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[notaprof]

Dear Tmeao,

I would volunteer to come to the class sometime and do a show and tell about this country so perhaps the teacher and her students will learn something to help this person get a more well rounded view of this country.  I would politely let her know that she is making your son anxious, that you and your family know what you are doing and are aware of the safety issues.  Tell her that you appreciate her concern but unless she can help your son to be excited about the trip then she should please stop talking to your son about this.  Then let him tell his teacher about it when he gets back.

Safe travels,
Notaprof

[secretweapon]

I have booked my flight for Christmas and am so happy.  I love nothing more than spending Christmas with several dozen of my relatives - I can't imagine the holiday without 12 desserts, joyful noise, and lots of little kiddies running around.  Mr Weapon, who did not grow up in this kind of family, is a total trooper, even when he's mashing potatoes for 40, and Bing Crosby is playing the background, and I'm asking him on Christmas eve why he doesn't want to wear a red tie with his suit for Mass, because that's more Christmasy?   

But, sadly, it looks like this year might be our first Christmas apart, since he might not have the time off or the money to come.  I rarely see the family and I am definitely going, but it's going to be very tough, since we're already in a long-distance marriage.  We'll have to have some kind of pre- or post-Christmas together, but it won't be the same. 

Oseph, congratulations on your big victory!  I hope you and Mr O spend Christmas lounging around in your PJ's, experimenting with the unhealthful benefits of butter.

And Smartypants... see you at Ocean State Job Lot. 

[mystictechgal]

Last year I slept through Thanksgiving, but I'm finally starting to come back to the land of the living so I think this year will be better.  I've been considering driving to my sister's house as we did for a number of years after I quit having the holiday at my house after my father died and the in-laws moved to Fl.  The only problem I see with going to my sister's is that she (and the rest of my family) have been remarkably unsupportive since J died.  This sister hasn't contacted me in any way in well over a year and my other sister only sends me insipid chain e-mails and diatribes about Obama.  Both sisters have swallowed Faux News' talking points whole.  I'm just not sure it's worth the hassle of driving down and having to spend the day listening to their cr@p--especially as I'd have to spend the night with them.  I think I'll just plan on doing my own thing or maybe one of my in-laws will invite me and I'll feel up to seeing them this year.  I'm thinking that curling up with some good movies sounds like a good plan.

[secretweapon]

Last year I slept through Thanksgiving, but I'm finally starting to come back to the land of the living so I think this year will be better.  I've been considering driving to my sister's house as we did for a number of years after I quit having the holiday at my house after my father died and the in-laws moved to Fl.  The only problem I see with going to my sister's is that she (and the rest of my family) have been remarkably unsupportive since J died.  This sister hasn't contacted me in any way in well over a year and my other sister only sends me insipid chain e-mails and diatribes about Obama.  Both sisters have swallowed Faux News' talking points whole.  I'm just not sure it's worth the hassle of driving down and having to spend the day listening to their cr@p--especially as I'd have to spend the night with them.  I think I'll just plan on doing my own thing or maybe one of my in-laws will invite me and I'll feel up to seeing them this year.  I'm thinking that curling up with some good movies sounds like a good plan.

Sister doesn't sound like a great option.  What about your beloved neighbors?

I would invite you to mine if we lived near each other!

[mystictechgal]

Last year I slept through Thanksgiving, but I'm finally starting to come back to the land of the living so I think this year will be better.  I've been considering driving to my sister's house as we did for a number of years after I quit having the holiday at my house after my father died and the in-laws moved to Fl.  The only problem I see with going to my sister's is that she (and the rest of my family) have been remarkably unsupportive since J died.  This sister hasn't contacted me in any way in well over a year and my other sister only sends me insipid chain e-mails and diatribes about Obama.  Both sisters have swallowed Faux News' talking points whole.  I'm just not sure it's worth the hassle of driving down and having to spend the day listening to their cr@p--especially as I'd have to spend the night with them.  I think I'll just plan on doing my own thing or maybe one of my in-laws will invite me and I'll feel up to seeing them this year.  I'm thinking that curling up with some good movies sounds like a good plan.

Sister doesn't sound like a great option.  What about your beloved neighbors?

I would invite you to mine if we lived near each other!

The neighbors rotate the holiday among their large family so that's not an option.  I'm guessing I'll get invited to my in-laws at some point.  The question will be whether I want to go or just stay home.  At least if I stay home I don't plan to sleep through it.  I'll find something fun to do with myself.  Thanks for the invite.  In many ways I think it would be easier to get together with friends than with family.  Time to start some new traditions, maybe.

