# Alone on christmas, what can I do besides mope? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 24, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151 "2007-12-24T19:34:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/21 "2007-12-25T06:19:21Z")
Without endorsing anything specific, remember the words of Bob Dylan in _Rainy Day Women #12 & 35_: > [@](#): > > But I would not feel so all alone, > Everybody must get stoned. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/22 "2007-12-25T06:29:06Z")
Ha. There are worse things than being alone for Christmas. The day with my ex-inlaws comes to mind… My suggestion was to go to a movie as well. A couple hours of escapism can do wonders for the blues. We just saw National Treasure tonight and it was a very good dispense-with-reality movie. Oh, and drink. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/23 "2007-12-25T07:18:07Z")
Ski. If you can’t do that, drink _heavily_. ---
**Author:** ![SweetHomeColorado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d26b3c/32.png) [@SweetHomeColorado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetHomeColorado)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/24 "2007-12-25T09:43:49Z")
[QUOTE=Gatopescado] Ski. If you can’t do that, drink _heavily_. [/QUOTE] Im in Illinois, there’s no snow, just cold rain. I went to every store in town today to get things to prep for tomorrow and NONE of the stores were open. Are any grocery stores open tomorrow? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/25 "2007-12-25T15:31:22Z")
[QUOTE=SweetHomeColorado] Im in Illinois, there’s no snow, just cold rain. I went to every store in town today to get things to prep for tomorrow and NONE of the stores were open. Are any grocery stores open tomorrow? [/QUOTE] You _might_ find some big chain store open from like 9-noon. Otherwise your best bet is gas stations with small grocery sections. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/26 "2007-12-25T16:22:09Z")
I’m home alone, too; I’m cleaning the damn kitchen, doing laundry, playing with the dog and writing a short story for Marcie’s amusement when and if she comes back. And I’m obviously checking in with the SDMB from time to time. Later today, I’ll cook a steak to share with the dog. Life’s good. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/27 "2007-12-25T16:38:39Z")
I too am home alone – I just called my sister, and we are going to head up the road to the nearest casino and recompense our Native American brothers for stealing their continent. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/28 "2007-12-25T16:42:53Z")
[QUOTE=LouisB] Later today, I’ll cook a steak to share with the dog. Life’s good. [/QUOTE] Awww. To make a long story short – my dog was once served a steak via room service at a resort in Maine. She knew she was a special girl. 🙂 By southern standards, we’re “alone” here for Christmas – just me and my mom, no cousins or aunts or grandparents. Some live too far out of state, so they had to ship their gifts; some visted before Christmas; some arent’ speaking to me (I keep alcohol in the house and I’m pursuing a career instead of a husband!); and some are dead. Is there a Sonic Burger in your area? I think the one here was advertising Christmas Day hours on their sign. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/29 "2007-12-25T17:10:54Z")
[QUOTE=Jeep’s Phoenix] Awww. To make a long story short – my dog was once served a steak via room service at a resort in Maine. She knew she was a special girl. 🙂 By southern standards, we’re “alone” here for Christmas – just me and my mom, no cousins or aunts or grandparents. Some live too far out of state, so they had to ship their gifts; some visted before Christmas; some arent’ speaking to me (I keep alcohol in the house and I’m pursuing a career instead of a husband!); and some are dead. Is there a Sonic Burger in your area? I think the one here was advertising Christmas Day hours on their sign. [/QUOTE] Well, at the first opportunity I will have to get our dog a room service steak; I’m willing to be the little brute won’t share it with me, though. There are two Sonic Burgers within a ten mile radius; maybe I’ll drop by one. I’ve never had a SonicBurger but I’ve been meaning to check them out. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/30 "2007-12-25T17:38:38Z")
51 years old and this is the first Christmas I woke up alone. I do have some family coming over later, we are going to eat a ham dinner and go see a movie. It does seem weird not opening presents first thing in the morning though. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/31 "2007-12-25T17:53:11Z")
