Christmas Shopping

I’m stressed. I commented about this over on Jeff’s site and then realized I hadn’t blogged in a while and figured it was a blog-worthy topic. As you’ve read, I’ve been sick for over a week now. The result of which is much lost shopping time! Several weeks ago, we spent our Saturday at the mall doing reconnaissance - you know, checking out the stores and what they have. Is there anything really cool available? Does something jump out at me as a gift for someone? And then I was planning on doing some serious actual buying this past weekend. But I was sick, so it didn’t happen. Therefore, I’m a week behind and now I’m going to be stuck at the shops this weekend with all the other people who’ve waited til the last minute to do their shopping.

Thankfully, I’ve done 80% of my shopping online. That’s the way to go. No crowds, no screaming kids. Just me and my computer. I ordered several gifts back in October — and those are beautifully wrapped and sitting under our Christmas Tree. But I am (as I am every other year) always left with the two hardest people to buy for: my dad and my grampy. They are typical men in that when they see something they want, they pretty much just buy it. So when it comes to birthdays and christmas — it’s a hard task to find something for them! So these are the two people I’m currently racking my brain trying to think of a gift for.

When Mark (my brother) and I were in high school, my parents had us start making Christmas and Birthday lists. This worked out pretty well for us — because atleast that way we usually got things we were interested in. We have been trying to get my parents and grandparents to do this ever since. Why do THEY get to have it easy and have a list for us– when we have to flounder around and try and figure out what to get them? It is STRESSFUL. I want to give my family something they will like and enjoy – not just something impersonal and thoughtless. And sometimes the ideas just aren’t coming — and a list would be ever so helpful.

(My dream world would be when every member of my family has an Amazon Wishlist set up. I just get online and wala my shopping is done. It’s all being shipped with Super Saver Free Shipping and everyone will have something they truly want.)