Friday, January 02, 2009

A Christmas Quiz




Got this in the e-mail from My Mom. You know the deal (you will once you see it, in any case.) It's one of those quizzes that you send to people and then they tell you all sorts of stuff about themselves. I wasn't planning on writing anything today, but then this fell into my lap, so...

If you wish, copy and paste it into your own blog. Of course, change the answers from mine to your own. Did I actually need to say that? No, I suppose not.

If you wish to say where you got it, fine. If not, that's cool, too.

Well, that's enough useless blather. Here goes:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Definitely wrapping paper. MY WIFE has a theme each year. Sometimes we're the only people who know about it. Still, she incorporates the theme into the wrapping paper. This year's theme was "Snow", I think, so the paper had snowmen and snowflakes.

2. Real Tree Or Artificial?



Fake, but 5 of them. Last year, we actually used Pointy The Poinsettia as our tree. He is real.



3. When do you put up the tree?


Trees. Two weeks before Christmas.

4. When do you take it down?

Them. First weekend following January 6th (Feast of the Epiphany, or The Magi.)

5. Do you like eggnog?


Yes, but just a couple of glasses a year is plenty. The stuff is overly viscous and contains enough sugar to send a platoon of diabetics to the emergency room.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

I like all gifts. I can't say that I had a favorite.

7. Hardest person to buy for?

Nobody, really. All the people I buy for seem to like whatever I give them. I guess I'm lucky to have very nice friends and relatives.

8. Easiest person to buy for?


See above.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?


Yes.

10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?

Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?


Never got one that I didn't like.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?


It's A Wonderful Life, for drama, and A Christmas Story, for laughs.

13. When do you start shopping?

Generally, shortly after Thanksgiving.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Sure, but I'm not going to say what it was. It wasn't yours, if that helps.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Turnip, Squash - basically, another Thanksgiving dinner a month later!

16. Lights on the tree?

Big colored lights one year, white lights the next. MY WIFE and I alternate preferences.

17. Favorite Christmas song?


Silver Bells (secular), O Holy Night (religious).

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?


Go to my Grandma's and also to my sister-in-law's. Love both, and wish I had more time to spend with each one.

(I got this with no #19 on it, so I'm making one up.)

19. Latest you ever exchange presents with anyone?

One year, it was May before I got together with my buddy, Sean. It's often at least February or March because of our differing schedules.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

Star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?


Both, usually, as sometimes we go to relatives (or relatives come to our place) on Christmas Eve. Also, MY WIFE and I exchange gifts on January 6th (Little Christmas, or Epiphany, or Wise Men.)

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

How early they start decorating stores and playing carols. Next year, I might go postal on any Santas I see in a mall before Veterans Day.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

I like lots of bright colors. MY WIFE tends to like white lights. We compromise by alternating the theme each year (although I might get more colored years, since I do the decorating.)

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

Didn't we answer this one already? Turkey, etc.

25. What do you want for Christmas next year?


Good health (for me and my friends and relatives) and just the joy of knowing peace through my belief in Jesus Christ as my savior. Oh, and a million bucks would be nice, too.

26. Who is most likely to respond to this?

When I sent this out via e-mail, I said "Probably Tara; Maybe Luann." That wouldn't apply here, of course. There are many of you who might grab this and do it, so I won't name anyone in particular.

27. Who is least likely to respond to this?


Once again, via e-mail: "Probably John; Maybe Uncle Jim." Since we're talking about Teh Interwebs, though, I'll say the least likely to respond would be Anyone Who Doesn't Read My Blog. How's that for inane? Told you so.

Soon, with more better stuff.


20 comments:

Suldog said...

Update: Got it dead wrong. My Uncle Jim was the very first to respond (and included an expletive, to boot, for my doubting him.)

Angie Ledbetter said...

All fine answers by a great blogger man. Love the traditions and share many of them. Hope this year's even better than last!

~j said...

way to go, uncle Jim! hahahahaha

Have a fantastical day!

here's to a most wonderful 2009!

Shrinky said...

Love the Christmas photo Jim! Um, a seasonal theme for wrapping paper? Wow, now that's what I call impressive! I love the alternating lights idea, that's what I call comprimise at it's finest. Hope 2009 brings all you hope for and more.

Saz said...

great stuff, l really like these, is it the voyeur in me or am l just bloody nosey!|

thanks for popping by mine Sul!! and #26 was circa 1975/87...so bit passed it now....
fabre1958

lime said...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
old comics

2. Real Tree Or Artificial?
if you can see it an touch it doesn't that mean it's real? i mean i don't use a hologram generator

3. When do you put up the tree?
whenever finances and time allow

4. When do you take it down?
i also wait for jan 6 to pass for the same reason

5. Do you like eggnog?
no, it makes me feel like i should shave my tongue afterwards

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
can't remember

7. Hardest person to buy for?
MIL, hands down

8. Easiest person to buy for?
my kids

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
several

10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?
Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
i could tell you but you'd be appalled

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Christmas Story

13. When do you start shopping?
whenever

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
no but i've reduced and reused them

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
cookies

16. Lights on the tree?
well of course i put lights on it

17. Favorite Christmas song?
o come, o come, emmanuel

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
yes

19. Latest you ever exchange presents with anyone?
the following year

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
usually the commercialism, this year it was trying to drum up xmas spirit for the entire house since the teens were very blase about it all.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
i have a small tree with all handmade ornaments i like very much

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
the whole thing

25. What do you want for Christmas next year?
i'll ditto what you said and add "a million bucks and a perfect body"

Buck said...

