<p>Ok, first I want to thank everyone again for all the help I’ve gotten in my wedding thread. </p>
<p>Now I have a bit more urgent question…</p>
<p>A friend of mine here was given an ultimatum by his advisor this past weekend that he needed to stay here in town over Christmas (and the rest of winter break) or else he’d be kicked out of the PhD program (he’s in his 4th year, at one point the ‘conversation’ degraded to the advisor asking what was more important, family or science?). Now, this advisor is heartless and my friend is obviously way down in the dumps that he can’t go home for the holidays (he had already purchased a plane ticket that is worthless now). </p>
<p>I want to do something special for my friend (a guy, upper 20’s, single, and quirky) for Christmas, but have no clue what to get him. I was thinking something easy to ship to his apartment that would hopefully get there by Christmas eve. </p>
<p>Any ideas?</p>
<p>Thanks! :D</p>
<p>Edit:</p>
<p>I don’t think price will be too much of an issue, I’m going to be going to the other grad students to see if we can go in on it together.</p>
<p>How about one of those digital picture frames, the ones that hold about six photos that keep changing. Get his friends and family members to send you digital pictures to put on it before you send it off. They can also update the photos including holiday shots. It would cheer me up to at least see my friends and family enjoying themselves and those frames are </p>
<p>How about something edible - snacks (i.e. popped corn, candy, pretzles), dessert (i.e. a cheesecake), main dish (i.e. small honeybaked ham), etc. This way he’ll at least eat well even if he is lonely. Oh yeah, and maybe a DVD to go along with the popped corn.</p>
<p>Yeah I think that’s something nice we can do in addition to the gift.</p>
<p>How about this?</p>
<p>He is active in our league bowling…he always complains that there is only one bowling ball that has holes big enough for his fingers. Is there anyway to get him a bowling ball for Christmas (without him getting suspicious)?</p>
<p>I think that in addition to some kind of food or snack basket would be a great idea.</p>
<p>You can get it with the custom fit to be done later. Great way to relieve that stress. They still have bowling in Madison? I think we have one place left in all Seattle.</p>
<p>We now have quite a large group in on getting him a gift certificate to the bowling shop for a bowling ball. Yeah, there is still a bowling alley in Union South which offers bowling leagues for us stressed out graduate students! It’s how I spend every Thursday evening!</p>
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