Hatrack River Forum: Gag Gift idea for 50-year-old surprise birthday party!

This is topic Gag Gift idea for 50-year-old surprise birthday party! in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Jay (Member # 5786) on :

So. I trying to think of something that fit in the theme with gag gifts but wouldn’t be totally useless. Then on a whim I think I’ve come up with the perfect gift.

Ender’s Game.

The title fits into the mold for the birthday, yet it is one of the best books ever. So…. What do you think?

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

What, he doesn't already have it? [Eek!]

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Jay,
There is a "Vintage Candy" site somewhere where you can order candy that was around when that person was a kid. I thought that was the neatest idea. I will see if I can find the link. I think I heard about it here, actually.

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

Ender's Game is good, it's funny in context.

Or you could get him a book on wills or retiring, preferably with a funny title: It's all downhill from here...

If you're handy with tools (I am not [Frown]

), my brother recently linked me this rotary cell phone.
It's a plan to take apart an old rotary phone and transform it into a cell phone. A very retro rotary.

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Ha!
Candy site.
http://www.oldtimecandy.com/50th-birthday-gifts.htm

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

Hmmm, that old time candy site might be perfect for my older relatives.

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

Too bad my parents grew up in Israel, with different candy...

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Wait a minute, Morbo. What, exactly, do you mean by older relatives?

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

Relatives who are older than me, isn't that clear?

ASFAIK, all the candy I loved as a kid is still around, even those nasty-yet-nostalgic Chick-O-Stix I used to gnosh daily and now buy rarely.

edit: here's more nostalgic candy: http://www.rockofagescandy.com/Funny_Stuff/index.html

[ February 19, 2005, 02:10 PM: Message edited by: Morbo ]

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

It is clear, Morbo. I am just worried, I guess, when I hear "older relative" in the same clump as "vintage candy," because it makes me feel both old and, well, vintage.

My older relatives are in their sixties and up, you know?

Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :

I have made a couple of coffin shaped cakes. One for my boss' thirtieth, and one for my father in law's fiftieth. I like them because a simple chocolate glaze is easy to apply.

Posted by Jay (Member # 5786) on :

So I head out to Books a Million with my great gift idea just before the party. Thinking, hey, they might have the new “Ultimate Ironman” too, since they have about 50 yards of magazines.
Well, I get there. Get this. Out of Ender’s Game!!!!
What book store doesn’t keep tons of those in stock. And no Ironman. Had to run to the other side of town to go to the mall and Walden’s.
The nerve…..

Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :

the cell phone was brilliant. i want one.

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

Yeah, that phone would be cool to take to a nightclub. Or bizarre. Either way, an attention-getter. [Cool]

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

ha. I have my grandmother's black rotary phone in my laundry room. it is the modern version, with plasic rotary. I don't know where the metal rotary one went. it is probably worth a few bucks.

In keeping with this idea, how about a manual typewriter keyboard for old timers who are forced to use a computer?

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

Elizabeth, you might be able to sell it on ebay. No idea what it might be worth.

Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :

*trying to understand what makes Ender's Game a gag gift* [Confused]

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

Like now he's 50, so he's in his end game.

Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :

*puts hands on hip*

Excuse me? [No No]

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Exactly my point above, Ela. We would be his "older relatives."

We are young, I say! Young!

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

"If everyone on Hatrack claps their hands and says'I believe they're young! I believe!'"...

[Taunt]

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

So, how old are yu, Morbo? How much of an older relative am I, huh?

And I have an issue with the candy. The 40 ye old box does not have the following candy necessary for my nostalgic moment:

100,00 Dollar Bar
Gum Cigars(the best gum-ever)
Candy cigarettes
Marathon bar
Those weird waxy things filled with juice that you chewed like gum after sucking the juice out of
Ice Cubes
More I cannot think of remember now because I am OLD.

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

I think we're roughly the same age, Elizabeth. I was just razzing you and Ela.

I remember those weird waxy things! Weren't they shaped like little soda bottles?

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Morbo, some were just tube shaped.