Need help w/symbol of keeping "the proverbial rug" in place

January 5, 2008 3:40 PM

Clever gift ideas for someone who has had "the proverbial rug" pulled out from under him a few times?

One of my close friends is going back to school to get started in a new career (massage therapy). He has a strong entrepreneurial spirit that has failed him a couple of times in the past few years.

I've heard him refer to "having the rug pulled out from under him" on a few different occasions... Any clever ideas on what I could get/make for him as a symbol to help him put past rug-pulling incidents out of his mind already and focus on the positive as he makes this change?

posted by meindee to human relations (10 comments total)

Carpet staples?
posted by milarepa at 3:50 PM on January 5, 2008

Demotivational posters, assuming he's at the point where he can laugh at his past?

http://despair.com/
posted by krisak at 3:51 PM on January 5, 2008 [1 favorite]

A nonstick, nonslip, un-pull-out-from-under-him-able Mouse Rug (or Coaster Rug)?
(there are other vendors too, if you like the idea)
posted by nkknkk at 3:58 PM on January 5, 2008

Some carpet glue?
posted by TeatimeGrommit at 4:14 PM on January 5, 2008

Toupée?
posted by wryly at 4:25 PM on January 5, 2008 [2 favorites]

wryly beat me to it.
posted by scody at 4:41 PM on January 5, 2008

elbow/knee pads and a helmet?
posted by pupdog at 5:59 PM on January 5, 2008

OK, this may be insanely corny, but perhaps a framed print of this painting and a card which congratulates him on his new direction and hopes that this time the rug under his feet is a magic carpet.
posted by jamaro at 8:06 PM on January 5, 2008

A pair of boots for climbing. He falls down and climbs back out again. It is a sign of eventual success.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:40 PM on January 5, 2008

A rug, perhaps one that really ties the room together?
posted by LilBucner at 1:21 PM on January 10, 2008