It's All About The Hoopla!

Just what is a hoopla anyway...well, it is boisterous, jovial commotion or raucous excitement. It's a hullabaloo, a to-do. A ballyhoo. And, all too often, a blatant or sensational promotion of self or a product. Now, I am not too big on *self* promotion but I am however, hugely enamored with a little boisterous excitement! I love a good ballyhoo! So, when several of my dear blog friends tagged me for this, I jumped to the task. Okay. So *jumped* may be a bit of a stretch. Yeah. That's it...let's just say I *stretched* and pulled myself up off the couch to the task. I was also tagged by a few dear friends to do a list of 12 Christmas facts about old moi. Is this in anyway related to this hoopla? I mean, I really hate to burden you all with 24 things about me that relate to Christmas. Surely that would be a punishment for which no one could recover. I love you all far too much to do that. Now. Will someone explain to me why all of you think I love lists so much? This is a puzzlement! I can not imagine how this idea has been planted in so many pretty heads. Well, alright. I will trudge along and do my duty. It is a tough job but someone has to do it. Is any really buying this? Oh...well, I thought that maybe...oh. Never mind. Now, on with the Hoopla!

Here are the rules: (Oh how I hate rules...grrr...) 1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas 2. Please refer to it as a 'HOOPLA' and not the dreaded meme. 3. You have to specifically tag people when you're done. None of this "if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed...then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you -- but the more, the merrier to get this 'hoopla' circulating through the blogosphere. 4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I'd like to get as many people involved as possible. 12. I believe in Santa Claus. Do not try to convince me there is not one. Many have tried. Many have failed. He exists as surely as you and I exist. Rudolph, Comet and Vixen too. Prancer? Not so much. 11. I absolutely love the giving part. Now, please don't get all soft and tell me how sweet I am and all that gooey stuff. Not me. I am as hard as nails. I do not do it for any other reason than it makes *ME* feel so good. I am really selfish that way. Really. Susie Selfish. 10. On November 30th I always say "I won't go overboard decorating this year!" And, on December 22nd Bill always ends up saying, "I thought you were not going to go overboard decorating this year!" 9. I have this really evil thought each year...that this is the year I will pull an Erma Bombeck and send out a truly hysterical Christmas letter. OR, better yet, I will send one that is SO disgusting and drippy and sugary that people will go into shock just holding it in their hands. Then I think about the people who just would NOT get the humor...oh yes. We do know some who would not see the levity and they are in our extended family I am sad to say. Ouch. But one of these years... 8. I get up on Christmas morning each year fully expecting to find Brian Dennehy in my stocking. And yes, I am delusional. How could that possibly happen? I KNOW it is silly. It is crazy beyond words. Even *I* know that he would never fit in my stocking... 7. I love the reds and greens and snowy whites of Christmas. Over the years I have done all of my decorations in naturals, blue, silver and white or in gold and copper...I even went the elegant burgundy and hunter green route. I adored all of those but here I am, back to the reds and greens of my yesteryear. What does this say about me huh? Wait! Don't tell me... 6. I love to watch Christmas movies over and over until the rest of the family is screaming for mercy. Then I just watch them with the closed captioning on and ear plugs in place. I will even watch them during the dog days of Summer. What is more uplifting than a treasured holiday film classic? Okay, other than a Brian Dennehy movie. That goes without saying... 5. Seeing a performance of The Nutcracker is a sweet tradition with me. So Daniel tired of it long ago and Bill would really rather be somewhere else. *I* love it and now I have my Grace who loves it as much as I do. Bill and Dan are SO pleased. Lets them off that proverbial hook. 4. I really loathe seeing Christmas decor up before Thanksgiving. I don't want to step on toes here and do understand that many people would have it around them 12 months of the year if given the chance...but I love Thanksgiving so much and feel it deserves it's own set of traditions and celebration and joy. And please do not get me started on Christmas decor fighting for space with Halloween ghosts and goblins. Ack. It's just so wrong... 3. I am not a fruitcake lover by nature. I *AM* a fruitcake quite naturally but eating one has never been something I enjoyed. But then, perhaps it is because I have never tasted YOUR, homemade with love, fruitcake. I would love it I am sure...maybe. 2. I can recite Charlie Brown's Christmas word for word. I have it all down cold, even that little lisp that Linus has. I will do it for you sometime. What? Well, that is just rude. Gee whiz... ...and the number one answer to my Christmas Hoopla is: 1. Fudge. You have to have it. You have to eat it. I tag...hmmm...wait. She did it already...how about...nope. She did one too. Andi? Would you like to give it a try? Love and Hugs to you all, Susie Q