Wandering Aimlessly

What movie or tv special do you have to watch in order to feel like it's officially Christmas? It's a Wonderful Life. Miracle on 34th Street doesn't hurt, either.

Presents opened Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
We get pajamas to open (and wear) on Christmas Eve, but the rest gets opened on Christmas morning.

How old were you the last time you had your picture made with Santa?
Not a clue. The only time I really REMEMBER getting my picture taken was when I was four and Santa came to our house. And my sister cried and cried because she was so scared. I've had my picture taken since then, but I don't remember.

How early (or late) are usually up on Christmas morning?
Whenever my sister and I wake up. We have to be at my aunt's by about 12:30, so we have to have enough time to do the whole Christmas morning thing, eat breakfast, all get ready, and drive 45 minutes. I'd say we usually get up no later than 8.

Are you able to sleep well on Christmas Eve?
I suppose so. I remember when I was little, never being able to fall asleep, but I think it's all been good lately. *g*

Favorite family tradition:
Christmas Eve. All of it. It's just my family, my mom's parents, and my dad's brother, his wife and their two little girls. We have the big meal, we always have a little scavanger hunt, we act out the Christmas play, and we sing carols. Then my uncle's family goes home and my family and my grandparents go to the 11:00 candelight service. And when we come home, it's Christmas!

Did you ever try to catch Santa?
No. I was pretty young when I stopped believing in Santa and, instead, got to do the Santa duties for my sister, so...

Did you look for your presents around the house?
No, I actually knew exactly where they were kept. We have an extra bedroom downstairs, and starting at about Thanksgiving, it's "Off Limits" until Christmas.

Did you ever open a wrapped present and wrap it back up?
Nope. I like surprises. I could have opened that door, had I felt so inclined, but I never did.

Did you leave treats for Santa? (if so what kind)
Yep. Still do. The traditional milk and cookies (gingerbread, snowball cookies, etc), and a carrot for the reindeer. Can't forget them!

Did you leave treats for the reindeer? (if so what kind)
I need to read ahead. Ha ha. Yes, we leave a carrot. Who the heck knows if reindeer eat carrots. They always did at our house, though!

Do you bake Christmas goodies? (what kind?)
Of course. Snowball cookies are a MUST (they're my favorite at any time of the year, but it's not Christmas without them). My grandpa's Scottish shortbread is also required to be in attendance.

Do you buy presents for your pets?
Yeah, Specks has a stocking and he gets kitty treats and usually a toy (which he doesn't play with much, now that he's OLD), but I think the best presents for him are A) having the Outdoors inside for an entire month (he's thrilled with the tree that's just for him to sit under), and B) wrapping paper to crawl under and peek out of. And play with. And crinkle. He loves wrapping paper. It's unfortunate when trying to wrap presents, but too adorable once they're unwrapped. *g*

If you could spend Christmas anywhere in the world (with your family or alone) where would you spend it?
I'm pretty much in love with the way we do it. I'm a traditionalist. We once spent Christmas in Los Angeles and it just wasn't the same, being in a hotel and all.

What do you wish you could do during the holiday season that you never get to?
Hmmm. Now that I'm Old, I wish I still had the get-up-and-go to go sledding. And someday I want to Skate on State (which is now no longer on State Street, but is in the new park they built...) in downtown Chicago.

Have you ever had a white Christmas?
I can only think of a handful of times when we didn't.

Can you ice skate?
I can, but I won't claim that I can do it well. I can't do anything fancy like go backwards or do twirls or jumps or anything, but forward around the rink I can handle.

Do you own a copy of "The Night Before Christmas?"
Yep. A couple, I think. We used to do this bag-passing game, where everyone stands in a circle and there are paper bags with little gifts in them. Someone reads the story, and everytime they say the word "the," we pass the bags. At the end, you open them and find out what you got. But since we started having the rather small Christmas Eve (just ten of us), we haven't done it in a few years.

Approximately how many presents will you buy this year?
Goodness. A lot. Well, a lot considering I don't have a very big family. *g*

How many will be mailed?
A couple.

Do you enjoy wrapping gifts?
Sometimes. Sometimes my sister and I will bring all the wrapping paper and ribbons and everything into my room, close the door, and put on either a Christmas movie or music and just have a wrapping party.

Christmas music you associate with your childhood (artists/albums)
Mannheim Steamroller, George Winston "December," "Sesame Street Christmas" ('Gift of the Magi,' Bert and Ernie style!), "Cabbage Patch Christmas" (Cabbage Patch Kids, hangin' up their stockings, Cabbage Patch Kids, see them trimming the tree, it's the best time of year for the Cabbage Patch Kids, as they celebrate Christmas just like you and me!)

Current favorite Christmas CD
I love Christmas music. My Jazz and Blues Christmas mix CD, *NSYNC Home for Christmas, and Mannheim Steamroller are currently in my CD player. It's likely that those are the three that'll stay there for most of December.

Early shopping or last minute?
Last minute, but I usually get it done before I go home for Christmas break. So it's not last-minute as in Christmas is tomorrow, but last minute in that I do during finals week, so it's "last minute" before I go home. I won't go NEAR Chicago area malls at Christmas time, and would much prefer our small (but pretty darn good) mall here.

Favorite traditional Christmas songs
"O Holy Night" is my very favorite. I used to be in a community choir all through school, and every year we got to sing it with a "professional" singer. That was always the most exciting part of our Christmas concert. *g* We also always sang "Carol of the Bells" and "Hallelujah Chorus" every year in choir, so those are favorites. I really like "The Holly and the Ivy," but the instrumental version.

Favorite non-traditional Christmas songs
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays - *NSYNC
Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
Blue Christmas - Elvis
'Zat You, Santa Clause? - Louis Armstrong
Jingle Bells - Duke Ellington

Do you wear Christmas jewelry?
I wear my cross necklace on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, usually. I'm the small, unobtrusive jewelry type, so if I do, it's probably something very subtle. Little snowflake earrings, or something.

What is your most vivid Christmas memory?
The year I was seven, my sister was five, and my cousin was four. We were doing the Christmas play; I was Mary, my cousin was Joseph, and my sister was the angel. My cousin refused to take off the She-Ra costume he'd found in our dress-up box, my sister was over-zealous and kept saying her lines early, and I decided that my stuffed Pink Panther made a better baby Jesus than the red-headed, pigtailed doll I was supposed to use (at least PP was a boy). My aunt was horrified, but it all worked out. *g*

What is your most cherished holiday memory?
Probably the same. Ha ha. You know, every Christmas Eve is just so special. It's my favorite day of the year. It's about family and Christmas and singing and being together, not Santa and presents and all that Hallmark jazz. I'll always remember our Christmas Eve traditions.

Best present you've ever given someone:
As far as Christmas presents go, I'm not sure. The one gift I gave that was the most special to both the recipient and myself was not a Christmas gift, but was given as an anniversary present to my grandparents... they went to a beach in Chicago on their first date back in the early 40's, and had taken a picture of their shoes on the beach. I painted it for them. That was definitely my favorite.