Christmas questions

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy (not forward) the questions below and paste into a new post. Change all the answers so that they apply to you.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? mostly wrapping paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? usually fake, but not bothering this year due to work on the house.
3. When do you put up the tree? Week after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? 2nd weekend in January
5. Do you like eggnog? Blech.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Snoopy from my uncle, which I passed on to my cousin a few years afterwards and he cold-heartedly threw out a few years later (along with our old Pong system).

7. Hardest person to buy for? different person each year
8. Easiest person to buy for? the nephew and nieces
9. Do you have a Nativity scene? No
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail but will likely switch to partial e-mail next year to help the environment and save postage.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? portable water pic

12. Favorite Christmas Movies? Miracle on 34th St with Natalie Wood
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? January, majority in December
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yes
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? cookies, but that's true year 'round
16. Lights on the tree? white ones - prestrung
17. Favorite Christmas song? The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? about an hour to my uncle's
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph!! but only after singing the song in my head.
20. What’s on top of the tree? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both since we see different parts of the family on each day.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Mall shopping with huge crowds, which is why I take days off to go shopping in the middle of the week
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? mixed, but lean toward skating themes
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? it depends on what my uncle's making. I always have to make Pistachio Cake. I always enjoy my aunt's mother's homemade dumplings and spring rolls for appetizers and my cousin's cookie platter
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Massage gift certificates are a good standby. Nintendo DS or Gift cards to Bed, Bath and Beyond since I'm getting work done on the house.
26. Who is your favorite Christmas Character? Heat Miser and Cold Miser
27. Who is most likely to respond to this? ??
28. Who is least likely to respond to this? a lot of people.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? 2 Weeks before Christmas
4. When do you take the tree down? January 2nd
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes and spiked
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Big Doll and paints
7. Hardest person to buy for? Brothers
8. Easiest person to buy for? My Sister
9. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes, 2
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Email
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Gift card to a store I never go to.
12. Favorite Christmas Movies? Christmas Story
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? 4 days before Christmas
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? You bet
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Chocolates
16. Lights on the tree? white ones
17. Favorite Christmas song? CD's by The Carpenters & Josh Groban
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Go to my brothers - 15 minute ride
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? No
20. What’s on top of the tree? An ornament I made
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas day afternoon.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Parking
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Snowmen
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey, I make pickle wraps and a fruit salad.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A guarantee that 2009 is going to be a better year for our family.
26. Who is your favorite Christmas Character? Scrooge
27. Who is most likely to respond to this? All of Goldenskate members
28. Who is least likely to respond to this? a lot of people.

Dee

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper... unless it's a last minute gift lol

2. Real tree or Artificial?
I prefer real, but we haven't had a real one in ages (I was in my first or second year of high school... we have pics of Duane with a real tree so I know I was at least a Freshman lol)

3. When do you put up the tree?
The weekend after Thanksgiving... though when I have *MY* own house it'll be up for Thanksgiving... just not all decked out lol unless it's real, then maybe I'll wait a bit.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Normally after Russian Christmas... at least if I'm down in Kenai.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Not. At. All.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
As a kid? Maybe the ORIGINAL Nintendo? It's easier to remember the bad gifts, for whatever reason.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My aunt, grandparents... and sometimes my mom.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My dad... and Haille Rae... and Duane.

9. Do you have a Nativity scene?
Several.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail. Unless it's to my online friends that are stingy and won't give me their addy lol

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
All of the Barbie crap I was given when I was little and the frilly dresses because my grammy refused to believe that I was a tomboy and was bound and determined to change that (nevermind my parents told her I didn't appreciate it, but she blamed my dad - who also got me girly things, he honestly tried! LOL)

12. Favorite Christmas Movies?
Christmas Vacation, Home Alone 2, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, VeggieTales: The Christmas Star, The Muppets Christmas Carol, A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Christmas Box, ... that's all I can think of at the moment lol

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
This year - July. I was done by October.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
I did this year.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Pumpkin and Apple Pie... Prime Rib... Lasagna... choc. suckers.

16. Lights on the tree?
Duh!

17. Favorite Christmas song?
"Did You Know" - Todd Agnew, "Mary Did You Know" - Mark Lowry, "Don't Save It All For Christmas Day" - Avalon, "O Holy Night" - Josh Groban, "Let It Be Christmas" - Alan Jackson, "Santa's Coming In A Pick-up Truck" - Alan Jackson & The Chipmunks, "How Can He Be King (He's Just a Kid)" - Kenny Chesney, "If I Had A Million Dollars" - BNL, "Sleigh Ride" - Instrumental Version, "Yellow Ribbons On The Christmas Tree" - ??

Ok, I'll stop lol

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I prefer to stay close to home (aka S. Central Alaska)...

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Not just the traditional ones, but also the different names in different songs and stories.

20. What’s on top of the tree?
This year it's surprisingly an angel here at my aunt's

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Both since we see different parts of the family on each day. This year Christmas Eve is here at my aunt's and Christmas is at my G'parents.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
People who aren't in teh spirit of Christmas (or other Dec. Holiday)

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
We never go with a theme, not even my Martha Stewart put to shame G'ma.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
At the Reitters it's always PRIME RIB!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
You know there isn't one thing that I REALLY REALLY want... I'll be happy with whatever is under the tree because most of the fam just gives me money and opening cards isn't as fun.

26. Who is your favorite Christmas Character?
Well Jesus isn't just a character so I guess he doesn't count... maybe "Aunt Bethany" from Christmas Vacation... ("Are we at the airport, Clark?....Is your house on fire, Clark?... Is Rusty still in the Navy?")

