Comments on: The tasks of Christmas http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/ Fri, 25 May 2012 03:40:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: njcommuter http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137788 njcommuter Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:38:10 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137788 This gives me an excuse to hold forth a bit. People tell me that my gift-wrapped presents always are the most handsome they receive. This must be an exaggeration, but I do have a "secret." I keep a stock of paper from year to year such that I can match the pattern of the paper to the size (and shape) of the gift. Sometimes quite cheap paper will look very good on a package of the right size. The trick is to let the pattern repeat completely, but not too many times. Geometrics, foliage, and quasiregular patterns like dense paiselies can be repeated more often; floral patterns can be striking if they violate the rule, but not by too much. I also try not to use a paper for more than one package in a given year. I do occasionally buy an expensive roll to keep in the mix (and it's getting harder to find one I want to buy). Don't try to buy it all in one place or at one time; look for the one or two that are quietly better than all the rest. This gives me an excuse to hold forth a bit. People tell me that my gift-wrapped presents always are the most handsome they receive. This must be an exaggeration, but I do have a “secret.” I keep a stock of paper from year to year such that I can match the pattern of the paper to the size (and shape) of the gift. Sometimes quite cheap paper will look very good on a package of the right size. The trick is to let the pattern repeat completely, but not too many times. Geometrics, foliage, and quasiregular patterns like dense paiselies can be repeated more often; floral patterns can be striking if they violate the rule, but not by too much. I also try not to use a paper for more than one package in a given year.

I do occasionally buy an expensive roll to keep in the mix (and it’s getting harder to find one I want to buy). Don’t try to buy it all in one place or at one time; look for the one or two that are quietly better than all the rest.

]]> By: Daniel in Brookline http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137709 Daniel in Brookline Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:11:14 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137709 Fun memories! When I was a boy, wrapping paper was hard to find for us... so my mother got in the habit of using the funny pages from the newspaper. Later on, we'd use the newspaper's news sections... and it got to be sort of a challenge to wrap with a relevant story showing. In re what to get for difficult recipients: try to persuade them (for next year!) to get an amazon.com wish list. It doesn't cost anything, and they can spend the rest of the year seeing something cool on amazon, saying "that would be nice", and adding to the wish list. So they maintain a list of what they want, and other people can peruse the list for gifts they feel like giving. Win-win. (That fell through for me last year, when my oldest girl wanted to get me something from the list -- but refused to buy from Amazon. She kept saying she'd go to the store to get it for me. I had to point out that, had she ordered from Amazon, it would have gotten to me a lot sooner. Oh, well.) Fun memories!

When I was a boy, wrapping paper was hard to find for us… so my mother got in the habit of using the funny pages from the newspaper. Later on, we’d use the newspaper’s news sections… and it got to be sort of a challenge to wrap with a relevant story showing.

In re what to get for difficult recipients: try to persuade them (for next year!) to get an amazon.com wish list. It doesn’t cost anything, and they can spend the rest of the year seeing something cool on amazon, saying “that would be nice”, and adding to the wish list. So they maintain a list of what they want, and other people can peruse the list for gifts they feel like giving. Win-win.

(That fell through for me last year, when my oldest girl wanted to get me something from the list — but refused to buy from Amazon. She kept saying she’d go to the store to get it for me. I had to point out that, had she ordered from Amazon, it would have gotten to me a lot sooner. Oh, well.)

]]> By: E http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137708 E Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:52:49 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137708 Wow, say that last sentence ten times fast! Wow, say that last sentence ten times fast!

]]> By: E http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137707 E Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:52:14 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137707 I'm a big fan of grosgrain ribbon rather than the curling kind. Every gift looks classy with a grosgrain bow. If you want to be fancy, tie the bow and then fold each loose end in half lengthwise, and snip a diagonal cut to the center of the fold so that the ends have a cool notched cut and - voila! Instant class! The best part is that you can whisk the grosgrain ribbon back from presents opened at your house, and stick them in a drawer for next time you're wrapping something. My Yankee thrift (use it up, wear it out) erupts even in gift-wrapping. I’m a big fan of grosgrain ribbon rather than the curling kind. Every gift looks classy with a grosgrain bow. If you want to be fancy, tie the bow and then fold each loose end in half lengthwise, and snip a diagonal cut to the center of the fold so that the ends have a cool notched cut and – voila! Instant class!

The best part is that you can whisk the grosgrain ribbon back from presents opened at your house, and stick them in a drawer for next time you’re wrapping something. My Yankee thrift (use it up, wear it out) erupts even in gift-wrapping.

]]> By: Mrs Whatsit http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137701 Mrs Whatsit Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:22:38 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137701 Betsy, that warms my heart. I'm happy just thinking of that boy opening those books. thanks! Betsy, that warms my heart. I’m happy just thinking of that boy opening those books. thanks!

]]> By: Nolanimrod http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137691 Nolanimrod Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:59:10 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137691 P.S. Betsy - we knew that. Welcome to the Nolanimrod school of comment-butchering. And Merry Christmas. To you and your adoptees. P.S. Betsy – we knew that. Welcome to the Nolanimrod school of comment-butchering. And Merry Christmas. To you and your adoptees.

]]> By: Nolanimrod http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137690 Nolanimrod Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:51:18 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137690 Wow! Neo, you've done it once again. I remember my mother curling ribbon and thinking (me, not my mother) it magic so clearly. When I finally got it right I felt like I was on top of the world (ma). Merry Christmas. Wow! Neo, you’ve done it once again. I remember my mother curling ribbon and thinking (me, not my mother) it magic so clearly. When I finally got it right I felt like I was on top of the world (ma).

Merry Christmas.

]]> By: camojack http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137689 camojack Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:21:46 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137689 (1) Presents purchased. (Mostly, yes) (2) Presents wrapped. (Mostly...no) (3) Presents mailed. (A few; but I mailed 'em in gift wrap with only a couple of labels for destination/return address and postage stamps on them) (1) Presents purchased. (Mostly, yes)
(2) Presents wrapped. (Mostly…no)
(3) Presents mailed. (A few; but I mailed ‘em in gift wrap with only a couple of labels for destination/return address and postage stamps on them)

]]> By: Gordon http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137677 Gordon Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:14:12 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137677 Coordination is a funny thing. Since I'm a boy, I never really wanted to curl ribbons (but I can!). I used to watch the electricians stripping wire by pinching the sheath between the ball of their thumb and a knife. I could never figure out how they did that without cutting themselves. I still can't do it. But now they make wire strippers, so I'm good. Coordination is a funny thing. Since I’m a boy, I never really wanted to curl ribbons (but I can!). I used to watch the electricians stripping wire by pinching the sheath between the ball of their thumb and a knife. I could never figure out how they did that without cutting themselves.

I still can’t do it. But now they make wire strippers, so I’m good.

]]> By: betsybounds http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137662 betsybounds Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:18:57 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/12/17/the-tasks-of-christmas/#comment-137662 I meant our kids, not out kids--of course! I meant our kids, not out kids–of course!

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