Obfuscated Networking is just a place to store ideas and thoughts. It's not clear what, why or how, but they are all here. Hopefully you will find them entertaining, thought provoking or interesting and will be inspired to leave your thoughts.

Holiday gift giving is, in my opinion, out of control. Not only is there the problem of making lists of people for whom you should buy gifts for (heaven forbid you don’t buy a gift for someone who buys you something) but then there’s gift giving protocol that various groups have. No more than five dollars for this group, fifteen for that, do you buy things for the people in your office? I dislike the whole thing entirely. It’s not that I’m cheap and don’t want to buy things, it’s that it’s become much less about getting something nice you think someone would appreciate and more about the protocol and not leaving anyone out. I just have a nervous breakdown thinking about it.

This year I had dinner with my brother-in-law’s family. Per usual I didn’t bring gifts. I think everyone had been warned that I’m not the gift giving sort and was okay with it. After playing with what I think are my nieces (sister’s husband’s brother’s kids) I can garuntee there will be gifts for them next year from me. Seeing the joy in their face from gifts they got from my sister and her husband showed me what it’s about, giving the gift of joy and happiness.

They are both still at an age where they don’t have an exact idea of what they want and what they don’t want. You can still surprise them with some neat cool toy. They haven’t had their minds co-opted by commercials and advertisements. They don’t know what the “must have” toy for 2004 is. They aren’t disappointed that they didn’t get the Nintendo DS in their stockings this year. They are happy to see a marble go down a ramp then round and round. It won’t last forever with them so I gotta get in on this while I can.