Today is my dad’s birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! And, in an attempt to put him in a good mood before dinner tonight, I’ve compiled a list of some off-the-beaten-path gifts my brother, Bobby, and I have gotten him over the years (that seemed to go over pretty well).
- Back in 2004, when PETCO Park was under construction, Bobby and I bought my dad a brick in the new ballpark. He opted to have it engraved with the score from the NO HITTER he pitched in 1962 (he was 14 years old). Isn’t that pretty cool? We “visit” it every time we go to a game now.
- …which we do sometimes for Father’s Day or Dad’s Birthday, because sometimes we can’t think of anything to get him so we just get him tickets to a Padres game:
- Last year for Father’s Day, my dad, brother and I all got spa pedicures! I’m not real sure how this honestly went over with my dad… he said “a good gift is something that the recipient wouldn’t have gotten for themselves, and I never would have gotten this for myself”… is that good?
- For Christmas one year, Bobby and I paid for family portraits with our dogs. I happen to know that these pictures mean a lot to my dad:
- My dad’s favorite gift from Bobby and me is hands-down the 15′ flag pole we got him for his birthday a few years ago. He still talks about what a great gift it was!
Any ideas what I should get him today? 
I’ve always loved your gifts to your dad, so creative! Say happy birthday to you dad for me by the way!
Your dad was on a carrier during his career in the navy right? have you taken or has he seen the USS midway yet? They are having a special event/anniversary on the 30th:
http://www.midway.org/?q=OFW
They are also having a freedom festival concert:
http://www.midway.org/?q=freedom
Or your dad is big on nature, helping others enjoy nature, etc. What about making a donation to the Trust for Public Land organization in your dad’s name. They are currently working to preserve three parks in the San Diego area, one of them being Buena Vista Park (right in your dad’s back yard).
http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=22895&folder_id=2707
I have always loved your gifts that you gave your dad, so creative
Here are some I thought of:
1. Was you dad on a carrier during his career in the Navy? If so, he might enjoy taking you and Bobby on the ship and reliving old memories and sharing stories during a visit to the Midway museum. They are having an anniversary event on the 30th and a music concert in May:
http://www.midway.org/OFW
Or what about donating to the Trust for Public Land organization in your dad’s name? Your dad is big on nature (PCT, etc.) and TPL is currently working to preserve three parks in the SD area, one of them being Buena Vista Park right in your dads back yard:
http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=22895&folder_id=2707