It never feels like Christmas if there is no snow on the ground...

Thanks for the opportunity to win some caps, Martin! YEAH!
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Offline christophertsao

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:17:42 »
Best Christmas memory:

Christmas 2014 -  I won a random Hot Key from Martin.

or... these:

2006 - Fell off the ladder while putting up Christmas lights. Turned out to be worth the sore rear as I got to sit back and sip hot chocolate while everyone else did the hard work.

1998 - Unwrapped a Toys R Us Limited Edition Nintendo 64 with exclusive Gold Controller plus Mario Cart 64.

2011 - Last Christmas spent with my Grandfather before he passed.

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Offline Rainbow_

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:20:54 »
My most memorable Christmas moment was when Grandma got run over by a reindeer :(
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Offline GenKaan

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:21:08 »
Awesome stuff and thanks for posting on reddit :)

Going to spend Christmas with the wifu´s family, going to be peppered with questions about when Im going to learn finnish and how much better the same stuff they enjoy here is in Finland. At least I know there is going to be a ton of food and a happy wifu so its all good. Now snow tho, always feels strange not having snow on Christmas. Really miss it and a cap would really ease my pain

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Offline Computer-Lab in Basement

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:25:31 »
When I was 5 years old, on Christmas Eve, I could have SWORN I heard the sound of reindeer hooves on the roof. I was super excited, because I KNEW Santa was leaving us presents.

Once I got old enough to know better, I looked back on that memory and decided that it must have been my father on the roof that Christmas Eve, making me believe that it was Santa.

Then about a year ago, I asked my father about this; if he actually was on the roof that Christmas.

He was not.

Which leads me to two possible conclusions:

 - My dad was very drunk that Christmas Eve and managed to find his way onto the roof, without falling off and breaking his neck,  and have no memory of doing so.
 - Santa is real.

I still have not decided which one I believe to be true...
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Offline MaNiFeX

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:27:13 »
There are many great Christmas memories, but the one that sticks out the most is my first Christmas in Knoxville, TN. 

Before my dad established himself at his current employer, he moved around a bit until he found the right company.  That meant by the time I moved to Knoxville at age 8, I had lived in Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and Cleveland...  All my parents' family is from Western PA.

Anyway, there were family and friends visiting for our first Christmas night in Knoxville, so my Mom pulled out all the stops.  The cocktails and wine were flowing and her food spread was cornucopias.  Homemade port-wine cheese balls rolled in almonds, nut rolls, dinner rolls, green bean casserole, pineapple casserole, ham, candied yams, and various other dinner-time accouterments were arranged on one side of the table, then the drinks, then the other side, my favorite at the time, was the dessert side of the table.

Oh, man did I have a sweet tooth then.  When I was 8, I really liked chocolate, peanut butter, nougat, creme brulee, custard, anything that was rich.  I had a little to eat, wandered around the party, got bored, then decided I wanted some sweets.  Well, my mom had set out plenty to choose from.  I noticed a dessert that I hadn't seen before, little chocolate balls rolled in cocoa.

I grabbed a couple, and bit into one.  It was so soft and creamy, like a truffle.  The taste was more complex than chocolate alone and not nearly as sweet as I expected.  Regardless, I really liked the chocolate balls.  So I ate like, 8 or 10 of them.

About 10-15 minutes later, I really regretted eating so many chocolate balls.  I started feeling a little light headed and sick, so I sat down.  A moment later, I realized I was going to puke.  To this day, I still don't believe I'm going to really throw up until it's way too late.  You know that feeling you get five minutes before hand that you're gonna hurl, well, I fully deny that feeling until the last 15-30 seconds...  I don't know why I just do.

After sitting down didn't help and the room started to spin, I got up and headed to the kitchen.  I was 8, so I don't remember why I went to the kitchen, but here I am, standing on the linoleum, and...


HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRFFFFFFF!


Dark brown liquid spews out of my mouth and ****ing covers the kitchen floor with a puddle of what looked like something that came out of my other end.  My mother rushed up to me and put two and two together.

"Did you eat those chocolate balls?"

"Yes...  like, a lot."

"Oh God.  Those were rum balls.  I made them a little strong, too.  How many did you eat?"

"Like, 8 or 9."

I don't remember much after that because I probably passed out drunk.  Ahhhh the Holidays.  Little did I know a few years later, I'd be spending the rest of my Christmases in a similar state.

Merry Chistmas All!

Offline JPG

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:28:22 »
When I was 5 years old, on Christmas Eve, I could have SWORN I heard the sound of reindeer hooves on the roof. I was super excited, because I KNEW Santa was leaving us presents.

