The Bloggeriffic Kazoo

More than you needed to know about Téa, Christmas Edition

Wednesday December 16th 2009, 8:29 pm
Filed under: call and answer by Téa

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Wrapping paper until I can’t take it anymore, then it’s bags; no paper if the present lends itself to bags. Like clothes, clothes in gift bags. At ”17pm Christmas Eve” I like gift bags very much.

2. Real tree or Artificial?

Artificial, like a pine tree version of saccharine. Someday we’ll upgrade to an equal or nutrisweet variety.

3. When do you put up the tree?

In years of old, it’s been Thanksgiving weekend. Last year we never put up the big tree, we only used the mini-trees the children decorated. This year, I finally dragged out the tree this week to remember I need to buy a new stand. Perhaps it will be the weekend before Christmas–oy!

4. When do you take the tree down?

After Epiphany/Three Kings Day/January 6th.

5. Do you like eggnog?

Yes, though I take it watered, er, milked down so it’s not as thick.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

My first teddybear, Radar, 1979. A gift box from the Salvation Army, 1985/86; I still have the Christmas socks my sister and I got, but the coats and mittens are long gone. There are so many memories to choose from…



7. Hardest person to buy for?

Anyone on my side of the family, anxiety issues for me.

8. Easiest person to buy for?

Ephraim.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

We have a collection going, though it is on the small side to have that status. One large porcelain & fabric nativity claims the piano top, nestled beneath a lighted star of Bethlehem. We have 5 different children’s nativity sets, if you count the ducky one. Others are on mini trees, or mostly one piece sets. I added a small “stick figure” stained glass Holy Family this year.



10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Didn’t do it for ‘08. ‘07 cards were mailed by Easter ‘08 because they were picture ones with our entire family, and I didn’t want the $$ to go to waste. I created a little label on the envelope, something like, “Wishing you the joy of Christmas and the Hope of Easter”. Without Easter, there would be no Christmas, after all. ‘09 cards are back-burner, thinking of “clever” cards looking to 2010. Feeling sense of urgency after my amazing cousin, my sister and several nieces have already sent us cards/packages.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

  A relationship breaking down

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

  Muppet Christmas Carol, Arthur’s Perfect Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Sometimes too early to remember where (or what) it is, often too late to avoid holiday stress

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

It makes sense that I would, as I’m not philosophically opposed to it, but cannot grasp a specific memory pf doing so… I’ve had a couple of times that I purchased a gift for an individual, but gave it to someone else in the end.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

White Fudge-covered Oreos.

16. Lights on the tree?

Yes, small bulbs, usually blinking.

17. Favorite Christmas song?

  John Denver & The Muppets, Barenaked for the Holidays, both great albums…

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Stay home.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?

In alphabetical order from the original poem: Blixem, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Dunder, Prancer, Vixen.  As in the Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer song: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

Angel during childhood, a small ornament later supplanted by the very cute picture angel ornament(s) my sister made at school. We have a star with lights on it now.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
One present on the eve, typically pjs. Stockings & the rest morning

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

This year, it’s the inner back and forth about turning on Christmas lights during peak electric hours.

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color?

Nativity/religious ornaments, a Mr. Potato Head building a snowman ornament, pictures… The children’s mini trees have ornament groups, like Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, Diego, Star Wars, Star Wars M&Ms, etc.

24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner?

Christmas breakfast is Creme Brulée French Toast, sausages and hot chocolate. Christmas lunch is Clam Chowder. Christmas dinner usually involves some kind of spiral cut glazed ham. And it’s not always on Christmas, depending on the exhaustion factor. That’s why the Clam Chowder isn’t 18 hours earlier, like it used to be =)