(no subject)

[cblj_backup]

Mum asked me to make a Christmas wish list. It's always hard, because I already have so much stuff, I keep getting rid of stuff but the stuff keeps arriving, and it makes me nervous since I never really got over the fact that for ten years I was moving at least once a year, and often more. So much stuff. :( And it's hard to get rid of stuff people gave me. Because they gave it to me! And I like it! I just don't know where to put it!

Also, Mum makes it extra hard on herself and everyone else because she considers gift-cards to be gauche. I don't; I fucking love gift cards, but she thinks they show a lack of initiative. IDEK, she likes making life difficult.

I've become reduced to wandering around retail websites, looking at stuff and trying to get ideas from it, like grow your own oyster mushroom kits and thousand-piece jigsaw puzzles. I've asked for a lot of art prints and messenger bags because let's face it, I have a million messenger bags already but I will never have too many, and it's hard to have too many art prints, like, walls are pretty big.

She told me to ask for some "Crazy expensive stuff" because she's getting an inheritance, but the craziest thing I can think of is a sofa from Ikea and I want to pick that out myself because furniture is important and I have very specific requirements.

I mean, I guess I could get a sofa from somewhere else, but that enters a murky and unfamiliar world I'm not eager to brave.

Comments

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

Might your mother be willing to give you an experience rather than a thing? Is there an experience you'd like that's in the right price range?

[pfflyernc.livejournal.com]

I was going to post the same comment. Movie tickets, theater tickets, sports tickets, tours, train/plane journeys, hotel stay, festivals, bucket list stuff, etc. are all great gifts.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

She's not really good at...comprehending that kind of thing, intangibles I guess? Like I could ask her for, I don't know, a trip to the movies, but I don't think she'd understand how to arrange it. And most experiences come down to gift certificates in the end, so....

[taerowyn.livejournal.com]

Was going to say the same re: experiences. Would memberships be more tangible to her? Membership at a fav museum or theater or the like?

[schnoogle.livejournal.com]

Well if it's something you can be very specific about then it's less a gift card and more your specific ticket for that particular day/time.

A membership/season ticket to a museum or theatre?

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

I've added "renew my costco membership" to the list :D As much as I like museums and such, I really can't get to them that often, so the only membership I have is to the Art Institute, which I think I've renewed out two or three years. But Costco! :D

[schnoogle.livejournal.com]

Subscriptions? l now get an annual subscription to a very pretty cooking magazine each Christmas. This could work for mother-friendly websites as well.

Paying a professional for something you don't want to/can't do yourself? (l just realised how disgusting my car is, so that will go on my list!)