The Great Christmas Meme of 2007

Dec 20 2007

The Great Christmas Meme of 2007

Published by Kirsten at 5:25 pm under Holiday, Tag

Most of you know I’m not too fond of memes. Actually, I’m not too fond of the obligation to do them when I’ve been tagged. This time, I haven’t been tagged that I know of, but I’ve seen this one going around and thought, in the spirit of the season, that it would be fun.

1. Wrapping or gift bags?
A bit of both, really. It all depends on what the item is, how motivated I am to make it look good, and what kind of variety I want under the tree. I’m still trying to get rid of some awful wrapping paper I bought on sale when I was 3, so I tend to use that a lot and save the gift bags for “Oh-crap-I-need-to-buy-a-present” gifts.

2. Real or artificial tree?
I’ve had both. I like the ease of setting up a real tree, the smell, and the fact that I don’t need to find anywhere to store it for 11 months. I don’t like the cost of buying a new tree every year. On the artificial front, I like not paying for a new tree every year but I HATE HATE HATE fluffing it up. That hatred comes from 2 years of helping set up the holiday display at the mall for Officer Friend.

3. When do you put up the tree?
When I get around to it. Sometimes it’s Thanksgiving weekend, other times, like last year, it’s not at all.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Usually New Years or within the next few days. I don’t like to eradicate all signs of the holiday before it’s actually over.

5. Do you like egg nog?
I’ve never actually tried it, but if I haven’t tried it by now it probably means that there’s a good chance I won’t like it. It sure doesn’t sound appetizing.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I really can’t remember anything that sticks out as being the most totally awesome gift ever, but once I bought my house my mom gave me a Braun Multi Mixer, which is quite the nifty little thing, and it’s not a unitasker, which I love because I really try to keep the single-use appliances from breeding in my kitchen.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Not a formal one, though I used to have a small frosted glass set. Not sure what happened to it - I last remember having it in my condo in MA.

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I can’t say that there was any one particular one that was the worst, though there have been a lot of disappointments, mostly things that people get me just for the sake of getting me something.

9. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Snail mail. I would love to take the time to craft them, since I love papercrafts (though I don’t know if I’m really any good at it), and I would really like to spend time on a more personal message, but I get so uninspired and usually end up doing the assembly line thing with a box of store bought cards. Since I’ve had my blog, I’ve put my blog address in the cards and done a Christmas post “brag letter”.

10. Favorite Christmas Movie?
A Christmas Story. My mom took me to see in in the theater when it came out, and I really liked it even though I didn’t get a lot of the humor at the time. (Gimmee a break - I was 9 when it came out.) Since it’s been shown on TV for 24 hours starting 8pm on Christmas Eve (check your local listings), it’s become a favorite tradition to fall asleep with the TV on.

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
I try to start before the rush, really I do. But I do love the excitement of the shopping season, and tend to go as beserk as my wallet will let me right up until Christmas Eve.

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
All of it.

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Usually clear, once in awhile multi-colored, but never, ever all blue (Ew. Just - ew.)

14. Favorite Christmas song(s)?
Oh, it depends, but I always tend towards the classics. But when I started typing this, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” popped into my head. The version by Perry Como is my favorite.

15. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Travel is fun, but hectic during any other time of the year, but totally insane with presents. I’ll stay home, thanks.

16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Hey kids! You know Dasher and Dancer, and Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? That’s the intro to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as sung by Harry Connick, Jr.

17. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star, but not with lights in it.

18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?
Christmas Morning, of course.

19. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The fact that there’s even more to do than usual. Shopping, wrapping, cooking, parties all the freaking time and not a moment to rest. Oh, and the parking lot at the mall.

20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color?
It depends on my mood when I start to decorate. One year I did a snowflake theme, and some years I like classic red and gold. This year I just put it all up, because for some reason I don’t seem to have as many ornaments and decorations as I thought I did.

21. What do you leave for Santa?
I’ve lived alone for so long so I haven’t left anything out for the big guy in a long time. My stepmother never really encouraged the tradition, either.

22. Least favorite holiday song?
I never cared for “Feliz Navidad”, even as a kid. And “A Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney is a bit of a turn-off, as it reminds me of some of the experimental stuff my middle school music teacher would do.

23. Favorite ornament?
It’s not one I own (yet). It’s a pale green fancy beady egg ornament that my mom has, and it always gets hung at near the top of the tree, away from cats and kids.

24. Family tradition?
Since I grew up and moved away from home, there haven’t really been any traditions. But before I moved away, I used to love Christmas with my Dad’s family. It’s almost like a recycled holiday, the same exact thing every year, but I love it - along with the recycled boxes!

25. Ever been to Midnight Mass or late-night Christmas Eve services?
My church in NH has a candlelight service at 11pm. Here, it’s at 9pm, which is a bit early for my taste. I’m not sure yet if I’m gonna go this year, since I haven’t been to church in months, but that’s another post for another time.

If you want to do this meme, go for it. I’m not going to tag anyone specific because I know how that feels.