Crap! Tylerd may be down for the count on this one. I called my older sister on her b'day, almost a month ago but have yet to get a gift to her. She is one to keep track of this type of thing and hold a grudge. My only resolve? Order something off the internet and blame the lateness on the shipping. Any suggestions? Clothes are out. Some type of BS household item is probably best. I've been looking but can't find anything. Yahoo Shopping isn't coming through. I could always send her an ugly picture frame or a pretty cool travel cosmetics organizer that I have around the house but then can't blame the internet shipping. I'm not above re-gifts in this case! Would rather not though. Help please and soon otherwise tylerd may be gone for good!

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001

Answers

Something slightly decadent, perhaps? Like a couple bottles of good wine, or some fine chocolate? Those're easily had offa websites. Something slightly weird and specialized, yet still useful, that she wouldn't buy herself... like some of those bodacious William-Sonoma gadgetry? Something from e.Bay that's redolant of your childhood together (my brother Sugarbear and I have been trading childhood-era music back and forth)... say, a replacement of the Barbie she had that you destroyed or the cars-and-trucks set she always wanted? A bunch of goodies from Lush or Sephora?

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001

Great ideas, Dwanollah, I agree. I say go with the decadence or the silly childhood memorabilia, skip the Williams-Sonoma or other household items. You're late and she's keeping track, so you can't afford to go all 'practical,' and a frame might ordinarily be nice, but you need to make a bigger splash than that this time.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001

tylerd: call 1-800-GO-KOZMO and ask them if they have delivery in your sister's area. If so, go to www.kozmo.com and pick out a nice gift for her. Then call them back or place the order while you're online. Kozmo will then deliver it within an hour RIGHT to her doorstep, already bought and paid for by you (and even gift- wrapped, if you desire). You can get her a whole birthday package with CDs, sweets, a nice gourmet meal, toys, books, magazines--they also have "executive gifts" that are impressive. Chocolates and bakery goods also available.

Good luck.

Kozmo.com is a Good Thing.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001

P.S. You can then blame the lateness on the fact that she has to be home in order to take delivery, and you hadn't been able to verify that she'd be home beforehand. The fact that you weren't able to verify it because you didn't call in the first place is a little secret that we'll keep entre nous, ca va?

Go forth and shower your sister with love, sweet love, show her the way that you feel.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001

D'oh. Stupid no-closing-italics-tag HTML idiocy. *fixing*

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001

(Obviously I meant that *I* was the idiot, not Joseph. Just in case anyone was confused.)

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001

I bought a friend a hour long massage. Someone also gives out day spas passes.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001

Thanks for the suggestions. You got the creative juices flowing and I decided on a framed print of NYC. She just recently moved out of the NY area after spending all her years here. The inserted card says: "Hey, didn't want you to forget what it looks like after so many of your years were spent here and now you are aging and memory loss will soon set in! Happy b'day. Love, your much younger brother!" How's that for a showering of love?

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001

VERY nice, tylerd. Good thinking. I'm going to have to take notes from all the great ideas here, I'm bound to find myself in the same situation someday.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001

hmmmm...tylerd. Did your fiancee help you with that decision?

My brother, sister and I don't exchange birthday gifts so the problem is solved.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001

Came up with this one by myself, Shelly. I don't ask her to help with gifts ever since she got me those multi-colored toe socks and that 2 coffee mug set, one had a picture of us together and the other had a picture of our dogs (RIP Hershey)! Intense projectile vomitting ensued after that! I mean I'm pretty good at gift giving. That lemur costume I got for her and the leather harness-swing that hangs from the ceiling; now those are thoughtful gifts! What's wrong with her??!!

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

Some people just don't have good taste!

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

I was going to suggest some extremely expensive, full-fat (*wink*) soap, TylerD. Your last name is Durden, right? ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

That's my livelihood, klee. Can't give away my profits. Good suggestion though!!

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

I see what you mean--anyone who wouldn't just LOOOOVE rainbow toe socks must have Issues. ;) ;)

Oh...wait...

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

Milla, have a b'day coming? I know just the thing. E-mail me your address! Just don't tell and I hope you don't mind the 're-gift'.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

My birthday is in October. Hold that thought.

(Hey! Why would you think I don't already HAVE rainbow toe socks?!)

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

I would figure that one who enjoys them, can never have too many pairs of multi-colored toe socks. Much the same as one can never have too many shaved lemurs...

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001