Great traditions, Jim... and we share many of the same. Or used to, anyway. In Former Happy Days.

Happy New Year!!

GreenJello said...

"A Christmas Story"

Favorite.Christmas.Movie.EVER.

Dev said...

The answer to #14 is my favorite :) And 5 trees? Wow. My lazy ass didn't even put up my one tree, let alone multiple trees. That's a love of decorating right there!

Unknown said...

Nice! I got & did this in email too. Seems this one spread pretty quick during the holidays. I can never resist these, call me a sucker but they tug at my need to procrastinate strings. Love the picture of you & YOUR WIFE, was it your Christmas card photo this year? Happy New Year!!

Unknown said...

Oh & fyi...Sarah ↓ just left her first comment on my blog three times last week...might want to delete that one if you don't appreciate spammers leaving links behind :)

Unknown said...

↓ should be ↑

Chris Stone said...

i received black towels one christmas. and thought this kinda odd. i was mentioning this... oddness... and someone said how they loved black towels. so it worked out pretty well. i had something to do with those things, and someone else got an unexpected present they wanted.

*that's in response to the re-gifting. i think it has a bad rap. how else can 3 different people be made happy by one present?*

Elaine Denning said...

I think opening pressies on Jan 6th is a great idea...especially if you buy them in the New Year too. You get twice as much for your money :)

Peter N said...

Classic "Sul stuff" yet again. Thank you...I hope you're in the middle of a great weekend...at least it wasn't below zero this morning! Enjoy the football.

Peter N said...

Jenn, I was going to say the same thing about the "Sarah" comment...I received it more than once on my blog! Thanks...be well, everyone.

SoSock said...

Woo, woo!
Just popped in and saw the quiz.
Cool.
"A Christmas Story" = THE BOMB!
It runs all 24 hours on our TV except for the occasional check-in on a football game. I absolutely love it even if I know practically every word by heart.
And just imagine - we get to open Hannakuh gifts, then go to my parents' and open Christmas stuff. Woo, woo! Well, watch anyway. We actually abstain from the "big people's" gift exchange ourselves, (they do the name draw thing) but it's still great being there and enjoying the festivities. And we of course bring gifts for all the young ones in the family, and they all buy gifts for our grandson, so it's just a jolly ol' time.
Happy Holidays to all !!

Janet said...

I did this as a post sometime in 2007. I find the teenage nephews hardest to buy for because the things they want are nowhere in our budget. O Holy Night is my favorite Christmas song too. I've been known to sing it in public places (by invitation, not just strolling through the grocery store).

Anonymous said...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Start with wrapping paper then resort to gift bags when I run out of time. Some years wrapping paper is old maps; last few years, I've used white paper then my daughter draws on them.

2. Real Tree Or Artificial?
One real.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Right after we buy it. Which is often really late (Sunday closest to Christmas).

4. When do you take it down?
Eventually, but not soon enough. But it's such a pretty fire hazard.

5. Do you like eggnog?
No.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
The bag of carrots I asked Santa for in Kindergarten.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My daughter's best friend. Even though I get something I think she'll like and have vetted it with her mother, I strike out every time.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My daughter.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes.

10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?
Buy then never get around to. Although I have such a back log I've stopped buying.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
None come to mind.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Muppets Christmas Carol.

13. When do you start shopping?
I squirrel away stocking stuff all year but start in earnest mid Dec.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Absolutely.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Cranberry sauce (can required)

16. Lights on the tree?
Colored lights. I would like to get some where the bulbs twinkle independently, like my parents had when I was a kid.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Carol of the Bells. Although Angels We Have Heard on High gets year-round use as a lullaby.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Start at home and go to my parents nearby later in the day.

19. Latest you ever exchange presents with anyone?
It is traditional in my family to misplace at least one gift that is found in time for next year's festivities.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Morning, although we have moved it completely to accommodate my brother who travels to visit his wife's family.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
I'm with you on the early. The other thing I can't seem to get the hang of, my daughter makes her letter to Santa right after I have finished shopping for her and nothing on my list is on her list.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
The wooden ones my mom painted when I was little that passed on to me for my first tree.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Sandwiches and chips as we sit around and admire the loot and start reading the books.

25. What do you want for Christmas next year?
Calm the F down.

Anonymous said...

Um, that was for me to calm down, not y'all.