Agree or Disagree?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010356458_will27x.html

11/30/2009

Alice...

I agree and dis-agree. I have a friend I've known
for over 30 years, she's 97 and lives in New York, every year
for Christmas I send her all kinds of special treats and food in
a large Christmas Bag , plus a few other things I think she'll
need , she loves it. I have one sister-in-law who I gave a nice
pair of earrings with stones, she told me " Where the hell am I
going to wear those ! I'm not society." You can't win in hell! So
I try to think twice what I give her, maybe next time a plant .
As for one niece she apprecates what I give her and everytime
I have a book published she buys my books, she's proud her
uncle is an author. As for my nephews their in their 20's and 30's
so I hve to think about that. You win some and you loose some.

Cheers..Joe..

Oh, how silly.

Malcolm

Academics sometimes write wacky stuff to get published and noticed. The all publicity is good publicity thing. I wonder if he really believes what he wrote. I think the merchants who see their increased sales at Christmas would disagree with him, and what's the relevance of sales during the Depression?

Value of his article: $0.

"Spending is good if the purchaser, or the recipient of a gift, values the commodity more than he does the money it costs."

If someone gave you an inexpensive gift and tried to pass it off as an expensive gift, would you be offended?

11/30/2009


To me the gift has to come from the heart !


Cheers...Joe

Shelagh wrote:

If someone gave you an inexpensive gift and tried to pass it off as an expensive gift, would you be offended?

This question addresses the larger issue of gift-giving; the reasons and emotions behind it. Some people are ungracious receivers, and some are ungracious givers. Giving away your white elephants is an example of the latter.

When gift-giving outside my family, I stick with consumables. I don't try to dress anyone or decorate their home. That's where most problems arise, IMO. Even consumables are tricky, as people are on different diets. I try to give what people want, not what's cheap or convenient for me to give.

I don't know why the writer kept harping about charities. That's a different subject. We should forego gift-giving and give all the money to charity? Ok.

11/30/2009

Does anyone know who LC is ?
is this person a man or a woman ?
I don't know whom I'm addressing ?
What kind of writer is LC ? Is this person
like Greta Garbo...


Cheers...Joe

Dusty -I like lions and tigers. Not so fond of housecats.
When I retire I may go into some sort of animal activism, maybe volunteer at Big Cat Rescue in Florida.

Interesting responses--Thanks!

I always give presents of things I would love to get myself.
I never try to pass off something as more expensive than I paid for it. It is possible that I have paid more than something is worth in the world. To me, it was exquisite and worth the price I paid. I would have given it with the same love as if it was priceless.

Love,
Betty

12/1/2009

Betty...


Bravo....


Cheers..Joe..

12/1/2009

Guess LC is shy ? She refuses to say who
she is ? Oh yes LC , Dusty is a beautiful
cat, more loving than some humans I've
met....

Cheers..Joe

We have all decided to make gifts this year. Susan suggested it. She asked, if fact, for more of the herb and spice blends that I put together last year. Her supply is running out, she says, and she thought that it would be fun for each of us to put something together that would be less expensive, but still show thought and attention. I'm thinking about getting some Ball jars and arranging rice and beans with seasonings, and layering everything so the jars will look pretty, and making labels on the computer. Susan is very good at making and painting pottery; I hope she's thinking in that direction. I was at Marshall's the other day and saw some very pretty plain white plates. Lately, Lynn has been into using white dishes. She has these fish plates - white except for a fish painted in the center. She likes her table set with the simple plates, though, so she uses them, and jokes about serving chicken or pork in them. I'm going to give her the "no fish" plates, and recipes to go into the loose leaf cookbook I started last year. this year I will give her a collection of "no fish" recipes to go with the plates. I also stopped by Michael's and picked up these stackable round jars - the screw-on ones where one jar makes a lid for the one below it, with a last lid on top? I can put single spices or herbs in each little jar, of different colors, so they will look like stripes when the jars are pout together. For the girls, I may do something else with the jars, like different colors and scents of bath salts. Linda used to crochet little kitchen scrubbers using strips of colored net instead of yarn. I'm hoping she will make some again. They work really well, and are durable and easy to clean, as well as looking attractive on the sink.

Making gifts, to me, and finding bargains that fit the individuals I give them to - after I've added some homemade touches, is what makes Christmas fun. I'm glad Susan suggested we all do it this year.

Ann

When my parents were still alive, I found it difficult to select a gift for them. There was no room on the shelves for another knik-knack. My Dad had a closet full of ties and many were still new. My mother didn't wear jewelry. She had a kitchen full of pots, pans and cupboards full of dishes. Besides, they would always say, "Don't get us anything for Christmas."
What I did was give my Dad a Golf pass. He loved to golf and having a pass for several months of golfing was appreciated. For my mother, a pass (Gift Certificate) for several beauty salon visits was a treat for her.
Many just give money because they can't think of a gift. Instead of giving money in cash, why not find a bill that is owed and pay on it or pay it off. That is a gift to be remembered.
Now I must think of something for my wife.

12/1/2009


AJ , Abe...

Those are fantastic ideas !
Now you have my brain humming.
I'll see if I can download a gift idea
I had for my niece & Sister-in-law,
On the computer I did a background
with doves, two weding rings and gift
packages at the bottom, then I took
their wedding photo and put it in a
heart shape..

Cheers...Joe

I give Starbucks gift cards. Everyone likes those.

My husband and I bought a leather lounge love seat for our cabin as a Christmas and Anniversary present for each other.

I have no idea what to do for everyone else.

Love, Carol

They have you, Carol.

Ann

I agree with Ann.

Carol -Starbucks gift cards. lol

I hate it when: You get given clothing that is either not your colour or your style. You're made to wear the offending item and you feel so uncomfortable wearing but smile and grimace an thank you. Why do our beloved siblings treat us oldies like Barbie dolls?
You get given a book you have absolutly no interest in at all and will never in a million years read. You have no idea what gave them the idea you would love to read it.

I once got given a novelty Star Trek chess set even though I don't play chess it has never been opened.
When I think back over the years I too have probably been guilty of giving such bad gifts in the past.