Shower Gifts A cozy

At Home : Other : Wedding and Shower Gifts : Home & Garden Television   Program Guide Shows A - Z Decorating Remodeling Gardening At Home Crafts Store SEARCH AT HOME Antiques / Collectibles Books / Videos Cleaning Entertaining General Information Holidays / Special Occasions Outdoor Parties Table Settings / Decor Tips / Techniques Wine Other Hobbies / Interests Kids / Family Moneysaving Ideas Organizing Personal Care / Health Pets Real Estate Recipes Shopping Tips / Techniques Vacations / Travel Wedding and Shower Gifts A cozy bed tray is a wedding gift that will be appreciated long after the honeymoon is over. (SHNS photo by Nancy E. Hill / courtesy Chris Madden Inc.) By Chris Casson Madden Scripps Howard News Service The invitations have arrived in the mail and you probably have a shower to attend before the big day. It's the peak of wedding season across the country, and along with the festivities are the gift decisions we'll be making for the bride and groom. These days the couple can be a young pair just starting out or those entering a second marriage that could include the blending of families and households under one roof. Clearly, finding a special gift depends on the couple's tastes and lifestyle. The tradition of a china registry at a favorite department store will never go out of style, but today people also are coming up with some wonderful, creative alternatives. Similarly, around the country the bridal shower and luncheon are still alive and well, but now we also see his-and-her showers that often have a gift themes, such as home improvement items or kitchen appliances. The Internet also has made for even more alternatives for registries and gift options for friends and family. From Saks Fifth Avenue to Target, department stores are putting couple's gift registries online. So after a few clicks of the mouse and a handy credit card, you can select a gift from a registry and even have it wrapped and shipped. Stores specializing in home decor and accessories also are very popular places to register these days, including such national standards as Williams-Sonoma, JC Penney, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel. Here are some of my ideas for wedding and shower gifts that will enhance any newlywed's home: Gift certificates welcomed: The variety of stores that offer gift certificates can help you stay within a budget and ensure the couple will choose something they want and need for their new home. You can choose from a favorite department store, specialty boutique or even a home improvement center. Timely gifts are a favorite: Whether it's a formal Waterford crystal clock or a funky urban design for the kitchen, clocks are a creative choice for a home. Be sure you know the design style that will work best for the recipients. Pampering gifts for breakfast in bed are a treat: Taking a cue from colors and linen choices mentioned in registries, look for bed accessories. As I have in my own home, consider a "bed desk." These can include features such as flip tops and side storage racks. They're prefect for reading and catching up on letter writing — or for that special breakfast in bed. Framing memories is always a must: You can never go wrong with a beautiful picture frame for that wedding portrait or candid honeymoon photo. These are the visual memories that can last a lifetime, so why not frame them elegantly? Consider a trio of sterling silver frames in varying sizes, or a single large one engraved with the wedding date. If a couple has a more casual lifestyle, photo albums with acid-free paper are also a good choice for storing those treasured pictures. Enhance a tabletop: Take a look at the china patterns that the couple has chosen and you can complement them with accessories. Tablecloths and napkins are an obvious choice, but you can also choose candlesticks or napkin rings that will fit with their color and design scheme. A wonderful vase for fresh flowers is also a classic wedding gift, but look for something a bit different. A ceramic pair can also serve as sculpture in a contemporary living room, or a quintet of small silver bud vases can be used in a variety of ways. Use your creativity and learn a bit about what the bride and groom want in their home, and you'll enjoy the giving as much as they'll enjoy receiving your gift. (Chris Casson Madden, frequent contributor to Home & Garden Television, is also author of 15 books, including the newly released New American Living Rooms , Clarkson Potter Publishers, $35.) Home | About Us | Newsletters | Questions | Advertising Site Map | Privacy | Legal DIY | Fine Living | Food Network | Shop At Home Great American Country | HGTVPro | Living | Video On Demand Comparison Shop for Home Gifts & Patio Furniture at Shopzilla © 2005 Scripps Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Baby Gift Suggestions Berkeley