Once I got old enough to know better, I looked back on that memory and decided that it must have been my father on the roof that Christmas Eve, making me believe that it was Santa.

Then about a year ago, I asked my father about this; if he actually was on the roof that Christmas.

He was not.

Which leads me to two possible conclusions:

 - My dad was very drunk that Christmas Eve and managed to find his way onto the roof, without falling off and breaking his neck,  and have no memory of doing so.
 - Santa is real.

I still have not decided which one I believe to be true...


Your neighbor was very drunk and went on the roof of the wrong house! you should ask him!
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Offline Computer-Lab in Basement

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:32:30 »
When I was 5 years old, on Christmas Eve, I could have SWORN I heard the sound of reindeer hooves on the roof. I was super excited, because I KNEW Santa was leaving us presents.

Once I got old enough to know better, I looked back on that memory and decided that it must have been my father on the roof that Christmas Eve, making me believe that it was Santa.

Then about a year ago, I asked my father about this; if he actually was on the roof that Christmas.

He was not.

Which leads me to two possible conclusions:

 - My dad was very drunk that Christmas Eve and managed to find his way onto the roof, without falling off and breaking his neck,  and have no memory of doing so.
 - Santa is real.

I still have not decided which one I believe to be true...


Your neighbor was very drunk and went on the roof of the wrong house! you should ask him!

But if I do, and he confirms, I will be confirming the non-existence of Santa! :eek:

I'm not sure if I'm ready for that just yet...
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Offline iamtootallforthis

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:32:32 »
Getting to spend Christmas with my dad's mother. She lives only 2 and a half hours away, but it was the first and only Christmas she spent at my house. It was great getting to wake up and open presents with her on Christmas morning and to hang out with her over the Holidays.

Thanks for doing this Martin!

Offline it365

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:37:35 »
Thanks for the opportunity Martin!

My memorable Christmas has to be when my entire family fell ill on Christmas Eve! Since I was the only one in the house that wasn't ill, I spent that evening and Christmas day running about getting various medicines and comforts to make the day for them all bearable. Then to top it all off, my Christmas dinner included a fine array of toppings on a baked potato... All of this happened when I was 10 years old and really did change the way i saw Christmas. Its still an awesome time but appreciate spending time with my family more so than the presents .

Anyway thanks for all the cool keycap designs over the years and have a lovely christmas/new year  :)

Offline choiboi

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:46:48 »
Thank you for doing a giveaway~

Since I grew up in an Asian household, we didn't really celebrate the whole "meaning of Christmas" besides opening presents.
It was mostly a time for my dad to kinda chill with the family since he only really gets days off on big holidays, and he usually gets work backed up around Christmas.

But the most memorable was probably around... 4 or 5 years ago? I woke up to find a brand new Wii and my dad waiting for me and my sister. We ended up playing together the rest of the day (mom doesn't really like games).

But again, thanks for holding a giveaway, and a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you GeekHackers out there! GL to everyone~

Offline tigersharkdude

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #15 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 13:10:01 »
Might sound cheesy but my favorite Christmas moment(s) are ALL of them when my dad and brother were still with us (RIP). We lost both of them when I was fairly young, they both loved Christmas time.

If I had to say my favorite it would be when my dad, mom, both brothers and myself went to the company chrisMas party for my dad's work. It was one of our last Christmas' together :(

EDIT: just noticed the giveaway will be an ounces on birthday
« Last Edit: Tue, 23 December 2014, 09:35:22 by tigersharkdude »

Offline SirPheles

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 13:11:06 »
Really appreciate the giveaway!

Well, living with divorced parents has always been a hassle. I had to juggle my time between both of them. About 7 years ago, the same year they had separated, we just skipped Christmas. Yaya sob story, but to my surprise, the following year, they organized a meeting at my dad's house to celebrate Christmas as a family. From that point on, we cycled between the two homes every year, only on Christmas; to reunite again. Of course, juggling between my two parents every other day of the year kinda sucks, but it really shows that they both care for me to organize a day together.

Thanks for reading, Merry Christmas Martin and everyone else on Geekhack!  :D

Offline parcel98

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #17 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 13:13:39 »
Fantastic! Thanks so much for your generosity

My best Christmas memory was from when I was 12 years old. My birthday is very close to Christmas, so I've always received either two lesser gifts or one pretty good one. I was never upset about it or anything, I just thought I'd mention it so you can compare it to that one specific Christmas.

All of my middle school friends were getting their first gen Nintendo DS's. I kept hearing about how great it was and how you could even play online with Wi-Fi (back then I had no idea what Wi-Fi was!). Anyway, I knew that Christmas was coming up, and I thought my family were giving me the usual, since they kept dropping random questions about shoes, clothes, etc.

