Ever go to a movie on Xmas or Thanksgiving instead of going to a family dinner?
I used to work with a middle aged guy who was divorced and lived alone. Every holiday he went to the movies, in fact, double features as I recall. He had invitations to go to dinner with co-workers but 'felt he would just be a 5th wheel and he'd rather just be alone and see some good movies.
If the movie wasn't good he would go back to the ticket taker (within 5 minutes) and get his money back and go on to another theater.
Funny thing is he was a very sociable guy with a great sense of humor but he just didn't care for the family scene - not even his own birth family who lived in another state but invited him, also.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I may be headed that way.
I really don't enjoy the holidays with family and work colleagues. Spending them alone sounds like a good idea.
Half of my family are Repubs and I can't have conversations with them (they always turn to politics).
Several years ago my wife informed me that we were having Thanksgiving dinner with her brother and his wife. "Okay," I said and went out to purchase a bottle of wine, a family tradition on my side. Well, just as we were getting ready to leave, my wife says, "Oh, they don't want any alcoholic consumption at Thanksgiving dinner." I said, "WHAT?!! Why not?" "Her parents will be there and they don't approve of the consumption of alcohol, so my brother has asked that no one bring any liquor."
So I grudgingly cooperated. Well, we get to their house and here's her dad sitting on the couch watching sports with the sound off! What's up with this? What a boring way to spend Thanksgiving. Sitting on the couch with strangers who are not talking watching a game on the TV with no sound.
Then I really don't like the "Norman Rockwell" version of Thanksgiving. You know, everything under the sun is placed on the table. Everyone gorges themselves. Huge mess in the kitchen.
Several years ago, I talked everyone into having a Thanksgiving dinner that resembled the original Pilgrims'. We had clam chowder, a small turkey, squash, onions, and pumpkin pudding. I loved it! But no one else did. So now it's back to a Rockwell Thanksgiving.
Christmas is the same experience: Lots of crappy "food" (HFCS, hydrogenated oils, artificial ingredients and coloring, growth hormones, etc); family or work colleagues I neither care to see or with whom to visit; fucking sports on the TV; fucking anything on TV; spending money on "presents" that might not be appreciated; and a lot of small talk!
If it were up to me, I'd have Thanksgiving and Christmas like the Pilgrams and early Christians would have had had they known better:
Single-malt scotch followed by a cabernet or IPA;
Chet Baker or Nat King Cole on the stereo;
A meal I really want to eat, like veggie Pad Tai or shrimp tacos;
A good movie at home;
A nightcap like espresso with a touch of rum;
Then off to bed...
Lagavulin!
...or Macallan,
...or Speyburn
To paraphrase Will Rogers, "I never met a single-malit scotch I didn't like!" 
edited to add: And very few movies can beat "Treasure of the Sierra Madre!"
Last edited Sat Dec 17, 2011, 12:44 PM - Edit history (1)
"It's better to swill it than spill it!"
But a man's got to know his limitations!
But then, I used to believe the best wine in the liquore store were the labels in the cooler! I mean, wouldn't the best wines be kept chilled? Man, did I ever learn a lesson!