Berkeley Parents Network: Baby Gift Suggestions Berkeley Parents Network Home Members Post a Msg Reviews Advice Join BPN Help/FAQ What's New Search Baby Gift Suggestions Berkeley Parents Network Advice Babies Baby Gift Suggestions What's the one ''must have'' item? What was your best baby shower gift for under $20? Memorable Baby Gifts Gifts for Twin Babies Present for New Family in Hong Kong Checklist for Baby Needs related page: Baby Gear what/where to buy Present for New Family in Hong Kong November 2001 My brother and his wife are about to have a new baby inHong Kong. I'd like to send them a gift that would be useful, and perhaps difficult to get in there. Does anyonehave any sense of an American item that would be usefuland harder or more expensive to get there? Thanks. Have you seen the Birthday Cakes that FTD Florists make up? All theingredients are things for the baby made up to look like a birthday cake.Or throw a shower for them with your friends and then send everything over.Hong Kong pretty much has everything we have so it would be difficult tofind something unique unless you want to go the antique route (earlyamerican cradle or crib). I don't suppose they have too many of those around there.marianne When I had my baby in Hong Kong my friends and family inthe States sent lots of clothes....probably because theyare light and easy to send. However, it was like sendingcoal to Newcastle....since HK makes a lot of baby clothes.What I appreciated most were parenting magazines, books for me (What to expect in the first year, travelling with children, etc.), books for the baby, music - especially a tape of lullabyes, the black and white infant toys- expensive in HK, the baby bjorn backpack - also very expensive in HK- but available, a cheap nightlight that can stick to the wall (with batteries). You also might wait until after the baby is born to findout what they need. US medicines - baby tylenol, etc. are expensive there and a medicine kit for baby would be a great gift. As would some bathing products thatare natural - try the Real Goods store next to Smith Hawkins. HK is very dirty and something 100% cotton, cuddly, or just non-toxic is great. Good luck! Amelia It's pretty easy to get mainstream baby stuff in Hong Kong, soyou might want to go alternative (Berkeley) stuff. We had lotsof success with a "boppy" nursing pillow, Sear's Baby Book, and "natural" baby wash stuff. My sister sent Tucks Pads andLasinoh, neither of which are readily available there. What was your best baby shower gift for under $20? Gwynne What was your favorite baby-shower gift for $20 or less; and where can you get one? I got a ton of great gifts, but the best thing is what I bought for us afterward (and what I now buy for new parents): a set of burp cloths. With our 5-month-old, our motto is "you never can have enough burp bloths." You can buy a set of really good ones on Baby Center (www.babycenter.com). It sounds really dull, and it won't get the ooohs and ahs at the party. But later your friends will thank you and remember you. And the burp cloths will still be in use long after Baby has outgrown the clothes. Fran my favorite gift for under $20 are packages of flannel receiving blankets from Target. I used them all the time for my newborn, and they made great (heavyduty) spit-up cloths too. Susan favorite baby shower gift for $20.00 or less: 1) diaper covers try barefoot baby catalog or biobottoms catalog for really nice ones 2) gift certificate to a used baby clothing store Dianna Baby gifts: My two best baby gifts were: a very large, colorful, translucent scarf. This was actually the wrapping for a tiny pair of booties which my son never wore. But I got more use out of that scarf that you would believe. I used it to shield me when we were breastfeeding in public, as a blanket, as an emergency changing or napping surface, to carry things in, to play peek-a-boo with, the list goes on an on. I'd bet this tie-dyed scarf was bought on Telegraph ave. for under $10 (admittedly, 11 years ago). Second was a gift from my sister of baby tylenol, pedialyte drink, and various things of that nature such as a dropper, and medicine measuring spoon. It's just the kind of thing that one, in the happy euphoria of having a baby, doesn't think of needing, and just the kind of thing you will need some morning at 2 am. Perhaps this last present is best coming from a close friend or relative, though. I felt we got the most use out of bath toys. Two, three years later, we were still playing with bath toys we got as a baby gift. Another gift that was billed to me as "guaranteed to put your baby to sleep" was a "Lullaby Light Show." It's a wind up musical light. I've seen them at Toys R Us. We didn't really use it until our son was closer to one year old, but then it became part of our bedtime routine until he was about 3. After my baby was born, my view of shower gifts changed quite a bit. I had always gone for cuteness when giving baby shower gifts, but after my daughter arrived, I found myself returning gifts we'd received. I exchanged several adorable but impractical outfits from BabyGap and gave away a number of gadgets that went unused, and I decided then that when my next pregnant friend had her shower, I was going to do something based on actual, real maternal