Thanksgiving this year was a bit different for me. I got the whole week of Thanksgiving off from school but I wasn’t able to head home until Wednesday because of my job. We spent the night at his mom’s so we could still visit with her since we were spending Thanksgiving day with my family. We ordered pizza and watched a couple movies (the Sixth Sense and Monty Python and the Holy Grail – both on our IMDB 250 list!).
Thanksgiving morning we drove to my parents’. My mom fixed the works: turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, rolls, and pretzel jello salad (sounds gross, but it is delicious). My aunt brought homemade pumpkin and apple pies, my uncle brought corn casserole, and a cousin brought sodas. It was wonderful not having to cook!
We ate and laid around and then ate some more. It was good to see all of my cousins and aunts and uncles. We flipped through Black Friday ads but had absolutely no desire to go out and shop in that madness. The conversation turned to movies and we decided to go see something. Most of the guys took my dad to see Spectre while most of the girls (plus Andrew!) went to see Mockingjay Part 2.
This was a different experience, to say the least. We went to a Dine-in theatre, which I had never been to before, but I had heard positive things about. You are able to reserve your seats, so we figured we would try it and we wouldn’t have to get there early to beat the crowd. We arrived and found our seats, which had little trays that you could swivel over your lap. A server came and introduced herself to us and took our order. I just wanted a popcorn since everything on the menu seemed a little pricey to me.
It took probably twenty minutes to bring the popcorn (I honestly would have preferred just getting it from the concession stand myself). We split it and then needed a refill, so our server took the tub. The theater was full when the movie started. It was really distracting as they began to bring the food out. The lady in front of us argued with the server about what she got because it apparently wasn’t what she ordered. One of the servers stomped up and down the stairs, breathing so heavily that I was concerned that he was okay. Some servers were even taking orders still.
We never got our popcorn refill. My sister finally stopped the server and she said we never gave the tub back to her. After some more mild excuses, she brought out our popcorn. By now it was halfway through the movie and I was annoyed I was just now getting my $8 popcorn. I was really trying to get into the movie, but there were just too many distractions with the servers walking around and guests asking for another drink or another straw, people just eating (do people not know how to eat quietly?) etc. When there was probably 15 minutes left of the movie, another waiter brought a popcorn out to us. We were confused, because we didn’t order another one. They brought our bill out to us in one of the most emotional parts of the film and then when it was over, we had to wait in line to get our credit card back.
So overall, if you asked me what I thought of the new Hunger Games movie, I really couldn’t give you an honest opinion because I couldn’t focus on the movie. Andrew just thinks that the theater was understaffed – which I totally understand on a holiday, but the Dine-In still isn’t something that I would recommend. It was just way too distracting. (Also, is this just an American thing? Do movie theaters in other countries serve food and drinks?)
We slept in on Friday and my mom cooked a big breakfast for us. My sister and I headed to Kohl’s about 10:45am – late enough that hopefully all of the crazy shoppers would be done and out of the way! I found a Columbia coat that was originally $120 marked down to $80, and then with my coupons got it for $50. I was pleased with my purchase though because my old coat I have had since my freshman year of high school, so I was really past due for a new one.
We headed to Target afterwards “just to look” which we both knew would not end up happening. I bought a blue cardigan that was marked down to $13 which I was so excited about since normally the ones I find are twice that price! I also found a couple of movies that were only $4. And that’s the extent of my Black Friday shopping.
We met with Andrew’s dad for a quick lunch before Andrew headed back to Kansas City. He had to work over the weekend, but I stayed a bit longer to hang out with my mom and sister. It’s been really hard to come home and visit since I started my new internship, so this break was really needed.
To my American friends, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! To my Canadian friends, very belated Thanksgiving wishes to you! And to the rest: a wonderful weekend as well. 
I’m glad you were able to have some time off to spend it with your family! It’s great when you don’t have to cook
That dine-in theatre sounded pretty frustrating. And yes, theatres in Korea serve food, too, like popcorn and other theatre food. I suspect that’s taken from the US theatres, actually
I actually prefer to just watch films in my bedroom where I won’t have all the annoyances from other people!
Anyway, happy belated Thanksgiving, Becca! Here’s to wishing a great holiday season in December! ^^
I meant more of the style of food, like entrees (one of which was sushi… Not sure how I feel about theater sushi!) and if they have the dine ins or if it’s like the typical concession stand. I figured you’d have typical theatre food xD
I much prefer to watch movies at home on my couch as well! People are just annoying sometimes, lol.
Sounds like an awesome Thanksgiving. There’s nothing better than spending the day with family.
Your thanksgiving sounds lovely! Well, minus the annoyances at the movie. Yeah I think I would of been way to distracted and irritated myself.
Sounds like you got some good deals! I only went out on Saturday and mostly only cause the bookstore had some signed editions of books I like.
Typically don’t go out. Crowds get annoying.
That sounds like an amazing Thanksgiving meal! I didn’t have to do any of the cooking or baking either, so it was nice to just relax ans stuff myself
That’s too bad the Dine-in theater wasn’t a good experience. The only theater I go to now is called the Alamo Drafthouse, and it also serves food during the movie. The orders are written down so no one has to talk, and the servers are pretty quiet. I actually really like it! Though, I mainly like it because the theater has a very strict no talking and no texting policy, so I don’t have to deal with annoying people. Seems like the Dine-in theater could use some improvements to their process =/
I’m glad you got a few things during Black Friday! I didn’t want to deal with crazy people in stores either, so I took advantage of the online sales
I am glad and relieved that you were able to spend Thanksgiving with your new husband and family! It’s always a blast to spend it with your loved ones. There was one year that I actually spent Thanksgiving alone. It was mostly due to the fact that I dislike having rules being placed on me (especially rules that don’t need too — I know how to behave). So I declined an invitation to go to my dad’s girlfriend’s family’s Thanksgiving that year. However, a friend of mine made that up for me the next day (he actually forgot that it was Thanksgiving and had nothing prepared – so we had it the next day). It’s amazing what friends can do for you.
I’m sorry you had a terrible Dine-In theater experience. It sounds like it would have amazing, if there were more staff that night. Andrew might have hit the nail on the head with that one. It does sound like they were under staffed. Though, I don’t think we have anything like that here in California, and if we did — it’d probably be over staffed. Though, I dislike going to movies any more. The reason being, people are noisy and talk through it. The prices to see a movie is a bit ridiculous to say the least. For one person to see the movie it’s $20.00 here in Southern California. For two people that would be $40.00. Plus, the cost of food is ridiculous as well. The last time I went to the movies was with Tristan and that was to see Divergent at the mini theater that you can see a movie for $10.00 (which is more like it). You know, Tristan and I STILL have yet to go to any theme parks? It’s ridiculously expensive, so we try to find joy and pleasure in other things like books and stuff. One day, we will go to Disneyland or to Universal Studios. Again, I am sorry you had that bad experience with the Dine-In Movie theater.