birthday present. Me and

My Birthday Present My Birthday Present At A Glance Author rebecca Contact rreilly12@hotmail.com When It just happened Artist andres Studio monster Location san pedro, costa rica My birthday was on April 12th, but I found that I couldn't celebrate it as I was at the time involved in "Hairspray", my high school's musical for the year. My schedule was very hectic and I found that I had forgotten my birthday, and so had my parents. And so time passed, I finished the musical, and I decided that I wanted to give myself a birthday present. Me and some other friends involved in Hairspray found ourselves with nothing to do seeing as all of our time had been spent rehearsing. Yesterday I went with my friend Erica to the mall, and we planned on seeing a movie. We looked at our options for a movie, but our options consisted of idiotic movies, such as Miss Congeniality 2 and Son of the Mask, so we wandered around the mall for a while, had a few cigarettes, and then wandered some more. We were completely bored by this time, but I had to be there until 10:30 to wait for my younger sister who was there with her friends. Suddenly, Erica mentioned the fact that she had always wanted a labret piercing, and I decided on the spot that we should go and get pierced right now, that very day and get back to the mall in time to pick up my sister. I immediately called a cab so that we couldn't back out of it. We waited for the cab and shared a cigarette to calm our nerves, as my hands were already shaking and she said that she had the butterflies. I could relate. We were sitting in the cab and I tried to decide which piercing I would get. I wanted to get a vertical labret, but I had promised another friend that we would do that together, so that was automatically out. My tragus? I had already done my inner conch, and I wasn't in the mood to take care of another thick cartilage piercing in my ear. My nipples are also on the waiting line, but I'm waiting for my best friend to come down so that he can be there. Then it struck me... I should get my nose pierced! My father would kill me. This was to be my first facial piercing and I didn't know how he would react. However, my mother would most likely scold me, but secretly like it. So I decided just to go for it. I was doing it for me. It was my birthday present to myself. We stepped into the mall and I took Erica to Monster, a small store which sells clothes as well as does piercings and tattoos. I always loved the vibe of the store. I walked up to Andres and greeted him. I told him that I would like my nose done and that Erica wanted her labret. Erica wanted to go first because she was afraid that if she saw me do it first, she would chicken out. I'm glad it turned out that way because labret piercings hurt much less than nose piercings, and I didn't want her to be afraid. This was her first major piercing. So I held her hand as he did her piercing. It was done very quickly, and I was up. I sat on a metal stool and waited for him to retrieve the sterilized jewelry. A new needle in a package was produced, as well as many other utensils, including a toothpick so he could mark me. When he did, he asked me to look in the mirror to check and see if I liked it. It looked a bit high up to me, but he was the professional so I just let it go. He took out the needle and I gripped Erica's hand. I closed my eyes, and I felt him place the needle on my nose and break the first layer of skin. "Take a deep breath, and exhale." I was sweating. It was hot in the store, but I knew that I was responsible. "Inhale, Exhale." I tightened my grasp on Erica's hand. "Now take a deep breath and hold it!" Oh no! Panic sets in. He shoved the needle through my nose and man, did it HURT! My eyes were watering and my nose was burning. Then the burning subsided and I opened my eyes. I saw that in the mirror there was a needle sticking out diagonally in my nose. It looked so incredible! But then came the part that I feared the most. I've read on BME that putting the jewelry in hurts the most. It was worse than I expected. I think that the jewelry hurt more than the actual piercing. I was on the second day of my period, so my nose wouldn't stop bleeding. Andres explained it, but I can't quite recall his reasoning. I was too happy to pay proper attention. So Erica and I paid and then went to take pictures of our fresh piercings. I'm looking forward to taking care of it and waiting for it to heal so that I can change the stud. I would have preferred a ring, but that would most definitely be out of the question, both at school and with my parents. Now that I look at it in the mirror, I wish that I had told him to move it a bit lower down, but everybody thinks that it looks good where it is. Disclaimer: The experience above was submitted by a BME reader and has not been edited. We can not guarantee that the experience is accurate, truthful, or contains valid or even safe advice. We strongly urge you to use BME and other resources to educate yourself so you can make safe informed decisions. Return to Nose / Nostril

