Arrrggggghhhhhh! VENT! (long sorry)...Edited w/Happy ENding!

Last week, I posted a poll about holiday gift-giving...mostly b/c I have Christmas shopping on the brain. I'm trying to get a jump start b/c our budget is kinda tight this year...especially with all the showers, babies and birthdays we have this time of year...so I want to be sure that I don't go overboard.

Anyway, I found what I thought was a 'perfect' gift for my FIL. He is very technical-minded, total 'gadget guy' and doesn't really need anything. For fun, he just bought himself a huge screen TV (just to give you an idea).

So, I found a voice-activated remote control and I thought that was a neat addition to his new 'toy,' the TV. I already ordered photo coasters (to fill with pics of Paul) and I was going to order a snack/popcorn bowl, personalized with 'Dad's Goodies' or something like that...and then fill it with the things he loves, like popcorn, nuts, dried fruits and chocolates.

Well, I sent an email to my MIL yesterday to ask if she 'approved' of this idea, and to help me think of some goodies to fill the bowl....and I get an email this morning, saying my FIL READ THE MESSAGE! Now his surprise is SPOILED...AND, he doesn't want the remote control!

I AM SO PISSED b/c now I have to start completely OVER! Sorry, I just really need to VENT this!!!

ETA: Apparently, my FIL did not look at the remote too closely, and after careful investigation, he's now decided that HE DOES want the thing! So, DH and I decided that since *perfect ideas* like these don't often fall into our laps, we are going forward with our original plan and getting him the remote. Thank God, b/c I did NOT want to start over again! Too bad for FIL that it won't be a 'surprise' but that's HIS fault!

that sucks...I hate when a surprise is blown.

What about it you bought him movie passes. that way he can go see what he wants anytime! of you can get him GS for Blockbuster or best buy and he can get his own movies, wrap it in a Popcorn bowl and put popcorn and snacks in it!

Does your MIL have a seperate email account from your FIL? If not I wouldnt of sent the email. If so why did your MIL let your FIL read the email.

That sounded like such an excellent idea. Why wouldnt he want that....

Im sorry your plans got ruined....

Scott, the email address has just my MIL's name on it, so I was TOTALLY unaware that FIL reads her email. I've been informed that he has since 'learned his lesson' and won't be reading my emails to MIL without asking her permission first!

But, this doesn't solve my problem now.

Lisa - thanks for the ideas...we got my IL's a year's subscription to NetFlix a couple of years ago, so I wouldn't choose something so similar, so soon. I wanted to find something to 'enhance' his fun with his new large screen TV, and this seemed like a slam dunk. Oh well, I've asked the spoil sport to supply me with some new ideas, now that he's already ruined it!

Claud - so sorry your suprise got ruined....for what it's worth, I would have thought that would have been a perfect gift given the description you posted!!!

Anyway, now you have to go back to square one and that stinks...BUT the good side is that you still have quite a bit of time to think of something.
Is he a computer guy? Any special programs or games he might find fun or interesting? (just grasping at straws here)

GOOD LUCK!

Claud, just a different way to look at this.... Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that he read the message. If he doesn't want the remote control it's great that you know that now rather than after you bought it.

I know that doesn't solve your problem but I just wanted to make you feel better. I feel your pain. DH loves his electronic boy toys and when it comes to gift giving time, the good stuff was already either purchased by him or vetoed by me as too pricey.

Does he have any other interests? What about tickets to a major league game? Can you do the gift basket with the goodies anyway and then get something smaller? When I'm not sure what someone wants I usually end up giving multiple smaller gifts...you'll have to hit jackpot with something.

Ugh! I hate when a GREAT surprise idea gets ruined. Even if they will love it anyway, when you find the perfect gift, the presentation is just as fun. Derek is great at figuring out gifts, he's bummed me out a few times - now he doesnt even say out loud what he thinks when I have a surprise for him.

Tell your FIL to stay out of his wife's email

I am trying to think of the name of that store that has all the gadgets but its slipping my mind.

I dont know what netflix is so if this suggestion has anything to with it i am sorry.

Go for a whole tv movie theme. Maybe a foot massager so he can rest his feet while he watches tv, a nice big heated blanket, a big soft pillow, a bowl filled with his favorite snacks, one of those bed trays so he can rest it over his lap while he watches tv, his favorite sports team glass, if he is really into football maybe one of those stress football players whose arms and legs are velcroed, a back massager, and/or one of those back massager things you can lay on the couch or chair and it sooths your back...

I know their is a store that has all those cool electronic gadget type items but it completely has slipped my mind the name of the store.

Dont get yourself so upset, I am sure you will find the perfect gift

Thanks, Melissa. I think the store you are thinking of is Sharper Image. I could look for some gadget there, considering my MIL sent DH and I (don't ask me why!) THREE Ionic Breeze air purifiers for our birthdays, and we are probably going to return them! Nothin' like a store credit to save the budget, right?

definatly...store credit is good

bump