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1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Depends on what it is. Big stuff needs wrapping paper, littler stuff works better in a bag. Each has their uses.
2. Real tree or artificial?
I don't believe in killing a tree so that it can decorate my house for a couple of weeks out of the year. So, I prefer live trees. They live in a pot and can be planted in the yard after the holidays. Also, you can keep your holiday memories close at hand that way.
I have a small 12" pine on my shelf right now. He is George III (because my green thumb was a bit goth last year, and the original George was swept off to Oz in a February storm), and I am proud to say that he is doing really well. Which makes me very happy considering that my holly tree died this year (and I think that the oak may not be far behind him - I should have known that when one started having trouble that I would lose them both. They are my princes. They are linked that way - I will miss them).
3. When do you put up the tree?
I haven't used my full sized fake tree in a few years. I fell in love with George III at the end of November, and I had to take him home right away.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Sometimes. Sometimes it is just too thick and rich for me. I usually need palate cleansing flavours in the winter.
6. Favourite gift received as a child?
I really can't recall. I spent a lot of my childhood thinking that the newest toy or gadget would make me happy, but I always quickly lost interest. The most meaningful gifts don't usually come at Christmastime. Like the Book of Kells art book that my mom got me one year for my birthday, or the Dictionary that my brother and my mom picked up for me as a grad present.
It's a sale copy that was cheap because the finger spots for the letters are in the wrong place, but I still use it all the time. My mom really believed that I could become a published author.
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Of course not. I think that my brother has my mom's old one (she made it from ceramic figures that she painted herself). I would like to make a little Christmas village one day.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
WD - everything he wants is really expensive, and a lot of times I feel bad that I don't have enough money or the ability to save enough to get him something that he really wants. He is also one of those people who doesn't find handmade gifts sentimentally valuable. I dread having to come up with present ideas for him.
9. Easiest person to buy for?
My brother, R. He doesn't think along the same lines I do, so it is always really easy to find something that he will love that he would never think about buying for himself.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I can't recall that either. I am pretty easy to buy for. If all else fails, I love candles and bath stuff ;)
11. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail, always. Emailed Christmas cards always seem like an after thought. Like you weren't important enough for someone to go to the effort of picking out a card and sending it through the post.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
A Christmas Story and Christmas Vacation. Hands down! LOL
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Beginning of December. Black Friday and that whole week scares me, so I stay away from retail establishments during that time - and I must say, that it bugs me that Black Friday is bleeding across the border :(
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
I don't think so. It would really never occur to me to give someone something that was mine as a Holiday gift.
15. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas?
The Holiday baking. And turkey.
16. Clear lights or coloured on the tree?
Coloured on the tree. Clear on everything else. I am becoming a bit of a snob that way. I just can't appreciate multi-coloured (or blue) lights on people's outdoor holiday displays.
17. Favourite Christmas song?
Years of working in retail has made me despise Christmas music in all its forms. However, I do still love to hear Nat King Cole's voice singing some old songs. Also, I am partial to Good King Wenceslaus, and O Holy Night (that was the first song I learned to play on the piano ... I don't think I could do it anymore, but it does still hold a special place in my heart).
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I like to stay home, but there are some years that we travel to be with the in-laws.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
Absolutely. I spent two years memorizing that damned poem when I was a kid.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
I have my mom's angel (she made her, and she is very lovely), but I have always wanted to use a star. I think once George is big enough, I will make my own star (a wooden wrapped pentacle) for the top. Perhaps I can work something out so that the angel can sit in front of the star. For me, she is more of a spirit of Christmases past.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
When we do presents, we open them Christmas morning. This year we have pooled our dollars to get a new flat screen TV for WD (it's for both of us, but really, it is WD's baby).
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The crowds. Everyone is in a frenzy of consumerism. They make me think of locusts (in the 'plague of' sense).
23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme?
All of my Yule decorations are old world themed. Either carved, blown glass or handmade.
24. Any Christmas Traditions?
I think that the only one I have managed to keep was the Christmas baking. I always try to make at least three things - between the crispix mix, almond bark, chocolate pretzels, candy cane cookies, short bread, ginger snaps, fudge, and others I can't recall (have to look at the recipe cards).
I have noticed that lots of folks do the 'new pjs' thing. I might see about making that into a 'new robe/underpants/socks/pjs' thing for us. WD doesn't really do pjs beyond the pants part (and only when he is hanging around the house). But he does need a new robe and he always needs new socks and boxers.
Depends on what it is. Big stuff needs wrapping paper, littler stuff works better in a bag. Each has their uses.
2. Real tree or artificial?
I don't believe in killing a tree so that it can decorate my house for a couple of weeks out of the year. So, I prefer live trees. They live in a pot and can be planted in the yard after the holidays. Also, you can keep your holiday memories close at hand that way.
