I figure gifts are like a dress code. Unless someone has one that I can't meet due to insufficient resources, it's their party, not mine. Sure, they want me to enjoy myself, but it's their party. So if they want a party with no presents, that's what they'll get. If they want a casual party, and it seems clear that "dressing up" is about me satisfying me and ignoring them, I won't do it.

Of course, I've never had a "no presents, please" party. But I don't celebrate my birthday primarily because I don't want any gifts. I'd still like to have people around, and stuff. Just no gifts.

I'd only recently heard of a bellini, and do quite quickly forget what juice is in there with the champagne.

I've never been to a "no gifts" wedding, but I have been to "no present" birthday party. I think I generally have taken a small gift anyway. not to be inconsiderate, but because I felt weird hanging out at a party where I hadn't contributed - giving a gift made me feel like I'd thanked the host.

I've seen some people include cards with their invitations that say "X is registered here". While perhaps questionable, I think a small card saying "Your presence is gift enough" or something along that line might be appropriate. I'm also a big fan of the rules of the situation being clear. Otherwise people feel confused and awkward.

The beloved suggests "the gift of booze is all that we require."

Had dreams of kidnapping human children from penguin parents (who were very angry about it) with characters from various tv shows. We settled in rural Alabama and then some of the children turned into penguins and fish was hard to find. I REALLY wonder what radio news stories were on while I was sleeping through my alarm.

It may be just me, but I'm laughing like a loon over this.

Waiter: Yes, but nobody knows to call it that, so we have to explain.

At Cipriani (where the bellini was invented), they say "Our special drink here is the bellini. That's champagne and peach nectar." Easy peasy.

I figure gifts are like a dress code. Unless someone has one that I can't meet due to insufficient resources, it's their party, not mine. Sure, they want me to enjoy myself, but it's their party. So if they want a party with no presents, that's what they'll get. If they want a casual party, and it seems clear that "dressing up" is about me satisfying me and ignoring them, I won't do it.

My feelings exactly.

Had dreams of kidnapping human children from penguin parents (who were very angry about it) with characters from various tv shows.

This reminds me that I dreamt last night about a big fight between Scarecrows and Superheroes. The Scarecrows were stupid and zombie like except for the one from Oz who was their leader. The superheroes included somebody named Velocity Boy. There was something else about stuffing wafers into the scarecrow mouths but I dismember.

bellini....mmmm. that was a good way to start the morning...

I like the list with the charities , because it includes nothing as a choice.

no gifts is fine too - just have a list of charities ready for anyone that asks.

But no matter what you do, someone is going to give you a gift. So find a way to be gracious about it and figure out what you are going to do with gifts, esp those you don't need or want. ( housewares might be welcome at shelters) . Some people feel obligated to bring gifts. Other people just like to give.

I had a typicla post-apcolyptic dream last night. but it was vaguely disturbing so I don't remember much about it.

Sadly, I am positive there were no penguins.

I dreampt that my teeth kept falling out. I kept trying to push them back in but they wouldn't stay. I was pretty devastated about it and couldn't get anybody to take me seriously enough to help me.

I woke up and was very relived that it wasn't true. and, wierdly, this is not the first time I've dreampt this.

Stainless steel also gets out smells.

I had a craving for tapenade and bought all the ingredients and made it for dinner. It was rather bland, though. Maybe no tuna next time.

I'm really getting into Arrested Development. There's this...dance done in tonight's episode that I rewound and watched four times, laughing like a loon the whole time.