A Christmas Meme

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And since I'm all about not having to think right now, it's perfect. I poached it from A little off kilter, one of my favourite blogs, you're welcome to it if you like.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Gift bags are so much easier, but it really depends on what I have on hand.

2. Real tree or artificial?

Artificial. I only do a tree at the cottage, not in town, and since we're not there mostly during the week - except a few days at Christmas - there's no one around to water a real one.

3. When do you put up the tree?

Usually beginning or mid-December. When I was a little kid my parents would put it up on the 24th after I went to bed. I'd be woken for midnight mass and there would be the tree. It was magic. Even when I got old enough to help decorate it, the tree went up on the 24th, not before. It meant Christmas had arrived.

4. When do you take the tree down?

Sometime in January when I get up the energy to do it.

5. Do you like eggnog?

Nasty stuff it is.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

Hmmmm... I loved my etch-a-sketch. Other than that, I don't remember any particular presents off hand, but I do remember being thrilled each Christmas.

7. Hardest person to buy for?

When you're 47, a parent. What the hell do you buy someone in their 80s. They have it all.

8. Easiest person to buy for?

Me!!!!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

Nope, well, not a traditional one. I put some of my extensive collection of Mr. Potato Heads under the tree. Mr. Potato Head, Mrs. Potato Head and Junior Potato Head, with a Potato Head storm trooper to guard them. Yes, I'm obsessed with Mr. Potato Head. To the point I bought the special however many-eth anniversary edition. I never got a Potato Head at Christmas. But I digress. So yeah, Mr. Potato Head under the tree. Kids who come over love it.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Neither. I'm a grinch that way. Seriously, I can't be bothered.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

A three pack of grannie panties from.... a boyfriend's mom. What the fuck??? Just don't give me anything if you hate me, the message will get across. Passive aggressive bitch.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

Got none. Though I remember seeing one about a department store Santa Claus who kept insisting he was really Santa and the lady who worked at the store didn't believe him (she was of the bah, humbug school of thought like me) and he actually was Santa. Or something like that.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Despite the best of intentions, way too late. Always way too late.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Nope. Not that I remember anyway.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Hmmm... I love Moroccan clementines at this time of year. And mom used to make this coconut raisin candy... damn, just thinking about it makes my mouth water. I can practically taste it. And any of mom's cooking, ragout, tourtière, etc.

16. Lights on the tree?

Isn't that the point of trees?

17. Favorite Christmas song?

Hate them all. And I'm surprised that retail workers don't go insane and kill all the customers since they have to listen to that crap day in day out for months. I feel for them, I really do. There is one I like, but I don't know it's name and I can't sing it for you and really, even if I could you wouldn't want that, trust me. Fingernails on a blackboard come to mind when I sing.

Most loathed song is Paul McCartney's Christmas ditty - Wonderful Christmastime. Possibly the most stupid lyrics ever written: The word is out / About the town / To lift a glass / And don't look down. WTF???

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

This year travel. We're running away to Vegas and Palm Springs. We're gonna wander around the desert simply having a wonderful Christmastime lalalalalalala ALONE!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?

Um... Rudolph? Dopey, Grumply, Doc, Happy, Bashful, Sneezy and Sleepy? Huh? What? Wrong story?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

Last year, a star. Previously the treetop has sported a snowman, Homer Simpson, a stuffed cat, and assorted other things. And yes, a Mr. Potato Head. But he fell off. Poor dear.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Depends on how awake I am at the time. Whatever works for us.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

Office parties, endless loops of Christmas songs, fake cheer, consumerism, wasted money on stupid things no one will ever use or even particularly want.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

Every year I allow myself one expensive ornament for the tree. I love our three mermaids (bought for Mr. Jazz actually) and the glass birds that I were always in the tree when I was growing up. Actually, if I had put up the tree this year I could tell you which exactly are my favourites, but I tend to forget them during the year and go, "oooohhhhhhhh, I have this?" every year. There is no theme or rhyme or reason to our tree. It's completely eclectic and crazy looking.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

Mom's "ragout de boulettes" (thoug mom's doesnt quite look like that. Who the hell knows what those pinkish things are...). You take chicken broth, make pork meatballs, boil them in the broth. Add flour that you previously browned in the oven to thicken, season with pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg and serve with potatoes (but not Mr. Potato Head) and sweet pickled beets. It sounds very bizarre written out like that, but it's delicious. Oh, and tourtière (a meat pie) Turkey is highly overrated I think.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

Nothing, I have everything I need. A job, a place to live (two actually), a full belly and clothes on my back.

Ok, if I must have some wish... um... Peace on earth and goodwill to all men? Like that's ever gonna happen. Bah... Humbug.
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