C’mon SweethomeColorado, you’re going to school because you CAN. Use that big juicy brain of yours to think up something entertaining. You could: - Count your blessings like a fat person counts calories - you’ll feel just as guilty when you realize how many goodies you’ve consumed. - Throw Susan B Anthony coins at the homeless - If God can make Jerry Springer he has to have a sense of humor when it comes to charity. - Make an origami crane out of wrapping paper - the irony of making the symbol of peace out of paper representing the birth of the Prince of Peace should add a little humility to your situation. - Watch It’s a Wonderful Life while playing Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. * * * As for myself, I hurt my back so I had to be a little creative with my vacation plans (dang, now I can’t re-order the sock drawer). I was tired of rewinding the ribbon I used for gifts so I cut some off and taped it to my walking cane. I’m playing with my cat as I write this. This may sound pointless but when the cat catches it in her mouth I yank on it and that way I can floss her teeth (cat flossing is a lost art). Have a Merry Christmas and remember that life isn’t always fair but it’s always an adventure. Someone out there loves you even if they don’t know it yet (how boring would it be if we met all our friends on the same day). ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/32 "2007-12-25T19:28:02Z")
Was also going to suggest going to a movie, as in, going to the actual theatre, get the whole experience. IME they’re always open on Christmas. I’m at my parents, who live in a retirement complex in AZ. So not alone, but it’s just the three of us so I have to find stuff to keep myself busy for the rest of the week. Later on I’m going to walk around and have my own Christmas lights contest – you’d be amazed how many ways you can light up a cactus. I’m also going to do some light ebaying, I have a hunch Christmas day isn’t the best day to end an auction. I’d try and find a bar that’s open but I’m saving that activity for later on in the week. Merry Christmas! ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/33 "2007-12-25T19:33:51Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] I too am home alone – I just called my sister, and we are going to head up the road to the nearest casino and recompense our Native American brothers for stealing their continent. [/QUOTE] Ho-Chunk or DeJope? I’m at work for the next 90 minutes or so. I don’t mind working on X-mas because it doesn’t mean anything to me spiritually and we get paid both overtime and double time for the day. Then I’ll go home and play with my cats and open my presents from my parents. I just talked with them while I was on break and they and my brother are way more bummed about my not being there than I am. ---
**Author:** ![abbeytxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@abbeytxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abbeytxs)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/34 "2007-12-25T19:37:20Z")
[QUOTE=Big Bad Voodoo Lou] You can do the Jewish tradition on Christmas day, go out for Chinese food and a movie. Most Chinese restaurants are open on Christmas, and they may be full of fun, revelling Jews. [/QUOTE] And one nonbelieving family! 😃 We don’t do the big family thing on Christmas so I take my kids and any assorted alone friends we can find and go out for Chinese. We are a bit far from Southern Illinois, but you are more then welcome to come too! ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/35 "2007-12-25T20:08:24Z")
Hey…I’m In Southern Illinois…we could have an impromptu DopeFest… Where in SoIll? tsfr… ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/36 "2007-12-25T20:30:40Z")
[QUOTE=ThisSpaceForRent] Hey… …we could have an impromptu DopeFest… [/QUOTE] That’s kind of what I’m trying to do over here, if only **sugar and spice** would see/answer her private message! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/37 "2007-12-25T21:25:00Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Ho-Chunk or DeJope? I’m at work for the next 90 minutes or so. I don’t mind working on X-mas because it doesn’t mean anything to me spiritually and we get paid both overtime and double time for the day. Then I’ll go home and play with my cats and open my presents from my parents. I just talked with them while I was on break and they and my brother are way more bummed about my not being there than I am. [/QUOTE] Just got back from Ho Chunk, $80 ahead. It’s only the second time I’ve walked out of there with more money than I walked in with. Whoo hoo! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/38 "2007-12-25T23:27:16Z")
Hope your day was brighter than you expected! Have the best day you can! ---
**Author:** ![SweetHomeColorado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d26b3c/32.png) [@SweetHomeColorado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetHomeColorado)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151/39 "2007-12-27T20:22:47Z")
[QUOTE=ThisSpaceForRent] Hey…I’m In Southern Illinois…we could have an impromptu DopeFest… Where in SoIll? tsfr… [/QUOTE] Im in carbondale! my internet was down the entire day. . I tried to respond from my blackberry but apparently it didn’t go through. The day wasn’t great but hey, im up for a SoIL dopefest anytime! Where are you from? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alone-on-christmas-what-can-i-do-besides-mope/431151.md?page=1)