ErinE Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 (edited) If you received a phone call at 7:15 PM to go out to dinner, would you go? The restaurant is 45 minutes away and requires some dressing up. I was invited to dinner last weekend, but a stomach virus was making the rounds, so I opted not to go. Tonight, at 7:15, I was asked to dinner again. Though I was dressed for the day, I wasn't dressed for dinner at this restaurant; it's not fancy, but people wear nicer clothes than jeans and a t-shirt. I also don't wear makeup during the day as it causes my face to break out. So I needed time to put on makeup. At the very earliest, I would be there by 8:00, but more likely 8:30. Would you go? I chose not to. I had already eaten dinner, plus I felt the invitation was too late and I was winding down for the evening. But part of me feels I'm being a bit stodgy and I should have made the effort. What do you say? Edited December 5, 2015 by ErinE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 (edited) I wouldn't. If someone really wanted to see me for dinner, they would have asked sooner, not at the last minute, or pick a place close to me. Edited December 5, 2015 by JFSinIL 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocassie Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 It really depends. If I hadn't see the people in a while, I would probably go but let them know just for dessert or an after dinner drink. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Last minute dinner invitations by anyone other than my hubby, would be a no go. I'm already cooking dinner or have eaten dinner by that point in time. When I was single, it would be no big deal and I'd go. Now. I'm winding down for the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Not at the last minute like that, and with such a long trip. That's not very respectful of your time and your needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I would have already eaten dinner, or at least started prepping. If it had been closer I might have suggested meeting for dessert. But 45 minutes away? Nah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 (edited) Depends on who is inviting and why. If a close friend fly into town and cleared customs early enough to meetup for dinner with buddies, I could easily change and go without makeup. If it is a regular girls night out and I wasn't informed a day early, I would have to pass anyway since someone have to babysit my kids. ETA: I have never bothered to put on makeup even for posh fine dining places. I'm just not into makeup. Edited December 5, 2015 by Arcadia 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loowit Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Depends on a lot of things. I wouldn't be closed to the idea, but if I had already eaten or something then I would lean towards a no. If it were friends that were mainly wanting to get together to chat, I might go along and then just get an app or dessert. I don't tend to do as much spontaneous outings like I did before kids, but the idea sounds fun sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksr5377 Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I would probably go if it was an impromptu girls night out. Then I would get dessert and wine and gab. I would just throw on some blush, mascara and lipstick and call it good. If I were dressed more casually than most, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I said YES! but with the caveat that I do have a toddler at home so I'd probably need to find a babysitter which could be a problem. We have a large group of friends and we've been known to call each other at 9 PM and tell them to come over for dessert, coffee, and games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I've gone to lunch with only 10 minutes' notice, but I'd probably decline in that situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Depends. On the restaurant, and an the company, and how early I have to get up the next morning because this will be a late night. I can be ready to leave the house nicely dressed within ten minutes. But whether I want to embark on a 45 minutes drive depends. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 It's very unlikely that I'd go. The biggest problem would be the distance because I cannot drive to unfamiliar places in the dark. So if I take that variable out, maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I voted Maybe. Driving in the dark is not fun for me. But if the company was worth it, I would go and have dessert at least. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I said no way but I could think of a very short list of people would I would change my vote to go see. All are people who I don't see often and I would make the effort to see them even later because of that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 If I really wanted to spend time with the people who invited me, I'd go and have tea and a dessert. I enjoy impromptu get togethers more than planned get togethers, though. I also wouldn't worry about wearing makeup and just pull on a pair of slacks and a sweater. This all depends on everyone who is going to the dinner coordinating their arrival time. If I were to arrive at 8:30 pm to find that everyone else arrived at 7:45 pm and they were already well into their meal, I'd feel cheated of some social time. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 If I wanted to see the people, I would go. If seeing them didn't matter to me, I would decline. