Christmas Meme

As seen on Jenspeaks.

A Christmas Meme:

1. Wrapping or gift bags?
Gift bags for some, nothing at all for others.... today I packed up the laundry basket and an empty Mary Kay delivery box with all the presents we must haul to Beth's house. Will select out of there and hand it to the person as we go around the circle. We're all adults and its much less messy this way.

2. Real or artificial tree?
Neither. Although this fall I did buy a leland cypress to plant in the front yard in the hopes that it will grow up to be a nice lawn Christmas tree.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Never -or- fall 2007 (see above). Family tradition is to put it up immediately after Thanksgiving lunch.

4. When do you take the tree down?
When it falls over (see above). Family tradition is to take it down on January 1.

5. Do you like egg nog?
Some recipes, yes.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Wow, too many to list. Books, models (star trek, star wars, airplanes), computer games, etc.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Several. Don't know where any of them are though... probably in the junk storage room.

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A hand towel sown up the side to be a plastic bag holder/dispenser.

9. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Neither. I don't really do correspondance... Mom and sister do both mail and email and I think that just about covers it.

10. Favorite Christmas movie?
Hmmm... maybe Home Alone. Can't think of too many Christmas movies right now.

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
I shop all year long and stash it away.

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
I can't think of any Christmas-only foods. I always enjoy prime rib, and waffles with vanilla sauce.

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
At our house, neither (see above). I think either way can be pretty.

14. Favorite Christmas song(s)?
Hymns.

15. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Luckily my family is nearby so I travel all of 15 minutes. When we were growing up we often traveled 24 hours to California.

16. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
I probably could, but don't feel like it.

17. Angel on the tree top or a star?
At our house, neither. Family tradition is either: we had a star with lights when growing up, until mom bought an angel tree topper. Beth has a nice ribbon bow on top this year.

18. Open presents Christmas Eve or Morning?
Family tradition is Christmas Eve. In the morning we get our stockings.

19. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Materialism, greed, commercialism, X-mas, leaving Christ out of the season.

20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color?
(What's with all the tree questions??? Doesn't the author know that Christmas is not about the tree? Perhaps they merely want to celebrate the pagan tree ceremony instead of Christmas...)
Themes are nice. Random is nice. We happen to have a number of Star Trek and Star Wars ornaments. Mom has also bought us White House ornaments for a number of years. Not that you'll see them, since we don't have a tree.

21. What do you leave for Santa?
Not sure I ever believed in Santa. I think a few times we left a cookie and a glass of milk, when I was young.

22. Least favorite holiday song?
Grandma got run over by a reindeer.

23. Favorite ornament?
Dunno.

24. Family tradition?
The ones I grew up with.

25. Ever been to midnight Mass or late-night Christmas Eve services?
Yep, frequently.