Present Pressure

In one week, I'll be celebrating my husband's birthday for the first time. He will be 25 (that old guy).

And instead of showing off my culinary prowess at home, we'll likely head out to dinner at one of his favorite restaurants, Tahoe Joe's. Having someone else cook for us ends up being a present for me, too.

However, I'm pretty stuck on gifts.*

There are things he needs. There are things he wants. And surprisingly, these things are not the same things, nor are they affordable things.

He's looking at a bunch of stuff at Best Buy that all begin with weird combinations of numbers and letters. When he describes these items, I usually know that--even though I love him very much--I can stop listening to what he says because I will not understand what the item Stephen is describing actually is. I will not be able to discern the best/loudest/most kick-butt version of said letters-and-numbers device from the other letters-and-numbers devices. I would likely pick up the wrong thing and ruin the birthday.

If I go the "things he needs" route, Stephen could end up looking like a better dressed man. He could benefit physically from getting a suit, and I could benefit emotionally from helping him find one. So many cuts, patterns, and colors to choose from! And shoes!

Wait...

If I'm more excited about a gift than I expect the receiver to be, it's not really a gift; is it?

Obviously, I need your help. I've already thought of gift card, but...bleh. I'm the wife. I have to do better than that. Suggestions?


*I feel fairly safe discussing Stephen's birthday gift on this public blog. Stephen's reading rate of this page is, like, 1 out of 10 posts. My odds are good he'll never know.

Birthday Mysteries

Someone in my life (who may or may not have given birth to me) is celebrating a birthday on Sunday (that may or may not indicate that they have been alive for an entire half century).

This person in my life is also the most difficult person to shop for. In. The. World.

They don't need anything. No particular hobbies to speak of. No spas. No favorite restaurant. Doesn't wear jewelry. Can travel wherever they want on their own.

Knowing this person for my entire life is not enough to know what they want for their birthday, because they will say they don't want anything. It's nice knowing the gifts don't matter, but I say that for a fiftieth birthday, that just doesn't cut it. In addition, being low on funds might cause a summation of shopping stress that results in temporary immobilization.

Please help me.

Father's Day

Most of you probably know that Father's Day is this coming up on Sunday. Most of you are also probably trying to figure out what to get dad for Father's Day.

Not me. I have a dad who shows no shame in sharing exactly what he wants.*

"Dad, what do you want for Father's Day?," my sister asked openly. Mom gawked at the semi-callous attitude. Apparently this request is taboo.

"Oh, I want golf balls, and new golf shoes, and tickets to...," Dad replies, as I leave the room. I'm already covered. And really, he's pretty much happy with anything you get him.

You know who else is pretty much just as open/cavalier in sharing what kind of holiday gifts they want, and is just as happy when they receive anything? Children. It's kind of a relief to know that nothing will be a bomb, and that he will genuinely appreciate anything we give him. He's just happy we're there.

So, if you are not as lucky to have a Dad like mine, you might find some options here. I love you, Dad!

Is anybody having trouble finding a Father's Day gift?


*This is nothing like shopping for my Mom's birthday, which will be discussed next week. Totally opposite end of the spectrum.