Five Good Christmas Gifts for Him

Grown men get crappy Christmas gifts more often than anyone else, partly because they often say "I don't know" when asked what they want. So, standing in the place of five million "I don't knows" is this list of five pretty good ideas of what to get that guy.

1. GPS: What man doesn't need a Global Positioning System for his vehicle? Now men who are notorious for refusing to stop and ask for directions, won't have to. Men love gadgets, and this one is actually useful. He flips on the GPS, types in his destination, and just like that, a pleasant voice tells him where to turn, how far to drive, when to turn back, and so on. Three things have been weighing on my mind about GPS systems. First, why do they call it a GPS system? Doesn't that actually translate to Global Positioning System system? Second, why is the voice always a female that sound vaguely familiar, and third: Why do women argue with the GPS voice (sometimes audibly) and end up stopping for directions anyway, while men seem to do much better with a GPS? In spite of these questions, GPS is a good gift.

2. A magazine subscription on a subject he is interested in. Whether he is into NASCAR, Golf, woodworking, music, TV and Movies, or even on-line games, there are magazines just for him. You may think he doesn't read much, but if he had a NASCAR magazine, he might, and even if not, racing magazines are full of really great pictures that I'm sure he would enjoy.

3. An activity that he talks about but has never done. For me this was a trip to see a Detroit Pistons game last year. The last time I had seen the Pistons (yes I'm a fan), Bob Lanier and Dave Bing were running the show at Cobo Hall. This gift could be a sporting event like the Indy 500 or the Masters' Golf tournament, or an activity like whitewater rafting or a canoe trip. An important factor with this choice is that the person giving the gift does it WITH the recipient.

4. FOOD! Men love food. Why is it that once a man is over 30, nobody remembers that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach? There is resistance to this idea in some corners because some people (mainly women) whine that "he will eat it all up and then it will be gone". Yes but he will always remember the Christmas morning when he ate an entire cherry cheesecake all by himself, or barbecued the first of his 15 Omaha Steaks on the outside grill in 27 degree weather. The gift isn't for you, it's for him, and MEN love food. If you can't give him real food, give him a gift certificate (for two) to his favorite restaurant.

5. Tools. Unlike women, who will crown you good if you buy them an appliance like an Iron or a toaster, men love new tools. Socket wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, or even better, electric tools. They look just like toys to men, and they will spend time on Christmas playing with them. First they will read the instructions, and when they get to the "good" parts they will read out loud. Then they will go to the garage, basement or workshop, and try out their new toys.

If you hurry, you can take this list with you and get all of the men on your list a good present this year.