Excitement or Extortion? A Guide to Gifting  It's random
present-giving season or, as Chaucer put it, "'Tis spring, when
small birds make melodies and invitations to sendeth gifties
doth impregnate already swollen mailboxes."  With all kinds of
impending baby and bridal showers — often in that order —
graduations, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and various
accessory holidays (Father's Day, Flag Day, National Chocolate
Éclair Day) calling out to us with coy announcements, if you
haven't figured out whether to gift or call it a grift, you're
behind the holiday curve.  Having a finely calibrated moral
compass based primarily on the avoidance of life's irritations
and annoyances, I have learned to judge the character of these
double-edged affectionate-yet-charitable requests swiftly and
fearlessly.  Sign Up For Traffic Text Alerts  I can tell if
you're a sweetheart pretending to be a tough cookie or a
barbarian pretending to be Lady Bountiful.  Are you celebrating
wonderful news and endearingly asking me to j