I’ve blogged about gift giving quite a few times. I’ve had wonderful things to say about hubby: That he’s actually thoughtful and he listens to me throughout the year for gift ideas (which is an interesting contrast to his Selective Listening and….. it PROVES that he can actually hear what I’m saying if he wants to). I’ve also said that he’s a pretty sly guy and he can somehow spin a great story so that buying a gift for me can also somehow, be indirectly a gift for him (if you forgot about the DVD player conversation click HERE).
But this Christmas.. hubby truly took the cake with his double-sided, double benefit, gift purchase for me. He bought the ultimate gift for me, that’s actually a gift for him.
This Christmas hubby bought me a new laptop computer.
Now, this really is a great gift. I mean who wouldn’t want a new computer. If you sat here as I typed my blog and listened to me curse, and re-boot and, and walk away and run virus scans, you’d know that this is indeed a good present. If hubby had been putting a nickel into a jar every single time I called him at work to ask him a computer question or, bombarded him as he opened the front door after work, with the statement ”Hon, this computer is a piece of crap… I need you to look at it, it’s not working again”, he would have probably accumulated enough money to buy us both new computers (and possibly enough money for us to take a vacation to Fiji). Hmmmm…. maybe he should have been saving a few nickels per day…..I could be sunning myself on a beach right now. But I digress.
Anyway, hubby used his instincts and recognized that a new computer would be something that could make my life easier (or wait, maybe it would make his life easier????)
I’m not sure if I’ve ever written about hubby’s job so I’ll share some info now. Hubby is an IT Director at his company. He does programming, networking and all that other crap that IT dudes do, to try to not kill their “idiot employees”. Yes, that was me channeling hubby there for a moment. And, if you’ve ever read any of those jokes about IT people dealing with the general public and their computers, you probably understand that there are indeed a lot of stupid people out there. People who can’t print (cause they didn’t turn on the printer). People who can’t hear a video (cause they have the computer on mute). People whose passwords won’t work (cause their caps lock button is clicked). And yes, hubby is the sad sap who is on the receiving end of their idiocy. So….. the last thing he wants from me, is a phone call at work about a home computer issue or to end his nightmarish work-day with a front-door-ambush about a computer problem I’m having.
The trouble is.. hubby is good at his job. And, no matter what I’ve done to screw up my computer, hubby is there to fix it. I have a live-in, IT help desk and you better believe I get my money’s worth!
So, this leads me back to my original question… who exactly was this gift for? I’d like to think that hubby truly wanted my life to be easier, my processor faster, my screen bigger. But, I have to be honest, I would have used that old computer until it puttered out on it’s last leg. As frugal (also known as cheap) as I am… I wouldn’t have considered buying a new computer until my dear IT hubby had declared this one a lost cause and read it final rites. Because if he can still fix it, there’s no need for a new one…. Right? (even if it does take like 10 minutes to navigate from one document to another).
So, there you have it… The Best. Present. Ever. A gift that keeps on giving (to both of us). A gift that is a present for me that is moreso, a present for hubby.
I guess he really can be a smart guy when he wants to be.
Now, if only he could figure out the perfect laundry related gift for both of us… that’s a gift I’d love to receive!
Just need to share, that cartoon can’t be me but maybe Dad?
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My hubby was whispering similar words of delight recently. But I think his intent is to have ANOTHER toy in the house for him and I’ll end up with his MONSTER sized computer.
But your guy, sounds like a keeper.
BTW, mine bought me an iPad for my birthday. My toddler uses it more than I do and she would scream bloody murder if I tried to use it where she could see me. SIGH.
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Mad Woman ~ Hubby is already angling for this one. It started with pouting because now my new computer is better than his computer. I wonder how long until he starts hinting that he needs an upgrade for himself now!!
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My Christmas present was similiar in the sense that I NEVER EVER Wanted it, but got it- because it woudl be good for everyone! haha.
I am sure that you are loving your Christmas Present!
xx
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mynakedbokkie ~ That’s the unwritten (unfortunate) rule of relationships. Gifts for you are now gifts for the family/everyone (while, interestingly enough.. .gifts for HIM remain gifts for HIM)!
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As an IT guy myself, who has to deal with my fair share of “idiot employees” who are called users…. I can totally empathize with hubby here. 🙂 That cartoon was right on POINT… I was saying the same thing as I was setting up a wireless router for my aunt who wanted to use my cousin’s internet connection from home: “If only they weren’t family….”
So yes, yes and YES! The gift was DEFINITELY for him *GRIN*
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bajanpoet ~ I KNEW it… and now I have proof thanks to you! I will be sharing your response with hubby immediately AND, I will savor the jealousy, now that my computer is, in fact, better than his!
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When I was young I had an older Toyota Celica that I loved and lived with my boyfriend who was a great mechanic.(and thus worked on my 12 yr old car often)
He bought me a new Geo Metro for my birthday.
I too would have driven that car into the ground.
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Martha ~ I can so relate. I get the fullest life out of just about anything I use… it’s probably one of my most annoying qualities 🙂
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