Datebook: Monday, October 16th ~ 2006

Although I haven’t seen any official countdowns, I am quite aware it is only about 8 weeks until Christmas.

I don’t say this in anticipation of a sequel to “Elf”, but with the knowledge that I have to buy presents for several people that are “hard to buy for.”

Let’s look at the list.

Two coaches. Each seems to make more than Donald Trump’s son per hour. Each drives a high end “work” car while the spouse drives the small Mercedes. One totes a Michael Kors bag and a Louis Vuitton wallet, while the other sports Burberry and Armani. So, what can I buy them to show how much I appreciate the fact that I get to pay them about 40,000.00 a year with no contracts and no questions asked.

In another world, some people might think the coach should buy the student a personal present, to show his appreciation for having them as cash paying customer all year. But that’s just crazy talk.

So I have to find some thoughtful, heartfelt gift that basically looks expensive, but isn’t too costly, like a Lenox framed photo of their skaters. But, I did that two years ago.

No, this will be an expensive gift year. Remember I have two young adult-children to buy for.
My son is easy. It will be electronic or in the snowboard family, or probably both, and it will be costly.

My daughter will be impossible.

Just her normal daily operating costs are expensive. Example, she blew out her Chi hair straightener last month and it had to be replaced. The real irony of this is that her hair is so straight normally that I think she could do a Pantene commercial. Apparently Chi hair products are the best and can not only straighten hair, but curl it as well, for say, ice dance competitions. This makes it a paradoxical tool. This little gem costs about 150.00 dollars (or one and half Longaberger baskets). Since it is “skating related” it can’t be a gift since skating is her mission or her “job” so to speak. So, her new Chi was like 150.00 of office supplies.

So, I think you see the problem with buying gifts for her. She is small but she likes nice things. And she is known to be, well, let’s just say “selective”. There is no stopping by JC Penneys for a sweater. It would have to be JC-rew.

Her skin is allergic to alloy metals. It must be at least 14K or sterling silver, but even this is like running low-grade gasoline in a hemi-engine. Platinum never causes a rash.

So today, I did order a few items from one or two of the 581 catalogs that come to my house everyday. In case you do not know, Victoria Secrets is having a great sale on shoes and boots. The have the cutest navy blue mini bootie Uggs for 100.00 (page 42)—and a 15.00 dollar off coupon to go with them. Think jeans, winter…I know, hard to pass up and the salesclerk said they were down to their last hundred pair.

Don’t worry. I’m not ruining it for my daughter or adding to the style of her coach.
I bought those for my husband to give to me during the Yule season. Maybe by then he will have forgotten my recent spurge in the shoe department at Macy’s and just appreciate how easy I make his holiday shopping.

Mombo