Under Pressure

With all of the joy of Christmas, I become stressed. I feel the pressure to come up with good gifts. Mostly, for Jeff. It's not that he puts any sort of pressure on me, well not aggressively anyways. I just feel that need because he always seems to blow my socks off. I feel the need to try to live up to that.

I have had, probably, one success in our seven years of gifting each other. Before it was too popular, I got Jeff the Sirius Satellite Radio, the Sportster edition. I really had no idea what it was or what it did. All I knew was that he could listen to NBA and college basketball games on there. Knowing that is always a plus, I went for it. Turned out to be a great gift.

Beyond that, I have thrown some duds Jeff's way. One year I got Jeff a GPS for his car. A pretty good gift, one would think. Jeff definitely agreed at the time. I didn't cheap out and give him one that didn't work. It had a lot of features and he used it quiet often. The problem here, was that Shea was in a his horrible puppy stage. The stage that I absolutely despised him and hated Jeff for bringing him into my life! While Jeff was at work one night and I was in the other room, Shea jumped up on onto the counter and managed to completely destruct the GPS. Shred it to pieces with his dagger teeth. There goes that somewhat decent gift. Once it was eaten, all credit for it was lost!

Another year, I really tried to think outside the box. One of Jeff's top things to order when we go out to eat is bar-b-que ribs. Ridiculous, I know, but I ran with it. There is place in Naples, Florida that I had been numerous times, called Michelbobs. They hold the title of "America's Number 1 Ribs." I knew plenty of people who agreed with that claim. So, I ordered 10 racks of ribs and some sauce for over $200 to be shipped to me. On Christmas morning, I made the mistake of sending Jeff on a scavenger hunt for his gift that was hidden in the freezer. He had to look in the oven, then the cupboard, then under the couch, and finally to the freezer. Jeff later admitted to me that the ribs were a huge let down, as he though when he looked under the coach that a flat screen TV would be waiting for him. Whoops!

My other bomb of a gift Jeff knew was coming. There, at least, was no let down here. We decided the year I was in graduate school to make each other gifts. I took it to the extreme and made everything and anything you can think of. I made Santa's sleigh out of chocolates, painted Christmas ornaments, made fudge and cookies, and made a necklace out of macaroni and bells. Believe it or not, there was more! I got out my mother's old sewing machine and made Jeff a beautiful, completely proportional stocking. I made him a nice fleece scarf, and the kicker were the two ties I made him. He has never once worn either of them. And, I don't think he is saving them for a rainy day. In fact, all of those gifts managed to stay inside the box I gave them to him in. The only thing missing is the chocolate sleigh. You guessed it, Shea got ahold of it!

 The kicker is that Jeff is an awesome gift giver. One of the best I have ever met! Gifts to the likes of a high quality digital camera, a laptop, and iPod, and a diamond necklace to name a few.

So, with Christmas lurking, I am feeling pressured to not give a sucky gift. At least I know Jeff's expectations are diminished at this point. He is getting used to my poor gift giving abilities. Ideas would be helpful!