Dolls, Diamonds, or Dice?

Ever have the urge to just buy something new? Go out and just find something you don't have and bring it home? That's my current feeling. Melissa will cringe when she sees this. I have been known in the past to bring home some very "unnecessary" items in her mind. I would like to think this time would be different though. I'm sure she will do her giddy little goblin clap when she finds out I want to buy her something. The question is what? Melis and I have been together for fifteen years, married for seven. We have been through many interests in that time that have come and gone. Some things have stuck around, some are a flash in the pan, and others are still here waiting in the shadows to strike again someday. There was a period in time when Mel collected plush Eeyores. She will tell you it was me who was collecting them, but every time I brought one home for her she would smile. There was also a time when I would buy her jewelry. She never really asked for it or got excited about it, but isn't that what your supposed to buy women? Even just this last Christmas she asked for a Panadora bracelet. I was excited as this is a collection based item, and it's always fun to buy more. Alas she hasn't worn it that often, and minimal trips to complete her "checklist" have taken place. The one thing that has always been around with Melis and I, and to a larger extent my family, is games. I remember learning cribbage from my grampy, who still to this day I think cheated. Nana and I used to play rummy for entire afternoons. Again I think she cheated too. My family in the past has had whole nights devoted to Hearts, Spades, Queens, Penny poker, and more recently Wizard. Melis was introduced to a lot of my family at said game nights. She jumped right in and joined the fun. Well except when it came to marathon Monopoly games. She has played or at least tried most games I have played. In high school she even had her own Magic deck. I have tried to get her to try some newer card games (Pokemon, Maple Story) and some figure games (Star Wars, Hero Clix) but none have caught on with her. We have also enjoyed many a board game. I love trivial pursuit, she will every now and then entertain a game with friends. She is a big fan of Compatibility, I think only cause the dark side of her loves to see people get mad at their significant other. We have a whole closet of games that see the light of day every now and then. Mel knows the joy I get in game night and always urges me to go to the store on Tues nights. I want to return some of that joy to her by buying us a new game. I know she has enjoyed the last few games she has demo'd (Alhambra,Settlers of Catan) so I think I will either pick up one of those, or find something similar. It is difficult to ignore the feelings that I will like a game and focus on what she would like in a game. Hopefully I can find one we both enjoy as well as our friends.