Making a List, Checking it Twice
I just got home after working nearly 12 hours. My head is clogged with unhelpful astronomical facts (e.g., the diameter of each of Saturn’s major moons) and light-hearted current events (e.g., Indian-Pakistani arms race). The cats are crazy: Clarabelle’s doing skateboard moves off the furniture, and Monte’s chasing his tail. And I have even more work to get done before tomorrow. So forgive me if I pass along yet another one of these lists–as much as I pretend to hate these things, I secretly kind of love them. I saw this one on Troy’s blog. Perhaps one of these days I’ll stop working overtime and my blog can once again be more than a collection of lists. But in the meantime, I give you this:
1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?
Hot chocolate made with milk. Is there a nastier beverage than egg nog? One year my friend L.E. and I ran the Jogg’r Egg Nogg’r in Dallas. They served several kinds of egg nog afterwards (virgin and various deflowered varieties) and didn’t care how old (young) we were. My gag reflex got a workout, and not because I’d just run 5K.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Not only does Santa wrap presents, he wraps them with the same wrapping paper he has used since the 1970s. Now that is foresight!
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Hmm. My family has never really done lights. But I do have great memories of the enormous wooden Christmas scene that ran from our front yard and into our neighbors. Pictures later this week. Stay tuned, cos you won’t want to miss it.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Nope. But if there was a cute boy around, I’d probably kiss him anyways.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
I’ve surprised myself by turning into a downright scrooge as an adult. No decorations anywhere! But the fam still puts theirs up shortly after Thanksgiving. My mom would love for it to go up the day after Turkey Day and come down on January 6, but there’s usually a compromise in both directions.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
Cranberry tea and angel biscuits.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
See above about wooden Christmas scene. Also, the Christmas that my cat, Sunny, knocked down our two trees no less than five times.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
This is funny: I’m not actually sure. I remember very distinctly finding proof of it in the form of the rolls and rolls and rolls of Santa’s special wrapping paper. I was about 11, though, and all I thought was, “Oh, so this is where they keep it.” I don’t actually know when I first figured it out.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
NEVER. Not that ever stopped me from asking. Just one? Please? But no, we always did stockings first thing Christmas morning, ate breakfast, and then opened the gifts one by one. Chaos not allowed. Good German family and all.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
With tons of ornaments ranging from my handmade macaroni ornaments in preschool to crystal baubles. True to my family’s OCD tendencies, each and every one is carefully photographed and then catalogued in an elaborate, customized database, hard copies of which are kept in two different locations. No, I’m serious.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
Dread it, I’m afraid. I’d like it if I could stay inside with the kitties while drinking hot chocolate. But as long as I have to drive or scrape windshields or wear special boots or walk more than two feet out the door, I will dread it. My mother stills refers to it at “the white shit.”
12. Can you ice skate?
Ha. The last time I tried was when I was 12. I was unsuccessful.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Not really. The computer my dad got me several years ago was probably the best in terms of practicality. I’m sure there was a Cabbage Patch or something that I went apeshit for as a kid. What I really wanted, though, were Transformers. Now that would have been a favorite gift to remember! But none of the relatives would fucking get them for me because I was a girl.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Is it wrong of me to say vacation days? Family, I mean, the family!
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Sweet potato chiffon pie.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I really love the way we do Christmas morning. It’s nice and slow, so it lasts a long time, and it seems to be particular to our family.
17. What tops your tree?
These days, I think an angel. But I remember there being a star when I was little.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
If I’ve got a really good gift up my sleeve, then definitely giving!
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Carol of the Bells.
20. Candy canes! Yuck or yum?
I think I’m gonna go with yuck. They’re so sticky. And minty.
Posted 28 November 2006
No Comments
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
Hey LB! Rosie mentioned your blog, and I’m SO glad you bothered with this list. I’m jealous of the ornament database. Maybe this is a sideline business you could offer? Do you think you’re mom will ever run out of Santa gift wrap?
candy canes, my dear, are the best things ever invented! they’re like edible works of art, and you can put them in your hot chocolate and watch them melt. Mmmmmmmmm.
That is too funny about the ornament database. Meanwhile, after reading your list and Troy’s list I’m beginning to think my brother is right, I really am a Jewish girl from New York who was misplaced into the Italian Catholic family’s crib in the maternity ward.
“Ornament Database Specialist.” Hmm… you might be on to something, Troy!
And no. My mom will never run out of the Santa gift wrap. Ever.