Dorky bike gifts from clueless people

[kjay]

Sounds more like a joke to me . . . or maybe he's hoping you'll get a brand new tiny puppy to put in your new Toto basket?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Sounds more like a joke to me . . . or maybe he's hoping you'll get a brand new tiny puppy to put in your new Toto basket?

Like this, maybe?
Attachment 2412

[snapdragen]

Like this, maybe?
Attachment 2412

Whoa, is that a doggie or a furry dragon?

[SadieKate]

I think we can all agree that we’ve all received gifts that made us go “huh?” For instance, I have friends and family members who give me guardian angel junk and twinkly jewelry every year, which someone may treasure but I sure don’t. I just say thank you and move on, but where I can I try to get these people to agree to exchange no gifts or, better yet, donate. DONATE! Items, money or time. It doesn’t matter, but none of those things need me to dust it and the recipient sure won’t be complaining about it.

Our family owns a farm in Illinois which is managed by a farm management company and operated by a tenant. Finally this year, after what seems an interminable time, we got the management firm to donate in our name to Heifer International rather than send us another mug or stale food item. We all feel good. None of us need anything but there are many others who do. Matter of fact, we exchange material gifts with very few now as we instead try to exchange the gift of each others’ friendship and love.

So, if you are not counting on a gift due to need (hey, a set of new car tires when you’re a starving college student is welcome!), encourage your family and friends to donate to particular charities. Bring joy to others and it will return to you.

[salsabike]

I think we can all agree that we’ve all received gifts that made us go “huh?” For instance, I have friends and family members who give me guardian angel junk and twinkly jewelry every year, which someone may treasure but I sure don’t. I just say thank you and move on, but where I can I try to get these people to agree to exchange no gifts or, better yet, donate. DONATE! Items, money or time. It doesn’t matter, but none of those things need me to dust it and the recipient sure won’t be complaining about it.

Our family owns a farm in Illinois which is managed by a farm management company and operated by a tenant. Finally this year, after what seems an interminable time, we got the management firm to donate in our name to Heifer International rather than send us another mug or stale food item. We all feel good. None of us need anything but there are many others who do. Matter of fact, we exchange material gifts with very few now as we instead try to exchange the gift of each others’ friendship and love.

So, if you are not counting on a gift due to need (hey, a set of new car tires when you’re a starving college student is welcome!), encourage your family and friends to donate to particular charities. Bring joy to others and it will return to you.

Ah, nicely said.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Whoa, is that a doggie or a furry dragon?

It's Toto's evil twin, Moto. And it bit Glinda on the ankle.

[salsabike]

Like this, maybe?
Attachment 2412

And actually I think you found the perfect use for the basket. Mr. Monster looks right at home in there. You could hang it on your front door to greet us all and give us a laugh.

S'okay, you guys. We all struggle to understand such stuff. People for the most part are doing the best they can---however limited it may be/seem.

[Bluetree]

It could have been worse. He could have gotten you these...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Castelli-Gold-La...QQcmdZViewItem

Would these be considered safety/reflective?

[jobob]

Stylin' !

[lph]

I guess MAYBE... just maybe... Julia Roberts could get away with wearing those, in Pretty Woman.

And then again, maybe not

Interesting thread though, touches on a whole lot of the angst around gift-giving and -receiving, which as somebody astutely pointed out, is not about the gift, but about the relationship to the giftgiver.

My mother has lived abroad in winter for many years, and has in general displayed an enormous lack of interest in the family. Several Christmases running she got a friend of hers here to buy me a Christmas present - a huge box of chocolates of the most generic brand available. Sure, she meant well, sure, the chocolates tasted good, but still - I was sad and pissed off every year by the complete lack of thought that went into it. It's the kind of gift you buy the postman.

I finally piped up about it, and now we just exchange e-cards. Which is so much better, as we actually exchange some good wishes and real thoughts...

[Tri Girl]

Now I feel guilty because I think I'm the one you're referring to when you say you receive gifts that have little or no meaning. I'm the crappy gift giver... but I try, I really do.

Here's why
I admit one thing: I HATE buying people gifts. Not because I'm poor or because I don't like giving to others, or because I don't truly know and love the people I buy for, but because I never feel like the gift I give will be good enough. Even when buying gifts from the Salvation Army Christmas tree for needy children that I'll never meet- I have the hardest time picking things out that I think people will like (and these are people I've never met- it's even harder to "please" the people I know and love). And you can say, "I'm sure they'll love it because it's the thought that counts", but from these discussions, sometimes they don't and they hate it.

I've never been the person who says "I know the perfect gift for so and so" or been in a store and said "so and so would love that." It's so hard for me to think of meaningful gifts for people, so often I'm the one who sends the crappy box tower or buys the cheesy gift that somewhat goes with things someone likes (like the basket- seriously- that basket could've been from me). Shopping is torture for me. Instead of getting the fuzzy "I'm doing something good" feeling, I'm stressed trying to find something, anything, that they'll remotely like. I wish I could be like RM and remember the time her SIL took pictures of the eggplant she grew and got her vintage seeds. That's awesome! I sooooo wish I could be like that. I've tried to jot things down about the people I love, but I can just never find things that are "perfect" or sentimental or meaningful. I truly try... really...

So, when you get a crappy gift from someone you love, please be kind. Perhaps they're a terrible shopper with no clue what to buy you (like me). I try, I really do. I spend 2 months thinking of gifts for Christmas and always wind up with something "cruddy" for people.
Lately I've started painting for people. They're not paintings worth anything, but at least I try to pick scenes they might like. But even then, art is truly in the eye of the beholder, and I might love it, but they might think "where am I going to hang this crap?"

I'd rather just never exchange gifts....it's too stressful, and has truly taken the fun out of Christmas for me as an adult.
Ok- I'm ready for everyone to pounce on me. I can take it...


by the way- those shorts are HIDEOUS! I wonder if I can get them for my cycling friend... just kidding.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It could have been worse. He could have gotten you these...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Castelli-Gold-La...QQcmdZViewItem

Would these be considered safety/reflective?

Oh my GOD. Noyt sure about the "safety shorts" idea- seems to me they might cause a few accidents on the road...

[mimitabby]

It could have been worse. He could have gotten you these...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Castelli-Gold-La...QQcmdZViewItem

Would these be considered safety/reflective?

GOsh, if they weren't wanting 60 bucks for a starting bid
I would love to bid on them.. like 5 or 10 bucks, they'd be a hoot!

[fixedgeargirl]

It could have been worse. He could have gotten you these...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Castelli-Gold-La...QQcmdZViewItem

Would these be considered safety/reflective?

Those are fantastic! Wish they were my size! Oh, and a lot cheaper .

[DirtDiva]

I really like how some of my friends who have a large, extended family Christmas thing draw names and only buy one cousin/auntie/grandad/whoever a present. It's a nice way of keeping the gift-giving goodness, but cutting down the needless expense/acumulation of junk/etc.

Oh, and if somebody bought me those shorts, I'd use them as a tourniquet. (Around their neck! )