Archive for the ‘Glasses’ Category
There are many different wedding gifts to choose from. Some are traditional and others are anything but. I am sure that you have heard of a hundred different things that your friends (or even you) have received on the occasion of their wedding. Stories vary, but the gifts all tend to have a common theme.
You typically hear about timeless gifts like fine china, mantle clocks and heirloom jewelry. These are always appreciated, hold their value, and are actually useful. This is what I call the trifecta. This is the triad of goals each gift giver should have. Will it hold its value? If yes, it could be a good gift. Is it useful or will it sit on a shelf or storage to never see the light of day again? If it is useful, then it could be a good gift. Is it appreciated? If so, the receivers will truly want the gift and may actually put it to use. When all three of these criteria are met, you most likely have successfully given a good gift.
More rare, but dating back through history are real estate, crops, and livestock. Today’s equivalents of these are real estate, stocks, and automobiles. Most of us are not quite lavish enough to bestow a new Bentley on our son or daughter for their wedding, but it does happen. I do not believe that spoiling your child is called for, but I do not have the luxury of deciding whether or not to give a gift worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Let us focus on more usual gifts. Stemware is a very traditional wedding gift. Who wouldn’t appreciate a nice set of wine glasses to start their new lives? I have an alternative suggestion. When I was twenty-six years old, my twin brother was married. He had previously enjoyed hanging out with me and our friends, but that was all about to change. As a gift, I gave him and his new bride a set of etched pilsner glasses. They were both beer aficionados and truly appreciated the item. The set remains in their bar area to this day, many years removed.
Some big ticket items are given with a fair amount of regularity. Refrigerators, sofas, and lawnmowers are the most popular items over five hundred dollars. I have even seen baby carriages show up, but I found that to be a bit presumptuous.
In today’s modern world, there seem to be more unique and even off the wall gifts given. Today, computers, cameras, iPods; electronics of every kind are a frequent fixture on the gift table. You may find roller skates or golf clubs or jumper cables. You just never know what may turn up.
I encourage you to pay special attention to the gift table the next time you attend a wedding reception. Read the cards and even ask around. Most people are not shy about bragging on their gift. It could even be a fun game to guess what is in all of those silver boxes.
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When I turned 21 I started drinking wine. I had tried it before and it never did much for me, but once I was an “adult” I learned to love it. I drank other alcoholic beverages as well, but I started to really enjoy a nice glass of wine with my meal. At first I would order the house wine at any restaurant or pick up the cheapest bottle at the supermarket. Then I began to prefer certain types of wine and an ex boyfriend of mine started teaching me about it. He taught me about different types, brands and countries of origin. I then started researching on the Internet and learned about the material of the barrels and how to smell and taste a glass of wine. Before long, I was hooked.
When people hear that I am “addicted” to wine, they assume I am an alcoholic. This is not what I mean by a wine addiction. I do not drink every day, or every week, and I do not drink for the high. I drink it because I appreciate the qualities of a fine wine and I enjoy pairing a good wine with the perfect cheese, steak or fish. To me, nothing is better than a gourmet cheese plate with a really good bottle of wine.
My addiction has surpassed just the wine itself. I am now involved in a wine tasting club, I receive a few bottles of wine in the mail every month from another club, and I hang out with people who share my appreciation for good wine. I also have paraphernalia littered around my apartment. Everything from automatic corkscrews (powered by inert gas cylinders) to trivets made from the corks of my favorite wines. I even have a couple t-shirts with clever sayings such as “I cook with wine…sometimes I even put some in the food” and “you had me at Merlot”. My friend recently bought me a refrigerator magnet that says “forgive me, I have zinned”. For those of you who don’t get it, that is a play on the word Zinfandel, a type of wine.
I keep a wine journal to track what I drink and how I feel about it. I also have several books on wine tasting, the history of wine and how to make your own wine. I am considering taking the leap into making my own wine. I even have a wine trivia game, but nobody will play with me since I always get every answer right.
My friends and family laugh at my obsession with wine and wine related items, but I enjoy the hobby. As I said, I am not an alcoholic or a “wine-o” I have an appreciation for the stuff and enjoy learning more about it. It is my hobby and I spend my free time researching new wines and attending tastings, which allow me to sample what is new on the market.
I have come a long way since I was 21 years old. As far as I’m concerned, wine is much, much more than just a drink.
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