I am a child of a consumer culture, or a picky puss, or an
ungrateful wretch. Possibly all of the above.
[rant]
To start off with - have I mentioned lately that I live in 400 sq ft? No? Well, I do. And I've been trying to make sure that if something comes into my shack, I damn well better want it to be there.
1)Don't get me a Christmas present out of obligation, especially if it will be rather evident that you rushed to the corner store and bought the first thing that you found. I'm 35, if I don't get a gift, I'm not going to be crushed. Because, you know, I'm 35 not 7. One exception to this will be mentioned at #5.
2)Just because you think it's weird that a woman without kids that has reached 35 years likes Lego doesn't mean you shouldn't get her some. Get over it. I don't understand your liking for all things horse/outhouse/John Deere/NASCAR related, but I think of it when picking out a gift.
3)$7 spent on something I like or am interested in means so much more to me than $300 spent on something I'm known to be not interested in. Yes, I am looking at you, digital camera of 2005. I wanted a cheap toaster. I asked for a cheap toaster. Did I get a toaster? No, I got a camera with all kinds of widgets and doodads. I like gadgets, but not of the AV variety. I'm the kid that melted filmstrips in gradeschool. I just don't care that much about pictures and such. I do care about toast. Did my family get me a toaster? No. My co-workers did, after Christmas when they found out that I didn't get one. I have some great co-workers.
4)Case Examples:
My dear friend Cindy. She gets the spouse and I. She sends us fun, weird, interesting, delightful gifts. We try to do the same. Try being the key word, as I have a box of stuff for her that keeps getting things added to it, and it has been in my car for over 6 months. It will be sent real soon now.
My MIL. A perfectly nice and well meaning woman. I can give her a manufacturer, model number, and store location for something reasonable that her son would love as a gift, and she will decide that he really needs or wants something else that is twice as expensive, and he doesn't find useful or interesting. She also does this with the spouse when asking about gifts for me. Sigh. One wonders why she asks.
Gifts from Cindy come into the house and are treasured and loved. Gifts from the MIL have a more transient lifestyle while we try to figure out what on earth to do with them.
5)Exception to #1 - My husband. Get your act together. Two years in a row at 10 PM on December 24th you've realized that you Christmas shopped for everyone else but your wife. You had time off work before Christmas. You and a friend spent two weekdays around town goofing off, never mind your free time in the evenings and on weekends. I don't begrudge you that, honestly. The gods know you've worked enough overtime, weekends, and holidays that you should revel in that time off. What annoys me is that you don't think of me until it's shoved in your face that you forgot to do something. Again. For the love of little fishes, buy a box of Lego, hide it in your toolbox, and present it to me on these occasions. It will make me happy, and save you from being lambasted by my cranky brain, etc.
A brief caveat, I am fine with handmade/homemade gifties. What I'm really tired of is being treated like I'm not worth the effort. Wah wah wah wah wah wah wah snivel snivel snivel. Effort includes thinking about what I like and find interesting, and making the time to make it/build it/procure it.
[/rant]
Ok, this ridiculous little pity party is now over. I will no doubt read this years from now and reflect on what a petty, shallow, bitter, ungrateful wretch I have proven to be. But until then, I'll be trying to figure out what stores I need to get to so I can exchange gifts. Or if I can re-gift some stuff. I hate exchanging gifts, it feels so tacky. However, these are the people that gave my 2.25 year old niece a toy broom and dustpan and my 1.5 year old nephews trucks, so I'm sure they're comfortable with tacky. Luckily, the niece's Uncle John is giving her a kids tool set to offset the "women's work" indoctrination. ::shudder:: One of the nephews was fascinated by the broom, and carried it around all day. The niece could not have cared less about the broom.
PS - Happy Boxing Day!
[rant]
To start off with - have I mentioned lately that I live in 400 sq ft? No? Well, I do. And I've been trying to make sure that if something comes into my shack, I damn well better want it to be there.
1)Don't get me a Christmas present out of obligation, especially if it will be rather evident that you rushed to the corner store and bought the first thing that you found. I'm 35, if I don't get a gift, I'm not going to be crushed. Because, you know, I'm 35 not 7. One exception to this will be mentioned at #5.
2)Just because you think it's weird that a woman without kids that has reached 35 years likes Lego doesn't mean you shouldn't get her some. Get over it. I don't understand your liking for all things horse/outhouse/John Deere/NASCAR related, but I think of it when picking out a gift.
3)$7 spent on something I like or am interested in means so much more to me than $300 spent on something I'm known to be not interested in. Yes, I am looking at you, digital camera of 2005. I wanted a cheap toaster. I asked for a cheap toaster. Did I get a toaster? No, I got a camera with all kinds of widgets and doodads. I like gadgets, but not of the AV variety. I'm the kid that melted filmstrips in gradeschool. I just don't care that much about pictures and such. I do care about toast. Did my family get me a toaster? No. My co-workers did, after Christmas when they found out that I didn't get one. I have some great co-workers.
4)Case Examples:
My dear friend Cindy. She gets the spouse and I. She sends us fun, weird, interesting, delightful gifts. We try to do the same. Try being the key word, as I have a box of stuff for her that keeps getting things added to it, and it has been in my car for over 6 months. It will be sent real soon now.
My MIL. A perfectly nice and well meaning woman. I can give her a manufacturer, model number, and store location for something reasonable that her son would love as a gift, and she will decide that he really needs or wants something else that is twice as expensive, and he doesn't find useful or interesting. She also does this with the spouse when asking about gifts for me. Sigh. One wonders why she asks.
Gifts from Cindy come into the house and are treasured and loved. Gifts from the MIL have a more transient lifestyle while we try to figure out what on earth to do with them.
5)Exception to #1 - My husband. Get your act together. Two years in a row at 10 PM on December 24th you've realized that you Christmas shopped for everyone else but your wife. You had time off work before Christmas. You and a friend spent two weekdays around town goofing off, never mind your free time in the evenings and on weekends. I don't begrudge you that, honestly. The gods know you've worked enough overtime, weekends, and holidays that you should revel in that time off. What annoys me is that you don't think of me until it's shoved in your face that you forgot to do something. Again. For the love of little fishes, buy a box of Lego, hide it in your toolbox, and present it to me on these occasions. It will make me happy, and save you from being lambasted by my cranky brain, etc.
A brief caveat, I am fine with handmade/homemade gifties. What I'm really tired of is being treated like I'm not worth the effort. Wah wah wah wah wah wah wah snivel snivel snivel. Effort includes thinking about what I like and find interesting, and making the time to make it/build it/procure it.
[/rant]
Ok, this ridiculous little pity party is now over. I will no doubt read this years from now and reflect on what a petty, shallow, bitter, ungrateful wretch I have proven to be. But until then, I'll be trying to figure out what stores I need to get to so I can exchange gifts. Or if I can re-gift some stuff. I hate exchanging gifts, it feels so tacky. However, these are the people that gave my 2.25 year old niece a toy broom and dustpan and my 1.5 year old nephews trucks, so I'm sure they're comfortable with tacky. Luckily, the niece's Uncle John is giving her a kids tool set to offset the "women's work" indoctrination. ::shudder:: One of the nephews was fascinated by the broom, and carried it around all day. The niece could not have cared less about the broom.
PS - Happy Boxing Day!