I received a wonderful email from a friend who posts on this board from atlanta, georgia, whose initials are R.M. who is also a music teacher and attends Bethel Cobb Church in atlanta;-)

I do not want to use his name for fear it would embarrass him. LOL

(of course he will pay me back for this;-)

Any way he shared he was just starting his xmas shopping today, Thursday, dec. 23rd.

I know of so many men that are starting their shopping today or on xmas eve.

As a pastor I have received hysterical phone calls from men on xmas eve asking what they should get their wives, mother etc. They are totally clueless.

For my close male friends I keep a record of their anniversaries, wifes, and children birthdays, favorite colors etc. for it has kept my life stress free if I do this.

I had one friend who bought his wife a plant for xmas and she through him out of the house. If only he had called me earlier.

The next xmas, I told him to buy a plant and in the plant to put a diamond ring.

So, why is it that men wait until the less minute and are there some men on the board that buy good xmas presents. LOL

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2004

Answers

I also have another friend who is an economist, who posts on the board regularly, lives in talahassee, whose initials are B.D who has yet to wrap his xmas presents. I am not sure he has bought his either.

I do not want to embarrass him either, so I won't use his name. LOL

As an economist, one would think time management would be something he would be great at.

Is this last minute shopping, gift wrapping an ame male phenomona?

I hope everyone on the board understands how I am trying to protect the reputations of two of our most esteemed posters on the board.

I have resigned myself to the fact that I am not getting a xmas present from either of my two friends. Not because they do not care, but because they wait too late to find me a fabulous present.

Hee, hee, hee, hee,

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2004

I started yesterday, Dec. 22nd, LOL!

I took a female co-worker with me to the jewelry district to pick out/negotiate a gift (all of the merchants in this particular shop are Asian and my co-worker - a native Chinese speaker - saved me about 25% by negotiating for me).

I'm getting the kids' gifts (a new TV for the 17-year old and a $200.00 Amazon certificate for the college kid) today - then I'm done. Why?

BECAUSE THE WIFE STARTED CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AFTER EASTER! So she took care of almost everyone on the combined/family list (both of our parents, in-laws, nieces/nephews/friends, etc.). She's out now picking up the gifts for my associate ministers.

QUESTION IN RESPONSE: Since most women started X-Mas shopping months ago, why are they still shopping today and tomorrow??? Ain't they tired of shopping by now?

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2004

Rev. Cager, women NEVER get tired of shopping! It is our national sport the same way foot ball and the super bowl is for men.

My daughter and I love shopping together. Our personal best time for shopping, was 7 hrs. straight, without sitting or eating! We just went from store to store. That was several years ago, I will now past the torch to Mary, since I am not in a metropolitan area anymore.

Mary, you go girl! Shop till you drop and be sure to charge it to Rev. John Harper, he is the moderator of the board. LOL.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2004

One of my male co-workers said if you wait until the last minute you get better bargains. On the other note he said everything is picked over. Oh well....

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2004

Reasons men wait:

- All the women will be done, so the looks we get from othr shoppers will be the knowing, sympathetic nod, rathern the mocking, ridiculing scorn.

- We get such big things that there are no easy hiding places, which get picked over anyway by curious, impatient people in the house.

- The reduced inventory simplifies the decision making, a trait to which gentlemen aspire (straighforward dcision making, that is).

- It takes that long for our Christmas Funds to mature.

- We spend most oif the year fashioning the gifts of our heart by hand and mind: creating things, building things, writing things, composing things, you know - it's the thgouht that counts.

- The traffic is lighter.

- We wouldn't want our efective decision making to be imparied by the obviously disttracting number of sporting events we're watching this time of year, and the Christmas Eve Bowl is always a write-off.

- We love our women so muchh, we want to put every second of thought into preparing the choice, beforee going out and making it.

... and if you haven't figure out there's a smileyt after each of these...

Merry Christmas!!

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2004

JP, I laughed and laughed when I read your response! I think every man should memorize what you said and have a ready defense. You are too funny!!

Merry Christmas, my brother

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2004

Yes, I am a notorious late Christmas shopper. I have waited as late as Christmas Eve to shop. I find fellow shoppers very helpful in assisting me when I'm buying clothes for my wife. I think they feel pity for such a procrastinator. I have improved over the years. This year I finished my shopping on December 23, 2004. If this trend continues I'll finish my shopping next year on December 22, 2005. Progress is always measured in small steps :-) QED

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2004

Because we don't know how much WE get to spend until we've seen how much the wife has SPENT.

Running and ducking, Merry Christmas!

P.S. I saw more WOMEN shopping than Men today........

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2004

You guys are too much:).!!!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Sista Felicia

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2004

I just finished my Christmas shopping....oh wait a minute, today is December 28th!

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2004