Christmas Gift

The Gift of the Magi THE GIFT OF THE MAGI by O. Henry One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. Andsixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and twoat a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man andthe butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silentimputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty- sevencents. And the next day would be Christmas. There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on theshabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Whichinstigates the moral reflection that life is made up ofsobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating. While the mistress of the home is gradually subsidingfrom the first stage to the second, take a look at the home.A furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly beggardescription, but it certainly had that word on the lookoutfor the mendicancy squad. In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which noletter would go, and an electric button from which no mortalfinger could coax a ring. Also appertaining thereunto was acard bearing the name "Mr. James Dillingham Young." The "Dillingham" had been flung to the breeze during aformer period of prosperity when its possessor was beingpaid $30 per week. Now, when the income was shrunk to $20,though, they were thinking seriously of contracting to amodest and unassuming D. But whenever Mr. James DillinghamYoung came home and reached his flat above he was called"Jim" and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young,already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good. Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks withthe powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dullyat a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard.Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 withwhich to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every pennyshe could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars aweek doesn't go far. Expenses had been greater than she hadcalculated. They always are. Only $1.87 to buy a present forJim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning forsomething nice for him. Something fine and rare andsterling--something just a little bit near to being worthyof the honor of being owned by Jim. There was a pier-glass between the windows of the room.Perhaps you have seen a pier-glass in an $8 flat. A very thin and very agile person may, by observing his reflection in arapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairlyaccurate conception of his looks. Della, being slender, hadmastered the art. Suddenly she whirled from the window and stood beforethe glass. her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her facehad lost its color within twenty seconds. Rapidly she pulleddown her hair and let it fall to its full length. Now, there were two possessions of the James DillinghamYoungs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim'sgold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's.The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived inthe flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hairhang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been thejanitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement,Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed,just to see him pluck at his beard from envy. So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her ripplingand shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached belowher knee and made itself almost a garment for her. And thenshe did it up again nervously and quickly. Once she falteredfor a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed onthe worn red carpet. On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brownhat. With a whirl of skirts and with the brilliant sparklestill in her eyes, she fluttered out the door and down thestairs to the street. Where she stopped the sign read: "Mne. Sofronie. HairGoods of All Kinds." One flight up Della ran, and collectedherself, panting. Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardlylooked the "Sofronie." "Will you buy my hair?" asked Della. "I buy hair," said Madame. "Take yer hat off and let'shave a sight at the looks of it." Down rippled the brown cascade. "Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with apractised hand. "Give it to me quick," said Della. Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings.Forget the hashed metaphor. She was ransacking the storesfor Jim's present. She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jimand no one else. There was no other like it in any of thestores, and she had turned all of them inside out. It was aplatinum fob chain simple and chaste in design, properlyproclaiming its value by substance alone and not by meretriciousornamentation--as all good things should do. Itwas even worthy of The Watch. As soon as she saw it she knewthat it must be Jim's. It was like him. Quietness andvalue--the description applied to both. Twenty-one dollarsthey took from her for it, and she hurried home with the 87cents. With that chain on his watch Jim might be properlyanxious about the time in any company. Grand as the watchwas, he sometimes looked at it on the sly on account of theold leather strap that he used in place of a chain. When Della reached home her intoxication gave way alittle to prudence and reason. She got out her curling ironsand lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravagesmade by generosity added to love. Which is always atremendous task, dear friends--a mammoth task. Within forty minutes her head was covered with tiny,close-lying curls that made her look wonderfully like a truantschoolboy. She looked at her reflection in the mirrorlong, carefully, and critically. "If Jim doesn't kill me," she said to herself, "beforehe takes a second look at me, he'll say I look like a ConeyIsland chorus girl. But what could I do--oh! what could Ido with a dollar and eighty- seven cents?" At 7 o'clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan wason the back of the stove hot and ready to cook the chops. Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in herhand and sat on the corner of the table near the door thathe always entered. Then she heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight, and sheturned white for just a moment. She had a habit for sayinglittle silent prayer about the simplest everyday things, andnow she whispered: "Please God, make him think I am stillpretty." The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. Helooked thin and very serious. Poor fellow, he was onlytwenty-two--and to be burdened with a family! He needed anew overcoat and he was without gloves. Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setterat the scent of quail. His eyes were fixed upon Della, andthere was an expression in them that she could not read, andit terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nordisapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that shehad been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly withthat peculiar expression on his face. Della wriggled off the table and went for him. "Jim, darling," she cried, "don't look at me that way.I had my hair cut off and sold because I couldn't have livedthrough Christmas without giving you a present. It'll growout again--you won't mind, will you? I just had to do it. Myhair grows awfully fast. Say `Merry Christmas!' Jim, andlet's be happy. You don't know what a nice-- what abeautiful, nice gift I've got for you." "You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim, laboriously, asif he had not arrived at that patent fact yet even after thehardest mental labor. "Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Don't you likeme just as well, anyhow? I'm me without my hair, ain't I?" Jim looked about the room curiously. "You say your hair is gone?" he said, with an airalmost of idiocy. "You needn't look for it," said Della. "It's sold, Itell you--sold and gone, too. It's Christmas Eve, boy. Begood to me, for it went for you. Maybe the hairs of my headwere numbered," she went on with sudden serious sweetness,"but nobody could ever count my love for you. Shall I putthe chops on, Jim?" Out of his trance Jim seemed quickly to wake. Heenfolded his Della. For ten seconds let us regard withdiscreet scrutiny some inconsequential object in the otherdirection. Eight dollars a week or a million a year--what isthe difference? A mathematician or a wit would give you thewrong answer. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that wasnot among them. This dark assertion will be illuminatedlater on. Jim drew a package from his overcoat pocket and threwit upon the table. "Don't make any mistake, Dell," he said, "about me. Idon't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or ashave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less.But if you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had megoing a while at first." White fingers and nimble tore at the string and paper.And then an ecstatic scream of joy; and then, alas! a quickfeminine change to hysterical tears and wails, necessitatingthe immediate employment of all the comforting powers of thelord of the flat. For there lay The Combs--the set of combs, side andback, that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway window.Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelledrims--just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair.They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart hadsimply craved and yearned over them without the least hopeof possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses thatshould have adorned the coveted adornments were gone. But she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she wasable to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say: "My hairgrows so fast, Jim!" And them Della leaped up like a little singed cat andcried, "Oh, oh!" Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held itout to him eagerly upon her open palm. The dull preciousmetal seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright andardent spirit. "Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to findit. You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a daynow. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it." Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch andput his hands under the back of his head and smiled. "Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents awayand keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just atpresent. I sold the watch to get the money to buy yourcombs. And now suppose you put the chops on." The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wisemen--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. Theyinvented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise,their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing theprivilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here Ihave lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of twofoolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed foreach other the greatest treasures of their house. But in alast word to the wise of these days let it be said that ofall who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who giveand receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere theyare wisest. They are the magi. Return to Christmas Poems and Stories Hypertext format ©1996 Rosemary (Rosie) Winters rosiec@night.net . All rights reserved.

