Fourth Annual Gift Giving Guide
Happy Holidays! It's that time of year again!

Considering how busy we've been (workshops, lessons, dances, and a team!) I didn't think I'd get this out but I am definitely one who thrives under pressure.

So here we go with my five gift suggestions for this season!

5. Music
Price Range: $1 to $40



Why of course! And our recommendations for this year are ANY of the cds put out by two favorite bands: Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five AND The Boilermaker Jazz Band.

Jonathan Stout has put together a small band and an orchestra that has become a favorite of many on the west coast. His CDs also have bpms (beats per minute) listed by each track! Over on the east coast, the Boilermaker Jazz Band is hot and well known everywhere for their energy and for their talent. You can't lose with cds from either of these guys. PLUS you can buy individual tracks online!! Check out each band's website for more info:

Campus Five: http://www.campusfive.com
Boilermaker Jazz Band: http://www.boilermakerjazzband.com


4. Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop
Price Range: $30



The autobiography of the man himself. A good read and a keepsake. And if you look around you can buy autographied copies as well. And by the way in his mid-90's, Frankie still travels all the time so you can get the autograph yourself in person too!

Amazon link: http://one2swing.com/links/frankiemanningbook.html

3. Facebook For Dummies
Price Range: $15



Speaking of books ...

Two years ago I had mentioned as a gift helping them out with their own little space of internet (for example I helped Debbie get set up on Myspace). And now along comes Facebook. Wow this thing is SUPER confusing. I don't understand it at all. And of course thus comes: "Facebook for Dummies".

A treat for anyone, but yeah, I was thinking more along the lines of "yeah i could use this ... "

And by the way, my thoughts about facebook are neatly summed up in this Youtube video. Plus I love accents. (The fact that his name is Ben is just coincidence)



So if you have a friend that you want to buy a gift for and they are interested in Facebook, this is definitely one of those "i wouldn't buy it for myself but yeah i love that someone got it for me" type of gifts!

Amazon Link: http://one2swing.com/links/facebookfordummies.html

2. The Office Season Three
Price Range: $40 to $50



Okay, now this REALLY is a shameless plug for me ... so if you have any friends out there who are like me (hmm such as me , you know that they (and I) LOVE "The Office". This show is hilarious. And even if they don't like "The Office", chances are:

1) They can return it and will appreciate yo uspent $40 to $60 on them
2) They will know someone who LIKES "The Office" and can give it to them
3) You will open it up one day and watch it anyway and fall in love with "The Office" (much like how Chi bought me and Sheri "The West Wing" seasons one and two and after four months we opened it and watched it AND LOVED IT

Amazon link: http://one2swing.com/links/theofficeseason3.html

1. Shock Ball
Price Range: $15



For the person who has everything, I bet they don't have this.

An extreme version of the old "Hot Potato" game, this ball emits little shocks at random times! And if you're a swing dancer, you know that late at night after a hard night of dancing (or ..well..anyway) usually two things happen:

1) you're in the mood for trying lots of crazy moves, flips, and aerials (usually ending in some sort of injury)
2) you're in the mood for some crazy fast paced board games

Now solve both problems: play board games that will possibly injure you! (or at least give you a shock!)

Think Geek: http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/cubegoodies/91b8/


That's this year's gift giving guide. For more gift giving ideas, see the previous two articles I've written:

Some Interesting Gifts For Your Lindy Hopping Friend (12/27/2004)
More Interesting Gifts For Your Lindy Hopping Friend (12/11/2005)
Third Annual Gift Giving Guide for Swing Dancers (12/12/2006)

Enjoy!