LaughAtlantis

Every year, I promise myself that I am NOT going to go overboard in buying stuff for the holidays. And every year, I go overboard in buying stuff for the holidays. I have a very young niece and nephew, which necessitates buying toys - and frankly, that part is always fun. I relish that part. I have an older niece and nephew, and that necessitates giving money, in that I don't see them that often, which makes choosing appropriate gifts tougher. And then there's friends - I have a lot of them and they're gift-y people and my brother and his wife, my sister and her husband, my grandmothers (shit, I haven't even sent cards to them yet. I am a very bad person) and my parents. And Rod, obviously.

My biggest problem right now - and it's a stupid, stupid problem - is that I feel this insane need to make everybody "even." For some ungodly reason, I feel like I have to spend the same amount on my mother as on my dad as on my brother, etc., etc. I got my mother a gift when I was in Alaska... and that has sort of set the price precedent. It's a nice gift. She'll like it... I hope. And I got my dad a good gift and I love some of the stuff that I got for Zachary and Julia (my nephew and niece).

And then there's the problem child. My brother. I type this in knowing full well that he's the only person in my family who is likely to read this. Matt has always been incredibly tough to buy for, and this year he has pretty much refused to answer the question of what he wants. I have asked repeatedly. I have threatened to buy him a Chia pet. To no avail.

So I ask... why? Why don't people just keep updated wish lists all the time so people know what they want? Wouldn't that just make it so cool when somebody randomly wanted to buy you a gift... they'd always have a place to go to find out what you'd want!

And why would somebody flat out refuse to tell you what they want??? What's that about? Contrary to popular belief, I can't read minds - I can beat my brother at Mastermind but that's just because I'm smarter than him (look at me, trying to get him riled up - heehee!) - but that doesn't mean I'm psychic. I'm going to buy him The Clapper. Or a lava lamp. Or polka-dotted purple kitchen towels. And I'm going to stick out my tongue when he opens them. Nyah.