On the 6th day of Christmas, Wyatt gave a meme...

I'm IT!

Wyatt tagged me with a Christmas Meme. Bah humbug!

1. Wrapping or gift bags? It depends on the present and my current stress level. If the present is an odd shape or kind of small, then I go for the bag, if wrapping a present might cause a meltdown because I can't crease the paper perfectly, then I go for the bag. However, if the sun is shining and I'm chipper: I wrap. I'm quite skilled at curling the ribbon.

2. Real or artificial tree? I prefer a real tree. I really like the scent. I haven't had a tree in three years, though.

3. When do you put up the tree? Since I don't have one...the earliest I've ever put up the tree has been Black Friday. The latest? In the wee hours of Christmas morning.

4. When do you take the tree down? After it dies a long and painful death. Early January.

5. Do you like egg nog? Gag; no! Why put the booze in a thick creamy substance? Ick!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Lite Brite? SpiralGraph? Actually it was a transistor radio. My cousin came over on Christmas, messed with it, and broke the dial. Did my aunt and uncle buy me a new one? NO! They just told my cousin that was a dumb thing to do. Bastard. I hate him to this day, but for other reasons. So, I guess it would be the chalkboard easel.

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yep. It is packed away in boxes somewhere.

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? My dad forgot to give me a gift one year. That made me feel really special. I don't really judge my gifts. I appreciate thoughtfulness, even if something that isn't my taste appears.

9. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Neither. I suck. I did send a card to one of my aunts this year. The relatives that get cards from get the cards handed to them, by me, with a gift or cookies (well, when I used to make a bazillion of them). I'm sure I'll email my bloggy pals, though.

10. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story (showing it to one of my classes).

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually I start after my birthday (Dec. 1). I think it is a reaction to all the years I was told I would be receiving a birthday/Christmas present. I haven't even started shopping yet, this year. However, I did manage to buy three Christmas cards.

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? It is a tie between a Colin Farrell or Aragorn salad with no dressing. Mmmm. Ok. I'll be serious. My grandmom's Scottish shortbread cookies. They are my great-grandmother's recipe. They melt in your mouth and are highly addictive.

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored lights that blink slowly. (They have to multi-colored, too....not all red or blue or green or whatever.)

14. Favorite Christmas song? "O Holy Night"

Hmmm...Now to spread my Christmas cheer! I tag Old NFO, Mrs. Grim, and DBA Dude (eh, I'll go global on this one). By the way, Old NFO has a very compelling post about waterboarding on his post. It is a must read. Really.