Suja wrote:
FurPaw wrote:

Yes.


LOL! Has anyone tried talking to this guy or the wife?

Heh. If you met them, you'd understand why this would be a waste
of breath. They're nice people, but they live in a different world.

A Garmin eTrex Vista. It is very cool, and I can see it coming in handy
for the hunting/fishing types as well. The only bad thing about it is
that the reception can be spotty. But, it still has oodles of features
and can be a really good choice for guys who like gadgets.

Thanks - I put it on my wish list at amazon.com, so I'll remember it.

FurPaw

--
There's no reason to give credence to anything spoken above 90
decibels.

To reply, unleash the dog.

On 21 Jul 2003 19:11:18 GMT, Marcel Beaudoin wrote:

We are walking through Sears, and we check out the display of Starfrit
items, to see if the pieces come with plastic covering them. Sure enough
they do. So we figure that we just got an exchange. Something is bugging
me though, so I *llok* at the box in the store, and the box we have at
home for the grater. Different sizes!! Gen's stepmom's father bought a
new grater, and gave us their used one!!!

I told Gen she has to laugh, otherwise she will get 15-20 for
manslaughter. (Although no jury in the world would ever convict her.)

Heh.

You ought to submit that one to www.etiquttehell.com.

--Terri
--
When I'M trying to get somebody fired, I always walk a mile in their
shoes first. That way, when I get them fired and they get all angry
with me, I'm a mile away, and I'VE GOT THEIR SHOES! HAW HAW!
--Beable van Polasm, alt.religion.kibology

I've been trying to spend less time on the computer and now you go and post
this. I can't resist!

I used to have a friend who would wrap used stuff and present it to me as a
gift. At least she didn't always pretend it was new. Sometimes she'd go
through this big show of telling me that she was shopping at Salvation Army for
me. I'd protest, tell her I had enough clothes, tell her how much fun I had
shopping for myself. She'd argue, explain that the item didn't fit her (true
enough, I have a figure which is enviable if for no other reason than being easy
to shop for) and have a thousand other reasons for why I needed and wanted
whatever she brought. I thought I was being plenty straightforward and
assertive, but the parade of used gifts for me to wear, eat (she once brought me
half a cake), and decorate my house with kept coming. It was terribly awkward
as I'd guiltily hang on to the stuff for a while before throwing it out.

Finally, light bulb! The next time she gave me a used dress from the thrift
store, I thanked her, told her how thoughtful it was for her to think of me and
then, in the same dulcet tones, told her truthfully that I'd try it on and if it
didn't suit me and seem like something I would use, I'd take it back to the
thrift store; maybe someone else would like it. That was the truth, wasn't it?
From that moment on, the used gifts stopped.

While I'm not sure what Miss Manners would say, Gen's thank-you note to her
step-father might read something like this:

"Thank-you so much for the thoughtful gift of a cheese grater. Knowing that
this
is an item that you've used and loved makes it all the more valuable to me and
Marcel. New things can be so impersonal, but this is special. I hope it stays
in our family as a valued antique, an item with a story behind it. Maybe some
day I'll be able to present it to my step-granddaughter. If so, I hope she gets
the same warm giggle from it as I did. Thanks, and love always."

O.K., so you can leave out the warm giggle part, but the point is the same. Why
not let them know you know it is used and thank them anyway? If they get so
insulted they stop getting you gifts, what's the harm?

--Lia


Marcel Beaudoin wrote:

It seems like there is a need for humor in the group today. Being the
unbalanced soul I am, I feel it my duty to provide you with your laugh
for the day.

The scene: The evening after Gen's Bridal Shower.
We are in the apartment, and Gen is showing me all of the gifts she
recieved. One of them was a cheese grater. One of those plastic ones with
various inserts with a turning handle and squishing stick type thing.
(http://tinyurl.com/hlkf for a picture) We open it up, and notice that
there is no plastic covering the individual pieces. Curious. While
looking at the pieces, we notice dried cheese stuck on the inside of one
of the graters.

Wait, it gets better.

There is always the possibility that it is an exchange. SOmeone bought
one, used it, returned it and grabbed something else.

We are walking through Sears, and we check out the display of Starfrit
items, to see if the pieces come with plastic covering them. Sure enough
they do. So we figure that we just got an exchange. Something is bugging
me though, so I *llok* at the box in the store, and the box we have at
home for the grater. Different sizes!! Gen's stepmom's father bought a
new grater, and gave us their used one!!!

I told Gen she has to laugh, otherwise she will get 15-20 for
manslaughter. (Although no jury in the world would ever convict her.)

--

"Suja" wrote ...


