Guess Who's Coming to (Thanksgiving) Dinner?

[NancysSummerSip]

Hey, it's a few weeks away, but we can start complaining bitching whining commiserating now, right?

I have my brother, who is a diabetic. His wife, who is so far to the right politically she should have toppled off the face of the Earth by now. Their three surly, crabby teenagers who cannot survive without their faces plastered to their phones. The Husband, who is lactose-intolerant. My niece and her husband, who are now both vegans.

I'm actually fine with all of them except the right-winger. That could get fugly.

Anyone else already know who's coming for the holidays and wondering how to cook, clean and keep the peace?

[thyme4change]

My super Christian, Republican family. I believe they all hate Trump, although likely voted for him over Hillary. They would love Pence to become president. As long as education doesn't come up. I think they would like the government to pay the church to educate all the children. But I don't know for sure, because that conversation could devolve quickly and so far I have avoided saying out loud that I am an atheist.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

My brother will be here for a week. 

I am guessing the main topic of conversation is going to be Hillary screwing Sanders out of the nomination.    Looks like I will be bringing something extra to put in my drink.

[swasat]

NO ONE. And we are not going anywhere either.

So don't kill me 

We are moving to another city in December. So Thanksgiving will spent with packing/moving/planning activities.

I.could.not.be.happier.

[suesinfl]

I'm going to older DD's house and all her in-laws will be there. I get along with all until they start there political rants, then I just leave the room, take the kids outside, go for a walk, etc. It's just easier that way and saves peace.

Now her grandmother in-law is a different story. The woman can't resist a snotty comment about/to me or DD. Mainly I just ignore her, but the last time I was around her, I politely, but firmly let her know that her comments were not welcome and if she didn't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

[Tennesseer]

And here I thought this thread was about John Prentice.

[andi9899]

I haven't even decided on thanksgiving yet. If Thing 1 doesn't get to come home, I may just go out to eat with Thing 2 instead and call it a day.

[zibazinski]

DD is studying like crazy for her exam on the 29th. She wanted me to come up but that would be just as hard on her. So it’s just DS and me. Not much fun there. For either of us.

[kittensaver]

We are going to Disneyland (our annual trip) on Thanksgiving day. Turkey dinner will be at The Plaza Inn. No political discussions there - just the happiest place on earth

I'll probably cook a turkey and fixings on Friday . . . but with DH and a small group of compatible people. We've hit the point where life is too short to slog through a day off work with annoying folks who are hellbent on disturbing our precious peace . . .

[Wisconsin Beth]

No pbe coming and we're not going anywhere.

I do have a playdate set up for dd for Black Friday though, does that count?

[flamingo]

We are going to my grandparents for Thanksgiving. They are 92/93. Most of the family will be there. My parents, 2 sets of aunts and uncles, assorted cousins, and grandma and grandpa. They live 3 hours away from me. What I'm looking forward to? Seeing my parents and not having to stay the night. I love my grandparents and have always been close to them, but over the last year or so, they have become increasingly intolerable to be around. They are angry and ornery and just unpleasant. Uncle1 walks on water, can do no wrong, and is very self-absorbed (and grandma spends ALL her time focused on if he's having fun). Uncle2 is annoying as all get out and can't talk to you in an inside voice and without constantly touching/lightly hitting you. My mom gets pissed but won't say anything to them, then gets mad at me and DH b/c we don't let them get away with it and WILL say something. My cousin will bring her 5 year old who everyone spoils rotten, and she knows it and acts like a brat a good chunk of the time. Oh, and my grandparents live in an assisted living type facility where we will all have dinner (b/c they can't/won't leave) so the actual food is always interesting (ie, bland and mushy). 

Can't wait! 

[NancysSummerSip]

I think we need to create one giant kids' table and shove all the bad relatives over to it, then the rest of us just have an awesome time together!
My neighbor, a lovely girl who pet sits for us when we go out of town, told me her brother is coming home for the holidays and bringing his new girlfriend. His new vegan girlfriend. His new vegan girlfriend who already upset their grandma when she refused to try any of grandma's lovingly canned-straight-from-the-garden vegetables because they might have been contaminated with butter during the cooking process.



OK, I understand her issues. As I said, I have vegan relatives. But upsetting your boyfriend's grandma is not acceptable. Nobody puts grandma in the sad corner when she does not deserve it. (For the record, I know the entire family, and they are wonderful people.) I wonder how long the relationship will last.

