Chicken Butt: Christmas Meme

I’ve been tagged. Thanks Karen, here I go.

Christmas Meme

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Tough choice, especially since I know longer eat (or drink) sweets. Disregarding that, I have to go with Egg Nog. I love hot cocoa, but the nog is a seasonal treat. My favorite comes from a local dairy that sells their products in glass bottles. The Egg Nog is thick enough to be shake-like. The trouble with nog is that I always chug it. I can’t sip the stuff, I see BugBoy drink it the same way. I made a crazy strong alcoholic version once. It was tasty, but only it tiny sips. I still have the foil wrapped bottle in my fridge. I’m afraid to pour it out. There were a lot of raw egg yolks in it.
Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Wrapped, but with no bows, just names written with marker on the paper. The presents from Mom and Dad are wrapped with bows and gift tags.
Colored lights on tree/house or white?
White, but a good colored tree makes me sentimental. I go white, but I like either. Just don’t mix it up. Consistency is key.
Do you hang mistletoe?
No, but my Mom had a plastic mistletoe kissing ball she hung in the entryway for years. Mistletoe makes me anxious at parties.
When do you put your decorations up?
Thanksgiving weekend. I’ve never had a real tree due to allergies. I’m not putting up a tree again this year. I have not yet recovered from leaving it up for ten months two years ago. I put a wreath on my door and will put up a few more things this weekend. For the first time in my life I have a fireplace, which makes a stocking compulsory.
What is your favorite holiday dish?
The only dish I can still eat is the cheese ball: cream cheese, green onion and bacon. It’s fantastic on crackers and pretty good on leftover ham sandwiches. I’m sure I’m not the only one in my family to just take a spoon to it. There isn’t anything seasonal about it except Mom only made it for Christmas Eve.
When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I’m not sure. Grade school, maybe second grade? Third? If it was traumatic I don’t remember. I know I felt very grown up helping to pretend for my sister.
Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Dread it. It’s pretty, but I get paranoid about slipping and falling or trying to brake and sliding into an intersection. Color me a grumpy curmudgeon.
Can you ice skate?
Not anymore. I’m too afraid of falling and breaking something. I used to love it though. I would walk by myself the four blocks to the skating rink and skate until I had to pee so bad I wasn’t sure I’d make it home. I practiced backwards figure 8s with one leg up and my arms outstretched, but Dorothy Hammel I wasn’t.
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I spend Christmas Eve at my sister’s house. I get to help stuff the stockings and put out the presents. Then I get to be there for the unstuffing, presents and breakfast. Then we tidy up and just hang out all day. It’s very low key and lovely.