family visit

[cellio]

We went to my parents' today for Christmas. (They're Christian; we're not. But they are pretty attached to the dinner and gift exchange, so we go.) We were having trouble figuring out what to get my parents, and ended up giving them a gift certificate for a vacation. They've gone on a bunch of bus tours -- a few days in Atlantic City, a weekend of shows in Toronto (Phantom twice, I think), and assorted things like that. So we contacted the company they buy these from, found out what one of these will cost this coming year, and bought them that. I always feel funny buying people gift certificates (or giving money), but in this case I think it was the right thing to do. They seemed to appreciate it.

They got me a digital camera. Woo hoo! It appears to be complicated enough that I couldn't just pop the batteries in right then and take some pictures; I should read the manual first, which I'll probably do tomorrow night. But I am so looking forward to being able to screen my shots immediately and retake them if they aren't good! Not to mention the instant gratification -- not having to use of the roll of film before getting use of the pictures will be a big win.

They got Dani a copy of Civ III, but Dani didn't understand the family ground rules about obvious gifts and proximity to Christmas, so he bought himelf a copy a few weeks ago. They're in the process of exchanging it for a different game that reviewers who like Civ III seem to also like. (Europa Universalis II, for those who are curious. I've never played it.)

Comments

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

I am looking forward to you taking pictures and putting them on the internet for your friends to see *grin*

[cellio]

Yeah, me too. :-)

[fiannaharpar.livejournal.com]

Monica, I have to ask....what company did you get the gift certificates from? The trips that you describe sound just like the ones that my step-father's company runs.

[cellio]

Thomas Tours. They're in New Kensington, I think. My parents have been travelling with them for years.

Of course, now I'm permanently on their mailing list because I bought something, and New Kensington is not a convenient departure point for *us*, but that's ok. We might want to buy other trips for my parents in the future, even if we won't buy any for ourselves.