Getting Ready for the Holidays

I must clarify one thing. These guys are in their 20s, so they don’t even notice that they were just handed a birthday card three months late. They’re just happy for the unexpected cash windfall.

When it comes to the younger ones Little J at nine years old, and Keenan, 15 - we do everything we can to celebrate as close to the actual date as possible. These things are important to them—and to us. Aunt Kyra will make a special theme cake, be it a Leafs jersey for Keen, or a Hannah Montana for Little. And there will be presents, not cash, with candles and Happy Birthday singing, no matter how bad it sounds.

Outside of those two days, it’s anybody’s bet when we celebrate the special occasions and holidays of the rest of the year. For instance, we usually hold Thanksgiving over to Grey Cup, so with enough notice, we can get the family together for turkey, games and football all at once. This year, Special K has to travel for work that day, so it’s been postponed. Our new plan is to align the Thanksgiving/Grey Cup party up with the Christmas gathering if we’re lucky.

You see, Christmas is a whole other scheduling phenomena. I’m sure many of you in the same situation will agree—the juggling of activities and kids between parents, step-parents and grandparents and travel and work and sports and holidays and obligations etcetera usually requires a military war room to organize. My family in Toronto usually holds the draw for picking the Christmas gift names at Thanksgiving, which would be Grey Cup at our house, except for this year, where it has been moved to Christmas, if you follow the afore mentioned strategy.

Now somewhere in there, you have to fit the Christmas shopping in, because I just don’t think Santa, would be pleased with the money-in-the-card’ format on Christmas morning, and we don’t want to get in his bad books.

By the way, when I refer to Christmas morning, that could mean any day between Dec. 18 and Jan. 4, as I’m sure you understand by now.

One thing is certain, though, whenever we do get around to celebrating these dates and events, there is nothing better than having family together. It’s always my favourite day, wherever it falls. In fact, by the time you’re reading this, we probably have just finished having a nice family gathering for Halloween with a turkey dinner and a birthday thrown in!

All the best of the season from our family
to yours.

Joe says...
Yes, hard to believe, but it’s already the holiday edition of Winnipeg Men, which means this is our wake up call to get our holiday shopping done. God knows man was built to be a sprinter, not a marathoner, when it comes to shopping, so here’s a basic guide to help the “average Joe” reduce stress and save time.

Spouse or Mate: For men this is as tough as it gets. It’s a 9 out of 10 on the GPM (Gift Pressure Meter). “What do I buy her?” is the first question that will dance around in your head. Don’t even toy with the idea of playing against the odds and thinking you know her size or favorite colour and no, money doesn’t solve everything. You can’t give her cash. You have to let her know that you at least put some effort in. Solution: Gift card!

Siblings: About a 5 out of 10 on the GPM, this is pretty much an equal value gift exchange, usually made up of stuff like clothes or DVD/CD gift ideas. So why bother with the same old, when you can let them buy whatever they want. Who needs to hear their brother say, “Oh brother!?” when he opens his gift.
Solution: Gift card! (Perhaps for a restaurant)

Kids: Nothing can top the excitement on a child’s face when they open up a present and it’s exactly what they asked Santa for. Big time “whoo” and “wow” factor in play here. But the reverse can happen just as easily if the gift was not on their list, or worse—they already have it or just got it from someone else. Yikes, could be a 7 out of 10 on the GPM. Hey, what kid doesn’t like to go shopping?
Solution: Gift card!

Parents: This is as kooky as it gets. Most times, parents won’t give you any ideas and usually tell you they don’t need anything at all. You could try the safe route with liquor or helpful household stuff, but who wants to hear, “Oh that’s nice dear,” or “What are we supposed to do with these, ours are still good?” The meter is reading an 8 out of 10 here.

Solution: Gift card! (Warning: when buying for a senior, make sure the gift card denomination is visible on front of card.)

Now all you have to do is drop by your favorite major grocer or drug store to find all the store and restaurant gift cards under one roof. You could actually finish all your holiday shopping in about five minutes! Plus, don’t forget to buy yourself one too. Wait, better yet, you know exactly what YOU want, so forget the gift card, go buy yourself that special something. Hey, who better to buy for than yourself? No pressure.

From my hard-to-buy-for family to yours, have a safe and happy holiday!