Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Christmas Meme
I rarely do these - but since Sarah pointed out that she had tagged me, I thought I'd oblige (and it was fun!):
1. Wrapping paper or gift bag?
Both, actually. Sometimes a wrapped gift will even go in to a bag. Sometimes not. I love the whole process of preparing the gifts, and appreciate having choices that I can personalize for each recipient.
2. Real tree or artificial?
Artificial. Save the planet, save some money ($40 for a real tree each year? I'd rather give that money to a family in need).
3. When do you put up your tree?
Usually a week or so after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take down your tree?
New Year's weekend-ish.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Gak. No. Absolutely not. But apparently, my mom used to make an awesome 'nog from scratch, back in the day
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Favorite? Too many! How about most traumatic instead? There was that one year when I thought I was getting a whole 25 pound bag of coal for Christmas since I found one in the family room on Christmas Eve. Boy, did the grown-ups have a good laugh at my frantic, tear-stained face as I demanded to know "DID SANTA COME YET?" Little did I know that it was coal for heating. Not for bad little kids.
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
No. We do have Department 56 village pieces though (Dicken's Village), which my husband is solely responsible for...and he makes sure that there are orcs and goblins in the village, raiding the houses.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
Most years, I actually have good luck buying gifts for everyone. This year however, my creative juices are tapped out. There will be some 'socially responsible giving' taking place on my part, which will eliminate the need to rush to the mall to find the perfect gift.
9. Easiest person to buy for?
My husband; my mom; my step-father.
10. Worst Christmas gift you’ve ever received?
About $40 worth of candles from my husband. He meant well, but was deliriously sick with bronchitis and sent his sister to the candle store with a wad of cash.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Neither, this year. I usually like sending old-school cards in the mail, but I prefer to 1) make them myself and 2) include personal greetings in each one - which all takes more time and energy than I have to give right now. So instead, I send nothing and look like a Scrooge.
12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Tied for first place: Elf and A Christmas Story.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Shopping? What's that? Oh...is that why everyone is running around from sale to sale? Yeah...I'll start after final exams are over (in four days, but who's counting).
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Maybe? I have no recollection. Really. (Plausible deniability).
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Yorkshire pudding. And cookies.
16. White or colored lights?
I don't discriminate - I love all types of lights!
17. Favorite Christmas song?
'Christmas Wrapping' by The Waitresses. So very 80's and so very "me". For a more traditional feel, I like 'Baby It's Cold Outside' - just about any version.
18. Traveling for Christmas or stay home?
A little of both, if you count driving 30 minutes as traveling. We head to the sister-in-laws for Christmas Eve (my folks come too, so that's nice). Christmas Day is a spent both at home and a third of a mile away with my mom and step-father. We have blueberry pancakes and bacon for breakfast, and then gather again later in the day for prime rib roast and presents.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph, Biff and Olive.
20. Angel or Star on top of tree?
Neither. Big maroon and gold bow. Matches the cascading ribbon-garland stuff.
21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Both. We usually open a small gift or two (to each other) on Christmas Eve, right before bedtime. The rest we do when we have we get a chance on Christmas Day - sometimes hubby has to work, so we fit it in whenever.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Trips to Wal-Mart. Traffic. Final exams.
23. What I love most about Christmas?
Spending time with my family and friends; Christmas music; the sparkly lights on houses; and the smell of evergreens.
Feel free to tag yourself!
|
1. Wrapping paper or gift bag?
Both, actually. Sometimes a wrapped gift will even go in to a bag. Sometimes not. I love the whole process of preparing the gifts, and appreciate having choices that I can personalize for each recipient.
2. Real tree or artificial?
Artificial. Save the planet, save some money ($40 for a real tree each year? I'd rather give that money to a family in need).
3. When do you put up your tree?
Usually a week or so after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take down your tree?
New Year's weekend-ish.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Gak. No. Absolutely not. But apparently, my mom used to make an awesome 'nog from scratch, back in the day
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Favorite? Too many! How about most traumatic instead? There was that one year when I thought I was getting a whole 25 pound bag of coal for Christmas since I found one in the family room on Christmas Eve. Boy, did the grown-ups have a good laugh at my frantic, tear-stained face as I demanded to know "DID SANTA COME YET?" Little did I know that it was coal for heating. Not for bad little kids.
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
No. We do have Department 56 village pieces though (Dicken's Village), which my husband is solely responsible for...and he makes sure that there are orcs and goblins in the village, raiding the houses.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
Most years, I actually have good luck buying gifts for everyone. This year however, my creative juices are tapped out. There will be some 'socially responsible giving' taking place on my part, which will eliminate the need to rush to the mall to find the perfect gift.
9. Easiest person to buy for?
My husband; my mom; my step-father.
10. Worst Christmas gift you’ve ever received?
About $40 worth of candles from my husband. He meant well, but was deliriously sick with bronchitis and sent his sister to the candle store with a wad of cash.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Neither, this year. I usually like sending old-school cards in the mail, but I prefer to 1) make them myself and 2) include personal greetings in each one - which all takes more time and energy than I have to give right now. So instead, I send nothing and look like a Scrooge.
