Now for something completely different: an in-laws vent!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You lost me at your disdain for Cracker Barrel. That tells me you don't have an open heart, an open mind, and good intentions. If you're not game for a trip to Cracker Barrel, you have a rattling marble where your brain should be, and a shriveled raisin where your heart should be.

I live in the Midwest. Cracker Barrel is shitty. It sells frozen food for entrees. It has ugly, kitschy decor. It has terrible policies for its employees. It discriminates against LGBT people. Any local diner is going to be interesting, and probably have better food than Cracker Barrel.

Yeah, Midwesterner here, and Cracker Barrel is shit food. If you like it, that tells me you have no tastebuds or discernment.

I'm one of the Hoosier's that told OP she had agency. I love Cracker Barrel! They've got good pancakes with the best syrup and de-licous thick cut bacon. Their biscuits are perfect, the hashbrown casserole among the best and the apple butter nearly as good as my grandmother's. I assure you I do have taste buds and discernment but I recognize other people have differing tastes. I, for one, know not everyone appreciates biscuits and gravy or, my favorite meal, pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy. Heaven would be eating that every day without repercussions.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like my parents, OP! Grit your teeth and bear it, you’ll never have to do this again. Because you’ll say no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP! I'm on your side. I really hope you can find the humor in all of this...you are descriptive and funny!

This summer, I was driving my elderly mom back to her hometown, just the two of us...in a car for five hours, then in a connected hotel room for four days. I believe I posted about my travails here on dcum.

My mom does not believe in conversational lags, or silence or pauses. Thus, constant chatter. She considers the GPS voice a rude interruption (and why would I need this cue anyway, this is her hometown and SHE knows where she's going and turn that voice down) and the satellite radio is annoying because it interrupts our "conversation."

Looking forward to an update.


I agree. OP you are hilarious and great storyteller. I think you are being very good natured and patient. You are lasting longer than I would! Good luck with rest of trip!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You lost me at your disdain for Cracker Barrel. That tells me you don't have an open heart, an open mind, and good intentions. If you're not game for a trip to Cracker Barrel, you have a rattling marble where your brain should be, and a shriveled raisin where your heart should be.

Are you being serious? This is a bit of a strange rant if not.

I can't stand Cracker Barrel and I assure you I have more than a marble for a brain and am a kind and generous person. I think its great that you like CB, for real???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You lost me at your disdain for Cracker Barrel. That tells me you don't have an open heart, an open mind, and good intentions. If you're not game for a trip to Cracker Barrel, you have a rattling marble where your brain should be, and a shriveled raisin where your heart should be.

Are you being serious? This is a bit of a strange rant if not.

I can't stand Cracker Barrel and I assure you I have more than a marble for a brain and am a kind and generous person. I think its great that you like CB, for real???

If you have a sense of humor and an appreciation for hyperbole, you can roll with a post like that. If you are a humorless, literal Becky, you will bristle and take umbrage.

[Anonymous]

Never been to Cracker Barrel. Am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

Your first mistake is driving able bodied men around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You lost me at your disdain for Cracker Barrel. That tells me you don't have an open heart, an open mind, and good intentions. If you're not game for a trip to Cracker Barrel, you have a rattling marble where your brain should be, and a shriveled raisin where your heart should be.

LOL, LOL

[Anonymous]

OP, if you’re still checking this thread, I just have to say that you sound like a very kind and patient person. Lots of folks commenting here probably are estranged from their families and don’t know a thing about sacrifice or duty. And they like Cracker Barrel!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never been to Cracker Barrel. Am I missing something?

The short answer is NO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your first mistake is driving able bodied men around.

If they whinge so much, hand the car keys to someone else. You've done your driving, let them handle it, put some headphones in and listen to a podcast or music and enjoy the scenery out the window.

Let them decide where to eat, just have a snack on you in case you get hungry and they can't make a decision. Only bring a snack for yourself and DH, if they want to be difficult deciding where to eat, let them deal with their hungry. Just sit back and watch the chaos and have a laugh. Don't give an opinion, don't get involved.

[Anonymous]

Oh and branch off, they'll get over it, take some time to go to the museum and eat at a nice restaurant, who cares if they get upset. Honestly you are adults, you don't need to spend 24 hours a day together. Don't worry about it, you are not children who have to obey her, go do what you want.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I didn’t want to come back and tell you how the last day went because it makes me sound like such a whiny little bitch but this is all anonymous so who cares

The last day FIL drove and it was horrible. I don’t want to give too much away where they live but it’s very forested with windy roads, but they have lived there for decades and obviously know the area (And the curves). This man could not go 5 seconds without breaking for NO F-ING REASON. Accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake. Last week I had an ear infection last so still kind of woozy and once we got to tourist spot I had the worst motion sickness of my life. God was punishing me for not driving lol. I even excused myself to go throw up because maybe it might make me feel better? It didn’t. I sucked it up through the tour of the place and let DH know I cannot physically get back in that car. We agreed to lie and say breakfast wasn’t sitting well and we went back to the hotel for an afternoon of glorious relaxation. DH said he couldn’t believe how bad his dad was driving. His parents are older - late 60s but dad still works.

I reflected more on why I got roped into this in the first place: FIL works out of the area and flies in/out and the first day he said “MIL can you drive? I’m still really tired from flying in late last night.” MIL couldn’t because of logistics (she was only going to be joining us for the morning) so I offered to drive. I’m trying to be a good DIL! Make everyone happy! I don’t even get Cracker Barrel as a thank you.

Later in the evening MIL came to get us once I felt better and surprise - I drove

[Anonymous]

Nobdoy cares. I'm glad you're not in my family or my husband's family. Nobody likes the put-upon martyr/doormat types.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobdoy cares. I'm glad you're not in my family or my husband's family. Nobody likes the put-upon martyr/doormat types.

There’s martyrdom and then there’s not being rude to your in-laws. DIL or F/MIL. It’s a fine line. Also some families are more uptight with social expenctarions and politeness (snooty, maybe?)