Getting to know your friends – Christmas edition!

I got tagged with this by former Co-Worker M (note how most of my coworkers are now “former”) by email, but since I’m 23 days into a 30 day blog posting marathon, I thought I’d share my responses here. I’m not “tagging” anyone to answer, but feel free to do so either in comments or on your own blog. If you answer on your blog, leave a link to your answers in the comments below.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper for Christmas gifts, but I default to gift bags most of the time.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Oh my gosh I’m a lifelong fan of artificial trees. I can put it up earlier and leave it up longer. Plus, no mess or allergies to deal with.

3. When do you put up the tree?
The weekend after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down?
The end of January.

5 . Do you like eggnog?
Yes! Straight up, but I’ll alter it with rum and nutmeg if needed.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
My first bicycle. It was pink.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Dad.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
WM. He likes lots of things, and best of all I *know* what he likes.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
No, and that bugs me because I grew up with one in the house. I’ve wanted one for years but this year I don’t have a place to put it.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail to relatives, hand out to coworkers (the 5 or 6 there are left) and email to online friends.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Oh geez…I don’t know. Nothing sticks out, so I’ll share WM’s worst gift ever. One Christmas, his ex-wife got him a gym membership. Enough said.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Does “Little Women” count? It’s very Christmassy at the beginning. My favorite TV special is “Year without a Santa Claus.”

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
November. I bought my first one this morning, actually.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes. Usually candles.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
There is a soup my grandmother used to make that we called “Holiday Soup.” The rest of the world calls it “Italian Wedding Soup.” It has escarole and little meatballs in it, and we only trot it out on holidays.

16. Lights on the tree?
Color.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Religious: O Holy Night. Secular: Silver Bells

18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home?
Travel, but not far. If I ever have kids I’ll stay home.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s?
Of course!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
I like stars, because I’ve always been slightly weirded out by angel tree toppers, with the tree crammed up its gown and the illuminated head.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Both.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
People complaining about it. If you hate the holidays, fine. Keep it to yourself and don’t try to bring the other 85% of us down.

23. What theme or color are you using?
I don’t theme anything. My Christmas decor is a jumbled mess of things I find adorable.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner.
Ham!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
To be employed.

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Okay…your turn. Ready? GO!