Holiday [Christmas for some] meme
“Stacy” from “JameeForever” has tagged me with this meme that I am completely unqualified to complete, what a trial that woman is!
Doesn’t she know that I’m still in “Birthday mode”?
1) Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Predominantly cloth bags, partly because of the hideousness of paper that no-one can touch and partly to save the planet’s trees because we recycle them year after year.
2) Real tree or artificial?
Both. Artificial for the children [although it's only become vaguely interesting this year] and we cut down the tree on the side of the house [it re-sprouts, honest].
3) When do you put up your tree?
Varies from year to year. We try and be American and put it up during the Thanksgiving break, but REALLY there should be nothing until Christmas Eve – it’s a RULE.
4) When do you take the tree down?
The day before the recycling chappies are coming to visit.
5) Do you like eggnog?
Vile, poisonous, sickly, glutinous, liquid muck.
6) Favorite gift received as a child?
A teddy bear with a musical windup key in his poor little back.
7) Do you have a Nativity scene?
Yes, we made it ourselves out of cardboard. Everybody completely ignores it.
The hardest person to buy for?
Spouse.
9) The easiest person to buy for?
Ella.
10) The worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A tea towel / dish cloth with I consider ever so slightly worse than the oven glove.
11) Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?
Both.
12) Favorite Christmas movie?
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs.
13) When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Throughout the year.
14) Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes. Do you have a problem with that?
15) Favorite things to eat at Christmas?
Roast potatoes with lots of salt.
16) Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Coloured.
17) Favorite Christmas song?
I do not like any Christmas songs at all, but I’m fond of a few Christmas Carols.
18) Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Home, simply by default. I’ll travel. Who wants to see us?
19) Can you name all Santa’s reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Rudolph, Blitzen, Vixen, Comet, Cupid. Clearly these are American names. They are easy to remember because they are daft. If they’d had sensible names like George and Fred, they’d be far more difficult to remember.
20) Angel on the tree top or a star?
Both.
21) Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Morning. The exercise continues way past New Year.
22) Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Musak.
23) What is the “corniest” family tradition you do or miss doing?
Corny! I have no idea what that word even means? Everything about our entire existence is tasteful and refined.
24) Ugliest Christmas decorations ever invented?
Those huge blow up outside decorations.
25) Which looks the best…theme trees or homey trees?
Homey? Please could we have a few more international translations please!
Themed are obviously best. ‘Homey’ are infinitely preferable.
26) What does Christmas mean to you?
Peace and goodwill to all people.
So who to tag? Who hasn’t already completed this one? Let me see. In the interests of being fair and arbitrary and annoying, I shall tag the next 7 people who are foolish enough to make comments today, which will be yesterday when you read this. Huh!
So first up we have “Emily” from “Wheels on the bus.” Aha, and she hasn’t done the meme so this is clearly a brilliant executive decision on my part.
Then there’s “Burfica” over at
“Don’t Eat the Tomatoes” and yes I loved the choral! Please note that the correct pronunciation would be ‘tom ah toes,’ but you already knew that of course.
My next unfortunate victim is over at “Heidi” over at “Vikingconquest” where she is attempting to conquest Norway. I have no doubt she will be as successful in her conquests there as I am being here!
Gosh darn it, next up we feature the lovely “Miss Bossy” over at “I am Bossy” who has yet to learn to play along with these things. There again, her Advent Calendars are clearly more than challenge enough.
Then lovely Ms. “Veganmomma” at “Not your Ordinary Momma,” which will probably be a jolly handy site for anyone wishing to experiment with strange food stuffs or any of the ‘run about and wear yourself out’ types.
Aha! And then we have one of my favourite victims “Joker the Lurcher” over at “Bona Vacantia,” where the trials of our doggy friends help us learn an entirely different perspective on things.
Then there is the lovely “Judith” over at “Autismville”
which is great for the technically challenged such as myself!
So there you go dearies, let me know when it’s up and running.
