TMI Tuesday and Holiday Shopping Guide Part II

Before we get into the TMI I thought I would break out more Holiday Shopping ideas. Today I am focusing on mom and dad. My reason is that many of you are going to visit mom and dad over the Thanksgiving weekend so now is the time to gather the thoughts.

Parents can be challenging to shop for because they often fall into one of 5 categories.

1. They make good money and don't need anything.
2. They don't need more stuff and are morally opposed to gift cards.
3. They need stuff, but they won't tell you what it is.
4. No matter what you get, they are such control freaks that they will make a nasty comment and return it anyway.
5. They are sociopaths and you hate them.

One thing that often works well is anything surrounding photos and home movies. Get those movies that are on film or VCR tapes and put them on DVD. If they have tons of photos in boxes, get them some spiffy albums and a pen to label them. If you like your parents and enjoy spending time with them make helping them label the photos and put them into albums part of the gift. Make a certificate saying you will scan all of the family photos onto a flash drive so they are organized. Take the kids to the photo studio and get nice photos and put them in frames. If you all look presentable at Thanksgiving, have someone take a photo of them family and then frame it. Grandparents are suckers for those mousepads and calendars with the Grandkids on them. You can also put slides on CD's.

Did you break a favorite vase or figurine as a kid. Man up, go on Ebay and see if you can replace it.

Take the camera phone into the bathroom and see what mom uses on her face. Even some of that Oil of Olay stuff is not cheap. Go and get her stocked up.

If you are flush and your parents are not, get them the good cable package for a year.

If you can stand hanging out with your parent, take them out for a nice dinner, or maybe a concert or game. Even if that means that you are sitting through a Barry Manilow concert (actually I love Barry Manilow- I know I'm ill).

Does your mom have a craft room to rival Martha Stewart, then a Gift Card to the craft store can be good.

Has your mom always talked about wanting to learn cake decorating? Dad always wanted to learn Italian? Google 'adult education' and their town or call the school administration building to ask about adult ed programs. Many towns offer different classes in everything from automotive repair to cake decorating to yoga rather inexpensively.

Unless they eat a LOT of fruit or entertain frequently watch the portion size on those "Fruit of the Month" clubs.

If they live far away and you can afford it, coordinate a weekend for them to visit and buy the ticket for them.

You can always give them that grandchild they've been asking for. (Kidding!)

A heartfelt letter letting them know how much you mean to them with a framed picture of the two of you when you were small.

Other ideas can involve getting a handyperson or cleaning service to help them out if you live too far away. That is a good gift for the other siblings to chip in with.

If the live near a city, many of the same places that offer adult ed offer a bus to the city with programming. Perhaps they might like that.

If they regularly go to a museaum, a membership to that museaum would probably be welcome.

Now onto the TMI!



1. What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?
Mashed potatoes with cheese! And pie!

2. You can flip a switch that will wipe any band or musical artist out of existence. Which one will it be?
Holy crap, there is just too much to choose from. I will go with The Jonas Brothers simply because I am sick of seeing them everywhere.

3. You seem to be having an excellent day because you just came across a hundred-dollar bill on the sidewalk. Holy crap, a hundred bucks! How are you gonna spend it?
Its Christmas time. I have shopping to do!

4. What is your favorite curse word?
Fuck! Its a noun, a verb and adjective. My favorite non swear pissed off word is Peckerhead.

5. Rufus appears out of nowhere with a time-traveling phone booth. You can go anytime in the PAST. What time are you traveling to and what are you going to do when you get there?
I would like to go back to the 50's and hang out at the Original Method Acting Studio. Get to meet Lee Strasberg, Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe.

Bonus (as in optional):You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what's even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What's it gonna be?
I would like to have transporting abilities. No car, no plane, no train, just Poof and I am there.

I am on the road today taking Princess Persistent to see my mom, so I will not be online much for a few days. I hope you all have a great week.