Christmas Song Lyric of the Day:
But the last time I played Father Christmas / I stood outside a department store / A gang of kids came over and mugged me / And knocked my reindeer to the floor
The Kinks / “Father Christmas“
11:53AM.
In once again trying to get back to normal, I decided to take a stab at this Christmas Meme I found over at Knoxville Trivia Blog (always a fun, interesting read). Before I get to my answers, I’d like to tag Caren, Rich, and Kim to tackle this one themselves since I know their answers would be fun and creative. Now, here goes.
- Wrapping or gift bags? Hello: Charter member of Flickr’s Gift Wrap Fetish pool.
- Real or artificial tree? Artificial, which delights the cats as much as a real tree would.
- When do you put up the tree? Soon after Thanksgiving.
- When do you take the tree down? If we’re not busy wallowing in our laziness and post-Christmas haze, soon after New Year’s Day.
- Do you like eggnog? I flee in terror from anything with the word “nog” in it.
- Favorite gift received as a child? Isabel Sissy, the red-haired Cabbage Patch Doll I got from my Abuela Tulita.
- Do you have a nativity scene? Sadly, no. (Sacreligious for a raised Catholic, I know.)
- Worst Christmas gift you ever received? My husband’s very sincere, very sweet attempt at a stocking stuffer: two rolls of nickels
- Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, although we’re really pushing it this year.
- Favorite Christmas Movie? Duh: A Christmas Story! Reminds me — I need to get out our leg lamp nightlight!
- When do you start shopping for Christmas? As soon as I think I found a perfect gift for someone; this year that was back in September.
- Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? The traditional pernil my parents make
- Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored!
- Favorite Christmas song? For shits and giggles, I’ll say “The Night Santa Went Crazy” by Weird Al Yankovic
- Travel at Christmas or stay home? Thankfully, we are home now.
- Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yes, but I don’t think they’d like the names I’d give them. Chauncey, anyone?
- Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
- Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? The majority on Christmas morning, capping off the never-ending battle with the spouse about opening them all the night before
- Most annoying thing about this time of year? Locally: traffic around West Town Mall and Turkey Creek; Nationally: Ridiculous arguments over political correctness (holidays, festivus, etc.). Enough already; Internationally: Australian Santas have to say “ha ha ha” now so they don’t scare kids or offend women. That’s just wrong.
- Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? Multi-colored, heavy on the purple and Star Wars ornaments.
- What do you leave for Santa? Directions on how to get back out of South Knoxville.
- Least favorite holiday song? Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmas Time.” I love RetroCrush’s description of it as a “yuletide abortion.”
- Favorite ornament? My light-up Lion King one.
- Family tradition? Tie between our traditional meals and my family’s knack for opening presents Christmas morning so quickly that we could qualify for a Guinness world record.
- Ever been to Midnight Mass? Possibly. I may have been dreaming.
- Most memorable good deed you witnessed or participated in during the holidays? When my mom stole (rescued) our neighbor’s puppy, Princess, because they abused her (no food, hitting her with a hammer). That was the night Mom became even more of a hero to me and my sisters, and a hero to Princess for the rest of her abuse-free, spoiled life.