My birthday came around, and I was given the usual. No surprise there, but I still appreciated the sentiment. Then, when Christmas finally came, I opened up a letter from my uncle (Side Note ~~ My uncle and grandma lived with my mom and me at the time). The letter gave me a clue that led me to the dresser in his room. In that dresser, I found Super Mario 64 DS! I couldn't believe it! But then I realized that I didn't even have a DS. Little did I know - the next card (from my grandmother) had yet another clue!

The next clue led me to the closet that my mom and grandma shared. I was told to look through the different purses, and I could not believe what I found! It was Asphalt: Urban GT! At this point, I started to catch on. I knew that my mom's card would have the clue that would lead me to my DS - and it sure did! The final clue led me to my own room. This was the hardest to figure out, as it was hidden away with all of my old toys from when I was a kid. But, sure enough, I found it - my very own Nintendo DS!

The fact that my mom, uncle, and grandmother made this financial sacrifice to give me a special Christmas is something that I will never forget. We all lived in a pretty cramped apartment, and my uncle usually couldn't afford to give me presents because he had two young kids to provide child support and other costs for. My mom was a single mom who paid for most of the costs in the apartment, since my grandmother couldn't work.  Because of that Christmas, have always been very generous with my family around the holidays. I've made a lot of sacrifices to make sure that at least my mom and grandmother get certain luxuries that they can't always afford to buy themselves.

I know I'm new to the forum, but I really love every single Mechanical Keyboard community that I've encountered. Everyone's really nice, and I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and New Year! :)

« Last Edit: Mon, 22 December 2014, 13:30:43 by parcel98 »

Offline measlyblue

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #18 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 13:15:13 »
My most memorable Christmas was 2005.
Like any young kid back then (and now for that matter) I rushed to the tree and scooped up everything that had my name on it. After opening some clothes and a small Bionicle set (Lego) I was left with one more present. I was greeted to a brand new Nintendo DS with Mariokart. As I lived next door to my cousin I rushed over to see what he got, with the DS in hand of course. When he opened his gifts I saw there was one more he hadn't seen and it so happened to be the same size as my new DS. We both received DS's along Mariokart and later the same day we both received Pokemon mystery dungeon.

It was truly the best Christmas, I haven't received a gift that great since.
Merry Christmas GH

Offline flourrr

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #19 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 13:25:29 »
My most memorable Christmas moment? Probably the one last year. I got to the States on August last year. And on Christmas, I received gifts from my host, who I am staying with currently. This tradition is the norm to you guys, but to me, it was an all new experience. I didn't have the needed things to give them back. However, this year will be different, I finally can take part in this tradition, hopefully the hosts will enjoy the presents. In addition, last Christmas was the first time I saw snow and icy road, icy everything. It was cold and exciting at the same time. I remember wearing a short and 3 layers of coat to go out and play a bit with the ice, to think that I was 21 at that time.

Anyway, thank you Martin for doing these giveaways. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody!  :thumb:
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Offline Badwrench

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #20 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 13:33:03 »
Thanks for the opportunity on such a great giveaway.

My favorite Christmas moment so far has to be back in 1994.  I was 15 going on 16 and my family was in the living room opening presents together.  I have never been one to complain or be annoyed that I don't get much, but I did think it was odd that my brothers were getting spoiled to death and I had only gotten some socks.  My parents totally kept a straight face the whole time and when we were finished, I had still only opened the one gift.  We cleaned up and my parents asked me to go get the morning paper from the driveway.  Outside in the front of the house was a 1972 VW Karmann Ghia in bright red with a bow on top.  I turned around and my whole family was there behind me with a smile on their faces.  Needless to say, I was pretty stoked as that is the car I wanted. 
wut. i'd buy a ****ty IBM board for that green V2

Offline Corey

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #21 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 13:45:02 »
Best Christmas for me was when I received a Playstation 1. It kick started my addiction to gaming. Can't complain :)

Offline 00zeRO

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #22 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 13:45:27 »
My most memorable Xmas moment was last year, when our family chose to celebrate Hannukah instead for the first time ever. This year has already been memorable in that regard as well.

Thanks for the giveaway Martin.

~signed~ The Grinch

 :))
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Offline swill

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #23 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 14:18:11 »
My most memorable moment of Christmas is actually an event that just happened to coincide with the Christmas season.  After hurricane Katrina there were so many displaced dogs that the shelters were packed.  We were considering adopting a dog at the time, so we set about adopting one from a shelter down there.  It was a long process and we were obviously adopting based only on a picture.

