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.
Gunn: You saying popping mama threw you a beating? Lorne: Kid Vicious did the heavy lifting. Cordy just mwah-ha-ha'd at us.
'Underneath'
Natter 45: Smooth as Billy Dee Williams.
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
§ ita § - Jul 07, 2006 7:00:48 am PDT #5744 of 10002
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Sue - Jul 07, 2006 7:04:41 am PDT #5745 of 10002
hip deep in pie
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.
Gudanov - Jul 07, 2006 7:06:25 am PDT #5746 of 10002
Coding and Sleeping
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.
Jesse - Jul 07, 2006 7:08:20 am PDT #5747 of 10002
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
I've done one thing at work today, and hardly anyone is here. Can I leave yet??
Hayden - Jul 07, 2006 7:09:52 am PDT #5748 of 10002
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."
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.
Lee - Jul 07, 2006 7:10:44 am PDT #5749 of 10002
The feeling you get when your brain finally lets your heart get in its pants.
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.
Lee - Jul 07, 2006 7:11:39 am PDT #5750 of 10002
The feeling you get when your brain finally lets your heart get in its pants.
I've done one thing at work today, and hardly anyone is here. Can I leave yet??
Oh, damn, work. Right. Gotta go.
msbelle - Jul 07, 2006 7:12:14 am PDT #5751 of 10002
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb
I throw my own parties. Presents not expected.
MONKEY MONKEY MONKEY.
It is Friday. I am hungry.
Jesse - Jul 07, 2006 7:14:37 am PDT #5752 of 10002
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
Luckily, there is cheese and fruit in the kitchen here, SO MUCH BETTER than the cookies and pastries which have been around the last couple of weeks.
Kalshane - Jul 07, 2006 7:15:20 am PDT #5753 of 10002
GS: If you had to choose between kicking evil in the head or the behind, which would you choose, and why?
Minsc: I'm not sure I understand the question. I have two feet, do I not? You do not take a small plate when the feast of evil welcomes seconds.
Gronk. Had a lot of trouble falling asleep last night and then woke up an hour early because my calf was hurting, which has been happening from time to time lately when I sleep. Have no idea what's up with that.
Reading all the Dell support stories and just nodding my head.
Up for hivemind consideration: is it acceptable to throw one's own birthday party?
The only way I ever get a birthday party is if I throw it myself. My friends just suck at remembering people's birthdays (and in fact the only time anyone in our group has a birthday party is because they throw it themselves or their SO does.) However, I always do specify "no presents" on the invitation because I feel like I'm trolling for presents otherwise. Folks will still occaisionally bring me one, though.