Anonymous
Post 12/03/2023 13:23     Subject: Dreading Christmas visitors
One of those touristy bus tours of DC?
Outing to see the Nutcracker, a concert, or a church choir recital?
Baking and making holiday decorations. You could even do cookies and then package them up as gifts, then drive around delivering them. (My kids love to do a stealth drop off at stoop, ring, and then zoom away!)
Board games. Going out occasionally without the grandparents. And at other times maybe just take the grandmas and another time take the grandpas. Watch a holiday movie together.
Anonymous
Post 12/01/2023 09:09     Subject: Dreading Christmas visitors
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:May I introduce you to the time-honored entertainment for old people: Taking A Drive. You don't actually leave the house with a productive destination or even an agenda. Rather, this is a way to run out the clock until dinner and give the sandwich generation a break from actively entertaining.

Take A Drive through Middleburg and The Plains and marvel at the estates. Take A Drive to Sugarloaf Mountain or Skyline Drive and marvel at the foliage (or the open views created by lack thereof). Take A Drive around Georgetown or Annapolis and marvel at the historic architecture.

Make the trip as long or short as you want. Hell, you can Take A Drive to your kids' school or past that house three streets over with all the holiday inflatables in the yard. With the exception of a helpful potty/snack break for the very young and very old, you don't need to buy tickets, worry about crowds or even get out of the car. Think of it as a very long, scenic, and sedate amusement park ride.


Here’s a destination. Take a drive to the Red Truck Bakery in Marshall Virginia to buy a pie. It’s cute, it’s easy in and out, it’s a mission, and you will get pie to boot. Maybe order in advance so you get what you want.
https://redtruckbakery.com/


Their granola is fabulous. I ordered a ton of it one year for gift giving. And unless things changed over COVID, they have a small menu with sandwiches, etc.


The Festival of Lights in Bull Run is drive thru and a nice activity. https://www.novaparks.com/events/bull-run-festival-of-lights



They still have sandwiches and things like scones and muffins and coffee but be warned they sell out of many items by midday and close at 5 so preorder or go early.


DP but then that sounds like a perfect fully day activity. Head out mid morning after a light breakfast. Get there to buy your pie and have a leisurely lunch. Stop somewhere cute for shopping if there's any sort of quaint store(s) nearby. Drive home in time for a mid afternoon nap.

OP can use that nap time to either rest herself or go run errands or get some exercise. The pie she bought can be dessert one night, and the muffins can be breakfast the next morning saving her one more meal of having to cook.
Anonymous
Post 12/01/2023 08:50     Subject: Dreading Christmas visitors
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:May I introduce you to the time-honored entertainment for old people: Taking A Drive. You don't actually leave the house with a productive destination or even an agenda. Rather, this is a way to run out the clock until dinner and give the sandwich generation a break from actively entertaining.

Take A Drive through Middleburg and The Plains and marvel at the estates. Take A Drive to Sugarloaf Mountain or Skyline Drive and marvel at the foliage (or the open views created by lack thereof). Take A Drive around Georgetown or Annapolis and marvel at the historic architecture.

Make the trip as long or short as you want. Hell, you can Take A Drive to your kids' school or past that house three streets over with all the holiday inflatables in the yard. With the exception of a helpful potty/snack break for the very young and very old, you don't need to buy tickets, worry about crowds or even get out of the car. Think of it as a very long, scenic, and sedate amusement park ride.


Here’s a destination. Take a drive to the Red Truck Bakery in Marshall Virginia to buy a pie. It’s cute, it’s easy in and out, it’s a mission, and you will get pie to boot. Maybe order in advance so you get what you want.
https://redtruckbakery.com/


Their granola is fabulous. I ordered a ton of it one year for gift giving. And unless things changed over COVID, they have a small menu with sandwiches, etc.