experience. So I put together an assortment of little things that had each turned out to be perfect for their purposes -- the perfect teething ring, for example, was one that could be frozen but that had a small nonfreezing handle so the baby wouldn't have to grip ice. The perfect carseat toy was three plastic fish that hooked together and hung from the carseat handle. (They could be unobtrusively nudged to one end of the handle when not in use.) The perfect burp cloths were a dozen cloth diapers. The perfect newborn t-shirt was the type that snapped or tied on one side instead of directly over the umbilical cord. And the perfect baby toy (which was also good for a knowing laugh from the experienced moms when it was opened) was an empty paper towel roll. I popped in a board book because I always like to give kids books, and I wrapped each item individually and then placed them all in a cute gift bag. I've given these bags to perhaps half a dozen expectant parents now -- they're always a source of fun and, well, people seem to appreciate them. This is a gift that can be tailored to any budget -- how thoughtful the choice of items is will make or break the gift's real value. David A gift of a full dinner to be delivered on a evening sometime (first week or two) after baby is born. I got both the take-out pizza and chinese on paper plate variety as well as the full home cooked chicken dinner with homemade apple pie on nice dishes variety. Both types were wonderful. The meals were delivered on a previously agreed upon evening and then the generous givers promptly left us to ourselves. In the case of the chicken dinner, the whole meal was delivered in an ice chest with instructions to return dishes to chest UNWASHED for pick up the next day. A coupon from a local restaurant that delivers would be good too. Although I didn't fully appreciate these gifts until after the birth of my daughter, these were by far the best! I generally give a toiletries kit: For about $20 you can get the teeny finger nail clippers, shampoo, cheap washcloths, mild soap, A&D, tylenol, a little tiny hairbrush. I expand the gift for closer friends to include a cute hooded towel, a bathtub and some tub toys. tampine The best shower gift I got was a sort of receiving blanket with feet. I know you said under $20 and this is about $40 but go in on it with someone because it's truly great! Imagine a five-point star. The baby's head goes at the top point, the two side points fold across her/his body, and the little feet go in "pockets" at the two bottom points. It's perfect because it doesn't get all bunched up in the car seat and baby bjorn-type things since it sort of has legs. Hard to explain, but go look at them at Rockridge Kids. The one I got was long-john fabric but I've seen them in flannel too. Oh, and it comes with a little cap too. Hadley The Fisher Price Soothing Sounds Aquarium! But I think it is $25. It is my son't favorite thing and I think he will love it for years to come. Available at Toys R US. Fisher Price Soothing VIBRATING (this is key) bouncer about $25. Available at Toys R US. Sassy makes a fish shaped rattle available only at Target it seems, and that is far and away my sons favorite toy. Probably around $4 Mustella makes a great starter kit of their soaps and it is about $20. Available at Rockridge Kids. This was a great gift. Judy a very high quality set of childrens nail scissors. Great for when the baby is small, and i *still* use them on my 10 and 6 year old. I have to say that the ONLY shower gift that I am still using is my Diaper Genie. I LOVE IT. I have a "very sensitive" sense of smell and often gag while changing poopy diapers. I would not be able to live in our house if they were not sealed up in the diaper genie. (I remember baby sitting in houses that reeked of diaper pail. I could smell it as soon as I crossed the threshold.) I know that this is not a very "Berkeley" type gift, but I highly recommend it. The gift I give at baby showers is homemade receiving blankets. The moms just nod and say thanks at first, but a couple of months down the road they are very grateful, raving about them. In case you haven't noticed in the stores most commercial receiving blankets are small rectangles of cloth... 30'x36' or 36'x40'. These are usually 100% cotton and shrink up so that they are much smaller and often no longer rectangular. They make swaddling difficult, are thin, and get ratty looking very fast. Instead, I buy 100% cotton flannel and make square receiving blankets. (2 pieces of flannel sewn right sides together, then turned right sides out, and sew around the edge with a blanket stitch to finish. I usually pick one print for the top and then a solid in a complementary color for the back.) The first ones that I made were 36'x36' but as I started making more I began making them about 40'x40' (have them cut 1 1/4 yds of each fabric to do this) just to waste less fabric. These swaddle a little more bulky, but most parents I know give up on swaddling after the first two weeks... and use receiving blankets as regular blankets