Wednesday 7 April 2010

Choose The Highest Bidder Was My Answer When They Told Me I Was Up For Sale

Birthdays are a big deal to me. It's the one day a year that the people you love celebrate you. What's not to love about that? (I'll tell you what's not to love: when the people you love think that celebrating you means taking you on a dune buggy ride in the sand dunes. Ahem.)

Shawn's birthday is in five weeks and I don't know what to give him. He needs a guitar for recording his music but I know nothing about guitars and the fact that he's a lefty makes the selection a: more difficult because of the limited numbers of left-handed guitars and b: more expensive (because of the limited numbers of left-handed guitars. *sigh*) We've been talking about getting rid of the computer desk (and PC) in our den and hooking up a mac mini to our home theatre system in the living room. The problem with this scenario is that Shawn would have to pull all of his stuff out of the den and into the living room every time he wanted to record. I know my husband: once the stuff comes out of the den and into the living room, in the living room it will sit forever. The other option is a weekend trip. Air Canada is having a seat sale right now but it ends tomorrow so I need to make my decision today. I like the idea of a weekend trip but I'm hesitating because of the amount of work involved. I would need to book time off work (which is a hassle), I would need to get Shawn approved to take time off work, Shawn's passport expired months ago so that would need to be renewed if we went to the States, and I'd have to figure out puppy care. Also, Shawn is going away for the May long weekend (the weekend after his birthday) so it would probably be too much to go away on his actual birthday (and that kind of takes a bit of the shine off, doesn't it? Taking a birthday trip after your birthday?)

Peeps, I need your help. What should I give Shawn for his birthday? It's not a significant-number birthday so it doesn't have to be over the top but I do want it to be awesome.

13 comments:

  1. Birthdays are a big deal for me too - David was SHOCKED after we moved in when we had our first Christmases and birthdays together!! :) I don't know anything about guitars either... but I think a post-birthday trip if you give the tickets ON his birthday would still be just as awesome. Concert tickets are always good too - that way you guys still have something to look forward to!

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  2. I LOVE LOVE LOVE birthdays.
    I'd say a trip -cause for me, I think the experiences and memories out-weigh 'things' though sparkly things are nice :) Oh right.. for a boy ;)
    I vote experience and you can saver for a guitar for a bigger holiday/birthday when you have more funds available.

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  3. i vote trip as well - even if it's not someplace far, maybe even just a road trip? you'd maybe only need to take like a 1/2 day off that way, but still go someplace fun and get a room in a cute cabin or something? i mean, um, a MANLY CABIN. :-)

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  4. You can't really go wrong with concert tickets ... or a stripper. Something nice. :-)

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  5. I'm with you, I love birthdays (and feel disappointed every year, but that's another story).

    I think a guitar is very personal and something Shawn might want to pick out for himself. I'd go with the trip. Can you go someplace local? Bryan and I LOVE to get away to this bed and breakfast about 3.5 hours from us. They have an outdoor hot tub, made-to-order breakfast, fresh-baked cookies and cocoa at night, massage tables in the room, 2 person jetted bathtub, etc etc. We love feeling pampered and just relaxing for a long weekend.

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  6. A surprise trip would be pretty rad...

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  7. A trip would be cool, and you don't even need to fly anywhere, really. What about going to the Island or the Sunshine Coast for a couple nights?

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  8. I'm still on your idea from earlier today! Winnipeg is lovely this time of year! lol (No, it really isn't)

    What about seeing if the music school he's been looking at is offering any workshops over the summer? Maybe that would be a fun way for him to get his feet in? =)

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  9. I'm useless on the birthdays for boys thing - T usually wants PJ pants. lol. We did spend a night at Harrison as a surprise to him once and it was fabulous. Just make sure to stay at the resort and bring your bathing suits!

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  10. Dan's birthday is coming up, and while I can't afford a surprise trip he is getting a tickets to the Rockies game that's mid-day on his birthday (and I'll take the day off for it, so we can hang out at the ball park together).

    Why not a weekend in a cabin someplace not too far away?

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  11. i vote for a couples day at the spa or couple massage, yummy steak at the keg or similar, and night in a fancy hotel (maybe the new fairmont?) with a bath tub for two. sexy times.

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  12. Could you do something like a quick overnight thing on his birthday weekend? Maybe find a pet friendly place so you don't have to worry about puppy care?

    I don't know - I am not so great with gifts for boys! But I like the concert idea, too!

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  13. Gifts for men are so very hard! I never ever know.

    But I love the idea of a trip, as so many above suggested. Or just a nice evening out if a little trip isn't a possibility. I like experience presents a lot.

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