uh ohs

So today I unwillingly helped fuel the Barry Manilow machine. Yeah, my mom wanted his new album for Christmas. At least I don't live with them anymore, so I won't have to hear it. I guess I wouldn't feel quite as bad about it except I know that that man is just going to blow all the money I gave him on more plastic surgery. I will probably get her a little something else as well but haven't decided yet. I'm thinking maybe of "Bad dog" (book of dogs dressed up, cutsey captions) even though I think it's stupid, because I think it's something she would find cute and funny.

I also moderately willingly fueled the emo machine today, two matches albums and an Academy Is... album. I feel kind of lame that most of my "good" music I can steal from my friends, but I still have to buy my emo. Though that's not to say I won't buy some of the stuff I steal that's completely awesome, I am totally asking my parents to get me the Sufjan Christmas album, the Avalanche (which I stole months ago), and Wolf Parade (which I stole even longer ago).

By the way this is employee appreciation right now, which means I get 40% off books and CD's. On top of this I had a ton of merch cardage I had saved up.

I got When Will Jesus Bring the Porkchops & Real Ultimate Power for my brother in law. He is both the hardest person to shop for (never gives me a list) and the easiest person to shop for (anything in the humor section that doesn't totally suck would probably work for him). So I got the Carlin book because I got him one of Carlin's others for his birthday and he seemed to enjoy it. I got him Real Ultimate Power because it is the most hilarious book I've ever read. I can't think of another book that ever made me laugh out loud as much. The only thing is it's slightly weird humor, so I'm somewhat afraid he won't like it and/or will tell everyone in the family I'm a weirdo and bought him a book all about boners. But on the other hand, ninja boners are cool. And by cool, I mean totally sweet.

I still have to shop for my dad. He said something about a Laurel K Hamilton book if it is in paperback, but I don't think it is yet. I also frickin' hate buying those books for him, because they are basically porn. I don't know if he thinks I don't know what's in them (even though they are very popular and I work in a establishment that sells them) or if he just doesn't see what's creepy about it. I am thinking the former. I kind of know what he likes but I am not sure how well my last few picks have gone over because he is not the type to complain if he doesn't like a gift.

I still have to shop more for my sister, and get her something she actually wants, but I really couldn't resist getting her this humor book called "Safe Baby Handling Tips: Pregnancy." Basically it will have "Do" and then a picture of how a normal person would handle something during pregnancy and then "Don't" and something outragious. Like "cutting loose" and then showing two people kind of sedately dancing for "do," and then for Don't, this pregnant woman doing a crazy breakdance move. And for "working while pregnant" do is some woman doing a desk job, "Don't" is a pregnant lady operating a jackhammer. And so on.

I still have to shop a little more for the 'phew, I'm thinking of getting him something that's not a book as well but I couldn't decide. Anyway two little Dr. Suess board books: Hop on Pop and There's a Wocket in my Pocket (which sounds vaguely dirty, but I promise it's not) is what I do have so far.

For my friends, I'm debating trying my hand at christmas cookies or something and/or burning mix CD's. Because I'm po'

For me, as well as the emo, I got two Nick Hornby books (one is new, he basically reviews other books) and the other I have read but don't own. One Kurt Vonnegut book, Bluebeard, which I have read but always wanted to own, and Neil Gaiman's Anansi boys, which I've read but want to own.