Here are a few of our favorite purchases of 2012. Some of these items made cameo appearances in my columns; some we simply enjoyed; and one of them saved our bacon.
Here’s hoping one of them will save yours!
For the record, we give as much of our business to local merchants as we can, but nearly all of these items are available on Amazon.com with expedited shipping, if you happen to find yourself in a gift-giving jam. The prices are taken from the Amazon website, and all of these items are eligible for free two-day shipping if you have Amazon Prime.
Now, in no particular order…
1. ($198) Nest Learning Thermostat, 1st generation.
I wrote about this brilliant device in my February 23rd column, “Chilling with Our New Robotic Overlord.” Designed by the team that brought you the iPhone, this Internet-enabled thermostat is easy to use; endowed with artificial intelligence to learn your heating and cooling habits; and promises to be a big energy — and money — saver in the long run.
2. ($12) The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, Edmund Morris, Modern Library Paperbacks
One of the most compelling books I read this year, a historical biography written with the brio and pace of a superb novel. While not a new book — it was first published in 1979 — it’s a modern classic, a winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. And if it turns out to be a hit, there are two subsequent volumes to give as gifts!
3. ($25) Alden 4507P Micro Grabit Broken Bolt Extractor Kit
This little lifesaver appeared in my August 30th column, “Extracting Yourself from a Major Screw-up,” in which it miraculously extracted a machine screw I’d snapped in half with a clutchless drill. Stupid move; excellent product.
4. ($90) Soft Heat Electric Heated Warming Microplush Top Mattress Pad
A game-changer in the bedroom. I’m a hot sleeper; my wife is a cold-sleeper. This device, which goes on the mattress underneath the fitted sheet, has two zones with two separate controllers, one for each sleeper. Her side is hot; mine isn’t. Everybody’s happy. Plus, it’s an incredibly cheap source of heat. Dial the house thermostat down, crank up the mattress pad, and bathe in the warm glow of your frugality.
5. ($8) OXO Good Grips Wooden Meat Tenderizer
Not exactly a romantic gift, but I’m a sucker for a simple, well made tool that feels good in the hand. The fact that this kitchen mallet is made from solid beech might give germophobes pause; wood isn’t the material of choice for tools that frequently come in contact with raw meat. But for occasional use, it should be fine.
6. ($28) Royal Sovereign Sort ’n’ Save Manual Coin Sorter
This year, I decided to do something about the jar of dusty coins on my dresser. Perhaps your bank still offers a coin-counting service, but many have stopped sorting coins. And if you’re like me, you hate the idea of those grocery store coin-counters, which skim a percentage off the top. I went looking for a coin-sorter I could crank by hand and that wouldn’t jam all the time. This model, uh, fits the bill.
7. ($27 in county; $40 out of county; $50 out of state) An annual subscription to this newspaper.
As television, radio, and the blogosphere slice and dice our citizenry into cynically calculated segments, it’s nice to know that there’s a source for balanced local news. Giving a gift subscription of this paper would be supporting an important local business — not to mention its humble staff!
8. ($100) Wagner 518080 Control Spray Max HVLP Sprayer
This device is for anyone who hates paintbrushes and rollers. It’s not a tool for a professional painter, but it’s simple to use; effective; and easy to clean. Keep in mind that paint typically needs to be thinned in order to spray it. Pay attention to the instructions for thinning the paint; carefully mask windows and trim; and you’ll be able to achieve excellent results.
9. ($9) Time Out of Mind, audio CD, Bob Dylan
Another blast from the past, this album, which won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1998, gets better and better with age. It lives in the CD player in my truck, and is a reliable companion for long drives on country roads. The songs are deep and haunting, the music of a man who survived a heart attack and lived to tell the tale.
10. ($0) Write a sonnet to a loved one.
My favorite gifts are of the hand-made variety, especially when they’re made with love. The column I wrote on November 15th, “Today’s Groupon: Write Your Own Sonnet,” will help you get started. Take an artistic risk! Surprise your partner with a glimpse of unsuspected emotional depths!
Plus, you can’t beat the price.
This column was published in the Perry Co Times on 20 December 2012
For more information, please contact Mr. Olshan at writing@matthewolshan.com
