The Daily Deal for Sunday, June 7, 2008

Are you ready with your Father's Day presents yet? If not, I have the perfect Daily Deal for you from Hammocks.com. Who can deny that every father's fondest desire is to have an occasional day to himself to do absolutely nothing? What better way is there to spend a day of nothing than to be laying back in a breezy hammock with a cold beverage and the ball game on the radio? Is there anything as enjoyable as a shady snooze?

Hammocks.com is offering the Island Bay, quilted hammock with included stand for a 32% discount. For just $189.98, you get the hammock, a button attached pillow, the powder coated stand and all hanging hardware. This is a two person sized hammock with a 450 pound capacity, so it'll hold just about anyone's dad. For a limited time, shipping to the continental U.S. is just $15. The company claims next day shipping, so you should still be able to get one delivered before dad's big day arrives.

I'm not what most people would consider to be a "romantic" type of fellow, but I think I know how to please a heart. I have learned over time that effect is not generally dictated by sticker price, although I'll admit occasionally that helps. What I have found to be a tried and true approach to letting someone know you love them is to do the little things which show them "I think about you when you're not here by me."

For instance, although I've never witnessed the reaction, I know for a fact that when my wife gets up in the morning she gets a little smile on her face when I leave the coffee pot full and warm. It tells her that I've thought about her comfort and I have done a little something about it.

Secret love notes hidden in spots where I know she'll go always make her smile. She almost glows when I brush her hair back to give her a light kiss on the neck as she's doing the dishes. Does she notice when I clean the snow off her car before I go to bed so she doesn't have to do it in the morning? I think so. Does it matter when I scoop up our daughter and take her to the park just as momma is reaching her wits end? I'm quite sure it does.

These are the things of which Valentine's Day is made. Saint Valentine was a martyr, thus the concept of giving of yourself. It's not necessarily about what material things you can give to someone, it's about what you can do for them. It means suspending your own needs temporarily and focusing on the needs and desires of someone you love.

For all you executive types, who would rather leave the leg work to the florist, try this simple exercise; Buy the cheapest box of crayons you can find and dig out the red one. Take a sheet of copier paper and draw a big red heart right in the middle of it. Next, draw an arrow through that heart, it's easy, I promise. Now put your lover's initials at the top of the heart and put yours near the bottom. Finish the exercise by handing your crude drawing to your partner with the words "I was thinking about you."

I'll let you finish the story from there.

Are you caught up in the holiday race to see who can spend the most money and reap the most toys? If you have mistakenly found yourself dedicated to the consumerist side of the holidays you might be missing the boat.

What has been lost in this yearly drive to create joy via the purchase of consumer goods? It could be the idea that we need to take time to focus on friends, family and the greater meaning of love. As discussed in an article by Jeffrey Strain at The Street.com, the holidays can be experienced with extra meaning and focus by using and creating traditions which are not based upon the amazing shrinking dollar.