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!
Threaded Mode
