Visiting the In-Laws in a couple of days, and need to bring a gift. Your recommendations please.

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Like a house-gift or something. I'd bring booze, normally (which would be welcomed and swiftly consumed), but that's a bit of a cliche, and a logistical nightmare (I'm flying there, and carrying a bottle of booze in a carry-on is a pain the rump). So, what do you say?

Smartassery will be summarily ignored, so save thy typing strength.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 14:49 (twenty-one years ago)

how about getting a family photo enlarged to 8"x10" and framed? lighter and flatter (if not as fun) than a bottle of booze.

― lauren (laurenp), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 14:52 (twenty-one years ago)

If they read: good recent novel/coffee table book.
Soft furnishings? Fancy cushion covers if they're the type.
Exotic foodstuffs you can get in NYC that they may not be able to.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

perhaps, although I'm assuming your bringing your daughter, you could get them something nice involving her. Like a photo album of her pictures, or something.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Daughter (and wife, for that matter) are already there....and have been for two weeks. Good ideas, though.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 14:54 (twenty-one years ago)

hmm, then maybe bring something NYC-centric, like an interesting book, or maybe food or something.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 14:55 (twenty-one years ago)

my mom has drilled it into me that gifts for people that aren't your close, close friends, should always be consumable/perishable. so food/drinks/plants are all good. this is because she (as an elementary school teacher) has received loads of useless crap (given with the best intentions) that people actually seem to expect her to keep and display around their house.

with food or drink, at least it can be re-gifted if it's something they don't like. can you do something like local really nice candy? or a tin of nuts or something? those go down well in our house...

loads of xposts-- photos are always appropriate for grandparents!

― colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 14:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Cheese? Like, I bring the cheese, you bring the wine?

― Huk-L, Tuesday, 14 September 2004 14:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I just near-xposted the family photo idea.

― mcd (mcd), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

given that they're in the UK, they can probably get better cheese than here. Also, long flights with unrefrigerated cheese = teh gross

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

carrying a bottle of booze in a carry-on is a pain the rump

Why? Is this some retarded US legal thing?

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

The family photo might be the one, actually....although the whole concept of giving someone a photo of yourself (while, i'd be in it) seems a little presumptious and weird. But, hey, that's my hang-up.

Why? Is this some retarded US legal thing?

No, it's more of a weight and packing-space issue. I'm only planning on bringing one, carry-on bag, and having a big bottle of whatever in it eats up space, is a breaking hazard and weighs the bag down.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 14:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Didn't realize they were in the UK. Thought maybe Virginia.

Okay...antipasto creates nearly the same problem as wine...

― Huk-L, Tuesday, 14 September 2004 14:59 (twenty-one years ago)

No, they're in Texas now. It's a damn long story.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I suppose it's something you have to take with you. No chance of stopping for something once you get there?

― Huk-L, Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Not really. Houston, TX is really spread out in an LA urban sprawl kinda way, and I'll be relying on other people to shuttle me around (there won't be a car at my disposal), and I think I should have the gift in hand upon my arrival.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:03 (twenty-one years ago)

oh wait, they're in Texas? Hmm, okay, maybe food is a good idea then.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd guess a decent sized photo would pose more problems than a bottle, given that you need to try and keep it flat...

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, they're in Texas, but they're not Texans.

Oh dilemma!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

A little tiny bag of peanuts.

Would there be any sort of NYC-specific not-immediately perishible food thing you could bring comfortably?

― Huk-L, Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, now that I think of it.....there's a great, middle-eastern grocery joint in Brooklyn called Sahadi's (my wife's father is Lebanese), so something from there might be pretty ace (and, I'd imagine, damn hard to find in Texas).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Potplant?

― beanz (beanz), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I mean a plant in a pot, not (necessarily) a cannabis plant.

― beanz (beanz), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:10 (twenty-one years ago)

heh.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Think of the great stories you'd have about the inner workings of the post-Bush.2 Texas penal system!

― Huk-L, Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:12 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.theworldjournal.com/special/movies/2001/meettheparents.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Travis Bickle is your father-in-law?

― Huk-L, Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Candles & vases are always good, generic gifts. What are your in-laws like?

― kelsey (kelstarry), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 15:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Candles and vases won't cut it. Besides, travelling with a vase sounds like a headache.

They're great, cool, nice folks.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 16:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm going with the family photo suggestion (in a nice frame which I shall dutifully try not to break on my way there).

Thanks for everyone's input and suggestions! Cheers!!!!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 17:53 (twenty-one years ago)

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