What To Say When You Want To Stay Home

If you’ve ever been invited to something and you don’t want to go, it’s hard to know what to say. The truth? That never seems like a good idea. Try telling someone you just don’t want to go out. Unless you follow it with a detailed explanation and are able to argue your case like a skilled trial attorney, it's not going to work. The most common excuse is “I feel sick.” But everyone knows that’s code for: I’m not really sick.

Here are some excuses that might elicit a more understanding response:

1. I can’t go out, I went out last month.

2. My doorknob is broken – I’m locked in.

3. There’s a spot on my face. I think it might be Chicken Pox. Which is contagious.

4. I’m expecting a phone call from Madonna in Malawi.

5. I might be inspired to write something so I have to stay near a computer

6. My boiler broke and I haven’t had a shower for weeks.

7. The boiler repair man is here and I can’t leave him alone

8. I’m practicing staying home for when I have children

9. An hour from now I predict I’ll be very depressed. You won’t want to be around me.

10. I've taken a vow of silence. Except to tell you I can't go out.

** And to get uninvited: “Do you mind if I bring along Heather Mills?”

Comments

[Paul]

Very Good.However,I have one more to add."I can't go out because I'm watching "The 100 Sexiest People in the World" on the TV tonight. Well,actually, no I didn't, but I did catch a bit of it as I flipped through the channels (I suffer from an acute form of remotinitus, thirty second attention span , finger spasms every half minute etc). At Number 83 was Micheal Hutchinson and he was most fondly recalled by a journalist named "Ariel Levy" who claimed she first fell for this love God whilst watching him on the tele whilst "baby sitting".Tell me this is a cruel lie and this person was just inaccurately impersonating you.That or they just managed to spell your surname wrong.

[Ariel]

Paul: there is another writer named Ariel Levy - different spelling of the surname.

[Annie]

I bought Ariel Levy's book thinking it had been written by Ariel Leve. Ha, an imposter!

[Paul]

Ariel,my deepest apologies!I have just read Ariel Levys Wikepedia entry and was, frankly, slightly surprised. In my defence I can only say that I caught the merest glimpse of a face whilst trying to stop my springer spaniel pup from going after the remote (he assumes it is some odd plastic bone that should be his,not mine, like the mobile ),so I caught the name and the voice,which was definitely American .Have you ever suffered from this mistaken identity before,given she has the same profession and lives in the Big Apple?I find it slightly spookie.But,given her life style choice, her commments on the late lammented Mr H are all the more strange!

[Andy Stewart]

Food poisoning is always a good one. It comes on at the last minute without warning; it's debilitating; and 24 hours later you're better again as if nothing had happened....

[joe]

I like number 1, it's the only honest one, people go out too much to cover up their boring lives. Tho' i like number 8 as well. In fact given your inclination towards 1 I think it's time you made 8 a reality. I'm free.

[Phil]

So far the best excuse I’ve gotten in rejecting an invitation has been; “I can’t go. I have to go to the White House and work at the state dinner for the French President” I’ve e-mailed her to find out how it went, so far no reply.

[Lauren]

I hate being made to feel guilty when I decline someone's suggestion to go out. Sometimes you JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE IT. It's that simple. I'd actually rather stay in and knit but that definitely sounds like something I made up.

[john motor]

who is this ridiculous person married to? She can't have been hired for her talent!

[Rachel Reese]

You know in today's modern environment, just sayin,

"do you mind if I don't come, I am so tired and need a soak in the bath and an early night", has become acceptable. It is used on me, and I use it on others.

We work longer hours, harder and are working in a climate of Global Warming, a "me me me" culture, Bush in the White House and to top it all no "Will and Grace, Friends and Frasier" to help us through.

People are under a great amount of pressure these days, we are never out of communication with others, I have voicemail on my Homephone, Work Phone and Blackberry. I am emailed to 3 accounts, MMS'ed, SMS'ed, IM'ed and PIN'ed.

This is why it is acceptable to say "I want to stay at home" ("and sit in the dark with the phone(s) switched off"). We all face the same issues, and need "me" time at any cost.

[bendis]

if you really want to stay home by your own,say no matter what excuse and leave your hut -sometime an obstinate friend could convince u to make up your minds