I've always received (for lack of a better term) generic guy gifts, sporting good gift card kind of things. Appreciated every one of them, but nothing crazy. I met a gal a couple weeks before my birthday and we hung out a bit getting to know each other. B-day comes around and in that short time, she had picked up on all the little things that casual conversation bring and put together an amazing day. A trip to the city hitting a natural history exhibit I had talked briefly about. She cut me loose at a second hand music shop I used to frequent as a kid and put up with 4 hours of me thumbing through every damned album in the place. Ended it all with a night cap at quiet pub, cold brews, pool and an absurd amount of money stuffed into the jukebox. First and only real birthday celebration I've ever had and by far the most thoughtful gifts I've ever recieved.