We're a pretty gift giving crowd which is fun but financially exhausting. Last year when people asked what I wanted for my birthday I said if they really wanted to do something I could use some handyperson help around my house. So, I ended up having friends help me paint my living room & hallway & hang pictures for me (which is something I suck at doing) and other friends put up ceiling fans for me. That was really awesome.

I never expect presents, but I'm always thrilled to receive them. If I have a party for myself, I always want to say something about presents not being expected, but I usually don't bring up presents at all. Also, I love getting presents for people, especially when you think it's something that they'll love.

I was brought up that if you go to a birthday party, bringing a present or a card is what people do, so in a way I do "expect" presents when I throw an actual birthday party. Certainly not extravagant ones though, and unless it seems like a pointed Not Bringing A Present that's really about other things, I don't care if people don't.

So. Responding to job postings on Craigslist. Protocol? I mean, obviously, most of them have directions on the bottom, but do I just send an e-mail with, "Hello, I am responding to your posting, blah blah." t attach resume Or what?

It's not about whether I expect presents or not--I just mostly don't like them. As for giving them, for the birthday shenanigans where the celebrant invites everyone out to a bar, I assume gifts work in the form of buying them alcohol. Other than that, it depends on the individual situation.

I was brought up that if you go to a birthday party, bringing a present or a card is what people do, so in a way I do "expect" presents when I throw an actual birthday party.

But I've been invited to quite a few birthday parties where I barely knew the Birthday Person, but was friends with the host, and there was no way I was buying a present for someone I had met once. I've usually bought a card, but not always.

I don't expect presents. I got one present from my parents which was a nice bonus, but I'd be fine if I didn't get any.

I've done one thing at work today, and hardly anyone is here. Can I leave yet??

I dreamt last night that I went to a conference in a West Texas desert town (I can't remember which one it was supposed to be, but I think Marfa), and wandered upon a Buffista F2F in one of those Old West hotels. Y'all had commandeered most of the public spaces in town and covered the town with glittery silver Christmas tree decorations and hanging mirror balls. I kept trying to tell y'all my name - my real name and the aka I use here - but the music was so loud that no one could understand me. When I tried to fill out a nametag, the pen ran and smeared everything into illegibility. I finally got JZ (who, for some reason, was speaking only in a terrible fake British accent) to understand me (JZ: "Cor blimey!"), but she was swept into a massive mosh pit forming on the dance floor. That's all I remember.

I think that's different, Sue. I was mostly thinking of parties I threw myself, and even then, I wouldn't expect the friend of a friend who came along to bring me even a card,

I also think drinks in bars are good presents, and that ita is weird for not liking presents.