By the time everything went through and she finally got within reasonable driving distance, it was Christmas time.  It was incredible how we actually got her here.  Basically, a network of different shelters each signed up for about 100 miles and transported her from one shelter to the next all the way up to Canada and we drove the last couple hundred miles to get her.

It turns out that she had a very tough life before we got her.  She had scars on her head, her nose looked like it had been compacted and she had had broken ribs.  She was so painfully shy and afraid of everything.  Poor thing was totally traumatized and was afraid of everything.  Trash cans on the road, fire hydrants, people, all people, other dogs, there was nothing she was not terrified of.  Luckily I grew up with lots of animals including dogs, so I knew we just needed to take things slow and show her that she didn't have to be afraid of things and she would come around. 

We have had her for about 4 years now and I am happy to report that she has come full circle.  She is still a bit shy, but she has conquered the majority of her fear and if she is afraid of something she will just come over and stand next to me.  She is an absolute sweetheart.  She has such a heart of gold.  We may have spoiled her a bit too much because she is a bit sassy now, but I will take sassy over scared anyday.  :)  I can walk her off leash and she will stay right with me and is excellent with voice commands.

Every Christmas I am reminded of how lucky we are to have found each other, so that is my most memorable Christmas memory...

Here she is:
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

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« Last Edit: Mon, 22 December 2014, 14:21:07 by swill »

Offline sethk_

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #24 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 14:32:10 »
My most memorable Christmas was when I got my GBA, and that is what sparked my interest in gaming, which later got me into PCs and eventually keyboards. My first game was a Hey Arnold game and Pokemon, and I played the **** out of both of them.

Offline Computer-Lab in Basement

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #25 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 14:35:56 »
My most memorable moment of Christmas is actually an event that just happened to coincide with the Christmas season.  After hurricane Katrina there were so many displaced dogs that the shelters were packed.  We were considering adopting a dog at the time, so we set about adopting one from a shelter down there.  It was a long process and we were obviously adopting based only on a picture.

By the time everything went through and she finally got within reasonable driving distance, it was Christmas time.  It was incredible how we actually got her here.  Basically, a network of different shelters each signed up for about 100 miles and transported her from one shelter to the next all the way up to Canada and we drove the last couple hundred miles to get her.

It turns out that she had a very tough life before we got her.  She had scars on her head, her nose looked like it had been compacted and she had had broken ribs.  She was so painfully shy and afraid of everything.  Poor thing was totally traumatized and was afraid of everything.  Trash cans on the road, fire hydrants, people, all people, other dogs, there was nothing she was not terrified of.  Luckily I grew up with lots of animals including dogs, so I knew we just needed to take things slow and show her that she didn't have to be afraid of things and she would come around. 

We have had her for about 4 years now and I am happy to report that she has come full circle.  She is still a bit shy, but she has conquered the majority of her fear and if she is afraid of something she will just come over and stand next to me.  She is an absolute sweetheart.  She has such a heart of gold.  We may have spoiled her a bit too much because she is a bit sassy now, but I will take sassy over scared anyday.  :)  I can walk her off leash and she will stay right with me and is excellent with voice commands.

Every Christmas I am reminded of how lucky we are to have found each other, so that is my most memorable Christmas memory...

Here she is:
(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

Such a beautiful dog...
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Offline scubaste

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #26 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 15:07:51 »
I was around 9 or 10 and I spent the previous couple of years riding my bike every chance I got. I put together a 70s era BMX using a frame that someone left sitting out for the trash. I pieced things together with parts we had laying around the house, and using money from allowance or however else little kids manage to get cash. It was my sole means of exploration and for that I was thankful to have it, but it was heavy and my undeveloped constructing skills were constantly being put to the test by my own sense of invulnerability. A couple of years go by and my love for bikes has not diminished, but grown and extended into a means of carrying on friendships during the summer months that often separate kids from their classmates. I would wake up around the break of daylight and suit up in my cargo pants and T-shirt then set off to meet up with my friends. We rode everyday, rain would not stop us, nor cuts or wrecks. The only things that slowed us down was hunger and the occasional stop at 'the bike shop' to fix a flat tire or just to stare at all the shiny new bikes. This is where an obsession began.

Mosh brand bikes were all the rage at the time, and a few of my friends had gotten them. One day a new one was put up in the storefront window and when me and the guys saw it we all just stared in wonder. The 1998 model Mosh Pro XL! Holy crap guys its beautiful! Red and black and sporting all the new BMX components, what else could a boy want? Well for me, nothing. I'm not exactly sure how, but that bike sat in the window for months, tempting me. When we would stop at the bike shop I would go near it, inspecting it, imagining it was mine, and occasionally sitting on it if no one was looking. At home I would tell my parents about it, dreaming up schemes to procure it, but was usually asked to keep things in perspective which was a nice way of saying we can't afford it.

