Intercepted from Dymphna's Well.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
For me, I'd prefer a grocery store bag. I'm just not fancy when it comes to that stuff (I for one don't care about how it's wrapped, just what's in it, tee hee), but my wife would rather wrap, so I let her wrap. (Wife says "wrap", of course)
2. Real tree or artificial?
Fake. Saves a lot of $$$. At least you don't have to toss it out and chase a new one each year. Hey, I'm on my fourth year on this tree. (Wife agrees)
3. When do you put up the tree?
Usually on the First Sunday of Advent (not my choice - if it were my choice it would be Gaudete Sunday at the absolute soonest). (Wife confirms)
4. When do you take the tree down?
If it were my choice, January 7 (the day after the traditional date of Epiphany). However, it lands up coming down a day or two after New Year's Day. (Wife again confirms)
5. Do you like eggnog?
Yes, but not spiked (I don't drink). (Wife agrees, and she only has a couple of drinks a year)
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
A stack of 45's - one of them being Go All the Way by Raspberries. (Wife can't recall)
7. Do you have a Nativity scene?
We have a couple of different scenes going here - the one in the kitchen is more of the Lego type; the one in the parlor has the fancier figures. (Wife agrees)
8. Hardest person to buy for?
Me (just kidding). The relatives outside of immediate family are easy. Until the advent of the Gift Card, I'd say the opposite. I'd have to say the young'uns. They have the longest lists. (Wife says "my husband; I never know what to get him").
9. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I can't say I've ever really received a bad gift. I really don't know. (Wife: a candle - hint: her late father owned a candle store)
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Both (Wife says "mail")
11. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Does it have to be a full-blown movie? They're either too "touching" or there's too much whining. I'd have to say "A Christmas Story" despite all the whining (You'll shoot your eye out, neener neener neener!) As for TV shows, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" all the way, especially where Schroeder tries to please Lucy with his playing of "Jingle Bells". (Wife loves all those classic clay-mation shows).
12. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
This year it was the Monday AFTER Black Friday. I flatly REFUSE to touch ANY retail venue on Black Friday. My wife and her sister went to a WalMart on Black Friday a few years back - getting there for like 5 AM. My wife regrets it to this day. Those people are NASTY! She was getting pegged in the head by doll boxes thrown by other customers (Wife says "sometimes two days before Christmas")
13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No, but thanks for the idea! Ho ho ho! (Wife did, though)
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
The Oreos that were "left on the coffee table for Santa". I'm also notorious for helping Santa write the note ("thanks for the cookies", "hope you enjoy your presents", etc.), and usually add some off-the-wall stuff that has the kids laughing their tushies off that morning. (Wife says ham)
15. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Colored, of course. I wouldn't have it any other way. And when we're on the road, my younger daughter and I devised a "point system" for house scenes. 2 points for all white/clear lights, 5 for colored, 10 if the scene has Santa, 20 if it has Jesus. Stores and other businesses get half credit. And if we're on the road before Thanksgiving, any scenes put up then get "penalty points" (unless it's Jesus - you can NEVER penalize Him). (Wife can't stand clear. Must go colored)
16. Favorite Christmas song.
Sacred: Of the Father's Love Begotten. Secular: Ding! Fries are Done! (What can I say? I love a good parody!) (Wife says anything by Burl Ives)
(UPDATE 12/15/07 9 AM: Here's my new favorite!)
17. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
We don't go far. The farthest is usually my brother about a half hour north of us. Otherwise, my mom lives about 15 minutes north, my mother in law is just around the block. (Wife says "stay home")
18. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer.
Yes - Dasher, Vixen, Chewy, Tabo (wait, that's the Cheech and Chong version). Seriously - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and of course Rudolph. (Wife just did too)
19. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star (though I wouldn't mind an angel) (Wife agrees)
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
If we're at the relatives' house on Christmas Eve, we open 'em then. The stuff under our own tree - Christmas morning, and not a minute before. (Wife agrees)
21. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Traffic, pushy/arrogant people (in the store AND on the road), having to endure the trashiest Christmas music (Santa Baby, Silver Bells, Grown-up Christmas List, Most Wonderful Time of the Year, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, and Baby It's Cold Outside are just the top six worst, IMO), especially from those radio stations that have been playing them 24/7 for the past six weeks, and people who deliberately substitute the word "holiday" just to avoid "Christmas". Nothing pisses me off more than someone on TV that doesn't have enough backbone to call Christmas by its name. All the other holidays and holy days, even Easter, get called by name for cripes sakes. Why not Christmas?! (Wife agrees on my first two)
TAG YOU'RE IT, anyone who wants to pick it off.
Peace,
BMP
5 comments:
My late father in law used to wrap his gifts in newspaper comics.
Sounds like a cool idea - open up the presents, get a good laugh. :)
BMP
Okay, Brian, I bit. Have a look at my blog. I added a question; your meme was very similar to a MySpace survey sent along by a friend of mine. Answer the question, if you care to - it's the last one of my post.
I have made the observation lately (I don't know if this is original or not,) but in reference to your last paragraph, have you ever noticed how much the stores push CHRISTMAS so that we will BUY from them, but they won't actually say "Merry Christmas" to you. So...it's only Christmas when it is convenient for the industry!
And you will still hardly ever hear the word Christmas in a commercial from those who push to sell their product. They want you to buy "holiday gifts", when you really want to buy "Christmas gifts".
While we're on the topic, I gave a Salvation Army bell-ringer a buck on the way out from the supermarket this afternoon, and normally the bell-ringers will say "Thank you, Merry Christmas". Not this one. She said "Thank you, Happy Holidays". So I said, "You go celebrate your holiday and I'll go celebrate Christmas, ok."
Almost (but not quite) enough to make me want to dig into the bucket and take the buck back.
BMP
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