Just DH and me and our dogs. I'm going to try to pare down the food. We tend to go a bit crazy.

No broken bones here but I will be alone. No local relatives and my introversion has become more pronounced since the death of my husband eight years ago. I find that I enjoy my own company more than most current offers so on Thanksgiving I'll chat a bit with my remaining far off relatives, be extremely grateful for all that I have and sumptuously dine on a menu very similar to yours, Artemis. The entertainment of the day will be my usual. I'll have my nose buried in whatever book I'm currently reading... being most content with peace and quiet.

"an introvert (who also hates football - seriously, I'd rather listen to rap than sports announcers)". I can so relate to this! I don't understand having to have the sound on when watching sports! Like what exactly is the announcer saying that you can't see (over and over ad nauseam)? There is an "urgency" to sportscaster's way of talking that just makes me crazy. Some years I just have to suck it up and try to ignore the tv at my hosts' home; this year I'm joining friends who don't watch football.

I think you can feel very thankful for a football free Thanksgiving! And your menu sounds great!

Just me, DH, and the peke...I already bought the food to prepare.

I'm sorry for those having to spend any holidays alone. Whether that's preferred to your current alternatives or not, it can often bring on difficult memories of past holidays with people whose presence is no longer possible for whatever reason. Best wishes.

We're having "Thanksgiving" one week off-cycle, to take advantage of the travel schedule of one of our kids who lives a few thousand miles away but will be here then. By request, we're avoiding many foods that have been traditional in our family in the interest of having a bit more variety. I thought that was a fun idea to pursue.

We've decided to stay home and not have anyone over and am looking forward to it. Someone here inspired me to fix something completely non traditional, too. It might be cheesy chicken enchiladas or something with shrimp and scallops.

If it's a nice day, a long drive in the country is on the agenda or just sitting in front of the fire watching movies, playing cards. If one of his teams is playing football, that will be on while we play cards.

I'm going out to a buffet at Moody Gardens in Galveston with friends. I've eaten there before, and truthfully, the food is nothing to write home about. I don't know if my husband will go or not. He may be working. I don't mind at all spending holidays alone....but my friend invited me, so will go. I do plan to do some cooking at home too though because I like my own roast turkey and dressing a lot better than eating it out somewhere.

I just moved 1500 miles away from the family I have spent Thanksgiving cooking for for the last 20 years. My son and I will be home alone. I am used to making Thanksgiving for 20 or people and this year will make for 2, which will be a big adjustment for me.

While I wont miss the craziness of cooking for all those people and cleaning up. I think I am going to miss having all those people in my home and the sounds that come with it. The sad thing is my new home is 3xs the size of my last home and made for gatherings like this too.

Just my stepson, who lives with me, and me for turkey day. I will have 2 dogs and a cat staring at me the whole time - lol!

Going out for a Thanksgiving Day buffet at a local hotel with a couple of friends. There is so much to choose from at the main buffet and the dessert buffet is out of this world. One thing I miss from the days when I had it here, is the next day leftovers!

Mary, can you ask if you can buy extra to take home?

Im going to my youngest daughter's house wed night to have dinner with her and her boyfriends parents whom I have not met. I'll stay over night either at my daughters or I may get a hotel room. The next morning my oldest daughter will join us for brunch. This wil ltake place about an hour and a half away and I will probably just head home after that. Dinner???

Just DH, live-in DS, and me. DH will have the tv on as usual and I will probably be in our 'office' with my heater and computer (tv too if I feel like it). We are thinking of a non-traditional menu but don't know what it will be yet. And, as always, our Grandson could join us if he wants to.

Ellendi6161...... I have never asked that, but a good idea. In that case, they may just charge for another dinner, but it is very good! :)

Just me and my kitty. I grew a winter squash in my garden for the first time so I plan to make a pie, supposed to be a good one for that. Just go straight for the pie is my thinking. My horrible dysfunctional and drunkard family has ruined the holidays for me. I've gotten use to "celebrating" the holidays by myself and I know there are worse things. Even when I have gone to friends homes I feel uncomfortable and weird, like I'm acting in a play and doing a horrible job of it....

Originally we had planned to go back to Louisiana but since we were just there for a week and will be going back for a week at Christmas we decided to just stay home. My neighbor had us over tonight for early thanksgiving dinner because they are going to their Lake house for Thanksgiving this year. We usually have it together. I may cook or we may go out haven't decided yet. I am fine with either.

All of my family is over a thousand miles away and some sort of a rift has developed on my husband's side of the family so it will be my husband, me and the dog for T day. We have been doing this for several years now, I honestly like it this way better than having to go to the in-law's (now outlaw's) house. It's much more relaxing this way!

It will just be my husband, dog & cat. I am working the day before & the day after, so I do not plan on cooking. We might go to a buffet or not. And we always watch "The Miracle on 34th St." every Thanksgiving.

Well, I won't be totally alone -- three cats will be here. As far as family goes - I'm currently in Connecticut and they're in either Illinois or Florida. Not to mention that my brother does watch the football these days - we never had that, growing up.

I was thinking I would eat out this year and then spend the rest of the day doing nothing important. Probably here on the computer working on genealogy and checking in at the GW forums to see what's going on. All of us introverts are sticking together, it looks like. As so many others have said, I prefer my own company so it's a perfect plan for me.

I'm working on Thanksgiving and the next 3 days. I may cook something this weekend. Or just take the kids out to eat. Unless Alex is working. I need to ask him.

