A Christmas List...A Christmas List!

"Ho Ho Ho nuthin! Susie Q is listing again? That really fries my plate o'cookies!"

Dear Andi tagged me awhile back and old slow as a turtle Susie Q is just now getting to it! But, when a list is at stake, you KNOW I will get the job done! (Can you tell how twittery with excitement I get over a new list?)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Both but heck, those gift bags can be pretty and soooo easy. I am all about easy. I AM easy...er...wait a minute. That is NOT what I meant...hey...

2. Real tree or artificial?

Artificial. I know...I can hear all of you purists and believe me! I agree. But between my asthma and Henry the Cat who loves to eat tree needles...what sort of holiday would it be with a cat's retching and Sue's wheezing and gasping? I doubt anyone has done a Christmas tune about that!

"On the first day of Christmas my cat coughed up a tree..."

3. When do you put up the tree?

Hopefully before the 26th of December...just kidding! No nasty emails now! Usually the first week of December. I swear! Really!

4. When do you take the tree down?

Are you asking me or Henry? I like to take it down just after New Year's Day but Henry tries to bring it down 3 or 4 times a week.

5. Do you like eggnog?

What have you heard? Does eggnog like me? Does eggnog want to go steady?

Yeah, I like eggnog. Straight, no doctoring. I am dizzy enough without any added Rum.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

Wow...hard question. I got a Panda one year...a big one with a huge purple bow around his neck. I have pictures of him with me. I slept with him and carried him around until he practically disintegrated. I still have him...sweet old guy. Wait...did I just say OLD? IT wasn't THAT long ago...really. Okay, it was...

7. Hardest person to buy for?

Bill is truly non-materialistic. Drives me crazy but he is always happy with his presents.

Dan is another toughie, another non materialistic man (How did Grace and I team up with them?) My Mom always says she doesn't need a thing...but we usually come up with a thing or two she DOES like!

8. Easiest person to buy for?

Hands down...Grace. The girl wants it all. In pink. And sparkly.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

Two small ones that we have had for years and one that Bill's Mother made for us a few years ago. It sits under our tree and features a cow, a donkey, baby lambs, 3 camels and 2 spoiled cats who are usually snoring among the shepherds.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

I send them the old fashioned way. There was a time we sent lots and lots more but so many people are now gone...or families that are no more. Reading my address book is like a walk down memory lane. We send out about 80 now. I used to make all of our cards, I always sent a picture and a small letter, signed the cards TO the folks so they knew I was thinking about them as I wrote it...the whole shebang. This year I fudged and did a photo card and wrote the note on the back. I felt like such a heel. I know. I should be ashamed. But hey! I did get them mailed ya know. Don't I get credit for that?

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

Aw gee. Any gift chosen with love is never wrong. A present from the heart is always welcome. Um...but there WAS this

strange, scratchy yellow shirt from a great Aunt I got the year I was 4. My Mom had to force me to wear it and I cried...oh how I cried. I am still seeing a therapist over the trauma.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

White Christmas...yeah. I get all schmaltzy over Bing and Danny singing and hoofing.

(You may now insert Clark Griswold's line about Bing and Danny Kaye from another favorite film, "Christmas Vacation")

Oh and when the General sees all the men waiting for him..."We'll follow the old man where ever he wants to go..." and when George Clooney's Aunt puts the knight in shining armor on horseback for the Bingster into Santa's bag...and...um...

Nah. On second thought, I barely know this film at all.

13. Better to give or receive?

I love to give and watch the smiles...I know. I am such a saint. But heck, I smile pretty big when I get a present too ya know.

14. Favorite Christmas Food?

I know you can get it other times of the year but I only buy Peppermint Stick ice cream at Christmas time. I love it. Grace loves it. (Pink remember?) Bill and Dan? Not so much but hey! That just means more for the girls!

15. Favorite Christmas tradition?

Taking drives to see all the lights, putting out cookies for Santa (Yes I did this even after Dan was older and before Grace. They got eaten...so Santa had to have been there right?), watching White Christmas and It's A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve and A Christmas Story on Christmas Day. Late night services on Christmas Eve...

16. Colored lights on the tree or all clear?

All clear now...all through the house and outside too. One of these days I am just gonna go crazy and buy all wildly colored lights and wow!

17. Favorite Christmas song?

The charming and sentimental classic, "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" always brings tears to my eyes. And I like Carol of the Bells, Silent Night and Julie Andrews singing ANYTHING Christmassy.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Wow. For years and years and years we traveled. Bill took his two weeks of leave and we headed to Tennessee (My folks) and then up to Ohio (His family and our old friends). In snow, ice, pouring rain...and just like the post office, we always got through. It was dicey a few times but make it we did. Now we feel so lucky to be able to stay in the area and spend time with our family and friends and NOT hafta haul out suitcases and car survival gear and cat boxes and dog dishes...

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

Heck, anyone as childish...er...childlike as I am can name them all.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

It changes year by year. On a whim or dependent on which box I open first. Told you I was lazy.

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning?

The kids get to open one gift on Christmas Eve. And by kids I mean me.

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

All those people complaining about how they are running so late this year and how they are peddling fast to keep up and...wait. Oops. It was me who complained. Sorry. But I do annoy myself. Does that count?

Carry on....

23. Favorite Ornament theme or color?

The ornaments my kids make are the most special to me and I have always loved the true reds and greens mixed with white. I have done so many other colors but I always go back to that one. Hey, if it ain't broke...

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

Lasagna...gooey and cheesy and bubbly...is it Christmas yet??

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

I think we all know what I always politely ask Santa to bring me. And we all know that Santa, quite grumpily may I add, always says no.

In lieu of THIS gift, I will just ask for Peace on Earth and Good Will For All Creature Great and Small. That might be easier to get than Brian Dennehy in my stocking anyhoo...according to old St. Nick that is. Hrmpf.

And with that, this list comes to a close.

Cheering and screams of thanks are heard across the land...