As the months roll by I do realize that its unlikely that I'll ever own the thing, but despite that I'm still more than infatuated by this freaking bike. School starts back and bike riding is cut back to a minimum. The thoughts of it slowly seep into the rural boundaries of my adolescent brain. I'm being overwhelmed by the monotony of this middle school life, but alas christmas break is coming. It wasn't christmas day at all, but thats when it happened. I am looking for something in our storage room a few days before Christmas and lo and behold a Mosh Pro XL tucked away carefully and awaiting Xmas morning! THE Mosh Pro XL!!! It is a moment I won't forget. I was ecstatic, but also in awe of my parents sacrifice. Not sure what to do, and unable to control my excitement I run to my parents and hug them and ask if I can ride it. They allow it, and after that it was hard to separate me from that bike for the next couple of years.

That bike is long gone now, but I am left with a reminder of Christmas spirit and of sacrifice in general. Sometimes the gifts are more than you can imagine, but what really remains is a reminder that someone out there cares enough about you to sacrifice a little bit of themselves just to see you happy.

Merry Christmas Geekhack. Thanks for making this place feel like a community during the holidays. Thank you Martin!

The only pics of a mosh pro xl that I could find, this one isn't all original but close enough:

Offline sethk_

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #27 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 15:15:55 »
I was around 9 or 10 and I spent the previous couple of years riding my bike every chance I got. I put together a 70s era BMX using a frame that someone left sitting out for the trash. I pieced things together with parts we had laying around the house, and using money from allowance or however else little kids manage to get cash. It was my sole means of exploration and for that I was thankful to have it, but it was heavy and my undeveloped constructing skills were constantly being put to the test by my own sense of invulnerability. A couple of years go by and my love for bikes has not diminished, but grown and extended into a means of carrying on friendships during the summer months that often separate kids from their classmates. I would wake up around the break of daylight and suit up in my cargo pants and T-shirt then set off to meet up with my friends. We rode everyday, rain would not stop us, nor cuts or wrecks. The only things that slowed us down was hunger and the occasional stop at 'the bike shop' to fix a flat tire or just to stare at all the shiny new bikes. This is where an obsession began.

Mosh brand bikes were all the rage at the time, and a few of my friends had gotten them. One day a new one was put up in the storefront window and when me and the guys saw it we all just stared in wonder. The 1998 model Mosh Pro XL! Holy crap guys its beautiful! Red and black and sporting all the new BMX components, what else could a boy want? Well for me, nothing. I'm not exactly sure how, but that bike sat in the window for months, tempting me. When we would stop at the bike shop I would go near it, inspecting it, imagining it was mine, and occasionally sitting on it if no one was looking. At home I would tell my parents about it, dreaming up schemes to procure it, but was usually asked to keep things in perspective which was a nice way of saying we can't afford it.

As the months roll by I do realize that its unlikely that I'll ever own the thing, but despite that I'm still more than infatuated by this freaking bike. School starts back and bike riding is cut back to a minimum. The thoughts of it slowly seep into the rural boundaries of my adolescent brain. I'm being overwhelmed by the monotony of this middle school life, but alas christmas break is coming. It wasn't christmas day at all, but thats when it happened. I am looking for something in our storage room a few days before Christmas and lo and behold a Mosh Pro XL tucked away carefully and awaiting Xmas morning! THE Mosh Pro XL!!! It is a moment I won't forget. I was ecstatic, but also in awe of my parents sacrifice. Not sure what to do, and unable to control my excitement I run to my parents and hug them and ask if I can ride it. They allow it, and after that it was hard to separate me from that bike for the next couple of years.

That bike is long gone now, but I am left with a reminder of Christmas spirit and of sacrifice in general. Sometimes the gifts are more than you can imagine, but what really remains is a reminder that someone out there cares enough about you to sacrifice a little bit of themselves just to see you happy.

Merry Christmas Geekhack. Thanks for making this place feel like a community during the holidays. Thank you Martin!

The only pics of a mosh pro xl that I could find, this one isn't all original but close enough:
Show Image


that mosh font though...

