Christmas shopping time

I know, I often do mine insanely early, but I tend to be of the opinion that if I get an idea of what might be good as a present for someone, or see something somewhere I think someone would like, I buy it then.

I already had bought part of my dad's gift, and was wanting to get a nice tea mug to go with it. Do you know how hard it is to find a "manly" tea mug? Most of them have feminine-themed designs on them (and my dad, God love him, isn't that much in touch with his feminine side). I decided if I could find (or special order) one with a photograph from one of the National Parks, that would work well.

I did find one, with an interesting photo from (IIRC) Bryce Canyon on it. So that's on its way. And I had seen a long sleeved t-shirt that I thought my mom would like, so I ordered that too.

I do most of this kind of shopping via catalog or internet. And bah to the people who say you miss the "real" experience of Christmas shopping by not going to the mall. I find malls frustrating. I tend to be that person who wants either a very specific item (e.g, a mug with a picture from one of the National Parks on it) or if I don't know what I want, I know I still probably don't want something run-of-the-mill. I don't go for the "must have it gift" mentality - where one or two items are pushed as the thing "everyone" wants. We're not big gadgeteers in my family, we have odd and specific tastes in things like books or movies or music, neither my mom nor sister in law nor I are big purse/shoe people...even when I was a kid, generally the toy I wanted was something specific and not necessarily the thing "everyone" wanted. (I remember my biggest toy want as a kid - which I did get, and played with for YEARS - was the Fisher-Price castle set (back in its first run, in the 1970s, the one with the pink dragon and the slightly oddly shaped horses))

So yeah, malls, not so much for me. I also find shopping during the "season" frustrating because it seems like I encounter either the children-having-a-meltdown, the couple arguing, or the people griping about how they "hate" Aunt Hetty but have to get her a gift "anyway." (Presumably Aunt Hetty has money, and they are angling to be in the will?) And all of that just kills my holiday spirit, because I really want to believe part of what Christmas is about is about us deciding to be better and nicer and kinder than we otherwise are....and less calculating, more prone to look at something and go, "Wow, my dad would love that!" and not worry about whether it's "expensive enough" to impress and whether it will compare favorably with what other people got him.

I have part of my brother's gift as well, and something in mind for the baby that is just TOO perfect to pass up, even if she's still too young to play with it. (Set of building blocks printed with the parts of the periodic table - my sister-in-law, of course, is a chemist). I haven't ordered it yet because I need to find out if my parents are doing a single big gift shipment from their end, or if it will be easier for me to send the presents from here. I also need to think of something for my sister in law, but I'm thinking one of the long-sleeved t-shirts, in a different color and design than the one I got my mom, might be nice. It looks like her style.

Not doing any knitting of gifts this year, save for a hat (which I just cast on for) for the AAUW gift exchange...