Thanksgiving
 

Is Thanksgiving sneaking up on anyone else?
Corey slapped me in the face with it yesterday. I had no idea it was coming up so soon...

Usually I would hear from my aunt about dinner at her house by now, but she and her daughter have been having serious problems- at least my cousin is back on drugs again, my aunt may be using now too, and she has/had been having money problems.
I mostly hope we won't be doing it this year. My family, with the exception of my other aunt and my father (who won't be there), only care about me on that particular day of the year, and they are insufferable.

And Thanksgiving used to be my favorite holiday.

Corey and I have a separate dinner alone together every year, and I would much rather spend the whole holiday alone with him.

I will have to buy my turkey breast soon, but not too soon, because I always buy a fresh one.

that is so depressing. I hope you and corey and the kitties spend it alone together!
love
bobby
I'll spend it alone with my kitties. I bought a turkey breast frozen which I think I will have vanessa cook it tomorrow and maybe get another one

Bobby, Nice that you have a plan for Vanessa to cook the turkey for you.

Kay, Enjoy your day with your husband.

Hubby likes turkey but we do not coordinate to make a plan re whether
buying a cooked one or raw one.
We both feel really busy at work this time of year.
We usually decide on a quiet day with our regular foods.

M

I am making my usual "green bean casserole" for 12.
and crawfish dip that everyone liked so well last year.(hope I wrote down the recipe somewhere????)
We are going to a pot luck again, we should know everyone there.:)
I still get social anxiety when I am around people even though I know them. People usually ask you to engage in conversations and then you have to able to keep up in the conversation.
These are university people, highly educated....:o
sigh
bizi

I hope all will work out for the best. The Norman-Rockwell version isn't something many people experience, alas. We'll be going to see my mother and sister and eating out at a restaurant Thanksgiving buffet. It's easier on all of us. :hug:

good to see you again.
bizi

They probably like talking about
their travel last summer or over Christmas
their pets / children / grandchildren / projects / the food at the party/
things they like to cook or eat / any sports team / music /


Talking is about being good a listener and somehow doing
a follow up question sometimes (not always).
You do have a genuine interest in people.
That shows and that's what people at a party would like about you.


Follow up Questions for those with Social Anxiety Disorder:
Asking Small Talk Follow-Up Questions When You Have SAD

How to Be a Good Listener (with Examples) - wikiHow

How to Mingle With Strangers at Parties (with Pictures) - wikiHow

Conversation Starters: How To Make Small Talk | Shape Magazine


M

Also, sometimes I touch people while I am talking ---


--- usually their forearm.


Kind of like a tap to make a point or show a connection.


I do not do it often but I can do it sometimes.


M

I read the articles, great ideas, thank you!
Acknowledging the truth that I have social anxiety disorder is half the battle.
Practicing should help. Thaksgiving will be full of people that I know.
I could simply ask them what they are doing for the holidays? and then ask them about their families and their traditions. or what are their favorite foods they like at christmas? This should keep them talking.
bizi

Yes!


You've got this. And you can talk about yourself so you are not only listening but engaging too. People do care what you have to say.



The only thing is that some families are divided politically and
do not look forward to the holidays or are planning on having
smaller meals /fewer relatives.


M

I can relate to your social anxiety issues, Bizi :hug::hug::hug:

Thank you for all the good resources and suggestions, Mari :hug:

My family just gives me anxiety in general.

eating turkey / not eating turkey
 

Hubby found a supermarket flier for Turkey and fixings from the grocery store to order and then pick up on Wed.

I talked him out of it because it would be a lot -- food for six.
And he does not eat the side dishes like stuffing and an awful but really
sweet marshmallow dessert thing.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Then this morning I told him to go order it and see if he could take it to his friend's house on Thanksgiving --- I do not want all that gross food in the house.

But I felt bad denying him Turkey.


