surprise!!

My Thoughts for Thursday this week is just a reflection of what's been on my mind lately.
Surprises...
I find myself always trying to think up nice surprises for people. One of my most favorite things in the world is giving someone a gift -whether it's a tangible item or a surprise activity or situation- of something that they weren't expecting and that makes them happy. I'm one of the ones who stresses about finding "the perfect gift". I've gotten better about giving that up, because we all know sometimes that's just not possible, but still... I love finding just the right thing for someone. If I find them the perfect gift, that "how did you know?" thing that makes them smile... that makes my day. And I think the reason behind that is because I LOVE SURPRISING PEOPLE! I love the feeling that a "surprise" gives someone... doing something or arranging something special for someone that takes just that little bit of extra thought... I think it adds a lot to a gift. And it makes it so much fun! Whether it's bringing hot chocolate to the teachers who stand outside in 20 degree weather to deliver kids to their cars, or planning an all-out surprise party for someone. I like the feeling of doing the unexpected and putting a smile on someone's face.

I'm trying to think of my favorite surprises...
I've kind of made it my own tradition to somehow surprise Ryan each year at his birthday. Not just with gifts he's surprised by, but for instance, one year we went out to dinner at a really nice french restaurant (with live music and their own classy magician that entertains from table to table... Brasserie Montmartre, for those of you around Portland) and while he thought it was just the two of us out for a nice romantic birthday dinner, when we arrived at the restaurant, there was a group of a dozen of our closest friends waiting to celebrate with him! One year I surprised him with a "mystery date" of a ride on the Jet Boat Tours on the Willamette River. One year was a surprise birthday bbq (complete with his favorite ribs!) with a huge group of friends to show up! Or the year I gave him his Playstation 2 when I had been adamant leading up to his birthday about not wanting him to have one.

Other favorites:
*We gave a surprise baby shower once.
*I gave my little sister a new bird for Christmas one year after she had recently lost hers (completely surprised! ...and live animals make that a little more difficult!) .
*I had the surprise bug early, as I orchestrated a surprise birthday party for my sister's 10th? birthday. (that was one of the best... she screamed when she walked in the room!)
*I once whisked a friend up to the mountain for a surprise weekend of snowboarding (so fun!).
*We surprised one of Ryan's best friends with a trip to his wedding.
Even just sending cards in the mail out of the blue (which I don't do nearly often enough anymore), or something like leaving a surprise donut in Ryan's car for him in the morning. I just like to add a little something nice to someone's day once in awhile when they aren't always expecting it.

I've been trying to brainstorm things with Ryan's next birthday coming up. So far I'm kind of at a loss, what with not being close to many friends or any family and no budget for doing anything big. All he wants this year is a big screen TV, and I can tell you upfront he's not going to wake up Birthday morning and find that anywhere in this house.
Hopefully I'll figure out something to catch him by surprise. I have another two weeks.
I just wish Gartner's delivered... .to the midwest.

In the meantime, tell me about your favorite surprises... giving or receiving... I love to hear stories!