Christmas meme
Dec. 7th, 2007 02:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reynardoI blame ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
petullant
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Mostly paper - bags only when it's too damn difficult to wrap such as a bottle of champagne.
2. Real tree or artificial?
I prefer real. And have had too many artifical ones lose half their bits
3. When do you put up the tree?
When I get around to buying it. This year, probably next week. When I find some space.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Twelfth Night. Our council has a pick-up service for them on 10th January. Sensible council.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Sort of. But as our Christmas regularly hits 40C (100°F) it's not the sort of dish that gets made often.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I'd like to say the microscope, but I was jealous of my brother's train set. Probably the lacy shawl and tortoiseshell bangles my aunt gave me in 1978. They were all the rage with the teenagers then (I was 14) but not the sort of thing my mother would buy me. I still have the shawl, and still wear it when I'm dong the "trippy hippie Earth Mother" thing.
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Nope, the boy is 6 foot tall and won't lie still in the manger any more. And the dog would rather eat the sheepskin than wear it.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
Currently my dad. He's retired, has too many DVDs, and is reaching saturation point on the gardening goods.
9. Easiest person to buy for?
My belovedlederhosen - usually end up buying a few too many for him. But then I'm biased.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
My grandmother, of whomlederhosen has written, gives the most amazing presents. She joins book clubs then gives the books she really doesn't want to us. The best year was 1976 - she was working in a fairly well-paying job, but sent 2 $2 notes staples to a photocopied letter to our family - $2 for mum and dad and $2 to be split between the 4 kids. She sent the same to the other side (Aunt, Uncle, 2 girls). I should point out that my other grandmother, who at that stage had 9 grandkids and was on the pension, sent each and every one of us $20. Or to put it in other words, $2 would buy you a yoyo, or 1/3 of an LP. The family unanimously decided to invest the money in lottery tickets (which alas did no good, but was fun to try).
11. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail. When I remember.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Trading Places, or Muppet Christmas Carol, or Die Hard. And Nightmare Before Christmas. And Bernard and the Genie (I wish I'd never given away my copy of that).
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
About two months beforehand when I see things that would suit certain people, I start buying. About a month beforehand I draw up the list so that I can go "Oh no - that's 5 soft plush bunnies fornotasquirrel - and nothing yet for lederhosen!" I have a very extended family and we see some for Christmas up to two weeks beforehand, so I need to start early.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yup. Sometimes I get given two of something (particularly books). And if I have a friend who would also enjoy it, they will get one of the copies. I still appreciate both the givers for being so thoughtful.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Ham off the bone with strawberries.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Can't remember - only bought them last year. I think they're clear. But it's not a general preference.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
Tentacles from the Unbearably Scary Solstice.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Either. Depends on money, family, job...
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?
Yup. Dasher, Dancer, Sean, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner (originally Dunder) and Blitzen (originally Blixem or Blixtem), Rudolph and Olive, (with thanks tolederhosen and quatranoctal), with occasional help from Rusty and Robbie. Of course it depends on whether you're addressing the German or the Dutch versions of Thunder and Lightning.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
LED star.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Morning, after breakfast. If the whole family is coming here, we wait until after lunch.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Tinny Christmas Carols being played from the middle of November through the malls.
23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme?
When I bought the stuff last year, it was a general "silvery-blue" theme. Mum's tree is "ornaments collected over the last 45 years".
24. Where was your favorite Christmas and with whom?
Last year, here, lunch for all my extended family. Myself, my husband, his father, my younger son, his father, my older son, his parents, my parents, my elder brother and his fiancee, my younger brother and his girlfriend, and two friends from work.
25. What does Christmas mean to you?
Peace unto all mankind. One day we'll get it. I hope.
petullant1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Mostly paper - bags only when it's too damn difficult to wrap such as a bottle of champagne.
2. Real tree or artificial?
I prefer real. And have had too many artifical ones lose half their bits
3. When do you put up the tree?
When I get around to buying it. This year, probably next week. When I find some space.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Twelfth Night. Our council has a pick-up service for them on 10th January. Sensible council.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Sort of. But as our Christmas regularly hits 40C (100°F) it's not the sort of dish that gets made often.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I'd like to say the microscope, but I was jealous of my brother's train set. Probably the lacy shawl and tortoiseshell bangles my aunt gave me in 1978. They were all the rage with the teenagers then (I was 14) but not the sort of thing my mother would buy me. I still have the shawl, and still wear it when I'm dong the "trippy hippie Earth Mother" thing.
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Nope, the boy is 6 foot tall and won't lie still in the manger any more. And the dog would rather eat the sheepskin than wear it.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
Currently my dad. He's retired, has too many DVDs, and is reaching saturation point on the gardening goods.
9. Easiest person to buy for?
My beloved
lederhosen - usually end up buying a few too many for him. But then I'm biased.10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
My grandmother, of whom
lederhosen has written, gives the most amazing presents. She joins book clubs then gives the books she really doesn't want to us. The best year was 1976 - she was working in a fairly well-paying job, but sent 2 $2 notes staples to a photocopied letter to our family - $2 for mum and dad and $2 to be split between the 4 kids. She sent the same to the other side (Aunt, Uncle, 2 girls). I should point out that my other grandmother, who at that stage had 9 grandkids and was on the pension, sent each and every one of us $20. Or to put it in other words, $2 would buy you a yoyo, or 1/3 of an LP. The family unanimously decided to invest the money in lottery tickets (which alas did no good, but was fun to try).11. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail. When I remember.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Trading Places, or Muppet Christmas Carol, or Die Hard. And Nightmare Before Christmas. And Bernard and the Genie (I wish I'd never given away my copy of that).
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
About two months beforehand when I see things that would suit certain people, I start buying. About a month beforehand I draw up the list so that I can go "Oh no - that's 5 soft plush bunnies for
notasquirrel - and nothing yet for lederhosen!" I have a very extended family and we see some for Christmas up to two weeks beforehand, so I need to start early.14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yup. Sometimes I get given two of something (particularly books). And if I have a friend who would also enjoy it, they will get one of the copies. I still appreciate both the givers for being so thoughtful.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Ham off the bone with strawberries.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Can't remember - only bought them last year. I think they're clear. But it's not a general preference.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
Tentacles from the Unbearably Scary Solstice.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Either. Depends on money, family, job...
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?
Yup. Dasher, Dancer, Sean, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner (originally Dunder) and Blitzen (originally Blixem or Blixtem), Rudolph and Olive, (with thanks to
lederhosen and quatranoctal), with occasional help from Rusty and Robbie. Of course it depends on whether you're addressing the German or the Dutch versions of Thunder and Lightning.20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
LED star.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Morning, after breakfast. If the whole family is coming here, we wait until after lunch.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Tinny Christmas Carols being played from the middle of November through the malls.
23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme?
When I bought the stuff last year, it was a general "silvery-blue" theme. Mum's tree is "ornaments collected over the last 45 years".
24. Where was your favorite Christmas and with whom?
Last year, here, lunch for all my extended family. Myself, my husband, his father, my younger son, his father, my older son, his parents, my parents, my elder brother and his fiancee, my younger brother and his girlfriend, and two friends from work.
25. What does Christmas mean to you?
Peace unto all mankind. One day we'll get it. I hope.
