Spirit of the law

[mrissa]

I want to say: if I can describe you in a single word, you're not going to like that word. The converse is, I can't describe much of anybody I like in a single word, because I tend to like people who are more complex than that. (Yes, yes, scottjames: the Great ComplicaTOR strikes again.) So if you've posted that meme, please don't feel bad that I'm not describing you in one word. I tried it once or twice last time it came around on the guitar, and I didn't like it.

I also suspect I would argue or possibly mope about any attempted one-word summations of my own character. So.

In other news, I have declared an exception to the one-month book-buying moratorium. In my family, we have the rule that one is not allowed to buy oneself books (or CDs, DVDs, clothes unless strictly necessary, etc.) for the month before one's birthday. This is because my grandfather had a habit of going out and buying himself all the books he knew he wanted a week before his birthday and leaving the rest of us scrambling for something to give him. So to keep the present-space clear, the one-month book moratorium. My birthday will be July 26, same as it is every year. Therefore I'm in the blackout period.

But really, could this possibly apply to our trip to London? Of course it could not. Because it will not get into anyone else's presentspace if I buy a thing or two there that I couldn't buy here, so it's obedient to the spirit if not the letter of the law.

Right? Of course right.

What kind of birthday present rules do you have?

Comments

[copperwise.livejournal.com]

Definitely no buying anything for oneself the month before birthdays or holidays.

I consider the one word meme a challenge to make my brain struggle. *g* Anyone who can actually be described in one word isn't someone I hang with.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I do not have birthday present rules.

K.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

But won't you have three or so potential present-buyers along with you in London? Perhaps you should consult with them on the abrogation of the rule.

[writingortyping.livejournal.com]

John always says very sternly to me, "Don't buy anything for yourself!" starting about a month before my birthday. Then he carefully ignores all of the hints I have been dropping like anvils for many months and buys me something I would never have bought for myself anyway - something very nice indeed, but why the strictures about purchases??

The man is a puzzle, buried in an enigma, wrapped in an enchilada. There is no way I could describe him in one word.

[ellameena.livejournal.com]

Most of the memes that request evaluations from one's friends make me cringe a little. I pass.

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

'Multi-faceted' is the best I can do to use one word in describing the complex and intriguing people who are my friends.

But it is a silly meme.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

I don't have birthday rules. Possibly this is because few people buy me birthday presents. I do, however, refrain from buying books the month before Christmas.

[seagrit.livejournal.com]

The only birthday/gift rule at my house (that I can think of) is "try to surprise Sarah." Jeff is always annoyed that I guess what he's giving me beforehand. I think part of the problem is that I guess or mention things I want out loud, so I could just *not* say anything. But my non-surprise means that he's very good at picking up and remembering hints/ideas for what I want.

[greykev.livejournal.com]

My rule used to be "I get a cake." Several years I baked it myself, but I held to my rule. This year it lost to the conference I went to, though I did eat some cake there. I think my new rule shall be to try something new. Once a year shouldn't kill me right? Uless I try cobra-milking or street luge or somthing equally, er, daring.

The family's birthday rule seems to be 'once you turn 17 all you get is a card'. I find this a silly rule, but in the interest of not fighting with my folks I abide by it.

[mkille.livejournal.com]

I don't have trouble picking a word if people want me to pick a word, but it will most likely be "calliope" or "zooplankton" or something else that simply entertains me. I think the case might be different if English were properly agglutinative, so that the word could be along the lines of "smartfunnybutchloyalsparklystubbornshmoopie." (And no, M'ris, that's not yours).

[ysabel.livejournal.com]

I want to say: if I can describe you in a single word, you're not going to like that word. The converse is, I can't describe much of anybody I like in a single word, because I tend to like people who are more complex than that.

I agree completely. My solution (http://www.livejournal.com/users/ysabel/249454.html)...

(Of course, I also include the disclaimers 'n' such.)

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

No real birthday rules, because we can rarely get organized enough to do anything consistent in my family.

And I figure the one-word meme is just good fun - I wasn't thinking it had to mean that I spent an hour wracking my brain for the one right adjective. It's just a little egoboo in the middle of the afternoon.

[alecaustin.livejournal.com]

No Birthday rules per se, but I'm happy to give people a list of things I want but am not willing to buy for myself if they ask for it. Given how expensive DVDs and RPG books are, this is usually a pretty long list.

Often they surprise me with things I didn't know I wanted anyway, but I'm never unhappy if they get me something off the list, because the cost and originality of presents is not a test of how much someone likes me.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I'm happy with phone calls and e-mails. I just like observing my birthday with people. My birthday makes me happy.

But then, my birthday is quite distant from Christmas and most other major holidays, so I never felt I had anything less than an excellent birthday.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Yah, I saw "butch" in the middle there and knew it was somebody else. Because nobody has ever been able to call me butch without laughing hysterically, at least on the inside.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

To take a page from our old high school slang, ne street luge pas!

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

My aunt found out that my uncle was never buying her the things she said she wanted most for holidays or birthdays because "then it wouldn't be a surprise."

*headdesk*

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Three as entitites: markgritter, the folks, and the grands. And yes, they're permitted to buy me things as birthday presents while we're there. But sending me carefully out of a shop so that I don't see what they get and not letting me read it on the plane back is right out.

[mkille.livejournal.com]

I'm not always averse to laughing hysterically...

[greatestofnates.livejournal.com]

This year pretend that you are an important persona whose actual birthdate was lost to the mists of time. This delays the moratorium until you get back. Declare August 21st as the official celebration of your birthday. All the cool people were born on that day.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Wait to celebrate my birthday? Are you mad???

[greatestofnates.livejournal.com]

If you pretend to be a really important persona (on the scale of Jesus or the Easter Bunny) you could start celebrating early. Independence Day is the last prior holiday so stores would start advertising on July 5th.