Friday, April 25, 2008

Back from the frozen wastes of northern Nevada. (Originally posted on MySpace on Tuesday, January 03, 2006)

Wow, It's been a long time since I wrote up a blog. For a while there I was really into it. But then I guess I started to feel a little burned out on the myspace experience in general. Several times I have started up a blog...but felt a little forced about the whole thing. Blogging for Blogging's sake so to speak.

Anyway, I am back from a looooong vacation. Lots of in laws and the usual family pressures associated with the Holidays.

First off a big thanks to everyone who got me a gift this year. For some reason I really got a lot of stuff I wanted. Probably because I drafted a six page "wish" list. In general I feel a wish list is a bit tacky, and up until recently I would never have thought to fill one out, but given the balooning size of the extended family, these lists have become indespensible tools of Holiday gift giving. This year I really didn't have time to go out and shop for everyone on my list...and it was nice to have lists from people, so I could go online and snag a gift that everyone would have wanted. Otherwise I would have given out gift cards (as I have done for the past decade or so). I don't know what's tackier....a wish list, or gift cards. They both serve the same purpose. They both belie an undercurrent of "I don't konw you well enough to give you a thoughtful gift". But in reality the whole season of gift giving is a bit contrived...so if you're choosing to go along with the farce...might as well spend money on stuff they want to get. But when it comes down to it, I know Becca really well and I could come up with some gifts that were "from the heart" so to speak, but frankly, I'd rather spend money knowing she really wants the stuff I'm getting. I think you can find a balance...like you get a wish list and you go...oh this person likes books, well I'll get him a couple of books on his list and then maybe a book I like that reminds me of him, or a conversation we had.

Then there are gifts from my Mom. My mom really puts her heart and soul into her gifts. She makes them (usually sews them, but sometimes knits) by hand. My mom has given me expensive gifts like TVs and stuff, but the gifts she's made by hand carry far more value, for the simple fact that. So it's hard to say that sentimentality doesn't factor into the holidays.

Oh crap gotta step away...I'll post this and come back to the subject of the holiday trip in a few more instalments...


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