[MJ2.0]

Nov 7, 2017 11:17:15 GMT -5 swasat said:

NO ONE. And we are not going anywhere either.

So don't kill me 

We are moving to another city in December. So Thanksgiving will spent with packing/moving/planning activities.

I.could.not.be.happier.

oooh, where to?

[MJ2.0]

because X and I split Thanksgiving with DS, I have been hosting my own T-Day for the past 3 years.  My mom and 1 or 2 of her sisters come up.  I do 95% of the cooking, but they help clean up and DS loves having them around.  It's a nice and relaxing day.  This year I think I have DS for dinner instead of breakfast, so less wine will be enjoyed.  But there's breakfast and mimosas to consider....

[Blonde Granny]

I will be alone for T-Day along with 3 other widows.....we're headed to Branson and dinner at The Big Cedar Lodge. In case of weather issues we also have reservations locally that we can cancel.

[mollyanna58]

Nov 7, 2017 11:37:32 GMT -5 suesinfl said:

Now her grandmother in-law is a different story. The woman can't resist a snotty comment about/to me or DD. Mainly I just ignore her, but the last time I was around her, I politely, but firmly let her know that her comments were not welcome and if she didn't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Good for you

[swasat]

Nov 7, 2017 13:30:17 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

Nov 7, 2017 11:17:15 GMT -5 swasat said:

NO ONE. And we are not going anywhere either.

So don't kill me 

We are moving to another city in December. So Thanksgiving will spent with packing/moving/planning activities.

I.could.not.be.happier.

oooh, where to?

Tennessee.

From the cold upper midwest to warmer temperatures....super stoked

[MJ2.0]

I was hoping it would be somewhere in the northeast...

But I'm happy if you're happy!

[swasat]

Nov 7, 2017 14:50:42 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

I was hoping it would be somewhere in the northeast...

But I'm happy if you're happy!

Go from COLD to COLDER?! Not a chance baby. Th only reason I agreed to move was because of warmer temps.

He had another offer from Denver CO. Not happening.

[MJ2.0]

I heard the Denver area is gorgeous, but I'm like you - there would have to be a BUTTLOAD of money in question for me to move to a colder climate!

[Opti]

No one is coming and unfortunately like last year I have nowhere to go either.  This year I also work longer Thanksgiving Day because the new hire that works evenings can't make 4PM. So I'll be at work Thanksgiving day for 9+ hours and back Friday day as well.

The OK news hopefully is that I will get some Thanksgiving dinner at work.

[Artemis Windsong]

H., the last I heard, is cooking dinner that we will take out to my son's new house.  They have room for a large family table!

All of us are smart enough not to get into bad conversation topics.  Truce day. 

[toomuchreality]

I gave up on T-giving after being told year after year that my kids didn't know yet what they were going. Then they always went to their dads. This year I am going to stay with my grand-dogs while DD1 goes to dinner at her BF's parents in Denver.  Looks like it will be me+Stouffers+dogs.

[chiver78]

Nov 7, 2017 11:17:15 GMT -5 swasat said:

NO ONE. And we are not going anywhere either.

So don't kill me 

We are moving to another city in December. So Thanksgiving will spent with packing/moving/planning activities.

I.could.not.be.happier.

I was wondering if anyone else would be brave enough to answer something like this.  I will also have NO ONE to tiptoe around. I volunteered to work T-day, and I'll earn back vacation time at 2x however many hours I'm here on the holiday. works for me! 

[bean29]

Right now, DH is planning to host, but he insists he is not starting until 2 pm. He says people can come earlier or later, but the Turkey will be ready for 2 pm.

His SIL says she has to make an appearance at her family this year, so if we start at 12 she will come, else not. My family always starts at 12pm. My Brother and his wife will host her family at 2 pm. If my Mom has it, they will appear at Mom's at 12 then take off within 1-1.5 hours.

I have not talked to another SIL that usually goes to her brothers for 4 pm ish.

We would still have a few family members even if we are missing the above. DD is scheduled to work 8 hours at Starbucks on Thanksgiving day. 12pm-10, she works at least an hour from home, so unless we would go have breakfast with her, we will not see her. They have to work 4 or 5 holidays from Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year Eve and New Years Day. We celebrate Christmas eve. Hopefully she will have off. Christmas Day is best tips of the year, so she wants to work that day. Black Friday is mandatory for everyone.

