Is it a terrible idea to stay home alone on Thanksgiving?

[KC Jones]

My 1st thanksgiving since divorce, kids go to the ex-wife. Can't really travel to any family since I have to work Friday.

I have a few invites from some friends, but won't know most of the people there. They are all like 30+ minutes away too. I'm kind of digging the idea of just hunkering down by myself, eating whatever I have on hand, playing video games and watching football and movies all day. I might read a book, but it's pretty unlikely.

Just curious if anyone else has gone down this path and greatly regretted not spending thanksgiving with someone elses family.

[SAUTO]

Uncle Jack sounds like a weirdo.



And like just the kind of person to keep the night interesting.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

It was BYOB. I brought a couple bottles that at least one other person appreciated. It was more of a favor to my wife as she's trying to make friends.

And it was a terrible cluster**** of a meal. They'd consumed a bunch of edibles to start the day, so instead of sitting back and relaxing, I was jumping in to save dishes that were getting completely forgotten about. 20 minutes in and I got the "I'm so sorry" look from the wife. It's pretty much whatever I want to do for the rest of the weekend at this point.

Making friends at this age is hard in a new place. I think we talked about that last time you were here. It's the hardest part of moving in my opinion. I am glad you had somewhere to go for a holiday event. We went to a friend's for Thanksgiving for a few years when we didn't have any family in the state also. Sounds nothing like your fiasco though!

We finally met the neighbors kitty-corner to us who sound like they throw awesome pool parties in the summer after living here for 1.5 years. They moved here from Chicago 4 years ago. We think they are near 50 and have no kids here, plus their kids are grown anyway. They've come over a few times and like to drink a bit and watch sports so that's great by me! They are 20+ years are elder but that doesn't bother me as they seem very normal. I have a hard time finding normal guys my age who aren't tied down to a kid, like sports, aren't against drinking, or aren't into the going out and getting smashed every weekend. It's a weird age it seems and I'm not sure if it gets any better latter in life.

Hope you at least enjoyed getting out in your new city for a Holiday.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Making friends at this age is hard in a new place. I think we talked about that last time you were here. It's the hardest part of moving in my opinion. I am glad you had somewhere to go for a holiday event. We went to a friend's for Thanksgiving for a few years when we didn't have any family in the state also. Sounds nothing like your fiasco though!

We finally met the neighbors kitty-corner to us who sound like they throw awesome pool parties in the summer after living here for 1.5 years. They moved here from Chicago 4 years ago. We think they are near 50 and have no kids here, plus their kids are grown anyway. They've come over a few times and like to drink a bit and watch sports so that's great by me! They are 20+ years are elder but that doesn't bother me as they seem very normal. I have a hard time finding normal guys my age who aren't tied down to a kid, like sports, aren't against drinking, or aren't into the going out and getting smashed every weekend. It's a weird age it seems and I'm not sure if it gets any better latter in life.

Hope you at least enjoyed getting out in your new city for a Holiday.

They sound like swingers.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by NewChief

Oh, man. What a recipe for disaster (hah). The logistics of trying to get together a large meal for 15+ people is insane, especially if the hosting couple are the main ones doing it. I can only imagine what a cluster**** that was.

I came down early and stayed with my mom (who has dementia) since Monday to help her get ready. We cooked for days in advance getting everything together. I was mainly concerned about the dishes and such and got the food out basically perfectly on time.

I lay it all out on the buffet and am ready for us to eat, and I realized that my mom (nor my wife, who was busy with the kids) had thought about:
1) Plates
2) Silverware
3) Ice in glasses
4) Making the tea

This year my daughter wasn't here but I have a list of who is to do what between my daughter and SO. I have them set table, polish silver etc. Plus do some food prep—easy stuff that's just mechanical. Like trim green beans, peel pearl onions. I've used the same list every year.

Plus my niece and her husband (who wouldn't confirm texts on whether they were coming or not, so we assumed they weren't) walk in right as we're starting to put out all the place settings, making us completely rearrange the seating chart.

I've a relative like that. I think it's incredibly rude.

Then I heard from the husband that the wife doesn't like to commit to anything too early. So I came right out and said, well that's a lack of manners on her behalf because manners is consideration the other person not herself.

So that then launched an entire insanely stressful 30 minutes with the food getting cold and people waiting to eat. And no hate to my family, but it was basically me, my mom, and my wife doing all the scrambling with everyone else just kind of sitting around watching us try to set shit up.

I only have 8 people usually and it really is stressful even without that kind of a situation. On the other hand I don't like too many people helping in the kitchen as it gets too chaotic. Then I have the 4 year old under my feet bothering me in the kitchen because the parents ( the rude ones) use the day to unload their kids on others to babysit.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by NewChief

They sound like swingers.

Well I should let O.City know, I think he's into that.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Well I should let O.City know, I think he's into that.

Just ask them if they enjoy going to Anthem. Serious swinger community.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by eDave

I had the pleasure of hanging out with my friend's wife's Uncle Jack.

Jack was drunk, a sniper in Korea, used the N word quite a bit and talked about killing gooks. I asked my friend "WTF?". To which he replied "That's just Uncle Jack!".

Uncle Jack was passed out at by 8:00. It was fascinating. Can't wait till next year.

I don't know why but I find that incredibly funny!

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by eDave

Just ask them if they enjoy going to Anthem. Serious swinger community.

Did not know that. LOL.

But people from Anthem are weird. They automatically get a weird card when they tell me they live there.

[TimBone]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

No joke, they forgot to make it. The one thing they were probably going to nail in the whole meal, and they forgot to get it started until it was too late. It may have been the saddest attempt at a Thanksgiving I've ever seen.

Originally Posted by KCUnited

The 2 hour loop of funny cat videos was apparently all the dessert anyone needed.

Hahahahaha....dude, that whole ordeal sounds awesome. I mean, it sounds like it's to insane to be a miserable time. Entertaining just for the wtf factor.