Offline thefebruaryman

  • Posts: 220
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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #28 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 15:20:23 »
Before I tell my story please don't think me an ungrateful person, I have always loved my parents and the times we have spent together at Christmas time both then and now.
Being one of those people who's birthday is very close to xmas I was always the one that got the joint xmas birthday present. And like most children every year I would drop hints as to what  I would like, nothing to big or expensive just something I would like. However year after year my parents never seem to get these hints and I would end up with something that I not only didn't like and would never use. All till one xmas when I found a moderate sized present under the tree. Happily after an delicious dinner it was unwrapped to expose a brand new Saga Game Gear with Sonic the hedgehog included. I couldn't believe it. It was more than I had ever expected and perfect. This one present led me on to like games and from games to computers. From computers I got interested in programming and got my self a great job in it. From this job and interest came my first mechanical keyboard and then just a few weeks ago my first custom keycaps. All in all that was the most memorable Christmas, where one present has brought so much more.

Happy Christmas everyone and presents or not enjoy the time off work being with your family and friends. 

Offline admiralvorian

  • Posts: 324
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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #29 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 16:01:04 »
two words:

Nintendo Sixty-Four
Darude Status:
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☑ Sandstorm                                               wts wtt wtb

Offline Johan

  • Posts: 241
  • Location: Stockholm, Sweden.
Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #30 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 16:23:23 »
I'm not as good at writing as everyone else here unfortunately, and it doesn't help that I haven't written anything proper in a while, but I'll give it a go!

Back in 2002 when I was still a little child, I used to believe in a phenomenon known as Santa. As you have heard of him, I wont bother you with the details.

Something that's very common in Sweden is for a parent/grandparent or a friend of the family to "go off to the store and pick up object X". While the object that would presumably be bought varied from year to year, for my Uncle cigarettes was the lacking substance, which was odd since he never smoked.

What I never understood was why my Uncle would head out in the freezing cold every winter to buy something, at 6 years of age even I questioned the odds of a shop being open at Christmas eve. Every year he would miss Santa's visit and come home empty handed. "Why would he do this?" I wondered. I asked my cousin if his dad did not enjoy the company of Santa. He rolled his eyes and headed off to consume more sweets.

At half past five was around the time my Uncle ran off to buy the "cigarettes". Santa would generally arrive within 15 minutes, However this year Santa was late, 30 minutes had gone by and we were getting impatient. It didn't help that the living room was getting incredibly warm.
I threw on my jacket to see if I could meet the delayed Santa as he arrives. I only needed to take a few steps before I heard a subtle moaning. I looked at the path connecting the house and the carpentering shed and saw my uncle in a large red robe laying on the frozen ground.

Turns out he had slipped on a patch of ice, he got super lucky and got away with a minor concussion and a bruised shoulder. After he was brought to the hospital I was given 100kr as a reward for finding "Santa".
This was also the year I was given a copy of Pokémon Crystal, which remains as the best Pokémon game I've played to date.

That's the story of how I found out that Santa wasn't a thing. Lots of build up to a disappointing end, my writing in a nutshell :D
Uh, stuff.

Offline dustinhxc

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #31 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 16:33:00 »
Christmas just isnt the same as when I was a kid. I waited all year just for the hope that I would get a gift that I would be able to buy now a days in a couple hours. Its pretty funny.
The best memories I had when getting together with my famile every Christmas was with my cousin. Every year she would bring her gameboy out with mario land. I would play it for hours and she was so happy that I enjoyed it so much. I never did end up getting one of those. But I did get a Gameboy Pocket! Then a color. then an Advance. That was as far as I went with them. But just for those brief moments of playing on the crappy small screen with the amazing GB Nintendo music tones with my cousin made my entire year.




Offline deazncy

  • Posts: 126
Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #32 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 16:55:26 »
Christmas when I was around 9 years old and still believed in Santa. I've always wanted a gameboy when I was younger, and this was the year when the gameboy sp was first released with it's all new backlight feature and compact form factor. When Christmas morning rolled around, I opened what I thought to be my last present, but my parents pointed out one last present that was way back behind the Christmas tree. I looked at the tag and it read "Merry Christmas, deazncy! From: Santa" and my face lit up. I quickly opened the present and under the wrapping paper I could see I got a brand new black gameboy sp, Super Mario Bros. 3, and a carrying case for everything. It was the happiest day of my life :D
“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one” -Bruce Lee

Offline azhdar

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #33 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 17:03:42 »
My most memorable christmas was 2012 christmas .

I took terrible decisions regarding my life this year without letting anyone in my family know about .
Those choices led me to have a terrible car accident , I went face to face to a Truck with my small car . Barely made it out alive . Wasn't able to move any of my 4 members for a solid week . After 3 months of surgery , stiches , and recovery been able to finally get back to walking .
In the time I was hospitalized , they discovered the decisions I couldn't hide no more . They tried to understand , forgave me and were there every day .

