To hubby--good gifts for me
Dec. 19th, 2005 06:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shalanna**GRIN**
Well, where else am I going to make suggestions to him about what would be a good gift? He was just whining this morning about how I don't like what he gets me. Now, that isn't true. It's just tough to figure out where he gets the idea to buy me one of those State Fair dolls with the crocheted dress and hat (you know the ones--the kind that grandmothers used to put on their made-up beds), which is what he got me several years ago, or a necklace with the Ten Commandments on it (they're on individual scrolls), or a mobile GPS unit for geocaching (wait, I know where that idea came from (*grin*).) I mean, I liked these gifts fine. I just can't figure out why he never pays attention when we're in a store and I pick up an item and wave it in front of him, exclaiming, "I love this! This would be a great gift for me!" and then he assiduously avoids those things, claiming "it wouldn't be a surprise." *sigh*
Just wait--he's getting a surprise. *grin*
All seriousness aside, I suppose I could list some good "GIRL" gifts. Now, I'm not trying to be sexist. But you have to admit that most guys won't want snowglobes and women have no use for ties that have flashing Christmas lights on them.
Good girl gifts, to my mind: Snowglobes (musical or not), blank journals, mix CDs with music you think she'd like or that fits into a theme, fuzzy houseshoes, barrettes/hair jewelry, jewelry in general (but not the plastic stuff from Dollar General, if the woman is past the age of nine), books, interesting films on tape or DVD--you can tape shows off the air, you know (one year we taped a bunch of Food Network shows for my father-in-law, a cooking aficionado who didn't have Food Network then, and that was a hit), gift cards, and/or something special that you saw and that reminded you of her. Like a sports car or a diamond. So long as it's not a George Foreman grill or something X-rated, that is. Most women don't want kitchen stuff under the tree. Make that a "family gift." And the X-rated stuff--well, use your judgment, but be aware that guys' judgment may not be quite as discerning as women's at times in these matters.
Good guy gifts: computer games.
Well, I'm sure there are other things. But he already has enough ties.
One can never have too many socks, I suppose. Gold Toe is a good brand--find them at Foley's or Dillard's. Guys also like sweatshirts, hooded or not. If they're from Geek World or have some funny saying on them, they are usually a bigger hit. Have you thought of those pajama-type flannel pants that they sell at Target (Cherokee is the brand I buy)? Those are great for sitting in front of the computer playing "World of Warcraft" on cold days. I know this from watching hubby do it.
I think hubby's about to dump WoW, though. They broke their own rules by having his player character get caught by a monster that is not supposed to be able to run as fast as his character when it's under the spell that it was under . . . a bunch of people kept zapping his character as soon as it would re-initialize or whatever. He spent the entire evening yelling at the game. Our doctor played WoW for a while, but he told me last week that he had quit for similar reasons. He got frustrated with the game and with the commitments the other players expected from him. "They're 14 and I have a wife, kids, church, and practice that I'm obligated to take care of," he said. "I can't be there to participate every time they expect me to." I think just MAYBE hubby is starting to feel the same way.
There'll be another game that comes along, of course. It would be foolish of me to think he would develop another interest in the Real World instead. But it'll keep him out of my hair in the kitchen, at least. *wink*
Good luck picking out something for your guy(s). There are only five-and-a-half shopping days left . . . assuming you can get whatever-it-is at a place that stays open half a day on Christmas Eve.
And if you're celebrating another holiday that doesn't have a tradition of gifting . . . you lucky dawg! ! ! But I'm sure there's something ELSE that gets on your nerves, like your in-laws or your own family. There is no rest for the weary.
Well, where else am I going to make suggestions to him about what would be a good gift? He was just whining this morning about how I don't like what he gets me. Now, that isn't true. It's just tough to figure out where he gets the idea to buy me one of those State Fair dolls with the crocheted dress and hat (you know the ones--the kind that grandmothers used to put on their made-up beds), which is what he got me several years ago, or a necklace with the Ten Commandments on it (they're on individual scrolls), or a mobile GPS unit for geocaching (wait, I know where that idea came from (*grin*).) I mean, I liked these gifts fine. I just can't figure out why he never pays attention when we're in a store and I pick up an item and wave it in front of him, exclaiming, "I love this! This would be a great gift for me!" and then he assiduously avoids those things, claiming "it wouldn't be a surprise." *sigh*
Just wait--he's getting a surprise. *grin*
All seriousness aside, I suppose I could list some good "GIRL" gifts. Now, I'm not trying to be sexist. But you have to admit that most guys won't want snowglobes and women have no use for ties that have flashing Christmas lights on them.
