What Do I Want for My Birthday?
 

My family has started the inevitable questionning regarding what I want for my birthday.

I want tons of stuff.

Problem is, I can't think of it.

I'm serious. My brain pretty much locked up at Christmastime, and hasn't yet unfrozen. I usually have two or more extravangant things that I won't buy for myself that I can ask my mom and sister to get me ... this year, though, I went right on ahead and on impulse ordered myself the Palm T|X.

The item I wanted from LL Bean (a Tuckerman's jacket in burgundy, black and white) is not available in that color. It wasn't available in that color at any point during the month before Christmas, and it appears that it won't be available in the foreseeable future. The jacket does not look as good in orange and charcoal and white, or in varying shades of "ultramarine" which appears to be a sort of purply blue.

So, I ended up with a bunch of (very cool) DVDs, one game that I haven't had time to play yet, and pair of moosehide slippers.

Slippers are actually a household gift-rule violation, but since I did actually want them, an exception was granted.

But what do I want?

What's cool and under about $100 or so ... less is better, that way I can get more than one thing.

I am relatively easy to please. I find things like Sea Monkeys to be very amusing, after all.

None of my right-wing news magazines are up for renewal, I don't really have the physical space for a DVD recorder for the TV, and the likelihood is that anything I get will be ending up in a box to prepare to move because of my apartment complex's condo conversion nonsense.

My mother and sister will not purchase firearms or firearms accessories.

I guess I could ask for something like all of the South Park DVDs (or some subset of them) ... but I dunno. I was thinking along the lines of something cooler. I just have no fucking clue about what cooler is right now.

How about a one year subscription to the online version of the OED? WOW! Wolf with the OED would be almost as good as Wolf with her Glock! ;)

I like jewelry. You can't go wrong with that. Maybe something along the line of a Goddess pendant or ring?

I'm not sure either Wolf, but when you figure out what you want, can you tell me? Mine's just around the corner too, and right now, all I want are my lungs back.

amaz0n.c0m gift certs.

They can renew them anyway.... I'm sure the magazines would be happy to tack 12 more months onto the end of your existing subscription.

The OED isn't a bad idea, however, I have access to it through the POWER (Pennsylvania World Of Electronic Resources) system, which is provided to patrons of participating local public libraries. I'd check on that before you or a loved one pony up for a personal subscription.

How about Paypal gift certs (= ebay shopping spree)?

Do you have any devices (camera etc.) that use memory cards?

I don't like online subscriptions to things that I know I really won't use that much ... you may be turned on by the OED, Mari, but I haven't looked at my paper dictionary (next to my computer) in several years, based on the dust. I only very occasionally need to look up information regarding spelling or word usage, and google is more that sufficient when I need to be reinstructed regarding lay vs. lie. As cool as a subscription to the Rush Limbaugh website would be, I know I wouldn't consistently use it, even if I could listen to it at night.

Memory cards have merit ...

I told you I was difficult to buy for.

Do you already have Season One and Two of the new Battlestar Galactica? Because I can't remember whether you were one of the purists in the original BG thread or not, but I'm telling you, you would totally dig it. Also the entire series of Firefly, followed by the Serenity DVD.

I am a BG purist. I tried to watch the pilot and turned it off after the Chick who can't really be Starbuck was trying to smoke cigars and play poker. Oh, and I didn't like the original all that much either, or I'd ask for it.

Alas. You just have to convince yourself it isn't a remake, that's all. It has nothing to do with the original series except they're in space and the bad guys are called Cylons.

Do you have any tv series that you really like? How about Babylon 5?

You might like Black Books, though the US version will be out too late (Jan. 10) for your birthday.

I believe that the best present I can give someone who never seems to know what he or she wants is a decent amount of money in the form of Gift Certificates from that persons favorite store. That way the person has one whole year to think about what they really want and then it will be almost like I personally bought it for the person. I have learned to give gifts this way because my aunt always says "Don't get me anything because you don't know what I want or need and I will end up recycling anything you give me." To her, it is never the thought that counts. This is the advice I give anybody who asks me what the perfect gift is for so and so person. Giving a gift certificate allows the person the chance to really think about what she wants and buy it. Therefore she has what she really wants and it won't end up on the garage sale table

PS - I have yet to get around to giving my aunt a gift certificate for any celebration. I have plans to do so though. Just don't know when exactly. :D

I am part of the 8% of people who have gift certificates expire unspent.

I am already in a quandry about what to do with the $25 AMEX one that I got. At least I'm not locked into Fashion Bug. I hate spending gift certificate money on underwear.

How about asking them to "send you to camp" this summer? There are some great ones in Idaho :D