Christmas came around the time I returned home and was able to put my demons behind while enjoying my loving family and all the great things I had in my life .
Azerty Propagandiste

Offline fabian101

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #34 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 17:08:53 »
My most memorable Christmas is the Christmas dinners I have with my family. This is the only time when my uncles, aunties, cousins and etc. gather together other than Chinese New Year.
So it's awesome catching up with my cousins and chatting with the rest of the family. Basically it's like the 2nd Chinese New Year of the year.  :D

Also thanks for doing another giveaway!  :thumb:
[WTB] Nothing For Now


Ducky Legend + Invisible FC660C

Offline ice31000

  • Posts: 63
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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #35 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 17:59:05 »
Most memorable moment would probably have to be when I drove five hours on the night of Christmas Eve and surprised both of my grandparents.
iceyy

Offline Evo_Spec

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #36 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 19:47:26 »
So my family never really celebrated anything all too much other than a dinner or something small like that so my most memorable Christmas memory was actually with my best friends family.

They were like my second family which is kind of funny because they are all Caucasian and I'm Asian so i was their, "token Asian kid"and i spent a lot of time over at their house and they always had huge Christmas celebrations with their extended family coming to their house or sometimes going to another family members house which was nice because my extended family is all overseas.
They would have a massive turkey dinner with so much food and we would play all kinds of crazy games we'd play and everybody of all ages so no one would be left out.

My most memorable thing from all this though is the fact that everyone always got me a gift of some kind even though i never had money to buy anyone else anything nice and had to hand make crappy gifts or none at all and like i said i spent a years with this family yet every year they'd always all get me a gift and they were actually things that i liked.
I really miss Christmas with this family especially now that i moved overseas.

I want to thank you again Martin for doing yet another amazing giveaway and creating such amazing caps, i look forward to seeing your work and how your business grows.
.                 .  
GON NerD TKL DTA Edition

Offline Sinanju

  • Posts: 183
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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #37 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 19:49:43 »
Most memorable moment  was probably getting the original Xbox along with Halo.   

Best present was by far my first dog. Was really young when we got her during Christmas so I don't really remember the moment.

Thanks for the giveaway, Martin.

Offline Lu_e

  • Posts: 648
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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #38 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 20:01:05 »
Sledding my parents hill every year it's cold enough.

Waxed skis from old candles
Holding on to these cold handles
Squinting as the flakes fly by
Really hope that I don't die




Pretty fun at night. :p not much of a poet... but you've got me in the spirit now!



Offline Buckling

  • Posts: 29
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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #39 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 20:10:24 »
Watching Doctor who every Christmas with my family.

I used to live in England. Every year there would be a Christmas special of Doctor Who. I always looked forward to watching it as I love Doctor Who. We used to go round my Grandmas house and she would make us a huge roast for Chrismas, we would play board games watch TV and open presents. Especially when I was young it was the greatest thing turning up in the morning spending the whole day with everyone, my cousins would always be awesome to mess about with. Then going home in the car late at night sometimes in the snow with our presents in hand falling asleep in the back seat. I miss that now I moved out to Australia Christmas just isnt the same.
« Last Edit: Tue, 23 December 2014, 07:54:41 by Buckling »

Offline blade

  • Posts: 1
Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #40 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 20:37:10 »
When I was around 8 I remember having an amazing christmas. I have no idea what presents I got or really what happened that day with one exception. I vividly remember taking all the wrapping paper from all the gifts, laying it out along our hallway and then running and jumping onto it, face first, and sliding down the hallway. Holy **** that was that fun! Who needs presents when you can slip and slide around on the wrapping paper.

Offline sethk_

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #41 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 20:57:20 »
edit: there was a quote above me previously, I swear I am not talking to myself :P
I remember doing that a couple of times.
« Last Edit: Tue, 23 December 2014, 08:33:57 by pwnnarwhal »

Offline redxdev

  • Posts: 1
Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #42 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 20:57:38 »
Not specifically a Christmas story (not much of a story at all, actually), but I don't usually have eventful Christmases (aside from maybe getting a great dinner).

My favorite thing to do in the winter when I was a kid over winter break was to go sledding. About 10-15 years ago my family had a house in upstate New York, and boy did we have snow and hills.

Good times.

Offline Lain1911

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #43 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 21:02:14 »
When I used to live with my step brother there was a year we gave our money away to buy gift for people who couldn't afford them. Parents were so impressed that they gave us both what we wanted :) I got a Sega Genesis and he got a SNES :thumb: Soinc in the 90's! he was more into Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. Best of both worlds for the time.

