Break Out The Peppermint Schnapps-- School's Over!

In honor of the momentous occasion of two paid weeks off from work *and* no rambunctious little charges to herd like a farmer, I give you a Christmas-themed meme.

I don't remember were I got this from. Either I stole it from one of the people I read, or I stole it from one of the people THEY read. Or, maybe I got it as a mass-email and decided it would be good blog fodder. In any case, here you go!

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1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

I actually LIKE wrapping presents. However, there are always those oddly-shaped items that you have to resort to a bag for. I typically do NOT use bags for Juggling Freak and Offspring simply because they are peekers. I thought that Hallmark’s motion-activated gift bags this year would be a great solution for the Incredibly Sneaky-Peeky Duo, but the cat would most likely set it off at 3 in the morning, and I’d have to kill her.


2. Real tree or artificial?

Real trees are best, especially for the scent, but they’re so messy. We got an artificial when Offspring was small, and we’ve used an artificial ever since.


3. When do you put up the tree?

Juggling Freak is a total Scrooge who refuses to do one single iota of Christmas decorating until it is actually December. Usually, we do the tree on the first weekend of December.


4. When do you take the tree down?

As soon as I can fully admit to myself that the holiday is once again over. (sigh.)

5. Do you like egg nog?

Blargh! No. I’ll repeat my answer from last year’s meme – drinking eggnog is like saying you want to get a little drunk, but you also want some pancakes.


6. Favorite gift received as a child?

I have a few that I remember quite fondly. I had a plastic cow that drank water and you could then milk a very watery, white “milk” from her plastic udders. It was probably made in China and highly toxic, but it was the 70s, and no one thought about stuff like that then.


7. Hardest person to buy for?

My parents. My mother has absolutely EVERYTHING, and my father gets harder to buy for each year.


8. Easiest person to buy for?

Offspring. I am usually pretty well versed on what is or is not to her taste. Though, as she gets older, she gets harder to buy for. It’s not all toys and dolls anymore.


9. Do you have a nativity scene?

No. The one I used to have was made out of glass, and the blasted cat shattered some of the pieces years back. However, we do have several Playmobil advent calendars, which are lots of fun.

10. Have you ever recycled a Christmas gift?

Yes. Usually stuff that I get from students, because really – how many lotions from Bath and Body Works does one REALLY need?


11. Lights on a Christmas Tree?

Hells, yeah! The more the better, in my opinion! Juggling Freak says that I like so many lights on the tree that you can get a tan by sitting by it.


12. When do you start shopping?

I sort of look around all year long, and will very occasionally pick up the odd gift on vacation somewhere new. I tend to start shopping more in depth in early November.


13. Favorite Christmas song?

Lately, “Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant, though I am also partial to “The Holly and the Ivy” by Bing Crosby.


14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Praline cookies, also known locally as “Christmas Crack.” It’s THAT addictive!


15. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Are you seriously asking ME this question?!? Mail, and all handmade cards! Just did 12 cards and a gift card holder on Saturday!


16. Worst Christmas gift you received?

Hm. I don’t think I’ve had a really BAD gift, unless you count the horrid Christmas sweaters I used to get in childhood that looked like they were picked by blind shut-in maiden aunts.


17. Favorite Christmas movie?

A Christmas Story! How can you resist “Fra-gee-lay” and Ralphie eating Lifebouy?


18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home?

I like to stay home, but we usually travel, if only the half-hour all the way across town to my mother’s. We try to go to CityOfMyBirth to see all my father and grandmother, but it’s not always possible.


19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?

Of course. I have to teach them to my students every year. I’d be in a real pickle if I didn’t know them.


2o. Angel on top of tree, or star?

Neither. We have a replica of Disney World’s Cinderella Castle, complete with Cinderella. We’re Disney slaves.


21. Open gifts Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

As a child, we were always allowed to choose one present to open on Christmas Eve, and then all the rest on Christmas morning. As an adult, we have so many relatives to see that we do Christmas Eve at my mother’s house, our own Christmas on Christmas Day morning, and then head over to my mother-in-law’s. My father and my father-in-law are fitted in wherever possible.


22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?

People who knock others over in their haste to get to the best deals. I once saw a woman snatch a Tickle-Me-Elmo out of a little girl’s hands. Sad, really. This year, I saw one woman punch another in the face for stealing her parking place that she was waiting for.


23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

I don’t do the theme or one-color thing. I like to have a multi-colored tree, and I put as many of the special ornaments as I can fit on the tree on there.


24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

My mother-in-law is FAMOUS for not being able to cook, so we’ve gone to a local Japanese restaurant on Christmas Day for the last 10 years or so. It started off because they were the only thing open, but now it’s become something we look forward to.


25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

Personally, I’d like to lose weight and be healthier. And, I’d like more love for our planet and less war and strife. On a more selfish note, I’ve asked for lots of crafting stuff, and some good books. Otherwise, I want my family to be happy with the things that I’ve gotten them. The giving is the more fun part -- I like watching other people’s reactions more than I like getting things for me.