M

but can you have some of the turkey? I am writing to alice to see what she uses with protein powder. no carbs sob sob

Options to add to a protein drink:
Water
Coconut water
Yogurt
Cottage cheese
Milk
Romaine lettuce --- lots of it
Other greens
Cucumbers
Yellow squash
A few frozen berries -- blueberries, strawberries, cranberries
Slivered (precut) carrots
Some people like kale -- but it's not for me
One small apple
Small peach
1/4 or 1/2 avocado
Small pear
Celery
Cinnamon
Flax seed
A squeeze of lemon or lime

No, because it is coming from a place that does not do a good job with turkey
and I am not a big fan of turkey anyway.

I believe tonight I talked him into taking the 6 person meal to his friend's
house. They can eat it there. Maybe hubby will leave some of it there.
Maybe he will take some home.


M

that is kind of you and no dishes! I aam going to buy berries for the powder

I guess we are going to have dinner at my aunt's this year, but my sister said she had to "reach out" to her. It is weird because my aunt said she is only making the turkey and potatoes, and asked us to buy the rest, and she expects a big dinner. I have a feeling my sister bought/is buying the turkey... I am making stuffing and bringing a bunch of things... it feels like I'm bringing the other half of the dinner. To my knowledge, and it would be no surprise, my brother isn't bringing anything.

My aunt has had money problems and my sister and other aunt have loaned her money. By the time she asked me (VERY rudely), I already knew how much money, THOUSANDS of dollars, my father had repeatedly given her. I said I couldn't... Since then she sold her shares in the family business and received THOUSANDS more, and is apparently still in trouble/in trouble again...

Since we started talking about dinner on Thursday, my aunt has started texting a lot to complain about the long hours she's working and it seems like she is struggling with mental health issues (?). I hadn't heard a word from her since I said I couldn't loan her any money before now. I think she's going to try to hit us all up for money Thursday.

I will not be eating much or staying long. I have a feeling Thanksgiving at her house will be miserable, and I will be making dinner for Corey and me later anyway (I prep everything the night before).

do you really have to make the sacrifice and go?

I feel obligated. My family is very small now, and I don't think I can or should push them away. When I grew up, I learned I was expected to just take everybody's s***.

I think I am the sanest member of my family... isn't that scary?

A scary thought for sure.
But it is good to be sane. :):D:)


M

Thanksgiving food anyway
 

So hubby went and bought the six--person disgusting Turkey
meal from the grocery store that he picks up tomorrow.

Picture of items here:
International | Publix Super Markets.

He won't eat the following:

~cranberries
~marshmallow dessert

-But he will eat the turkey and gravy
-Not sure about the stuffing.

He'll probably makes some rice because he likes rice.


I'm grossed out thinking about any of it although I like stuffing
and I can see myself having some of the sweet disgusting
dessert.

We are going to have to heat the darned stuff anyway: ALMOST THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK AS
COOKING FROM SCRATCH!
=-=-=-=

I had told him that I know how to cook a turkey and do a good job.
This one will taste like crap.

M

2hours and 15 minutes to heat up an already cooked turkey will definitely mean the turkey will be dry.:(
at least there is a lot of gravy which could be really yummy!
bizi

Oh, I had not read that until you pointed it out. YUCK.


Hubby will like it no matter what --- so that's what counts.


I'll eat some stuffing.



M

Gross to be sure, Mari....
2 1/2 hours is a really long time to "re-heat" anything!!!
I'm glad that he is getting what he wants and will enjoy it though :)

What will you be eating?
I know you like rice... maybe that if he cooks it?

It took me forever to make that stuffing yesterday!!!
I haven't made a batch that big in a VERY long time, and I had a hell of a time trying to stir the dense mixture because my arms are so weak now. I always add more seasoning, butter, and stock/broth than the recipe suggests, but I didn't add enough extra this time, and ended up pouring boiling turkey stock etc over the stuffing once it was in the casserole dish and stirring it in. It's satisfactory now. I'll bake it before I leave.

I'm a little nervous about going to my aunt's today. I don't know what sort of nonsense I will be up against...