<p>Calling all upperclassmen and parents...... help!! What do we get our plebes for the holidays..... any ideas for after recognition? for possibly becoming a DI? for sea year? for 3/C year? etc. Skype? What is it that will put that spark in their eye? Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!!</p>
<p>One of LFWB's favoritres as a pleabe was a gifit certificate to the Palm -- IMHO, the best steak in NY. Visit</a> The Palm Restaurant, one of the top steakhouses featuring prime beef gourmet steaks. You can also buy restaurant gift certificates, find recipes for steaks and buy steaks online.</p>
<p>He has started collecting antique charts. An hobby I'm not sure would be so easy to indulge if I was paying tution ;) Those things aren't cheap! But they make great gifts.</p>
<p>Tickets for the Long Island Railroad.
Binoculars with a digital camera for sea year.
CDs/DVDs after recognition.</p>
<p>get him an external hard drive! Very important for sea. Trust me you don't want to do your entire sea projects and have your computer crash. As for DI. I was a DI and all you really need is a lot of baby powder, good running shoes, a comfortable pair of shoes, and the stamina to do it. It truly is one of the hardest most draining things there are at this school. But it is a great experience.</p>
<p>yes, we did the external HD. Also, I think he got a pair of wireless headphones for Christmas, but it could have been for his birthday.</p>
<p>A desk lamp, and alarm clock...... </p>
<p>And lots of little stuff... travel size stuff</p>
<p>Edited to add:</p>
<p>And a wireless mouse</p>
<p>External HD is a great idea. I got one, and I'm glad I did. When your computer crashes at sea, you're glad you had it. </p>
<p>But ask him what he wants too, he knows what life is like up here and what he could get the most use out of.</p>
<p>Here's some ideas that might be good for those going to sea:</p>
<p>-upgrade on a cell phone that has international capabilities
-xm satellite radio (can listen to sports while at sea)
-carhartt work clothes</p>
<p>I am getting my DS something I know he won't get alot of next year....I'm taking some time off to cook his favorites and I'm getting tickets to a play. (He's a big drama nut!) Since he will be away next year at the holidays, I want to make sure this one is very special...The most important thing you can give your child is your time...even if he wants to do something else, he knows that you are there for him...(I know it's hokey, but he gets a kick out of knowing that I am home.) I am also getting him an external hard drive. (Great deals online!) FYI...google "promotional codes and (the store name)" for some great deals. Be careful...only use sites you are familiar with and places you can return to. Other ideas...new cell phone...good watch...gear for sea year...lots of snail mail, during the year...have fun shopping!</p>
<p>My son just asked for an extra Combination cover so he does not have to keep changing the color back and forth. Also an external hard drive. Does XM work away from the states? My older son is in Iraq and it does not work there.</p>
<p>you can't go wrong with vienna sausages and twizzlers...
:)</p>
<p>JRH: Think you are correct about the gift choices. For instance, the giftee that <em>I</em> gave vienna sausages and twizzlers was VERY surprised and VERY happy to get them. (ps. thanks for the info ;) ).</p>
<p>I hope Is2Day4Him's fingers get out of the cast soon.... surely all his fingers are broken...(it's never been this quiet before). Hope to hear more stories!</p>
<p>Great ideas. Thank you!!!!!!.....I've literally been cutting from this thread and pasting to my list daily. How about for sailors? Anyone know anything about dry suits? They will need them for the spring season I'm guessing?</p>
<p>where do you purchase tickets for the LIRR? Also anyone know of a brand hard drive that is good to buy or are they all the same?</p>
<p>Long</a> Island Railroad Tickets</p>
<p>This is the link to CO parents' website to explain how to purchase the tickets & gives the link to purchase them. I'll let the kids or parents talk about the hard drives & which ones they like best. Puter idiot here I'm afraid. </p>
<p>Vienna sausages. Yum. How do those kids eat those things. Guess they aren't worried about clogged arteries eh? :D My kid likes the hot & spicy ones that I can't find anywhere. Drives me nuts.</p>
<p>Some friends of mine who did DI sailing used Gill Dry suits. They have an online store now.</p>