I know!

Holy? Of course.
Crap? That's quite disrespectful of you , Alpha Frog. That's 50 Hail Mary's for you.

Ok, make it 25.

1. Are you cooking this year for Thanksgiving? If not, who will and where will you be? My husband and I will cook it all. He grills the turkey and does the mashed potatoes and I'll do the rest. Trust me, if you've never grilled your turkeys you should. Moist and delicious meat, AND opens up the oven for all of the yummy side dishes!

2. On average, when you travel for Thanksgiving, how far do you go? When we travel it's about 550 miles each way. We're staying home this year.

3. Or....if you have families at your home, are the gatherings large or small? Small, 5-10 people tops.

4. Even eat out at a restaurant for Thanksgiving? No, but darn it, I would.

5. When do you start shopping for Christmas gifts? Usually I've started by now, but due to my mom's illness the holidays just aren't a priority this year. Thank heavens our boys are older now so it's not as stressful as it could be. This may end up being the one stop shopping at Best Buy year, with a general dose of cash and gift cards before it's over.

6. Do you decorate/get a tree for your home for the holidays? Yes and Yes. This will be the first year we won't have a tree in probably a decade.

7. What is your most favorite holiday song? Little Drummer Boy

8. Do you join in with holiday festivities at work? Yes.

9. Are you an early shopper (starting in November) or a last minute shopper (last week up til Christmas Eve?) Usually even earlier than November.

10. What other activities do you engage in to get you into the holiday spirit? I'm stealing MysticCat's reply, because I can't say it better myself: "Not many that I can think of; I'm not much of one for "getting into the holiday spirit." It'll come when the time's right.

I'm really old-fashioined on this one -- as far as I'm concerned, Christmas does not begin until the evening of Dec. 24, and it lasts for 12 days (starting with Dec. 25 and ending Jan. 6). Prior to Dec. 24 is Advent, not Christmas, which is spent preparing for Christmas, both practically and spiritually, not celebrating Christmas. Yeah, the kids tell me to loosen up every now and then. :D"

11. Do you attend church on Christmas morning? No

12. Favorite television programs during the holidays? If it's made by Rankin-Bass, I'm watching. Also love A Charlie Brown Christmas.

13. How much vacation time do you take during the holidays? None, because I get a week off between Xmas and New Year without having to actually take vacation!

14. Do attend New Year's functions or spend quiet evenings at home? Early dinner out with the boys then home for the evening. I expect this might be the 1st year that one or two boys have NYE plans themselves. Sigh, they're getting so old! :eek:

15. Ever been to Times Square? Yes, but there isn't enough money in the world to get me in Times Square on NYE.

16. Do you remember where you were for Y2K? Yes.

17. What do you do as far as charity/community service during this time of year? This year things are staying very close to home due to my mom's illness and another family member's needs. Most years we do at least one Angel and contribute to local food, clothing and toiletry drives. We are supporting some local soldiers in Iraq through my son's Scout Troop.

18. If there is one thing that you could outlaw during the holidays, what would it be? Again, copied from my friend MysticCat: Well, the main things that I would outlaw are Christmas decorations and Christmas music before Thanksgiving -- turns me into a Scrooge faster than anything. But you asked about things "during" the holidays, and what I just described is technically "before" the holidays, so I'll say the awful, awful schlock that passes as "Christmas music" in the malls and on the radio.

19. If you care to share, who is that one relative that is the most embarrasing one to have around for the holidays? Thankfully there isn't one.

20. By the end of it all, how much do you think you will have spent? More than I even want to think about, but that's okay!

Well, then it's a good think I'm not Catholic, and ELCA doesn't bother with the Hail Marys.

HeHe - the Pope said Crap.

Dear Pope,

Why don't prayers work?

I prayed and prayed and prayed, and still, Penn State lost.

Losing faith,
nittanyalum

1. Are you cooking this year for Thanksgiving? If not, who will and where will you be? We will be at my parents' house and my husband will be doing the cooking.


2. On average, when you travel for Thanksgiving, how far do you go? 2 1/2 hours.

3. Or....if you have families at your home, are the gatherings large or small?We'll have about 10 people at mom's.

4. Even eat out at a restaurant for Thanksgiving?Nope.

5. When do you start shopping for Christmas gifts? Mid-November.

6. Do you decorate/get a tree for your home for the holidays?Usually. We may not this year. It depends on how much we get done before the baby comes - my due date is Christmas Eve.

7. What is your most favorite holiday song?Mary Did You Know?

8. Do you join in with holiday festivites at work?Yes.

9. Are you an early shopper (starting in November) or a last minute shopper (last week up til Christmas Eve?) Early-ish.

10. What other activites do you engage in to get you into the holiday spirit?I try to go to the German Christmas Market at the Daley Center in Chicago. I also bake Christmas cookies with two of my nieces.

11. Do you attend church on Christmas morning?No, we go on Christmas Eve, then have dinner together.

12. Favorite television programs during the holidays?Year Without a Santa Clause, A Christmas Story.

13. How much vacation time do you take during the holidays?Usually a day or two. This year, I'll be off for 6 weeks. :)

14. Do attend New Year's functions or spend quiet evenings at home?Depends. My friends and I are big on small house parties.

