Tonight promises to be one of those evenings I absolutely hate

[bif]

Going over to a friend's house for dinner. They're also inviting a few people I barely know. It's going to start off with a cocktail hour (oh goody!). Then dinner where a boatload of wine will be consumed. Then fireworks (which I hate) afterwards. I may do an Irish goodbye and slip out around eight or so. Maybe I'll pretend to go inside to use the bathroom then keep on wanting home.

Wish me luck!

[SharonAnn]

1. You can do it. From experience, I brought my own drinks and usually left early.

[Ocelot II]

2. You could show up a bit late (stuck in traffic or whatever other excuse you want)

so as to avoid the cocktail hour, and arrive (apologetically) in time for dinner - I should think it would be easier to avoid the wine if there's plenty to eat. Then you could depart gracefully after dinner, but when it gets dark and the fireworks start, so it doesn't seem like you just came for the food.

[jimfields33]

4. It's a must a person stays two hours.

However, they work would be fine.

[niyad]

15. Really? According to whom?

[jimfields33]

17. I worked for the presidential inaugural committee

And that’s one etiquette I remember.

[niyad]

19. And that relates to a private dinner party... .how, exactly?

[bif]

23. They live two blocks away!

So that would be a pretty amusing excuse!

[zuul]

3. Do you have to go?

I would find an excuse, any excuse, not to go.

[Rebl2]

18. Same here

[BComplex]

5. Just tell them you don't want any alcohol, and ask if they have some

tea of something. It can work out, and besides, alcohol isn't for everyone. Does your friend know you're not drinking?

[MuseRider]

6. Do they know?

If so this is really an awful thing to do until you are solid being able to deal with this. We avoided everything like that for a long long time until our family member felt perfectly fine. I started having a drink at night to test it out and they had no problem, if they did it would go down the drain. It has been around 15 years now since the start so hang in there, hopefully you can get to the point that you can do that, I know that a lot of people cannot. ((hugs)) It is so hard, I know from the outside how hard it is and frankly, if it were me I am not sure I could do it.

If it gets to you make excuses and leave.

[Marthe48]

7. You have our support

You have to do what's best for yourself. If you had an ulcer, you wouldn't drink anything but water. Or if you had high cholesterol, you'd leave the burger and eat the sides. If you get questioned about getting there late or leaving early, maybe you have a friend or neighbor you're pet sitting for.

Whatever you do, seeing enjoy your friends and meeting new people. Maybe it'll be a crossroads to new places

[Evolve Dammit]

8. I can relate. good luck and let us know how it unfolds(ed).

[orleans]

9. wear a mask! don't get covid! or just stay home, go for a walk nt

[Warpy]

10. Sounds like what I used to do when I had a social life

and it does work. As soon a conviviality turned obnoxious, I was gone.

More people than you realize can't drink. There's recovery, of course, because you don't want to end up institutionalized or dead. There's also an overabundance of caution in pregnancy. Then there are bad reactions with medications. Then there's the flushing reaction that gives people a red face and immediate splitting headache.

I wish I could say parties centered around alcohol got easier, but they never did for me. My line was when the first couple started to scream at each other. "Oops, I've got an early day, wonderful dinner, see ya." and don't be shocked if someone else asks for a lift.

[calimary]

11. Do it. We won't tell!

By then, they'll probably be too messed-up to notice.

[Mr.Bill]

12. Tell them you just tested positive for Covid.

Being able to do this is the only good thing about a pandemic.

[twodogsbarking]

13. Tip for Office Christmas parties after hours. Leave your coat in your car

they you can sneak out without anyone noticing. Worth getting slightly cold.

[Onlyserious]

14. California sober?

Maybe?

[mitch96]

16. " I may do an Irish goodbye" Never heard of that one. How does it work? nt

[jxla]

21. I had to Google it.

https://www.connollycove.com/what-is-an-irish-goodbye-irish-exit/

An Irish Goodbye is a term coined for someone who leaves a gathering subtly and unobtrusively. They endeavour to escape without notice and avoid those light-hearted confrontations of, “Are you going already?” or “Aw just stay for one more”.

[mitch96]

24. Got it thanks. Did that at a dinner party and found out it was a bunch of Obama hating

Last edited Mon Sep 4, 2023, 03:48 PM - Edit history (1)

ex Foreign Service people... I did not know that it had a name. I just thought it was like the
Neil Simon lyric "slip out the back, jack. make a new plan Stan"...
m

[bif]

25. It's also called "ghosting".

[mitch96]

26. Ghosting is a word I know but the "Irish farewell" was a new one for me..nt

[bif]

22. It urned out just fine.

I had a decent time. I drank a fizzy water instead of a drink. And the party broke up at 9 before folks got hammered. And the food was pretty exceptional--the hostess is a decent cook. We had gazpacho and paella.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Stuart G]

27. K & R

[Stuart G]

28. Somewhat Off.....?? (but that is me....) Hope you do not hate this post......but.........

..... NOT AS FINE AS YOU..!!!!!!!!............ :











.........................SORRY FOR THIS REDICULOUS POST........(mine not yours).................

But...Bif ..........You are the best, and Number 1.......

Stuart G.