Okay, I'll play, but it's kind of long

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Bags, unless I can't get one to fit the present. Last year's bags if they're in good condition, and I have some

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Real. Always. Even when it was difficult. The smell of the tree in the house is one of the really good parts of Christmas. Plus my dad ran a Christmas tree farm in his later years.

3. When do you put up the tree?
About a week before Christmas. Sometimes 2 weeks before Christmas, if I'm really ahead of the game.

4. When do you take the tree down?
When we were younger at 12th night. Lately, on the 27th just before we head south.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Absolutely, but I make my own. I don't like the storebought version, and I don't like liquor in it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Without a doubt, the jackknife I really wanted when I was 7. Second best, my first bicycle.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My oldest son

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My granddaughter

9. Do you have a Nativity scene?
Yes

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A bracelet with a lot of little lipsticks on it (like charms) from my aunt when I was 12. The covers came off and the lipsticks got all over everything. Plus I hate lipstick and always have.

12. Favorite Christmas Movies?
The really old version of A Christmas Carol. Christmas on 34th Street. It's a wonderful Life. Charlie Brown Christmas.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
last minute

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Christmas cookies, homemade eggnog, homemade fruitcake

16. Lights on the tree?
colored ones, not twinkle lights, preferably with a few bubblers thrown in

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Silver Bells

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I never get to choose.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Yes, and Rudolph

20. What’s on top of the tree?
Usually an angel. This year, a finial.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Both since we see different parts of the family on each day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Ads for Christmas stuff prior to Halloween (well, it's not exactly that time of year)
Begging phone calls from charities I have already contributed to

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

Old fashioned. I'm making paperchains as we speak.
Here's a previous year's tree:
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o81/LIsoundview/ChristmasCard.jpg

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

Good company. It looks like this year it will be corn chowder.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

I'm kind of depressed this year. The only thing I asked for is some bags of Dunkin Donut coffee.

26. Who is your favorite Christmas Character?

The kid who is the narrator in a Christmas Story (the one that wants the Red Rider Bebe gun)

27. New one. Do you decorate the outside of the house. If so, what's on the door? We make our own wreaths and roping. Here's this year's:

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o81/LIsoundview/Shellwreath2.jpg

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? No tree at all. (kinda negates some of these questions)
5. Do you like eggnog? Love it! I'm probably bleeding eggnog from my veins by now.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Barbie's pink motorhome
7. Hardest person to buy for? my dad
8. Easiest person to buy for? my mom (anything remotely British is acceptable)
9. Do you have a Nativity scene? yes, very small and home made
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail .
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't know, I will have to check my junk drawer!
12. Favorite Christmas Movies? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation or the Preacher's Wife with Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? around Thanksgiving (endof November)
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? no
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Eggnog!
17. Favorite Christmas song? The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Traditionally, my grandmother's home which is about 5 minutes from my house. This year, I am working on Christmas Day
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Only if I sing the song
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morn
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? There is only 1 radio station that plays holiday music. It plays the same songs over and over again.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Red and gold
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I look past dinner to dessert!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? World peace, but any present given is gratefully accepted.
26. Who is your favorite Christmas Character? none

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? mostly wrapping paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? a couple weeks ago
4. When do you take the tree down? day after Christmas
5. Do you like eggnog? Blech.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
7. Hardest person to buy for? my stepmom
8. Easiest person to buy for? my great nephew
9. Do you have a Nativity scene? No, I don't celebrate Christmas religiously
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? neither, I hand deliver.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? the fake Cabbage Patch kid when I was seven
12. Favorite Christmas Movies? A Charlie Brown Christmas
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? late November or December
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yes
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? anything sweet
16. Lights on the tree? white ones - prestrung
17. Favorite Christmas song? I Wanna Hippopotumus for Christmas
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? just locally
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yep, and did you know they're all girls?
20. What’s on top of the tree? a big bold beautiful sun
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both since we see different parts of the family on each day.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? the traffic
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have a traditional-ish gold and red them and then a skate tree
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?anything sweet
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Chocolateopoly, Nintendo DS games and cashmere
26. Who is your favorite Christmas Character? Snoopy
27. Who is most likely to respond to this? ??
28. Who is least likely to respond to this? a lot of people.

As that mystery carol says: there are 12 days of Christmas, from 26 Dec through 6 Jan. 6Jan is El Dia de Los Tres Reyes. So when to take the tree down?

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? mostly wrapping paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the Friday after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? Around Jan. 2
5. Do you like eggnog? Yummy
6. Favorite gift received as a child? One year my family was even more broke than usual, and that year I received only one gift-- a teddy bear. That bear is my all-time favorite Christmas gift, and I still have it!
7. Hardest person to buy for? my stepmom
8. Easiest person to buy for? my brother
9. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes. I get a lot of compliments on it, but it was $9.99 at Wal-Mart...
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. E-mail cards have no soul.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A Scentstories machine from my soon-to-be-ex mother-in-law. It made me feel like she thought my house was stinky.
12. Favorite Christmas Movies? Elf, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, White Christmas (although it makes me cry every time) and the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually in October, but not this year.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies, although the Reese's peanut butter cup cheesecake I made last night is starting to look pretty good!!!
16. Lights on the tree? colored ones, the big old-fashioned ones.
17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night; I Wonder as I Wander; O Come, Emmanuel
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? home, and to my dad's
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph.
20. What’s on top of the tree? a star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both since I see different parts of the family on each day.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? That Christmas now starts before Halloween but ends abruptly on Christmas day.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I don't believe in themed trees. Ornaments should be an eclectic mix of things you've received or picked out through your lifetime, or have been handed down from family members.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? This year I made smothered pork chops. They were yummy.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? For 2009 to be a better year than 2008.
26. Who is your favorite Christmas Character? Maybe the dad from A Christmas Story?