12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Tied for first place: Elf and A Christmas Story.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Shopping? What's that? Oh...is that why everyone is running around from sale to sale? Yeah...I'll start after final exams are over (in four days, but who's counting).
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Maybe? I have no recollection. Really. (Plausible deniability).
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Yorkshire pudding. And cookies.
16. White or colored lights?
I don't discriminate - I love all types of lights!
17. Favorite Christmas song?
'Christmas Wrapping' by The Waitresses. So very 80's and so very "me". For a more traditional feel, I like 'Baby It's Cold Outside' - just about any version.
18. Traveling for Christmas or stay home?
A little of both, if you count driving 30 minutes as traveling. We head to the sister-in-laws for Christmas Eve (my folks come too, so that's nice). Christmas Day is a spent both at home and a third of a mile away with my mom and step-father. We have blueberry pancakes and bacon for breakfast, and then gather again later in the day for prime rib roast and presents.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph, Biff and Olive.
20. Angel or Star on top of tree?
Neither. Big maroon and gold bow. Matches the cascading ribbon-garland stuff.
21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Both. We usually open a small gift or two (to each other) on Christmas Eve, right before bedtime. The rest we do when we have we get a chance on Christmas Day - sometimes hubby has to work, so we fit it in whenever.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Trips to Wal-Mart. Traffic. Final exams.
23. What I love most about Christmas?
Spending time with my family and friends; Christmas music; the sparkly lights on houses; and the smell of evergreens.
Feel free to tag yourself!
Monday, December 03, 2007
The Icy Way
As I walk in to the bedroom, I can hear a muffled voice mumbling at me from under the bed covers.
“Did we get much snow last night?” he asks drowsily.
“Nope. Just ice, sleet and rain. Still coming down.” I answer, as I gather my clothes together and begin to change.
A bleary eye peeks out at me.
“Are you going running in this?” he inquires, with the ‘you-must-be-crazy’ incredulous tone in his voice.
“Sure. Why not? I’ve got to at least see what it’s like out there before I decide not to run in it. Besides, I have my YakTraks if I need them.”
I bundle up and head outside. My first tentative steps out on to the driveway send me back in to the house for the YakTraks. The second attempt on the asphalt is rewarded with better footing on the icy ground. I slowly begin the right-left-right-left process down the driveway, up the hill and down the other side to the paved greenway.
The air feels warmer than I expected, and somehow the icy rain fails to soak in past the first layer of my jacket, leaving my core dry and toasty. By mile two, the ear warmers and gloves come off. Out on the greenway, I have the path to myself. “No ‘bad guys’ will be out in the weather,” I think. As I pass by the sand and stone pit, a worker in a front loader flashes his lights, greeting me in the early morning darkness.
Usually, this is the weather that keeps me in bed. For the most part, I can handle snow, normal rain, wind, and even heat if necessary. But ice, sleet and rain together? Not so much. Fear of slipping, coupled with fear of being hit by a careening-out-of-control car has kept me from exploring this particular weather frontier. But after a week of excuses and missed runs, I knew I had to get back on the horse.
The ice presented the perfect challenge. Not only did I have to get out the door, but I had to do it in less than favorable conditions. As I crunched my way back up the driveway, I noticed that the rain was beginning to let up. I smiled to myself, knowing that I had started the week off right.
Hope you are starting your week out right!
|
“Did we get much snow last night?” he asks drowsily.
“Nope. Just ice, sleet and rain. Still coming down.” I answer, as I gather my clothes together and begin to change.
A bleary eye peeks out at me.
“Are you going running in this?” he inquires, with the ‘you-must-be-crazy’ incredulous tone in his voice.
“Sure. Why not? I’ve got to at least see what it’s like out there before I decide not to run in it. Besides, I have my YakTraks if I need them.”
I bundle up and head outside. My first tentative steps out on to the driveway send me back in to the house for the YakTraks. The second attempt on the asphalt is rewarded with better footing on the icy ground. I slowly begin the right-left-right-left process down the driveway, up the hill and down the other side to the paved greenway.
The air feels warmer than I expected, and somehow the icy rain fails to soak in past the first layer of my jacket, leaving my core dry and toasty. By mile two, the ear warmers and gloves come off. Out on the greenway, I have the path to myself. “No ‘bad guys’ will be out in the weather,” I think. As I pass by the sand and stone pit, a worker in a front loader flashes his lights, greeting me in the early morning darkness.
Usually, this is the weather that keeps me in bed. For the most part, I can handle snow, normal rain, wind, and even heat if necessary. But ice, sleet and rain together? Not so much. Fear of slipping, coupled with fear of being hit by a careening-out-of-control car has kept me from exploring this particular weather frontier. But after a week of excuses and missed runs, I knew I had to get back on the horse.
The ice presented the perfect challenge. Not only did I have to get out the door, but I had to do it in less than favorable conditions. As I crunched my way back up the driveway, I noticed that the rain was beginning to let up. I smiled to myself, knowing that I had started the week off right.
Hope you are starting your week out right!