after that anyway. Because they are double thick flannel they are quite warm, and are good for use in the winter months. Linda Baby shower gift: I love the little mirrors that hook onto the rear-view mirror in the car so I can see my kid in the back seat without turning around. My kid is 9 now, and I still use it! I've seen them at various baby stores, usually with the childproofing things. Memorable Baby Gifts Feb 1999 Someone gave us a lovely picture frame with our baby's name engraved on it,which we really liked. They are easy to get at Things Remembered (in mallsall over the bay area), there are many styles to choose from, and they arenot expensive. Ann Quilts are always memorable gifts, but there is a catalog called"Exposures" which not only does a quilt, but it puts your pictures that yougive them on the quilt (as sepias or black/whites). I always thought itwould be cool to do a "family tree" quilt and put a picture of the parentsas kids/babies, and then their parents. I don't have Exposure's number offhand, but if you call the 1-800 operator, they'll have the number and youcan request a catalog. It is expensive though, as I recall. Around 250$.But it would be memorable and special! Hilary A really special and unique baby gitf is a DREAM CATCHER. A Dream Catcheras I understand it was designed years ago by the Native Americans and comein many sizes shape and colors. They are a type of hanging mobile that youhang on or over the baby's crib or in their room not just for the baby tolook at but legend has it that it catches all the baby's bad dreams so thatthey will never have a bad dream or nightmare. I have seen some reallybeautiful ones sold right on Telegraph and run anywhere from $10 to $65depending on size and complexity. They have always been received extremelywell by mothers when I have given them. Margie Someone had a horoscope chart done for my son. It was pretty cool to readabout how he would turn out (at least according to the stars!) Of course,this is a pretty expensive gift, especially if you have limited belief inastrology. Diana One of my favorite baby gifts is a music box. The music box that I wasgiven as a baby played the theme from "Romeo and Juliet" and to this daywhenever I hear that song I think of my music box. My Aunt and Uncle gaveme my music box when I was born, and in turn we gave my their daughter amusic box when she was born. I had comptetely forgotten about the musicboxes until I opened the gift from my aunt for my baby. It is so nice tothink that he will have a special connection to a song (His plays "ZipityDo Dah"). Rose I was given a memory box on the occasion of my baby's birth and have reallyappreciated it. I don't know where it came from, but it's basically like acigar box decorated with antique-y Winnie the Pooh figures on it, andentitled "a box to put thing in." It's nice because it can accommodatethings other than papers (like the hospital bracelets, etc) and you can useit in about one second--just open the lid and drop the item in--no need towait for time enough to write/glue/label etc. as you would with a regularscrapbook. Meg Gifts for Twin Babies Nov 1999 I would appreciate some advice regarding twins. I have friends whowill be new parents of twins next spring, and I want to get them a nicechristmas present. Any of you who've recently had twins - can you tell me what was a really useful and fabulous thing [not a service, but an item] that just made life so much better for you? And all of that for around $125 -$150?I thought about a comfy rocking chair, or one of those doublebaby-bjorn things [although that's not the brand], but I'm just not sure.Thanks. I have 9 month old twins and the most useful items so far were:bouncy chairs with toy bars, baby bjorns, snap-n-gos - you attach the car seat to them to make a strollerI found that two of everything was needed so two of one of the above wouldbe a great present. By the way - the double snuggly (like the baby bjorn)was really cumbersome - two baby bjorns are much better. We have 6 month old twins, and the best gifts we got were: a doublejogger (more than your budget but a great gift if you want to go inwith a few other people), a double stroller, and vibrating bouncy seats. Home | Reviews | Advice | Members | Post a Message Join BPN | Help | What's New | Search Please send questions and comments to Berkeley Parents Network . Last updated: May 20, 2004 © 1996-2005 Berkeley Parents Network The opinions and statements expressed on this website are those of parents who subscribe to the Berkeley Parents Network . Please see our Disclaimer for details.

birthday present ever Story

