Christmas shopping

[dagibbs]

Sometimes, I really don't like Christmas shopping.

It's not the crowds, I don't mind the crowds.

It's not the Christmas muzak, this is the time of year for it.

It's not the lineups, I don't mind the waiting in line at this time of year.

It's the not knowing wtf to buy. *sigh* I've got some presents for most people, but no ideas or presents for a couple. Ugh.

I'm not, generally, very good at gift-giving occasions and gift exchanges at the best of times, and Christmas is too many of them stacked together.

Onwards.

Comments

[pezchica.livejournal.com]

I don't, as a rule, buy presents for people bc I hate exactly that. I hate feeling pressured to find them the exactly right thing... with things like Ali's hiking boots, I knew they were something she desperately wanted. But, with most people... *shrug*, I tend to buy them something I know they use on an ongoing basis (if I am warned that I'm on their gift list).

I like seeing something for someone and just having to buy, and then giving it to them for no reason. :)

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that works more for me... just recognising something that's perfect for someone.

But, really, I can't not buy something for my sisters, my parents, and my niece.

[pezchica.livejournal.com]

Nod, I get it. Let's see, we made beer for Jim's dad and bought him a back pack and ski poles, avid skier. I got Jim's mother a food processor and a camel pack after I noticed her admiring mine. Jim's brother get his standard MEC gift certificate.

I usually paypal my mother money. See, I'm simple.

[succulentpoet.livejournal.com]

See, the thing is, I can do that for birthdays. Sometimes I start months in advance. I've made an agreement with Mary Alice that we're going to buy something for each other for Christmas, but we're not going to hold ourselves to a December 25th deadline. This works better for me.
I can make no such deal with my mom, dad and sister. Shit, yo. Tomorrow I go to the mall. Yuck.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

At least your somewhere with a mall, to visit your family. I'm going to Invermere, B.C., yo. I'm king of the Christmas eve shoppers, but the thought of being in Invermere is making me kind of desperate.

[horsetraveller.livejournal.com]

I know how you feel. I felt quite relieved this year when my deadline passed and anything not got wasn't going to get got.

I had good luck shopping in the Mennonite Thrift store. However I bet Invermere hasn't got one. Does it have a dollar store? Pharmacy? (mm chocolates)

[horsetraveller.livejournal.com]

But Invermere is "the economic centre of the Columbia Valley". With a population of 3000, surely there must be a booming retail sector. :)

(And probably closed Christmas Eve.)

How about gift certificates to one of the many spas? Or restaurants?
There's a "gift shop" called Oasis that looks like it keeps regular Saturday hours.

Anyway, just don't stress if you're not done shopping before you leave, although it will probably make your vacation with your family more relaxed if you aren't still running around.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

I did drop by Laura Secord, and have a box of ginger chocolates (mixture of light and dark chocolate). Mmmm.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Wow... you know more about Invermere than I do, now. ;)

Local gift certificates would be good for the sister who lives out there, but I've got stuff for her -- I still need something for the one from Montreal, but I think I have an idea for that, now, and just have to find some time today to grab it. Maybe on the way from my regular place of employment to my current alternative place of employment.

Thanks for the ideas and suggestions.

[horsetraveller.livejournal.com]

Wow... you know more about Invermere than I do, now.

You can tell I was procrastinating.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Yup, I could tell. Anything, ANYTHING except packing.

*hugs*

I really do hope the move goes well for you, and the new living arrangements work out well. I'd love to see the new place, once you're settled in, too.

[leolac.livejournal.com]

that is seconded. =)

I also hate packing. When I was a kid and my military father was posted, we had movers come in and pack it all for us.

I wish, sometimes, that I had a job with built-in elves or fairie godmothers.

[foms.livejournal.com]

I like to buy right gifts when I think of them (often when I see them). I would prefer to give them immediately. I have discovered that it need not be so. Con_girl needs (prefers strongly) to receive gifts on a schedule, with stated dates and prescribed pomp and circumstance. I now procure gifts on the spur of the moment or start the process when I think of it (or get around to it) but hold on to them until she is ready to receive them. My big problem is warehousing.