Possumblog

Ahhh--the raspy-voices brought on by the icy cold blasts of Arctic air

--the annoying high-pitched jangle of Rankin-Bass sleigh bells, the twinkling lights--it can mean only one thing, you know.

That’s right!

It’s the Second Annual Axis of Weevil Ramahannuchristmakwanzavus Thursday Three!

Yippee.

We understand that there are several different types of highly competitive holiday celebrations ongoing at this time of year, so we expect you all to behave and be nice to each other's religious and/or non-religious proclivities and not make the Animated Swingin’ Singin’ Santa Lite-Up Guest Greeter cry. Or Santa Monica, for that matter.

Remember, anyone (theoretically) can play along, and if you don’t do any celebrating of any sort, it’s okay. Just make something up and no one will be any wiser. Just leave your answers neatly gift-wrapped in the comment section below, or leave a link to your blog so we can all come by and oooo-and-ahhhh at your inventiveness.

Anyway, on to the questions, which were once again provided by our favorite East Carolinian, Jim Smith (not an alias, by the way), just like they were last year.

They are this:

1. Are you an early bird in the prep for the holidays, and if so, how early do you start?

2. If you decorate your house, when do the decorations go up, and what are they?

Now, this one is something of a repeat from last year, so you have the option of rewrapping it and giving it to someone else if you don’t want it. Also, it pertains more to those who celebrate gift-giving holidays (i.e., not Festivus), so if you don’t give people stuff, you might just have to come up with another question more suited to your situation, such as, “What is your least favorite Feat of Strength?” Anyway:

3. Do you go out of your way to find special, well-thought-out presents, or are you so harried and confused that gift cards make more sense?

Okeedoke--all of you take a big gulp of cheer and go answer the questions and report back to us on what you have to say. As for my answers…

1. My wife is--she shops and squirrels away packages all year long. I, on the other hand, am easily distracted by squirrels, and so wind up close to Christmas without having done all the thoughtful and tender and loving considerations I should have done. I try to start shopping in December for Reba, but am very often late in getting started. Like this year. I have her a few small things from the kids, but not the big, “Make Her Go ‘Awwww’” present. Then again, it’s only the 22nd, and Christmas is still a full two days away. Next year, I will do better, I promise.

2. We don’t do THAT much decorating, but even with the little bit we do, it’s still something of a last-minute thing. Usually the tree goes up during Thanksgiving--never any earlier. This year we didn’t get all the decorations out, and we STILL don’t have up the few small things I did get out. I blame the ACLU. We put up stockings, and usually some small single white-bulb electric faux candles in the windows, and a wreath on the front door, and a little light-up tree on the sewing machine table in the foyer, and sometimes put itchy plastic garland on the handrails of the stairs, and maybe a wreath on the landing, and the kids usually put up decorative doorknob doohickeys all over the house. And, of course, there's the giant poster of me in red swim trunks and a Santa hat.

Not really.

3. Since Reba does most of the shopping for friends and family, we come off as being one of those highly thoughtful and considerate gift-giving sorts of families. Were it left up to me, people would probably be highly disappointed in their $5 gift cards to the Dollar Tree. I’m glad I have Miss Reba.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at December 22, 2005 08:00 AM