Just Call Me Grinchy McGrinch

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper even though I hate to think of the waste. We are all tearers so there is no saving the big pieces for next year. I do try to smush it down in a sort of folded way and squeeze it into the recycling. The one year I filled a trash bag it blew away on trash day.
2. Real or artificial tree? Real tree and we'll all suffer for it. Lots of allergies in our house but after years of fake trees growing up, I love a real tree. Nothing beats the smell.
3. When do you put up the tree?   Because of the allergies, mess and having 3 dogs who *might* think of the tree as a special gift for them we limit the time a tree is actually in the house. We put it up about Dec 20.
4. When do you take it down?  New Years Day at the latest.
5. Do you like eggnog?  No. I was forced to drink it as a child to gain weight.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?  Every year I got one really great gift. One year it was a bike, another a CB radio, almost every year a doll. The only gift I got as a child that I still have (other than games) is my Teeny Tiny Tears doll. I ate all her hair and she has no clothes and the dog chewed her feet but I still love her.
7. Do you have a nativity scene?  No.
8. Hardest person to buy for?   My father. He has everything he needs, buys whatever he wants and is critical of things he's given. I should just put cash in an envelope but he'd probably complain.
9. Easiest person to buy for?  No one. They're all difficult just to varying degrees.
10. Worst Christmas present you ever got?  Anything "As Sold On TV." Or maybe the book on housekeeping my MIL gave me the year my husband and I were married. Or the 5 lbs of cheap chocolate covered cherries. I hate cherries and chocolate won't get me to eat them!
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. Always with a photo card of the children. The last few years the photo is taken on vacation in the summer. I just picked up the cards yeaterday. They weren't a pleasure to order. I hate deciding on a style and what to write. This years card says "Merry Christmas". I'm a bit tired of "Happy Holidays" and everyone on our card list celebrates Christmas.
12. Favorite Christmas movie?  A Christmas Story.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?   I started late last week with a panicked LL Bean and amazon.com frenzy. I don't even have a list this year so I'm really flying blind. Let's hope I don't forget anyone.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?   Yes. Let's just say we got a lot of duplicate wedding gifts and Christmas was a few months later.
15. Favorite thing to eat on Christmas?  My grandmother's fruitcake. She's been dead for more than 25 years and now I make it but hers was better. I don't make it every year though.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?   Clear
17. Favorite Christmas song?  Do They Know It's Christmas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsqsiJRiCY0 I love that video. I love the 80's bands and hair!! (Secret 80's confession: I would have kidnapped Boy George and kept him in my basement if I could have.)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? STAY HOME!!! Always!!!
19. Can you name all of Santa's Reindeer?  Why yes I can.
20. Angel or star on top of tree?  Neither. We have a odd looking ornament thing with one point.
21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning.  Morning but any gift that comes in the mail (not ordered by me) can be opened when it arrives.
22. Most annoying thing this time of year?  I could make a list but it all comes down to the commercialism. I hate how it's all buy buy buy.
23. Do you decorate your tree in any theme or color?  Nope.
24. What do you leave for Santa?  Homemade cookies and milk though Santa is welcome to help himself to anything he wants. The Reindeer get carrots but I think they like cookies too.

Well I feel a bit better. Playing the video helped. I think I'd like to get that stuck in my head for the next few weeks. If you are in need of some Christmas spirit or blog fodder feel free to steal this or not.

ETA: Bloglines is giving me fits. It takes hours to update my feed and just about everyone elses. I am exporting my subscriptions to Google Reader and giving them a try. If it's better I may be bidding Bloglines Adieu.