The Festival of Lights in Bull Run is drive thru and a nice activity. https://www.novaparks.com/events/bull-run-festival-of-lights



They still have sandwiches and things like scones and muffins and coffee but be warned they sell out of many items by midday and close at 5 so preorder or go early.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2023 22:56     Subject: Dreading Christmas visitors
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:May I introduce you to the time-honored entertainment for old people: Taking A Drive. You don't actually leave the house with a productive destination or even an agenda. Rather, this is a way to run out the clock until dinner and give the sandwich generation a break from actively entertaining.

Take A Drive through Middleburg and The Plains and marvel at the estates. Take A Drive to Sugarloaf Mountain or Skyline Drive and marvel at the foliage (or the open views created by lack thereof). Take A Drive around Georgetown or Annapolis and marvel at the historic architecture.

Make the trip as long or short as you want. Hell, you can Take A Drive to your kids' school or past that house three streets over with all the holiday inflatables in the yard. With the exception of a helpful potty/snack break for the very young and very old, you don't need to buy tickets, worry about crowds or even get out of the car. Think of it as a very long, scenic, and sedate amusement park ride.


Here’s a destination. Take a drive to the Red Truck Bakery in Marshall Virginia to buy a pie. It’s cute, it’s easy in and out, it’s a mission, and you will get pie to boot. Maybe order in advance so you get what you want.
https://redtruckbakery.com/


Their granola is fabulous. I ordered a ton of it one year for gift giving. And unless things changed over COVID, they have a small menu with sandwiches, etc.


The Festival of Lights in Bull Run is drive thru and a nice activity. https://www.novaparks.com/events/bull-run-festival-of-lights

Anonymous
Post 11/30/2023 17:29     Subject: Dreading Christmas visitors
Anonymous wrote:Why did you invite them???

Life is all about choices.


You know, sometimes a less than ideal situation is still the best or preferred option overall. Surely you can understand that. People who boil everything down to suggestions like 'just don't do it' really lack emotional intelligence.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2023 15:44     Subject: Dreading Christmas visitors
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Also: drive through light displays.

Taking a drive to buy pies is a genius idea.


The Bull Run drive through light display is right off 66 which is on the way to the pie place.

https://www.novaparks.com/events/bull-run-festival-of-lights


This is PERFECT for older people. With younger kids and grandparents, you will want to arrive early. The line of cars gets really long during the peak holiday evenings.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2023 15:31     Subject: Dreading Christmas visitors
It’s kind of corny but maybe go to one of those Japanese restaurants where they cook everything right in front of you and make a little show of it. Usually they have steak and chicken which are not too unusual to eat if you’re old and it would be fun and weird and the kids might like it.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2023 15:26     Subject: Dreading Christmas visitors
Anonymous wrote:As I get older, I don't do what I don't want to do (for the most part). Time is too precious to be unhappy, and that includes having guests over for 5 nights. I would simply say I am not able to do it.


Some day, if your are lucky, you too will be old. Your kids will be grown. They and their spouse will be dreading your visit. Show a little compassion. I have just one son. We host and I treat DHs parents as I hope future DIL does me.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2023 15:21     Subject: Dreading Christmas visitors
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Also: drive through light displays.

Taking a drive to buy pies is a genius idea.


The Bull Run drive through light display is right off 66 which is on the way to the pie place.

https://www.novaparks.com/events/bull-run-festival-of-lights


Thanks this will kill one evening.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2023 06:40     Subject: Re:Dreading Christmas visitors
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My DH takes a lot of formal pictures (groups and individuals) of relatives and family. That can easily take one whole evening of dressing and posing. Pictures taken by my DH are often used by family members for LinkedIn profile pics, memorials, social media profile pics etc.



This may be the most genius idea (not just to occupy folks) I have ever heard. Multiple benefits!


+1
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2023 00:32     Subject: Dreading Christmas visitors
Anonymous wrote:Also: drive through light displays.

Taking a drive to buy pies is a genius idea.


The Bull Run drive through light display is right off 66 which is on the way to the pie place.

https://www.novaparks.com/events/bull-run-festival-of-lights
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2023 00:28     Subject: Dreading Christmas visitors
Also: drive through light displays.

Taking a drive to buy pies is a genius idea.