Bummed because I am at the inlaws for thanks giving...

Happy Thanksgiving?

Should you wish to never go back (and that is quite a risky approach) you can set them straight during the dinner conversation and volunteer to host every year.  The deeper you get into the reasons the more likely you will succeed.  And on a SWMBO front you could pay a price.  
Just go with it and make the best of it.  
Edit:  with enough hot sauce you can standardize the taste of anything.  

I feel your pain.  About to live it...

Brother, today it's all about being with family and friends, at my shop ... i have three older workers who have no one - literally no where to go. I'd invite them to my home, but this year i'm at my sisters.

Happy Thanksgiving!

ChuckR said:

Legume said:

Be thankful, you are with family and it's a turkey dinner for chrissakes.  The best turkey dinner ever still doesn't make anyone's top ten, it's the family, the event, the nostalgia of passed down family recipes and tradition.  Offer to pass some tradition on to them, but don't complain about their way.

Legume please don't get me wrong. I am thankful to be with family today. However my parents always make a homemade thanksgiving and I am nostalgic for that. 

I get you ChuckR and hope you all have a helluva good time.  We have had to negotiate splitting holidays, hosting holidays and everything in between over the years.  Sometimes we just cook our own turkey dinner a few days or a week later so we can have leftovers.  Hopefully I didn't come off too cranky, just missing family a bit myself this weekend.

Take heart, brother, things could be worse.  My MIL flew here on her broomstick two weeks ago.  She will visit Wilma's aunt for a week after Thanksgiving and then be back here until she hops on her broom and leaves on Dec 9th.

good times for sure.

Sorry you are bummed because you have to spend Thanksgiving with your in-laws, you are lucky to have them to spend time with. Try spending Thanksgiving (and Christmas) searching pictures posted from the middle of an ocean for a glimpse of your child that you've seen once this year.

Everything was catered this year, but turned out delicious.  

Start talking politics. That will fix it.  

I can see both points of view.  I think most of us love to cook, and even though there's work and time involved, it just feels festive and really good to offer something good that you made.  But it's also true that the people cooking are usually putting HOURS into it, sometimes for multiple DAYS, and there's something to be said for focusing less on the food and more on the people, being relaxed and not worn out really able to focus on them, and not so much on the cooking and the serving, etc..

Someone I knew, many years ago, said she told her (adult) daughters once that she had a GREAT idea for Thanksgiving: why don't we order PIZZA!  That way no one is exhausted and cranky, no one even has to clean up, and we can just relax and have a great time enjoying each other's company.  <sound of crickets>  Daughters wanted no part of it -- they wanted Mom to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, so she did.

I'm actually against trying to change other people.  If it's their turn, and they are hosting, and what they really want to do is buy the meal, I'd say when it's their turn let them do what they want and not try to re-make it the way YOU want it.  Try to enjoy their hospitality and enjoy their company.  If it's just breaking your heart not cooking, cook the week before or the week after, just for you and your family at home.  

I think if they've clearly said they want to order the meal out, there's no way to offer to bring something that isn't an implied criticism of their choice.  If it's their turn, let it be their turn, and enjoy them the way they are.

Best times are with family, whether recognized or not.

Killit_and_Grillit said:

Every Thanksgiving I look at this picture. 

Thanksgiving on the Afghan/Pakistan border. 

And it reminds me to be thankful...that this year there is bourbon to wash down an equally terrible meal. 

(Seriously, my FILs mom can’t cook for $hit)

Thanks for your service and the hearty belly laugh.  Being thankful for bourbon to wash down your terrible meal is hilarious!  I am thankful for bourbon from time to time as well. 

Its a common custom for Thanksgiving diners to take turns around the table and state something they're thankful for.  "I'm thankful for bourbon so I can choke this garbage down."

Suck it up. Be a gracious guest and nod politely when asked if it's the best turkey you ever had.

And it could be worse... They could be at YOUR house instead.