vinniram Wrote:But, if you're using と as "... or ... or ...", doesn't it have to follow every single item being listed, e.g. "XとYとZと". Or can't you do that because you can't have "との" next to each other? Thanks for any help on this one.
You can put one more と so it reads XとYとZと if that's what you want to say. But its meaning would become wacky if you do it in your example sentence. If you mean "I'll give you either X, Y or Z," then it'd be either XとYとZのどれかをあげる or X、Y、Zのどれかをあげる (You make a short pause at the two "、" points. The duration is about the same as one mora.).
The wording "XとYとZとの" also makes sense if you put a stress on the third と by using pitch accent. But as I said, its nuance changes. Here is an example where XとYとZとの makes perfect sense in a sentence:
XとYとZとの間には深い関係がある.
X, Y, and Z are closely related to each other.
You can also say XとYとZの間には深い関係がある. The difference in meaning is somewhat similar to "between" and "among" in English. When you use と after Z, you're picturing each item individually like "between X, Y, and Z" while the の-less version is more like "among X, Y, and Z." A tricky point is that this difference occurs even when you have only two items. In fact, "XとYとの (with a stress by pitch accent on the second と)" gives a strong feeling of individually looking at each item and considering their relations while "XとYの" doesn't. So it's not exactly the same as the difference between "between" and "among." The individual-ness which "との" gives is very strong.
Now when you say something like "I'll give you either X or Y," you're not picturing the two items individually to consider their relation in such a strong degree. So it sounds bizarre if you say XとYとZとのどれかをあげる.
If you want a quick dirty tip, here is a simple practical rule:
XとYとZの -> almost always ok,
X、Y、Zの -> ok but gives a slightly formal tone,
XとYとZとの -> You may come across this pattern when it's followed by 間には etc. Don't use it unless you're 100% sure what your sentence is going to sound like.
And さっき is indeed, some time ago. 