Good girl gifts, to my mind: Snowglobes (musical or not), blank journals, mix CDs with music you think she'd like or that fits into a theme, fuzzy houseshoes, barrettes/hair jewelry, jewelry in general (but not the plastic stuff from Dollar General, if the woman is past the age of nine), books, interesting films on tape or DVD--you can tape shows off the air, you know (one year we taped a bunch of Food Network shows for my father-in-law, a cooking aficionado who didn't have Food Network then, and that was a hit), gift cards, and/or something special that you saw and that reminded you of her. Like a sports car or a diamond. So long as it's not a George Foreman grill or something X-rated, that is. Most women don't want kitchen stuff under the tree. Make that a "family gift." And the X-rated stuff--well, use your judgment, but be aware that guys' judgment may not be quite as discerning as women's at times in these matters.
Good guy gifts: computer games.
Well, I'm sure there are other things. But he already has enough ties.
One can never have too many socks, I suppose. Gold Toe is a good brand--find them at Foley's or Dillard's. Guys also like sweatshirts, hooded or not. If they're from Geek World or have some funny saying on them, they are usually a bigger hit. Have you thought of those pajama-type flannel pants that they sell at Target (Cherokee is the brand I buy)? Those are great for sitting in front of the computer playing "World of Warcraft" on cold days. I know this from watching hubby do it.
I think hubby's about to dump WoW, though. They broke their own rules by having his player character get caught by a monster that is not supposed to be able to run as fast as his character when it's under the spell that it was under . . . a bunch of people kept zapping his character as soon as it would re-initialize or whatever. He spent the entire evening yelling at the game. Our doctor played WoW for a while, but he told me last week that he had quit for similar reasons. He got frustrated with the game and with the commitments the other players expected from him. "They're 14 and I have a wife, kids, church, and practice that I'm obligated to take care of," he said. "I can't be there to participate every time they expect me to." I think just MAYBE hubby is starting to feel the same way.
There'll be another game that comes along, of course. It would be foolish of me to think he would develop another interest in the Real World instead. But it'll keep him out of my hair in the kitchen, at least. *wink*
Good luck picking out something for your guy(s). There are only five-and-a-half shopping days left . . . assuming you can get whatever-it-is at a place that stays open half a day on Christmas Eve.
And if you're celebrating another holiday that doesn't have a tradition of gifting . . . you lucky dawg! ! ! But I'm sure there's something ELSE that gets on your nerves, like your in-laws or your own family. There is no rest for the weary.
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no subject
Date: 2005-12-20 08:50 am (UTC)What? Who? Where? I sure do! The Kitchen Aid mixer was a hit several years ago when my husband bought me one. And he surprised me four years ago with a Panasonic microwave -- which alas died a couple weeks ago and we had to replace it. Bought a Sharp this time; we think it'll last more than four years, and it's a dandy. We got it for a great price at the Navy Exchange.
I love kitchen stuff under the tree! And I'd LOVE a George Forman, but I don't have room for it in my one-butt kitchen!
And computer games aren't just guy gifts! I play Diablo II and Baldur's Gate and just about any Civilization game I can get my hands on. Heehee.
But then, I'm weird, anyway! I am definitely not your run-of-the-mill femme. No use for diamonds, for one thing. Never have been impressed with them (even though diamond is my birthstone), and want even less to do with them what with all the information coming out about "blood diamonds." And when PBS (Frontline, I think) showed us how DeBeers conned everyone with the myth that diamonds were so scarce and rare. Phooey.
About the only jewelry I'm interested in is pierced earrings.
No interest in anything X-rated, though. Heehee. Most of that stuff is either too stupid to live, or ridiculous to the point of absurdity. In other words, I appreciate some PLOT to what I'm watching!
My husband is getting a pretty nearly all-DVD Christmas, but he won't mind that. They run the gamut from the Yo-Yo Ma Bach performances on DVD (which was on my husband's wish list) to Dr. Who to Inspector Morse to cartoons to Elvira (she's not X-rated, but close enough! Heehee.)
Christmas shopping is pretty much madness. I did most of mine online, and plan to do even more of it online for next year.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-21 11:48 am (UTC)A book about a Muslim woman working for the French underground in WWII got nearly as good a reaction last Christmas, from both my parents. Then there was the CD of a beloved BC broadcaster reading calssic Christmas stories like "The Shepherd" (an RAF ghost story) and "Hoodoo McFiggin's Christmas" and the like. I didn't wait to give that one to Dad, so it's all ready for when I get home.
I think I have one brother who might appreciate a computer game. At least, if I could figure out the right one to get him. But instead I go for the obvious: classic movies for him, cool concert tees of obscure bands for our other brother, die-cast models of cars from movies the one brother likes, copies of books he loved as a kid for the other...
There are tons of good guy gifts. They depend on the guy. Likewise, when my family bought me Paderno cookware for Christmas the year I made it home from Texas for the holidays, I was delighted: not only did I have great cookware waiting for when I finally got back to Canada, giving me heavy, unportable pots was their way of letting me know they wanted me to come home as much as I wanted to.