Christmas Presents

Every year for Christmas, my brother Tyler and I try to outdo each other when it comes to wrapping our gifts. For example, one year I hid my brother's present in a Barbie doll box. Last year, he wrapped my present into one big Russian doll by hiding it within six other boxes. This year, my brother started off the season strong, by putting a large, flat gift covered in brown paper under the tree. Thinking he had to "decorate somehow, I guess" (his words) the package, he drew Highlights-style kids' puzzles all over its face. Of course, being Tyler, the puzzles had a sarcastic twist.

(that's Tom Selleck by the way)

And here's what was wrapped inside:

That's right. A cardboard cutout of Batman. Ready to look totally badass and maybe scare me when I wake up in the middle of the night and see him looming over me.

Not to be outdone by my brother, upon seeing his creation I immediately set out to make my own harassing gift. Instead of simply wrapping the Speed Racer DVD I was intending to give him, I made my own copy of Alvin and the Chipmunks by taking an old DVD case and, with the help of Photoshop and a Ukrainian bootlegging website, made a cover for it. Inside, I put a note that said something to the effect of: "Haha, just kidding. Your present's actually hidden out back in the snow. Find it." Here's how the DVD case turned out:

The image I used for the back of the case can be found on that ever-so-helpful Ukrainian website, here. The look on Tyler's face was priceless. He clearly hated it, but, not knowing if the gift was sincere or not, didn't say anything except, "Thank you," and a half-joking, "I hate you." That's getting into the Christmas spirit.