Now for what you really want
Patrick says: “Here’s a question - How many days must I wait before I buy all the things people failed(YES, FAILED) to get me as gifts?”
You hate to be this way, but I woke up this morning thinking the exact same thing. I love what I got for Christmas–including some nice new backpacking equipment that reminds me I need to get out as much as possible next year–and all sorts of other lovelies, but yes, there were a few items that I really thought I’d get but didn’t.
And I want them.
Things like a new vacuum cleaner and new sweatpants that actually fit and a few DVDs for those nights when I want to nest. I’m sure we’re all still reeling a bit from what we spent on others this past month or so, but I think it’s entirely appropriate to finish out the year by buying ourselves at least one of the items on our list that maybe Santa forgot to bring.
So my answer to your question, Patrick, is that self-gifting begins today, on Boxing Day, and continues through next weekend. You have to start the new year with everything in place (something we’ll talk about a few days from now–it’s a really cool concept I learned from an old Korean woman, and it might just change your life), so I say go out there and buy yourself that barbeque grill or whatever it is your family and friends accidentally forgot to give you.
Go forth.
[Editor's note: I've just been chastised by Annette for seeming so ungrateful and greedy. She may comment separately to that effect. Let me be clear that (1) Patrick started this, and (2) I am absolutely grateful and happy about everything that anyone chose to give me for Christmas this year. Love the books, the calendars, the handmade purse, the backpack and sleeping bag, everything. So, now that I think about it, maybe I do look ungrateful and greedy for even suggesting I need more. But, but, but . . . we're just having fun here, and like Christen and Patrick said, there's always something that we might have meant to get but didn't, and so yes, I still say we should go treat ourselves. I stand by that. There. Done.]
Technorati Tags: Christmas Gifts, Christmas
December 26th, 2006 at 10:42 am
Hmmm… the only thing I wanted that I didn’t get (and trust me, it’s not that exciting!) was a gift certificate to an eyeglasses establishment. Turns out my 1 year old shih tzu likes to eat glasses! And she ate 3 pairs in 2 weeks… pretty impressive, huh? My fiance asks me, “Christen, why don’t you just put your glasses in a drawer at night?” and I can honestly say after almost 20 years of glasses wearing I never once had to do that and it just didn’t occur to me. Whoops!
On a super exciting note though… my (wonderful) parents bought me a pair of Heelys for Christmas… Oh yeah!!! Now to really make this funny, I’ll be 25 in less than a month, have my Master’s degree in less than 5 months, I’m about 5′10… and I trip when I walk all the time. But I’m still really excited!!! I tried to Heely around my parents house last night and it totally wasn’t happening (I made my dad pull me around the living room while I balanced on the heels). BUT! I do plan to have this mastered by the end of January… and then I will be a pink-haired, Heely Pro, Librarian!!! Hahahaha!!
December 26th, 2006 at 11:28 am
Christen, I’m assuming Heelies are those shoes with roller skates in the heels? If so, COOL! If not, explain.
December 26th, 2006 at 11:40 am
You are correct! Heelys are the sneakers with the wheels on the heels!! I’m totally wearing them right now… but I’m having issues with whole skating aspect of the shoe!
I live in a 1 bedroom apartment covered in carpet. I also live in a mildly ghetto neighborhood, so I don’t want to go out on the sidewalk by myself, without my fiance there to pull me around!! But he’s sick right now (I think he got sick on purpose) so I’m stuck rolling around on the carpet until he gets better!
My 23 year old brother told me he has never seen an adult in Heelys… so I plan to start a new trend!! They go up to size 9 in Womens and I think 11s in Mens. I am currently rocking a Men’s 9 (because I’m actually a Women’s size 10) and I think I look pretty cool!!
December 26th, 2006 at 12:02 pm
I’m guessing that means Annette got everything she wanted.
I had heelys on my list, too. But those were on the “It would be cool if I got this, but I’m not sure I will like it enough to spend the money myself” list.
December 26th, 2006 at 12:12 pm
Save the pink-haired, Heely pro, librarian!
Save the world!
December 26th, 2006 at 12:42 pm
Yessssssss! Patrick, your last comment was excellent!!!!!
I totally need my own tv series!!
December 26th, 2006 at 1:21 pm
everything except world peace.
a pink-haired, well heelied, myopic libranian needs a couple of, always fashion foward, eye-glass chains. christen, start dropping the birthday hints right now.
actually i must admit to some shock and dismay directed at patrick (of course) and robin. shame, shame, shame. gimme, gimme gimme, this is what i can’t stand about x-mas. i prefer to self-induldge all year long, not limit my materialsm to a particular “season.”
truth be told (and surprise, surprise), i’m reallly picky. as a result i just don’t dig folks buying stuff for me–and then forcing me to act like i give a you-know-what. so i was thrilled to get a gift i actually wanted–a canon elph camera, yea! much more practical than a super-sized weber bbq or seven-day back pack, both of which are nice, i’m sure, but neither fit in your purse, or take photos of precocious four year olds.
December 26th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
Well, that’s what it is for me as well. I’d prefer to not get gifts at all, although I do enjoy giving gifts.
But I prefer to give them randomly through out the year and not on specified holidays.
And when I want something, I’m old enough to buy it, so I do.
So, if I put a book on my list, it is because I want to read that book. If I don’t get the book, and someone gets me some other book, well, I want the book I wanted, not the gift book…even though I will probably read the gift book too.
December 27th, 2006 at 8:23 am
It took me awhile to “train” everyone (have any of you, my family and friends, EVER seen me wear a piece of itchy lace EVER???) but I guess repeating the word “Chocolate” a few million times finally had the desired effect.
But I am scouring the sales this week to look for some raw silk or cashmere sweaters.