Eric Renderking
Fisk Comes to the rescue of one of his woman readers just before
Valentines day…
Last Minute Valentines
Ideas
A
Call For Help
Dear Renderking Fisk
I need help!! I need some ideas
of what is a good gift for a guy for Valentine's Day. I got the
card, but not sure what else to get for a guy. Please give me
your ideas, what would men like to get from there girlfriend?
Thanks, Darnell
Hey Darnell… it’s always great to know that men aren’t the only
procrastinators. Here’s a last minute article packed full of advice to
help you out. I just hope I don’t procrastinate too long and you read
this in time.
What
ever his “Thing” is… get into it with him and put it into a basket.
I checked with my bride of 5 years to see what she
had to say about this. My wife replied that being in love means
listening to the one you love. If you listen close enough you can
actually HEAR what he wants. I’m not saying that the guy has been
shamelessly dropping hits… but if you listen carefully and know him
well enough you should be able to figure it out.
You know what you’re guy is into already… what his
hobbies are, what his favorite activities are and what his favorite
food and drink is.
The ultimate material thing you can get him should tie into what he
loves… what ever his “thing” is.
If your man is a scotch drinker, get him the best
bottle that you can afford. If your man is into guns… get him a
box of ammunition. (Not trying to get political or start an argument
about the Second Amendment…) Say “I love you” with a BANG this
year.
If you man is into cars and likes to take care of his… go to the auto
parts store and get him all sorts of car-care products.
If you man is into classic movies… get him one on DVD. You should
already know what his favorites are and what he has already. Movies are
an excellent excuse to sit on the couch, cuddle and get to know each
other better. If you don’t know what movie to get him… but you know
what his favorite one is… find a reproduction of the lobby poster and
have it framed. A unique way for my wife to say “I love you” would to
walk into the living room Monday night and find a framed poster of
Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman in the classic poses in “Casablanca”…
hanging in the blank spot in the wall. (Posters aren’t things men
usually get for themselves all the time… but framed ones of their theme
is always a thoughtful gift.)
Subscriptions say “I love you,” once every month:
Although it’s a bit late in the game to do this… get your man a
subscription to a magazine of his favorite “thing”. Cars, astronomy,
hunting, fishing… what ever his “thing” is… there’s a magazine for it.
The best thing to get him is a little bit of his
“thing” to go with the card you already got him. Be sure it’s something
he can actually use.
The Serious Don’ts
Most guys aren’t into things that they can’t use or
consume. Most guys don’t like sentimental crap like stuffed animals,
poems and flowers. Sure, they like to get cards once in a while as
reminders of your love… but they don’t do the trick like something they
can put their hands on and get some work done. Guys are wired to be
practical.
- Flowers: Most guys don’t understand the symbolism of flowers and
why they’re important… all they need to know is that WOMEN LIKE THEM
and that’s the only reason why they get them. The equivalent to flowers
for a guy is beer or a bottle of liquor.
- Toiletries: Going to the Bath And Body works and getting a basket
full of soap products like bubble bath and body wash is like a guy
giving you fishing tackle when you don’t even fish or a wide-screen TV
with a sports package when you don’t like sports. Smelly bath products
are what you want… and might come off to say: “you’re dirty and
unclean.” Soap can send the wrong message. Massage oil… on the other
hand is something different. A basket full of toiletries or cologne is
the wrong message when it doesn’t come with a blatant: “Come Join Me…”
- Clothes: If you’re not smart, buying clothes for your man with
the wrong intentions is a good way to end the relationship. Holidays
like Christmas, Valentines Day and Birthdays are NEVER an opportunity
for you to rack up serious debt in an effort to remake your man in the
image of your father, an ex-boyfriend, a professor you had a crush in
college or your favorite actor (unless it’s his, too.). If you’re going
to buy your man clothes, make sure it fits his style- his colors and
tones.
- Best clothing gift I ever go my wife was a dark brown shirt,
matching tie and handkerchief set… she was so excited in giving it to
me her friends at work told me she couldn’t stop talking about it right
up to December 23rd. Why? Because she knew my style and colors and knew
that I would love it and look good on me. Again… you have to know your
man well enough before you start buying him clothes.
- Movies: I said above that getting movies is a good idea, but be
careful. Most women don’t get this… men like movies that are actually
about something other then feelings. Movies that are nothing but dialog
are a sleep insurance policy for insomniacs. A movie has to be about
men overcoming incredible obstacles, movies about survival. Any Rocky
movie is one of the ultimate “Guy” flicks because it’s about physical
endurance while over-coming inner demons and insecurities. “Field Of
Dreams” might be about feelings… but it’s about the way guys feel about
Baseball (action) and about how men feel about trying to crawl out from
underneath their dad’s shadows and then coming to terms with that. (The
greatest guy movie is about a grave robber who’s trying to recover an
ancient artifact or keep it out of the hands of the bad guys while
reconciling with his girlfriend and having a super-natural ability to
keep his fedora on while being dragged by a truck or running through
the jungles…) Movies don’t always have to be about people shooting or
things getting blown up… but for some guys it helps.
- Gift Certificates: Most guys I know hate to shop for clothes… and
almost everything else. It’s a waste of time… with the exception when
it comes to their aforementioned “thing”. Guys who are into music can
wander Tower Records for hours… Car guys can do the same at auto-parts
stores, If he has a favorite store, get him a gift certificate from
there.
The Best Gift is The One You
can’t Wrap…
The best thing you can give your man is the security
that he’s the best… and that he’s the only man in the world for you. I
know this sounds sappy and romantic, invoking the kind of ruthless
sentimental emotions that you wouldn’t expect from a website like this
one… but it’s true. Guys need to know that you love them and that he’s
your hero. Don’t just tell him, show him. Guys need to know that
they’re loved and adored… made to feel attractive and desired.
Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be the only day out of the
year to show the love of your life how you feel; everyday should be
that day. No relationship should be able to survive with one person in
the relationship starving for attention and the only attempt at romance
is one chilly day in February.
Like the saying goes, it’s the thought that counts.
If you really love this guy… the thought has to count. Gifts should be
something that he would like something you want to give him and
something that shows that you care.
Hope this helps… let me know how you make out.
Eric “Renderking” Fisk
Special Thanks to my special Valentines… my wife and my mom.
