Intermezzo

Well the thanksgiving holiday is over and we've entered the time of year I like to call Intermezzo; the time in between thanksgiving and christmas. Its mostly a time of stress. Stress caused by buying gifts, sending cards, making plans, breaking plans, and remaking the same plans that you broke earlier in the week.

In order to avoid some of that stress I've decided to do all my shopping via amazon this year. My sister, in her infinite wisdom, has already arranged that her tribe make amazon wishlists. This works out splendidly for me because now I know what they want and I can just have it sent from amazon and I don't have to set foot in a store. I organized all of my sibs and their significant others to buy an iPod nano with an inscription for mom, so she's taken care of. My dad I can get virtually anything and he'll love it, he loves anything that his children give him especially if it is or related to food. Brother's and sisters, along with their legal spouses, were sent foodstuffs from the Collin Street Bakery. Nieces and nephews are a cinch. My brother's partner loves to read anything and I'll just get him a book. My brother on the other hand is notoriously specific. Last year when I asked what he wanted for Christmas he told me he needed this. Yes that is Tiffany sterling silver flatware. More on my brother and his home in another post.

I cannot extoll the virtues of the wishlist concept enough, and I'm not saying all this because I'm an amazon associates member. The list can be made on amazon and then you can purchase the items elsewhere, the point is you have an idea of what each person would like to recieve. Life can be made so much easier around the holidays if you just buy people the stuff that they really want. It saves you the stress of agonizing over the question: should I buy this mowhair tanktop for my sister (hi heather) or a book of smoothie recipes in which each recipe calls for exotic fruits that will cost a fortune to procure. Everyone loses either way. The wishlist concept also ensures that you will not have to force your family member or friend to go to the mall after the holidays are over to return unwanted items. Its a win-win situation; your recipient loves the gift, you feel great for giving them something they actually wanted, you will be at one with the gods of commerce and capitalism. Finally, the thing that I like the most about the wishlist is you get to browse all the stuff on amazon and click "add to wishlist" for the items you like. The sensation is similar to purchasing and its oh so enjoyable.

Which one of these albums would you give this holiday season?

Photo of Rove:AP/Charles Dharapak.