Now we all know the holidays at home are great but  there is always that one relative that really gets on your nerves .. So what do you do? A let him (her) have it. B ignore them and spend the playing  with the kids? Or c. Drink till you can look at em and smile knowing they have no idea whats behind that smile.
When I’m at my sisters I drink Not heavy mind  you but just enough to keep me quite. I have been told I’m a fun drunk very loveable. So it works otherwise I’m Telling my daughters’ (man) if you could him that I call  him sloth . Lol That I have plenty of room to burry  his fat ass in the yard come on out side I’ll show ya. Lol
So this year I’m hosting me and sis alternate who’s house each year. So what I have decided this year is to skip the BS all together and just not invite the people I don’t care for. I think it’s going to be the best holiday yet. So how do you all handle the dealing with the people you don’t care for but have to spend time with during this time of year.

I think everyone has a drunk uncle in their family!! lol, and every year around the holidays he pisses me off! He gets slap drunk all the time, holidays or not....everyday! And for him to be restricted to just being in the house around family, is not a good move!!

This year, I promise to keep my mouth closed, unless I have to open it for other reasons , I'll get on his level of drunkness, lol, and (C.) Drink till you can look at em and smile knowing they have no idea whats behind that smile.

That way everyone stays happy, right?

Oh how  I detest the holidays. Not due to a broken family or any of the very understandable reasons that others do not enjoy them. I detest them because the associated environment / decor / behaviors / expectations are just tacky beyond belief, everything has a veneer of sweetness that is cloying and false, and the acceptable parameters for celebration are far too politically correct and generally "civilized"

Give me Saturnalia! I'd gladly celebrate this as the Romans did. Or a good old fashioned Celtic Yule Solstice..... that would definitely appeal..... Heck, even Festivus!

My family, what's left of it, lives in Germany. I will visit during Christmas, and I expect this to be fairly pleasant actually, since I have no secrets from them and do not require anything from them. Whenever I am in Germany I feel at home.

However

My SO and I will be visiting her family for TG. Her family does not know about her profession. This is of course understandable. However, since I am a fixture in the scheme of things, I have to participate in the charade and play my role in the game. While I understand the necessity I find it to be very grating.... I would never organize my life so that I had to pretend to be what I am not.

I wish I could consume enough Macallan 18yr Gran Reserva and La Grande Dame veuve clicquot to make the holiday palatable. However I have to limit my consumption or risk the exacerbation of  a serious medical condition. Catch -22...... perhaps time in hospital would after all be preferable....

I will adjust my attitude, and observe with great pleasure the passing of this years holiday extravaganza. Every hour that goes by will be a celebration of sorts. At least I can celebrate the fact that I will not have to endure it all again for another year......

Cheers

Gregory



-- Modified on 11/24/2008 2:57:08 PM

I have no family where I live, and very little where I came from, but years ago, I was that pain-in-the-ass relative you mentioned. I was the one who drank too much. And now, well, I'm not, haven't been for 23 years. As for the holidays, I'll be spending Thanksgiving serving dinner to a lot of people who are much less fortunate than I am. I go with a group of friends to one of the local shelters, and spend the day watching people who really are giving thanks...for something as simple as a good holiday dinner.

It's very rewarding.

I highly commend your approach. Serving others less fortunate is a very enjoyable and satisfying thing, as well as being needful, useful and appropriate. I would be very glad to do something similar if I did not have an assignment already.....  and congratulations on racking up so many years of sobriety.

Hungry  congratulations on  your recovery efforts it’s obviously paying off. I would much rather be doing the same as you for the holidays but my mother has always insisted on the Brady bunch (so not my family) type of holidays and since my sister as done it all theses years I have finely agreed to … O  me and my big ideas. I do have plenty to be thankful for I remember this every time I look at my kids I just hate  all the cooking and the mess to clean up. Lol  I keep trying to talking my family into going to China town  xmass day my x husband and I would do this with the kids and it was a blast  the kids were happy and no mess to clean up. YEA!!

I have a few undesirerable people in my family, so I handle the past holidays by only visiting with people I love to be around. And if I have to go to a family members house,, who aren't pleasant, I always have a reasonable out. I tell them, I can only stay for an hour or less, I'm sorry, I have to visit other people today. It always works because people house hop anyway on the holiday. I love being around my mom, so as long as I'm around her I'm just peachy.

It's unfortunate that some families are fractured like this, but it helps to keep everyone peaceful. I make my appearance and politely leave.

Have a happy turkey day everyone!

Mackenzi

If I don't like 'em, I simple do not go where they are or will be. Being single I don't do the entertaining at my home, my cooking would ensure that I spent the holiday alone. As for drinking, I won't. I have nothing against a drink or two but I won't drink and then have to drive home.

I'll be in Buenos Aires for the TG holidays. I'll probably drink plenty, but not to dull the pain of being with people I don't really want to be with.

One of the perks of being self employed and divorced is not having to fake being nice to people you don't like.  

I hope everyone has a great holiday, I know I will.

I usually go and volunteer to help serve and/or organize meals for the homeless. I truly get more enjoyment out of that than having dinner with annoying people.

However, this year I am staying at home, cooking a small turkey and just a few side dishes for a good friend and myself. We'll watch movies and eat turkey. She doesn't drink so I probably won't either, but if I do, it will be one glass of wine and that's it.

Have a safe and warm holiday, everyone!

Hugs,
ciara

When I attend the great get-togethers, I go "into the Lion's Den" and seek out the "problem relatives". I'll talk with them a good bit of time. I look at it as a challenge. It makes me a better conversationalist, as I try to find common ground in a topic. Once I make their rounds, I can then relax more with people I have much more in common with. I don't let other people's "issues" direct how I feel.

As for drink? No alcohol, just a nice juice or tea.

Send me a ticket, and I'll do what I can.  Perhaps I could refresh your drink or something.

Absent the surprise trip to S. America, I'll most likely drag the family to a friends house.  He's having a get together, mostly friends but a little family as well.  He's close enough that we can get there on foot, so the possibility of drinking to excess surely exists.

I don't need to worry about drinking to the point of saying stupid.  I can do that with a cup of coffee in me.  What can I say; it's a talent!!

thus, I do not drink lol