This meme was bestowed upon me by my blogging buddy Bucky – I still don’t know if I was tagged because I was good or bad this year. I’m not normally a big ‘meme’ person but I thought I’d give this one a shot.
The object is simple. Answer the following questions about Christmas as it pertains to you and then pass it on to seven friends.
1. Wrapping or gift bags?
I am REALLY terrible at wrapping gifts, however luckily my wife loves it. Well, love is a strong word – she tolerates and excels at it. So wrapping it is, with the exception of my wife’s --which goes in a gift bag.
2. Real or artificial tree?
Real – all the way. I actually carry it about four blocks home from the local church after work one day, cursing the whole way. I have no room in my heart or home for that artificial nonsense.
3. When do you put up the tree?
Well, it depends, normally a Friday after work in early-to-mid December. About 10 minutes after I get through dragging it home, plus 45 minutes to find the stupid stand.
4. When do you take the tree down?
I don’t know. Maybe early in January? We are NOT one of these December 26th families anyways …. we then normally let it ripen in the backyard until mid-April when it gets thrown onto a bonfire.
5. Do you like egg nog?
Likely not, but who can taste it over all that rum? Yeehaw! Oh, sorry – that was the nog talking ….
6. Favourite gift received as a child?
Well, I think it was likely a table-top hockey game. Sadly, my dad and his drunken buddy had already put a defenseman on injure reserve by the time I woke up Christmas morning. They had to try it out after setting it up – the nog strikes again!
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
A what now? That’s a no.
8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A broken table-top hockey table? No wait – socks.
9. Mail or email Christmas cards?
A combination of both. I would certainly prefer strictly email, but I set an unfortunate precedence in years past with homemade ones – Canucklehead’s cards are still in high demand.
10. Favourite Christmas Movie?
Probably “A Christmas Story”, although “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” both rate pretty high.
11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Well, normally around Dec. 20th – luckily Mrs. C takes care of a LOT of that for me. (Love you!)
12. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas?
My mother-in-laws chestnut filled turkey stuffing with loads of tzatziki. Washed down with loads of beer, wine and maybe a bit of nog.
13. Clear lights or coloured on the tree?
White - well, clear I guess. We had coloured growing up but there is a dignified beauty is the white only.
14. Favourite Christmas song(s)?
I really like old-school versions of "Silent Night" but I will have to go with “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon.
15. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Stay home – well, travel around town a bit.
16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Well, I thought I could – apparently not. Most of them though.
17. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star. Not only a star, but a super fantastic disco star.
18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?
Both – we celebrate a few different times with different people.
19. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Well, I guess shovelling. More specific to Christmas would be the political correctness running rampant as of late.
20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or colour?
Nobody and I mean NOBODY touches the wife’s tree. The rest of us only get to watch. However, there are definite themes and colour to the tree. I think – I’m not really allowed close enough for a proper look. There is a lot of white and different shades of blue.
21. What do you leave for Santa?
Milk and cookies. Is there any other choice? However, this Santa does not touch them (READ: nog).
22. Least favourite holiday song?
Aw geez – I don’t know, there are a lot of pretty terrible ones. Maybe the dogs that bark “Jingle Bells.”
23. Favourite ornament?
Yes – the deformed angel. Bought at a dollar store when I was still a bachelor. My girlfriend at the time (and current wife) thought I neeedd a tree so we got one and then rushed to the mall on the afternoon of the 24th for decorations for it. I bought a ton at the dollar store. One poor angel had somehow gotten ‘hurt real bad’ in the process of being made. I took it in and loved that decoration – in a Tiny Tim sort of way. I also love my 3 stooges ornaments. Of course none of these ever get onto the tree anymore … see above.
24. Family tradition?
If nog is a tradition then my family is the Canadian Smithsonian.
25. Ever been to Midnight Mass or late-night Christmas Eve services?
Yes. Many, many times – not every year but more often than not.
I will tag:
I already know some won't do it - and I'm okay with that. It is your holiday season - do what you want! Happy holidays to my readers of all faiths and I'll raise a glass of nog to you all! All the best, Canucklehead.