FOXSports.com -MLB-My worst birthday present ever -- HOME NFL MLB NBA NHL NASCAR NCAA FB NCAA BK GOLF SOCCER TENNIS ACTION MORE FANTASY SHOP MLB Home · Scores · Schedules · Standings · Stats · Transactions · Injuries · Teams · Players · Odds · Tickets OTHER EXPERTS: Select an Expert » Troy Aikman » Tom Arnold » Paul Attner -- » Brian Baldinger » Tommy Baldwin » Phil Barber -- » Jillian Barberie » Todd Behrendt » Ben Blake » Michael Bradley -- » Terry Bradshaw » JT The Brick » James Brown » Matt Brown » Steve Byrnes » Paul Cannon » Rich Cirminiello » Brian Cox » Matt Crossman -- » John Czarnecki » Brian Delucia » Mike DeCourcy -- » Dave Despain » Sean Deveney -- » Ben Dougan -- » Ray Dunlap » Jimmy Elledge -- » Bernie Federko » Stan Fischler » Pete Fiutak » Fly -- » Jim Fox » Jay Glazer » Paul Grant -- » Steve Greenberg -- » Jeff Hammond » Matt Hayes -- » Kevin Hench » Bob Hille -- » Oliver Hinz » Hockey's Future -- » Vinnie Iyer -- » Tom Jensen » Jimmy Johnson » Darryl Johnston » Todd Jones -- » Mike Kahn » Clay Kallum » Kasey Kahne » Max Kellerman -- » Dave Kindred -- » Roger Kuznia -- » Michael Lazarus » Howie Long » Steve Lyons -- » Jimmy Makar -- » Mark McCarter -- » Tim McCarver » Ryan McGee » Bobby McMahon » Peter McNab » Stan McNeal -- » Larry McReynolds » Eric Moneypenny » Warren Moon » Chris Myers » Ian O'Connor » Robin Pemberton -- » Ryan Pemberton -- » Dayn Perry » Dan Pompei -- » Shawn P. Roarke » Drew Remenda » Chris Rose » Charley Rosen » Fritz Quindt -- » Michael Rosenberg » Ken Rosenthal » Jeff Ryan -- » John Salley » Lauren Sanchez -- » Adam Schein » Kathy Sheldon -- » Dave Sheinin -- » Peter Schrager » Andrew Siciliano » Lee Spencer -- » Spector -- » Tony Stewart » Benson Taylor -- » Jamie Trecker » Dennis Tuttle -- » Leeann Tweeden -- » Kyle Veltrop -- » Krista Voda » Darrell Waltrip » Nick Webster » Sean Wheelock » Van Earl Wright -- » Kara Yorio -- » Matthew Zemek » Greg Zipadelli -- General » BoxingScene.com » DIME Magazine » FOX NFL Sunday » Funhouse » Funhouse Foxes » Scout.com » War Room -- My worst birthday present ever Story Tools: Print Email XML Kevin Hench / FOXSports.com Posted: 31 days ago -- Mike Remlinger made his first appearance for the Red Sox on Aug. 9, my birthday. He faced four hitters. They all reached base and scored, leaving him with the dreaded indefinable ERA., expressed as ###, or --- depending on your box score. He followed up this wretched Red Sox debut four days later with another empty appearance, facing two batters — retiring neither. After he had faced six batters and not recorded a single out with a lifeless fastball in the mid 80s, like most Sox fans, I'd seen enough. Hey, I get it, reliable lefty setup men are as hard to find in 2005 as cheap gas. Sox GM Theo Epstein took a shot, and it didn't work. Time to move on? Mike Remlinger has allowed four or more runs in three of his five relief appearances for the Sox. (Winslow Townson / Associated Press) Not so fast. Remlinger made his third appearance for the Sox three days later, summoned to protect a 10-3 lead in the bottom of the 10th against the Tigers. He did finally record an out, three in fact. But during his one inning of work, he also yielded a walk, a base hit, another walk and a grand slam. In three appearances, he'd faced 13 batters, and nine of them had scored. Certainly, walking two guys with a seven-run lead had earned him his walking papers? Nope. Remlinger was back out on the hill less than 14 hours later, asked to hold the line in the getaway day game against the Tigers after David Wells was roughed up for six runs in four innings. And lo and behold — as opposed to low and outside as he had been the previous night, Remlinger retired four of the five batters he faced, lowering his ERA with the Sox to 20.25. And, regrettably, buying some more time on the roster. The next night in Anaheim, the 39-year-old lefty was once again summoned for mop-up duty. He again made an unsightly mess, allowing five runs on six hits and a walk. It's hard to raise your ERA when you enter the game with a 20.25 mark, but Remlinger did it, leaving the hill at 21.21. Yes, his ERA looks like a football score at the start of overtime. So, to sum up In five appearances with the Red Sox, Remlinger has faced 31 batters, 18 of them have reached base and 14 of them have scored. These numbers strike me as way worse than when Jose Oquendo, Mark Grace or Robin Ventura took the hill. (Turns out they are: those three infielders had a combined 10.13 ERA in five relief appearances.) This isn't the first time Mike Remlinger has bitterly disappointed me. In 1991, I was a sportswriter for the Valley News in West Lebanon, New Hampshire when I drew the assignment of driving up to Montreal to do a local-boy-makes-good story on Remlinger — who was in his rookie season with the Giants after starring at Dartmouth. A month earlier, Remlinger had lit up the baseball world and electrified the Giants' organization by pitching a complete game shutout against the Barry Bonds-Bobby Bonilla Pirates in his Major League debut on June 15, 1991. Since then, it was Remlinger who'd been lit up, allowing 17 runs in 26 innings. But my story wasn't going to be about his recent struggles. It was going to be a glowing tribute to the Ivy Leaguer turned Major Leaguer. I made the long schlep up I-89, over the Canadian border and across the bridge — the Pont Victoria? — and pulled into the parking lot of the baseball monstrosity known as Olympic Stadium. (Has baseball ever had such a stark contrast between the beauty of a