Pooh, trust me on this, if everything else, or most everything else in a relationship is good just go out and buy your own presents. Some folks, seem to be mostly men, have no clue about shopping. One upside of my husband's problem is that way back in the day if I gave him a list of what I wanted, with loads of choices, he would buy each and every single thing on the list no matter how long it took him to find them. We could not afford it though and that was not a good thing. I then learned to give him a list with just a couple of things with the prices listed but he would come back with the upgraded, and often unwanted, items at a much larger cost. I stopped giving him lists and he came home with the most ridiculous things you could imagine, including pierced earrings for a woman who would never pierce anything. I just buy what I want now and since I am a very good shopper we never go over budget.

Heavy sweaters are on sale for half price now. Buy matching ones and tell him how happy it made you to spend the holiday with him and maybe he will hug you extra tight and you will be all warmed up??
Timmie, the book is always better.

You and I are twins it seems.
Wic, is your mom having treatments through the holidays as well? Does she have several folks to take her? I did it alone one winter and it was very hard. Not spending time with the lady but the strain of worrying about the weather and the roads.
Ang, I could have saved you some money as I have a very slightly used massage cushion that my hubby had been aggravating me for over the years. I finally broke down last year when he had been diagnosed with his illnesses. The reason I had resisted is the fact that I have thousands of dollars of merchandise that he had 'wanted' stored away because he did not really want it. Anyone need a dozen pairs of very expensive cowboy boots, size 11D, never worn???? You are so right in that it is what we give away we remember more than what we got. There was a letter in our local paper today about a woman whose check for a WII was rejected because she was new to the area and the man behind her in line paid for it with his credit card and gave it to her. As much as she was overwhelmed I think he is even more thrilled and will remember that one act this Christmas long after his presents have crumbled into dust. I enjoy going to my local utility company and paying for strangers overdue bills. It helps that I am friends with someone who works there and trust her judgment over who really needs it.
I am going to work around here today. I have a transmission to figure out. I often use the Internet to help me fix things but this time I am hoping it will tell me that it is something inexpensive and I can take it and get it fixed by someone else. I am not THAT good.
SG/Linda