Reviews, Recipes, and Random Slices of Life

Our gift policy: We don't just buy gifts for everybody we like. So if you don't get a gift, it *doesn't* mean we don't like you, just that we didn't see anything. If we see something that really reminds us of somebody, or we get a brilliant gift idea, and it costs <$15, we buy it. We don't expect gifts from anybody but family. But if you talk about the kind of things you like? We're more likely to be reminded of you when we see something.

Socializing:
1. IF YOU HAVE A REGULAR SCHEDULE, WHAT IS IT? I don't have a regular schedule right now. My work is unpredictable, sometimes involving weekends, sometimes not even there during the weekdays. I have most evenings free, since I can't do martial arts right now. We are frequently found at Cahoots on Saturdays.
2. DIETARY RESTRICTIONS (VEGAN/VEGETARIAN/CELIAC ETC): None.
3. FOODS YOU HATE: Bell peppers, pineapple, and onions (unless they're minced and sauteed).
4. ANY FOOD ALLERGIES? None.
5. ARE YOU COMFORTABLE BEING LEFT ON YOUR OWN WITH NEW PEOPLE? Yes
6. SOCIAL ACTIVITIES YOU LIKE: Seeing movies in the theatre, going out to eat at a new place, potluck dinners, going to a zoo or museum, playing card games, hanging out and having a couple of drinks.
7. SOCIAL ACTIVITIES YOU DON'T LIKE: Undirected hanging out at other people's places. It makes me feel very awkward. Playing trivia games, because I always lose.

Gifts:
1.FREE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY: Food made by somebody else that I can freeze and then just stick in the oven or whatever. Somebody offering to edit my writing--short stories or novels (some of you have already given me this gift!). Good photographs of myself (I really don't have any recent ones at all). Random things sent in the mail (OK, it's almost free!). Pretty cards.
2. CHEAP, SMALL THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY: Fancy smoked or hard cheeses, flowers, fancy soap, movie tickets, a gift certificate to a restaurant, bath salts or fizz-balls, international foodstuffs, stud earrings (the kind that Claire's et al sells in packets of six, with different colors or tiny little sculptures), tea (not decaffeinated, and I have plenty of green for now), hats, sparkly things, large ceramic mugs, a good insulated mug that is dishwasher-safe and easy to sip from.
3. MEDIUM-SIZE THINGS THAT YOU WANT: potted plants, wine, new toaster oven, jeans, tea-kettle, a large USB thumb-drive.
4. BIG THINGS THAT YOU WANT: A 150-lb. punching bag, a new microwave, a small weight bench, a really nice manual digital camera (DSLR), something to record TV shows broadcast in HD, and a bed.
5. DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING: Owls carved from semi-precious stone, books of fairytales, cameras, those weird swirly-colored glass paperweights (at least I want to).
6. WHAT SMELLS DO YOU LIKE? Vanilla, cinnamon, apple pie, sugar cookies, and most spicy or fruit-based smells. I can't stand most floral smells--rose is an exception that proves the rule. I hate lilac.
7. WHAT COLORS DO YOU LIKE TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH? Rich colors, the kind that go with wainscoting and old mansions--dark greens and reds and umber and gold. The colors of urban decay - rust-stained and copper-patina green.
8. WHAT COLORS DO YOU LIKE TO WEAR? Fall colors. Greens--moss green, forest green, kelly green. Red and gold and brown.
9. CLOTHING SIZE: One Size Fits All--doesn't! Shirts - Medium. For long-sleeved shirts/sweaters, I can't wear women's clothing unless the sleeves are extra long. Skirts/dresses - 10 (Tall). Pants - 34/34, regular fit straight leg, or 12 Tall. Gloves and socks also have to be larger than standard women's sizes. Shoe size 10 1/2 Wide. Underwear size--well, nobody's buying me underwear but me.
10. GOOD PLACES TO GET YOU GIFT CERTIFICATES TO: bookstores! Borders, Barnes & Noble, or Dreamhaven, Kerasote Block E theatre in downtown, Victoria's Secret, Newport News, Target, Williams-Sonoma, restaurants in the area, and sad but true, Rainbow Grocery store (I promise I won't spend it on anything practical).
11. MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS YOU ALREADY HAVE: I've really cut down. To nothing.
12. MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE: Writer's Digest, Poets & Writers, Popular Photography
11. NOT SO GOOD GIFTS: Shoes, most fiction books (if I want it, I probably have it), jewelry (except for earrings), non-specialty cookbooks, pictures of small children, candles (I love candles, but I have a drawer full now, so I'm good).

First--squee! One of my super-old short stories that I reworked is up for critique at Critters, my online SF/F/H workshop. This is when I commence checking my email every ten minutes in hopes of a critique.



Second--for the "I have no idea what to get this person" shoppers, may I recommend Surprise.com? It recommends gifts according to what categories people fall into (and it has 308 categories). At least for the categories that I fall into, the suggestions are really good.

In case you're curious, I fall under the following: Hates to Clean (first suggestion--a robot that cleans! now what was it I was posting about the other day?); Up For Adventure; Always Cold (except the sandal-socks--I hate sandal socks); Likes Peace and Quiet; Gadgeteer; Secret Agent Man; and--well, ok, I could go on for a long time. Did I mention this is also a fun site to browse if you've got a little spare cash and a desire to pamper yourself?