Ere The Other Side Ye See

[mrissa]

I am awfully short on answers today (even to questions like, "Am I thirsty enough to go get a glass of water?", and that kind of questions really seem like they should be okay), so I'm going to try to spread some questions around a bit and see if you folks have any answers. Any useful answers, I mean. I'm sure you have answers. scottjames and I had that conversation something like 14 years ago. Something very like 14 years ago, in fact. Oof.

Anyway: do you have recipes for good cookies that don't have nuts in them in any form? I mean no peanut butter, no almond extract, no nothing. My mom has discovered that if she avoids all nuts, she doesn't get hives. Considering our Norsky affinity for almond extract, this hits the Christmas cookies pretty hard. Suggestions? (I'm still making spritz. I just want to serve my mom things that won't, y'know, kill her. Or cause her great discomfort. I'm silly like that.)

Also, what should we get timprov's dad for his birthday? He already has more unread, interesting books than he could read in the next two calendar years at least (and is not such a bibliophile that this would not faze him). He doesn't watch a lot of movies or listen to a lot of music (though some CDs might be an idea). He does crosswords, but doesn't have enough free time to far exceed the paper's allotment, so a crossword puzzle book is only a good present every so often. He isn't the sort of person I could buy clothes for, though I don't know why this is the case, since he clearly wears them and all. I might make some breads, cookies, homemade candy, that kind of thing, but I did that for Christmas. He plays tennis, but not so much in the winter here in MN. He and T's mom enjoy plays when they get a chance, but I don't want to buy them tickets and find out that he has an unavoidable conflict. Ideas? Help!

And again on a different note, if you had a friend who had gone and written a bunch of books, and you asked to read one, how would you prefer that your friend decide which one? Should she give you the one she thinks is best done first? The one she thinks is most concurrent with your interests? The one she's willing to let out of the house without immediately trying to dive on it and wrestle it open and scribble edits on the pages as you take the binder out with you? The first one? What's the magic formula here? If you read the best one first, will you be disappointed in the other ones? Because your hypothetical friend is a little spooked by sad disappointed faces in people who have just read her hypothetical books. In this entirely hypothetical situation that is sure to never come up again for the rest of my life. I think this is what other people are for, is what. Because C.J. didn't ask pameladean which of her books he should read first, he asked me, and then she didn't have to deal with it. (Er. Sorry if you wanted to deal with it, Pamela. I'll take them away from him and make him talk to you if you like.)

This is not a question at all: I don't like wearing glasses. I knew I didn't. Peripheral vision! Nothing fogging up, nothing getting rain on it, nothing getting smudged when I hug people. This is another case where "Big Yellow Taxi" does not apply: I did know what I had before it was gone. But it's only temporary, and I will be duly grateful when I get my new contacts.

It's still lovely and rainy and fall-like. I'm wearing a sweater. I wore a jacket over my sweater when I went to get lunch with Ceej, and I still got a little chilled through my jeans. So fabulous. So fall.

Comments

[palinade.livejournal.com]

Baked goods are always well received by someone who knows how well you bake. It's very personal and a lot of thought and effort went into the making of a homemade present.

Does he work in an office, drive a lot, or have a hobby you could enhance?

Office: a plant or other stress-reliever, chair massager (the kind you plug into the wall and drape over the chair, or desk blotter set (if he uses this sort of thing)

Time in car: books on CD/tape, car freshener (not the kind that dangles from the mirror but the kind where you clean out the car), detailing (interior and exterior), something to help make driving more comfortable and/or convenient (cup holder, coffee thermos, etc.)

Hobby: new tools, new materials, latest greatest gadget, certificate to someplace so he can get things to add to hobby

None of the above: um... you did mention baked goods, right? And you can't buy a nice sweater, fleece pullover, shirt, or other clothing items? Um, a new wallet? Watch? Key ring? Does he drink beer--what about a membership to a beer of the month club or his own brewing kit? Um...?

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

He does work in an office. Hmmm.

I can't really explain why I can't buy him clothes. As I said, he wears clothes, and I've seen him enough to know which clothes. I just...I don't know. Apparently it doesn't work that way.

T's parents avoid alcohol for personal reasons, but beer of the month is something I might want to keep in mind for some other people in my life....