1. What does it mean to have the ‘holiday spirit’? On a scale of 1-10 how is yours this year? (10=off the charts, 1=still looking for it)

I think it’s the cozy warm feeling you have when it’s this time of year. Its source can be from the decorations, food, family, etc. Definitely NOT this annoying traffic or the materialistic nature of every dang commercial. For me, I am about a 5. On Saturday we pulled everything out and began putting up the village on the mantle. Last night, we got the tree up and cleaned a little so now I am feeling sort of festive. Plus, I drank egg nog and listened to Xmas music so that helped.

2. What’s your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why.

Hmm, this shouldn’t be tough but it is. I like George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life; and I like Emmett Otter from, well, Emmett Otter’s Jugband Christmas; and I identify with the mom from Christmas with the Kranks, because she is on-board with her husband’s idea of not having their annual Christmas party but at the same time, still does want to do it.

3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition? 

Eh, it’s ok. I don’t often eat it. And no, we don’t ever make a house. Maybe we did it once or twice but it’s always messier than I want.

4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-

sprinkles or jimmies? lightning bugs or fireflies? soda or pop? sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes? sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero? freeway, highway, or motorway? frosting or icing? sauce or gravy?

Sprinkles. Lightning bugs. COKE. Sneakers. Subs. Highway. Frosting. Gravy.

5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood. 

I usually tell the story of when we went out looking at Christmas lights and when we came back, looked in the front window to see our beagle, jumping excitedly. He normally was kept in the laundry room behind a baby gate but he escaped! But let’s think of another one: The year we didn’t have a Christmas tree. We moved in December from my long-time home of South Florida to the Orlando area. The house we were set to buy was all ready – or so we thought. Something delayed it and we had to move all 4 of us and a dog into my dad’s one bedroom apartment. This was not how we saw the holiday season going! Instead of having a Christmas in a new house with a tree and everything, we ended up just exchanging gifts in this tiny apartment living room. I remember gleaning my Christmas cheer from walking around the lake/park that my dad’s apartment was right by. It wasn’t the same but it sufficed.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.  

I keep running out of time to write! Somehow the day ends before I can complete a post. Maybe once break starts, I’ll be back. Or maybe midterm week. Yeah, that’s it!