On the good gift giving front, DH LOVES his Leatherman tool and GPS. He
was walking around all of yesterday looking much like the Cheshire Cat.
Even took the GPS with him when we went on the hike, commenting at our
speed, distance travelled, altitude, etc the whole way there and back.
He has taken them in to work today, for "show and tell".

Excellent result! I'm always afraid my gift choices will get mere polite
thanks. I hit the jackpot for my sweetie's birthday this year though - got
him the entire first season of Babylon 5 on DVD.

He loved it! The only problem is I am now firmly addicted to Babylon 5 as
well - having never watched it until then.

)

Rachel
(New Zealand)

Holier Than Thou wrote:



Grandma Carol (mikes' mom) bought that! And I will remember this for
future use!

--
BethF, Anchorage, AK

Indeed no one with a baby these days should be without one of these
wonderful items. They are the greatest. I sure wish both the travel
system and the Pack n Play had been around when I had kids.

Gwen

On 21 Jul 2003, Julia Altshuler opined:

While I'm not sure what Miss Manners would say, Gen's thank-you note to
her step-father might read something like this:

"Thank-you so much for the thoughtful gift of a cheese grater. Knowing
that this
is an item that you've used and loved makes it all the more valuable to
me and Marcel. New things can be so impersonal, but this is special. I
hope it stays in our family as a valued antique, an item with a story
behind it. Maybe some day I'll be able to present it to my
step-granddaughter. If so, I hope she gets the same warm giggle from it
as I did. Thanks, and love always."

Chuckle.

Nice post, Lia.
Chad

--
Looking for a pet? Adopt one! ** http://www.petfinder.com
Info for a healthy, happy dog? * http://www.dog-play.com


Never enter a battle of wits unarmed.

Dimpled Chad wrote:

On 21 Jul 2003, Julia Altshuler opined:

While I'm not sure what Miss Manners would say, Gen's thank-you note to
her step-father might read something like this:

"Thank-you so much for the thoughtful gift of a cheese grater. Knowing
that this
is an item that you've used and loved makes it all the more valuable to
me and Marcel. New things can be so impersonal, but this is special. I
hope it stays in our family as a valued antique, an item with a story
behind it. Maybe some day I'll be able to present it to my
step-granddaughter. If so, I hope she gets the same warm giggle from it
as I did. Thanks, and love always."

Chuckle.

Nice post, Lia.
Chad

--

Wait, don't just laugh. I want to know what you think of actually sending
something like it. Skip the part about sending it on to a step daughter some
day and think of a plain thank-you note that acknowledges that the gift is
used. Would that be inappropriate? Cause a family hullabaloo? Bring on a slew
of more used gifts? I'm curious about this. I honestly think it is a good idea
but can't quite see telling Marcel and Gen to try it and then tell me how it
worked.

In general, the best tactic to take when catching someone in an error is to
assume the best. That gives them an out. See your best buddy from work walking
arm and arm with a woman who is not his wife? Don't avoid them or get
flustered. Go up, say hello, get introduced. Only a cad would assume that his
friend was doing something wrong when there might be a good explanation. Same
here. Why blink and look away? Why not say thanks for the used cheese grater
with an assumption that they meant well?

--Lia

On 22 Jul 2003, Julia Altshuler opined:

Wait, don't just laugh. I want to know what you think of actually
sending something like it. Skip the part about sending it on to a step
daughter some day and think of a plain thank-you note that acknowledges
that the gift is used. Would that be inappropriate? Cause a family
hullabaloo? Bring on a slew of more used gifts? I'm curious about
this. I honestly think it is a good idea but can't quite see telling
Marcel and Gen to try it and then tell me how it worked.

Heh, good idea, because sometimes family can be unpredictable and tricky when
it comes to these things.

Me, I always like to send thank you cards, no matter how rediculous the gift
was. That's why I loved your post so much; I could see myself sending
something like that.


In general, the best tactic to take when catching someone in an error is
to assume the best. That gives them an out. See your best buddy from

That's right, and because sometimes when we assume the worst we can be dead
wrong and have dreadful results from our error...

work walking arm and arm with a woman who is not his wife? Don't avoid
them or get flustered. Go up, say hello, get introduced. Only a cad
would assume that his friend was doing something wrong when there might
be a good explanation. Same here. Why blink and look away? Why not
say thanks for the used cheese grater with an assumption that they meant
well?

And even so, the stories you can tell years later will be better if you work
with that assumption and take steps to find out.

Chad


--
Looking for a pet? Adopt one! ** http://www.petfinder.com
Info for a healthy, happy dog? * http://www.dog-play.com


Humans can adapt themselves somehow to anything
their imagination can cope with; but they cannot
deal with chaos -- Tyron Inbody