Am I the only one?

[Tara]

My DH and I are both kind of scrooges re:  the holidays.  We like a little of it but not alot.  Tommorrow we are going out to dinner at a local restaurant that is also a B & B and lovely.  Easy.  I'm kind of glad we are not having much social time this thanksgiving since we are coming up your way Luise on Sunday (Seattle)  and I'm flying out to India on Tuesday.  My SD and GC live there so we will get to visit them before I leave which will be nice.   I've been hearing about all the snow in the area.

For couple of years while  DH and I were still living in Calif and we went a hotsprings town for Xmas which was so relaxing.  After that we seemed more up for traditional holiday again.  DH  really dislikes the Xmas tree but tolerates me putting up some decorations which is fun we usually see family as well.  We are scaling back. 

Wishing you a lovely day

[luise.volta]

I'll be waving at you! Have a marvelous trip!!

[Scoop]

Sometimes I think it's the expectations that kill us.  That the idea of Thanksgiving has a bright light behind it, a halo and the halleluia chorus in the background.  And of course it's not like that.  We see lots of images on TV and media about the Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving - but please remember that almost NO ONE has that in real life.

I hope I'm not too late on this Glitter, but I love Laurie's idea that it's time to do something different.  So bring some games that everyone can play, or else, at least you and the kids can have fun playing Go Fish.  Or else, while your meal is cooking, go for a walk and sing songs.  Is there a duck pond where you're going?  Bring some bread to feed the ducks.  Make a faux gingerbread house using cut up cardboard boxes.  (My Dad would have loved this, he wasn't comfortable just 'hanging around', but with a project like this, he would have jumped in with both feet.)

Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving!

[elsieshaye]

DS has always been with his father for holidays, so I usually get to spend them  doing whatever I want.  Within the next couple of years, I hope to start traveling during holidays (probably renting a car and taking a meandering  road trip).  I'm not much of  a holiday person to begin with, and I'm glad I haven't had to deal with family expectations or any other stress.  This Christmas will be stressful, possibly (especially if the whiskey runs out, lol), but next Christmas I fully expect to take a few days off and go driving around somewhere.  DS will figure out something to do (there's always going to Aunt SaneSIL's - she loves the holidays and always does a lovely job decorating and entertaining no matter what occasion it  is), so I don't really feel any obligation to entertain here.

[Tara]

Dear Elsie,

Love that idea of driving around .

[luise.volta]

Yeah...I got some nice visuals from that one, too. 

[elsieshaye]

I have a secret thing for cheap no-name motels (as long as they're clean).  There's this wonderful sense of adventure for me in driving with the radio up loud 'til I see an exit I like, finding a little motel for the night (double bonus points if there's a nearby greasy diner or Waffle House!), and then getting back on the road.  Most of my friends, and definitely my SIL, prefer well-known chains and making reservations months in advance.  If I have a specific event to go to, I agree with that approach, but nothing is more fun for me than random wandering.

[luise.volta]

Ah, the itchy-foot syndrome!  I drove alone in a VW bug from Seattle to Key West FL in Dec. when I was in my 40s. 

[elsieshaye]

I like that name for it, Luise!  And Washington to Florida by yourself sounds wonderful! I just turned 40, but  I'm really looking forward to my 40s and beyond - I see it as a time to figure out and do what I want to do without worrying about kids, or whether I'm fitting in with others' expectations for me. 

[luise.volta]

40 to ___ is best! :-)

[1Glitterati]

Things went much better than expected in many ways.  My brother was actually not bad to be around.  It was nice to see him be "normal".  There were some annoyances, but overall the day was much better than expected.

[Tara]

Good to hear Glitter

[luise.volta]

I'm glad, G. Sending love...

[Pen]

Me too, Glitter. Let's hope the rest of the year is much better than expected as well

[LaurieS]

Things went much better than expected in many ways.  My brother was actually not bad to be around.  It was nice to see him be "normal".  There were some annoyances, but overall the day was much better than expected.

If no one annoy you at least a little you would have thought that someone took over your families bodies.  To me, it's just a part of the family unit, as we all know each other better then any other humans.

Glad you had a good time, we did and to top it off, it finally turned cool here... finally it feels like the holidays