Me and my girlfriend (Mary) have running jokes about how you can tell when couples have been together a long time. One of them was always when you are at a party and someone offers you something to eat that is vaguely, but not immediately familiar. Instead of wasting any brain cells, you locate your SO in the room, and call out: "Honey, do I like this?"

I was talking to Mary about a present for her father. It definitely falls into the "gear" (just not kites) category. The conversation ended with her offering the sane and and hopeful admonition "Just don't go crazy..."

The problem is that within certain categories it is very, very difficult for me to shop for someone without a certain "swing for the fences or go home" attitude. :sniff:

I had someone prepare something for a friend's birthday a few years back, and when I went to pick it up, they actually asked... "You're going to give that to someone?!?!?" said with more than a little incredulity and in very hushed tones.

It's not so much materialism so much as ... well, sometimes you pick up something and it is so well rendered/made that the thought that flits throughts your mind is:

1. Daaaaammmmnnn..... someone loves their job. or
   
2. Woogly!!! Someone definitely brought their "A" game.
   

Despite Mary's sage words, I fear her father is going to be the hopefully proud owner of some carbon fiber and magnesium. I fear m'lady knows me too well....sigh. Soooo, I guess we have another barometer for relationship longevity.

ATB,
Sam

Sam,

I love the way you think as I can relate to it totally!!! If your gonna do something, may as well make it worth your time! LOL

My wife just shakes her head and walks away most of the time.....

Quote:

My wife just shakes her head and walks away most of the time.....

This is usually preceded by that very interested/polite look that tries unsucessfully tries to hide the fact she is thinking.... "Note to self: My baby has waaaaay too much time on his hands."

I got that the last time I showed her a storage solution for something kite related. I showed it to a kite friend and he thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. Granted, the tinker gene is strong and it's actually probably a good thing I don't have more spare time and occasionally need to sleep.

ATB,
Sam

Magnesium?

Magnesium burns !! keep it away from power lines!!

Or do you hit a little ball with it?

In that case keep it away from power lines!

and scorned blondes!;-)

sounds like a fishing rod to me... anyways Indigo can i be your friend :bigok::bigok:

See, I just leave all the present buying to the wife ... I buy the toys - TV, home audio, cars etc - she buys the socks and undies :D

Quote:

Originally posted by cheezycheese sounds like a fishing rod to me

Actually her father does fish, but as he already knows his wife is getting him a digital SLR for Christmas, he put in a late request with Santa for related swag:

My shopping list for him looked like this:

• Manfrotto 694CX Carbon Fiber 4-Section Monopod
  
• Manfrotto 234RC Swivel/Tilt Head for Monopods, with Quick Release
  
• Gitzo GIGC5210 GC5210 Tripod Shoulder Strap
  

Apparently, I was wrong about the magnesium.... the swivel and tilt head is aluminum. It's the 460MG 3D head that is magnesium (and very nice), but a little overkill (even for me) for a monopod.

Quote:

Originally posted by cheezycheese anyways Indigo can i be your friend :bigok: :bigok:

Consider yourself a friend just for making me smile... inside and out.

ATB,
Sam

Oof nice! ... you don't have a sister, do you? :D

Just one sister, but she's marrow-deep married. 'Side's I am not sure you would have survived the background check.

It's often crossed my mind that mom was obviously an highly placed intelligence operative in a former life. Who knows?.... maybe this life too and I just never knew :puzzled:

ATB,
Sam

I just met a girl who gets as excited about buying gear as I do. It seems somewhow wrong.. but in a good way

Oh well worth a shot my brother-in-law earns more in a year than I will in my lifetime probably but he can't even remember his sisters birthday let alone anyone elses