city and the ugliness of a stadium?) I guess the Expos' media relations department wasn't accustomed to processing out-of-town credential requests because they not only didn't have my press pass when I got there, but didn't seem capable of generating one once I was standing at the window. After a very long wait, I was finally admitted to the joyless press box in the dreary stadium. After his spectacular debut, Remlinger had been bumped from the rotation and sent down to the pen, but he didn't pitch in the game. That didn't really matter for my purposes. I was there to profile a conquering hero, a son of New England — Plymouth, Ma., who at the age of 25 had made it to the show. He was that most-sought-after commodity, a hard-throwing lefty, and his future couldn't have been brighter. I made my way down to the clubhouse, where I was none too surprised to learn at the door that the guest pass the media relations people had given me did not allow me access to the locker room. Great. So I'd come all the way to the most Godforsaken outpost in Major League baseball, and I wouldn't even get my interview. A so-so day was getting worse. I saw another Giants rookie, outfielder Mark Leonard, entering the clubhouse and called to him as familiarly as I could, "Hey, Mark." Now Mark Leonard didn't have a lot of media types (or fans) calling out to him — especially in Montreal — so he stopped in his tracks as if a dear friend was saying hi. I asked him if he would be so kind as to ask Mike Remlinger to come out to the hallway so I could get my interview. He said sure. (The near future was actually much brighter for Leonard than Remlinger, but the outfielder would be out of the bigs for good by 1995.) I waited around for quite a while and was just about to give up and start the long haul home when Remlinger emerged from the clubhouse. What a cool dude, I thought, meeting me in the hallway so I could get my story and not have wasted an entire day. I was ready with my questions and Mike was ready with his grunts. It was brutal. I wanted spine-tingling detail on the journey from Red Rolfe Field in Hanover, N.H. to blowing away the NL East champs at Candlestick. What I got was basically, "F off, kid." Now, in fairness to Remlinger, for all I know he had just come from the manager's office where he'd been told he was getting sent down. Because after pitching the next day in the exhibition Hall of Fame game — always a bad sign for a pitcher regarding his importance to the big club — and getting shellacked, Remlinger was indeed sent back to the minors. It would be three years before he would claw his way back to the Majors with the Mets. At the time, however, I wasn't feeling so forgiving. I'd driven more than three hours to do a nice story on a guy whose college career had been chronicled by my newspaper. And he was a jerk. At this point in my young sportswriting career, I'd already been big-timed by Roger Clemens, so I was prepared for how surly and uncooperative a professional athlete can be — even when the media member standing in front of him is doing a rah-rah piece. But Mike Remlinger? (One interesting note on Remlinger and Clemens: Remlinger has allowed four or more runs in three of his five relief appearances for the Sox while Clemens has allowed four or more runs only twice in 25 starts for the Astros.) I drove home wondering how I was going to cobble the grunts and fragments into something that made it look like I had actually interviewed the pitcher. He hadn't pitched and he'd barely talked. I was getting that gnawing feeling in my gut that a reporter gets when he doesn't have the story. I'd gone above and beyond to get into the stadium and actually get a face-to-face — well, face-to-scowl — interview with the subject. But I was still worried that what I'd hoped would be a great profile, rife with insight from the erudite pitcher himself, would read like a flavorless AP wire piece. As I was fighting my way through the story the next day, trying to stretch it into something worth a drive to Montreal, it came across the wire that Remlinger — after giving up three home runs to the Twins in the exhibition in Cooperstown — had been sent down. Well, it was an angle anyway. I ended the profile with the petulant line, "It's better to have a bust in Cooperstown than to be a bust in Cooperstown." Here's hoping that 14 years later, my second snarky piece on Mike Remlinger coincides with his departure from a Major League club. Kevin Hench is supervising producer of The Sports List on Fox Sports Net, as well as the head writer for the Too Late with Adam Carolla show on Comedy Central. -- TOP STORIES • Coles takes courageous stand against abuse • Time to play nice at Presidents Cup | Scoreboard • Astros retain wild-card lead | Phillies keep heat on • Red Sox's Foulke might be done for season • Raffy the rat? Palmeiro reportedly implicates teammate • Jets' Martin probable after participating in practice • Point taken: Payton latest addition to new-look Heat • Free beer if German team loses | World Cup brothel? • Hands down, Braves fans the dirtiest according to study More News | All RSS XML MLB NEWS Recent Articles by Kevin Hench • Baseball's biggest surprises of 2005 • Fast Forward: NFL Week 2 • You don't care, but here's my fantasy team • Fast Forward: NFL Week 1 • Rice was NFL's ultimate gamer Headlines • Handicapping the playoff races • Red Sox's Foulke might be done for season • Astros retain wild-card lead | Phillies keep heat on • Rockies drop Padres back to .500 with 4-2 victory • Maddux blanks Brewers, close to another 15-win year • Raffy the rat? Palmeiro reportedly implicates teammate • Griffey needs surgery on both knee and hamstring • Hands down, Braves fans the dirtiest according to study • Report: Piniella to accept buyout from Rays | What next? More Headlines | All RSS XML | MLB Video • J-Mo comes through • Hafner leads Tribe • Streaking 'Stros • D'Backs down Dodgers Video Home | All RSS XML FOXSports.com: Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Press | Feedback | Jobs | Tickets | News Corp. | controlyourtv.org | All RSS XML FOX.com | FOX News | FX | Fox Soccer Channel | Fuel TV | Fox Reality - © 2005 Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. © 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use Advertise TRUSTe Approved Privacy Statement GetNetWise Anti-Spam Policy --

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Personalized songs - the ultimate unique gift for the special occasions and special people in your life. Song List (Choose One) Birthday Anniversary I Love You For a Friend I'm Sorry Wedding Congratulations Graduation New Baby Valentine's Day Mother's Day Father's Day Christmas Other Occasions... We use information that you provide to create lavishly produced songs for the special people and moments in your life. Order online or call us toll-free at 1-800-725-SONG (7664) Terms of Use Links 2003 GiftSongs.com - Formerly known as P.S. I Love You! Web site designed and powered by Technique Web Welcome to GiftSongs.com, the "Personalized Song Company", where you can find the most unique gifts anywhere - fully produced personalized songs complete with custom-printed lyric sheets suitable for framing! We create our personalized songs using details that YOU provide, so each song is a special, one-of-a-kind momento to be cherished forever. GiftSongs.com uses award-winning songwriters, hit singers, and first-rate musicians, and our songs come with a 100% money-back guarantee!Our unique present is the ultimate musical expression of emotion; a one-of-a-kind keepsake that will be enjoyed over and over again. Our personalized gift songs show your creative side, and often bring out emotion seldom seen with other gifts. In fact, on our site you can read testimonials from people that have bought and received this thoughtful expression of love, and many people cry when they receive their musical gift!All of our GiftSongs.com personalized songs are different, unique, creative, in a way that other gifts can never be, because you personalize the song using details about the recipient. No other present could have the same emotional impact. We have personalized songs for special occasions such as holidays (Christmas, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Father's Day, etc.) and all the milestones in your life, such as weddings, anniversaries, birth of baby, graduations, bridal showers, baby showers, etc. We also have songs that say "I Love You", "Thanks", "Congratulations!", and more. Again, all of our personalized songs include a custom-made lyric sheet at no extra charge!Youve given flowers, candy, greetings cards, etc., but wouldn't you like to give a more original gift? Now you can! Say it with a song from GiftSongs.com, and give a present as unforgettable as the person you're buying it for. Order online or call us today toll-free at 800-725-SONG (7664).

College Gift

College Graduation Gift Ideas - FindGift.com Personalize FindGift.com! -- Login | Sign Up | List of Services Gift Ideas Gift Registry Gift Shops Gift Bookmarks Home | Help keyword search Gift Giving Made Easy! A free service dedicated to helping you find creative gift ideas! Home Occasions Graduation College Refine Search for Graduation Gift Ideas College for Him for Her Any Price $0 - $10 $11 - $25 $26 - $50 $51 - $100 $101 - $200 $200+ Related Links Collegiate Gifts Use our Gift Wizard to customize your gift search Use our Gift Finder to find gift ideas customized to the likes/dislikes of the recipient. Custom Collegiate Gifts Gifts for students & graduates Order online - shop today & save! www.CollegiateGifts.com Free Spa Bag! Buy a Salon/Spa Gift Certificate Get a Free Spa Bag - 1500 locations www.1800THESALON.COM Viewing 1 - 10 of 2555 gift ideas found Life is a Journey Bracelet from Femail Creations ($59.00) This lovely sterling silver bracelet is a celebration of the eternal Now. Banded, cuff style is stamped with the words "Life is a journey, not a destination" on top and "Enjoy the moments" on the underside. We are proud of our products that are handcrafted in the USA. Questions? Contact Femail Creations . Add to Gift Bookmarks Add to Registry [ More Gifts from this store ] [ People Who Liked This Gift Also Liked ] [ Report Error ] Personalized Graduation Cartoon by Anita Massimini-Brown from Cowboy Chuck Company ($14.00) Hand-personalized by Anita with graduate's name, school and year for a male or female. A keepsake they will treasure forever. 