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Good restaurant with good food? You bet your bippy I'd make it work, LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I would have gone in my 20s before kids. That was early back then! Now, I am looking forward to watching Dateline on a Friday night in my pjs at 9pm! If there had been more notice, I would've tried to make it a go, but by 7:15, I would have already eaten dinner and not looked forward to driving 45 minutes away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 No We try to eat dinner at 6 pm on the dot. We would have already finished eating if invited at 7.15pm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeacefulChaos Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I said maybe. If it was just me, absolutely. I would have already eaten, probably, but I would go anyway just to go. Because I'm an extrovert who loves a chance to go out with people. :D :D If the kids were involved, meh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 If I hadn't eaten, I'd go. If it was a good friend who I didn't often see, I'd go. If I just wanted to treat myself, I'd go. However, if I really didn't want to go or it seemed like an inconvenience, I wouldn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 The distance would stop me. The time wouldn't phase me at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 (edited) Totally depends on the day. Sometimes, I head out of my house, to wander around stores at 8pm, with the sole purpose to get out of the house. I taught dd17 to drive by going out at night, in the rain. We would head out at 8,9 or even 10pm, and go drive around aimlessly as she honed her driving skills. Other nights, (like tonight) I don't want to move even.one.inch from where I am sitting at the moment. It was a long hard day at work and I am mentally and physically exhausted. The getting ready part would be a bit of a factor too though. If I just needed to change clothes and spend 5 minutes primping, then no biggie. If I had to shower and spend more than 15 minutes getting dolled up, that would change things a bit. How much time I would have once I got there would matter too. I don't want to drive for over an hour to spend 45 minutes eating and then leaving. It would need to be at least an hour of entertainment for me to spend that much time driving. Edited December 5, 2015 by Tap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathnerd Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 If I had already eaten, there is no point for me in going. I will tell my friend that we could go out for dinner next time. I would also not get dressed and put on makeup and go anywhere at 8:00 pm - and I don't have any last minute baby sitting available, so the point is moot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aiden Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I would be done eating. I would be mentally and emotionally done with the day already, and looking forward to pajamas, a cup of tea, and a book or TV show before bed. If there were a *really* good reason for the late notice, AND it was someone I *really* wanted to see, I'd consider it. But 7:15pm, and a 45 minute drive ... I'm not sure it would work out even if I wanted it to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyS Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 At 7:15 I've already had dinner for the day and I'm looking at the clock waiting for the kids bedtime. I not only wouldn't make the effort for such a fancy dinner at that hour, I'd be rather put out that someone wouldn't bother to invite me in a decent fashion. You don't invite people to nice places at 7:15pm. Frankly, that invite needs to be that morning, at the latest. It's not stodgy to recognize the time that works for your family and not take up ridiculous invitations made at the last minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Maybe Are they wonderful friends that you love being with? Are you tired or not tired? Do you need to get up early the next day? The fact that you had already eaten would have had me saying no though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Not me, once I get home from work and the bra comes off, I am in for the night. ;) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I wouldn't, but we eat early, and by 7PM I would have already eaten dinner. The exception being if it were someone I really wanted to see, or haven't seen in a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 (edited) It would depend on whether I had time, whether we had already eaten, and if a family member was driving since I don't see well enough to drive at night. Edited December 5, 2015 by RoughCollie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKim Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 No way. We eat dinner at 5 and I go to bed at 7 or 8, depending on the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I am an early to bed, early to rise person and that kind of impromptu dinner invitation would result in a no. Most likely I have already eaten and am already thinking about my pajamas. Going out in the evening requires advance notice. An exception would be a friend from out of town who never knows if they will feel up to stopping on their way home from visiting family until they are passing through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Definitely not. Getting ready is not the issue--I could be ready for anything in five or ten minutes, since I would've showered in the morning. The fact that it's an invitation for a meal I would've already eaten, 45 minutes away, is the problem. Now, if a friend called at 7:15 and asked me to meet her 10 minutes away for coffee at 8ish, I'd likely say yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjzimmer1 Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 If I had already eaten, then no I would not be interested in going out to eat. I wouldn't enjoy the food since I was mostly likely already full and I'd rather save my money for a night when I could enjoy the company and the food. If I hadn't eaten and was willing to wait another hour plus for supper than yeah I would probably put the effort into going. But really who wait until 7:15 to start planning their meal for the night. That seems awfully late to me (said from someone who's family eats around 5:00 every night). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 No, I wouldn't go. The exception is about 3 people in the world. I don't drive at night well and by 7 I would have eaten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.