Christmas Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. I prefer wrapping paper for boxed gifts or flat items like books or DVDs. Hard to wrap items (anything in clamshell packaging) goes into a gift bag with LOTS of tissue paper.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. I'm paranoid about the possibility of a real tree drying out, catching fire, and burning the house down. I have seen the Phoenix Fire Department tree burning re-enactment video too many times.

3. When do you put up the tree? Around Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? First week of January.

5. Do you like eggnog? NO!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Either my powder blue bicycle with pastel daisies on the banana seat and tassels on the handlebars or my Cabbage Patch Doll.

7 . Hardest person to buy for? My mom. Everything she needs, she already has, and her tiny condo can't accommodate anymore "stuff".

8. Easiest person to buy for? Lucas. Everything he wants is inexpensive and easy to find.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? If anything, mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? This hanging decoration thing with painted wood birds, stars, and other thingies hanging from it. It was too big to go on the Christmas tree and I didn't have any other place in the house for it. The person who gave it to me hyped it up in such a way that I thought she was bestowing me with her family's jewels.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? No contest. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I usually start shortly after Thanksgiving, but this year's schedule forced me to wait until after the semester ended. I've been having to jam pack all shopping, cleaning, errands, and other Christmas prep into one week.
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14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No, but I would do it only if the item in question was something I know the recipient really wants.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas ? Cookies

16. Lights on the tree? Yes...LCD lights with a bluish tinge.

17. Favorite Christmas song? It changes all the time. Right now it's Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian Christmas Song) by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? This year, we're staying home, but some years we travel to visit family. Other years, we travel to escape family.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yes: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? No, but I've been shopping for one. Everything I find is either tacky, chintzy, or just doesn't go with my decor. I'm not in any hurry to buy a tree star. I'll know the perfect one when I see it.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Yes to both.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Radio stations that play nothing but Christmas music starting on Halloween. Thank you, iPod!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Fiesta ornaments

24. Favorite Christmas dinner? The one I don't have to cook

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A vintage Fiesta sweets comport or a set of Fiesta baking bowls in Marigold.