[Tara]

Hi! This is not weight related - but I need HELP!

My boyfriends dad will turn 50 on September 15th.

This man is so hard to buy for! I usually get him something boring - but for his 50th I would like to get him something better.

He is a mechanic and loves trucks and coca cola - that is about it!

Any suggestions on what to get a 50 year old man that is VERY HARD to buy for?? He is so hard even his son (my boyfriend) can never think of anything. I could get him a gift certificate - that is an option - but I was curious to know if anyone has anything more creative.

Thanks in advance!!

Tara

[MILLIEB]

I got my dad a reprint of a newspaper printed on his birthday - you can also get copies of Time magazine from the week you were born. HOWEVER - I can't remember what web site it was I ordered them from! OR - I've ordered my husband movies in his favorite genre (science fiction) made the year he was born - the 1950s were great for extremely bad science fiction! You can get these and many others from Amazon.com. I've also seen some catalogs with video tapes with clips of TV programs,news shows, etc. that you can specific by year - these are great to show at a birthday party. Maybe some web surfing is in order?

[QuilterInVA]

How about one of the collectible Coke trucks? Or, since he likes Coke, get him 50 cans.

[Tara]

Thanks ladies - those are some good ideas.

I thought about getting him a coke truck - I may do that. He loves the stuff! But he only drinks Coke from the bottles! You know the new ones that come in 6 packs. He is very picky about it (its alittle weird if you ask me!). LOL

Anyone else have anything creative??

Thanks!!

Tara

[Krislee]

How about a book on the history of coca cola, his favorite kind of truck (Ford, Chevy etc.), a Craftsman tool or a gift certificate to Sears (etc.) so he can pick out a tool.

Just some more ideas! Let us know what you decide on and how he reacts.

[Mhami]

I know you are looking for serious ideas, but since he is turning the BIG 50....

How about some joke gifts too? Such as:

Bengay
A cane
That formula stuff that takes out the gray
Viagra

I just can't think right now, but you get the idea.

As for a serious gift... hmm that is so hard, I am at a loss also.

Marianne

[dharma]

Does he shave using a razor and shaving cream? If so, I purchased a hand-made sterling silver razor for my husband (for his 50th birthday) from a silversmith in Uxbridge, Ontario. He absolutely loved it and still uses it everyday.

You could also check flea markets, antique stores and old used bookstores for a 50-year old calendar - for DH's 40th birthday, I found him a calendar from the year he was born. It was quite a find.

I just did a search on Ebay with the criteria calendar and 1951 and came up with the following (there are more, these are just a sample):

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1175022490
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1175826166
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1624693559
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1176026807

Go to the coke website (www.cocacola.com) and go to the gifts area. You can shop on line.

[Jen-L]

My hubby got the Coke book (history etc.) because he loves Coke and it is a neat book. A coffee table kind of book!

[jennifa]

Restoration Hardware has some cool tools he might enjoy. He might also like to go to a concert or other social outing.

[Scuttle]

A friend from work just bought her husband a biplane ride for his 50th birthday. She was trying to choose between that, and a hand-gliding flight!

[Sheridan]

Hi,
Since he is a mechanic,he is probably a practical man.How about a subscription to Consumer Reports? I find men love this gift if for no other reason each April they have an entire issue devoted to cars. I believe you can get it in an online form also if he likes computers.

I would caution against the bengay, cane,etc type of gift. There is nothing funny about the limitations of growing older and though someone may laugh,my experience has been that no one really likes such gifts or thinks they are funny. In my opinion it is rather insensitive.This in not an area to display a sense of humor. Also you are not yet in the family so if I were you I would not take the risk of offending him. Good luck!
Sheridan

[Mhami]

I have to admit that when I first read your message and replied I thought it said that "your boyfriend" was turning 50. You would definitely know whether or not he could take a joke. As for his dad, I am not so sure I would take that gamble either.