Could some really good fruit work?

A really nice floral arrangement, Dana?

I think Church looks tacky and gross, and I don't care what weight she is when she's doing it. Majority be damned, my mother would have splattered my grey matter all over the floor.

Or something.

From IMDB:

Paparazzi convicted of assaulting celebrities could now receive hefty fines in California. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed into law a bill that triples damages celebrities can win from paparazzi if they are assaulted. The governor himself was involved in an incident in 1998 when photographers surrounded his car as he and wife Maria Shriver picked up their children from day care. The photographers were later convicted of false imprisonment and reckless driving. In a statement incoming SAG President Alan Rosenberg called the new law "a victory for guild members who have been terrorized by unprofessional paparazzi." The law is due to take effect on Jan. 1.

This makes me wonder what's so wrong with the standard rules. But I guess the paparazzi have better financing.

I've often gone with candles/holders. OH! One of the nicest and most useful thank-you gifts I've received was a pretty glass cutting board. Something like this? [link]

Oooh, good ideas. Keep 'em coming.

I did think about fruit. She apparently does her shopping at Whole Foods, and I was all "Great! There's one right by my house!" But apparently only Whole Foods stores on the West Coast have gift baskets in-store.

For floral arrangements -- an uncle bought one as a hostess gift for my mother that was all dried flowers, and we kept it for years. So it doesn't have to be a "needs maintenance" or temporary thing. In fact, I think there were candles in it too.

She apparently does her shopping at Whole Foods, and I was all "Great! There's one right by my house!"

Whole Foods gift card and beautiful flowers/candle/card?

Whole Foods gift card and beautiful flowers/candle/card?

Ooh, that's a good one.

I love getting gift cards. I think, "Oooh shopping spreeeee!"

The problem with a gift card is that there's an element of "Here's how much I value what you've done for my parents! It's worth this many dollars and cents."

I try not to let that bother me, but it's also kind of a knee-jerk thing with my husband, so we've gotten into the habit of avoiding gift cards.

I try not to let that bother me, but it's also kind of a knee-jerk thing with my husband, so we've gotten into the habit of avoiding gift cards.

Hmmm. Is there some music thing that would be nice? Do you have a recording of yourself? (I mean, in a chorus. Or solo, whatever.)