Dorky bike gifts from clueless people

[nancielle]

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.

That's what we do in my family (immediate family, not extended), with a price cap of $20.00. We buy for the children if we have the means to do so (some are better off than others) but none of my siblings (and to their credit, none of their children) have the expectation that we will buy for the children. The family decided years ago not to do extended family (financial constraints--tons of cousins and now their kids! Yikes!! ) It cuts down on a boatload of stress. I do token gifts for the sisters whose names I didn't draw (I usually make an ornament for their Christmas trees) but that is by choice and not expectation.

We have family "spies" who help keep others posted on the likes/interests of the others. Last year I gave the sister whose name I drew gift subscriptions to two cooking magazines that she just loves. I wouldn't have known about them (kitchen jus' ain't my area of expertise!) without the help of the "spies". (Said sister tends not to let on what she likes/doesn't like. )

We just came from a friend's house this evening where we celebrated a little holiday cheer. We brought 4 perfect red pears and 5 tangerines, nestled in pretty colored tissue in a box as a gift for our friend and her young son. She gifted us with a lovely bag of granola that she made fresh in her kitchen.

Lisa S.H., that sounded like a fabulous get together!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well, today on Christmas day I did call my brother to wish him well. I thanked him for the bike basket, then let him talk because I wanted to find out if it was a joke gift or not before I said much. Turns out it was not a joke, he thought I might actually like it. However...he did admit that he ordered it online in a huge rush right after receiving the Smartwool glove liners I sent him. We hadn't exchanged gifts in a few years, but I impulsively picked out the glove liners and sent them to him this year. He told me when he got the gloves he thought "Oh Jeez!, now I have get her something FAST and have it sent directly to her!".
I had to admit to him that the basket was not going to fit on my bike's handlebars, but that I appreciated his thoughtfulness. (I left out the part about no WAY would I ever put that Toto basket on my bike). So that seemed ok with him, he told me to do whatever I needed to do with it.
I think next year I'll just hint to him that I love chocolate.

He told me about a letter he just sent to his 16 year old son (my nephew) who hasn't spoken to him in a year. I thought it was a pretty good letter and told him so. Sadly, I don't think the letter will do much to undo that which has gone before. But a good letter is better than nothing.

[Tuckervill]

He told me about a letter he just sent to his 16 year old son (my nephew) who hasn't spoken to him in a year. I thought it was a pretty good letter and told him so. Sadly, I don't think the letter will do much to undo that which has gone before. But a good letter is better than nothing.

Lisa, I have much unfortunate experience with a similar situation and my heartfelt advice to your brother is to KEEP WRITING and pursue the relationship. The boy will always remember that he did, and will never forgive if he doesn't.

Karen

[East Hill]

I think we should all be glad that not one of our significant others (not limited to spouses/BFs/GFs--could by mums, dads, sisters, etc.) saw fit to send these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll..._promot_widget

No need to ask the question--do these make my rear end look enormous?

East Hill

[Tri Girl]

I think we should all be glad that not one of our significant others (not limited to spouses/BFs/GFs--could by mums, dads, sisters, etc.) saw fit to send these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll..._promot_widget

No need to ask the question--do these make my rear end look enormous?

East Hill

Those are just HIDEOUS (my apologies to anyone who finds them adorable)! Really? A starting bid of $45? Good luck on that one!

[KnottedYet]

yeah, that starting bid is awfully high.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The seller says they've stopped making them. DAMN!!!

Talk about Scary Clown Syndrome....

[mimitabby]

when I see stuff like those underwear, i wonder about the life of ER doctors and nurses.. seeing lots of people unexpectedly in their underwear!

[KnottedYet]

I get to see more than my share of underwear at my job, too. Do y'all know what your daughters are wearing? Ewwwww. Back in the day, *adults* didn't wear those g-strings every day, let alone 12 and 13 year old girls!!!

Meanwhile the boys are wearing compression shorts down to their knees with sliders or boxers over that and knee-length basketball shorts over THAT, and obsessively pulling their shorts legs to cover every scrap of skin above the knee.

[KSH]

Back in the day, *adults* didn't wear those g-strings every day,

See, I can't imagine wearing anything else. I honestly can't find a pair of full coverage undies that are *cute* and won't ride up my butt.

Since my undies always end up in my crack, I figure just let them start there. Why fight it?

Plus, panty lines are not good.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Plus, panty lines are not good.

I see your point. But nobody ever mentions "thong lines"- I see plenty of those through skirts and snug pants, and why are they any better than "panty lines"?

Knotted- why are boys wearing compression shorts under their long baggy shorts and boxers??? ...clueless...

[mimitabby]

and while we're at it, what are compression shorts?
everytime a young girl bends over and i see she's got a thong
i cringe. Seems like a great way to get yeast infections and
stuff, concentrating the heat and friction there like that!

[KSH]

I see your point. But nobody ever mentions "thong lines"- I see plenty of those through skirts and snug pants, and why are they any better than "panty lines"?

Well, they aren't.

If you can see someone's thong through their skirt... they need to put a slip on.

And if the pants are so thin and tight the thong outline can been seen... those pants are probably too small... or so poor quality they never should have been purchased.

My undergarments are not seen by anyone... I always make sure of that. Young girls though, don't always care or know any better.

[LBTC]

Wow, did this thread ever take an interesting turn! Underwear? heh. Why bother?

My thoughts about the original thread, though, are that relationships are all very complex and I really couldn't possibly comment on what Lisa ought to do or ought not to do (until she had talked to her brother on Christmas Day).

I grew up in a dysfunctional catholic family and am the only one who has opted out of that chaos and misery for the long term - including all holidays. They don't know me, I don't understand or like them, so why bother pretending, especially at this time of year?

DH and I do spoil each other each year, and it's fun between us, but possibly the best gift this year was the warm wishes from our new friends in our new town, and knowing that possibly next year we'll spend Christmas with them so we can all be away from people who hurt and instead be with people we cherish.

As usual, the ladies of TE have some excellent ideas for meaningful, simple, enjoyable Christmas gift exchanges. As always, you ladies rock!

Merry Everything to each of you!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Wahine]

My undergarments are not seen by anyone... I always make sure of that.

KSH. I'm very sad to hear that no one gets to see your underwear. I agree that the public should not see your underwear, but maybe someone special

Perhaps the triathlon training has gone a little overboard and you need more balance in your life. You are a multisport kinda girl after all.

Wahine