h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Not that I want to get off into tangents (because I firmly believe that people should give gifts whenever and to whomever pleases them)...

It seems to me that with several years between siblings, aside from the knowing what to expect bit, you're pretty much starting all over again. Especially if marital or other family circumstances have changed.

I didn't mean to imply that in all circumstances, parents might not need things for subsequent children. Just that, in this particular case, throwing herself four showers in five years (two of her middle girls were twins) on the company's dime, seemed a little excessive and a bit like fishing for gifts.

I like getting people gifts- one reason why gift registries annoy me so. They take all of the fun out of it!

My mother-in-law had a policy that if she gave one daughter something, she'd have to give something to the other. But that was only because one daughter was a jealous cow with a thermonuclear temper. (Not the daughter I married who couldn't care less if her sister got something. )

Ah, that's me and my sister as well. I'm actually not the jealous cow, either.

My dad, bless him, has taken measures to ensure at at least *someday* I'll be rewarded for not not coming around all the time with my hand out. I told him I hope that's a long way away, because I prefer having my dad.

My mother once got really pissed off at me because of the Christmas presents I bought for my nephew and niece. They were six and four at time time. My nephew wanted a LEGO set, which I bought. I bought my niece a doll and a half dozen outfits for her. The cost was roughly even, not quite. My mother had a fit that I'd bought seven gifts for my niece and only one for my nephew. Of course, the following year when I got them both each one item of equivalent value, she snarked about that. After that they got savings bonds, till they got old enough to send tank-you notes but never did. I figured if no one ever managed to muster a thank you, they must not enjoy receiving gifts, and I quite giving them. My grandma had the same policy.

I admit to not having even thought of sending my sister thank yous the year before last when she bought gift cards at a supermarket checkout.

Well, I admit that a gift card from the checkout seems like very little, if any, thought went into something.... I usually thank everyone (in writing) for a gifts just because (a) my grandma and my mother both taught me to do so, and (b) it's gracious, even if the gift blows.

K and I didn't, for the obvious reason, get many "wedding" gifts this past summer. One friend got us a gift certificate for a really fancy vegan restaurant I've been dying to try, which was nice. An aunt and uncle of his, a gift card for a chain restaurant, the nearest of which is 30 miles away. We'd meant to try the one between here and the suburban Zoo, some Sunday on the way home, but it was in the stolen wallet. I hope the punk at least took his girl to a nice dinner, and didn't throw it in the trash with everything but the cash and the debit card.

I didn't know your wallet had been stolen. I left some good chocolate at my desk at an office I worked at and it disappeared. I always hoped the cleaning staff ate it and didn't just throw it away.