I enjoy shopping and giving gifts to people. It's fun, especially when the gift is a hit. I have an excellent track record giving stuffed animals to kids. Usually, it becomes their can't-part-with-it animal. I'm really enjoying the secret santa exchange at work. THough me secret santa reciever threw me for a loop when he wrote, "nothing fattening please" on his info form. I was much easier to buy for. I filled in, "nothing made from internal organs of any species, please." There are some things for sale here that are considered quite tasty and made of innards. 10 years and still can't do 'em. I think you're either an offal person or you're not. (ha ha stupid pun)
But I'm having a few problems with my shopping this Christmas. I live far from home and haven't done a lot of phoning home this time out in Japan. Some emails, but email doesn't have the same conversational flow from which I might be able to determine a suitable gift for members of my family.
So I email asking for people to throw me a frickin bone and tell me what they would like this year.
The response? Babkas. As in no response, not as in they'd like chocolate babka. (hence the use of a frickin' bone)
Oh, wait. My sister replied and told me she would like diamonds.
I am going to suppose that was supposed to be humor that doesn't transmit itself clearly over the internet.
I suppose as a measure of respite, my mom hasn't been hounding me asking if I am going to have my gifts mailed to everyone on time so that they can open gifts on Christmas Day. Then again, let's see... the last time I got Christmas gifts from them on time for Christmas while in Japan would be...?
Ooooo.... sounding bitter. Not bitter, though. Just frustrated because I know that people will be complaining. Guilty, too, because I feel like I should know them well enough to get them stuff.
In a way, I do. The don't want anything from Japan because they aren't really into stuff from here unless it is way out of my price league.
sigh....
I guess if I were home I could make up nice little gift baskets of goodies for everyone.
SHikata ga nai.
Amazon.com gift certificates for one and all! Ho ho ho.