TAN 202: A bunch of rotTAN apples (Page 29)

I'm waiting.  I sort of fell out of love with CoD.  I still haven't finished last years!  I'm currently working on The Last of Us.  AWESOME.  And AC:  Black Flag, and Far Cry 3. 

I see you pop on and off line occasionally.

Here are my general gift rules.  Please feel free to add to them.

Don't get anything in the area that person has a strong interest in.  Usually if they are heavy into it, they already have what they want or know exactly what they want.  If they tell you specifically?  Then it's ok.  For example, when I was heavy into golf, people would get me stupid golf gadgets.  IF I like them, I already had it.  So in most cases, it was just junk.  I would never want the wife to get me tri stuff.

I think event tickets or similar is awesome.  A great gift TO ME would be if the wife said she got tickets to a Bronco game and we are going to Denver for the weekend (or San Diego or wherever they are playing).

A round of golf or something?

A bottle of good booze?

I guess events or things to do together are more fun for me these days instead of "stuff".  Maybe because I have so much "stuff" now, I don't need anymore.  My parents want to buy me something and suggested a Kindle Fire (got an Ipad) so I said no.  I just can't think of any more "stuff" things I need.  If I need/want it, I tend to get it myself.  So things to do are good.  Coupons for a nice dinner?  You go together.

DON'T give the silly coupon books (sex or other silly things).

Not a fan of the boudoir pics.  I see the wife in all forms of undress every day.  I don't need a picture of it.

Are they sports fans?  Favorite team?  I will take ANY kind of Bronco gear.  Scarves, gloves, sweatshirts, hats cups, mugs, blankets, etc.

Obviously, pay attention to things that they pay attention to.  Commercials or items they spend time looking at if you go shopping.  Things they may say in passing that they like.  What's cool about that, if you remember some obscure thing, you impress them with the gift AND the fact you were paying attention and listening to them even whey they didn't know it.

I've been to one. But tickets were half that price. I had fun, but I'm not sure I'd pay double to see it.

5 kido posts in a row!  i wanted to post, but also wanted to see if he kept talking to himself!

Long time no talk.   What have you been up to besides a lot of work?

I have gotten my parents gift cards for dinner and a movie......They go to the movies a LOT and then combine that with an outback card or something.  Easy.

Its fairly person specific I think both the giver and the reciever.  I LOVE christmas and would feel horrible not giving gifts to my parents fiance etc.  I try to not to give junk and if I can't find something I know they will like then a gift card it is. 

Well, I didn't respond to myself at least.

I was responding to 5 different people with 5 different posts.

Now I feel self conscious.  I think I'm at my TAN post quota for the day.

I've got nothing epic to report.  Way less fun then when I was an active tri-girl. 

Yup you and my BF are a lot alike in that regard. He golfs, but of course has everything possible for that (3 or 4 sets of clubs/multiple bags/covers/shoes/etc, a golf cart with built-in Bose speaker system and blue tooth, country club membership [so would be silly to buy him a round of golf], golf Garmin, laser thingies, every clothing item imaginable) - I could literally not get him anything he needs for golf. He also travels EXTENSIVELY but again, has every accessory imaginable - Bose noise cancelling headphones, iPad, iPad mini and covers for those, tons of Netflix and books on those, Mophie iPhone battery extenders (actually has THREE of these), extra chargers, universal adapters, sweet luggage, etc...

He likes the Seahawks but again... just got two jerseys for himself, has sweatshirt, hat, etc. - and is going to a game next week (?) - soon.
Loves Wichita State (has season tickets already) but this is the guy who traveled to the Final Four last year - he is best friends with 2 former players so they get him all sorts of obscure collectibles. I mean he already HAS the merchandise, the framed ticket stubs and newspaper clippings, autographed stuff from the coach and team, sweat pants, hats, shirts, hoodies, blankets.. just thinking of stuff I see at his house.

There is enough expensive booze in his basement bar to start a club... for example he just got sent a case of crazy nice wine from his friend from 5-hr energy. He bought tons of top shelf tequilla and whiskey last time he was in Brazil. 

See what I mean..???

I probably looked at my phone every day this week intending to text you to see how you are doing.  Sorry I didn't.  BUT, nothing epic to report?  At least not on the internet? 

i love kido multi posts!!!

Love gift cards. They've become a favorite of mine. I don't live near my family, so for birthdays I'll usually ask for gift cards to local place. They enjoy poking around local restaurants and shops online, and I like trying new places. I get something I'll use, and they still get to give a thoughtful gift. 

My family has a google spreadsheet for our Christmas lists

i'm so the opposite.  i'd rather a gift card than a gift i don't like, but i'd rather NOTHING than a gift card.  it's a cop-out gift!  it's what i give people i don't know or bring to secret santas and stuff.

Well, booze is consumable.  Maybe some small batch or obscure brand?

As for golfers.  It's not exciting, but balls and gloves are consumable too.  Can never have enough.  You could see what ball he plays and glove he has and get those.  But meh, not exciting.

If the wife makes it big, I asked her to buy me a round at Pebble beach or better yet, Muirfield or Carnoustie (including travel and lodging) - she can even come along!

Well, for the guy that has anything, you just have to go from the heart.

Some of fun things the wife got me were egg cups and demitasse cups.  They were great because we saw/used them on our trip to Paris/London and thought they were fun.  So not only little nicknacks that are not too expensive, but reminders of our trip.  We like Moscow mules now, so she dropped 50 bucks on two copper cups to make them in (a little too much for my taste, but a wonderful and personal gift for US).

I like giving my grandparents gift cards because they NEED them - literally. I usually get one to their local CVS where they fill prescriptions. It's not the "funnest" gift but like I said, they seriously NEED them and tell me how much they love getting gifts they actually use. 

For others? A bit odd, depending. My sister and I last year did tickets to the opera + a big gift card to a local restaurant last year - I liked the pairing as a "night on the town" for them. But to give solo definitely screams "couldn't think of anything else, here's some cash you can only use at this one place" - at least from me.

Gift cards sure are nice.  For ME, they are a great way to make a partial payment of something I really like that's too expensive for them to give and for me to buy.  But with their card and my additional money, I get something nice.  Kind of like getting an espresso machine for 150 bucks if I also have a 150 gift card.

BUT, I (or mostly the wife) take a picture and write a thank you for the "gift" we bought with someone's card so they sort of feel like they got us something rather than straight cash....   homie.

There you go.  He into the arts?  I got the wife season tickets to the Opera in Denver (for me to go as well, of course). 

Depends on how close you are now.  But a personalized picture frame with a good picture of you both in it.  I guess IF you break up, it may go to waste, or if the frame isn't TOO personalized, can be used again?

I used to get my parents gift certificates to Ticket Master along with to a nice place for dinner so that they could choose which show they wanted to go see, and were able to see it when they were available - and they really seemed to like that idea.  We only do the "Secret Santa" thing now and all the gifts go to the kiddos.  I'm good with that.  

I like the picture idea Jim!  

I met Mark Allen yesterday.

Today I'm tired.

Coincidence?

Probably.

My aunt and uncle always get us something from Omaha Steaks for Chjristmas and we love it!  Alwasy nice to have meat delievered to your door!

(your welcome for the setup)

who's that

I'm going to brag a bit.  Opened up my first bottle of my third batch of  home made beer.  Once again, FANTASTIC.  I really don't know how home made can be better, but it really is.  I wish I could say the same when I made wine at home.  The best thing I could say about that is that I made it - but any $10 bottle from the stores was better.