My apologies if you are one of the three people who actually read my blog to get an update in what the heck is going on in my life. Fortunately for Santa, Mommy's been on the job with the local temp agency and was placed in her first real 9-5 desk job...Temporarily as the agency is called...just prior to Christmas. This means presents bought with my own money. Yay!

Good news. Mommy doesn't have to raid Daddy's checking account to by him a gift he really doesn't want. Mediocre news. Mommy's spending her own money to by Daddy a present he really doesn't want. Bad news. The eight year old is forgetting what a home-packed lunch is, and the smell of newly baked cookies when arriving home from school. Oh. And I have REALLY BAD dog guilt. Tucker the wonder dog is snubbing me. Sigh.

So I am cheating on my blog post and am tacking this great blog stuff that I scooped from that old Cynicalbstd, Jay, again. (Who, by the way, admitted stealing it from Gracey. At least we admit it!) Red answers are his. They are great! Green answers are mine.

"...And here's a little Christmas Memo that I stole from Gracey:

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot Chocolate .. No contest ... Especially if you add a little Bailey's or some Jameson's Whiskey.

Egg nog for the first few day until my jeans start getting tight, then back to Ravensara's Espresso Blend. I live in the land of java joints, dontcha know.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Presents must be wrapped. I know it would make things easier on Santa to just put them under the tree, but come on, you only work one day a year fat man, wrap the presents!

Got young kids...they have to be wrapped or nothing would stop them from a 4:30 AM raid.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
White. But, I like colored lights too. I used to like flashing lights, but now I like them to just shine constantly.

White on the tree, and colored on the house. Or vice versa. Depends on the mood!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
I don't have any to hang. I always wanted one of those headbands with mistletoe connected to it and then go walk around an see how many kisses I get. Or how long until I'm arrested.

Does plastic replicated count? Don't hate me. My Mom gave it to me, and we have to honor our moms don't we?

5. When do you put up your decorations ?
When I feel the urge to do so. Sometimes the day after T-Giving, sometimes a week or so later. I just sit back and wait for Santa to send me a sign.

It seems like when its raining and most dangerous to climb a ladder. But this year, when I finally caved to 8 yr old pressure.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Oh just anything. A smoked Petit Jean Ham is always good.

Mom's swedish tea ring. Think cinnamon roll that feeds 6!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
Sitting around the tree with only the lights from the tree on and singing Christmas Carols. And then my mother reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas"and "The Littlest Angel" to me and my sister.

Laying on my back under the newly decorated tree and looking at all the pretty lights.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
What truth? Santa is truth. Santa is good. Santa is my friend.
I truely don't remember. Probably when a conservative not-to-be-mentioned person pointed out that Santa was an anagram for Satan and he steals the true meaning of Christmas from Jesus. *Sigh*

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
When we were kids we used to open one gift on Christmas Eve but the rest were on Christmas morning.

The joy of a big family! Christmas eve dinner and gifts with Mom's family and Christmas day with Dad's family!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? With Christmas decorations? Hello? Oh, you mean what kind! Oh, well little balls, lots of small ornaments and it's pre-lit. NO TINSLE!! You'll be vacuuming those bastards up in June!

Pick a color or two and a theme. I have enough ornaments to decorate three trees! The kids did a fine job this year.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love it until it's snowed every other day for a month. Then I get sick of it.

Snow? Once every six or seven years we get snow for Christmas. It's magic! And it encourages the sane to stay in rather than dualing with mad men w/4 wheel drives.

12. Can you ice skate?
Not even a little bit.

Poorly, when begged.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Not one specifically but I've gotten some pretty cool stuff over the years *cough iPodNano cough*

Christmas day picnic in Canberra, Australia.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Just trying to be in the holiday spirit of the season and ignoring all the commercialismcialization of the holiday. (Um-m. Can't remember if this is a word he actually used, or if it crept in while I was running the spell check!)

The music! (From Nov. 26thish - Dec. 26thish)

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Fudge and Christmas cookies. There used to be this bakery that made these AWESOME Santa cookies. But, it's closed down now so no more of those. Of course, my sister makes great Christmas fudge and cookies. *hint, hint*

Um. They're all good?

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Watching all the lighting of the tree ceremonies on TV and driving around and looking at all the lights and decorations that people put up.

Candlelight service on Christmas Eve.

17. What tops your tree?
An Angel.

This year? Santa!

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving presents?
Well we all love to get presents don't we. But, I prefer giving them. Not that I'm all that great at picking out gifts for people, cause I basically suck at that. But, I do love giving gifts

Getting. Does that make me horribly selfish?

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
I love Christmas music as long as it isn't being sung by Mariah Carey or most Country music singers. I think Silent Night is my favorite though
Used to be "O holy night" until everyone and their brother has arendition of it. Now I pick "Still, still, still."

20. Candy Canes Yuck or Yum?
Yummy! Puh-leeze! Who doesn't like candy canes? Weirdoes!

I'm a weirdo. Yuck! Where's the chocolate?

In keeping with the Christmas Spirit here is a little quiz to see how much you know about The Grinch.I got 10/10.Oh, and donÂ’t forget that Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman are on this week! I think on Friday Dec. 8th on CBS.