I have a small 12" pine on my shelf right now. He is George III (because my green thumb was a bit goth last year, and the original George was swept off to Oz in a February storm), and I am proud to say that he is doing really well. Which makes me very happy considering that my holly tree died this year (and I think that the oak may not be far behind him - I should have known that when one started having trouble that I would lose them both. They are my princes. They are linked that way - I will miss them).
3. When do you put up the tree?
I haven't used my full sized fake tree in a few years. I fell in love with George III at the end of November, and I had to take him home right away.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Sometimes. Sometimes it is just too thick and rich for me. I usually need palate cleansing flavours in the winter.
6. Favourite gift received as a child?
I really can't recall. I spent a lot of my childhood thinking that the newest toy or gadget would make me happy, but I always quickly lost interest. The most meaningful gifts don't usually come at Christmastime. Like the Book of Kells art book that my mom got me one year for my birthday, or the Dictionary that my brother and my mom picked up for me as a grad present.
It's a sale copy that was cheap because the finger spots for the letters are in the wrong place, but I still use it all the time. My mom really believed that I could become a published author.
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Of course not. I think that my brother has my mom's old one (she made it from ceramic figures that she painted herself). I would like to make a little Christmas village one day.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
WD - everything he wants is really expensive, and a lot of times I feel bad that I don't have enough money or the ability to save enough to get him something that he really wants. He is also one of those people who doesn't find handmade gifts sentimentally valuable. I dread having to come up with present ideas for him.
9. Easiest person to buy for?
My brother, R. He doesn't think along the same lines I do, so it is always really easy to find something that he will love that he would never think about buying for himself.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I can't recall that either. I am pretty easy to buy for. If all else fails, I love candles and bath stuff ;)
11. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail, always. Emailed Christmas cards always seem like an after thought. Like you weren't important enough for someone to go to the effort of picking out a card and sending it through the post.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
A Christmas Story and Christmas Vacation. Hands down! LOL
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Beginning of December. Black Friday and that whole week scares me, so I stay away from retail establishments during that time - and I must say, that it bugs me that Black Friday is bleeding across the border :(
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
I don't think so. It would really never occur to me to give someone something that was mine as a Holiday gift.
15. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas?
The Holiday baking. And turkey.
16. Clear lights or coloured on the tree?
Coloured on the tree. Clear on everything else. I am becoming a bit of a snob that way. I just can't appreciate multi-coloured (or blue) lights on people's outdoor holiday displays.
17. Favourite Christmas song?
Years of working in retail has made me despise Christmas music in all its forms. However, I do still love to hear Nat King Cole's voice singing some old songs. Also, I am partial to Good King Wenceslaus, and O Holy Night (that was the first song I learned to play on the piano ... I don't think I could do it anymore, but it does still hold a special place in my heart).
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I like to stay home, but there are some years that we travel to be with the in-laws.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
Absolutely. I spent two years memorizing that damned poem when I was a kid.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
I have my mom's angel (she made her, and she is very lovely), but I have always wanted to use a star. I think once George is big enough, I will make my own star (a wooden wrapped pentacle) for the top. Perhaps I can work something out so that the angel can sit in front of the star. For me, she is more of a spirit of Christmases past.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
When we do presents, we open them Christmas morning. This year we have pooled our dollars to get a new flat screen TV for WD (it's for both of us, but really, it is WD's baby).
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The crowds. Everyone is in a frenzy of consumerism. They make me think of locusts (in the 'plague of' sense).
23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme?
All of my Yule decorations are old world themed. Either carved, blown glass or handmade.
24. Any Christmas Traditions?
I think that the only one I have managed to keep was the Christmas baking. I always try to make at least three things - between the crispix mix, almond bark, chocolate pretzels, candy cane cookies, short bread, ginger snaps, fudge, and others I can't recall (have to look at the recipe cards).
I have noticed that lots of folks do the 'new pjs' thing. I might see about making that into a 'new robe/underpants/socks/pjs' thing for us. WD doesn't really do pjs beyond the pants part (and only when he is hanging around the house). But he does need a new robe and he always needs new socks and boxers.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-09 12:33 pm (UTC)Who knew doing a meme would help you come up with a gift for WD?
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-09 08:09 pm (UTC)--Phae
Prezzies!
Date: 2007-12-09 03:12 pm (UTC)PJ's, though? Yack! Sleep naked, like intended!
PJ's in bed are like people wearing shoes inside. It's just not right.
Re: Prezzies!
Date: 2007-12-09 08:08 pm (UTC)--Phae
Re: Prezzies!
Date: 2007-12-10 01:06 am (UTC)BTW - Happy Belated Birthday.