“I should have listened to her more.”

The phrase crackles through my brain like lightning as I clamour for a gift, or even a gift idea, for my girlfriend. For months, she had dropped hints and I was just too stupid to listen. I tuned out the clues among the 13,000 more words she says per day than I do, words that I dismissed as idle chit-chat while dreams of AC/DC tickets and Kenny vs. Spenny DVD sets danced in my head.

Well, look at me now. Fighting testy last-minute men like me as we scramble for something that proves we actually care. It’s a scene common to shopping malls as the clock ticks down to the big day, says Anna Waller, co-host of W Network’s The Shopping Bags. While not attempting to stereotype, Waller says men are more likely to put off their seasonal shopping until the last minute, and can show up to a mall with no plan.

“One common mistake men in that position make is that they wander aimlessly into the mall with no clue about what they want to buy,” she said. “Shop in the magazines first to get an idea of what you want. Then you get in, get it and get out. No problem.”

Waller says you can still, even at this desperate hour, guess what she might like for Christmas. You can surely answer some of these questions: What does she do on her time off? What makes her happy? Has she recently landed a new job?

“Women are always talking about what they want. You’re supposed to be paying attention,” Waller said. “Women think it’s romantic when you know exactly what they want. If you don’t know, ask yourself what’s been going on in her life. You can even keep a secret diary of what she says.”

Ideas for the techie
Still looking for inspiration? Check out these ideas, along with approximate prices, from Best Buy’s Kiara Barrett:
• DVD/Blu-Ray box sets, such as the James Bond Blu-Ray Collection ($64.99)
• Apple 1GB iPod Shuffle ($49.99) 
• Global Holdings 1.5″ Digital Photo Frame Keychain ($19.99)   
• Hasbro Oye I-Dog, left, ($24.95) 
• Best Buy gift card