Hollidays Poll

MysticCat · #1 11-14-2007, 11:07 AM

Just a few questions to kind of get a grasp where people are for the coming holidays: FYI, 20 =/= "a few questions."

1. Are you cooking this year for Thanksgiving? If not, who will and where will you be? Still not sure -- either at my mother's or my sister-in-law's.

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

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

4. Even eat out at a restaurant for Thanksgiving? No.

5. When do you start shopping for Christmas gifts? We'll start getting things in the Summer, but the real shopping starts in October or November.

6. Do you decorate/get a tree for your home for the holidays? Yes, but it doesn't go up until mid-December and it stays up until Epiphany (January 6).

7. What is your most favorite holiday song? "Merry Christmas from the Family" - Robert Earl Keen. ETA: If we're talking about Christmas carols (which I do not want to hear sung by popular recording artists), it would be a toss-up between the Wexford carol ("Good people all, this Christmastide"), Taladh Chriosda ("the Christ Child's Lullaby"), "What Child is This" and "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly."

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?) Both. I usually get started early, but almost always have something last minute to get.

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

11. Do you attend church on Christmas morning? Yes, and the night before as well.

12. Favorite television programs during the holidays? The endless reruns of "A Christmas Story" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas." They're pretty much the only Christmas TV shows I'll watch.

13. How much vacation time do you take during the holidays? A week or two.

14. Do attend New Year's functions or spend quiet evenings at home? Varies from year to year.

15. Ever been to Times Square? You couldn't pay me to go to Times Square on NYE.

16. Do you remember where you were for Y2K? Yes, my mother-in-law's.

17. What do you do as far as charity/community service during this time of year? It varies from year to year, but there is always some of both.

18. If there is one thing that you could outlaw during the holidays, what would it be? 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? There isn't one.

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

Cardinal026 · #2 11-14-2007, 11:50 AM

1. Are you cooking this year for Thanksgiving? If not, who will and where will you be?
Sort of - we're going to my boyfriend's sister's house - his parents have the turkey, she has desserts, and I have ALL side dishes, yikes.

2. On average, when you travel for Thanksgiving, how far do you go?
The farthest I've ever gone is 45 minutes - we have only ever celebrated with local family.

3. Or....if you have families at your home, are the gatherings large or small?
Big - my family tends to invite friends, family on the inlaws side, etc. I think our smallest has been like 20 people.

4. Even eat out at a restaurant for Thanksgiving?
Nope. I think that defeats the purpose of all the fun of cooking and baking all day.

5. When do you start shopping for Christmas gifts?
Previously, December. This year, I started in August though. And I'm almost done

6. Do you decorate/get a tree for your home for the holidays?
Yes, always. My boyfriend and I go the day after Thanksgiving to get it, and decorate the house for the holidays.

7. What is your most favorite holiday song?
I like all of them!

8. Do you join in with holiday festivites at work?
My job doesn't really do anything.

9. Are you an early shopper (starting in November) or a last minute shopper (last week up til Christmas Eve?)
This year my goal is to be done by Thanksgiving.

10. What other activites do you engage in to get you into the holiday spirit?
I love driving around looking at lights, and a local ampitheatre does holiday sing alongs that I love going to.

11. Do you attend church on Christmas morning?
No, Christmas Eve.

12. Favorite television programs during the holidays?
All the classic movies.

13. How much vacation time do you take during the holidays?
Normally, only Christmas Day, but this year I'm flying to Oregon to visit family the week in between Christmas and New Years.

14. Do attend New Year's functions or spend quiet evenings at home?
I love big parties, fun dresses, and lots of friends.

15. Ever been to Times Square?
Yes, but not for New Years.

16. Do you remember where you were for Y2K?
A house party.

17. What do you do as far as charity / community service during this time of year?
Some of my friends and I founded a non profit called Charity Sisters, and our next big event is a Guitar Hero tournament on December 8th - all proceeds go to the Children's Burn Foundation.

18. If there is one thing that you could outlaw during the holidays, what would it be?
Nothing, I love all of the craziness of this time of year.

19. If you care to share, who is that one relative that is the most embarrasing one to have around for the holidays?
Hm, none of them.

20. By the end of it all, how much do you think you will have spent?
Yikes, my boyfriend and I already spent WAY too much. A power wheels Cadillac for our 4 year old nephew? What were we thinking?

Oh well, tis better to give, right?

AlphaFrog · #3 11-14-2007, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

FYI, 20 =/= "a few questions."

No kidding. Also, having to look at "Hollidays" for the next month and a half, whether I open the thread or not, is going to drive me crazy.

The older I get, the more time the "Holidays" means spending time at church and with family, rather then decorating and shopping. The only family I have within 700 miles are my husband, kids and parents...so rather than worry about who's house we're going to, and making sure everything is decorated and clean and etc, we worry about SLOWING DOWN and spending time together and really taking the time at church to explain to the kids what this is all about.

honeychile · #4 11-14-2007, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

No kidding. Also, having to look at "Hollidays" for the next month and a half, whether I open the thread or not, is going to drive me crazy.

The older I get, the more time the "Holidays" means spending time at church and with family, rather then decorating and shopping. The only family I have within 700 miles are my husband, kids and parents...so rather than worry about who's house we're going to, and making sure everything is decorated and clean and etc, we worry about SLOWING DOWN and spending time together and really taking the time at church to explain to the kids what this is all about.

I so wish my family would adopt that attitude!!!!

AOIIalum · #5 11-17-2007, 09:19 AM

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. "

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!

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!