Tomorrow I’m headed to Alabama to spend 48 hours with the in-laws, which is about 40 hours too much. They are very judgemental people- I recently walked the Avon Breast Cancer 3-day to raise money for breast cancer research, and they refused to contribute because they read that the company that sponsors it also does AIDS benefits, and they were afraid that their money might go to AIDS research. OK, it’s their money, and they have a right not to contribute to a particular cause, but geez.
My MIL is a total "germophobe"- we have to board our new puppy :( because she won't let us bring him, because he's "dirty". She's also the world's worst cook. Last year, my husband raved about a dish I made with feta cheese, and she decided to whip up a feta cheese sauce. For broccoli. With water and Molly McButter (for the uninitiated, Molly McButter is butter flavored powder. It's ghastly). She decided it was too salty, and added sugar. You get the picture.
Then I get to listen to both of them go on about how difficult my husband was when he was a teenager (he's 48 now, thanks), how he should have gone to law school, like his younger brother, all the mistakes he is making mistakes raising his (23-year-old) son, and how we drink too much (two glasses of wine, tops- can ya blame us?) and we are going straight to hell for buying lottery tickets.
On the other hand, I'm sure I drive them nuts, too. And boarding the pup is the excuse we're using to come back Friday instead of Sunday.
I had a MIL who wouldn’t give my 2-year-old son milk with his meal. She was saving it for her teenage sons. She also lived in a mansion and cut paper napkins in half for holiday meals. And she’s a big fat re-gifter, too!
I guess this will sound trite, but try to count your blessings.
My in-laws and parents are all gone now. It is not a good feeling to be without a family when the holidays are here.
Thankfully, I am working Wed. through Sun. and will be very busy.
Otherwise, it would be a very sad time. My home-bound patients are all sick and lonely, and I know that my visits to them will bring some happiness.
My in-laws are DEAD! Heh-heh. (Never met them, but from what I understand, while Mom S probably would have liked me, Dad S was a bitter old drunk and Mr. S is glad I never saw him in action, for fear I’d think I was seeing my future.)
As for my folks, thank God they are now winter snowbirds, 1500 miles away, having their turkey roll in an RV park. My mom’s idea of a great holiday meal is if everyone gets one scant plateful, with no leftovers. We always stop off for a meal before we have “dinner” over there.
katie, you’re coming to AL for Thanksgiving and I’m going to GA (and then to KY and WV).
Thankfully, I’ll be spending Thanksgiving with my boyfriend’s relatives rather than my own. My father’s family (well, 3 of his 5 siblings) are Hellspawn, and the only sibling that’s not lives in VA and won’t be coming for Thanksgiving.
My mom’s side of the family won’t be having Thanksgiving this year. Pity. They’re almost normal.
No thanksgiving in Australia but as I live with my Sister-In-Law there is no escape for me.
Sadly school holidays are almost upon us and as it is summer down here the holidays are going for almost 2 months, during that time I have to take 3 weeks enforced leave from work. Lots and lots of time to bond with my sister-in-law and her kids (gah, bored teenagers).
On the upside her new boyfriend owns a holiday place near the beach so they may just disappear for a few weeks
I went to my (future) in-laws’ house last Saturday. Here’s a tiny little backround on my life right now:
I got engaged to “D” back in August after spending almost 5 years with this guy. We picked a date (May 17, 2003) and his parents were thrilled. The planning was in full gear when… Hey! I’m pregnant! So, of course, we threw aside the wedding and put our attention to fixing up the second floor of our home and getting ready for the baby.
D called his mother less than an hour after I peed on a stick to tell her she’d be a grandmother again soon. The first thing out of her mouth then, and the only thing out of her mouth since then, is “So, when are you getting married?” This woman hasn’t even congratulated us yet, or asked me how I’m doing, or shown ANY interest at all in HER OWN GRANDCHILD.
Every single time I see her, without fail, she asks me YET AGAIN when I’m planning on getting married. She’s even gone so far as to give me dirty looks and call me “sinful”. She is a total, complete bitch. I’ve tried so hard to be respectful of her beliefs (heavy protestant fundie) and polite, but I finally lost it on Saturday.
I suspect she’ll never talk to me again. I’m crushed, really. :rolleyes:
