[SWTXBelle]

1. Are you cooking for Thanksgiving?
NO - a few years ago I figured out that if I travel during Thanksgiving I can have someone else both prepare the food and clean-up. Also, for some reason Thanksgiving with my family is fraught with all kinds of drama that doesn't happen at Christmas. Before Katrina, we always went to New Orleans. This year, we are going on a Disney Cruise and then staying at Disney's Vero Beach Resrot.

2. When you travel, how far do you go?
It's usually a 12 hour or so drive.
3. n/a

4. ...eat at a restaurant?
YES - all the time.

5. When do you start shopping for Christmas gifts?
During the summer - I have lots of nephews and nieces, so I keep an eye out for bargains.

6. Do you decorate/get a tree for your home for the holidays?
YES - we used to go cut a fresh tree, but because we put the tree up on St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6) and keep it up until Epiphany (Jan.5) we now have a very realistic fake tree. The real ones become fire hazards.

7. What is your most favorite holiday song? Hymn - "Once in Royal David's City" Non-hymn - hmmm . . . "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas"

8. n/a

9. Are you an early shopper? YES - don't want to have to fight the amateurs.

10. What other activities do you engage in to get you into the holiday spirit? Get a Salvation Army Angel from the angel tree and take the kids to shop for him/her, baking, listening to music, advent celebrations (including the wreath).

11. Do you attend church on Christmas morning? No - the night before.

12. Favorite television programs - "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" and "The Year Without a Santa Claus" (isn't that the one with Heat and Snow Misers? BEST.EVER. love the version of the song by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy)

13. How much vacation time do you take? Whatever the school gives me.

14. Do you attend New Year's functions or spend quiet evenings at home? I think everyone tries just a little to hard to be festive at New Year's Eve parties - I stay home nowadays.

15. Been to Times Square? Yes, but not at New Year's. I was in Jackson Square on New Year's - I don't recommend it.

16. Do you remember where you were for Y2K? Asleep in Sugarland, TX.

17. What do you do for charity/community service? Support the Salvation Army, St. Jude's Hospital, food and blood drives.

18. If there is one thing you could outlaw during the holidays, what would it be? Cranky Christmas shoppers. If you are shopping you have A.) at least a little money and B.) loved ones for which you are shopping. These are good things. You should be grateful, and try to be happy. And treat the store employees well. Yelling and screaming does not make them want to help you, and you have totally missed the point if you are behaving that way. Everyone should have to work retail one Christmas season and then they would learn a little patience goes a long way.