Offline Jason_IRL

  • Posts: 69
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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #44 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 21:28:30 »
my favorite christmas memory is when we we younger, my sister and I got some beanie babies for christmas.
We would make up all sorts of weird scenarios with them, and we would make parachutes from grocery bags and throw them off the stairs.

it was so fun.

Offline geogga

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #45 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 21:36:04 »
My good old christmas memories was back in the day, I didn't use the money i got for christmas (never was a present opener) for keyboards and caps...

Offline rsheldiii

  • Posts: 21
Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #46 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 21:38:13 »
Being a pedant, my most memorable christmas moment was getting chicken pox on christmas. It was so bad I didn't even want to open my presents :/

More in the spirit of the question though the time before the presents has always been the most memorable for me. The whole family has to get up at the same time, so there's a lot of coordinating to be done. The kids weren't allowed downstairs to see the tree until the parents were up, my mom always wanted to take pictures of us at the top of the steps; it sounds dumb but the wait definitely made the whole experience better, coming down the stairs to see the tree and your share of the gifts.

Now that I'm older it's not as magical, and so the magic has shifted to the gift giving. I can't always think of the best presents for people, and when I can't I pool with other people or something like that, but I like to go all out when I get a good idea. I got my mom some ridiculous balsamic vinegar last year, aged in a battery of oak casks in Italy for 12 years under stringent and controlled standards. This year I've got no idea what to get her, but I'm getting my dad a hand carved pipe in the shape of an eagle's head.

And I guess those are mine. Best of luck to everyone!

Offline R1N3

  • Posts: 338
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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #47 on: Mon, 22 December 2014, 22:19:17 »
haiku for you:

Christmas with Grandpa

Stories told of long ago

The next life, we'll meet..




Gramps showed me how to clean deer, ducks and fish and taught me to treat EVERYONE with respect, regardless of race or creed. And to this day I strive to do just that.

Merry Christmas :D Thanks again, Martin for the chance to win!
« Last Edit: Tue, 23 December 2014, 17:23:31 by R1N3 »

Offline sinerex

  • Posts: 4
Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #48 on: Tue, 23 December 2014, 00:06:55 »
Thanks Martin for running the contest.

My most memorable Christmas comes in the 90's when I used to celebrate with my family over my grandmothers. Right as Santa would arrive he rang the bell and my cousin and I would run to the door PAST my uncle who had already seen Santa come and fly away. But would insist we run outside to catch a glimpse in the sky for a red light which was rudolph the red nosed reindeer.

Looking back, my uncle ringing the bell and the amazement of spotting what was certainly an airplane... The imagination of being a kid was one of the best parts about Christmas.  That and Bill Murray in Scrooged. ;D
« Last Edit: Tue, 23 December 2014, 00:09:23 by sinerex »

Offline noisyturtle

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Re: 2014 Christmas Giveaway
« Reply #49 on: Tue, 23 December 2014, 00:43:31 »
Well, I'm actually a Jew (don't hold that against me  :-X) but I can share a Hanukkah story:

My most memorable Hanukkah was the year I finally got my first video gaming system. I must've been about 11, and for years all my closest friends had an NES or Genesis and I was always so jealous. Heck, my parents didn't even get a television until they finally caved when I was 9, and even then it was a 13" mono speaker cheapo set. But back then I didn't care, it was cool just to finally be able to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings, and A-Team in the afternoon.

On a daily biases I would walk to my friend Carlas's house to play his NES, even when he was bored with it or hated the games I always had a blast. For years this went on, and for years I begged my parents for a game console that never came. I would always get some article of clothing and a bunch of books. One day I was walking over to Carlas's house to play some NES when I was jumped by a group of older kids. Now, you gotta keep in mind this was early '90s Baltimore, and crime and drugs were rampant. Well I took the beating of a lifetime. Dislocated shoulder, fractured foot, broken nose, and both eyes black. It sucked. After that my parents didn't let me walk to his house alone anymore, so I wasn't able to get my gaming fix or even see my friend unless he came over. Life sucked.

Then came Hanukkah 1994 and I already had low expectations. That evening when it was time to open the first nights present my dad put on this act like he forgot to get me anything. "Ohh, is that every year?" he said. I got really upset and was about to start balling when he said "Why don't you see if there's anything on TV." Tears in my eyes I went to the TV room and my jaw dropped as my gaze fell upon Sonic running across the screen. For the next few weeks I barely left that room as I made fast friends with the likes of Sonic, Ecco, and James Pond... honestly I still think about that and it makes me all warm and fuzzy.

15 years later and that moment in time influenced me so much I decided to make it my life's goal and career to bring that kind of joy to others through the power of video games. :)