Watching the Panic

With my shopping done, and, in fact, most of the gifts already opened by my family and loved ones, my mission to find the last stocking stuffer was a pretty simple one. My mother loves Japanese Milky candies and the only place to get them is at T&T, the Asian grocery store which has a branch not too far from my house.

As I said, I had a clear game plan, but I think I was the only one. I made only two stops, and the second was mainly out of curiosity.  What I witnessed was a frenzied buying spectacle.  Clearly some last minute shoppers were desperately searching for gifts and their behaviour evoked scenes from several zombie apocalypse films I have seen.  There was no plan and they were just hoping to stumble upon a gift that they hadn’t already stumbled upon in the days and weeks leading up to this.  The panic in their eyes was unmistakable.

I know I shouldn’t mock too hard as I have been one of them and this year’s early completion is a fluke, or perhaps having learned my lesson years before, I no longer wanted to be part of the crowd desperately looking for something on the 24th of December.

After tiring of the spectacle, I decided to go and have a chicken Shawarma at a Pita place. I think I made the right choice.

On Christmas Presents

The typical Christmas (or birthday) question seems to be “What do you want? ” or “What do you need?” In our endeavour to get someone a gift, we often appeal to them so they will get something they need, rather than something they will have to exchange or possibly regift.

The phrase you often hear is something along the lines of “You’re so hard to buy for.” Which, to be fair, is probably true….or at least partially true.  This is often because people do not supply you with any information, hints or seemed stumped when you ask them the question above.

I try my hardest to be easy to buy for. When asked, I can usually email a list or tell people to look for my wish list on Amazon (which seems to befuddle even the most tech savvy people in my family).  Both of these lists have things that range from the inexpensive to the ridiculously expensive.  Both of these have things I want and things I need.  Both of these lists have things that I would buy myself if nobody gets them for me.

Of course, that means I don’t really get a true surprise for my gift. I know it is going to be something from the list.  I don’t know exactly, but I have a pretty good idea.  Unlike many people, I prefer this to getting a gift card.  Gift cards are nice, but I find it hard to use them.  I feel pressure to get something memorable with them, or forget to take them when I go shopping.  Worst of all, I am often stuck paying more money just to use up the whole card, or having the car sit around with 2 or 3 dollars on it.

This year, my brother and sister-in-law (because they were both involved) managed to surprise me. Additionally, the gift shows me that they really know me and put some time and effort into the gift.  They got me  a few months of  a subscription box called Comic Bento.  (The fact that there was a Japanese name in the title is just a bonus).  If you have read previous posts here or on my other blog, you’ll know I have been seriously researching subscription boxes.  I think the idea is so cool and I have ideas for a bunch of them (business partners wanted).  Right now my money is tied up in other places, but I will consider them again when funds become available.

The Comic Bento box came with four graphic novels. I haven’t had time to read them yet, but will get to them later today or tomorrow.  I am pretty excited about it and I truly love the idea that I will come home to find the boxes in my mailbox over the next couple of months.

As for gift ideas, I think these are awesome. It’s multiple surprises.