I once gave my sister a pair of used shoes not in her size. To my utter defense they had previously belonged to Anita Baker and my sister was her biggest fan. It took her years to like the idea--and I'm not even sure she kept them.

My aunts had a "shower" when they bought a house, because they assumed they'd never have a wedding, and dammit, they wanted a shower!

Amen, sisters! I have bought so many wedding/baby shower gifts, it boggles the mind. And I admit there was a part of me going, "Dude! I'll never have my turn!" We decided against a big wedding to-do, but will definitely be making a baby registry when the time comes. Bring it!

Timelies all!

Sleepy. Dunno why.

previously belonged to Anita Baker

I'd make a fricking shrine! How awesome is that?!

Everybody bought us towels when we got married. Admittedly, we tried to elope and failed, thus having an impromptu wedding, so there wasn't time for a registry. But dude, we had towels for eons. We had so many towels we could have handled a whole gaggle of Ravenous Bugblatter Beasts of Traal. In fact, we only just now bought towels for the first time when we moved in to the house, and we're coming up on our 15th anniversary.

Speaking of which, we are not getting a deep housecleaning for our anniversary, but that would be awesome. Instead we are squiring a rock band around the southwest and appearing in their video as they throw a show for our kiddoes. Okay, it's not actually for my anniversary, but it is on my anniversary and the preceding days, so I'm gonna count it.

Which is awesome, because usually we take a National parks trip for our anniversary, but this one comes with bonus rockers.

no shower or wedding present here -- well the folks did . But we eloped partly to not get involved in all the hoopla.

no housewarming either.

we will probably have an admire our floor party

I'd make a fricking shrine! How awesome is that?!

See? I mean, I really really thought she'd like it, and it's the biggest FAIL I've ever had. If you got me Daley Thompson's sweatsocks, sure I'd put them in a ziplock bag, but I'd pull the bag out and cuddle it from time to time.

I'd like to think I'm the normal one.

My Ex MiL would NEVER say what she wanted about anyting. When she would come visit, I'd come up with a list of activities and she would say they all sounded fine. If I didn't have a list, she would feel slighted and ignored. Then, once we did them (like go to a certain restaurant I had mentioned) she'd have a terrible time and say things like "I don't like Chinese food." No matter what I did, I failed.

But it sounds like you did succeed in giving her what she really wanted: fuel for the martyr complex she was working on.

Towels were my favorite present of several recent years! I love my gift towels! Which I did ask for, actually.

The relative who drew my name for Christmas last year bought me a set of puffy chocolate-brown towels and some aged bronze-looking bathroom accessories (toothbrush holder, soapdish, liquid soap squirter). I'm sure I would have been horrified by their appearance in previous years, but three weeks prior I'd moved into an apartment with stone tile bathroom floors and shower walls that they just happened to suit perfectly.

See, I am so very picky about things like towels, that I can't possibly ask for towels on my list (mr. flea's family are detailed list-ers; mine tend more towards the suggestion-type list). I would have to specify that I want THIS brand of towels, in THIS color, and I DON'T want washcloths but DO want hand towels. Possibly nobody should buy me presents. Happily there is the Amazon wish list; I am much less picky about books.

flea is totally talking out her butt. This is the lady once who sent me a skirt, and said, "replace this as exactly as you can," and I did (twice!), and it was a Best Present Evar.

...It is possible I am the only person on the planet who could have done that for her (and enjoyed it).

I tend to be uncomfortable around gift-giving because of the subtext of financial and emotional value being intertwined -- a concept I loathe and abominate. Thus, finding two skirts for my sister at a used clothing store was something that worked for my concept of giving (it required attention and care, not primarily money) as well as working for the recipient's concept of receiving (it was something she needed and wanted, and would have difficulty getting herself).