DD's Manger is a jerk, he is short of at least 6 staff members.  Various people have called corporate even DD.  Right now, it is likely that 2-3 people will call corp over the Thanksgiving Schedule.  DD said two people who live in Dorms, are scheduled over the Thanksgiving weekend, but the Dorms will be closed.  She said she did commute from home last year, but was not sure if that would work for those 2 individuals.  He told the entire staff that only one girl would not be scheduled for Thanksgiving.  She has tickets in MN for a Badgers/MN game and a hotel room booked and then he scheduled her to work. 

He may get fired, but I figured it would not happen until the new year.  From what DD said she has learned it looks like he plans to quit.  I said maybe he is trying to get everyone to quit at the same time as him.

 

[Tennesseer]

Nov 7, 2017 16:23:04 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Nov 7, 2017 11:17:15 GMT -5 swasat said:

NO ONE. And we are not going anywhere either.

So don't kill me 

We are moving to another city in December. So Thanksgiving will spent with packing/moving/planning activities.

I.could.not.be.happier.

I was wondering if anyone else would be brave enough to answer something like this.  I will also have NO ONE to tiptoe around. I volunteered to work T-day, and I'll earn back vacation time at 2x however many hours I'm here on the holiday. works for me! 

One year I didn't feel like driving from Newark, NJ to western Mass. for Thanksgiving. I told the family I was going to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in Manhattan. And I did.

[chiver78]

Nov 7, 2017 13:09:13 GMT -5 flamingo said:

We are going to my grandparents for Thanksgiving. They are 92/93. Most of the family will be there. My parents, 2 sets of aunts and uncles, assorted cousins, and grandma and grandpa. They live 3 hours away from me. What I'm looking forward to? Seeing my parents and not having to stay the night. I love my grandparents and have always been close to them, but over the last year or so, they have become increasingly intolerable to be around. They are angry and ornery and just unpleasant. Uncle1 walks on water, can do no wrong, and is very self-absorbed (and grandma spends ALL her time focused on if he's having fun). Uncle2 is annoying as all get out and can't talk to you in an inside voice and without constantly touching/lightly hitting you. My mom gets pissed but won't say anything to them, then gets mad at me and DH b/c we don't let them get away with it and WILL say something. My cousin will bring her 5 year old who everyone spoils rotten, and she knows it and acts like a brat a good chunk of the time. Oh, and my grandparents live in an assisted living type facility where we will all have dinner (b/c they can't/won't leave) so the actual food is always interesting (ie, bland and mushy). 

Can't wait! 

if my Nana was still alive, I'd wonder if you were my sister.

[chiver78]

Nov 7, 2017 16:35:59 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Nov 7, 2017 16:23:04 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I was wondering if anyone else would be brave enough to answer something like this.  I will also have NO ONE to tiptoe around. I volunteered to work T-day, and I'll earn back vacation time at 2x however many hours I'm here on the holiday. works for me! 

One year I didn't feel like driving from Newark, NJ to western Mass. for Thanksgiving. I told the family I was going to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in Manhattan. And I did.

my first year in the new house, I was getting shit for not wanting to drive 4h round trip on a day off to go to my sister's. I told them all I was volunteering that day, and didn't find a volunteer gig until the week before. no way I was driving that far! 

[Tennesseer]

Nov 7, 2017 16:41:00 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Nov 7, 2017 16:35:59 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

One year I didn't feel like driving from Newark, NJ to western Mass. for Thanksgiving. I told the family I was going to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in Manhattan. And I did.

my first year in the new house, I was getting shit for not wanting to drive 4h round trip on a day off to go to my sister's. I told them all I was volunteering that day, and didn't find a volunteer gig until the week before. no way I was driving that far! 

Traveling for Thanksgiving dinner wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't on a Thursday. Less rushing around, especially if one has to work Friday. Move it to a Friday or a Monday like Memorial or Labor Day.

And flying over the Thanksgiving holiday period is a nightmare.

[busymom]

Congratulations on the move to warmer state swasat!  I'm totally jealous!  


DH is stuck working on the holiday, so it's just going to be me & the kids.     I might be a REAL rebel, and cook the bird on the weekend before.  Then on Thanksgiving Day, we'll just have to thaw a precooked bird, & make the stuffing & green bean casserole.  DH will eat whatever time his job ends for the day.