What should I get for my dad on his 66th bday?

[adrian]

Yes, my father will be 66 this Saturday, and my Mom is planning a dinner at a restaurant (Sizzlers, or something like that), so I thought I should get him something, but what does a college student give his father?

He's been in the construction biz for 21 years, and we sometimes help him maintain the 3 (4 if you count the one we're living in) houses scattered throughout the leeward side, so he has a lot of tools. He has 2 Ford F150 trucks (one is his work truck, a 1984 truck that needs a new bench seat and its dashboard needs replacing; and the other is a 1997 truck he bought just incase the older truck fails [which it did once]). There's a 90% chance that he won't be attending his own dinner (my mom is planning to invite his only blood relative to it) probably because he's not the social type, and he loves to work in his workshop constantly adding on or improving something to the house.

I have about $40 to spend, and I feel that as the oldest son that can attend his own dinner, I feel obligated to buy him something, but he's like the father who has everything.

Anyone can give me ideas as to what to get him?

[Miulang]

Well, you're a college student, so I'm sure he isn't expecting a big present from you. Maybe if you got him a nice birthday card and said in the card you would help him do something specific at one of the houses (you know, like mow the lawn or something like that), that that would make him happy.

Most parents only want to know that the sacrifices that they make for their kids pays off with their kids being educated and productive members of society. The 2 best gifts you could give both your parents are 1) graduate from school and 2) get a good job.

Miulang

[1stwahine]

As a mom of three grown children, the most precious gift I recieve, is knowing they are ok, that I did a wonderful job in raising them.

Give a simple gift as a card and write a note to him in "your words" and attach a gift card so he can get something that he wants to his liking. It is not the value of the gift but the thought in which we give from the HEART!! :)

Auntie Lynn

[lurkah]

Anyone can give me ideas as to what to get him?
How about giving him a birthday card. And in that card, in your own personal handwriting using your own words, tell him how much you really love and appreciate him and all that he's done for you and your family over the years. Sign the card, and give it to him saying that if he'd like to open and read it later, it would be okay. I'm sure a gift like that would blow away any materialistic things that you could give him.

[D'Alani]

Follow the advice given by the last three posts and maybe you can throw in a $25.00 gift card from home Depot.

[GypsyLika]

I agree wit everybody above, a card with a handwritten sentiment and a gift card to a store where he can buy what he wants. It is the thought that counts and I'm sure whatever you get him he'll like.

I always give WalMart giftcards to my elderly aunts & uncles, so that they can buy what they want since they pretty much have everything and they never like what I buy. :)

[tutusue]

I agree with the others! How about making your dad a card on the computer and possibly take him out to breakfast or lunch...just the 2 of you? Time is such an important 'gift'.

[Pomai]

When your father starts asking when you'll give him GRANDCHILDREN, then you have to worry.

Until then, what everyone here suggested sounds great.

All my folks ever wanted from me was a bill of good health and that I can pay my own bills. :D

[adrian]

Okay, not to divert from the subject a bit, but my Mom went out to buy some party stuff (their normal filipino stuff: chicharon, peanuts, etc) but she also bought cheap wine (one of them is orange). My friend says that they're not real wine, and if she went shopping, then she should have brought him along. It'll be served in cheap wine glasses (they're not even glass) but this is normal for our situation (the last time we went this all out, was during my sister's 1st bday, and our cousins took all of Burger King's stock of Pochahontas (sp?) glasses and gave those out as favors.)

I have a lot on my mind lately, so I think I'll either drop the gift idea, or somehow repay him later.

[kimo55]

I am now very depressed, for some reason...

[tutusue]

I think I'm getting an understanding of how your family owns a few rental properties. And, that's not a zinger! Sounds like some frugal living has enabled some good investing. Kudos to your family.

[Peshkwe]

Take some of the fruitier versions of the wine and mix some complimentry soda pop with em ...say whatever amount of wine add half to a third's worth of pop to it, like the orange flavored one mix with squirt or some tart type soda pop....if the orange one is what we have here (orange-peach mix type) it's not half bad in flavor without alot of alcohol content. Actually not a bad choice for a party where you don't want people to get blotto too quickly.

Pour the mix into spare icecube trays and freeze. You can add them to the wine you pour into glasses so the wine won't get diluted like with regular ice cubes or you can put them into a blender smoosh em up fine and have wine icee/smoothie type things. Make some juice/soda pop versions for the lil kids so they don't feel left out.

Cheer up...yo moms coulda went and got Mad Dog and the Rose.

[cezanne]

Your dad's a tooler? How about a gift card from Home Depot, Sears or Woodcraft?

[adrian]

Your dad's a tooler? How about a gift card from Home Depot, Sears or Woodcraft?
He probably can open up his own woodshop or tool store because he practically has every tool to fix or make something related to the house and auto.

I'll just be a good photographer/videographer/DJ I can be at the event on Saturday, and probably I'll whip up a few things.

[craigwatanabe]

Oh man this just out at Home Depot. They are selling a Ridgid 14.4 volt impact drill driver and regular drill driver combo with two batteries and charger for $139, regularly $199.00 Just saw it today.