We love being by ourselves on Thanksgiving weekend. I stock the refrigerator with our favorite ready-to-eat foods. We will wrap and pack Christmas presents, decorate the indoors for Christmas, write Christmas cards and plan our party menus. Mostly, we relax and savor the quietness and calm because we are very busy throughout the whole month of December.

I love what you write snidely. It's been on my mind off and on today.

You know, coming from a family of 6, all married, all with kids, and both parents still living... it can be a lot. There are years I like to pull back and have a quiet one and I hope that's how any who are alone might look at it. It's great to sit back, reflect, and be thankful all at your own pace. My heart goes out to everyone :)

I soured on Thanksgiving long ago and try very hard to ignore it; all things my family can deal without me for this one holiday.

I went out with friends for lunch today and we were talking about the holidays. One has a grandchild that she babysits for everyday so that her DIL can work.

When it comes to the holidays the DIL and my friend's son are EXPECTED at her (the DIL's house) All my friend gets is Christmas Eve! Last Mother's Day her son did put his foot down and say that he had a mother too! The son and my friend are easy going and don't like to make waves, but it starting to take a toll.

The holidays can bring out the worst in people and I sometimes feel as violetwest feels. I feel sorry for my friend and I just can't believe that those in laws feel it is perfectly fine to hog ALL the holidays when their SIL has parents and siblings too.

My niece has a good friend who just had a baby. Both she and her DH have divorced parents, so it gets complicated. They decided early on before having their daughter that they would not be stressed going from one house to the other or dividing their time on Christmas. They stay home and do Christmas their way. They see the relatives wither before or after. And interestingly enough, they go to my sister's house for Thanksgiving. Not her own family.

I'm not planning anything. tomorrow, I get cataract surgery in my left eye and 2 weeks later, the same in the right eye. There is weight lifting and bending over restrictions until the eyes heal.

There;s a problem with staying leagal to drive during this period. After surgery, the eye will focus at infinity and it appears that most of the astigmatism will be gone, This means that immediately after surgery, my current prescription lens will be incorrect, but I need to wear something to protect the eye. I picked up a plain lens and can change out the lens for the left eye. I won't be able to get new glasses until the eyes heal and settle down and then new measurements will be made. If all goes well, the new prescription will have little correction in the main lens and there will be a bifocal for reading. However, that will not take place until after at least 4 weeks after the last surgery.

I love hearing all these different stories of what the Thanksgiving plans are. For those of you who might be feeling sad, put on some nice music (not sad and NOT Christmas), a good movie, and stay busy.

We will spend the day with DS/DIL. Cooking will be a group effort. It will be an easy day.

As far as TV football--to me rap would be worse, but worst of all is drag racing. (Probably not on Tksgv.)

Artemis, is your leg healing? I suffered a broken leg which did not heal, so I got a massage therapist-style adjustable rolling stool and could roll all around the kitchen instead of getting the crutches going all the time. Thank you for starting this thread.

This year Mom and I wanted to somehow skip the whole thing, but as of today we are expected at my nephew's with the whole family on the Saturday after and with her sister's family, on Thursday (TG Day). I guess we should feel blessed that we have people inviting us and that we have a choice.

I got tired of going to family that don't really care whether I am there or not and the last 4 years a friend comes out from California for a week and we have a blast cooking up a storm and doing lots of things around town!! Lots more fun and I am thankful for her over 50 years of friendship!!

Family Thanksgiving was cancelled today. Was to be on Cape Cod, but found out today my father needs a surgical procedure the day before, so he'll have to stay home to recover and be taken care of. Thank goodness for football!

So I'll be home with a couple of pooches on Thanksgiving, and I'm perfectly fine with that! I also won't have a kitchen then, so I guess it'll be cheese and crackers for Thanksgiving!

I hope your daddy comes through just fine and I love that you're still sharing cheese and crackers with pooches tibbrix!

As of now it's just me and my critters. I ordered a smoked turkey from the local fire department. That's their main fundraiser every year. Kind of glad to not have to rush around getting ready to go somewhere. I will get to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade in full, or not.

My daughter is hosting Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday, the day when everyone is available to get together. My daughter-in-law's large family invited me to join their dinner on Thanksgiving Day, but after I accepted I remembered my appointment with the "tick doctor" on Wednesday. That involves three hours of driving plus two or more hours in the waiting room, and after that I'm pretty sure all I'll want to do the next day is as little as possible. So I think I'll be home by myself (except for the cats!). No big deal. I'll look forward to Saturday.

Although we are not planning on going anywhere for Thanksgiving, our 2 sons live near enough to send the day with us. My oldest son lives 9 miles away and my youngest son lives 70 miles away, but the "young" one does not have a car. Both will be invited for a noontime dinner at a local restaurant that serves a good buffet - everyone gets to pick the food they like. The 70 mile son will come by bus and we'll pick him up at the bus stop.

I will take a fully charged cell phone to dinner for my guests to use to speak with my daughter who lives 800 miles distant.

Last night, a pair of dear friends of ours was in a bad auto accident: Both were hospitalized. The husband lost a lot of blood from internal injuries and her pelvis was cracked. We will try to find a way to bring a little holiday cheer to them.

PS:

We are getting out first snow of the season tonight. The forecast calls for up to 5 inches of snow. The ground is not frozen so I do not expect this snow to hang around much more than a couple of days. However, fender benders are expected. It happens each year during the first snow. I garaged my Honda and activated my old '98 Jeep Cherokee 4W drive to battle winter.