The Hyena Chat thread: Everyone's welcome!

[funnygarcia]

We are getting my mom one of those digital picture frames.. I was like.. hey, we could get the inlaws one too.. I dont think my MIL would even get what it is.

My mom is not technical savy.

I bought her a DVD player (after buying her a ton of old tv shows on DVD that they would love.. found out a year later, they didn't even have a DVD player-- OOPS!) sent it via Amazon.

Went to her house months later, it was still in the box.
She didn't know how to hook it up to the TV/dish/ VCR. Had my brother and the teenagers help and we got it running for her that day.

I alwys think it would be great to give her a digital frame.. but I also think it would be a waste as it will likely sit and collect dust in the box.

 

[staley7580]

My mom is not technical savy.

I bought her a DVD player (after buying her a ton of old tv shows on DVD that they would love.. found out a year later, they didn't even have a DVD player-- OOPS!) sent it via Amazon.

Went to her house months later, it was still in the box.
She didn't know how to hook it up to the TV/dish/ VCR. Had my brother and the teenagers help and we got it running for her that day.

I alwys think it would be great to give her a digital frame.. but I also think it would be a waste as it will likely sit and collect dust in the box.

Right! Thats what I think would happen t this. My bil is a computer guy.. to some extent. He likes t get on it, and mess around. But when it comes to fixing something up.. He chucks it and gets a new one. (He is also a creepy pervy guy... But that is besides the point.) I dont know... on one hand, I dont want to get them crap. I dont like them, and Frelan certainly doesnt give a poo if we get them anything. He is WAY bitter about the whole... No Christmas this year year son, we are Jehovah's Witnesses now. He was just a kid, and that really hurt him. So.. needless to say.. He is no help.

But on the other hand.. They ARE family.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I had a blast the last time we had our family Christmas party, it was after Christmas (too many schedule conflicts before the holiday) so I hit u all the clearance sales.

Bought things that didn't look like holiday items. Car wash kits, small rugs (red, green), jewelry, small toys, gourmet foods/ candy.. wrapped each invidually and we played the dice game during dessert.

It would be great to always shop the after-Christmas sales FOR Christmas, wouldn't it?

 

[funnygarcia]

My mom sent fruit baskets and GC from the local grocery store for her parents every year.

They had everything they wanted, they were simple country people... but groceries are something everyone needs. On a fixed income (for most retirees) it is a blessing to not worry about grocery money for one month.

Or maybe something more fun? Blockbuster GCs, fast food GCs...


Maybe some picture frames with the kids pics (dropping BIG hints helps!)

 

[staley7580]

It would be great to always shop the after-Christmas sales FOR Christmas, wouldn't it?

Yep.

My mom sent fruit baskets and GC from the local grocery store for her parents every year.

They had everything they wanted, they were simple country people... but groceries are something everyone needs. On a fixed income (for most retirees) it is a blessing to not worry about grocery money for one month.

Or maybe something more fun? Blockbuster GCs, fast food GCs...


Maybe some picture frames with the kids pics (dropping BIG hints helps!)

They dont do any of that. No movies.. No eating out.. Its not like they cant afford it. Of course they can. They dont do anything else! We could do a safeway gift card...

I have done the picture frames with pics of the kids. To many times to count. I dont know where they end up. Probably the garage.

 

[funnygarcia]

It would be great to always shop the after-Christmas sales FOR Christmas, wouldn't it?

I did that every year in the past, I had a gift closet. Collecting all year long and empty the works out in December.. I loved it!

BBW had really really good coupons in the past.. "buy anything and get this $10 item free". We bought the $1 bars of soap or tiny gift bags. That was the bonanza year for the ladies of the family.

But now most of my DNs are past the toy stage, I don't have the money.. or the room for storage (thanks to dialysis supplies). EEK!

 

[funnygarcia]

They dont do any of that. No movies.. No eating out.. Its not like they cant afford it. Of course they can. They dont do anything else! We could do a safeway gift card...

I have done the picture frames with pics of the kids. To many times to count. I dont know where they end up. Probably the garage.

Weird!

And .. how sad.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

My mom sent fruit baskets and GC from the local grocery store for her parents every year.

DH's grandparents and his mom and her husband dont' need anything either. I always tried to get something that wouldn't clutter up their homes. So for the past several years I've been sending floral arrangements. The grandparents didn't go all out decorating, but they loved to entertain, so I got a mini-Christmas tree one year, another a gorgeous, elegant floral display. DH's mom and stepdad are more outdoorsy types, so I get something more woodland than elegant for them. They always say how much they enjoy them, so I hope it's true and they're not just saying that.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Would they go to Cabelas? That's what we got the guys last year. I guess they had fun heading down to the new store in Lacey. I remember around the same time last year UtahMama wrote a TR on their trip to the local Cabela's, she called it "Redneck Disneyland"!

 

[staley7580]

Weird!

And .. how sad.

I know. They suck. I dont get his family at all. My mom and I have a strained relationship. It is sometimes very hard for us to be around each other. But she TRIES. and I TRY. His mom is just a crazy old bat.

 

[staley7580]

Would they go to Cabelas? That's what we got the guys last year. I guess they had fun heading down to the new store in Lacey. I remember around the same time last year UtahMama wrote a TR on their trip to the local Cabela's, she called it "Redneck Disneyland"!

No. Jack wont drive on the freeway. Besides, I dont think his pasty white butt has ever even been out side.

My kids love Cabellas.. So does Frelan, but the kids really like it. Nothing like a bunch of dead animals on a hill to entertain little ones.

 

[staley7580]

Grrrr... The more I think about it, the less I want to get them anything. I think Frelan is right.. I am just going to hit up the dollar store for some fancy soap.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I thought your DH was the outdoorsy type, goes hunting, etc.? No?

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Grrrr... The more I think about it, the less I want to get them anything. I think Frelan is right.. I am just going to hit up the dollar store for some fancy soap.

I can just see it now:

Friend: So what did you get from Frelan's family for Christmas?
MIL: A bar of soap.
Friend:

 

[staley7580]

I thought your DH was the outdoorsy type, goes hunting, etc.? No?

He is. Sometimes.. He cant decide if he would rather be a computer, video game guy.. or a hunter, fisherman fellow. He goes back and forth every couple of years. Right now we are doing the video game, computer thing. I think it is the ADD.

 

[staley7580]

I can just see it now:

Friend: So what did you get from Frelan's family for Christmas?
MIL: A bar of soap.
Friend:

I wish I was joking when I said that is what she got me one year. I think she meant well.. I think. Oh well.. Its better then a can of chili.

 

[eatmypixiedust]

Hello

 

[staley7580]

OMG!!! I just pulled down Alex's lunch bag, which we havent used since last year. I had $.50 for milk money I was going to put in it... I heard a jingle.. There was $.50 left in it from last year!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I wish I was joking when I said that is what she got me one year. I think she meant well.. I think. Oh well.. Its better then a can of chili.

Or a Costco sized jar of ketchup... Didn't happen to me, but to someone I know.

 

[staley7580]

Hello

Hey pix!!

Or a Costco sized jar of ketchup... Didn't happen to me, but to someone I know.

OMG!! THATS what we should do. Go find the most bizarre thing we can.