What makes a 14.4 volt or even a 12 volt cordless driver better than an 18-volt driver is the weight. An 18-volt driver has more weight in the bottom than a lower voltage model. This higher weight means more fatigue when it comes to using the wrist to aim the driver vertically. That's why Makita still makes 12-volt and 9.6-volt cordless tools, they're simply lighter than today's 18-volt monsters.

Other than the pricing, the other great advantage of buying the Ridgid brand at Home Depot is for a limited time, all power tools (except for compressors) are having their 3-year warranty extended to a lifetime warranty!

What's great about this is that this warranty includes THE BATTERIES! Yeah if the batteries fail 10-years from now (and all cordless tool batteries die eventually), these batteries are covered under this warranty, meaning free batteries for as long as you own your Ridgid power tool. That's amazing!

And makes for a great gift too. Impact drivers are fast becoming the drill/driver of choice among craftsmen giving you the ability to drive Tapcon screws effortlessly thru concrete as opposed to standard drill/drivers. It also makes for easy drilling thru thick woodstock too.

But no matter how many tools a man can have, we can never have too much especially if it's a cordless tool combo kit. I got three cordless drills from Ryobi, Black and Decker, and Skill. I love em all.

[Miulang]

But no matter how many tools a man can have, we can never have too much especially if it's a cordless tool combo kit. I got three cordless drills from Ryobi, Black and Decker, and Skill. I love em all.

Big boys and their toys...are power tools the male equivalent of shoes and handbags for the wahines? :D

Miulang

[lurkah]

Big boys and their toys...are power tools the male equivalent of shoes and handbags for the wahines? :D
Without those "toys", the wahines would all be living in cardboard boxes. :p

Eh Craig...you haven't reached cordless drill nirvana until you get a Makita. ;)

[adrian]

And makes for a great gift too. Impact drivers are fast becoming the drill/driver of choice among craftsmen giving you the ability to drive Tapcon screws effortlessly thru concrete as opposed to standard drill/drivers. It also makes for easy drilling thru thick woodstock too.

But no matter how many tools a man can have, we can never have too much especially if it's a cordless tool combo kit. I got three cordless drills from Ryobi, Black and Decker, and Skill. I love em all.
He has so many drills, that his 4 offsprings can use one when they get their own houses (or use them to fix up the houses).

If I need to give him a gift, it'll be a drill bit set, because we've (me and my younger brother) each broke atleast 3 drill bit while drilling into bricks and wood.

[lurkah]

;)

If I need to give him a gift, it'll be a drill bit set, because we've (me and my younger brother) each broke atleast 3 drill bit while drilling into bricks and wood.I'm thinking a better gift would be a locking toolbox to keep all the broke-anics out. ;)

[adrian]

;) I'm thinking a better gift would be a locking toolbox to keep all the broke-anics out. ;)
Me and my siblings pitched in one year to buy him a truck toolbox, but we didn't think about the bars he has in it, so its in the back under some tiles, bags and other stuff (but that was before he got a second truck, but I guess he doesn't want to use it)

It'd be better if I can buy a GPS system where it could track all of his tools (or atleast make it identifiable and less prone to stealing)

[backwoodlessons2]

It'd be better if I can buy a GPS system where it could track all of his tools (or atleast make it identifiable and less prone to stealing)
lol. Very funny. I would get something that has to do with fishing.

[adrian]

Oh, what a party! My Mom got drunk from those wines she bought, my Dad got reunited with all of his cousins (his only family left), everyone ate and talked story like it was no tomorrow, and everyone just had a good time.

Sure, we had a rough start in the beginning (we had some communication problems and forgot some stuff at home, so we had to rely on other people to bring in stuff like coolers and transportation; luckily Foodland was nearby, because me and my Mom stopped by to get some sodas, pastries/goodies, ice and other essential party items) but it smoothed out at the end.

My Dad was really surprised when his cousins came by and he took pictures with everyone at every table (luckily we got 2 cameras). The food was very plentiful and everyone didn't have enough room for cake at the end. But the biggest event of the evening, was when my Mom drank too much wine (on the bottle, it said it contained 7% alcohol). I was beginning to worry when she always had a cup full of wine, and I was worried when the party ended, but luckily, she upchucked it all out and got her senses back enough to pay for the party.

The hardache, stress in planning and hosting an event is worth it, because in the end, we enjoyed it. I've never seen my Dad so happy, enjoying an event with his family and friends.

[1stwahine]

That's very nice Adrian. The most important thing is your Dad enjoyed his Birthday Party! As for your Mom, next time keep the wine bottles away from her. Perhaps, at your Wedding someday.

So, what did you decide on the thank you cards? Nah, whatever you chose, I know you chose wisely. However, now that you have this as an experience, you won't need to much help from the forum. You've grown up.

Auntie Lynn

[D'Alani]

Congratulations! That was great that you pulled it off and everything worked out. For someone your age to take charge and do something like that for your parent is a wonderful thing. I'm sure you will come up with a suitable thank you card on your own.

[craigwatanabe]

Without those "toys", the wahines would all be living in cardboard boxes. :p

Eh Craig...you haven't reached cordless drill nirvana until you get a Makita. ;)

It's on the "Gotta Have" list. Especially since Makita is offering a 12vdc drill driver and impact driver for $199 including hard case!!!

Thats the same price as just the 12vdc impact driver itself that they sold before this combo came out.

Oh yeah...men without tools is like a day without sunshine :D Whether we use em or not :eek: