To my Secret Santa:

Reindeer like sherry? Who knew?

I did post hints, but they're in another thread. To save valuable shopping or manufacture time, here's a reprise:

1. what is your age range? I'm 50
2. gender? Female

3. Do you have a favorite color? Dark green (Rifle green); Imperial purple; indigo.

4. favorite authors / type of book? Complicated serious detective stories like those by Ian Rankin, Minette Walters and Val McDiarmid (unfortunately I have already read their entire oeuvres, alas!) I also like Terry Pratchett, but have read all of him, too.

5. what books have you really been wanting? Volume III of Simon Schama's History of Britain and the first book in that exciting new detective series that you know about and I do not.

6. what type of music do you like? Old Blind Dogs, the Buena Vista Social Club, Old Crow Medicine Show, Doc Watson -- anything with a really good guitar.

7. what cds have you really been wanting? surprise me

8. What movies (vhs is in the price range) have you been wanting? No thanks -- I find most movies don't repeat well

9. what is your t-shirt size? XL (I like them big and floppy, with a wide neck, especially V-neck if possible)

10. do you collect anything? No. No! Noooo! (Except books and CDs, but they don't count as "collecting", do they? They're, um, essential equipment, like the furnace.)

11. what are some of your other hobbies? playing guitar, wrestling with the mandolin (it's still winning, but I'm gaining), writing (I do a military history column in the Canadian Forces newspaper), cookery (especially French), following Edmund around battlefields

12. do you prefer gold-tone or silver-tone jewelry? Gold, but don't buy me jewellery because I can't wear the fake stuff and the real is too expensive.

13. please include anything else you feel is important that would help your secret santa know what you would like:

I'm not big on cuteness so, if geese in sunbonnets is your bag -- well, don't go there. Also, second-hand is good. Clothing should be washable and able to withstand feline assault.