15. Ever been to Times Square? Yes, but not for New Year's Eve.

16. Do you remember where you were for Y2K?Yes.

17. What do you do as far as charity / community service during this time of year?Give to the Salvation Army, kick in extra at the collection plate.

18. If there is one thing that you could outlaw during the holidays, what would it be?Nasty behavior by customers (and associates) at the mall. I understand Christmas is stressful, but if you're in a store at 5:30 on Christmas Eve deciding between socks and long johns as a gift for the love of your life, it's not my fault.

19. If you care to share, who is that one relative that is the most embarrasing one to have around for the holidays?We're usually pretty tame at holiday functions. Now, family weddings, that's another story, and that hands down would be my youngest brother.

20. By the end of it all, how much do yout think you will have spent?We're cutting back this year and will probably spend about $400.
__________________

nittanyalum,

Prayers work. There were just more prayers (and "Praise God!"s) from the Michigan Staters, that's all. Plus, Michigan is just more likable than Pennsylvania. Nothing personal. God still loves you.

Blessings,
Pope

Dear Pope,

Michigan "more likable" than Pennsylvania? What's more likable than chocolate? And Ben Franklin?

I just burned my collection envelopes. Nothing personal.

Still waivering in faith about a "just" God,
nittanyalum

1. Are you cooking this year for Thanksgiving? If not, who will and where will you be?

I am making an apple pie and bringing it to my good friend's house, where his mom is cooking!


2. On average, when you travel for Thanksgiving, how far do you go?

Normally? I've not been the same place twice for Thanksgiving.

3. Or....if you have families at your home, are the gatherings large or small?

When I'm at my parents' house, the gatherings are quite large.

4. Even eat out at a restaurant for Thanksgiving?
Yes! Thanksgiving 2004, the then-boy and I had Ollie's.

5. Omitted.

6. Do you decorate/get a tree for your home for the holidays?

I haven't, I think I will this year!

7. What is your favorite holiday song?

"Winter Wonderland"

8. Do you join in with holiday festivites at work?

YES.

9. Are you an early shopper (starting in November) or a last minute shopper (last week up til Christmas Eve?)

A little of Column A, a little of Column B.

10. What other activites do you engage in to get you into the holiday spirit?

Gift wrapping, going to parties, etc.

11. Do you attend church on Christmas morning?

I don't really attend church in the first place.

12. Favorite television programs during the holidays?

Oh man, "Charlie Brown Christmas"!

13. How much vacation time do you take during the holidays?

Usually a week.

14. Do you attend New Year's functions or spend quiet evenings at home?

I've done both. Not sure what's shaking this year.

15. Ever been to Times Square?

Not for NYE!

16. Do you remember where you were for Y2K?

I went out with HS friends. Not again!

17. What do you do as far as charity / community service during this time of year?

A lot of gift parties, some donations.

18. If there is one thing that you could outlaw during the holidays, what would it be?

Bad weather! I have to fly home (1,500 miles) every year!

19. If you care to share, who is that one relative that is the most embarrasing one to have around for the holidays?

Eh, embarassing isn't the problem...

20. By the end of it all, how much do you think you will have spent?

Hopefully, not as much as last year. I am making two of my presents.

Holidays
 

I have prepared Thanksgiving dinner for many years for my family and friends. Unfortunately this year, I will have to pass as I just had surgery for cancer on November 8th and am recovering at home. I have two adult sons who have been wonderful but they are not cooks. Why didn't I teach them when I had the chance? My oldest made me a cup of tea the other day and left the tea bag in the paper wrapper...so glad we sent him to college! It hurt to laugh so much.

We are fortunate to have some lovely friends who are sending over a complete dinner (including a turducken which I have wanted to try for years). We're eating on plastic this year instead of the good china but I know everything will be wonderful because, thank G-d, our family is intact. A new tradition is born!

As for shopping, that has to be tabled as I can't concentrate enough to even shop on the Internet at this point...too many meds. I told my sons the medications were scrambling my brains and one of my sons wanted to know how they were supposed to tell! It pays to have kids!

I will be having radiation and chemo during the holidays so I will be otherwise occupied. But, I have something to look forward to because now I can shop when everything goes on sale after the holidays...there is always a silver lining.

I want to wish all of you GC'ers a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,
Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
ΣΔTPatriae Multi Spes Una One Hope of Many People

Best wishes, Paula. I hope your recovery continues to go well along with the upcoming treatments. So glad you have family and friends there taking care of you. The teabag story is great!

Recovery
 

Thank you, Ms. Pennsylvania, for your kind words and support. It's great to have someone I just met in my corner!

Sincerely,
Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
ΣΔTPatriae Multi Spes Una One Hope of Many People

My prayers and best wishes go out to you and your family.

Good Wishes
 

Thank you, my ZTA friend, for your good wishes. They are good medicine. Have a great Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
ΣΔTPatriae Multi Spes Una One Hope of Many People