Stitching along, but nothing to show for it yet!

Hey there! I took a longer break than I thought, but I guess I needed it or I wouldn’t have taken one! I did really enjoy writing last month. Next year, I might take on the writing version of what I did in November, the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo for the acronym lovers). I’ve always wanted to write a fantasy novel, did you know that? It’s a combination of my love for all things medieval, my wish that there really was such a thing as magic, and years of enjoying the intricate tales of such lovely writers as J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Ursula K. LeGuin, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Elizabeth Haydon, Katharine Kerr and a host of other delightful folks with big imaginations about what the world *could* be like…

So today I’m going to do something relatively simple, and post answers to a meme I found. To be quite honest with you, although I’m pretty savvy about internet-thingies, I’m not sure what “meme” stands for, and I mostly think it sounds silly. I get the idea, though. I found this meme at Stitch Bitch’s blog - my choice is significant! During November I started reading a bunch of interesting new blogs through the NaBloPoMo website, and Anna of Stitch Bitch is one of them. Interestingly, she’s a non-profit development writer like me! Stitch Bitch, however, has the distinction of being the only new blog I picked up that won something during NaBloPoMo. She won $100 of Burt’s Bees stuff, isn’t that great?

Not only did I survive the challenge of writing so often despite all obstacles, I also think that learning about new creative people out there was a great part of the challenge. In fact, one of the reasons I’ve been away for three days is trying to get my new feeds under control, and visiting all the people I wanted to. I’ll be updating my blogroll soon to better reflect the breadth of creativity and inspiration I see from people all over the world. I’m always amazed at how much I’ve learned since starting this blog …

So! Holiday Meme!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Are you kidding? Wrapping paper! I love wrapping gifts, and I make a huge production out of it, and there are many bows and ribbons.
2. Real tree or artificial? Real tree. I understand that this is not politically correct, and that I ought not kill a tree to bring it inside my house. Um … I recycle it? I dunno, I just always really, really loved the fresh scent and the tradition of going to get one.
3. When do you put up the tree? As close to the beginning of December as I can, which usually means the second weekend.
4. When do you take the tree down? After New Year’s.
5. Do you like egg nog? I like the idea … but really, not so fond of the reality. Maybe with rum??
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A giant white teddy bear I remember sitting to the right of the fireplace and a dollhouse that my dad and I worked on putting together. I still collect white teddy bears, and we never finished the dollhouse, although we did get pretty close.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Oddly, I do. I have a tiny wooden nativity triptych from an unknown Central American country purchased by my Uncle Reg and Aunt Mary Elva when they were sailing halfway around the world.
8. Hardest person to buy for? Everyone. I put a lot of effort into my gifts because I want them to be just right. That said, I think I’m having the hardest time with my cousin Chelsea this year. What DO teenagers want, anyway?
9. Easiest person to buy for? Melissa. I’ve had her gift for ages. I hope she’s not sick of my theme for her.
10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? I’ve never managed to send any because I’ve spent eight of my 14 adult years in college, and card-time coincides messily with finals-time. So I have no “card list” of those acquaintances everyone has to send cards to, and I’m almost too intimidated by it to start!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? No comment.
12. Favorite Christmas movie? I guess I still prefer Peanuts. I don’t really know, to be honest. I’ve never really associated Christmas with movies. Although I do remember seeing Interview with a Vampire with my brother one Christmas or Christmas Eve.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever I see something I think someone will like. My earliest one this year was purchased last March! Not that I’m done now or anything.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? NO! See #8 “very picky about gift giving” above.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My grandmother’s chocolate crinkle cookies. Anything made by my grandmother.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? I like white because it’s more twinkly like real candlelight. But I have nothing against colored. I bought some red-and-white candy cane ones for outside this year that are inordinately exciting to me.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Johann Sebastian Bach. Soooo beautiful.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Typically, I go to Iowa to visit with my maternal extended family, the Hasenclever clan. However, I have been known to do other things …
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Donder, Blitzen, Rudolf … that’s all I’ve got.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Bow. Large, handmade-specially-for-that-particular-tree bow.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Usually on Christmas, but since I have several Christmases a year with different family members, that’s really only an approximation, and I think sometimes it happens on Christmas Eve.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Christmas appearing way too early in stores. I think it really dilutes how special I feel the holiday season is. I also get really sick of crappy pop Christmas music. I think that duet a few years ago with Jessica Simpson and the ex-king-now-lameass of heavy metal Ozzy Osbourne just killed it.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? My husband and I have chosen over the years to do blue, green and silver with snowmen and snowflakes. So obviously, that. My favorite ornaments are the starched crocheted snowflakes I made last year and this year. I was so proud of myself!
24. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner? I like to make a spicy portabello mushroom bisque. This year I’m making my grandmother’s noodles, if I can ever pin down my dad long enough to give me the recipe.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Ummm … a reduction in the number of books that are on my wish lists. I want probably … a hundred or so books? Not only are there craft books I’ve been meaning to get on there, I am continuing my reading in medieval women’s studies and religious studies because I still love the subject tho’ I decided not to pursue my Ph.D. (yet! never say never, right?!).