December 16th, 2007 at 12:26 am
Even without a translation a homey tree sounds good to me!
December 16th, 2007 at 3:26 am
I have to admit I’ve never tasted eggnog – am I missing something?!? Perhaps not…
December 16th, 2007 at 5:39 am
I agree: Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve. And I have no problem with recycling gifts.
Julie
Using My Words
December 16th, 2007 at 5:53 am
hmmm…i *wonder* if emily will do this one…?
can’t wait for the slumber party report.
December 16th, 2007 at 7:08 am
I am taking C to see The Snowman on stage at a London theatre over xmas. Will be interesting to see how they do it.
December 16th, 2007 at 7:21 am
Maybe this helped get you out of birthday mode and into Christmas mode. I still have to do this tag.
December 16th, 2007 at 7:21 am
We pout the tree up first thing the day after Thanksgiving and have a bare tree till I get back with the new lights because every year the go out
December 16th, 2007 at 8:03 am
That was a fun meme.. Thanks for sharing with us.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Cackle… #5 made me turn green! ;o)
December 16th, 2007 at 9:48 am
Well, you wouldn’t think much of this household… Fan-driven, inflatable snowman on the front porch. Cheesy lights, haphazardly strung because I waited until after the first snowfall. Tree went up the first week of November (not my doing, but try fighting city hall…) Artificial tree, that is. How else could it last 8 weeks? Non-stop Christmas music (which I kinda like.)
But- the kicker- we’re not even religious people and here we are celebrating a Christian holiday…
December 16th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Wha? No egg nog?
December 16th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
I wish I had “recycling chappies”
You are too funny.
December 16th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I’m just letting you know I’m not ignoring you about the comments thing for blogger, I just have no idea how to fix it. However, my link works in the sidebar. I know, because I use it. Perhaps someone more blogging capable can tell me how to tinker with comments. The best I can do is delete them when necessary.
December 16th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
I’ve recycled gifts and this year I’m actually trying one out for a few days…in the interest of my mother really!!! It’s just that she is so technically challenged and wanted a digital camera…so I thought I’d be nice and see if the one I bought was easy enough to use…and I lost mine…I’ll put it in the box before Christmas really!
December 16th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Just got back from my sisters’ Christmas for the family. Sit down meal with Christmas china- I don’t even have Christmas themed paper plates!
They bought a new artifical tree that they are going to cut bottom limbs off so the cat can get under it to sleep…
December 16th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
LOL @ 19.
December 16th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
oh I hear you on the eggnog – bleck!
December 16th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
OOOOOOH! The snowman is the best ever!
and good for you for using cloth bags!
December 16th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Christmas….tasteful and refined? I think that might be an oxymoron..you know like, “pretty ugly”!
I am not really a fan of eggnog…but I can’t help but love the inflatables!
December 16th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Oooh. My in-laws once gave me a tea towel for Christmas! It made me realize I should not have complained about their habit of gifting me a comically ugly toque. You don’t know what you’ve got til its gone.
Nice name dig at the Americans. You are going to be deported now.
Yes, the inflatable Christmas lawn ornaments are the worst. I think that my single red bulb in the porch lamp is just fine. Even if my mother says it makes the house look like a dutch brothel.
December 16th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
i am really glad we agree on the eggnog issue……ugh
December 17th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Aww man, I’m sorry about ruining your birthday mode groove–but clearly it was a good call because you’ve given me a good laugh! I’ve been called a lot of things, but I do believe you are the first to call me a trial!
I might have to challenge you on the eggnog thing–clearly you need to re-try it! With a dash of rum. Then another, chased down with some rum. xoxo
December 17th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Ohhh and I agree wholeheartedly with Al PhaDogMa–you’re going to be deported now. Because you know we have these very strict immigration laws anyway–we don’t allow any nonsense. Nope! Nevah!
December 18th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Oh, I live The Snowman. In fact since you mentioned it I did a search and found it on YOutube. Thanks!