This morning, as I sipped my coffee and perused my email, I found a note from my sweet stepdaughter. Veronica sent me one of those email questionnaire messages where you're supposed to copy it into a new note, change the answers from theirs to yours, and send it to a bunch of your friends - including the person who sent it to you. The idea is that you'll learn stuff about your friends that you didn't already know.
I'm not typically one to propagate these, but today, I did ... for two reasons: one, Veronica sent it to me; and two, a few weeks ago, my family circulated one and I learned all sorts of stuff about my Dad and my brother that I didn't know. Huh ... they really do work...
This one was Christmas-themed - 25 questions having to do with the holiday season - and since I was feelin' it, I filled it out. And it turned out to be way longer than what Veronica sent me. But it was fun, and I sent it along to my family and some close friends.
And I figure, why not post it here, too. So, here you go - the laziest blog post ever - 25 questions about Christmas. Enjoy!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Gift bags if I’m giving the gift ‘cause I can make ‘em look pretty, but wrapping paper if I’m opening it. It heightens the anticipation!
2. Real tree or Artificial?
Definitely artificial. Not as messy, and better for my allergies.
3. When do you put up the tree?
Usually the first day after Thanksgiving that I’m home, but this year, we’re doing it early (TOMORROW!) so Veronica can decorate it with us.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Nope. I much prefer Gluweihn. (Got some fond memories of a sleigh ride in Garmisch and the Weinachsmarkt in Stuttgart with steaming mugs of the stuff…)
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Ooooh… this is hard. Probably my dollhouse. The one my Daddy hand-made for me. Ah, all those hand-cut shingles…! I had hours upon hours of fun playing with that dollhouse. Of course, don’t get me started about how my little brother ripped out the railing on the staircase within minutes of me opening it … (I love you anyway, Jim.)
7. Hardest person to buy for?
My brother Jim.
8. Easiest person to buy for?
Me. Oh, I have to pick someone else? Okay … my Mom. Or Audrey.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes!!! And it’s the BEST. Mom and Dad and Jim (my brother) worked together to make it for me; it’s hand-cast white ceramic, just like the one my Mom made when I was a baby. I LOVE my nativity set … it’s one of my absolute most cherished possessions.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail, definitely. I love coming home every day in December and checking the mailbox to see what pretty envelopes and letters will be inside! I think in this day and age of electronic communication, we’ve lost sight of the joy that comes from receiving the tangible written word from a loved one. Even if the only thing hand-written is the signature.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A 20-lb bag of potatoes. My ex-father-in-law thought he was funny.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Here’s a really obscure reference for you … the old cartoon “Twas The Night Before Christmas” with the mice and the guy building the clock tower. Remember that? Where the know-it-all little boy mouse sent Santa a letter and said that no one believed in him, and Santa cancelled Christmas for the entire town, so they decided to build a clock tower that would chime out that song… okay. I’ll stop now.
13. When do you start shopping?
As soon as I can start getting in the mood. Seriously, this year, it’ll be as soon as Jim tells me I can. I’m ready!!! But I’m an early shopper. I like having everything done at least a week or two before Christmas, so I can relax and enjoy everything else about the holiday.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes, but in my defense, it was from one of those White Elephant gift exchanges at one of the many Toastmasters holiday parties I attended in a given season. I took the gift I got at one of them and gave it at the next exchange. (Is that wrong?)
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
How much time do we have? <sigh> Honestly, there are two things that “make” Christmas for me: Aunt Fern’s blue-ribbon award-winning orange rolls (which my Mom makes if she’s feeling up to it!) and Peanut Blossoms. I can do without every other kind of Christmas cookie, but for some reason, Christmas isn’t Christmas unless I make at least one batch of Peanut Blossoms.
16. Lights on the tree?
But of course. Lights … but NO TINSEL. I’ve got a major tinsel prejudice.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
“What Child Is This” and “Carol of the Bells”. Of course, I can’t sing either of them, but I love listening to them.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
If I have a choice, it’s to stay home. I like visiting family for Thanksgiving, or for weekends before or after Christmas, but on Christmas Day, I really like the idea of waking up in my bed with my husband and having a quiet cup of coffee sitting beneath my tree. And if we’re really lucky, having Jim’s kids there for some part of the day to open gifts and get all crazy. I guess because we always celebrated Christmas with just our nuclear family when I was a kid, that’s what my heart craves. But in truth, I can celebrate Christmas anywhere, at any time, as long as I’m surrounded by love. And with 18 people in our house for Christmas Eve & day this year, there’s gonna be a LOT of love to go around!
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?
Of course! Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph. My father puts them all in his yard every year. <evil grin>
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Angel. (My name is Angela, what do you think?!?) I’m looking for a new angel this year ‘cause mine is a little worse for the wear … but I’m looking for a red-headed angel. They’re sort of hard to find. (I wonder why…)
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
One present each on Christmas Eve, then all the rest on Christmas morning. That’s the way we did it when I was a kid, and 99% of the time that Christmas Eve gift was either PJs or --- oooh! --- the year we got our fuzzy blankets! Remember that, Jim? My blue-and-white unicorn one … I think you got a red-and-black scotty dog one. Eddie now has my blanket. Seriously. It’s, like, 20-something years old, but he sleeps on it. Loves the thing.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Work. This is the time of year we gear up for our sales & dealer meetings, so work is always very stressful. Trying to leave that at the office and go home and enjoy the holidays can be really difficult. And inevitably, I wind up having to review presentations or work on stuff during the Christmas break, which stinks.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
The new one I’m going to use this year – we’re going to make ornaments for our tree with photographs printed on vellum so the lights shine through them. So it’s sepia-toned photos combined with a dark pine green and a deep burgundy… sort of old-timey, old-fashioned.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
If we’re with Mom & Dad, then Dad’s brined turkey. (Omigosh, it’ll change your life!) I also love Mom’s standing rib roast. (mmmm….) This year, my Jim is going to make a big batch of Chili for Christmas Eve, and I’m still trying to figure out what we’re going to do for Christmas Day luncheon. (I’m totally open to suggestions…)
25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Photography equipment! A backpack to carry both my camera gear and my laptop when I travel, a monopod and accessories, and a new telephoto lens that’ll go to 300mm. And there’s books and DVDs on my wish-list, too. Of course, to make it easy, I set up a Christmas Wish List at Kaboodle (which I think EVERYONE should do to make it easy!)
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