Gifts for Women It's

About Us : Topics : Shopping Tips for Men Looking for Gifts for Women : Fine Living ? Home | Adventure | Every Day | Personal Space | Transport | Favorite Things | Practical Living About FINE LIVING Get FINE LIVING Today ON TV Program Guide Our Shows Specials Host Bios Be On TV Executive Bios Shopping Tips for Men Looking for Gifts for Women It's a well-known fact that men hate to shop, especially when they're looking for a special gift for mom or a special gift for the women in his life. It's not that the men don't want to give these deserving women something special; it's just that they need shopping tips . Shopping tip No. 1: A portable vacuum is not a suitable gift for women . Spa Basics First guys, a day of spa basics are always a great gift. She can learn about skin care , have a relaxing massage, a manicure and pedicure, and just get the much-needed breathing room she deserves. But if you really want to make her happy, take her on a couple's spa vacation to the luxury spa resort of her choice. After a few days of being pampered together, you'll both know the gift was worth it. The Elegant Baker If the woman in your life spends her free time whipping up elaborate desserts to share with her friends and family, how about treating her to a new set of dessert plates and matching dessert wine glasses or champagne glasses ? If you don't know what style she'd like, make up a fancy gift certificate on your computer letting her know it's good for her new dessert plates and dessert wine glasses or champagne glasses . Then she can choose whatever she likes and everyone's happy. A Cook's Dream For the woman that loves to cook gift, sending her to one of the cooking schools in Italy is the ultimate trip of a lifetime. While there, she can spend a week learning from the Italian master chefs and take time to visit some of the country's ancient vineyards. And when she returns, you can toast her with a lovely bottle of Champagne , while you secretly toast yourself for being so smart. After all, you'll be the one who benefits from her culinary lessons the most! Home | About Us | Questions | Advertising | Site Map | Privacy | Legal DIY | Food Network | HGTV | 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.

