Christmas Meme

The Christmas Meme is every where. I've read it here and here and here and here and here. The Irishman was looking over my shoulder as I read this and he decided that he wanted to take part as well. I'd already filled in one and saved it to post later, so the Irishman decided we should do it independently and then compare answers. I was at Target finishing my Christmas shopping when I saw that he'd e-mailed me his answers. We're dorks high tech like that.

(Needless to say we actually filled out two different meme's. The Irishman's simple idea has taken me a lot longer to sort out than he anticipated. Thankfully I am waiting for a loaf of bread to finish in my new bread maker so I'm staying up late anyway!)

So, here is a joint Meme...or Meyou...or Usus...you get the idea!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Me: We wrap the presents and then stick them in a Santa sack. We each have a Santa sack that we stash each other's gifts into. There is usually one night designated for wrapping. The Irishman goes upstairs and I'll stay downstairs wrapping his presents and listen to him swear as he wraps mine some lovely Christmas music.

The Irishman: paper if I am receiving (more exciting to open) and bags if I am giving, easier to wrap!

2. Real tree or Artificial?

Me: I would love a real tree but it does not make sense in Florida when we travel for the holidays. Can you say fire hazard? Our current tree was purchased at Target's after Christmas sale. I took the Irishman with me when it was 75% off and by the time we got there they'd marked it 90% off. Morgan had pined after that tree all season.

The Irishman: Real all the way! I love the smell. BUT if I can pick up a bargain $300 for $30 I can be persuaded!

3. When do you put up the tree?

Me:We go to Houston for Thanksgiving, so the decorations go up some time during the week we get back. It just depends on how tired we are when we get back!

The Irishman: In America the week after Thanksgiving, but in Ireland around the 12th-15th

4. When do you take the tree down?

Me: The Irishman would wait until St. Patrick's Day to take down the decorations if I would let him. The goal is "Little Women's Christmas" (The Feast of the Epiphany) but it is usually the weekend after.

The Irishman: Never before the Feast of the Epiphany

5. Do you like eggnog?

Me: Not a fan. I much prefer hot apple cider!

The Irishman: horrible stuff

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

Me: A Fisher Price telescope and then a "real" sewing machine stand out.

The Irishman: Liverpool jersey, Luke Skywalker action figure, Roy of the Rovers Annual

7. Hardest person to buy for?

Me: My father and his wife

The Irishman: My brother Robert.

8. Easiest person to buy for?

Me: Usually the Irishman, but this year he already had everything he wanted!

The Irishman: My wife, she drops lots of little hints

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

Me: We have several. The Irishman bought a nativity scene for his "lad pad" when he first moved out here. It was like $2 from Walmart. I also have 2 that I picked up at craft shows.

We also have two nice ones. My parents had a craft business many years ago. I have a nativity scene that they made that is extremely special to me. My MIL gave us a beautiful Newbridge silver crib. (Side note: My Irish in-laws refer to it as the crib and not the nativity scene. Each church around town sets up a "crib.")

The Irishman: My favourite is the one in my home church in Blackrock

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Both: Mail

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

Me: I have one family member who is notorious for giving bad gifts. I will not incriminate myself any further than that!

The Irishman: That would be unfair to answer

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

Me: I love White Christmas and Love Actually. I like most Christmas movies. I cannot watch The Santa Clause though. It gave me bad dreams. I don't know what it is about it, but I dislike that movie greatly.

The Irishman: So many! National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, Home Alone 2, Santa Claus the movie, The Santa Clause, the new Miracle on 34th Street

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Me: The Irishman gets getting into the Christmas spirit in October. We start buying gifts by November. We really do a lot of our shopping on Black Friday.

The Irishman: Novemberish

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Me: Yes. When I know something will be better used by someone else I have no problem passing it on. My Grandma Jo thought this was the funniest thing ever. (She loved being on the receiving end. One man's junk is another man's recycled present!)

The Irishman: yes - from Jenny's wonderful collection

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Me: This is tough. I love my mom's sweet potato casserole, but it has been a few Christmases since I've gotten to enjoy that. In Ireland we have spiced beef which is quite nice.

The Irishman: Turkey and Ham and all the trimmings and of course Sherry Trifle

16. Lights on the tree?

Me: I'm not really bothered either way.

The Irishman: I like the plain white ones

17. Favorite Christmas Song?

Me: I love the entire Carpenter's Christmas Portrait. I can sing the entire CD from beginning to end. It is the best!

The Irishman: Fairytale of New York

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Me: We will be traveling across the pond again this year. The Irishman is the only one in his family that does not live in Cork, so it is important for us to get over to see everyone!

The Irishman: My wife and I always agreed that if we were living in America, we would travel to my family in Ireland for Christmas and if we were living in Ireland we would travel to her family in America for Christmas

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

Me: That would require thought. I am sure I could if I tried.

The Irishman: donner and blitzen and cupid and comet and dasher and... Rudolph came later!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

Me: I'd asked my mom for an angel for the top of our tree. She'd tried to find one like the one we had growing up but didn't have any luck. In the end she gave me the angel that she'd made when I was a kid for the top of our tree. Now we have the angel my mom made at the top of the tree and a tree skirt my grandmother made at the bottom of the tree. It makes me smile!

The Irishman: Of Course

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning?

Me: The Irishman and I have an "American Christmas" and then an "Irish Christmas." We have been fortunate enough to travel to Ireland each year we've been married. We do not want to pay to lug out gifts to each other across the pond, so we have a special day that we designate "American Christmas" as a special day before we leave when we open the gifts to each other.

Only one of Morgan's siblings has children, so the other 5 siblings get together on Christmas Eve. After Midnight Mass (which starts at like 9pm...try and figure that one out!) everyone gathers in front of the fire and munches on ham and spiced beef sandwiches. We all visit and talk until midnight when the gift giving begins.

The Irishman: It depends. We try to wait until after midnight before handing out, but all depends on the time that Santa arrives

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

Me: We travel for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Decorating, shopping, and then traveling makes for a hectic time. It is nice to get to Ireland and just relax though!

The Irishman: It always goes by too quickly

23. Favorite Ornament theme or color?

Me: When the Irishman proposed at the top of the Empire State Building, the second thing we did (after we called half the world to share our news) was buy a Christmas ornament. It was the middle of March, but we wanted a Christmas ornament to remember the occasion. Each year that is the first ornament we put on the tree.

We collect ornaments when we travel. We also have a wonderful collection of Newbridge silver ornaments from Ireland.

The Irishman: the Newbridge ornaments my mother sends us every Christmas

24. Do you own a Santa hat?

Me: We not only own Santa hats, but often wear them in public. I have pictures taken at Disney and all over New York City of the two of us in Santa hats. Sad but true.

The Irishman: Of course!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

Me: I actually had a rather long list this year. It was quite out of character. I am sure Santa will treat me well. I am already using my early gift! I've made two loaves of bread since Sunday. (Thank you GB & GB!)

The Irishman: As every year, Liverpool to win the league. i will settle for second spot and the Champions League