The animal in me

If you were an animal, what animal would that be? Now, keep that thought for a moment. Think of reasons why you would identify with that animal. No, I am not asking "What animal would you like to be?" - we all have our ideals, like an eagle or horse or lion or butterfly (for the demure amongst us). I am asking, "What animal would you be, if you were an animal?". It is a question of identifying with an animal.
As for me, I would be a donkey. The reasons are simple:
1) Stubborn - 'I will not budge!'
2) Melancholic - 'Thaaaank you for noticing me'
3) Homely - this is American English for unattractive. Unlike a strong elegant tall and sophisticated horse, the donkey is just a donkey.
4) Load carrying - an animal for work. Finding no worth in itself but to work.



Heee Haw Heee Haw Heee Haw

Gifts

In this season of love and sharing, we have given and received loads of gifts. My analysis of types of gifts:
1) Egalitarian gifts - every year my siblings all get the same gifts. They cost the same, the look the same, they are usually very functional. 4 years in a row I gave each of them calenders of the new year. For two consecutive years, I scanned, photoshopped, printed and framed rare old treasured family photographs. I was kind of popular that year :-)
2) Recycled gifts - these are gifts that one receives and doesn't want them and passes them on to other people. I recall this interesting incident from my mother-in-law. She received a book from a friend once. That exact same book she had read and shelved in her study. When an occasion came for her to recycle the gift, she packed it and sent it away. The new recipient of the book rang her a few days later saying that she had forgotten to take a card meant for her inside the book. Sigh... the new recipient should have just mailed the card or thrown it away. German directness, I guess. So the moral behind this story is: check your recyclable gift for any tell-tale signs carefully before packing it and have a good memory as to who gave you the recyclable gift. I recycle my gifts sometimes (often... shhhh).
3) I-love-it-so-you-might-love-it-too gift - My darling loves big fat travel books, be it journals or coffee table books, as long it has information about far and exotic places, he loves them. These books are usually very expensive. Whenever he has to buy a gift for someone (other than me), he gets one of these expensive travel books, for people who may never have left their backyard, because he loves them. Usually people do like his gifts.
4) Am-too-lazy-to-think-about-gifts gifts - these are usually t-shirts, key-chains, trinkets etc. They require no use of the grey matter... just buy in bulk and distribute as the need arises. Thoughtless rubbish. I am guilty of this.
5) Lets-buy-the-gift-together gifts - Because I am a fussy person and hard to please with gifts, my darling decided that we'll go shopping together and buy my gifts. I point to him what I would like and walk away from the shop. He then buys it and gets it gift wrapped and give it to me on the celebrated occasion. I then unwrap the gift and pretend that I had forgotten what he got me and scream with delight!!! Told you I am a good candidate for Bollywood.
6) Thoughtful gifts - each individual's interest is observed and a very though out gift is bought for that person. My sister gets these gifts.
7) Perfect gift - God's priceless gift.