Take it from an expert: guys are notoriously difficult to shop for.

If they want something, they buy it for themselves. Three days before Chrismas.

But don’t fret, girls. Even though your father, your husband, your brother and your sons don’t make it easy, you can still wow them with your presents (and, usually, your presence).

For this year’s holiday gift guide, my colleagues and I have put together a wish list that melds classic, old-school favorites with ultramodern accoutrements. The fact that the Sox finally broke the curse means that you can find World Series goodies everywhere from Filene’s to the Big Apple. This does make things a bit less tricky. But man cannot live on baseball alone, so we rounded out the selection with toys for grownups, a small power tool and a few luxuries.

Just don’t leave this out where he can see it – he doesn’t need anymore ideas.

Flask, $36.25, Ingrid’s German Gift Shop, Bangor.

Perfect for a little nip at tee time, or at any sporting event, this handsome, Celtic-motif flask is a timeless gift. Buy one for the golfer on your list or the college football fan – it gets COLD at those games, and this will warm his tummy in a way no cup of watered-down cocoa can. (Now for the disclaimer: only buy this for a gentleman of legal drinking age, who won’t drive after using, and who isn’t prone to barroom brawls or public displays of idiocy.)

Fossil pocket watch, $85 at The Grasshopper Shop, Bangor. Other Fossil pocket watches are available at Filene’s or online at www.fossil.com.

Straight out of “The Gift of the Magi,” a pocket watch is a sweet choice for the sentimental guy on your list. This one has classic lines, but a contemporary feel. Plus, nothing says “I love you” like the gift of time.

“Faithful” by Stephen King and Stewart O’Nan, $26, available at bookstores everywhere.

They were going to write it anyway, but it’s nice to know King and O’Nan’s chronicle of the 2004 season has a very, very happy ending. Sure, every sportswriter and his brother has written a book about the “idiot” squad and their miraculous victory, but that’s the charm of “Faithful.” These guys are authors, not sportswriters, but more important, they’re fans. A good read for any guy on your list. Unless he’s a Yankees fan.

SkyGolf SG2 Digital Caddie, $349.95, www.skygolfgps.com

For the golfer who has everything, why not a little something to improve his game? This cell phone-size system uses GPS technology to calculate the distance to the hole and other targets. It will shave strokes off his score and time off his game. Which leaves more time for the family, mowing the lawn, or the 19th hole.

Apple iPod U2 special edition, $349, www.apple.com

It’s chic, it’s unique, and it’s got the U2 mystique. Plus, he’ll get a poster and a $50 discount when he downloads “The Complete U2.” Music to his ears, we’re sure.

Texas hold’em poker chips, $59.99, Sears

This season, the best bet for fun is poker. It’s the hottest game in town – especially Texas hold ’em. Give the gift of gambling without breaking the bank with this chip set from Sears.

Torpedo Toboggan, $109.99 at Park’s Hardware in Orono

Who says sledding is just for kids? Get a thrill on the hill with this speedy wooden toboggan, complete with pads. It’ll bring out the kid in him. Plus, it’s so well-made it’s destined to become an heirloom.

Oregon Scientific digital camera

$74.95, The Discovery Channel Catalog, www.discovery.com

Say cheese! This bright, superthin, credit card-size camera is the world’s smallest ? plus, it’s incredibly chic. Perfect for parties (but he may want something a little more substantial for, say, his daughter’s wedding), it has 1.3 megapixels and 16 megabytes of internal memory, enough for 21 high-resolution or 91 low-resolution photos. It’s also compatible with both Macs and PCs.