Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Non-traditional traditions

I am not one who enjoys following traditions, not other people's anyway. For Thanksgiving, it is traditional to get together with family (maybe travel), eat a HUUUUGE meal consisting of lots of turkey, gravy, stuffing, pies, mashed potatoes, and drinks (hard or soft, depending on the prevailing religion). Then, it's customary to sit on the couch, watch football, fall asleep, take a little walk, eat some more turkey, gravy, stuffing, pies, mashed potatoes, and drinks, then maybe go out to the movies in a group. Friday starts the big power-shopping push as the stores open at 5 a.m. (these days, some retailers are starting it on Thursday). If the house is not already decorated for Christmas, then it's time to do that.

My own family gatherings growing up were highly dysfunctional, unpleasant and weird in a bad way (but not as bad a Christmas). Spending the holiday with in-laws or other people's families was usually very much like the above, pretty forgettable, except for MrB's brother-in-law's brother was a realtor, and after we'd all had some wine (except for him), he'd pile us in the van and go lookie-loos around some vacant houses. The wine would go with with us (yeah, we bad), and it was a lot of fun, especially looking at those really pricey places.

Now we don't live close to either of our families, so we can do whatever the hell we want, especially since we can't afford travel anyway. I prefer not to do any cooking, so we go out. The Alamo Drafthouse is where we go (this time it will be the new Ritz location). Dinner and a movie all in one, they do the cooking and cleaning and serving. We are vegetarians and they have lots of food we can eat, lots of good beers too... coffee, whatever. If you must insist on the bird, they have all that stuff on the menu for T-day too. So the Alamo is part of our new tradition. There is lots of music in the clubs, as always, and we will take in some of that. Friday we will go to Waterloo Records and get our copy of KGSR's new Broadcasts CD (it's a tradition!). I'm sure that DVDs will be rented as well.

What are you doing this weekend?

10 comments:

Ellie said...

This year I have my own unplesant travel for Tday. I think I like the day you and MrB have planned. The first pic on my blog says it all.

Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein said...

Dinner at the girlfriends parents tomorrow, house cleaning n Friday and maybe Saturday, and then hopefully nothing on Sunday.

Friðvin said...

Probably going to Swad on N. Lamar for a huge thali and then coming home to take a nap!

John Good said...

Eating way too much after cooking way too much followed by drinking way too much. Gluttony, anyone? ;)

Mando Mama said...

Gluttony is an art. I baked two pies and four dozen pineapple tarts tonight. One of the pies goes to the firefighters in our little town, the tarts go with us to my middle brother's shindig, the other pie will be waiting for us along with tonight's leftover pizza when we get home.

All y'all gobble well, now.

Me said...

I'm gonna thoroughly enjoy this cold weather!!

Hi, Blueberry.

:)

FreakyNick said...

No families. I did like having T-Day with my ex's family, but I wouldn't go anywhere near my family during the holidays. I still avoid them. I'm just have dinner with friends then in bed early as usual. I like it like that.

muffinmidi said...

We had a nice quiet Thanksgiving.Now that it's only the two of us we bought most of the ingredients.It just wasn't worth the effort to cook. My cat (Muffin)had a good time too.He got a nice slice of poultry of his own. Incidently, did you solve the kitty litter problem? I've never heard of a cat eating litter before. It can't be good for him.I use the environmentally-unfriendy type the sell at Publix. His Fussy Majesty likes the best. And if we don't like our litter, we leave presents in inappropriate places. Tracy

Blueberry said...

He's leaving the tasty wheat litter alone completely as far as I can tell (he MIGHT be eating it but I haven't caught him at it) and using the half-wheat-half-clay.

Eno said...
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