8x10 matted. Get your FREE personalized cartoon by clicking "FREE Picture" button on our home page. Orders ship in ONE business day. Questions? Contact Cowboy Chuck Company . Add to Gift Bookmarks Add to Registry [ More Gifts from this store ] [ People Who Liked This Gift Also Liked ] [ Report Error ] Five Simple Rules Paperweight from Isabella ($29.97) Only five simple rules for happiness! Keep this paperweight in plain sight as a gentle reminder that life can be changed. 2.5" X 1.75". Questions? Contact Isabella . Add to Gift Bookmarks Add to Registry [ More Gifts from this store ] [ People Who Liked This Gift Also Liked ] [ Report Error ] Each Step Of The Journey Glass Paper Weight from Personal Creations ($16.95) A Personal Creations Exclusive! For someone about to take the big step, this solid glass paperweight is clearly perfect! $5 OFF orders over $40! Save on personalized gifts, ornaments and decorations. PROMO CODE: GFB548. (exp 12/31/05) Questions? Contact Personal Creations . Add to Gift Bookmarks Add to Registry [ More Gifts from this store ] [ People Who Liked This Gift Also Liked ] [ Report Error ] Graduate Definition Glass Paper Weight from Personal Creations ($16.95) A Personal Creations Exclusive! For someone about to take the big step, this solid glass paperweight is clearly perfect! We laser engrave any name, up to 20 characters on the definition of "Graduate." Measures 4"Hx5"Wx34"D. $5 OFF orders over $40! Save on personalized gifts, ornaments and decorations. PROMO CODE: GFB548. (exp 12/31/05) Questions? Contact Personal Creations . Add to Gift Bookmarks Add to Registry [ More Gifts from this store ] [ People Who Liked This Gift Also Liked ] [ Report Error ] "Anything's Possible" Inspirational Marble Keepsake from Personalization Mall ($26.95) Choose from 5 inspirational verses or write your own on this artfully crafted marble keepsake. Add a custom sentiment to the back for a truly unique keepsake. Makes a memorable gift for the new graduate. *Money Saving Coupon* Save 15% off your order! Use code 'findgift' during checkout. Hurry, offer expires September 30th! Questions? Contact Personalization Mall . Add to Gift Bookmarks Add to Registry [ More Gifts from this store ] [ People Who Liked This Gift Also Liked ] [ Report Error ] Thoreau Pendant from Isabella ($29.95) Henry David Thoreau's dynamic words help to remind us of why we are all here. live the life you have imagined. Questions? Contact Isabella . Add to Gift Bookmarks Add to Registry [ More Gifts from this store ] [ People Who Liked This Gift Also Liked ] [ Report Error ] Sincerity Necklace from Isabella ($69.95) One of the most delicately romantic pieces of jewelry we've ever seen. 1.75" pendant on an 18.5" necklace. Questions? Contact Isabella . Add to Gift Bookmarks Add to Registry [ More Gifts from this store ] [ People Who Liked This Gift Also Liked ] [ Report Error ] Crocs Shoes from BirdieBall ($34.95) Crocs are the shoe phenomenon sweeping America. Light, comfortable and incredibly durable, this shoe will blow your mind. Easily sized and available in all the colors of the rainbow. Comfortable foot massage. Under 6 ounces. We feature unique and functional golf related products. BirdieBall is the PGA Award winning off-course golf ball. Questions? Contact BirdieBall . Add to Gift Bookmarks Add to Registry [ More Gifts from this store ] [ People Who Liked This Gift Also Liked ] [ Report Error ] Personalized Woman of the Year Magazine Cover Label from Last Laugh Gifts ($22.95) Surprise and delight a woman you wish to recognize! Email us her photo and a personalized message. We'll create a Time Magazine (Woman of the Year) label. Looks like a real cover! Unique gift for mom, boss, grad, or teacher! Give your gift and enjoy seeing the surprise and delight it brings! Questions? Contact Last Laugh Gifts . Add to Gift Bookmarks Add to Registry [ More Gifts from this store ] [ People Who Liked This Gift Also Liked ] [ Report Error ] Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | viewing 1 - 10 of 2555 gift ideas found Bosses Day Oct 16, 2005 24 Shopping Days Left Bosses Day Gift Ideas Sweetest Day Oct 15 Halloween Oct 31 More Holidays Seasonal Gifts Wedding Gift Ideas Anniversary Gift Ideas Autumn Theme See this month's Top 20 Gift Ideas Gift Helpers » Anniversary Gifts » Flower Meanings » Monthly Flowers » Monthly Birthstones » Signs of the Zodiac » Additional Resources FindGift.com Newsletter Sign up to receive seasonal and unique gift ideas via email. Email Address Merchant Login | Add Your Products to FindGift.com | Press Room | FAQs | Contact FindGift.com Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Site Map © 1997-2005, Registry Online, Inc. FindGift.com and its logo are trademarks of Registry Online, Inc.