Chat today--let's make it big

Robin, I wish I could take part in your chats but unfortunately I don't have the right software on my computer, or something to that effect! But I enjoy reading the transcripts.

I read Dear Abby, Annie's Mailbox, Ask Amy, Miss Manners, Dear Margo (Thursdays and Fridays), Dear Prudence (column Thursdays and video Mondays), and yours on Sunday!

I read Dear Abby and Dear Margo and you of course.

For thank you notes, yes I do them and try to get them out promptly for birthdays and Christmas, I try to have them out within a week of receiving the gift. Plus my Grandmother doesn't like to shop yet insists on sending money, and I appreciate it but I don't need or expect it. Our joke is when I send a thank you note to her I thank her for the card and that it magically turned into X (this year X was a purple patent leather purse!) and she gets a kick out of it.

For a hostess gift, I would do food only if I asked if I could bring something. I love cheese but then I would feel obligated to put it out etc and that is just as bad as finding a vase. And really I only do hostess gifts every so often depending on the formality of the event and most of my stuff is casual with family and friends and are really like pot lucks. In lieu of flowers or cheese etc, a nice sturdy plant is nice. Then it is in its own container and no fuss is needed, I like snake plants because they are nice, add vertical interest to a room and quite frankly I haven't killed mine so they must be darn near indestructible. You could also do an aloe plant, and Jade plants are pretty hardy as long as you remember they are a desert plant and don't water them much.

For Christmas, we set a dollar limit and then swap names. It doesn't have to be fancy we put a name in for everyone that is going to participate and then draw names voila it is done. I like having a name to pick because I find it easier than trying to come up with a unisex gift or something that would be appreciated by many for a yankee swap. We generally do the name picking at Thanksgiving because we are all together so it is convenient.

My favorites (besides Miss Conduct, of course) are Carolyn Hax and Ask Amy. I also read semi-regularly Dear Abby, Dear Margo and Annie's Mailbox. I used to read Dear Prudence but not as much anymore.
If you haven't read Carolyn Hax's column, I highly recommend it.

I read "Dear Prudence" and "Miss Manners" and your weekly column and blog.

The questions about pesky office-mates make me realize how much I take my solitary cubicle for granted!