Sunday Stealing: The Christmas Meme
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Depends on the gift. I go with the bags if the shape makes it impossible to wrap.
2. Real tree or Artificial? I have a 5 ft. tall artificial tree, but I doubt I'll get around to putting it up this year.
3. When do you put up the tree? Ideally, I'd have it up now but I haven't been able to get it together.
4. When do you take the tree down? It's artificial, so under better circumstances (like if I had it up), I'd take it down after the New Year arrives.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but I find a little goes a long way. (Not because of the booze, but because it's so heavy.)
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Blaze! Nothing else comes close. I remember coming into the livingroom and seeing my pinto rockinghorse under the tree and completely believing in Santa.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My uncle. He's very wealthy and doesn't need anything. He also has Parkinson's Disease and can no longer travel. Ironically he enjoyed Key West more than I do, and I still go each year to ring in the New Year. So I made a contribution to the Florida Keys SPCA in his name and will include their note with some artwork I picked up at a Key West art fair during my last visit. This way, when the inevitable hurricanes hit in 2009, he can watch the coverage on CNN, knowing that his gift helped protect the Key West cats. I'm pleased with this gift, and, even more important, I'm sure he will be, too, but it's soooo hard to come up with something engaging for him.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My 16-year-old niece. She loves cooking, the Beatles, body sprays, cash ...
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Nothing springs immediately to mind.
12. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I don't care much about the main course one way or the other, but I love to pig out on the cookies.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I shop all year around. (For example, those small paintings I'm giving my uncle -- I picked them up in Key West a year ago.)
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes. This year I'm taking the Burt's Bees gift set I got from my cousin Rose for my birthday and putting the individual items in a little red stocking, adding a little chocolate, and giving it to my admin before our office Christmas party. (Shh!)
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? See #12. My niece is becoming quite the baker, and I'm eager to see what cookies she brings.
16. Lights on the tree? If I put my tree up, it would have white lights.
17. Favorite Christmas song? "I wish I had a river I could sail away on ... " Written by Joni Mitchell. I love James Taylor's version. I think it's because I know at times "I'm so hard to handle, I'm selfish and I'm sad." My favorite traditional Christmas carol is "Joy to the World."
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Just going to my mom's -- two towns over.
19. Angel on the tree top or a star? If I put my tree up, it would have a kitty angel at the top.
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve.
I'm having trouble getting my tree up this year, too. Don't know what it is. My hubby isn't catching the Christmas spirit either. Hope you break thru it and really have a blessed Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI *love* your uncle's gift! We donate to our local Humane Society every year, and I think one year we'll do it for Christmas in my parent's names. Thanks for the great idea!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't sound like the tree will make an appearence. I know exacxtly how you feel! Have a great Sunday...
ReplyDeleteYou've got great answers. We do donations for all our friends now because most are older, wealthy with no kids. We only buy our immediate family actual presents now.
ReplyDeleteThe present for your ailing uncle is perfect. Have a wonderful time in The Keys!
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