[tmeao]

Thanks for the thoughts - while notaprof, I don't think my character is such that I will be heading into the class to give a cultural lesson, I may encourage my son to bring back a few pictures of War-torn country/people to show that it is not simply a place of strife and anti-americanism, but rather a wonderful, if ravaged spot on the globe.

Otherwise, I think I am going to try and ignore it a bit longer and hope she moves on soon.

[thundering_m]

We are going to Unlikable Extended Family's for T-Day. I think T-Day is unlikable too.

I don't think anyone else will be drinking.

Visions of Holly Hunter and Robert Downy Jr as adult kids returning to Charles Durning and Anne Bancroft. Home for the Holidays. That tightly wired sister. That dotty aunt.

[prof_smartypants]

We are going to Unlikable Extended Family's for T-Day. I think T-Day is unlikable too.

I don't think anyone else will be drinking.

Visions of Holly Hunter and Robert Downy Jr as adult kids returning to Charles Durning and Anne Bancroft. Home for the Holidays. That tightly wired sister. That dotty aunt.

Best holiday movie ever. I watch it every year.

[collegekidsmom]

I hope my Thanksgiving food isn't clogging anyone's arteries. I use butter and cream and stuff like that in my holiday dishes, and one famous casserole has cheese. People compliment these rich dishes. Do I have to tell the crowd that the food is totally full of fat, cholesterol, etc? There are certain holiday dishes/casseroles/desserts that just really need butter, cream or cheese in order to be really good. People are getting older and talk about Lipitor, diabetes and heart attacks while chowing down on the pie crust, the casserole and the stuffing. Should I tell people that the food is high fat? I don't want to make the food about that, but I feel that guilt while buying those high fat ingredients. Of course, I load them up with wine to balance...

[tmeao]

Collegekids mom, you definitely don't have to tell anyone there is butter and other tasties in your food.  Let them make their own choices I say.  And it is only one day after all, what is a holiday without a little indulgence?

[biomancer]

Collegekids mom, you definitely don't have to tell anyone there is butter and other tasties in your food.  Let them make their own choices I say.  And it is only one day after all, what is a holiday without a little indulgence?

Agreed.  It's not holiday food if it's not made with real, traditional, high-fat, tasty, indulgent ingredients.   Save the fat-free-dressing-coated green salad for another day.

[luvstowrite]

For T-day I can't decide: drive several hours to be with possibly boring, sometime fun family or stay home and go out or have a small meal with older family member whom no one else wants to be with. Suggestions? I prefer not to drive...

[barred_owl]

The older person may really appreciate the attention, luvstowrite.  You wouldn't necessarily have to spend the whole day with him or her, but a nice meal, some conversation, and a promise to visit again might go a long way with this person.


Just found out today that we're having turkey day at our house.  In a way, it's a relief.  We have a huge table and can seat everyone (10 people total) around it at once, instead of being crammed into my sister's tiny dining room or eating at TV trays scattered around the house.  At least my sister is bringing the turkey, stuffing, and sweet potatoes, so I'll have the oven available to make some good rolls and a couple of other goodies, too.  Plus, we can put a fire in the fireplace (if it's cold outside) to make it extra cozy. 

The main challenge, as has been the case for the last couple of years, will be getting my mom into the house in her wheelchair.  I swear, I'm going to get video of this process this year!  Two burly guys have to lift her up, chair and all, over the two patio steps while she's screaming at the top of her lungs about how she's never going to go anywhere ever again...If it weren't so sad, it would be hilarious.

[prof_smartypants]

So, my in-laws are coming for a week. They are not staying in our house, but they'll be here a week. That's three days longer than my limit.

I'm contemplating hosting a Christmas cocktail party on the 23rd, but I'm not sure if anyone will come. We don't have many friends here yet, and most of my colleagues have kids, and likely are traveling or hosting their own relatives. Usually I do a post-Christmas party with a "white elephant" yankee swap, but the presence of my in-laws precludes my re-gifting all their stuff.

It will be a pain to host, but it'll give me at least one night's respite from having to put some fake smile on my face and explain how, actually, with three new preps this semester, I work quite a few more hours than 20.

What do y'all think - would you go to new colleague's place for a cocktail party two days before Christmas?

[scampster]

What do y'all think - would you go to new colleague's place for a cocktail party two days before Christmas?

I theoretically would, but I am almost always out of town by the 23rd to head to my parents for Christmas. With academic schedules, I assume the travelers (which may be a significant portion, I don't know) will be gone.