Unique Gifts Get great

Gift Ideas: Gift Guide to Unique Travel Gifts /travel_smith/images/button.gif" width=32 height=27 border=0 alt="Sign up for offers" hspace=1 /travel_smith/images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" /travel_smith/images/topnav_horizontal.gif" width="750" height="1" -- Gift Ideas - Unique Gifts Get great gift ideas with TravelSmith's gift guides to unique gifts for holidays, birthdays or any occasion. Unique Gift Idea - Gift Guides Gift ideas for men and women: unique gift ideas from the TravelSmith gift guide. Other travel gear from TravelSmith. /travel_smith/images/spacer.gif" width="5" height="1" -- -- Home Gift Guide view by: Best-Selling | Price | What's New Gift Guide Next " " width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- " " border="0" width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- #GIFTC TravelSmith Gift Certificates $25-$500 " " width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- " " border="0" width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- #4357 New! Women's Options Unlimited Jacket $79.00 " " width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- " " border="0" width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- #7383 New! Men's Packable Leather Baseball Jacket $224.50 " " width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- " " border="0" width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- #6760 Women's MicroTweed Coat $149.00 " " width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- " " border="0" width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- #7335 New! Men's Color Crescent Sweater $246.00 " " width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- " " border="0" width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- #7103 Men's No Worries MicroSuede Travel Suit $115.00 " " width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- " " border="0" width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- #7386 New! Men's Washable Suede Bomber Jacket $169.50 " " width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- " " border="0" width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- #4760 New! Women's Seam Slimmer ® Knit Dress $69.00 " " width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- " " border="0" width="156" height="150" alt=" " -- #7401 New! Men's Double Helix Sweater $199.50 Next SHOPPING My Account Wish List Sizing Info Gift Certificate Online Catalog COMPANY About Us Your Privacy Rights Job Opportunities HELP How to Order Contact Us Product Directory Site Map Under $50 Under $100 Games & Gadgets Monogram Perfect for Her Perfect for Him Gift Certificates

Wedding Gift

'); //-- Weddings and wedding planning! Wedding dresses, engagement rings, wedding cakes and more. My Checklist My Budget My Guestlist My Notebook Investor Relations MY KNOT PLANNING GOWNS IN YOUR AREA TALK TV REGISTRY CENTER WEDDING SHOP THE NEST Wedding Planning Getting Engaged Real Weddings Wedding Fashion Bridal Beauty Grooms The Wedding Party Honeymoons The Nest WEDDING CHECKLIST WEDDING BUDGETER GUEST LIST TOOLS WEDDING WEB PAGE NEW! What's in your married future? Find out in your weekly newlywed horoscope. It's all here! Use our search tools and photo galleries to find what you need. Rings Invitations Table Settings Wedding Cakes Honeymoons Wedding Dresses Wedding Hair Styles Bridal Accessories Bridesmaids, et al Tuxedos 8 ways to keep your maids smiling Must-read gown-shopping advice Rehearsal dinners: The basics Q: Is it rude to ask for gifts of money? More wedding etiquette Caroline and Michael host a chic country wedding in Minnesota. See more real weddings On our boards . Rebecca7 asks: "Can we stay at home on our honeymoon? " NEW! Get CASHBACK on your wedding purchases with our rewards program Find out how Personalize It! Shop for cameras, decorations + more SAVE NOW ON: Groomsman Gifts Cameras Bubbles Wedding Bells Departments Ceremony Reception Favors Attendant Gifts Planning Jewelry Apparel Beauty & Spa Find a couple's web page & gift registry at The Knot Find a couple's registry at other stores nationwide : Home | Help | About Us | Press | Advertise With Us | Investor Relations | Jobs | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Log Out AB Shop | Knot Store Directory | Shopping Cart | Registry | Secure Shopping | Customer Service | Wedding Rewards © 1997 - 2005 The Knot Inc. All Rights Reserved Investor Relations (NASDAQ: KNOT) A Note from The Knot