hmmm...
i am confused by your last post title "
no gift - expected to purchase something"
ok.... purchase something... that is ...
not a gift?
which would be what then? food/bevs? so then this is like a pot luck?

sorry if i'm being really thick here... i'm just really confewwwwwwwwwwwzd.
i wish you could not go. maybe you could say you have a prior engagement you compLETELY forgot about....
~ waves ~