Asked again and again: I have been invited to a birthday party, and the invite says “No Gifts.” I can’t just go empty handed! What should I take? LISTEN: A bottle of wine. What kind of present do you get for a co-worker you don’t know very well? I drew her name in the office […]
A thoughtful question: My husband is impossible to shop for! We have an anniversary and his birthday coming up, and the only thing he says he wants is a gift certificate to Amazon. I hate giving gift cards, especially to my friends and family…what would you do? LISTEN: Aaaaaaand what part of that is impossible? […]
A selfless soul searcher suggests: With the Christmas holidays right around the corner, I was wondering if you have any advice on how to tell people that you just don’t want any presents. I have plenty of stuff, if I see anything I want I just buy it right away, but I don’t have all […]
From a vigilant citizen: I found a very expensive watch on the subway two days ago, and I’m not sure what I should do. There’s an inscription – To CK Love SD, but that’s all I have to go on. Should I put up posters? Take out a lost and found ad? LISTEN: If you […]
A question that does not need to be asked: What do you say when someone paints their house a color you can’t stand? LISTEN: Did they ask your opinion? No? Then you don’t say anything. They did? Uh-oh. Then lie, and tell them it’s lovely. Quickly add that it’s not a color you’d choose, but […]
A traveler’s travail: A very good friend of mine wants to make his 40th birthday party a destination event – he wants everyone to go to Paris to celebrate. That’s great and all, but that’s expensive! I want to go, and am going to try to save up for it – but if I can’t […]
A delightful question: What is the right thing to buy for a housewarming present when the people have everything they need already? LISTEN: Most people would default to a scented (stinking) candle, so I appreciate your asking. The traditional gifts are bread and salt, though symbolic gifts could include coins, knives and wine. Think about […]
An unsolicited solicitation: I am a working artist, and I sell fairly regularly. I am getting more and more requests from non-profits for donations for their silent auctions and other fundraising schemes…it’s expensive to paint, and I can’t afford to give to all of them. What can I say to politely decline? LISTEN: You shouldn’t. […]
An irritation with the process revealed: I was at a fundraiser last night and there was a silent auction. I bid on a painting, was outbid, and bid again. Then someone signed the guaranteed purchase line – at this point the auction is supposed to be over. Well, someone else came up and wrote down […]
A disturbed tenant writes: I live in the middle floor of a rather large apartment complex. The new upstairs neighbor makes so much noise – I know when you first move in you have to move stuff around and hammer nails into the wall and everything else. But it’s been months. And now she has rather […]